A runDisney Marathon Q&A

Upon a Star Agent Cliff Anstey was able to assist his sister with her booking for the 2025 marathon in January. She shares her experience here and then answers some frequently asked questions for this article.

I will start by saying I am not a runner! If you see me running by, you should probably keep up because something is chasing me.  However, the runs at Disney looks really fun.  

Checking in and picking up my marathon gear!

Disney Marathon weekend runs every January, and goes Thursday through Sunday.  They have something for everyone. The 5K is an easy run for even the most novice of runners (or walkers).  Then there is the full marathon that runs on Sunday.  26.1 miles of cool morning Florida air. 

The marathon week schedule goes like this:

  • Wednesday: You pick up your race packet

  • Thursday:  The 5K

  • Friday:  The 10K

  • Saturday:  The Half-Marathon

  • Sunday:  The Marathon

You can register and run any of the races you would like.  

Then there is the Dopey Run. This is another registered event in which you sign up to run all of the races. This is for those who run daily.  

(Cliff asked his followers on his social media pages for questions to ask his sister about her running experience - and here are the questions and her answers!)

What the heck were you thinking?

Oh, no, I wasn’t thinking. I was being the same impulsive person I have been my entire life!

 Did you dress up?

I wore one of six Disney running skirts I brought. It was not warm enough for me three of the four mornings. 

What was your favorite costume you saw on the course?

The guy that dressed as Cruella and had a pack of Dalmatians running with him. 

What did training entail?

I was supposed to train?  Mostly I was winging it.

What are your favorite sneakers to run in?

Topos

Does you listen to music or do you like silence as you run?

Both, I train with music. At Disney, I wanted the full experience so no ear buds.

If you listen to music, what’s on your running track?

Almost anything depending on my mood. A lot of classic rock!

 What happens if you aren't fast enough?

Don’t care! Part of the adventure. I am not fast!! 

Hold them up for the pictures - but wear with caution!
Those things are heavy!!!

How many medals do you get?

Six medals this time. 

Are there characters, and is it okay to stop and meet them (or keep running??)

Yes, I did not stop because I didn’t want to wait in line. Fun to see the characters!  Especially Pooh Bear and Chewbacca!

What if you only want to do one of the races and not all of them? Can you do that?

Certainly, but how could you pick just one?

How early do you get up every day for the races?

3 am for 5k, 10k and Half Marathon. 2:30 am for the Full Marathon. 

How does that corral thing work?

Huddling together as a crowd to stay warm and dry. Making new friends. Cheering on the corrals released before yours. And waiting… Worth every minute. 

 Did you go to the Parks after the Runs and were they crowded?

Went to the parks all four days, and they were not crowded. 

What advice would you give others who want to play in the parks after getting up early and running the races?

Have a plan. We did not, but it worked out and we had fun!

 What was the best part of the trip?

Traveling with my niece, the absolute magic of Disney, and running through the castle. 

What was the worst part of the trip?

Lines and sleep deprivation. 

Would you do it again?

Absolutely!  Can’t wait. 

Thanks to Cliff and his sister for sharing!

Registration for the January 2026 Disney Marathon Weekend begins March 4 for Club runDisney Gold and Platinum, and March 11th for general registration.


Upon a Star Agents are unable to register guests for the race, but it is highly recommended to book your travel package with resort and tickets as soon as possible — contact your favorite Upon a Star Travel Advisor today!

Summer 2025 Walt Disney World Offers Available Now... Including FREE Dining!

What a great way to start out 2025 with a FREE Dining offer OR a room discount for summer 2025.

FIRST, FREE Dining!

Enjoy a FREE dining plan when you purchase a non-discounted minimum 3-night, 3-day Walt Disney Travel Company package that includes a room at a select Disney Resorts Collection hotel and a theme park ticket with a Park Hopper option—for arrivals most nights from:

  • May 27 to June 26, 2025

  • July 7 to August 6, 2025

What does that mean for you?

You may be eligible for FREE dining:

If you are visiting Walt Disney World beginning May 27 to June 26, 2025, and July 7-August 6, 2025, you have a regular package with at least a 3-night stay, AND you have at least 3-day park hopper tickets, you may be eligible for a free dining package.

Note that this package does require park hopper tickets. Guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort or at a Disney Deluxe Villa will receive the Disney Dining Plan for each guest. Those staying at a Moderate or Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan for each guest.

SECOND, save up to 30% off rooms!

If you prefer not to have a dining plan or if you prefer to have base tickets, perhaps the better offer is the room only discount. Save up to 30% on rooms at select Disney Resorts Collection hotels when you stay 5 consecutive nights or longer this summer. Plus, enjoy other savings for shorter stays.

This offer is valid for stays most nights from May 1 to September 30, 2025.

THIRD, Florida residents Book Early Discount to save up to 35%!

Florida residents, this is a great offer for you! Book by February 24, 2025, and save up to 35% on rooms for stays most nights from May 1 to July 31, 2025. Lower savings are available for bookings made after February 24.

Packages available per resort are limited. Everyone in room must be on same package. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Offer excludes the following room types: 3-Bedroom Grand Villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Bungalows and 2-Bedroom Penthouses at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, and Suites at Disney Deluxe Resort hotels.

Please contact your favorite Upon a Star Travel advisor for details, quotes, and more information!

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is Expanding at Walt Disney World Resort!

Big Bibbidi Bobbidi News!!

We have exciting news to share today with fans of Disney royalty!

A new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique location is set to open at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa this summer in order to provide more royal transformations than ever before. The new boutique – the third of its kind at Walt Disney World® Resort – will be located inside what’s currently the Ivy Trellis Salon, which will relocate into Senses – A Disney Spa.

Also based on the popularity of the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Magic Kingdom® Park, work will begin this spring to expand the location, adding more chairs, a very special magic mirror, and a transformation experience that will help Guests choose the perfect outfits and accessories. The Magic Kingdom Park location will remain open during these enhancements and existing reservations will not be affected.

In case you aren’t familiar, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique locations currently exist at Magic Kingdom Park and Disney Springs®, and pair up young guests age 3-12 with Fairy Godmothers-in-Training, who give them magical makeovers beyond their wildest Disney dreams, turning them into princesses or gallant knights. A variety of royal transformations are available and may include hairstyling, nail polish, accessories, gowns and more, depending on the package guests choose.

Your Upon A Star Travel expert will be happy to book your Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reservation!

Ready to book a Magical Walt Disney World Vacation? Contact us HERE today!

‘IllumiNations’ Dining Package Coming to Epcot

Starting Jan. 19, 2019, you can enjoy a delicious meal and specially-reserved viewing for the farewell season of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" with the new dining package!

The “IllumiNations” Dining Package, allows you to sit back and relax on the patio of the Rose & Crown Dining Room, located in the United Kingdom Pavilion, while eating classic British fare and enjoying sweeping views of World Showcase Lagoon. The Rose & Crown patio has a fabulous view of the nighttime spectacular!

The package includes a prix fixe menu that features a selection of Rose & Crown favorites, as well as unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

You will start your meal off with a Scotch Egg or the United Kingdom Cheese Platter, and follow up with popular entrées such as Rose & Crown’s signature Fish and Chips, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Pan-roasted Scottish Salmon, or Bangers and Mash. And for dessert, you will love the Pudding Platter Trio featuring Sticky Toffee Pudding, English Trifle, and Chocolate Nougat Bar. Kids can enjoy a soup or salad with their choice of Cheese and Turkey Flatbread, Turkey Meatball Pasta, Cheesy Pasta, or Fish and Chips as well as either Fruit Salad or Trifle for dessert.

The “IllumiNations” Dining Package is a great new way to experience “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” before the show takes its final bow at the end of summer 2019. Reservations are available starting Jan. 17, 2019 for reservations starting on Jan. 18, 2019. Pricing is $85 per adult (ages 10 and up) and $35 per child (ages 3 to 9), with tax and gratuity included. The experience, showtimes, and menu items are all subject to change without notice, and alcoholic beverages will only be served to guests 21 and up with valid ID. 

What a great way to say goodbye to Illuminations!

Want to add this great experience to your reservation? Contact our travel experts HERE today!


Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs Resort

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort has an exciting expansion that’s currently underway! Disney Parks, Experiences and Consumer Products Chairman Bob Chapek unveiled more about the reimagining, including the name of the new 15-story centerpiece of the resort, the Gran Destino Tower!

The tower, which will be completed in July 2019, will serve as the new main entrance point for Guests visiting the resort, and will add a total of 545 new Guest rooms (including 50 suites) to the resort, as well as feature a gorgeous two-story lobby. A themed table-service restaurant is also planned for the top of Gran Destino Tower, which will serve up delicious food and incredible views of the Walt Disney World® Resort.

An oasis set on the shore of Lago Dorado, the reimagined Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort celebrates the daring spirit of the great Spanish explorers, artists, writers and architects. Throughout the resort, Guests will discover a blend of classic Spanish influences, imaginative Disney touches and modern comforts both inside and out. The resort’s more than 1,800 existing rooms have also been fully updated with new fixtures, furnishings and lighting. A second new restaurant is planned to open on an island in the middle of the resort’s 14-acre lake, Lago Dorado, with new walkways stretching across the water, making it convenient no matter where guests stay at the resort. And a fresh color palette will tie the entire resort experience together, blending the new and the newly reimagined.

If this sounds great to you, we will soon be able to book guests here for stays starting July 2019!

Contact our travel experts HERE today for more info about booking your next Walt Disney Vacation!

Candlelight Processional Dates Announced!

We’re happy to share that the 2018 Epcot® International Festival of the Holidays will return to the park Nov. 18-Dec. 30, 2018. The Candlelight Processional also returns this year and for the first time, the popular holiday tradition will open for Thanksgiving on Nov. 22-Dec. 30, 2018.

The Epcot International Festival of the Holidays invites you to discover holiday cheer throughout the park and across all 11 World Showcase pavilions. Special entertainment, storytellers, seasonal favorites at Holiday Kitchens, and eye-catching holiday decor are all part of the fun. Evenings during this time are topped off with a special holiday presentation of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.”

The Candlelight Processional, a holiday must-do for many Epcot Guests, is a retelling of the traditional Christmas story read by a celebrity narrator, accompanied by a massed choir and live orchestra.

 

Stay tuned for info on the narrators and dining packages!

It's not too late to get a reservation for the holiday!! Contact our traveL experts today HERE