I've done a few Disney races, and this is my favorite by far. This one you spend the majority of the time in the parks or Boardwalk instead of running roads, ramps, and by gas stations! The expo was really nice. Anything you might have forgotten or want to try out/look at, they likely have it there. The t-shirt is a very nice tech shirt and the medals I really liked. Race management was really good about keeping you up to date with emails. weather alerts and anything you needed to know prior to race morning.

Some people do not like the 5:30am start time, but I personally don't mind it. For this race, we stayed at the Polynesian Resort. We simply walked up to the start and that half mile walk was a nice warm up. Corrals were much better than previous races where volunteers checked your bibs and you could not go up in corral, only back.

During the race, it gets pretty crowded. There is roughly 25,000+ runners/walkers in attendance. For most, the Disney races are a "Disney Experience with a running component" versus the other way around, and therefore a lot do not know or follow running/walking etiquette. Be mindful of that so you are aware of where you're going.

The race itself had so much Star Wars action and characters it was really nice. My husband fell in love with it. I love how the volunteers and cast members are so positive and cheer on all runners/walkers.

At the end you get your medal, snack box and drink , and walk about another half mile to a waiting area to reunite with family/friends. Shuttles are constantly coming through to take you to your cars/parks/resorts, so that's a nice perk.

Overall I would do this race again because of the quantity of time spent in the parks and the entertainment value along the way.

With the exception of parking for the expo, this event had no flaws and I cannot wait for 2020 to do the Ultra!

This year I did the 15k race. The expo was HUGE and there was so many vendors and shops to check out. Packet pickup was an absolute breeze. I would highly recommend either going early to the expo, or staying in downtown Tampa and walking over. We stayed about 15 minutes away, and trying to find parking for the expo Friday afternoon was a nightmare. Race day parking your can reserve in a parking garage which is MUCH easier to get around in.

Race day there was plenty of communication regarding starting line, what wave you were in, and if you were doing the 5k after where you needed to go. The start is before 7am, which is good since Florida is hot, but it was still warm for the race. The staff and volunteers had water stops at just about every mile, and with that came plenty of crowd support, and sprinklers to keep you cool!

The course- getting to run Bayshore Blvd along the bay while the sun came up was one of the most incredible and speechless things I have seen while running. It was intense being in a timed event racing, but the tranquil water and sunrise was so peaceful. The course was wide enough for all types of people- from the elites running, to those doing intervals (me) and others just casually walking the event.

Even though its an out-and-back course, it never felt boring. Between the bay, the great Spanish architecture of the houses and buildings we ran by, the music and entertainment along, and the volunteers- it was a pirate party all 9.3 miles.

The medals and shirts are just the tip of the swag you get. After the race, it was like a buffet! The Gasparilla events have so many great sponsors, and they load you up with snacks and drinks after the race! I had so many I saved one of my bars for the race I had the next day. You also get a free beer after the race, but I needed to get back to hotel to check out. (since I stayed farther away)

If you need a Runcation to Florida, this is the race weekend to do it. You will not regret this 15k or anything Gasparilla does.

Disney is a magical place for all. I did this half in 2018 and 2019. There are aspects of the race I love, and there are some reasons why I won't be back for year 3.

The Love- it's at Disney. How cool is it to run through Cinderella's castle, meet character's, and have fairy dust sprinkled on your at the end? The expo is really huge and if you forget something, they pretty much all types of gear, fuel, shoes, hydration, tape, you name it. The elevation/course isn't bad minus the on-ramps. So don't neglect your hill training just because you're running in Florida! Aids were pretty good, they had a mix of Gatorade and water, along with sponges/rags to cool off and energy beans to keep ya going. The swag in 2018 for the anniversary was really nice, 2019 was pretty lackluster for Disney. The shirts are tech shirts and very nice, the medals in 2019 looked cheap.

The not-so-magical parts... Disney races are not cheap. You are absolutely paying for the experience. I would definitely make it as part of a vacation to make it really worth the trip. I actually like the 5:30am start times, but I know some folks do not. Parking is ok if you're staying on site or get there early. We stay off site and try to get there no later than 4:30 to ensure parking. 2018 was really bad about people jumping in corrals ahead of where they were placed, and in turn messing up pace for others behind them. I also found both years for many, this is a "Disney experience with a bit of running" not the other way around, therefore there is lots of folks who do not know or respect running/walk etiquette. Be mindful of that so you're watching where you run.

The part that really took me back about this race is you really don't run much of the parks. You run a few miles in the Magic Kingdom and the last bit in Epcot. The rest is roadway, ramps, and away from the parks. When you're in the MK or Epcot, there is lots of entertainment. Once you leave, it gets really boring. If you want more of the parks and entertainment, this is not your race. (the Star Wars Half is MUCH better with this)

I would say everyone should do it once, especially the character meet-and-greets. But for the price, it's not a repeatable experience in my opinion.

Despite it being really cold out, this is a great race for a great cause! The 5k goes through Tom Sawyer park, which looks really pretty in the fall. The course is flat, well marked and has two aid stations. The expo/event area after the run is inside and HUGE. Lots for those that have kids to see and do. You can even get your picture with Santa!

My favorite part is the fact that they let you wait inside the expo area until a few minutes before the race! No waiting out in the cold, which was obviously great for me, but really nice for those who had kids with them.

Staff was amazingly friendly, I like the thicker cotton shirt for this race, and the Christmas themed medal was a nice surprise! (for the price I didn't think we were getting one)

I will be back again to support this wonderful cause and local race, just in time to kick off the holidays.