Walt Disney World Roadways and Park Offerings to Be Impacted by Upcoming Marathons

Thousands of runners are preparing for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend on January 8-12, 2020. On select dates, the Walt Disney World Marathon course will take runners through Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Be sure to take note of the following operational impacts and road closure information if you plan on visiting the parks later this week:

MAGIC KINGDOM AREA ROAD IMPACTS

On both Jan. 11 and 12, World Drive (North and South) from Seven Seas Drive to the main entrance to Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be closed in both directions from 5-8:30 a.m. on Jan. 11 and 5-9 a.m. on Jan. 12. Additionally, a portion of Floridian Way will be closed in both directions from 4:30-9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11 and 4-10 a.m. on Jan. 12.

Guests traveling in a personal vehicle will need to take an approximate 12-mile detour off property using Winter Garden Vineland Road (SR 535) and Reams Road.

Drivers coming from the North side of Walt Disney World Resort:

• Take Reams Road.
• Turn right on Silverlake Park Drive.
• Turn right on Winter Garden Vineland Road (CR 535).
• Turn right on South Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535).
• Merge on to I-4 West.
• Take exit 67 for Buena Vista Drive.

Drivers coming from the South side of Walt Disney World Resort:

• Take I-4 to exit 68 for SR 535.
• Turn left on South Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535).
• Turn left on Winter Garden Vineland Road (CR 535).
• Turn left on Silverlake Park Drive.
• Take the third exit on the roundabout onto Reams Road.
• Take a left on Floridian Place.

Additional operational changes impacting Magic Kingdom Park Guests:

Breakfast Guests will enter the park via the West side entry points starting at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and will be directed up the West side of Main Street, U.S.A. Event Guides will be in the park to assist.

• Guests dining at Crystal Palace will be able to proceed directly to the restaurant.
• Guests dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table will have access via the Fantasyland (teacup) bridge and wishing well path.
• Guests dining at Be Our Guest Restaurant should proceed to Fantasyland via the Fantasyland (teacup) bridge to a crosswalk that will be set up outside the restaurant.
• Guests dining at The Plaza Restaurant should proceed to the crosswalk located outside the Confectionary and then down the East side of Main Street to the restaurant. (Sunday Only – Saturday they may proceed directly to the restaurant.)

The first Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique reservations have been adjusted to 8:30 a.m.

EPCOT AREA ROAD IMPACTS

From 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 to 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, Epcot Center Drive eastbound and westbound between World Drive and Buena Vista Drive will be closed.

Additional operational changes impacting Magic Kingdom Park Guests:
On Saturday, Jan. 11, until approximately 10:30 a.m., Guests entering the park at International Gateway wishing to access Future World West will be re-directed to the Future World bridge. Due to the presence of construction walls, Guests will have to first walk to Future World East, then travel across to Future World West.

Crosswalks will be in place in the following locations:

• Imagination! pavilion (ONLY for Guests to access the pavilion)
• Future World Bridge near Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure
• United Kingdom pavilion
• China overlook

DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM AREA ROAD IMPACTS

On Sunday, Jan. 12, the Walt Disney World Marathon course will take runners through Disney’s Animal Kingdom, causing a portion of Western Way (between SR 429 and Coronado Springs Resort) to be closed from 4:30 a.m. to  12 p.m.

Additional operational changes impacting Disney's Animal Kingdom Guests:

• Rafiki’s Planet Watch will have a delayed opening at 11 a.m.
• Guests may only cross the marathon course at designated crossing points on the Asia bridge, near Harambe Market/Bradley Falls and the entrance to DinoLand, U.S.A.

Looking to plan and book an Orlando-area vacation? Contact Destinations with Character Travel Services, LLC., specialists in all things Orlando, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld! Destinations with Characters is a Disney EarMarked agency and the official travel agency of Orlando Theme Park News!

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