Running Disney races is a magical experience filled with fun and friendships. But the experience comes at a cost and a very early wake-up call. Learn all the pros and cons of runDisney races.
Runners have this uncanny ability to romanticize anything with a run. The beach? Let’s make it better with a run! The mountains? A stunner with a trail race! A new city? What better way to tour than on your feet! So, you can imagine how Disney Parks – already coined “the happiest place on Earth” – made runners even happier when they introduced runDisney in 1995.
It’s not just a magical park, it’s a magical RUN through the park. What a dream!
Ask anyone who has run a Disney race and they’ll tell you just how much it truly does live up to its hype. One of my amazing athletes, Elizabeth Minor, is one of those runners who has turned her love of Disney running races into a sort of lifestyle. Over 7 years, she has run 52 different races at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland California. And I have had the joy of coaching her for about half of her Disney journey.
It is with her enthusiasm and great knowledge of these iconic races, and the help of my other athlete (and writer) Rachel Penate, that I offer you this comprehensive guide to all the different Disney runs.
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Why Disney Races?
For Elizabeth, runDisney is about more than a road race. It is an opportunity to dive more deeply into her own goals and the special community that these races create. There are three areas that Elizabeth cites as integral to why you might choose a Disney race:
A Supportive and Tight-Knit Group.
The run community is already small as it is, but the runDisney community is even more niche. Throw in a challenge like the “Dopey Challenge” (a Disney 5K, Disney 10K, Disney Half Marathon, and Disney full Marathon all on the same weekend) and it is a recipe for lifetime friendships and bonding.
It’s More than a Road Race.
Elizabeth raves about the high-quality race weekend atmosphere, citing the expo opportunities and park offerings as “value added.” “There is so much more to the weekends,” she says. From a robust Expo to additional fitness class opportunities, to the simple ability to wind down after your race in the park with your best running friends, “you get out of runDisney what you put in.” Elizabeth encourages “… when you give [Disney] your heart, they fill it FULL!”
The Disney Magic.
From characters making special visits along the course to all the costumed runners, there is a magical quality to these races.
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How Disney Races Work
Like any other incredibly popular race, there is a bit of “hoop jumping” that has to happen to secure your registration. Disney races sell out fast and you’ll want to arm yourself with some information first before putting in the effort to sign up. Here are some helpful details and tid-bits about Disney races:
- Know which races you want to participate in WELL in advance and be ready to register the day it opens at the exact moment registration begins. There are some options to run with charity, but don’t expect to register last minute as Disney Races sell out and charity options are limited.
- Disney races run EARLY (as in 5 am-start-time early). Be prepared for an arrival time between 2:30am to 4am to give yourself ample time to get to your corral and warm up.
- Corrals are based on time and you will not be allowed to move up in corrals once you’re in the starting area. Ensure the correct corral by selecting the best projected time at registration.
- RunDisney’s course is highly managed with excellent staff, DJs/announcers, character visits, and views. Elizabeth ensures that the magic of runDisney is felt all throughout the race weekend.
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Disney World vs. Disneyland Races
Elizabeth emphatically believes that no one does it better than Walt Disney World. While Disneyland Paris is a very cool place to run — with views of the French countryside — and the Disneyland California 10K (during the Half Marathon weekend) boasts the best course of them all, the magic and opportunities at Walt Disney World are unmatched.
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It’s important to take into consideration your distance away from each of these parks. For Elizabeth, Walt Disney World makes the most sense due to living on the East Coast. But, for the shorter races inside of Disneyland California (the 10K running almost entirely in the parks finishing near Pixar Pier, and the 5k starting on Main Street and finishing near the castle) offer any Disney fan many memories that are worth the jetlag.
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When a Disney Race Can Make Sense
Like the World Major Marathons that boast tough entry requirements, steep fees, and travel destinations, Disney Races also fit into the high-caliber category of race experiences. These races will leave lasting impressions on you if you choose to make them happen.
Pro 1: The runDisney Community is Special
The runDisney community is something special. If you are a 5 min/mi runner or a back-of-the-pack runner, you are supported from start to finish. Elizabeth boasts that “It is by far the most supportive community for first-time runners or long-time runners.”
Along with the family feel of Disney races, there is special emphasis on inclusivity for athletes with disabilities (rollDisney) and families (specifically seen during the 5K races.
In addition, runDisney provides such a great village post-race that includes food trucks, beverage carts, finisher pictures, and the party stage to “shake if off.”
Elizabeth praises runDisney as the perfect race for any “serious runner who wants a fun atmosphere with flat course (well except for those banked on ramps) to those who are just looking to finish their first 5k.” It is a community that celebrates every single person just getting out there and going for whatever goal they want to accomplish — big or small.
Related: How to Pace Yourself When Running
Pro 2: It’s a “Race-cation!”
While your race registration does not buy you a ticket to the park after, traveling to a Disney Race offers a built-in weekend of fun after the race is done. It’s a great excuse to rally some good running friends, have a great time on the course, and then slow-walk your way around the parks after. No better way to recover than to keep moving those legs!
Downsides of Disney Races
Con 1: It’s Size
The number of people participating in each race is dependent upon the race weekend. Walt Disney World Marathon and Princess Weekend are the largest, by far, (bringing in over 25K runners) while the other race weekends are a bit smaller. If you like the feel of a small local race, be prepared that these race weekends will feel very different and everything will feel much more crowded.
Con 2: The Cost
A runDisney weekend isn’t cheap but can be done on a budget with a little ingenuity. Some costs you might run into: registration ($100-600 per registration depending on the race and challenge), park tickets, housing, food, and runDisney gear.
Related: How to Pace Your Half Marathon
Is the Dopey Challenge Worth It?
YES, the Dopey Challenge is worth it–with the right mentality.
While some incredible people (see: Brittany Charboneau who won ALL four races IN COSTUME in 2022) will run Dopey fast and fierce, the whole culture around the Dopey Challenge isn’t to PR or “win” but to have a BIG OL’ PARTY and celebrate the incredible athletic challenge that is finishing a 5K, 10K, half marathon, and marathon in four days.
If you train right (thinking more like an ultramarathon athlete) and can find a way to push through the four 2am wake-up calls, the uphill battle of the Dopey Challenge WILL result in — as Elizabeth quotes — “the most magical and euphoric feelings you can have.”
That being said, Dopey is not for everyone, and not choosing to participate in this penultimate runDisney challenge doesn’t lessen the pride that finishing any other distance will bring.
Run Your Best Disney Race with a Coach
I will say that running one of the Disney challenges like Elizabeth does takes very intentional training. For this reason, I highly recommend hiring a running coach. You need to train your body to withstand the stress of several days of running.
For Elizabeth, we carefully work with her demanding schedule as a mom and career woman to ensure we get enough back-to-back volume on the weekends and enough recovery during the week.
To run your best Disney, the help of an experienced coach such as myself is paramount. And it’s fun to help Disney athletes go after those goals!
Hire Me to Help Run Your Best Race Yet »
If you want guidance with your running goals, check out my run coaching services. Also, be sure to check out my free training plans: