We had a new name for the 5k this year - Mickey's Holiday 5k - along with a new day. The 5k was held on Friday, the 10k on Saturday, and the half marathon on Sunday. All morning races. The 5k ran through Animal Kingdom and the start and finish, though different lines/areas, were both in the parking lot. Race time began at 6:30am and I think maybe 5 minutes between each corral.

The expo was well organized as far as bib and shirt pickup. I will say that I was there on Thursday morning before opening to get a spot for the merchandise, and while the lines were organized and everyone was polite, when the doors opened, they failed to monitor the initial amount of people going inside. For the first 30 minutes you could barely move through the aisles, they were so jam packed. They started holding the line back and only letting a few in at a time, but I wish they had started that from the get go. It was very stressful and overwhelming. While most were nice and would pass back sizes or products, there were others just pushing through. I think starting from the beginning they need to only let a few folks in at a time (like they do in California - Tinker Bell was so well organized and controlled, the shopping experience was a breeze). The lines to checkout were long, but I feel they moved pretty quickly.

PROS:
+ runDisney transportation was easy to use for expo and the race. You had a 30 minute window for the 5k to get on the bus to be at the race to be in corrals by 5:30 (I think they ran from the resort hotels from 4:30–5am)
+ Medals for the 5k this year instead of medallions
+ I saw 4 character stops, but heard others saw 6. Lines generally moved pretty quickly.
+ Plenty of the PhotoPass photographers on course. You could then get your photos via Memory Maker or if you are an Annual Passholder, it comes with that (you had to enter the code on the back of your bib to link them up - easy to do).
+ It's really cool to run through Animal Kingdom while the sun is rising. Looked really awesome behind Expedition Everest.
+ While some parts of the course get narrow, mostly it's not too bad. Read why I gave the elevation and course scenery those scores in the Cons.
+ Post-race you receive a bottle of water, Gatorade, and the runner box filled with: tortilla chips, cheddar dipping sauce, dried cranberries, oreos, Clif Builder's bar, GoGO Squeez, and a wet wipe.
+ Pre- and post-race you had the opportunity to get your photo with Mickey and Minnie, though there were long lines and they had time limits (I think maybe stopped photos at 6am and then had to leave by 8:30 to get inside the park).
+ Clear course markings, mile markers, and clocks.
+ Volunteers/Cast Members are fantastic!
+ Transportation back to hotel went until 9am, which then the park is open so you can either go have some fun on the rides (if you have a ticket) or hop on the hotel buses if you miss the race transportation.

CONS:
- I wish the 5k shirt was tech material over cotton. It's the hard cotton, not that super soft material, so I'd just rather have a tech (I wear them all the time, even when not running)
- Corral placement seemed off. I feel that's people submitting finish times inaccurate with what they actually run, trying to get a better placement. We were towards the front of our corral (I went back to D with my mom), and at the start people were just walking. I'm fine with people that only walk, but they should have been in E, or at least the back of D. It was unfair that people were trying to run at the start line and couldn't.
- Elevation I gave a 2 just because there are some very minor inclines, but mainly it's for the fact that some of the pavement is uneven and you want to be careful of your footing. Not a big deal, but something to notice.
- Course scenery would get a 5 if we didn't have that out and back towards the end. Mainly it's just super congested and hard to run through the crowd since it's more narrow (I don't think they can do any other way for the course, so I get it, but still frustrating).

Even with a few cons, it's a race at Disney so it's really fun and mostly laid-back. I enjoyed myself despite getting caught in congestion at points... I expect it, especially if you start farther back and then stop for photos, you just get caught behind more walkers. This was my 5th year at Wine and Dine Weekend and I love it.

2016 was the Inaugural Wine and Dine 10k held on Saturday, November 5 at 5:30am. It was also the Inaugural Lumiere's Two Course Challenge which was the 10k and Half Marathon. You can read my thoughts on the expo under my 5k review.

PROS:
+ Photos ops pre- and post-race with Check Mickey and Minnie, Emilie and Remy (though Remy left earlier so my mom and I only got Emile), Lumiere, and/or Donald Duck and Goofy.
+ I think I saw 6 character stops, though there might have been more I missed (not sure you'd count it, but penguins from Marry Poppins, Flik and Princess Atta, Pinochhio and Geppetto, Genie, Chip and Dale, and Sebastian.
+ 10 minutes between each corral, went from A–E.
+ Easy to use race transportation (at least where I stayed, I heard some horror stories of no buses showing up because they kept filling it up at the one resort before going to the second stop). I think you had to be on a bus between 3:30 and 4? So that runners were in corrals by 4:30? They took down the digital event guide so I can't double check.
+ Post race run box was same for 5k and half, plus got bottled water and Powerade.
+ Loved the inaugural medal.
+ Start and Finish line were in Epcot parking lot (again, two different locations for each)

CONS:
- A bit of congestion here and there, but generally I felt it was better than the 5k - you had about 3 miles on highway before anything else where it was mostly wide areas for runners to spread out (a few narrow areas, but everyone seemed to manage).

The course took your from highway to Epcot, half way around the world to the Boardwalk, enter Epcot again, and then out of Epcot for the finish. runDisney is great at organization and race management is very clear in their emails. Loved this race and the medal. Very happy I was able to take part in the Inaugural race.

You can read about the 5k and 10k in my other reviews. This was the first year the half marathon was in the morning (boo) held on Sunday, November 6 at with a 5:30am start and I think 3 minutes between corrals. I believe corrals went from A–L. I did miss the 5k morning half at night (I am definitely more of a night runner than the morning), and not having the Osborne Lights to run through Hollywood Studios made me sad. Not wearing a hat, visor, or sunglasses makes me happy, and I can only do that at night haha.

PROS:
+ Great expo
+ Long Sleeve Champion Tech Shirt
+ Register for Lumiere's Challenge you get a third long sleeve shirt (10k, half, and challenge), and after completion of the races, a challenge medal.
+ Transporation to the start (at ESPN WWoS), finish was at Epcot.
+ After party at Epcot from 10pm Sunday through 1am Monday morning (runners get a ticket with race registration and spectators could purchase tickets). Early entry beginning at 8pm for Illuminations.
+ Lots of character meet and greats at the after party.
+ Run through Animal Kingdom and Epcot.
+ Though the course was a bit boring (maybe 2 miles inside parks?), they had a lot of fun characters outside the parks in these areas. I can't remember how many stops total there were, but I feel like it was a good handful.
+ Plenty of aid stations + extremely energetic and cheerful CM and volunteers.
+ Post-race included photo ops with backdrop, bottled water, Powerade, wet towels, banana, and the runner box filled with goodies.
+ Photo ops post-race with multiple character options.
+ Lots of PhotoPass photographers on course.
+ $10 giftcard for runners to use at post-race party (or anywhere Disney). It was supposed to be emailed, though I never received mine, but was easy to get a hold of it when I was pointed in the correct direction.
+ Transportation to bring you back to your resort.
+ Great medals.

CONS:
- Only run through 2 parks instead of 3, and Epcot is VERY short.
- Lots of highway and backlot course this year. At least they had a lot of characters outside the parks. I hope when construction is done at HS they have the course go back through there again.
- Never received the email with my $10 giftcard code. Had to get this resolved and was told to go somewhere, and when we went there someone told us nope, go here.Luckily they weren't too far apart, so not a huge deal, and it went quickly which was nice.
- Lots of misprints, so some merchandise was taken off the shelf (so to speak, as it never went on the shelf haha). The pre-order jackets needed to be mailed out (they didn't say this was due to misprints but an issue with the printer or something...). I was not impressed with the pre-order tumbler, and feel that was a last minute effort after whatever we should have gotten was misprinted too. I can't say for sure, but it just seems like quality of it wasn't up to standards of runDisney gear.

I love Disney races. Yes, prices increase every year and it's a mighty high cost, but it's so much fun and you get a lot of great quality stuff with the cost (shirts, medals, run through Disney, post-race party, food and drink after race, race and expo transportation).

Thursday, November 24, 2016; 8am start - 15th Annual

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot with special 15th Year Finishers Medal! The challenging course on the scenic streets of Palos Park is 4 miles and USATF certified. There are 13 hills. In 14 years this race has donated over 120,000 cans of food and $3,000.00. The event is limited to 1,300 and proceeds, which include 2 canned goods from every entrant, go to stock the Worth Food Pantry. Each participant receives a stocked goody bag and a special giveaway item (hooded shirt (purple for women and green for men) and Feetures socks). Start and Finish outside Palos Park Rec Center. No aid stations, but give 3 stars because I don't think it's necessary for a shorter race distance to have one. They can be nice, but not needed. Weather was in the upper 30s, cloudy - my kind of weather.

PROS:
+ Parking is limited at the race start, so you can park at a nearby Metra lot (you don't have to pay for parking), and the race has school busses to take you to the start and back again when you were finished.
+ Packet pickup is at the store (Running for Kicks in Palos Heights) Monday–Wednesday.
+ Packet pickup on race day.
+ Packet pickup also included map for parking and the course.
+ Goody bag included a purple or green hooded shirt and a pair of Features running socks.
+ Tent to hang out in before/after race.
+ 5 year age group awards going 3 deep.
+ Post race bottled water, bagels, and bananas.
+ Family friendly - love seeing so many people being active.
+ Smaller race, maybe about 700 participants.
+ NEW for 2016 - race medals. Not sure if it'll happen again next year or just special for the 15th year.

CONS:
- There was a screw up with the shirts (not sure what happened), but the women's didn't have any L and I think they ran out of women's sizes... I heard that it was possible that the men and women's numbers got mixed up.
- It wasn't obvious during registration that the hooded shirts were gender specific - in the past it's been unisex so was unaware it was gender specific.
- No raffles during the post-race party - I think this was due to the shirt mishap and they likely had to shell out cash to order more. Would have been nice if they announced it, as I was waiting around for them haha.

I really enjoy doing this race every year. I think this was my 5th or 6th year running this race. It raises money and donates food to the hungry and I love starting my holiday (that generally means lots of food) with a 4 miler. I think this was our fastest pace yet, too :)