2026 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Race Guide

Race weekend is close, and a few things changed this year. runDisney has released full details for the 2026 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, running October 23-25 at Walt Disney World, and 5K runners have the biggest adjustments to plan around.

The headline change: the 5K now starts at 4:30 am, a full 30 minutes earlier than in previous years. Disney is moving up the start times this year to allow for more runners. In past races, the 5k is the most popular option and tends to fill up the fastest. During this year’s Wine and Dine registration, the 5k was the last to sell out. There’s also a new bib tear tag system that you need to understand before race morning, not while standing in the dark at your start group entrance.

Here’s everything that’s new, plus the expo, transportation, and race morning details worth knowing.

Quick Summary

• Dates: October 23-25, 2026 at Walt Disney World
• New: The 5K start time moves up to 4:30 am
• New: 5K bibs have two tear tags, including one for your Start Group Opening Time
• New: Continuous 5K transportation from 2:30 am to 10:00 am
• New: Club runDisney Platinum and Gold early Field House access at 8:00 am on Expo Day 1
• Start times: 5K at 4:30 am; 10K and Half Marathon at 5:00 am
• Pace requirement: Train for a 15-minute-per-mile pace

What’s New This Year

The 5K Starts 30 Minutes Earlier

The official 5K start time is now 4:30 am. If you’ve run this weekend before, rebuild your alarm and transportation math around that, because everything upstream shifts with it. runDisney has done the same thing with the Walt Disney World Marathon, moving the start time up to 4:30 am.

5K Bibs Have Two Tear Tags

Your 5K bib includes a top tear tag for participant shirt pick-up and a bottom tear tag showing your Start Group Opening Time.

Keep the bottom tag attached until race morning, then hand it to a cast member at your start group entrance. The 10K and Half Marathon bibs do not have this tear tag.

This is the detail most likely to trip people up. Don’t tear anything off your bib at the expo except what you’re told to.

Continuous 5K Transportation

If you’re staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, Shades of Green, the Swan, the Dolphin, or the Swan Reserve, event transportation for the 5K runs continuously from 2:30 am to 10:00 am. You’ll be dropped off and picked up at the same spot: the EPCOT bus loop.

Early Field House Access for Club runDisney

Club runDisney Platinum and Gold members can access the Field House and Athletic Center starting at 8:00 am on Expo Day 1, giving you time to grab your bib and shirt and browse exhibitors before the Expo opens to everyone else. Stay on the designated path from the Arena and follow cast member instructions.

The Expo

The runDisney Health and Fitness Expo runs 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Day 1, with race weekend transportation operating 8:15 am to 8:30 pm.

Club runDisney early shopping access:

• Platinum members: 7:00 am to 8:30 am
• Gold members: 7:30 am to 8:30 am
• Silver members and non-members: no early access

Both Platinum and Gold skip the virtual queue for the runDisney Merchandise Shop and Brooks Running shoes at AdventHealth Arena. Platinum members can also pick up their bib at Club runDisney Headquarters on the second level of AdventHealth Arena — bring a photo ID.

The Merchandise Virtual Queue

Planning to shop for race weekend merchandise or Brooks running shoes? You’ll need to join the virtual queue on Expo Day 1 at 7:00 am. You must be within 45 miles of Walt Disney World to enter. A second queue opens at 1:00 pm.

Arrive at ESPN Wide World of Sports no earlier than 30 minutes before your boarding group time. The virtual queue only applies to Day 1.

When to Visit the Expo

Day 1 is typically the busiest. Attendance breaks down like this:

• 9:00 am to 3:00 pm: higher attendance
• 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm: moderate attendance
• 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm: lower attendance

If you don’t need Day 1 merchandise, go in the evening. You’ll walk through in a fraction of the time. If there’s a certain piece of merchandise that is a must-have, in my experience, be ready to go with the virtual queue as soon as it opens. If you miss out on what you’re looking for, not all is lost. While it’s not a guarantee, it is sometimes worth swinging by the expo on the last day, as many people make purchases on the first day then end up returning items.

Bib and Shirt Pick-Up

On Expo Day 1:

• 10K bibs and shirts are in the Auxiliary Court of the Field House, on the same level you enter
• All other race bibs are on the Main Floor of the Field House, with shirts in the Athletic Center

After Day 1: bibs are on the Main Floor of the Field House and shirts are in the Athletic Center.

Getting to the Expo

Parking at ESPN Wide World of Sports is limited, especially on Day 1. Resort transportation is your best bet if you’re staying at an eligible hotel — it drops you near the Sports Complex entrance at no extra cost, running 8:15 am to 8:30 pm on Day 1.

Minnie Van service through Lyft is another option, and rideshare works for drop-off and pick-up if you’re staying offsite.

Race Day Transportation

• 5K: Continuous transportation from 2:30 am to 10:00 am for eligible resort guests. Rideshare drops off at the EPCOT rideshare loop
• 10K: Buses run 3:00 am to 5:00 am to the start, and 6:30 am to 9:00 am from the finish
• Half Marathon: Buses run 2:30 am to 5:00 am to the start, and 6:30 am to 10:30 am from the finish

For the Half Marathon, rideshare drop-off depends on timing: the Rideshare Loop from 12:00 am to 4:30 am and again from 10:30 am onward, and the Charter Lot from 4:30 am to 10:30 am.

After running 25+ runDisney races, I would highly recommend using the runDisney-provided transportation if you’re staying at a Disney Resort. The buses have priority access on certain roads and know which roads are closed for the race. Whereas rideshares rely on the GPS within the app, and the GPS may not know which roads are closed off for the race.

Parking, Start Times, and Pacing

Parking is free before 7:30 am on all race days. Plan to arrive about an hour before your start time.

Everyone enters through Security at the EPCOT Main Entrance. Skipping this can result in disqualification, so don’t get clever about shortcuts.

The 5K starts at 4:30 am. The 10K and Half Marathon both start at 5:00 am. Your specific start group time is on your bib, and start group ranges for each distance will be posted in the Digital Expo and Event Guide.

Start groups are assigned by your anticipated finish time at registration. You can’t change groups ahead of time, at the Expo, or on race morning — but you can move back to a later group to run with someone else.

Train for a 15-minute-per-mile pace. Pace cyclists monitor the course, and falling behind pace may result in course modifications.

A Few More Details

• Alcohol isn’t served before 6:00 am, even at food and beverage stops on course
• The runDisney Information Tent in the reunion area handles lost and found, race policies, and challenge wristbands
• Check the official runDisney Event Policies page for costuming rules and participation requirements
• Follow runDisney on social plus the Digital Expo and Event Guide for real-time updates during race weekend

The Bottom Line

The 2026 Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend runs October 23-25 with an earlier 4:30 am 5K start, a new two-tag bib system for 5K runners, and continuous 5K transportation from 2:30 am.

Get your expo trip done in the evening if you can, keep that bottom tear tag attached until race morning, and build your alarm around the earlier start. Everything else runs the way you remember.

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Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!