This was my third time conquering the Dopey Challenge and as always, I am just so blown away by the level of organization and overall experience that RunDisney creates! The welcoming atmosphere makes this (and all RunDisney races for that matter) a great milestone race for conquering a new distance, and the magic of the weekend keeps experienced runners returning year after year!

Registration & Expo
I could honestly go into a whole series about the intricacies of RunDisney, as even the first decision to register can be tricky if you’re new to the experience. Registration for these races are a bit like the Hunger Games. Once registration opens, races can sell out in a matter of minutes, so be sure your calendar is marked and you’re ready in front of your computer when the site opens to sign up. Fortunately, my mother and I were able to sign up for the races we wanted. If you wind up getting a notification that the race has sold out, don’t fret! RunDisney will often release more registration spots in waves, so keep checking back over the following weeks after registration opens. Another option to consider if you have the means to do so is to run through a charity.
Normally I don’t go into the details of lodging and transit, but since RunDisney is in a league of its own, I’ll mention here that where you stay during this race can be really important. If you’re new to RunDisney, are traveling from a far place, or don’t have any non-runners in your party, I cannot stress enough the importance of staying in a WDW hotel. All on-property hotels provide transportation to and from the race for each race morning. If you choose to stay off property, be prepared and stay up to date with the RunDisney website for information regarding where to be dropped off, where to park, and possible road closures.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll make your way over to the expo. Be prepared to be overwhelmed (in a good way!) - there’s a lot to see and do, so make sure you give yourself enough time to pick up your shirts, bibs, and get a chance to check out the booths and merchandise! When we got there there was quite a long line to get into the merchandise room. We ended up going and grabbing our bibs/shirts first (a super straightforward process thanks to the many volunteers and signs directing you!) and returned to see that the line had shortened, but only slightly. Despite arriving at the expo fairly early on the first day, we were still surprised to see that quite a bit of the merchandise had already sold out (thank you, local scalpers…). The biggest tip for the expo is to pre-order your merchandise if you can!

Pre-Race
In order to give yourself enough time to make it to the starting line, go check your gear (if needed), get pictures with the pre-race characters and stretch, you may want to get to the race start between 3:00 and 3:30 AM. We were keen on prioritizing pictures since we chose to wear costumes (which is very common if you’re new to RunDisney!), and afterward we went over to the food tent and got a cup of coffee. In addition to fun photo ops, there was a DJ playing remixed Disney songs and hyping up the crowd. Around 4:15ish, the DJ instructed all the runners to start making our way over to the corrals. Make sure your bib is clearly visible, as volunteers will need to see it to let you into the corral that matches the corresponding letter on your bib. (Note: If you are running with someone else and they are in a different corral than you, you may only run together in the same corral as the lowest ranking corral. A slower runner CANNOT move up to a higher corral.) Once the runners started making their way to the start line, the hosts of the race came to the stage near the start and continued hyping up the crowd with videos, music, and chatting up the runners. Then, fireworks were launched and the race began!

The Race
The course this year was slightly different from previous years. The course starts in the Epcot parking lot, turning right and following the entrance road for the first mile. Right after mile #1, race along a turn ramp, running along the highway until just before mile 4. After exiting off the main road, racers travel through a backstage employee service entrance before entering into Hollywood Studios next to Tower of Terror. The course continues toward the center of the park before exiting out another employee entrance near the park’s main gate. Runners continue along the waterway, circling around the lakeside hotels such as the Swan & Dolphin, Beach Club, and Yacht Club to follow the pedestrian walkway toward Epcot. Participants run around the Skyliner lift station and enter the park next to the Canada pavilion. From there, the course continues toward Future World, running past Journey into Imagination, The Land Pavillion, and The Sea Pavillion before running under the Epcot sphere and back out toward the parking lot via a backstage service pathway, returning to the finish line.

Along the way, some of the character stops included:
Alice (Alice in Wonderland)
Peter & Wendy (Peter Pan)
Rafiki (The Lion King)
Green Army Men & Bo Peep (Toy Story)
The Hollywood Tower Hotel Bellhops (Tower of Terror Attraction)
Woody & Forky (Toy Story)
Orange Bird Statue Photo Op (Sunshine Tree Terrace)
Jake (Jake & the Neverland Pirates)
Koda (Brother Bear)
Pooh (Winnie the Pooh)
There were plenty of volunteers out to offer water and aid, direct runners to watch out for any possible road bumps or trip hazards, and cheer us on! RunDisney volunteers are some of the best out there!

Post-Race
After receiving our INSANELY large and GORGEOUS medal, runners could return to the start area for more photos, music from the DJ, and food trucks. Runners also get a snack box filled with plenty of treats to refuel with!

Tips (Buckle up, there are a LOT!)
The biggest deadline of this whole event is the registration! So mark it on your calendar and be prepared to sign up, or you may miss your chance!
Give yourself time to make it through the expo, and if you care about getting the merch you want - order ahead.
Remember to bring a fun Disney costume if you want to participate in the fun! (And be mindful of the weather too!)
Stay on property and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take the transit to the starting line if you want pictures.
Plan ahead if you’re running with friends in different corrals - you must run with the runner in the lowest corral, no runners can move UP.
The starting line can be a bit congested, so if you’re still mindful of covid protocols, bring a mask.
Speaking of the starting line, it can be congested and dark due to the lack of lighting along the service road. Watch your step and make sure that you keep pace with the runners around you - you don’t want to get run over, or run over someone else!
Plan your time wisely if you plan to stop for character photos - for the longer races, there are “Balloon Ladies” that will remove you from the course if you fall behind the minimum 16 minute mile! Even fast runners can lose track of time if the character line is too long or moves slowly!

Overall, a RunDisney experience is a guaranteed good time, and some of my favorite racing experiences happen at RunDisney events!

This was my third time conquering the Dopey Challenge and as always, I am just so blown away by the level of organization and overall experience that RunDisney creates! The welcoming atmosphere makes this (and all RunDisney races for that matter) a great milestone race for conquering a new distance, and the magic of the weekend keeps experienced runners returning year after year!

Registration & Expo
I could honestly go into a whole series about the intricacies of RunDisney, as even the first decision to register can be tricky if you’re new to the experience. Registration for these races are a bit like the Hunger Games. Once registration opens, races can sell out in a matter of minutes, so be sure your calendar is marked and you’re ready in front of your computer when the site opens to sign up. Fortunately, my mother and I were able to sign up for the races we wanted. If you wind up getting a notification that the race has sold out, don’t fret! RunDisney will often release more registration spots in waves, so keep checking back over the following weeks after registration opens. Another option to consider if you have the means to do so is to run through a charity.
Normally I don’t go into the details of lodging and transit, but since RunDisney is in a league of its own, I’ll mention here that where you stay during this race can be really important. If you’re new to RunDisney, are traveling from a far place, or don’t have any non-runners in your party, I cannot stress enough the importance of staying in a WDW hotel. All on-property hotels provide transportation to and from the race for each race morning. If you choose to stay off property, be prepared and stay up to date with the RunDisney website for information regarding where to be dropped off, where to park, and possible road closures.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll make your way over to the expo. Be prepared to be overwhelmed (in a good way!) - there’s a lot to see and do, so make sure you give yourself enough time to pick up your shirts, bibs, and get a chance to check out the booths and merchandise! When we got there there was quite a long line to get into the merchandise room. We ended up going and grabbing our bibs/shirts first (a super straightforward process thanks to the many volunteers and signs directing you!) and returned to see that the line had shortened, but only slightly. Despite arriving at the expo fairly early on the first day, we were still surprised to see that quite a bit of the merchandise had already sold out (thank you, local scalpers…). The biggest tip for the expo is to pre-order your merchandise if you can!

Pre-Race
In order to give yourself enough time to make it to the starting line, go check your gear (if needed), get pictures with the pre-race characters and stretch, you may want to get to the race start between 3:00 and 3:30 AM. We were keen on prioritizing pictures since we chose to wear costumes (which is very common if you’re new to RunDisney!), and afterward we went over to the food tent and got a cup of coffee. In addition to fun photo ops, there was a DJ playing remixed Disney songs and hyping up the crowd. Around 4:15ish, the DJ instructed all the runners to start making our way over to the corrals. Make sure your bib is clearly visible, as volunteers will need to see it to let you into the corral that matches the corresponding letter on your bib. (Note: If you are running with someone else and they are in a different corral than you, you may only run together in the same corral as the lowest ranking corral. A slower runner CANNOT move up to a higher corral.) Once the runners started making their way to the start line, the hosts of the race came to the stage near the start and continued hyping up the crowd with videos, music, and chatting up the runners. Then, fireworks were launched and the race began!

The Race
The course starts in the Epcot parking lot, turning right and following the entrance road for the first mile. The course continues on the highway, turning north and running under the Magic Kingdom road entrance archway toward the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, the course circles right along the Seven Seas Lagoon, passing the Contemporary hotel before turning onto a service road to enter the Magic Kingdom. Once inside the park, the course runs up Main Street and turns left, entering Tomorrowland and circling the park counterclockwise, passing through Toontown, Fantasyland, and through the heart of Cinderella’s Castle. The course then heads west into Liberty Square and Frontierland, exiting via a backstage employee entrance road behind Big Thunder Mountain. The course continues on the back road for bit before joining up with the main road along the western side of the Lagoon in front of the Grand Floridian Hotel at mile #7. Miles 8-11 follow along the highway returning runners back to Epcot, where, after entering via a backstage entrance behind the Land Pavillion, racers cross Future World and pass by Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind before exiting through a backstage pathway and reaching the finish line back in the parking lot.

Along the way, some of the character stops included:
Mary & Burt (Marry Poppins)
Tinker Bell & Periwinkle (Tinker Bell & The Secret of the Wings)
Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde (Zootopia)
Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)
The White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland)
Sebastian (The Little Mermaid)
Mickey Mouse in Colonial Costume (Liberty Square Land)
Liver Lips McGrowl & Shaker (Country Bear Jamboree)
Mechanical Maleficent Parade Float Photo Op (Festival of Fantasy Parade)
Horace (Mickey Mouse Classic Cartoons)
Mickey Mouse Golf Cart Photo Op (Magnolia Trail Golf Course)
Lilo & Stitch (Lilo & Stitch)
Thumper (Bambi)
Bolt (Bolt)
Wilbur Robinson (Meet the Robinsons)
There were plenty of volunteers out to offer water and aid, direct runners to watch out for any possible road bumps or trip hazards, and cheer us on! RunDisney volunteers are some of the best out there!

Post-Race
After receiving our INSANELY large and GORGEOUS medal, runners could return to the start area for more photos, music from the DJ, and food trucks. Runners also get a snack box filled with plenty of treats to refuel with!
Tips (Buckle up, there are a LOT!)
The biggest deadline of this whole event is the registration! So mark it on your calendar and be prepared to sign up, or you may miss your chance!
Give yourself time to make it through the expo, and if you care about getting the merch you want - order ahead.
Remember to bring a fun Disney costume if you want to participate in the fun! (And be mindful of the weather too!)
Stay on property and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take the transit to the starting line if you want pictures.
Plan ahead if you’re running with friends in different corrals - you must run with the runner in the lowest corral, no runners can move UP.
The starting line can be a bit congested, so if you’re still mindful of covid protocols, bring a mask.
Speaking of the starting line, it can be congested and dark due to the lack of lighting along the service road. Watch your step and make sure that you keep pace with the runners around you - you don’t want to get run over, or run over someone else!
Plan your time wisely if you plan to stop for character photos - for the longer races, there are “Balloon Ladies” that will remove you from the course if you fall behind the minimum 16 minute mile! Even fast runners can lose track of time if the character line is too long or moves slowly!

Overall, a RunDisney experience is a guaranteed good time, and some of my favorite racing experiences happen at RunDisney events!

This was my third time conquering the Dopey Challenge and as always, I am just so blown away by the level of organization and overall experience that RunDisney creates! The welcoming atmosphere makes this (and all RunDisney races for that matter) a great milestone race for conquering a new distance, and the magic of the weekend keeps experienced runners returning year after year!

Registration & Expo
I could honestly go into a whole series about the intricacies of RunDisney, as even the first decision to register can be tricky if you’re new to the experience. Registration for these races are a bit like the Hunger Games. Once registration opens, races can sell out in a matter of minutes, so be sure your calendar is marked and you’re ready in front of your computer when the site opens to sign up. Fortunately, my mother and I were able to sign up for the races we wanted. If you wind up getting a notification that the race has sold out, don’t fret! RunDisney will often release more registration spots in waves, so keep checking back over the following weeks after registration opens. Another option to consider if you have the means to do so is to run through a charity.
Normally I don’t go into the details of lodging and transit, but since RunDisney is in a league of its own, I’ll mention here that where you stay during this race can be really important. If you’re new to RunDisney, are traveling from a far place, or don’t have any non-runners in your party, I cannot stress enough the importance of staying in a WDW hotel. All on-property hotels provide transportation to and from the race for each race morning. If you choose to stay off property, be prepared and stay up to date with the RunDisney website for information regarding where to be dropped off, where to park, and possible road closures.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll make your way over to the expo. Be prepared to be overwhelmed (in a good way!) - there’s a lot to see and do, so make sure you give yourself enough time to pick up your shirts, bibs, and get a chance to check out the booths and merchandise! When we got there there was quite a long line to get into the merchandise room. We ended up going and grabbing our bibs/shirts first (a super straightforward process thanks to the many volunteers and signs directing you!) and returned to see that the line had shortened, but only slightly. Despite arriving at the expo fairly early on the first day, we were still surprised to see that quite a bit of the merchandise had already sold out (thank you, local scalpers…). The biggest tip for the expo is to pre-order your merchandise if you can!

Pre-Race
In order to give yourself enough time to make it to the starting line, go check your gear (if needed), get pictures with the pre-race characters and stretch, you may want to get to the race start between 3:00 and 3:30 AM. We were keen on prioritizing pictures since we chose to wear costumes (which is very common if you’re new to RunDisney!), and afterward we went over to the food tent and got a cup of coffee. In addition to fun photo ops, there was a DJ playing remixed Disney songs and hyping up the crowd. Around 4:15ish, the DJ instructed all the runners to start making our way over to the corrals. Make sure your bib is clearly visible, as volunteers will need to see it to let you into the corral that matches the corresponding letter on your bib. (Note: If you are running with someone else and they are in a different corral than you, you may only run together in the same corral as the lowest ranking corral. A slower runner CANNOT move up to a higher corral.) Once the runners started making their way to the start line, the hosts of the race came to the stage near the start and continued hyping up the crowd with videos, music, and chatting up the runners. Then, fireworks were launched and the race began!

The Race
The course starts in the Epcot parking lot, following a service road for the first mile. Right after mile #1, runners enter Epcot from one of the employee entrances behind Test Track, coming into the park itself by the Mexico pavilion. Runners then run inside the park, circling the World Showcase for the next mile. Shortly after mile #2, participants briefly exit the park, running around the Skyliner lift station and returning backstage before re-entering the park next to the Canada pavilion. From there, the course continues toward Future World, running past Journey into Imagination, The Land Pavillion, and The Sea Pavillion before running under the Epcot sphere and back out toward the parking lot via a backstage service pathway, returning to the finish line.

Along the way, some of the character stops included:
Pinocchio (Pinocchio)
Abu (Aladdin)
Lumiere & Cogsworth (Beauty & The Beast)
Sadness (Inside Out)
Joy (Inside Out)

There were plenty of volunteers out to offer water and aid, direct runners to watch out for any possible road bumps or trip hazards, and cheer us on! RunDisney volunteers are some of the best out there!

Post-Race
After receiving our INSANELY large and GORGEOUS medal, runners could return to the start area for more photos, music from the DJ, and food trucks. Runners also get a snack box filled with plenty of treats to refuel with!

Tips (Buckle up, there are a LOT!)
The biggest deadline of this whole event is the registration! So mark it on your calendar and be prepared to sign up, or you may miss your chance!
Give yourself time to make it through the expo, and if you care about getting the merch you want - order ahead.
Remember to bring a fun Disney costume if you want to participate in the fun! (And be mindful of the weather too!)
Stay on property and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take the transit to the starting line if you want pictures.
Plan ahead if you’re running with friends in different corrals - you must run with the runner in the lowest corral, no runners can move UP.
The starting line can be a bit congested, so if you’re still mindful of covid protocols, bring a mask.
Speaking of the starting line, it can be congested and dark due to the lack of lighting along the service road. Watch your step and make sure that you keep pace with the runners around you - you don’t want to get run over, or run over someone else!
Plan your time wisely if you plan to stop for character photos - for the longer races, there are “Balloon Ladies” that will remove you from the course if you fall behind the minimum 16 minute mile! Even fast runners can lose track of time if the character line is too long or moves slowly!

Overall, a RunDisney experience is a guaranteed good time, and some of my favorite racing experiences happen at RunDisney events!

This was my third time conquering the Dopey Challenge and as always, I am just so blown away by the level of organization and overall experience that RunDisney creates! The welcoming atmosphere makes this (and all RunDisney races for that matter) a great milestone race for conquering a new distance, and the magic of the weekend keeps experienced runners returning year after year!

Registration & Expo
I could honestly go into a whole series about the intricacies of RunDisney, as even the first decision to register can be tricky if you’re new to the experience. Registration for these races are a bit like the Hunger Games. Once registration opens, races can sell out in a matter of minutes, so be sure your calendar is marked and you’re ready in front of your computer when the site opens to sign up. Fortunately, my mother and I were able to sign up for the races we wanted. If you wind up getting a notification that the race has sold out, don’t fret! RunDisney will often release more registration spots in waves, so keep checking back over the following weeks after registration opens. Another option to consider if you have the means to do so is to run through a charity.
Normally I don’t go into the details of lodging and transit, but since RunDisney is in a league of its own, I’ll mention here that where you stay during this race can be really important. If you’re new to RunDisney, are traveling from a far place, or don’t have any non-runners in your party, I cannot stress enough the importance of staying in a WDW hotel. All on-property hotels provide transportation to and from the race for each race morning. If you choose to stay off property, be prepared and stay up to date with the RunDisney website for information regarding where to be dropped off, where to park, and possible road closures.
Once you’ve arrived, you’ll make your way over to the expo. Be prepared to be overwhelmed (in a good way!) - there’s a lot to see and do, so make sure you give yourself enough time to pick up your shirts, bibs, and get a chance to check out the booths and merchandise! When we got there there was quite a long line to get into the merchandise room. We ended up going and grabbing our bibs/shirts first (a super straightforward process thanks to the many volunteers and signs directing you!) and returned to see that the line had shortened, but only slightly. Despite arriving at the expo fairly early on the first day, we were still surprised to see that quite a bit of the merchandise had already sold out (thank you, local scalpers…). The biggest tip for the expo is to pre-order your merchandise if you can!

Pre-Race
In order to give yourself enough time to make it to the starting line, go check your gear (if needed), get pictures with the pre-race characters and stretch, you may want to get to the race start between 3:00 and 3:30 AM. We were keen on prioritizing pictures since we chose to wear costumes (which is very common if you’re new to RunDisney!), and afterward we went over to the food tent and got a cup of coffee. In addition to fun photo ops, there was a DJ playing remixed Disney songs and hyping up the crowd. Around 4:15ish, the DJ instructed all the runners to start making our way over to the corrals. Make sure your bib is clearly visible, as volunteers will need to see it to let you into the corral that matches the corresponding letter on your bib. (Note: If you are running with someone else and they are in a different corral than you, you may only run together in the same corral as the lowest ranking corral. A slower runner CANNOT move up to a higher corral.) Once the runners started making their way to the start line, the hosts of the race came to the stage near the start and continued hyping up the crowd with videos, music, and chatting up the runners. Then, fireworks were launched and the race began!

The Race
The course starts in the Epcot parking lot, spending the first 3 miles on main entrance roads before looping back toward Epcot. Entering from the backstage employee entrance near The Land Pavilion, runners enter Epcot and cross Future World, moving toward the World Showcase before exiting Epcot near the Mexico Pavilion. Miles 4-9 take runners north on the highway to the Transportation and Ticket Center, where they turn right and pass the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Contemporary Hotel heading toward the Magic Kingdom. Entering the park from an employee gate near Main Street, racers run up Main Street USA, turn right into Tomorrowland, and loop around through Toontown and Fantasyland before passing through Cinderella’s Castle. The trip through Magic Kingdom continues west through Liberty Square before exiting the park in Frontierland near Big Thunder Mountain at mile 11. The course then follows a service road to join up with the main entrance of the Grand Floridian Hotel around mile 12. From here until mile 16, runners follow the road south, before turning onto a service road leading to Animal Kingdom. (This part can be a bit tough mentally, as there are still a number of miles to cover and not a lot to see, so it can feel like you aren’t making much progress even though you are!) The end of mile 16 has runners enter Animal Kingdom from the north end of the park through a backstage entrance near Kilimanjaro Safaris, and heading east through Asia and crossing the bridge over into Dinoland USA before exiting the park through another service gate at mile 17. (A few cool things about this part of the course - because Animal Kingdom marks the halfway point in the race, some runners choose to celebrate by either riding Expedition Everest (if it’s open) or having a halfway point beer at the bar in Asia (if you can stomach it!)). Miles 17-22 take runners back along a service road and onto the highway, with a minor pitstop (and lots of weaving) through the Blizzard Beach parking lot. This part was a bit disappointing, as the year before the course allowed for runners to actually run inside Blizzard Beach, so it was a bummer to only get to see the parking lot instead. Just before mile 23, the course brings runners through a back entrance into Hollywood Studios, entering next to the Tower of Terror. The course continues toward the center of the park before exiting out another employee entrance near the park’s main gate. Runners continue along the waterway, circling around the lakeside hotels such as the Swan & Dolphin, Beach Club, and Yacht Club to follow the pedestrian walkway toward Epcot. Upon entering through the park’s International Gateway entrance, runners run along the World Showcase moving toward Mexico before returning to Future World and exiting through a service entrance near Test TRack for the final stretch back to the finish line!

Along the way, some of the character stops included:
Pluto
The Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland)
Jiminy Cricket (Pinocchio)
Darkwing Duck (Darkwing Duck)
Jaq & Suzy (Cinderella)
Edna Mode, Mrs. Incredible, and FroZone (The Incredibles)
Figment Photo Op (Journey Into Imagination Attraction)
Dopey (Snow White & the Seven Dwarves)
Goofy in Colonial Costume (Liberty Square Land)
Wendell (Country Bear Jamboree)
Panchito & Jose on the Magic Kingdom Cavalcade Parade Float (The Three Caballeros)
Daisy on Mickey’s Celebration Parade Float
Rabbit, Piglet & Tigger (Winnie the Pooh)
The Adventurer’s Club Gang (Pleasure Island - Former Attraction)
Historic Ride Vehicles Photo Op (20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride)
Robin Hood, Little John, & Friar Tuck (Robin Hood)
Affection Section Petting Zoo Animals (Affection Section Attraction)
Timon (The Lion King)
Carl & Dug (Up)
Chip & Dale in Dino Costumes on River Raft Float (Donald’s Dino-Bash! Celebration)
Baloo (The Jungle Book)
Jessie, Bullseye, Woody & Bo Peep (Toy Story)
Chip & Dale in WDW 50th Anniversary Costumes
Olaf (Frozen)
Citizens of Hollywood (Hollywood Studios)
Donald in Racing Costume
Thumper (Bambi)
Phineas & Ferb (Phineas & Ferb)
Green Army Men (Toy Story)
There were plenty of volunteers out to offer water and aid, direct runners to watch out for any possible road bumps or trip hazards, and cheer us on! RunDisney volunteers are some of the best out there!

Post-Race
After receiving our INSANELY large and GORGEOUS medal, runners could return to the start area for more photos, music from the DJ, and food trucks. Runners also get a snack box filled with plenty of treats to refuel with! For those completing the Goofty or Dopey Challenge, volunteers will direct you to a

Tips (Buckle up, there are a LOT!)
The biggest deadline of this whole event is the registration! So mark it on your calendar and be prepared to sign up, or you may miss your chance!
Give yourself time to make it through the expo, and if you care about getting the merch you want - order ahead.
Remember to bring a fun Disney costume if you want to participate in the fun! (And be mindful of the weather too!)
Stay on property and be sure to give yourself plenty of time to take the transit to the starting line if you want pictures.
Plan ahead if you’re running with friends in different corrals - you must run with the runner in the lowest corral, no runners can move UP.
The starting line can be a bit congested, so if you’re still mindful of covid protocols, bring a mask.
Speaking of the starting line, it can be congested and dark due to the lack of lighting along the service road. Watch your step and make sure that you keep pace with the runners around you - you don’t want to get run over, or run over someone else!
Plan your time wisely if you plan to stop for character photos - for the longer races, there are “Balloon Ladies” that will remove you from the course if you fall behind the minimum 16 minute mile! Even fast runners can lose track of time if the character line is too long or moves slowly!

Overall, a RunDisney experience is a guaranteed good time, and some of my favorite racing experiences happen at RunDisney events!

Despite my friend and I finishing DEAD LAST (we had an excuse - we were running with our pups!), this race was a fun morning in support of a cause near to my heart!
Pre-Race:
We signed up for the race after hearing about it online and the race organizers were VERY focused on keeping clear email communication with participants (it was a fundraiser afterall). Upon arrival, we spent about 30 minutes driving around the park area looking for the event. The instructions weren’t super clear on the email, as we encountered multiple other runners trying to find the event too. Once we drove around the entire perimeter of the park, we found it, but unfortunately by that point we had missed some of the opening remarks and didn’t get a chance to enjoy any of the nearby booths until after the race. After so many races, I’ve started to become a stickler for signage - and this race needs more!
The Race:
The course was a pretty simple out-and-back tour of the park. Since this was a fundraiser event, there were numerous walkers, families with strollers, and a few pets. We “ran” with our dogs - our dogs weigh a collective 15 pounds between the two of them, so it was more like brisk walking. The course was not separate from the park, so we shared the sidewalks with other park visitors.
Post-Race:
After being literally the last people to cross the finish line, we collected our medals from the wonderful volunteers and then quickly toured the race sponsor booths as they were tearing down for the day. Had we been able to get to the race earlier, we would have spent more time checking them out, and I was bummed we didn’t get to really spend time checking them out afterward.
Tips:
Despite ample parking, don’t assume you can arrive close to the starting time. Prepare for the likelihood of getting lost!
This is a very chill race, so if you’re planning to dash through this course, prepare to share the area with non-racers, walkers, and strollers as the course will double back on itself
Try to arrive early with enough time to hear the opening announcements and check out the sponsor booths!
Final Thoughts:
If you’re an “intense” runner or looking to make this your new 5k PR, this race is probably not for you, but if you like running for the joy of being outside and raising money for a good cause, this is a race worth checking out!