Edited 1/8/24
After running 16 years of these WDW weekends myself, I tend to get them confused. There are some historical blogs and offerings out there but none are really insightful for a year by year reference. This could be the place.
For an event that has been so significant to many of our lives, there is really no reliable history on it.
This will be a work in progress. I am not really concerned with who won the races but more interested in the weekend itself and the stories surrounding this event that has changed many of our lives.
From most recent to the beginning.
2024: Lots of changes. The theme for 2024 was "Disney through the years". The 5K featured characters from the 20's-40's. The 10k featured characters from the 50's-70's. The Half-featured characters from 1980's and 1990's. The Full was all about the 2000's, with a more than healthy dose of Disney Jr. characters. As far as the weather goes, the 5k and 10k were run at "no excuse" weather, great conditions. But for the third time the Half Marathon was altered due to weather. This year the race was shortened to 7.1 miles until at around 8:30 am race organizers shortened the race by another 3 miles. The other most obvious change was that for the Half and The Full, Disney cut out the dreaded "walk in the dark" to the start line. It's really amazing that they had not figured out a way to do this before. On the Marathon course runners did not run towards the teacups but ran under Tron. The Dapper Dans performed the National Anthem before the Full Marathon. Marathon runners endured a steady rain for about 30 minutes with periods of hard rain. 12,694 folks finished the marathon, and this year the women competitors outnumbered the men by over 1,000. Long time race host, Criegh Kelly announces his retirement from the stage
2023: Ominous start to 2023 as the runDisney site crashes just as registration is set to open. Some registration queue's open 15 minutes before announced time. Many runners wait almost three hours for the chance to register and still do not get a spot for the races. 5k and 10k sell out in thirty minutes, Dopey goes next. All races sell out in almost record time. Races re-open breifly, and close again in mid July. Virtual Lines are used for RunDisney merch. A fun 90's theme is the first "theme" for Marathon Weekend. Race week has really nice weather conditions for every race. 12,690 runners complete the marathon. That is an increase of over 1,300 from the year before. Chip and Dale replace Oswald as host of the 10k. Course changes across the boards for the races. No "Wide World of Sports" for the Marathon. Lots of interesting characters and overall a really solid year on the 10th anniversery of the Dopey, and 30th anniversary of Marathon Weekend. The 57 remaining "Perfect Marathon" runners were honored.
2022: Marathon weekend is back! General registration opens July 27th. Proof of time is based on marathon sub 4:00 for the first time ever. Flight cancellations, amidst Co-Vid outbreaks, cause chaos for many runners trying to arrive to the races. Expo limits buyers from buying more than two of each item, but wanted items still disappear quickly. 6 "Starting Sections" replace the alphabetized "Corals" and the placement of runners is all over the board. There are changes to every course, some small, some large, the biggest change has runners traveling through DHS instead of the Boardwalk area for the 10k. Runners also spend less than half a mile in DHS for Marathon. Weather is almost perfect for first three races, while marathon sees hotter weather. Daisy Duck is recognized as co-host of the half-marathon. Female runners significantly outnuber male finishers. 11,317 runners finish marathon.
2021: Registration opens to the public in the midst of the Co-Vid events. All races are full within an hour and the Goofy and Dopey sell out in minutes. It is obvious registration was limited substantially. On September 22nd runDisney for the first time in 28 years was forced to cancel a live Marathon Weekend. They did shift to "virtual races". They offered several different options including full and partial refunds to runners already signed up. On Marathon weekend there were several people running their "races" on property. To rub salt in the wound the weather that week was ideal running weather.
2020: Very eventful year. Registration for event was held in April. Marathon goes through Blizzard Beach for the first time in 20 years. Most unique course in over a decade, lots of changes due to construction all throughout the property. 5k, 10k have great weather conditions, Half marathon is hotter but a cool breeze, overcast skies, and even rain sprinkles are welcome. The Full however is hottest Disney marathon ever 97% humidity and 82 degrees at race start, run at red flag conditions. Marathon course is cut short for the first time. Organizers attempted to start the race 30 minutes early to help, but horrendous traffic prevented many runners from arriving at the start in time. The race did not start until almost 20 minutes after the intended start. The course was shortened by 1.8 miles as the Blizzard Beach portion was removed for runners with a pace time around 11:30. Lots of heat related issues. Female finishers outnumber males this year, after 2019's reversal. Minnie Mouse becomes official mascot co-host of marathon, Oswald moves from 5k to 10k mascot and Pluto regains his spot as the 5k mascot. Over 14,000 finish the marathon.
2019: Registration did not take place until July, due to technical issues. Humid Marathon 96% at race start. Oswald replaces Pluto as mascot of the 5k. Fewest corals in years for races with the mini waves. Slight course change as runners for the marathon ran past the Boardwalk resort instead of the Yacht and Beach Club side upon entering the Epcot Resort area. 11,194 runners finish the marathon. First time since 2012 male finishers outnumber female finishers.
2018: 25th Anniversary of the Marathon. Generally speaking a pretty "business as usual year" Much less hoopla for the 25th anniversary than expected although the medals are very nice. Unseasonably cold 5, 10 and Half races. 20,092 runners finish the marathon. First year marathon Mickey ears were handed out to finishers.
2017: Half Marathon cancelled due to lightning prompting the nickname "Grumpy Challenge", hundreds maybe thousands still run their half all over Disney property. Over a thousand "half runners" elect to attempt the full as they are given free registration due to the cancellation. Another chilly marathon. Galloway pace teams replace the "Cliff bar" pace teams integrating the run/walk method. The return of the "Mini-Waves". First "metal" medal for the 5K. Final year for the New Balance Disney shoe partnership. The fervor had died down around 2016. 17,775 runners finish the marathon.
2016: Oogie Boogie was a great character find this year during the half and full. This is the last year runners receive a printed race booklet. This is the final year for a "plastic" 5k medal. 19,851 runners finish the marathon.
2015: Castaway Cay Challenge Medal added, Goofy 10th anniversary. 20,042 runners finish the marathon.
2014: Disney adds the 10k (with Minnie as a mascot) to it's WDW weekend as well as the popular Dopey Challenge which "challenges" runners to compete in all four races over a four day span, 5k,10k,Half and Full Marathon. Gender specific shirt styles added. The 5k gets Pluto as a mascot. 19,235 runners finish the marathon.
2013: "20th anniversary of the marathon". A much promised special mile 20 was met with much "ho-hum", as it turned out to be life sized puppets instead of special characters which most people anticipated. Wide World of Sports and the Speedway included on the Marathon route. The year of the first Heat advisory, with 80 degree temperatures. 2013 was also the first time a major endurance event saw more females than males participating. 2013 debuts the runDisney New Balance partnership with Disney characters, and eventually attractions represented on New Balance running shoes. These shoes cause a fervor and for a few years are bought up by fans and ebay sellers alike. The marathon course no longer enters Epcot at the beginning of the race. 5k is a "Fab Five"themed medal. 20,734 runners finish the marathon.
2012: The one and only year for the "Chip and Dale" Relay. 15th anniversary of the Half. 5k has a Three Caballeros theme.
2011: Participants were allowed to vote on medal beforehand. Zorro, The Three Little Pigs, Shan Yu, Tom Sawyer and Davy Crockett were just a few of a particularly good year for characters that weekend. Free entry to a Disney park given to Marathon runners for 2011. 5k theme was Buzz and Woody.
2010: The year it snowed during the Marathon, 29 degrees during the race. This was the largest marathon field ever to that point. Corals went from A-P. Post race party was A $45 event at DHS. First year for the briefly popular pre-race pasta parties. I am speculating that this was the first year for the Runner's Retreat although it could have been 09.
2009: The last year for "Blue, and Red" starting locations for the marathon. Two unique starting routes, both merged just past Epcot but entered at different locations in the World showcase. 5k again in Animal Kingdom with Lion King theme. Possibly the first year for the "Cheer Squad" which gave spectators willing to pay, various perks including reserved bleacher seating at the finish.
2008: 15th year of the WDW Marathon, which means, unique medal. 5k is in Animal Kingdom with Lion King theme. Post race party now advertised at Downtown Disney.
2007: Another unseasonably hot marathon, one day after an unseasonably cold half. Another year for free admission to Pleasure Island for Marathon runners.
2006: The First Goofy Challenge, and the first time the half and full marathons are run on different days. Marathon runners received free admission to Pleasure Island for Post Race Party.
2005: Half Marathon name change from "Donald Half" to "WDW Half". Carissa Galloway and John Pelky join the runDisney announce team.
2004:
2003: "Perfect" runners are officially recognized starting this year at the 10th WDW Marathon.
2002: Largest field for marathon to date with 13,500 runners registered.
2001:
2000:
1999: Animal Kingdom debuts on the Marathon course.
1998:
1997:
1996: Electronic Timing introduced, First 5k event
1995: Blizzard Beach becomes part of Marathon route
1994: The First Disney Marathon, 5,588 runners started and the event launched what would eventually be called runDisney. When you entered the marathon, you were mailed a long sleeve t-shirt. The first Disney marathon was televised by a local station.
