The Complete Guide to runDisney’s 2026 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

We have a new runDisney season to kick off! The 2026 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend takes place October 22–25 at Walt Disney World, with The Aristocats, The Three Caballeros, Mary Poppins, and Grumpy in tow.

Here’s everything you need to get from Expo to your last finish line—and, because this is Wine & Dine, to the after party. As always, I’ve gathered the weekend’s details from runDisney’s Official Digital Expo & Event Guide, with some practical advice from my own race mornings mixed in.

A quick note for 5K runners: This year’s race has a substantially different process than in the past. I’ve already gone through the changes and what they might mean in runDisney’s New 5K, Explained, so here we’ll keep it more straightforward and just stick to the facts.

Wine & Dine 2026 at a glance

All of times in this guide are Eastern. Projected race starts can change with weather or race operations, so keep an eye on runDisney’s updates and listen to announcements on race morning.

Day	Event	Time
Thursday, October 22	Health & Fitness Expo	9am–8pm
Friday, October 23	Disney Wine & Dine 5K	First start at 4:30am; waves through approximately 8:08am
Friday, October 23	Health & Fitness Expo	Noon–7pm
Saturday, October 24	Disney Wine & Dine 10K	First start at 5am
Saturday, October 24	Health & Fitness Expo	11am–3pm
Sunday, October 25	Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon	First start at 5am
Sunday, October 25	Post-Race Party at EPCOT	10pm–1am; party-ticket entry begins at 5pm

Expo is at ESPN Wide World of Sports. All three races start and finish in the EPCOT parking lots. The Two Course Challenge combines Saturday’s 10K and Sunday’s half marathon.

This is a long article, as these guides tend to be. If you’re looking for one particular thing, you can hop straight there with the links below:

• Pre-weekend details
• Costume guidelines
• Expo and bib pickup
• Virtual queue instructions
• General race information
• Transportation and parking
• PhotoPass photos
• 5K
• 10K
• Half marathon
• Two Course Challenge
• Post-Race Party

Pre-weekend details

Digital waiver

If you haven’t already, log into your runDisney account and sign your participant waiver. You’ll find it with your registration under your documents. A parent or legal guardian must sign for a runner under 18.

Expo Check-In Pass

Your Expo Check-In Pass is scheduled to be available in your runDisney account on Monday, October 19. Bring a digital or printed copy for each of your registered events, along with a valid government-issued photo ID. A challenge registration has its own pass; separately registered races have separate passes.

Save your passes somewhere easy to find before you get to Expo—you can typically add them to your wallet on your phone. You’ll also use the PhotoPass ID included on your Check-In Pass to link your race photos later.

Costume guidelines

Before you put the finishing touches on your costume, read the current runDisney costume policy. Here are the essentials:

• Keep costumes appropriate for a family event and safe for the runners around you.
• Runners 14 and older cannot wear costume masks. For younger runners, eyes must remain visible and the mask cannot cover the entire face.
• Nothing should trail along the ground, have sharp edges, or resemble a real weapon.
• No costumes or large props that surround your whole body, are inflatable, create a safety hazard, or physically connect you to other runners.
• Layered costumes that don’t follow the natural shape of your body (such as ball gowns) or that could conceal prohibited items aren’t allowed. Everyday layers like tutus over running shorts and cold-weather gear are generally fine.
• Small soft or inflatable handheld props are permitted. Transparent wings and headwear are fine as long as your face stays uncovered. Capes cannot go below the waist.
• Dressing as a character doesn’t authorize you to sign autographs or pose as that character for other guests.

And always do a test run in your full race outfit. You might have very different opinions about the headband that feels fine for five minutes in your kitchen at around mile 8.

Guests 14 and older need to change out of costumes before visiting the parks during normal operating hours after the race.

runDisney Health and Fitness Expo

Your first stop of the weekend is ESPN Wide World of Sports. This is where you’ll collect your bib, race shirt, and gEAR bag, explore the exhibitors, and shop the official merchandise if you’d like.

Bib pickup is available at Expo only. There is no race-morning bib pickup. You also cannot collect another adult runner’s bib for them, so make sure your travel plans leave enough time for you to get there yourself.

Expo hours and transportation

Date	Expo hours	Resort event buses
Thursday, October 22	9am–8pm	8:15am–8:30pm
Friday, October 23	Noon–7pm	11:30am–7:30pm
Saturday, October 24	11am–3pm	10:30am–3:30pm

Thursday has an earlier opening and a later closing than we’ve generally seen before. runDisney is also warning that parking may fill, with drivers then directed to an off-site lot and a shuttle. Give yourself some breathing room to get there and do what you need to do, especially if you’re arriving that day.

Your pickup deadline depends on your first race, since you just need to go at least one day before your first run:

• 5K: Thursday, October 22.
• 10K or Two Course Challenge: Thursday or Friday, October 22–23.
• Half marathon only: Any Expo day, October 22–24.

Map location	What you will find
A — AdventHealth Arena	Official merchandise, Brooks shoes, and Club runDisney Platinum Headquarters
B — Athletic Center	Participant shirts, exhibitors, and event information
C — Field House	General bib pickup, Runner Relations, and account and waiver assistance

Bib and shirt pickup

Start with your bib. Bring your photo ID, Check-In Pass, and completed waiver. If you signed your waiver before you got your Check-In Pass and your Check-In Pass indicates that, you don’t need to bring your waiver separately. Then head to the Athletic Center and use the shirt tag at the top of your bib to get your shirt. Size exchanges are available at pick-up depending on availability.

The Field House handles general bib pickup, and the Athletic Center houses participant shirts and exhibitors, except that on Thursday, 10K bibs and shirts are together in the Field House’s Auxiliary Court.

If you’re running the 5K, leave the bottom tear tag attached to your bib. You’ll need it to enter the start-group area on race morning.

Official merchandise and the virtual queue

On Thursday, October 22, the official merchandise shop and runDisney-themed Brooks shoes in the AdventHealth Arena use a virtual queue. The two joining opportunities are 7am and 1pm. You can only join once that day. Friday and Saturday do not require a virtual queue.

FAQ: You do not need a merchandise virtual-queue spot to pick up your bib or shirt.

To join:

1. Open My Disney Experience with location services and notifications enabled. You must be within approximately 45 miles of Walt Disney World.
2. Go to Virtual Queues, select the ESPN Wide World of Sports tab, and choose the runDisney Merchandise Shop.
3. Select your shopping party, up to six people total. Add everyone to Friends & Family beforehand.
4. Join when the queue opens, then watch your estimated return time. runDisney suggests arriving at Expo with about 30 minutes left on that estimate.
5. When your group is called, you have one hour to reach the AdventHealth Arena. Have your entry QR code (messaged to you when your entry time comes) ready.

For Brooks shoes, you can try the corresponding non-Disney model before heading onto the main floor. Complete the purchase form with your style and size choices. Thursday’s limit is one of each design per adult purchaser. Bring a credit or debit card; don’t rely on cash, a Disney gift card, or a MagicBand for this purchase. The guide also excludes discounts and Merchandise Mobile Checkout for the runDisney-themed Brooks shoes.

Club runDisney early access

On Thursday, Platinum members have early shopping from 7–8:30am, and Gold members from 7:30–8:30am, without joining the virtual queue for those windows. Both tiers can access the Field House and Athletic Center at 8am.

Platinum bib pickup at Club runDisney Headquarters on the second level of AdventHealth Arena begins at 7am Thursday. Check your membership email for the details that apply to you. General Expo buses don’t start until 8:15am, so arrange your transportation if you plan to use the earlier access.

Bring your Club card and I.D. for access to these perks.

Club member or not, you can also browse the weekend’s Virtual Goody Bag for participating offers.

General race information

Transportation and parking

For the 10K and half marathon, runDisney strongly encourages runners and spectators to arrive at the EPCOT parking lot by 4am. For the 5K, the recommendation is one hour before your own projected start time.

Those are the recommended arrival times at EPCOT. Build in time beforehand for the drive or bus ride, parking, security, walking, a bathroom stop, and anything else you want to do before entering your start group.

Resort event buses

Complimentary event transportation serves the Disney resorts, Shades of Green, the Swan, the Dolphin, and the Swan Reserve. Check the event signs at your resort for its pickup location and instructions.

Race	Resort to EPCOT	EPCOT to resort
5K on Friday	Continuous service, 2:30–10am	Continuous service, 2:30–10am
10K on Saturday	3–5am	6:30–9am
Half marathon on Sunday	2:30–5am	6:30–10:30am

The 5K buses run both ways throughout the morning. The other races have a break between service to the race and return service.

Driving and rideshare

Race parking is at EPCOT all three mornings and is complimentary so long as you arrive before 7:30am. The lots open at 2:30am Friday, 3am Saturday, and 2:30am Sunday. Enter through security at the EPCOT Main Entrance as directed.

Take a picture of your parking row. It’s a small favor to your post-race self.

For the 5K and 10K, the detailed transportation section identifies a rideshare pickup and drop-off area between the HeiHei and Moana lots.

For the half marathon, the guide lists the EPCOT rideshare loop until 4am, the Charter Lot from 4:30–10:30am, and the rideshare loop again from 10:30am. There will be plenty of Cast Members on hand if you need help finding anything.

You can take a look at the official transportation page, too.

Paid Minnie Van service through Lyft is another option. The guide lists service beginning as early as 2:30am. If you plan to use this, I’d talk to the concierge of your resort beforehand to help to confirm availability.

Note, too, that road closures during the 10K and half marathon can change your route. You’ll find closure maps in those sections below.

Your bib and start group

Your bib’s letter identifies your assigned start group, also commonly called your corral. Groups leave in smaller waves, so the first start time for the race is not necessarily your own start time.

You may move back to join someone assigned to a later group. You cannot move up to an earlier one. If your group has already closed, follow the Cast Members’ directions to the next available group.

Wear your bib visibly on the front, and leave its timing tag in place. If you’re wearing a layer you expect to remove, make sure you won’t accidentally take your bib off with it.

Pacing

The published pace requirement is 16 minutes per mile for every distance, including the 5K. Character stops, bathroom breaks, and time at water stations all take time, too. Runners who fall behind may face a modified course or be transported off it.

For the longer races, pace cyclists use red flags to indicate that runners have fallen behind the required pace.

If you want to think through your time for stops, my pacing cushion calculator can help with planning. Treat any estimate as exactly that, especially with the new 5K format.

gEAR bag check

The clear plastic bag you receive with your shirt at Expo doubles as your gEAR bag. Bag check is in the Reunion Area for each race. You’ll get a sticker for the back of your bib to remember your drop-off truck and identify your bag when you return for it after the race.

I’d think about what you might want immediately afterward: a dry shirt, something comfortable for your feet, and whatever small essentials will make you more comfortable. Leave valuables somewhere secure. For a fuller packing discussion, see what’s in my race-day bag.

You’ll walk right past bag check just before you return to the main reunion area on your way out of the chute after the race. It’s impossible to miss and pick-up is usually very quick.

Weather and what to wear

Check the forecast close to race weekend instead of packing for the weather you remember from a previous year. Late October weather can vary a ton in Central Florida and rain is always a possibility, forecast or not. Think about both standing still before the start and running once you’ve warmed up.

The later 5K groups will be on the course in daylight, so think through what else you might need for that: sunglasses, a hat or visor, and perhaps sun protection. If you bring a disposable layer or poncho, make sure you can remove it without a production.

Disney will gather, launder, and donate any discarded clothing and gear that they find along the way.

Medical help and course courtesy

Fill in the emergency medical information on the back of your bib. Medical teams are available on the courses and around the finish. Ask for help if you need it.

Run or walk no more than two across, look behind you before changing direction, and move safely aside before stopping for a photo or a walk break. At water stops, collect your cup and keep moving away from the table so the next person can reach it.

Disney PhotoPass

Race photos are matched to your bib, so make sure it’s visible for PhotoPass pictures before, during, and after the race. You don’t need to stop and scan a MagicBand with each photographer.

To link your photos, find the PhotoPass ID on your Check-In Pass, then open My Disney Experience. In the Photo Gallery, choose Link Photos, then Type to Link PhotoPass Card, and enter that ID. You can also link it through Disney PhotoPass.

The guide says to allow up to 48 hours after the race for photos, but most of them typically show up the day of the race. Memory Maker includes runDisney photos if you buy it for your trip. Linking the ID alone doesn’t purchase downloads.

A note for spectators

Send your cheer squad your start group, the relevant viewing map, and a realistic idea of when you expect to finish or pass wherever they’ll be cheering.

The official spectator areas are marked in blue on the staging maps below. Viewing hours differ by race. For the 10K and half marathon, family and friends can also follow unofficial live results.

Disney Wine and Dine 5K

Friday, October 23 • 3.1 miles • The Aristocats

The first group starts at 4:30am, but starts continue much later into the morning. Use your assigned group to plan, with an arrival target one hour before your projected start.

5K start groups

Group	Opens	Closes	Projected start
A	3:15am	4:15am	4:30–4:35am
B	3:15am	4:20am	4:36–4:53am
C	3:15am	4:40am	4:54–5:11am
D	4:45am	5:45am	6–6:20am
E	4:45am	6:05am	6:21–6:38am
F	6am	7:15am	7:30–7:50am
G	6am	When the start line clears	7:51–8:08am

Keep the bottom bib tear tag attached until race morning, then hand it to the Cast Member at start-group entry when directed. Leave the timing tag on the back of the bib in place.

That’s the practical version. For the explanation of the new start blocks, timing chip, and how I’m thinking about pacing and time for stops, read the full 5K changes article. Predictions about how the new format will work are identified there as predictions.

5K course and spectator map

The course starts and finishes in the EPCOT parking lots, with a trip around World Showcase and through the front of the park. There is one on-course water stop.

Spectator viewing is at the Rocket Lot start from 4–8:15am and the Eve Lot finish from 4:30–9:30am. Share your own projected start with your spectators so they can plan around you.

Disney Wine and Dine 10K

Saturday, October 24 • 6.2 miles • The Three Caballeros

The first start is 5am. Runners and spectators should arrive at EPCOT by 4am, even if their group is scheduled later.

10K start groups

Group	Opens	Closes	Projected start
A	3:45am	4:45am	5–5:03am
B	3:45am	4:50am	5:04–5:12am
C	3:45am	5am	5:13–5:25am
D	3:45am	5:10am	5:26–5:40am
E	3:45am	5:25am	5:41–5:55am
F	3:45am	5:40am	5:56–6:07am
G	3:45am	When the start line clears	6:08–6:19am

10K course and spectator map

Starting and finishing in the EPCOT lots, the route includes World Showcase, the Crescent Lake resort area, and a return through EPCOT. The course has three water stops.

The dedicated spectator page currently lists 4:30–6:30am at the Rocket Lot start and 5–8am at the Eve Lot finish. Check the spectator page again before race day for any updates.

Saturday road closures

Saturday’s road closures begin as early as 3am, and some remain in place until 9am.

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

Sunday, October 25 • 13.1 miles • Mary Poppins

The first start is 5am, and runners and spectators should arrive at EPCOT by 4am.

Half marathon start groups

Group	Opens	Closes	Projected start
A	3:15am	4:45am	5–5:02am
B	3:15am	4:50am	5:03–5:08am
C	3:15am	4:55am	5:09–5:14am
D	3:15am	5am	5:15–5:26am
E	3:15am	5:10am	5:27–5:38am
F	3:15am	5:25am	5:39–5:50am
G	3:15am	When the start line clears	5:51–6:02am

Half marathon course

The published map takes us from EPCOT through World Showcase, the BoardWalk area, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then out to the Blizzard Beach parking area before heading back for a final pass through the front of EPCOT to the finish.

There are nine hydration locations. The first two offer water; stops 3–9 offer water and POWERADE. A food stop near mile 7 is scheduled to offer Honey Stinger Energy Chews. Carry your own fuel if you rely on a particular product or timing, since offerings can change.

Half marathon pace groups

These are the pace groups published in the event guide. The final column gives the running and walking intervals. Choose a group you can access from your assigned start group.

Start group	Finish goal	Pace per mile	Run and walk interval
A	1:45	8:00	4 min / 30 sec
A	2:00	9:09	2 min / 30 sec
B	2:10	9:55	90 sec / 30 sec
B	2:15	10:18	90 sec / 30 sec
C	2:20	10:41	90 sec / 30 sec
D	2:30	11:26	60 sec / 30 sec
D	2:40	12:12	60 sec / 30 sec
E	2:50	12:58	30 sec / 30 sec
E	3:00	13:43	30 sec / 30 sec
F	3:00	13:43	30 sec / 30 sec
F	3:10	14:29	20 sec / 30 sec
G	3:20	15:14	15 sec / 30 sec
G	3:30	16:00	15 sec / 30 sec

The staging map marks the pacer meeting point with a star; pacers meet there one hour before your start group closes. You can also meet the pacer in your start group; see the half-marathon page for meeting instructions.

Half marathon spectators and staging

The dedicated spectator page currently lists 4:30–6am at the Rocket Lot start and 5:30–9:45am at the Eve Lot finish. Check the spectator page again before race day for any updates. Live split tracking can help your spectators judge when to move into position.

Sunday road closures

Sunday’s road closures begin as early as 3am, with some lasting until 10:30am.

Disney Two Course Challenge

The Two Course Challenge is 19.3 miles over two days: the 10K on Saturday, October 24, and the half marathon on Sunday, October 25. This year’s theme features Grumpy and friends.

A few reminders if you’re running both:

• Pick up at Expo by Friday, October 23. Your challenge has its own Check-In Pass.
• Everything race-specific—start groups, course maps, spectator areas, and road closures—is in the 10K and half marathon sections above.
• Your registration includes admission to the Post-Race Party Sunday night.

Post-Race Party at EPCOT

One of the things that makes Wine & Dine special is that we get to come back to EPCOT after the running is done.

The party is Sunday, October 25, from 10pm until 1am, with party-ticket entry beginning at 5pm. Half-marathon and Two Course Challenge registrations include admission. Other runners, friends, and family need a separate party ticket; check the official party page for purchase information.

Tickets and the Disney Promo Card

Domestic participant tickets are scheduled to be mailed October 1. International participants and those registering after October 1 collect tickets at the AdventHealth Arena Box Office during Expo hours. Bring photo ID for ticket assistance.

Half-marathon and challenge registrants are also scheduled to receive a $15 Disney Promo Card by email on October 15. Watch the email address used for registration.

Entering EPCOT

Use your party ticket, not your race bib, at the Main Entrance or International Gateway from 5pm. You’ll receive a wristband.

If you’re already inside on separate daytime admission, validate your party ticket after 5pm at the World Showplace entrance between the UK and Canada, or in World Celebration between Connections Café and Creations Shop.

What is open

The guide lists Global Marketplaces, entertainment, and these attractions: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Soarin’, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth, and Gran Fiesta Tour.

The weekend’s pin is scheduled to go on sale at Creations Shop at 7pm, with a two-per-guest limit while supplies last.

Disney Resort party buses continue until one hour after the party ends. Parking fees may apply if you drive.

My practical suggestion: leave room for an actual break between the half marathon and the party. A shower, a meal, and some time off your feet will make that late night a much happier one. 10pm feels mighty late when you’ve been up since the middle of the night before.

Before you go

Save this guide somewhere you can find it easily, and send the relevant race section to anyone cheering you on. The official event guide is the place to check for operational changes as race weekend gets closer.

If you’re running Friday, take one more look at the 5K changes article so the new schedule feels familiar before you arrive.

See you at the start line!

Official event artwork and maps © Disney. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by runDisney or The Walt Disney Company.