One of the most popular marathons in the country is the Walt Disney World Marathon. It is held in January of each year and it attracts thousands of runners. The attraction to this marathon is that it takes runners through all of the Walt Disney Theme Parks, including: Walt Disney World, Epcot Center, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Disney's Hollywood Studios. If you want to run this marathon you need to get your registration in early, as there are a limited number of entries accepted and spots fill up quickly.

Participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon

To enter the Walt Disney World Marathon all you need to do is go to their website and fill out the entry form. You can even pay online. When you arrive in Walt Disney World you will have the option to participate in several great events and activities. However, you will want to pick up your timing chip, commemorative items and race packet ASAP. Race events start at 6 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

It will cost you $30 if you don't return the chip. If you finish within the allotted time then you will be mailed your finisher's certificate in February.

Race Events During the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

There are several different running events that you can enter during the marathon weekend at Walt Disney World. The main event, of course, is the marathon. This race takes you park hopping. Along the race course you will be cheered on by fans and Disney characters and treated to music and Disney movie science. The entry fee for this event is between $110 and $125. The 2009 event will be held on January 11. Right now the entry for the Walt Disney World Marathon is about 60 percent full, so you need to hurry if you want to reserve your spot.

The second event during this special weekend is the half marathon, which is run on Saturday. This race event also has a limited number of spots available, and unfortunately all spots are ful at this timel. If you want to run this event in 2010, keep your eyes open for the next entry period. which will open after the 2009 event in January.

The final main event offered during the Walt Disney is Goofy's Race and a Half event. This event is for runners who want to run in both the half and full marathon. This event is limited to 4,000 entrants and it is already closed for the 2009 event. If you plan on participating in this special race duo, you will get several additional goodies in your goody bag, many of which will undoubtedly become valuable collector's items in the future.

What Makes This Race Special

The main attraction to running in the Walt Disney World Marathon is that it is a Disney event. Disney fans from around the world try to enter this event for the fun atmosphere, the Disney themed events and goodies and for the excellent recreational activities that are available before and after the race. In order to facilitate participants in the planned running events, the Walt Disney company has put together several money saving travel packages that include lodging, special services, park hopping tickets, rental cars, meals and special event tickets.