Marathon weekend at Walt Disney World annually attracts thousands of runners, turning the resort into a major athletic event. The runDisney Marathon Weekend presents significant logistical challenges, necessitating extensive road closures to ensure the safety of the race routes. Runners navigate paths through parking lots and EPCOT, creating temporary barriers that disrupt the flow of guests. While the marathon excites participants who plan their trips around the event, it can cause unexpected disruptions for other guests unaware of the race.The impact goes beyond crowded parks. Road closures for runner safety complicate transportation between hotels and theme parks. Buses take alternate routes, and some areas become completely inaccessible during certain times. Guests staying on property who are not participating in race activities often feel frustrated when their morning plans get disrupted by roads they cannot cross or attractions they cannot reach because of the marathon routes.Tomorrow, January 11, is the last day of the 2026 runDisney Marathon Weekend. One popular family activity will have a significant delay. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf will not open at its usual 10 a.m. time. Instead, it will remain closed until 3 p.m.This five-hour delay means families cannot play mini golf during the morning and early afternoon of their vacation.Why the Delay MattersWinter Summerland Miniature Golf typically opens at 10 a.m., offering families a fun outdoor activity outside the theme parks. With two holiday-themed 18-hole courses, it serves as a lower-key option, especially on arrival or departure days. However, a five-hour delayed opening to 3 p.m. significantly alters plans for families who intended to play in the morning, limiting their time before evening commitments and making it less feasible for those with young children.Credit: DisneyThe delay stems from road closures required for marathon safety. Winter Summerland’s location necessitates access via roads that serve as part of the race route.EPCOT Also AffectedWinter Summerland is not the only casualty of marathon weekend disruptions tomorrow. EPCOT will open one hour later than its standard schedule. Instead of a 9 a.m. opening, the park will not admit guests until 10 a.m. on January 11. This delayed opening directly relates to the marathon route that passes through portions of EPCOT, requiring the park to accommodate runners before regular guests can enter.Credit: Brian Holland, FlickrFor guests with early morning dining reservations at EPCOT or those who have specifically planned to arrive at rope drop to minimize wait times for popular attractions, this one-hour delay disrupts their carefully constructed touring plans. Families who wake up early to maximize park time may find themselves with an unexpected gap in their schedule, potentially disrupting the entire day’s itinerary.Impact on Non-Running GuestsMarathon weekend creates a divided guest experience at Walt Disney World. Participants in runDisney events plan their entire trips around the races, understanding their vacation will involve early wake-ups and logistical complications. These guests expect and accept disruptions because the marathon represents the primary purpose of their visit.However, guests who booked vacations without knowledge of the marathon weekend often feel blindsided. They purchased park tickets, made dining reservations, and planned itineraries, expecting standard operations. Instead, they encounter road closures that complicate transportation, delayed openings that disrupt touring plans, larger crowds that increase wait times, and facility closures, such as the Winter Summerland delay, that eliminate planned activities.This creates frustration. Families paying premium prices reasonably expect full access to resort amenities. When major activities remain closed for half the day due to an event they are not participating in, the situation feels unfair to guests whose vacation experience is being compromised.Planning Around the DisruptionsFor guests at Walt Disney World tomorrow who still want to experience Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, the 3 PM opening requires schedule adjustments. Planning afternoon or evening mini golf sessions becomes necessary, which may conflict with dinner reservations or evening plans at the park.Guests with EPCOT plans should adjust their arrival time to 10 a.m., rather than attempting to arrive at the standard 9 a.m. time. The delayed opening eliminates the advantage of early arrival, so using that extra hour for resort breakfast or sleeping in slightly may be the better option.Marathon weekend also means heightened crowds throughout the parks as runners and their families visit attractions after completing races. Wait times typically run higher than normal, making Lightning Lane purchases potentially more valuable during this period. Dining reservations become even more critical, as walk-up availability becomes nearly impossible with elevated guest counts.Credit: DisneyWhen Normal Operations ResumeJanuary 11 marks the last day of disruptions related to the 2026 runDisney Marathon Weekend. Starting January 12, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf will open at 10 a.m., EPCOT will resume regular hours, and road closures will end, with resort transportation returning to regular routes.For guests arriving after the marathon, standard operations will resume. However, those on the property during the final marathon day should be aware of delays and closures to adjust their plans accordingly. Marathon weekend is just one of many special events that can affect Disney World operations, so being informed can help guests plan more effectively and avoid frustration.The post Disney World Eliminates Guests Access Tomorrow Due to Major Delay appeared first on Inside the Magic.