Walt Disney World Half Marathon

I read Kim W.‘s review prior to doing this race. SOOOOOO glad I did. So many helpful tips. And Hannah M’s review was pretty spot on too.
This was my first RunDisney race ever for living in the area. I thought I would never do one until my sister (who lives in another state) talked me into do the Half so I figured I would cross it off my bucket list. Lucky for me, my sister handled the registrations and we highly recommend going through a travel agency to book a hotel/​race bibs.
Staying at a Disney hotel is just a common sense, no brainer. You’ve already spent so much on the race registration so what’s another couple hundred right. ;) Seriously, they have shuttles running from hotels to/​from both the Race Expo (where you will pick up your race packet and check out race vendors) and the Race itself. It saves you the headache of driving not to mention the traffic and maneuvering road closures.
Be prepared for an early morning wakeup call. Our race was on a Saturday morning with a start time of 530am. But they recommend you be on the shuttle around 3am meaning we set our alarms for 230am to not risk oversleeping. Also, I HIGHLY recommend bringing a cheap long sleeved sweater to wear while waiting in the corrals. It will be chilly and you will be waiting hours! On the good side, you can toss the top to the side once the race starts and they will donate to charity. I just wore one of my old race shirts but I know some folks picked up cheap tops from the Target clearance rack.
As for the corrals, you are supposed to submit a proof of time which will designate which corral you will be in. So the further out you are, the later your race time will start. Race time was at 530am but we didn’t cross the start line till well after 6am. So definitely keep that in mind. It is pretty neat seeing the runners energy and fireworks going off with every corral that is released.
One of the main things people warned was that it will be VERY crowded and not to waste my energy dodging the walking folks. So I would just pace myself and run /​walk. Also, just take in the sights and energy. The crowd support is fantastic and so uplifting especially when you’re at Mile 8 and have 5.1 miles to go! At every mile marker there are plenty of opportunities for photos with Disney characters but I didn’t stop b/​c the lines were so long. So if you care more about your race time, you may opt to skip. It’s up to you.
Also, Disney does it right… there were portapotties along the way, water/​Gatorade stations as well as First Aid, etc. This is probably the most organized and well executed race I have participated in. I felt more than hydrated. Another reason why you’re paying the amount of $$ for that particular race. Disney will take care of you.
As Kim W. mentioned, you are mainly running on the roads between the parks. But the time spent running in the parks is pretty awesome. I took some cool video footage as we were running towards Cinderella’s castle. Nothing like it. Again, that crowd support is amazing and the funny race signs lifted my spirits too!
I had stressed about what to wear to the race. In the end, I went with practical and comfy. Remember, it is 13.1 miles. I do applaud those in full costume and their hard work putting together. Just make sure to read costume rules before your race to make sure yours fits the requirements.
Post race, they hand you a runDisney box with snacks to nourish you after your long run. I think this is a way better idea than people in a line taking more food than they should. At least this way, everyone gets the same amount of items and they can plan accordingly for the amount of those running the race.
Overall, a very organized race but expect lots of crowds and money to be spent. While I’m happy to have participated, I’m not sure I would do again. check with me in a couple of years! :)

This is a 5-​star race, but I discount a star because it’s over-​priced.
Some concerns mentioned in older reviews have been resolved:
1) Foil wrappers are available pre– and post-​race (at the Information Booth, limited quantities).
2) Characters are available for photos post-​race, so you don’t have to stop running/​walking to wait in line for one.
3) The corrals went up to at least N and in my Corral C, I was able to run the entire time without any walkers in front of me.
Overall, it was a great production and if my body had cooperated, I might have gotten a PR! The course itself isn’t so exciting except going through Disney World for a couple minutes and then passing marching bands. I enjoyed running in the dark and the cool weather (60s). All the people I encountered were friendly and it was so nice to finish the race and be congratulated by so many volunteers.
The race course had a few small hills and in mile 11 or 12, there was about a half-​mile of slanted road, where my left foot was much higher than my right. Otherwise, it’s a great flat course with plenty of opportunities for hydration and also a Cliff gu stand.
Massages after the race were $ 1/​minute. Beers were $ 11 – 12.
I didn’t really want to walk over a mile to the start, but I guess it’s a warm-​up (?) and there were port-​a-​potties nearby (although you had to cross mud to get to them).
My wish would have been for real bathrooms somewhere after the race, where I could have had a stall and toilet paper instead of holding things in to avoid a port-​a-​potty nightmare.
Oh, and if you’re a later corral, you may not start for 45 minutes or more after the front corrals, so you could sleep longer or rest in your car for a while.
Would I do it again? Maybe. $ 170 is a lot of money and there really isn’t much to see during the run.

This was my first Disney half marathon. I was not sure how I would enjoy it due to past reviews. The pre-​race area was well organized and there were signs for where to go.
The walk to the starting corrals is a bit far. The DJ said half a mile (pittance when you think about how far we were actually running). They did have port-​a-​potties out at the starting line but once I was in the corral I didn’t want to battle my way out and then back in.
I was in corral F, but they went all the way to N. If you can prove your time and get in a closer corral, I would highly recommend this.
For the course: it was not overly glamorous but definitely was fun. There were local high school marching bands out playing (at least 4); you could stop and get your pictures taken with characters. And there were several spots along the route where friends and family could cheer you on.
The highlight is running through Magic Kingdom. They take you in through a side entrance so you have to take a right on to Main St. But boy, oh boy was it a sight! The castle was lit up with the icicle lights from the Frozen show. It was dark and foggy too so it was just a beautiful sight for the halfway point. You can even stop and have your photo taken in front of the castle. At the end of the race you run briefly through Epcot which is not all that glamorous (hard to beat the castle) but it’s the end so you know you are close.
The finish line is a welcomed sight. There are bleachers for your cheer squad for a final push down the homestretch. The ending wasn’t particularly spectacular because it’s the parking lot but after 2 plus hours of running, I didn’t really care.
The medals rock! Literally, you could take someone out with this thing! Disney always has good post-​race snacks with water and Powerade bottles for the taking.
Both pre-​race and post race you could have photos taken with characters which I appreciated since I didn’t want to stop mid-​race.
Other Disney races may have more flare or pizzazz but I had a great time and loved the experience. It also doesn’t hurt that the elite runners show up for this weekend so now I can say I ran a race with Paula Radcliffe!

This was a debacle for us from the start. We upgraded to the Half over the phone and they failed to enter our time so we ended up in back corral. Don’t bother calling or emailing them for a resolution as it is curtly dismissed. Not the Disney service of the past. We ran in corral P and knew we would have to move through some people, we never imagined how clogged it would be. This is not a race it is predominately walkers in the half. This was worse than LA traffic on the 405 during rush hour. If you are in any of the last half of corrals you will be walking. The only way to even jog some points is to off road some sections but it was a total bottle neck. Don’t expect to see a lot of the park in the race it is mostly streets and parking lots. There was 0 mylar handed out for runners at the end when your core body temp can drop dangerously low and people can pass out. Over all it was cute, a good «race» for first time half runners looking to wait in line for pictures with characters, however it felt rather disorganized compared to some Rock N Roll’s or other races. If you are going to race it (walk it) do it for the kitsch factor.

After paying $ 170 entry fee, $ 75 in gas, $ 80 on food, and $ 159 on lodging I really wish I could give this race series more than a one star rating. Sadly I can’t.
I want to preface this review by saying I’m a runner. I hesitate to call myself a runner but after 36 races, I think I earned the right to branch past the novice phase. I’ve done races across the country with various race organizers. I guess I’ve been very spoiled until my experience Saturday.
Picture it, 9 months ago. I conceived an idea that I would run this race with my brother. I painfully swallowed the initial $ 110 fee for the 10K and kept it moving. After a 5 minute discussion I convinced my brother to do the half. After waiting on hold for 45 minutes I was able to upgrade is to the half. I provided our times and paid the additional $ 60 to upgrade. So $ 170 for a half marathon. That doesn’t include lodging, food, travel, nothing. Keep in mind race organizers like the Rock n’ Roll only charge $ 75 for a full marathon. But I figured I was paying more for the Disney brand and some gracious hospitality. I was half right.
Before the race my brother checked his assignment and realized he was placed in the last corral. This is after me giving the lady our times over the phone and him going online and submitting his time through the official website. We were not pleased to say the least. He called, emailed, and NoTHInG. They would not acknowledge his emails or calls. What is with that? How unprofessional! So strike 2 against run Disney. Being in the back corral when you’ve been training for months is a big deal. It’s a punishment inflicted from the demons for doing nothing but trying to be a better person and a better runner. I was baffled at the lack of non-​response from them. Like a good sis, I opted to ditch my early corral to run in the back with my brother since he’s the reason I signed up anyway.
What did my $ 170 race fee get me? A medal. That’s it. This was one of the more disorganized races I’ve ever participated in.
The expo: this is a point of contingency with runners. Some love expos because they can look at the least and greatest race gear and mingle with other runners. Some hate expos and only go to retrieve their bib and race packets and keep it moving. While this expo was large, there were too many people to enjoy it. The volunteers who were a bit crass (the man literally snatched waivers out of runners hands, another volunteer threw a bib at a woman, another one barely muttered a word to me when I went to get my shirt) and the merchandise was lack luster. I will admit I’m a bit salty because the ONLY thing I wanted was a 13.1 Mickey Mouse magnet and they were out. I asked someone if they would have more and if I could purchase one online and you would have thought I asked for her first born child.
Race day: I can’t for the life of me figure out why the require all participants to get there so early. Okay I understand traffic for 30k people will be bad, so we got there at 3:30 as advised by numerous online reviews. So we got there. Sat in the car for a while because it was so cold. Got out and got in our car and waited and waited and waited for hours before our corral began.
You have to be there by 5 even if your corral doesn’t take off until 7AM. Having to stand on your feet for hours is not a good thing for a race and a runner. Exhaustion, dehydration and anxiety are plaguing you for 3 hours before you start the race. Not to mention having to wake up at 2. Horrible. The Peachtree road race, the largest 10k in the world does staggered star times and it works beautifully. Take a note run Disney!!!
Being in the back was hell on earth. I’ve never dodged so many people in my life. Why not have a walkers corral for people? And I’ve never been with people who have horrible manners or «runners etiquette» in my life. I was body checked several times and hit because people do not know the rules of racing. Please don’t expect to see the theme parks or take pictures with the critters. You only run 0.5 miles in the Magic Kingdom and the lines for the characters were so long it was crazy. People who in the F and G corrals were back with us because they had waited in line to take pictures and got held up.
I can say they did a good job with water stations. About every mile you got a water station. But.. . Drink the water. They watered down the Powerade and I almost threw up from it.
The end was anticlimactic. You get a medal and that’s it. You could take pictures in front of the banners but there was no after party like you have with other races.
Please please please, take my advice; if you want to run your first half please do another series like the rock n roll or your local running club. Most cities have one. You will be treated better and spend way less money.
If you want to do this for the Disney experience, just save the money and use that $ 170 towards all all access theme park pass.

I was extremely unhappy with this leg of the Dopey challenge. The 5k, 10k, and full marathon were all 5 stars in my book but this half marathon was just not happening.
The only scenery provided from miles 1 to 4 were roads (+ like, 2 characters)
Mile 5 ran through Magic Kingdom.
Then miles 6 through 11 were through roads (+ like, 3 characters)
Miles 12 to 13.1 were through Epcot.
I did most of my picture taking (about 5 pictures) on the day with the half because I wasn’t planning on going to the parks afterwards. It added on more than an hour to my time.
The line for Donald in Magic Kingdom: after I had waited for about 15 minutes, the Disney crew member taking the photo with my phone didn’t actually take the picture. I pointed this out to him, and he said, «I should have taken it.» and resumed picture taking. I stood there pissed off for a full minute with both photographers ignoring me and taking pictures for the queue until I asked the other photographer if the picture she took of me would be available online. She said yes (found out later, was NOT online). Worst customer service ever. I fumed for about a mile until I hit the mile of walkers, then I was even more upset.
There were SO MANY walkers on course. I assumed these were first time half marathoners and others who were trying to conserve energy for the marathon the next day. This was a problem because from mile 6 to 7, the path narrows significantly to where you literally had to walk the whole mile. When I passed a group of particularly slow walkers, one said in a deprecatory tone, «You’re not going to get anywhere, honey.» That irked me so bad! If I were less irritated I might have turned around and let her have it about running etiquette but I was too annoyed to deal. For all the weaving I do, I actually dislike all this sideways running. I also dislike body odor, which is amplified ten-​fold when you are caged in by walkers and can’t get away.
No. Let’s move on.

Disney always suckers me into signing up for races. I’ve run the Princess Half Marathon in the past, but this was my first time running the Walt Disney World Half Marathon. The course was the same as the Princess, so I knew what to expect. My only pet peeve is that the starting area is very far from the start line itself. You have to allow yourself 15 – 20 minutes to walk to the start line.
This year, I opted out of taking pictures with the characters inside the Magic Kingdom. The lines are ridiculously long. I wasn’t running this race for time, but I needed to make sure I finished in time to get back to the hotel to shower and check out. If you plan on running a Disney race, definitely stay at a Disney Resort. They have shuttles to take you to the race expo and to and from the race.
Winter weather is so unpredictable in Orlando. I’ve been to races were it was 30 degrees, and this year, the highs were in the upper 70’s/lower 80’s. Definitely check the weather forecast before you travel, and bring the appropriate running gear.
And don’t forget to dress up for the race! It’s always fun to see all the costumes along the course.

I usually do well at this half marathon because I love everything Disney! 3 years in a row, I’ve run this half marathon as part of the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge. This year I ran it as part of the Dopey’s Challenge. This race takes place on Saturday with Donald Duck as the conductor!
After being dropped off by one of the race motorcoaches, you will be directed towards the reunion area. There are security check stations for those with a bag before you head into the reunion area. If you have a gear bag to check, you check it before heading to the starting corrals. The starting line is about a mile away from the finish line located on Epcot Center Drive.
After they sing the Star Spangled Banner and shoot off the fireworks, it’s time to run a half marathon! Each corral is released one at a time with a few minutes in between each corral. The course in a nutshell is a race to the Magic Kingdom and back to the finish line at Epcot. As you run around the right side of Spaceship Earth and see the singing choir, the finish line is just right around the corner! There are photo opportunities with Disney characters along the course as well as in the reunion area after the race… so bring your camera or cellphone to take some pictures!

I’ve participated in several RunDisney events, including the WDW Half Marathon for the last two years. The first year I hated it, but that was more due to the fact that I was completely unprepared. This year, I trained more and knew what to expect from the race as a whole.
1. Your best bet is to stay at a Disney Resort the night before. Stick with a «value» resort if you’re just looking for a bed nearby, but don’t expect a lot. They are basically expensive motels. There are shuttles running back and forth from 3am to 5am between the resorts and Epcot. Traffic is crazy before the event, so the shuttles are your best option.
2. Although the race starts at 5:30am, if you are in a later starting corral, you might not start until 6:15am. So be prepared to wait.
3. You spend very little time in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Most of the race is on the roads between the two parks. They do have entertainment and photo ops with characters along the way. If you plan on taking pictures, expect long lines.
4. There is no runner’s etiquette. Many of the participants have never run in any major races. They walk on the left, side by side by side by side. It’s really difficult to maneuver, so don’t plan to PR. Just take your time and enjoy the crazy outfits around you.
5. Wear a crazy outfit. How often do you get to run around dressed like Eeyore in public without being questioned by the police?
6. Florida weather this time of year is unpredictable. Be prepared for it to be really hot and humid or really cold… and humid.
7. Disney races are well organized. Expect good expo vendors, course management, post-​race food and drinks, etc. Disney is expensive for a reason — they have their shit together.

The 2 stars are for the entertainment which was very good. However; this is not a running race (unless you are lucky enough to end up in one of the first few corrals), this is a walkathon. Very crowded on narrow streets with a ton of walkers. I usually have no problems with walkers as most of the time the walkers move off to the right. In this race the walkers were everywhere sometimes stretching 4 – 5 across on a road that is the width of one car lane. In every race I’ve run there is a certain amount of weaving, but this was ridiculous.
Overall, if you are looking to walk a race, this is the one for you. If you plan on doing any running, pass on this one.

I have done this race four times now, the most recent as part of the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge. Now for all those naysayers that will tell you that it is impossible to PR on this courser due to crowding I call shenanigans. Only one time have I done this race that it was not my PR for the distance and that time was because I was sick. This past year for the 2013 I actually took over ten minutes off my prior best half marathon time. The other reviews do a good job of breaking down price, what you get, and the early mornings well. For point of reference the farthest forward I have started in this race was coral B this past year, before that I was a d or e coral girl. I seem to have found my speed, next time I do this race I should be in A.

This review is for the 2013 Goofy Challenge.
The race organization was great, as expected from a Disney race. The expo was crazy busy and there was a huge line for packet pick-​up, but the distribution process was fast and the line went quickly. If you want to avoid the lines, definitely go as early as possible. The same goes for the start. The races are so crowded (especially the half) that I would recommend trying to arrive at least an hour before the start. That means you get there really early, but it beats fighting the crowds. Not a big deal to be a little late if you’re in a later corral, but if you’re in one of the first two corrals don’t expect to get there 15 minutes before the start of the race and make your start time. If you stay in one of the Disney Resort hotels, there is a free shuttle to and from the race and to and from the expo. Super convenient!
On-​course support was awesome! There were lots of water stations and medical tents, and of course the picture opportunities within the Disney parks and with the Disney characters really make the race. Finisher’s medals were awesome, especially the 20^th anniversary marathon medal with the double spinning section in the center.
My only complaint was that they did not let me switch shirt sizes after registering for the race. I e-​mailed the race organizers shortly after I registered when I realized I would need a smaller shirt (due to how much weight I lost from training) and they said sorry. It was months before the race, and for the price I thought they would be able to accomodate me.
Being a Disney race, it is definitely not cheap. This is experience I probably would not do every year based on the price alone, but great job to the Disney folks on a great race weekend!

2013 — Goofy Challenge
I loved absolutely everything about Marathon weekend. For an event this size, it is incredible what Disney is able to pull off. That said, you do need to keep that in mind. When this many people are running a race, you need to arrive early, you need to plan ahead and you need to keep an open mind.
The expo did have a lot of waiting, but I thought it was well organized! Some of the items were sold out, but they did have 2 areas selling merchandise and I didn’t check both. I picked up a shirt and a couple trinkets. The selection was the best I have seen for any race. I also got to meet Joey Fatone at the race expo, so that might have trumped all the waiting in my memory :)
Race day is early as balls. We got up at 2:30 because we wanted to get on the first bus to the race (stayed All Star Sports). We ended up getting there very early with some time to kill, but it was worth not being late, we had time to stretch and wake up while listening to the DJ and entertainment that they had at the area.
The walk to the starting line was insanely crowded. We definitely waited around too long at the DJ before heading to the start line and it was really congested. So for the full marathon the next day, we made sure to head right in. They do have port o potties at both locations so don’t feel like you need to get all your business done before heading to the start.
The race itself was the most incredible experience! I knew I had a full marathon the next day, so I paced myself, but quickly realized that running a Disney race for time is the dumbest thing you could do (for a person like me). I LOVED stopped at the characters and getting my photo taken. I loved seeing the park and the castle all lit up in the lights. I brought my camera and took my own photos, but Disney also has a camera at most of the character stops so if you can’t handle carrying something you will be okay. I ended up getting only 20 minutes or so off my goal pace which isn’t bad considering how many times I stopped. I think all the excitement and pure happiness flowing in my veins helped me run faster when I wasn’t waiting to meet a character.
I really liked the medal and the food spread after was pretty good! They also had a few characters at stations after the finish line so I could take pictures with the fiancé who ran the race as well, but we didn’t run together. The bus back to the resort was well planned. We barely waited for it take off and then we were the first stop.
I went in with low expectations knowing how many people Disney would have to cattle herd through 13 miles, but I had SO much fun. I will be back!

I’ve run two half marathons in my life — the Nike Women’s Half in SF (Oct 2012) and the WDW Half Marathon (Jan 2013). They were quite varied experiences, but I can only compare the two. Here’s how WDW stacked up against SF.
PRICE: Comparative to your higher end marathons. I always think about the total cost to go – not just the price of the marathon itself. As always with Disney, you must thinking about resort dining, hotel, and park admissions. There are other ancillary ways to spend your money — custom pins, necklaces, and apparel made just for the WDW half marathon. (I would have preferred to have skipped on the necklace and pin, but I stupidly bought it ahead of time.) However, let’s talk the real stuff — value and things to do nearby. I think Disney won this over Nike.
MEDAL: I prefer something practical like a Tiffany’s necklace (Nike) to a medal that I can’t wear out. My bff completely disagrees and prefers the medal to the necklace. Donald Duck is the rep for this half marathon. However, everyone was drooling over the 25^th anniversary medal that Disney whipped out for the full marathon. The Donald Duck medal did not compare at all. Nike wins this one for me.
RACE APPAREL: The free shirt that you get for this event comes in two types — adult male and kids. Much to my chagrin, the shirt was not only shapeless on my body but now bright yellow and long-​sleeved. Nike wins this one for me.
START TIME: I ran this thing on an hour and a half of sleep. When you stay at the resort, people are up until all hours of the night and LOUD when they walk and talk around. Then, due to runners’ nerves, my friend and I got up at 2am so that we could be dressed and on a bus by 3am to be at the start line well before the 5am requisite time. My actual stall (H – the last one) did not actually start until about 6:30 am. Meanwhile, I was standing around really tired. WAS NOT A FAN.
RACE EXPERIENCE: I have mixed feelings on this one. Most of the course is spent along the bayous and not in the actual park. There were about 30 or so character or picture taking opportunities, especially along these boring routes. That made things a lot nicer, but FYI this means the race will not be your personal best. There was only one food pitstop near mile 9 for Gu packs, and they were completely out by the time I got there. I was peeved, as I was quickly losing steam. There were a ton of DJs, and for the 1.5 miles or so that were inside the park, it was awesome. (The little bit in EPCOT was a joke.) They also had more photographers than on the SF course, and they posted pictures much faster online post-​race. I enjoyed how there were fewer groups of walkers 6 to 8 people across making it impossible to pass but much of the course had a very narrow path. So, it was still hard to work around people. Probably the one highlight that Disney truly trumped all was the runners themselves dressed in costume and in great spirits. This makes for a really fun event!
All-​in-​all, the experience was OK. I signed up for the Disney Dumbo Double Dare challenge in September, so we’ll see how that compares. I’m not really a runner, so I anticipate September being my last half marathon…

I ran this particular race in 2010, when I was working toward achieving my goal of participating in the Goofy Challenge; I’m happy to say, mission accomplished!
Anyways, I happen to attend this race on one of the most wickedly cold days in Central Florida ever, which included sideways rain making the route pretty dangerously iced over. Did I already say it was mean cold? Starting temp at the beginning hovered around 30 degrees, making a lengthy 13.1mi journey for me to complete the whole 3+hr affair.
Despite the finicky weather, this is still a great race, albeit an expensive one. Including having money to fly over here, plus entrance fees will definitely put a dent in one’s wallet if you happen to be coming in from other locations. Even with me living in Orlando at the time, it’s still quite pricey.
However, if you want something to cross off your bucket list, I highly recommend doing this as well as the entire weekend too! Here’s your chance to pose with all the Disney characters while making new friends and enjoying the music and the people all cheering you on. In the end, receiving that coveted Donald finisher medal is such a wonderful feeling! Not only does it look cool, but it’s also a piece of Disney memorabilia as well!
Another note: As long as you pace yourself and finish within the required times, you shouldn’t worry about being picked up by the buses that’ll take you back to the start line.
All in all, it was well worth.

I recently flew down to Florida as part of a «girls weekend» to run this half marathon — for fun, yes fun!** That being said here are my thoughts on the race:
Price: The cost rivals entry into Rock and Roll Las Vegas and the New York City Marathon. I am not going to lie — it’s pricey! Included in the entry fee was a long sleeve tech shirt (unisex — boo!), your bag to be used for bag check, a program of weekend events, and several samples. In addition each runner gets a metal for
Expo — Since I arrived to the Orlando area Thursday evening, I headed to the WDW Wide World of Sports Complex bright and early Friday morning to pick up my race packet. The Expo was open from Thursday until Saturday to accommodate the sheer volume of people participating in the 5k, ½ marathon and full marathon. I had heard that the Expo got increasingly crowded throughout the day, so I dashed into the Packet Pick Up Area (located in a huge field house) and was able to pick everything up with minimal wait. It was very well organized and there were plenty of cast members (what their employees are called) in the area directing participants to the various locations and family events going on throughout the day. I also liked how the Packet Pick Up and the expo itself were in separate buildings — it made for a slightly less crowded experience. The expo was pretty standard — with numerous merchants selling all types of running «essentials». Run Disney also had a booth and I will admit that I shelled out $$ for a shirt as the one that came with my entry fee was a unisex size and needless to say Mark got a free shirt out of my trip!
The Start — I am not going to lie I was up at 3am to get to the Epcot by 4am. I kept telling myself — this is for fun but honestly this is the earliest I have ever gotten up for a run (except for a couple Ragnar Relay’s). From the bag check to the locations of the port a potties, to the sheer energy of the announcers, Run Disney has this down to a science. There was no problem finding the start — I just followed the masses. This race does have a wave start (A-​H) that went off every 10 minutes. Even though the morning of the race was a bit cool and humid I recommend a set of throw away clothes as you might be waiting a bit for your wave to start.
Course — Even though the race is started in waves I don’t feel that it alleviated the congestion. I found myself bobbing and weaving from the start to catch up to my friends who were in different waves. When you have «runners» that cross the start line walking you know you are going to be in for an interesting race. That being said I think that if you are going to «race» this race you need to be at least in the first or second wave, any further back and you are subject to being blocked by «runners» linking arms 4 across. Additionally there are some parts of the course that are narrow and again if you are in a pack of walkers you might just be forced to link arms with them as well.
The course meanders its way through the Speed Track, parts of the Magic Kingdom and parts of Epcot. One of the draws of this race is that you can run through some of the portions of the parks, uninterrupted, and there are various characters on the course that you can have you picture taken with (but remember — time keeps on ticking). I do wish there would have been some way to provide the locations of the characters so I could have better planned my photo ops. Oh well — I think I still made out pretty well. I am not going to lie, though, there are portions of the course that are the back roads of the hotels and as the sun/​humidity increased
Fuel — *Hydration (water and Powerade) stations were well stocked and there were plenty of them throughout the entire course
Fuel was at mile 8.5 but by the time we reached it they were out — not good considering the heat and humidity that morning
Finish Line– It’s Disney what more can I say. With Daffy cheering you as you cross the finish outside of Epcot and the announcer shouting your name, whether you are the first or 5000^th runner for that instant you are special. Each runner is given their medal and opportunities for pictures are offered. One thing I loved about this race (besides the characters, medal, running through the parks) was that the post race food was neatly packed in boxes for each runner. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to juggle a banana, orange, and bagel and then find a place to sit.
For once in my running life I participated in a race and not once considered whether this was an «A», «B» or even a «C» race. I ran this race with no expectations. I ran for the experience of participating in a Run Disney Race, running through portions of Walt Disney World uninterrupted by tourists, and to share a unique experience with several friends. Mission Accomplished!
**Noted to add — As I read my first sentence I thought to myself -” self only a runner would run 13.1 miles for fun”