I've done this race for 2 years now and it's a very fast and well laid out course. Both years was a nice 40 degrees outside which is perfect PR weather if your going to push hard. In 2015 the course was very foggy and 2016 it looked like rain would be an issue. It ended up being a great day for everyone who participated. There are plenty of bathrooms available at the start, great race swag each year and high quality race photos are also provided with the race entry.

Packet pickup and Expo: This is a huge event and is held at the convention center. The parking isn't an issue with the parking garages as long as your prepared to pay $15-$20 depending on how far your willing to walk. The expo is huge with just about every major vendor present some with great sales taking place at the expo.

Race Day:
Again parking can be an issue so carpooling is recommended. Once you arrive to the starting area (Expo location) they have an indoor area with a bag drop by race number as well as bathrooms. This is the same place you will return to after the race to get your bag back, get your food and meet with family.
As it gets close to race time everyone will head outside to get lined up in the corals. These are done by letter and will also have bathrooms available. One thing about this race is that it is probably the best supported race I've been to with aid stations and bathrooms located throughout the course.
The coral entrance is controlled by volunteers and race officials to make sure that a D coral runner doesn't go to A or B. They want everyone to be running with the right speed group so you don't end up behind someone doing 30on/30 off when you started your race with the 4 hour pace group or faster.
The course is mostly flat with the exception of some interstate underpasses were you will go down and then back up to street level. The course will take you from downtown through Rice University, through the Galleria shopping district and north through Memorial Park. As you approach the end of the race you will go back into downtown and don't be surprised if your GPS gets a little off from the large buildings.

When you finish you are directed back into the convention center area to pick up your drop back and get food and medical as needed. You are then able to meet with family in the family meetup area with letters designating meetup spots.

For spectators: There are many places in all the major areas of downtown Houston to watch the race and many cheer from multiple locations. At the finish there is a bridge they build just after the finish line for people to cross the course so that they can meet up with their runners and if you have a stroller or wheel their they have a gate with volunteers who will look for a safe time to cross the line of people coming from the finish line and entering the convention center.

Let me start this with letting you all know that this race is HUGE! I've never been to one of the big city races but this from what I've heard is comparable with 17-20K runners. I don't know the actual number this is what I overheard. It is by far the largest group I've ever run in. Now for the review.

Being Disney everything around this race is designed to be an experience. As such it can be a little expensive. It's worth living it up your first time. I grew up going to Disney World regularly and it never gets old. All re resorts have bus transport to and from the race. Several of the resort hotels are also on the race course making it easy for family to cheer you on. (Make sure you have a cell phone or something they can use to see where you are. There are far to many people for them to see you by chance) If you need to keep costs down you can stay in a local hotel off of the Disney property. The only thing you need to keep is morning of transportation and transportation back after the race.

The packet pickup and expo is located at the Wide World of Sports and has plenty of parking and lost of people to direct you on where to go. The expo is huge and will take some time just to wonder around to see what they have. One of the favorite booths my year was the NewBalance area for the special Disney Marathon shoes.

Race morning is real easy if you're staying at a Disney resort. We just confirmed the bus pickup and time in the lobby at a special table setup just for the runners the night before. Morning of we rode the bus with our drop off bags to the race area. You will have a bit of walking to do once you get off the bus. You will have your bag drop off by last name and then walk to the starting corral areas. We didn't submit a prior finish time when we signed up only matching expected finish times which put us in corral K. This basically means we had most of an hour after the race started before we were even to the start line.

The race is great! Every corral gets it's own official start with fireworks, Mickey and friends etc… then your off on the race. If your not in one of the first few corrals be aware that people who are most likely doing their first Marathon are also running with you and they haven't experienced people stopping in front of them while running etc… Be aware of this if your planning on running, a run walk or walk plan. If your walking stay to the side so the runners have a clear path. It's dark and they may not see you. This also applies later in the race as well. With this many people those running will be going around other runners and walkers and may run into you. It will keep you and them from getting hurt on this awesome run. I can't stress enough. Look behind you before you stop and make sure it's clear.
During the race you will run through every Disney park in Orlando. Several of then you will go through before the park is open and you may get to see some special things such as the animals on the road outside the Animal Kingdom or being able to get in line for a ride at the halfway point if the Animal Kingdom has already opened by the time you get there. Every mile parker is a new character sign and they have character meetups and photo ops throughout the race course. Obviously if your doing these they will add time to your race so decide early if your racing or running for the experience then live it up.

You will finish the race running through Epcot Center going through each country. The park will most likely be open so family who have paid for admission can cheer from inside the park. The people who are their on vacation also get into the run and cheer you on which makes for a great finish experience. You can even do some silly things like a couple we know who stopped in Germany for beer and took it along to the finish line. After you cross the finish line and have your medal you will be guided to the bag pickup area and an area where you can meetup with family. You will also receive a box with some stacks and drinks inside. I also recommend you visit the medical tent for some ice if you need it for sore muscles or just to get a Mickey Mouse space blanket. The buses back to the resorts also depart from here and can take you back to get cleaned up.

I'm sure you will also get info or see signs for other events in the area for the Marathon runners. Take advantage of these. For example I remember there being a discount on food at Disney Springs (Used to be Downtown Disney for those who haven't been in a while). I hope you all have a great time.

This is a winter race that my wife and I have run a few times. It's a 12K in relation to the 12 days of Christmas making in a unique distance.

The race packet pickup is at a local running store making it simple to get it and get out. Nothing exceptional about it.

The race start is located in the theater district near the Houston Aquarium. Parking isn't an issue as long as you have some cash for parking and remember where you parked. It will most likely be in a parking garage.
The start itself is located in a tunnel that passes through a building which can make for some fairly chilly wind while you wait. The run itself is along Memorial Drive headed west on the way out putting the sun at your back on the way out and in your face on the way back for 2 loops. It's a mostly flat course with an overpass near the start/midway/finish points that you will cross over 4 times with the out and back arrangement. The water stations are at the turn around points on the course and are well manned with volunteers. The finish is down the backside of the overpass to the same location as the start. After the race they have an after party with music, hot and cold drinks and breakfast food.

We really enjoy this race and recommend it to everyone as a good winter get out of the house race that’s a lot of fun.

This review is from the spectators point of view. My wife was the one who did the half marathon and my son who was 7 at the time ran the 5k.
This race is #1 of 3 races in the Bayou City Half Series
The location is at a local high school and we had no issues letting our oldest run the race by himself for the 5k. It was very safe and the local police were well placed long before the race started.

Parking was easy with the race being at the high school.
Before the race they had plenty of porta poties available. No supper long lines like you get at some of the major races.
The start line was setup with a corral and everyone lined up with their pace groupings. I took the double stroller up past the start to cheer and take pictures. It's on along road exiting the school that was shut down so I didn't have to worry about the kids wondering off into traffic.

We waited for the runners to return at an intersection going back onto the school property. This worked great because I was able to cheer for my son and then run to the finish taking a little shortcut (with a double stroller) to snap some more photos of him going down the finisher shoot. We did the same for my wife at her finish as well.

The finish line enters the campus and can't be seen until the last 100 yards or so by the runners. This is because the finish is behind the school. the runners make a left turn onto the final straight away.

The after party is well organized. They had food for the runners inside the school cafeteria as well as some vendor tents both outside and inside. This was good because it was a cold morning and it cave a warm place to go. For the kids they had a rock wall setup as well as a bounce house and at least one other inflatable play feature.

There is a kids race as well that they hold after the half marathon finishes. I can't remember how long it was. My wife set her half marathon PR that day and is already signed up for the race again this year.

All the participants received a tech shirt, sweats visor, FREE high resolution race photos, and race medal.

On a fun note Cal Neff (set the World Record for a half marathon while pushing a stroller shortly after this race) won the race as part of his weekend long run. He finished his planned distance and came back for the awards