Pros: -Really flat course is perfect for a PR...if it's not 93% humidity like it was for me -Really cool to run through Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but the majority … MORE
Pros:
-Really flat course is perfect for a PR…if it’s not 93% humidity like it was for me
-Really cool to run through Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but the majority of the course is on a highway/backlot
-Corrals are extremely well organized.
-Pre-race entertainment to hype you up (although the National Anthem singer messed up the words…yikes)
Cons:
-Really early (5:30am) start means you run in the dark for much of the race if you’re in an earlier corral
-Definitely arrive very early to manage the inevitable traffic congestion (lots of charter buses with runners who stayed in the resorts)
-Expo is too big (three different buildings within the Wide World of Sports), but there are not many cool things. The Run Disney stuff was a little too cheesy/princessy for my liking, so I didn’t buy anything. 🙁
-Long walk from the entry area to the start line – it was about a 20 min walk, and there were no porta potties near the start line, so you have to make sure you time a trip to the bathroom well
-Finish line food is mediocre at best. For the price of the race, I expected a full blown meal, but instead received an applesauce pouch, banana, and unappetizing tortilla chips.
-NOT RECOMMENDED to run after three days of park hopping. My legs were gone, and the heat/humidity didn’t help. Otherwise, I think the course could make for an easy PR.
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Easy course, but weather is hit/miss
Pros: -Really flat course is perfect for a PR...if it's not 93% humidity like it was for me -Really cool to run through Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but the majority … MORE
Pros:
-Really flat course is perfect for a PR…if it’s not 93% humidity like it was for me
-Really cool to run through Magic Kingdom and Epcot, but the majority of the course is on a highway/backlot
-Corrals are extremely well organized.
-Pre-race entertainment to hype you up (although the National Anthem singer messed up the words…yikes)
Cons:
-Really early (5:30am) start means you run in the dark for much of the race if you’re in an earlier corral
-Definitely arrive very early to manage the inevitable traffic congestion (lots of charter buses with runners who stayed in the resorts)
-Expo is too big (three different buildings within the Wide World of Sports), but there are not many cool things. The Run Disney stuff was a little too cheesy/princessy for my liking, so I didn’t buy anything. 🙁
-Long walk from the entry area to the start line – it was about a 20 min walk, and there were no porta potties near the start line, so you have to make sure you time a trip to the bathroom well
-Finish line food is mediocre at best. For the price of the race, I expected a full blown meal, but instead received an applesauce pouch, banana, and unappetizing tortilla chips.
-NOT RECOMMENDED to run after three days of park hopping. My legs were gone, and the heat/humidity didn’t help. Otherwise, I think the course could make for an easy PR.
Most Magical Race Ever!!
If your a Disney lover...this rave is MOST definitely for you! But even if you aren’t a Disney runner...or a runner at all, there’s a place for you at a … MORE
If your a Disney lover…this rave is MOST definitely for you! But even if you aren’t a Disney runner…or a runner at all, there’s a place for you at a Disney race!
Running through the parks is amazing and all the characters stops/djs make the course fly by! It was very flat compared to the NC hills I’m used to, but I’ll admit running up the on ramps at around mile 10 wasn’t too much fun. Other than that the course was enjoyable!
I think the price of a rundisney event scares people away sometimes, but having finally given in to the urge to spend over $200 on a race, there’s no doubt in my mind it was worth every penny! Everyone over the weekend was there to support the runners and make the race weekend the best it could be for us! We didn’t have to worry about transportation or anything other than the race ahead! The volunteers were amazing and everything was so smooth and fun and stress free! The course was awesome and the bling is gorgeous!! I’ll definitely be back!
Very fun girls weekend racation
Very female oriented race but males are able to do it if they choose. Some groups even dress up on costumes going all out. Weather tends to be hot and … MORE
Very female oriented race but males are able to do it if they choose. Some groups even dress up on costumes going all out. Weather tends to be hot and humid for time of year.
Warm and muggy
Mid February and the day was warm:and exremely muggy. The course is great, though it does get narrow in some places. Lots of water stops, lots of aid stations around. … MORE
Mid February and the day was warm:and exremely muggy. The course is great, though it does get narrow in some places. Lots of water stops, lots of aid stations around.
Great First 10k
Overall, this race was a blast. I'm not sure any amount of training will prepare you for the crowds or the long photo lines. Even though I had been warned, … MORE
Overall, this race was a blast. I’m not sure any amount of training will prepare you for the crowds or the long photo lines. Even though I had been warned, I still wasn’t prepared for the amount of standing around, waiting for the corral to get to the start line. Disney does everything well and their races are no exception. The swag, the expo, the snack box at the end… all first class.
Must have Girl Race Power Experience!
This was my first half marathon and it did not disappoint! The amount of support that the women in this race showed each other was truly overwhelming. Running through the … MORE
This was my first half marathon and it did not disappoint! The amount of support that the women in this race showed each other was truly overwhelming. Running through the Disney parks was also a ton of fun! I will say the large amount of time on roads did slightly lower the experience but seeing everyone’s costumes and the support on the way made it a fantastic first half marathon!
An Excellent First Half
**Disney races are expensive, but also great races for first timers: relaxed mile requirements, lots of fun entertainment, and fellow runners of all experiences, speeds, and sizes.** This was my … MORE
**Disney races are expensive, but also great races for first timers: relaxed mile requirements, lots of fun entertainment, and fellow runners of all experiences, speeds, and sizes.**
This was my first half and I’m so happy it was! This race brings you through the Magic Kingdom, running through Cinderella’s castle. While geared more toward female runners, several male runners were also present.
A Decently Magical Experience
For this to be an enjoyable race, you must submit a decent POT! There are 25,000+ runners with varying abilities, large corrals, and non runners with questionable running etiquette. After … MORE
For this to be an enjoyable race, you must submit a decent POT! There are 25,000+ runners with varying abilities, large corrals, and non runners with questionable running etiquette. After I was done and looking back at the thousands of runners still coming up the course, I can’t imagine it being an enjoyable experience for the further back corrals. I took off in B (10K) and D (1/2). It was still pretty open, lots of room to maneuver and more experienced runners who followed the rules of the road.
For a good portion of the races you are running on highways in and around Disney (the clover leaf exit ramps are brutal), but when you enter Magic Kingdom or Epcot…that is what makes the experience. Crowds before the race are fun and supportive. Disney on course photography is GREAT. Best race photos I have ever received (but expensive to purchase). Definitely more of an experience than anything else.
Nice girl race
Nice race but crowded course at times. Race ediquite missing at times. Shirts are nice. Medals are nice. Sells out quickly. Expo is just ok. Race merch can sell out. MORE
Nice race but crowded course at times. Race ediquite missing at times. Shirts are nice. Medals are nice. Sells out quickly. Expo is just ok. Race merch can sell out.
Tons of fun
This is a great race. Energy at the start line is great. Lots of water stops and medical care available. Disney photographers get tons of great photos you can download. … MORE
This is a great race. Energy at the start line is great. Lots of water stops and medical care available. Disney photographers get tons of great photos you can download.
You can go for a great time on a flat course, or just have fun jogging/walking and taking pictures with characters along the way.
Lot of people
Great run, but lots of people and slow start. Disney area was super and there were not too many spectators that early I would do it again. It the half … MORE
Great run, but lots of people and slow start. Disney area was super and there were not too many spectators that early
I would do it again. It the half is more exciting
Disney Vacation
This has been a bucket list race and it was so much fun. Realize 1) its an expensive weekend at Disney World 2) you're not going to PR 3) you're … MORE
This has been a bucket list race and it was so much fun. Realize 1) its an expensive weekend at Disney World 2) you’re not going to PR 3) you’re getting up super early. We had to board the bus to take us to race start at 3am! They do this race prior to the park being open thus the early start. Honestly you don’t run much in the park… most of the run is done on the grounds of the park and hotels near by. you only run in the park for less than 1 mile when you go thru the castle. That was disappointing! Not sure I’d go back but I did enjoy while I was there.
Not the Most Magical Race
Yes, I was fully, thoroughly trained for this race. There are better races with better courses and better swag out there for much less $$. I know that many people … MORE
Yes, I was fully, thoroughly trained for this race.
There are better races with better courses and better swag out there for much less $$. I know that many people just LOVE to runDisney, but I find running this particular race exhausting both physically and mentally. I’ve done other runDisney races that aren’t as stressful.
The Field:
25,000+ runners all squashed up together into corrals that don’t really correspond to the capabilities of anyone slower than a 2:30 time isn’t really fun. I realize that many will want everyone to “just run faster”, but that’s easier said than done, and my 14:30 half pace should not correspond to last 3 corrals, which are mostly 16:00 pacers and their friends.
Terrible race manners. Better than last year, but still. Runners bumping each other, walkers creating barricades across the whole road. Runners stopping mid run to do whatever and causing crashes. Sure would be nice to have room to run without having to dodge people.
Corrals:
Maybe it’s just me, but being forced to the back of pack at a Disney race as a runner/run-walk-runner is tough. It’s basically impossible to get past the pack of walkers. I don’t begrudge the walkers AT ALL! I do, however, wish that there was a way for runners to get around that pack safely and find a space to run or Galloway their way to the finish. The corrals from L-P are PACKED like sardines, so be prepared for that.
Food:
I despise that there is no food or coffee available near this race. As big as the race is, and as money hungry as Disney is, you’d think that there would be breakfast food at the staging area and that Disney and its Good Neighbor hotels would have breakfast open (all night?) super early. Many races and hotels near them have these amenities. Why doesn’t Disney?
There are NO COFFEE MAKERS or MICROWAVES in value hotels, either, so you really really have to plan and be strategic if you want food between 2:30AM (wake up) and the start of your race (5:30AM-6:30AM depending on your corral).
Pack some GOOD food in your clear gear bags. You’ll need it after the race.
Bag Check:
AMAZING! This is one of the easiest gear checks I’ve used. Easy to get in and get out.
Swag:
Tech Shirt and a Medal – pretty typical. Medals are lovely. Shirts were true to size this year.
You can buy other shirts for $40-$100 and if you are with it, you can purchase the commemorative bundle for $50 and the pins for $15 when you sign up.
Expo:
Expo was fantastic. Finally, they’ve gotten better about putting out merchandise in waves, so there’s some available to more runners. I do wish they’d limit how many items each runner can purchase, so there are magnets, Tervis, pins, visors, and headbands available for each wave of Expo visitors.
Water/Fuel:
There are 9-10 water stops (there should be more). Most stops have water and powerade. I really needed the Powerade, but they only have yellow, which will swell my throat closed instantly. I wish they’d change to blue or a clear; there has been blue in the past.
There is 1 Cliff Gel stop. They offered 4 different types of gel in both caffeinated and not.
Course:
Boring, or maybe I just couldn’t see through the sea of people. The best part of the course is running up Main Street in Magic Kingdom. The rest of the course is a pretty big snooze. Disney really should get more fun signs out there to break up the monotony. There are a few spots where there are DJs and a couple with people being entertaining. I really appreciated the families who were near the park entrances and lining Main Street with signs and cheer for all of us.
There are photo opportunities on the course at each mile marker. Unfortunately, the lines are so long that late corrals have zero chance of getting photos with characters. I do understand the need to get roads open, so maybe there should be more opportunities for photos or a smaller field.
The worst parts of the course are the two overpasses. They are VERY NARROW and tipped to the right, so you need to walk near the top in the grass or you’re walking sideways. It’s painful, and forget running (unless you started super early and are with a sparse crowd).
I think that’s everything.
First Half Blues
Admittedly, this was my first half marathon. I don't really remember much because, despite training appropriately with the Jeff Galloway app, I was unprepared for the stress of this race. … MORE
Admittedly, this was my first half marathon. I don’t really remember much because, despite training appropriately with the Jeff Galloway app, I was unprepared for the stress of this race. Between the early wake up (which I’d practiced), not being able to eat close enough to race time (nothing’s open and no pre-race food at staging area), and having not perfected my fueling, everything is a blur, and I’m surprise that I finished.
FOOD: Surely Disney could have food/coffee kiosks or cafeterias open for breakfast during race weekends. It’s not unthinkable that runners would want real food and coffee prior to their races – day-old bagels aren’t really food. Post race snacks were good. I especially loved the coconut puffs. It would have been nice to have real food, though, not just junk food.
RULES: A field of 24,000+ people makes for a lot of noise, rudeness, and poor race etiquette. We ran into many large groups of walkers blocking the course, not following the 2 people across suggestion made by runDisney. Loads of people passed on the right and were pretty rude while doing so – running too close and yelling.
START: The start was amazing. I loved that there were fireworks for each coral’s start. There could be more water and fuel on the course, but I appreciated the fuel that was offered. I appreciate that the 16 mm pace requirement begins when the last person crosses the start.
COURSE: The race goes along very long, flat, boring roads with nothing to break the sun or monotony. Because of the path of the course, there is little entertainment and no support for most of the course. I really enjoy courses with scenery. This is not one. The best part of this course is running up Main Street in Magic Kingdom with the castle looming in the distance. There was some comedic entertainment on course, but there could be more.
EXPO: Expo is amazingly easy to navigate. There’s so much to see, do, and buy! I do wish runDisney would allow runners to pre-purchase magnets and pins specific to their race.
MEDALS & SWAG: The medal was amazing; the shirt was cute. For our money, I really feel that we should receive the medal pins, magnets, and tumblers. I get better swag from much much cheaper races.
COST: This race is $$$. I’ve paid less than 1/2 for every other half I’ve run. Of course, it’s Disney, so many will say it’s worth it, but this course didn’t feel very Disney to me.
Awesome races, with awesome swag
Be prepared for the crowds. Be prepared for early rising and bus boarding. Be prepared for wait before race actually starts. Be prepared for time it takes to leave corrals … MORE
Be prepared for the crowds.
Be prepared for early rising and bus boarding.
Be prepared for wait before race actually starts.
Be prepared for time it takes to leave corrals and get to start line.
Be prepared for slow runners/walkers (people do not have room to spread out and have clear running)
Fairy Tale Run!
What's not to love about dressing up like a princess and running with many other like-minded and outfitted ladies (and a few good-sported gentleman, too!)? The reason I highly recommend … MORE
What’s not to love about dressing up like a princess and running with many other like-minded and outfitted ladies (and a few good-sported gentleman, too!)? The reason I highly recommend this race is the atmosphere and “pure fun” of the race and overall experience. In fact, I’m pretty sure that fairy dust was sprinkled in the air during this race and for the entire race weekend.
A few things to consider as you approach this race:
1. Registration fills up quickly! Be sure to register within a few hours of registration opening which is on July 14th at noon EDT for the 2016 race.
2. Part of the fun of this race is making a weekend of it at Disneyland. Consider making your plans for the rest of the weekend well in advance of your trip to reserve your tickets to whichever park(s) you choose, selecting your rides, booking your resort hotel room (or other lodging nearby), and booking dinners. All of this can seem a bit complicated to the novice Disney goer, but don’t let this worry you! Disney reps are standing by to help you out (or, as I did, go with an experienced Disney goer, and learn from a pro!)
3. The next decision (and possibly the most important!) is …. What to wear?! I dressed as Alice in Wonderland. My friend dressed as Queen of Hearts. (Yes, we were adorable… two peas in a pod, we were!) There are so many fabulous options from which to choose. One word of advice, though: consider a costume that is made for running (or, more to the point, sweating). Various websites (e.g., Etsy) have costumes that are made out of running material; this is a good thing.
4. Decide before you run what your goal is for your race. Are you running for time or just to have fun (including taking pics with all of your fav Disney characters)? There are frequently long lines to take photos with characters, but this is all part of the fairy tale for this run. Unless you feel the burning desire to “go for time” on this race, my recommendation would be to relax, roll with it, and take as many “character” photos as you can. You will look back fondly on those photos and be glad you did! Plus, since the race starts so early in the morning, you will still be done with the race, even allowing for photo time, before most civilized folks have had breakfast!
My friend and I plan to run again in 2016. Hope to see you there!