Disney World guests planning visits during early March 2026 should be aware of a significant schedule modification that could impact their park day if they’re not informed beforehand. EPCOT will operate on an altered opening schedule on Sunday, March 1, 2026, due to the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Depending on your travel style and priorities, this might be a day worth avoiding at this particular park in favor of visiting Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Animal Kingdom instead.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is scheduled for February 26 to March 2, 2026. This event features a variety of race distances, including a 5K, a 10K, and the main half-marathon, all taking place on one weekend. While these runDisney events offer exciting experiences for many participants who combine their love of running with their passion for Disney, they can also create operational challenges for regular park guests who may be visiting Disney World that weekend but are not involved in the races.
The Modified EPCOT Schedule
On March 1, EPCOT will not open at its typical 9:00 a.m. time. Instead, the park opens at 10:00 a.m. for general admission, with Early Entry for eligible resort guests beginning at 9:30 a.m. rather than the usual 8:30 a.m. start. This represents a full-hour delay from normal operations, implemented to accommodate the Disney Princess Half Marathon course, which utilizes roads around EPCOT and requires the park to adjust its opening procedures accordingly.
For many guests, this schedule change significantly impacts the value of visiting EPCOT on March 1. One of the key benefits of arriving at the parks for rope drop is the opportunity to enjoy attractions during the early morning hours when wait times are shortest, and crowds have not yet built up to midday levels. However, the delayed 10:00 a.m. opening eliminates this entire early morning touring window, which experienced Disney World visitors rely on to complete major attractions before lines become excessively long.
Even guests with Early Entry access only gain 30 minutes of reduced-crowd time starting at 9:30 a.m., compared to the full hour typically available at 8:30 a.m. This lost time is significant at EPCOT, where popular attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Frozen Ever After can quickly accumulate long wait times once crowds enter.
Why You Might Want to Avoid EPCOT March 1
Beyond just the delayed opening time, several factors make March 1 a potentially suboptimal day for EPCOT visits. The condensed operating window means all guests enter the park within a shorter timeframe rather than crowds building gradually throughout the morning. This can create more intense initial crowding at popular attractions as everyone rushes to experience the same rides simultaneously.
The Disney Princess Half Marathon impacts operations at Disney World by closing some roads in the morning. The race course runs on the roads within Disney World, so these closures typically begin around 5:00 a.m. and last until all runners have finished. These road closures alter traffic patterns throughout the resort, causing delays and requiring guests to find alternative routes to reach parks, restaurants, or other destinations on the morning of the race.
If you are driving to EPCOT on March 1 and staying offsite, expect heavy traffic and potential confusion due to road closures and detours. Even if you use Disney transportation, you might face delays as buses and other services navigate around closed roads and increased traffic. These issues can make already hectic mornings even more stressful as you try to organize your family and arrive at the parks on time.
Better Alternatives for March 1
If you’re visiting Disney World for multiple days during the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend, consider using March 1 for a different park rather than EPCOT. Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom maintain normal operating schedules and won’t experience the same race-related impacts that affect EPCOT. You could visit one of these parks on March 1 and schedule EPCOT for a different day when it operates on standard hours without race complications.
Alternatively, March 1 could serve as a resort relaxation day, pool time, Disney Springs shopping and dining, or exploration of resort amenities rather than attempting park touring under less-than-ideal circumstances. If you’ve been maintaining an aggressive park schedule, the forced later EPCOT start provides natural justification for taking a break without feeling like you’re missing prime park time.
If you need to visit EPCOT on March 1 due to a short trip or other reasons, it’s essential to be aware of the updated schedule for planning. Arriving around 9:45 a.m. lets you enter when the park opens at 10:00 a.m. If you arrive at 9:15 a.m., you can take advantage of Early Entry if you qualify. The later arrival gives you time for a relaxed morning, allowing for a leisurely breakfast and less rushing.
The Broader RunDisney Context
The Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend represents one of several runDisney events held annually at Disney World, all of which create similar operational impacts through road closures and modified park schedules. If you’re planning Disney World visits and want to avoid these complications, check the runDisney calendar before booking to ensure your dates don’t overlap with major race weekends.
EPCOT’s altered schedule on March 1, due to the Disney Princess Half Marathon, may make visits less enjoyable. The delayed opening and race-related traffic could disrupt plans, so consider avoiding the park that day if possible.
