Overall, amazing race and weekend. This was the final race of the DOPEY challenge. Most of this review is similar the other 3 races, since the only difference really is the course itself. But if you didn't read those I'll still mention it below.

T-Shirt/Swag: Shirts were a tech tee shirt, which was nice. When you picked up your bib and shirts, you got a small cliff bar, but there were plenty of samples throughout the expo. The race was Mickey Mouse themed, so he was featured on the medal, as well as the shirt.

Aid Stations: There were plenty of water stations through the race. I carried my own electrolyte drink since I don't like powerade. There were also plenty of portapotties and the start and the finish, as well as along the road outside the parks themselves. Once inside the parks, you could use the park restrooms.

Course Scenery: Can't beat Disney, even if it isn't the most gorgeous. Since its fully on property, there were characters all over the place. You start out along the epcot highway and head towards magic kingdom. The scenery isn't the best, but there are characters along the way to keep you occupied. You got to magic kingdom around mile 5 and running through those gates was amazing. Everyone was stopping to take pictures. Once inside the magic kingdom, you run down main street towards the castle, which still had the Christmas decorations on it and it was spectacular. You turn and go through tomorrow land and through the castle. Here is there the biggest bottleneck it. It took some people 10 minutes just to get through. It's very narrow and people kept stopping for selfies, but didn't get out of the way, which didn't help. There are photographers at the bottom of the castle in front where you can get some great pictures at.

After the castle leave MK at mile 6.5 and run the other side of the seven seas lagoon head over to the animal kingdom. You hit the back lot of animal kingdom around mile 12 and get back onto the main roads on the other side at mile 14.5. Depending on your timing, while in the animal kingdom you may be able to get on the expedition everest ride. They start the ride about 15 minutes before the park opens, and even after the park is open people let the runners in front. It's whether you have time to ride it and not be at risk for being swept. Now you have the boring part of the run. Down the parkway to the ESPN zone, where you arrive around mile 17.5 and somehow you stay there until almost mile 21. There were some good characters there but boy was I happy to leave that one. After ESPN you are back on the road until mile 24 where you are at Hollywood Studios and almost at the finish. Since the parks are open at this point, there are lots of spectators cheering you on, which is nice, and the way they have people cross and not get in the way of the runners is great. At mile 24.5 you get onto the promenade and you are in the clear from being swept. You arrive at the boardwalk at mile 25, go around the boardwalk into Epcot and go around the world showcase. If you have money on you some people would stop to buy some food (turkey leg) or beer. Then it's a straight shot down to the finish line. By this point I was just plain exhausted!

Expo: Crowded. I usually just pick up my bib and leave, buying gear is usually pricey and with the cost of the race I'd rather just skip everything. I was with a friend who has a list of things she wanted so I went to get in line with her so we could be there at the opening. While looking for her things I saw a track jacket I really liked and was able to pick up the last one in my size. By the time I left the crowds had come in full force, the lines to check in and purchase items where long and it was hard to navigate. There is usually a bunch of shoving and pushing to get the official "RunDisney Merchandise" which is why I usually avoid it, but since I was there so early I made it out before the craziness started. The merchandise area did seem smaller than at the princess race, but I really don't spend much time at One nice thing was that the check in and the shopping were at different buildings, so you could completely avoid the craziness of the gear area.

Elevation Difficulty. Slight hill to get over the highway but nothing of note.

Parking: I stayed on property and took a shuttle, which made travel very easy. The lines for the shuttles can be long, and with a 5am race, you are up by 3, it makes for a long day. If you choose not to stay on property, the parking lot was getting filled up real early and the traffic to get in was very long.

Race management: Overall, the management at Disney Races are great. There's always ways to improve though. First, the Corrals are HUGE, which causes bottle necks when the course gets narrow. Second, lots of people run these races, most for fun, but so many people are not aware of basic race etiquette, such as keeping right if your slower, rasing a hand if you're starting to walk, passing on the left, not walking 4 people wide and taking up the whole path. Like I mentioned earlier, the way they managed the traffic in the parks once it was open was really great, and did not get in the way of the runners at all.

Other: The Snack box at the end of the race is pretty nice, although it changes each year. This year there was a cliff bar, cheese tip, tortilla chips, dried fruit, oreos and a wet nap. They also hand out bananas. If the weather warrants, they hand out Mylar blankets to keep warm. There's plenty of water and powerade in the finish shoot as well. PHOTOGRAPHERS are everywhere on the course, and in the finish shoot. At the expo you have the option of purchasing all the photos of you for a discounted rate.

I highly recommend this race. although I won't do it again since there are so many other runDisney races, and coming from Seattle the costs add up, so I don't do repeats here.