Major Delays Expected Near Disney for Marathon; I-4 Nightly Closures Begin This Evening

Disney Princess Half Marathon Disruptions

Commuters and visitors should prepare for significant traffic impacts across the southwest corridor of Orlando this morning, Sunday, March 1, 2026. The signature event of the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is underway, with race operations having commenced at 5:00 a.m. Major road closures are in effect throughout the Walt Disney World Resort property, specifically impacting routes surrounding EPCOT and the Magic Kingdom area. Drivers can expect delays of up to 30 minutes as traffic is rerouted through designated detours.

EPCOT is operating on a modified schedule today, with the park opening to the general public at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate the race finish. While most race-related closures are expected to lift by mid-morning, residual congestion will likely persist on World Drive and Buena Vista Drive through the early afternoon.

I-4 and Major Arterial Construction

Starting tonight, the Florida Department of Transportation will initiate several overnight construction projects that will affect late-night travel:

• I-4 at SR 528: The westbound Interstate 4 exit ramp to eastbound State Road 528 (Beachline Expressway) at Exit 72 will close nightly starting tonight at 10:00 p.m. for paving work. This closure remains in place until 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.
• Central Florida Parkway: All lanes under the I-4 overpass will be closed starting at 11:00 p.m. tonight for bridge work. Detours will be posted via International Drive and Daryl Carter Parkway.
• US 441 (Orange Blossom Trail): A continuous northbound single-lane closure remains in effect from Beggs Road to the SR 414 ramps. This long-term project is expected to cause slow-moving traffic throughout the day.

Downtown Events and Public Transit Alerts

In the downtown area, traffic is expected to be heavier than usual around Lake Eola Park due to the "It’s Just Yoga" festival and the March 4 TBI community celebration. Additionally, Panda Fest 2026 is taking place at Festival Park on East Robinson Street, which may lead to limited parking and increased pedestrian activity in the Milk District.

Public transport users should note that LYNX has issued service alerts for several routes due to the marathon, specifically impacting Links 19, 20, 21, and the LYMMO Grapefruit Line through 10:00 a.m. Regular Sunday schedules for the LYMMO Orange and Grapefruit lines feature 30-minute frequencies, and service is scheduled to end at 8:00 p.m. SunRail does not offer regular service today. Commuters are encouraged to use the Ride DTO on-demand service for $1 trips within the downtown core to avoid parking congestion.