The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 10-Miler Weekend

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror weekend was tremendously fun. As always, while expensive, RunDisney events are high on production value. This review is specifically for the 10-​mile run. The weekend, however, includes other events like family fun runs (1mi, 5k).
I squeezed this run weekend in on a short, 2-​day weekend.
PACKET PICK-​UP: I flew in late Friday night which meant I had to pick up my packet on Saturday before the run on Saturday night. My sister and I went first thing on Saturday morning (8:30am) to the ESPN Wide World of Sports center. We were able to pick up our bibs, shirts, and gear bags immediately. I was shocked that there was literally no wait. Meanwhile, a bunch of families were already here because the 5k was held at the same time on the field. It was great to see everyone costumed for that event.
EXPO: While picking up my packet, we lolligagged to the EXPO. We got to meet the great, official RunDisney trainer, Jeff Galloway. He reinforced his interval methods to me and my sister, as we hadn’t trained. (He suggested 15sec jogging/​30 walking.) Loved seeing some of my favorite exhibitors:
– Raw Threads (festive duds)
– FlipBelt (sister jokes the updated fanny pack, but so useful while on the run!)
– KT Tape (god bless the people who tape you for free! love this stuff)
– Sparkle Skirts (more festive duds)
PRE-​RUN: We arrived by 7:15. I wish I had arrived slightly later. There were a number of photogs on hand. Dear Disney, here is an opportunity to sell food or more Gu packs and the like before the event. More $$$.
DURING RUN: There were about a dozen or so character meet ‘n’ greets along the way. The ones I can remember off the top of my head:
– Captain Hook
– Shenzi, Bonzai, and Ed
– Evil Queen as the Wicked Witch from Snow White
– Dr. Facilier
– Stitch (who knew he was a villain?)
– Grave Diggers (with spark-​inducing scraping shovels) a la Haunted Mansion
– Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers
– Queen of Hearts with playing cards
– Some kind of haunted forest ghouls
– Big Bad Wolf
– Jafar and what looked like cobras from the Indiana Jones Adventure (DLR)
– Tower of Terror Goofy at the end
There were too many fog machines, and sometimes, you could barely see your way through the course or with the characters. (Specifically, the Evil Queen and that initial part of the dirt part of the course were fogged and dusted over.)
I was upset that there was no food. Shame on me; I should have done my research. I got hangry, as usual, circa Mile 7.
Also, as usual, you barely have a mile inside any of the parks. (No, I don’t count running around a baseball diamond a fun thing.)
POST-​RUN: So right when you’re done with Mile 10, you basically have to go uphill through the Fantasmic queue area/​past Tower for gear bag pick-​up and to grab goodies. This feels very steep after running be advised. There’s really no good place to sit and eat though you pick up everything right before getting to the Indiana Jones theater. The attendants will ask you to vacate the seating benches.
AFTER-​PARTY: I gotta say, this is the thing that made the Tower run cooler than the other RunDisney events. There were several attractions open until 3:30 am and additional character visits. Sis and I posed with Shan Yu (Mulan) near Tower. Vader and Storm Troopers were hanging out near the Star Tours entrance. Boba Fett was hanging near the Tatooine/​Cantina area around the corner. Toy Story Midway Mania, Star Tours, Tower, and Rockin’ Roller Coaster (plus more) were running. My sis, who is a Cast Member, remarked it was the smarter way to do a «Villain’s» night, if you’re a guest. Far shorter lines.
SWAG: Love that they now have womens cut tees and the Tower medal moves and glows in the dark. Score!
Overall, I have to say that due to the after party and the evening (vs. morning) start time, this has been my favorite RunDisney event to-​date!