Its six in the morning, Disney World hasn’t opened yet, but here you are sprinting past familiar rides dressed as Tinkerbell. You’re caught in a small clan of tutu-and-mickey-ear-wearing ladies and wait… is that a Pluto? A winding line ahead concludes at the Donald and Daisy meet-and-greet. Should you stop for it? You wonder if sweat has disturbed your sparkly face makeup. You are excited by where you are, you are entertained by the multitudes of fellow costumed runners, you are running a runDisney race!
After running the runDisney Springtime Surprise 10k in 2022 I would have to say that I would love to run other Disney races again and again. From marathons to shorter distances there is an assortment of race distances to choose from when participating in a runDisney event. To see all race offerings, visit the runDisney website.
Here is what it’s like running a runDisney Race: what’s offered, the atmosphere, and the magical moments that make it a truly unforgettable experience:
How to Sign Up
Stalk their website and sign up for email notifications! They release limited tickets at certain times of the year so depending on which race you want to enter you can see when Disney will release tickets. They sell out quick, sometimes the same day they are released. Therefore, as soon as your race opens up, be prepared to lay down the cash.
They are definitely expensive but what do you expect it’s Disney! In general, all races are pricey but I’d say a Disney race is typically two to three times the cost of a normal race entry. Nevertheless, my “complementary” race t-shirt and medal from the runDisney Springtime Surprise race is one of the nicest and my favorite that I have ever received. Many people can be spotted in Disney parks wearing their race medals after completing their race that day. Finally a socially acceptable way to let everyone around you know that you are a runner.
The Courses
Marathon
The flagship event of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, this 26.2-mile race takes participants on a journey through all four Disney parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Half Marathon
This 13.1-mile race follows a similar course as the full marathon. Though for distances shorter than the marathon, courses will vary and may include just a few parks or even some resort areas.
10-Miler
The 10 mile race distance is available during the Springtime Surprise weekend in Disney World.
10K
A shorter distance race covering 6.2 miles. When I ran the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend 10k we rain though a resort area and Epcot.
5K
The shortest race of the marathon weekend, the 5K covers 3.1 miles and is suitable for runners of all abilities, including beginners and families.
*Disneyland California also offers limited race events twice a year at the beginning of the year and in the fall. Check the runDisney website for more information.
The Themes
Each race offers its own Disney theme that is incorporated in race merchandise, displays and for the race completion medal. The theme for the Springtime Surprise weekend 2022, that I completed, was Race for the Taste, a Ratatouille themed race. With this theme in mind, I dressed as a chef and my friend dressed like a mickey waffle.
The runDisney Health and Fitness Expo
Held a few days prior to each race, at the expo, participants can pick up their race packets, shop exclusive Disney race merchandise and check out local and larger vendors selling running products. There are also interactive displays and Disney character meet-and-greet photo opportunities to add to the Disney magic.
What is the Goofy and Dopey Challenges?
The Goofy challenge is when participants complete both the half marathon and the marathon on back to back days.
The Dopey challenge is completed by running all 4 races for a combined total of 48.6 miles over four days.
Before the Race
Keep an eye out for the runDisney email that will contain any updated race info and the attached waiver, which must be signed digitally beforehand.
A few days before the race, plan to visit the runDisney Health and Fitness Expo, located at the ESPN world of sports center, in order to pick up the race packet which will contain: race bib with tracking number and starting group information. Transportation is provided to the Expo for any participants staying at Disney resorts.
If friends and family want to be spectators, check the runDisney website or race emails received beforehand which can include details such as where the free spectator watch areas are located.
Many people utilize the run-walk method, popularized by Olympian and famed running coach, Jeff Galloway. More Jeff Galloway training information and his free downloadable training plans are available on the runDisney website.
On Race Day
Be prepared to rise unnaturally early in the morning. Races begin at 5am and it is recommended to arrive 90 minutes prior to the assigned starting time in order to find the assigned coral.
Shuttle buses from Disney resorts to the starting line usually begin around 3am. There is a bag check for any items not needed during the race.
Start groups are based on the estimated finishing time that participants gave during their registration process. Each start group will be entertained with music and hosts that will count down and celebrate the race start with a small display of sendoff fireworks.
Medical tents, bathrooms and refreshment stations are located throughout the course. After completing the race there are various displays and photo spots for runners to commemorate their finish. Shuttles are again available post-race to return to resorts.
During our race, we stayed at the most budget-friendly Disney resort available: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. One thing we found funny with our stay, was we noticed that shuttles to and from the expo and race were always distanced with the cheapest being the farthest from entry point and the more expensive the resort then the closer it was to entry points. Way to remind a guest the cost of saving a few bucks!
My Experience
Since I gave a very modest estimation of my finishing time, I ended up in one of the slowest waves. I regret this because I found myself weaving through relaxed runners for most of my race.
Further, because we were in one of the later starting times, the lines for meet and greets were quite extensive by the time we arrived. While I wouldn’t lie, I would definitely recommend entering your fastest race finishing time when you register.
Also, the post-race snacks were kind of strange. I think race organizers dropped the ball by not offering mickey-themed snacks such as why not a Mickey pretzel?!
I remember receiving tortilla chips with room temperature queso (which I did not eat because it was morning and I don’t eat cold queso) and Powerade (I prefer Gatorade but I still drank it).
After our race we showered, changed, and headed straight back out to spend a few hours in Epcot. In the afternoon, we returned to our resort because it rained heavily and then we hung out the rest of the night watching movies at the resort, because we were pretty exhausted from the early wakeup time.
If I were to do another runDisney event
I would spend more time planning my costume. The costume and seeing other people’s costume were my favorite parts of this race.
I would not worry about my race finishing time. Rather I would stop to take more photos or actually get in line for meet-and-greets.
I would not go to a Disney park after my run, unless I had run a shorter distance like the 5k. The parks are extremely expensive so I would want to fully enjoy the park, from open to close, without the exhaustion of waking early and running several miles that day. Alternatively, I would rest for a few hours at my resort after the race and go to Disney springs in the afternoon or attend a post-race party in the evening (tickets can be purchased for the post-race party on the runDisney website).
I would absolutely recommend a runDisney race for someone’s first marathon or half marathon. This is not a high stakes race, runners can stop and rest as they wait to take pictures with their favorite Disney character or they can run the whole time. This is the perfect laid-back way to experiment with longer distance races.
Conclusion
Running a race at Disney World combines the thrill of competition with the magic of Disney. Enjoy the energy and explore Disney parks in a way you never imagined. Whether it’s stopping for a selfie with Mickey Mouse or running while wearing your own Disney costume, this is one of the most fun races you could ever run.
For more running, Disney and travel tips check out my other posts!