Okay, January Disney travelers, listen up. If you’re planning to rope drop EPCOT in early January, you might want to rethink that. EPCOT is opening an hour late on three different mornings, and if you don’t know ahead of time, it could seriously mess up your day.
The reason? runDisney is coming back to town. Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend takes over the resort every January, and it’s basically the biggest race weekend of the whole year. When thousands of runners are starting and finishing at EPCOT, the park needs a little extra time before regular guests can come in.
Here Are the Dates
EPCOT will open at 10:00 AM instead of 9:00 AM on Thursday, January 7, Saturday, January 9, and Sunday, January 10.
On those days, Early Theme Park Entry for Disney Resort hotel guests moves to 9:30 AM. The good news is the park still closes at 9:00 PM like normal, so you’re not losing any time at night.
Friday, January 8 is totally normal, with Early Theme Park Entry at 8:30 AM and the park opening at 9:00 AM. Wednesday, January 6 is regular too.
Wait, Thursday Is New
Here’s the surprise. Thursday wasn’t on the list in past years. In both January 2025 and January 2026, EPCOT only opened late on the half-marathon and full-marathon days.
This year, Thursday got added, and it lines up with the 5K morning. Disney hasn’t said why, so definitely double-check the park hours closer to your trip in case anything changes.
Marathon Weekend Is a Big Deal
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend runs January 6 through 10, with the 5K, 10K, half marathon, and full marathon happening on four mornings in a row. And this year is special. It’s the 30th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Half Marathon, and Disney says Donald Duck is the star of every race. Love that for Donald.
What Race Mornings Are Like
Last January, both the half marathon and full marathon started and finished at EPCOT. The half marathon kicked off at 5:00 AM and sent runners up World Drive through Magic Kingdom before heading back to EPCOT. The last half marathon finishers were expected around 9:45 AM.
The full marathon started even earlier, at 4:30 AM, and took runners through all four parks before finishing at EPCOT. The last runners were expected around 12:30 PM.
So if the 2027 races look similar, most half marathon runners should be done by the time EPCOT opens. But on Sunday, marathon runners could still be in EPCOT until at least noon. If you show up right at 10:00 AM that day, expect lots of runners, spectators, and foot traffic near the finish area.
Watch Out for Road Closures
Race mornings also mean road closures around Walt Disney World. Even if you’re not going to EPCOT, buses and rideshares can get slowed down. So leave a little earlier than you normally would.
Here’s What We’d Do
The good news is that the other parks open on time all weekend. Animal Kingdom opens at 8:00 AM, and Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios open at 9:00 AM.
So on EPCOT’s late days, we’d start at another park. Animal Kingdom is a great pick since it opens the earliest. Then head to EPCOT in the afternoon once the race crowds clear out. If you have Park Hopper, this is the perfect time to use it.
And honestly, on Marathon Sunday, we’d skip EPCOT in the morning completely. Let the runners have their moment.
Don’t Let It Ruin Your Day
One hour might not sound like a big deal, but if you’re planning to rope drop Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind or Test Track, it totally changes your plans. Now that you know, you can work around it and still have an awesome day.
Plus, Marathon Weekend is honestly so fun to see. The energy, the costumes, the runners finishing at EPCOT. It’s a whole vibe.
So, are you heading to Disney World in January?
