What it’s like to participate in a runDisney race as a beginner

By Jenna Clark 

This year’s Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend took place Feb. 22-26, 2024, at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla. – and although my race didn’t take place until Feb. 23, there was still a lot for me to do before crossing the start line. 

Pre-Race Activities

Before participating in a runDisney race, participants need to register. Thousands of runners participate in each event, so ensuring you’re aware of registration dates and prices is essential; however, since I was invited to the race, the registration process and payment were taken care of, and all I had to do was review and sign the online waiver. That said, the cost to register for each event was as follows:

• Disney Princess 5K – $107
• Disney Princess 10K – $150.99
• Disney Princess Half Marathon – $232
• Disney Fairytale Challenge – $389
• Disney Princess Yoga – $116.19
• Virtual Races – $80 to $248

My physical runDisney experience started on Feb. 22 after I checked into Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort. This resort is conveniently located, and complimentary motor coach service is offered to and from the runDisney Expo and race location.

runDisney Health & Fitness Expo

I had to pick up my bib and T-shirt from the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports. 

The line was fairly long, so It took about 30 minutes to get inside; however, the Disney music and conversations with fellow runners made the time pass quickly. In the main room of the building, the bib pick-up station was very organized, and race participants could quickly secure their bibs without waiting in another long line. All I had to do was present my ID, and I was handed my bib with pins to secure it to my shirt on race day.

Since runDisney events are character-focused events, runners and attendees can meet characters beginning at the Expo. I was surprised to see Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” as he is not typically seen at Walt Disney World parks or resorts. Olaf from “Frozen” was also there, but I didn’t meet him since I wanted to save time for the vendors. 

After picking up my bib (and meeting Sebastian), I headed off to browse the runDisney merchandise. Thursday is typically the most crowded day of the Expo, so I had to secure a virtual queue group at 8:30 a.m. Luckily, the wait wasn’t too long, and I was inside quicker than I expected.

Although some merchandise was divided by race, other items were themed to the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Almost anything you could want was available, from pins to tank tops to bags to running fleeces. I particularly liked the bags from Loungefly and Lug in addition to the navy blue race spirit jersey. 

Of course, I couldn’t leave the Expo without checking out the offerings from the various vendors, including Corkcicle, Advent Health, Oofos, and Therabody, to name a few. I saw a couple of cute running shirts and was able to take photos at the special photo opportunities available.  

runDisney Race Day

I had gone to sleep early since buses to the race started at 3 a.m. Luckily, I had a wonderful night’s sleep at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort and was well-rested and ready to tackle my first 5K. 

When I got to the race reunion area at 3:30 a.m., I was pleasantly surprised by how much energy the cast members, race hosts, and DJs had (both on and off the stage). The high energy from both runners and cast members relieved the minor anxieties I had about my first race. Hearing everyone cheering each other on and complimenting each other’s outfits (many people dressed up for the race’s “The Little Mermaid” theme) was heartwarming and had me ready to get started. 

Even though it was 3 a.m., there were still characters for runners to meet – and since the 5K was princess-themed, it was Ariel, Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Princess Tiana, Anna, and Elsa. The line for Ariel was about 90 minutes (as it was her race), so unfortunately, I didn’t have time to meet her. I did see Rapunzel and Flynn, which was exciting because guests are usually unable to meet them together unless they’re attending Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

After meeting Rapunzel and Flynn, I headed to my corral, which closed at 4:45 a.m. ahead of the race’s 5 a.m. start time. I was surprised by how many runners were in each corral and felt a bit claustrophobic and overstimulated with so many people crowded together for about 25 minutes. Nevertheless, I kept my eyes on screens displaying music videos from “The Little Mermaid” to help take my mind off the fact I couldn’t move. 

Once the race officially started, the immense joy and happiness that came over me when I officially walked through the start line after seeing a fireworks display was a truly magical moment and a core memory I’ll never forget.

The runDisney Race

Since I am by no means an athlete (and did not train before the race), I planned to run as much as I felt comfortable and walk when necessary to maintain the required 16-minute mile pace. I took a selfie at each mile marker as I made my way through the race and savored every moment. 

One of the highlights was the characters on the course. I saw Prince Eric, Prince Charming, Cinderella, Perla, Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, Princess Aurora, Prince Phillip, Goofy, and Bo Peep. I had previously met most of the characters on the course, so I only stopped for Flora, Fauna, Merryweather, Princess Aurora, and Prince Phillip. I had to wait nearly an hour for them since the fairies would come out intermittently, but I had never met the fairies all together and thought having all five characters in one photo would be a cool keepsake. (You have to be in an earlier corral, or walk/run really fast to have time to wait for characters with longer lines.)

In addition to characters, live DJs and musicians performed at various locations on the course. There were also crowds of supporters, from cast members and volunteers who handed out water, to PhotoPass photographers, to cultural representatives from several of the pavilions at Epcot.

Being cheered on by such enthusiastic individuals while viewing a gorgeous sunrise over Epcot and listening to classic Disney music was an experience like no other.

Finish Line

Once I crossed the finish line, my sister and friend were there cheering me on, along with cast members and other spectators. I was quickly given my medal, a couple of electrolyte drinks, water bottles, and snacks to refuel.

I wanted to take photos with my medal (which was very beautiful) to commemorate the moment and was able to do so against multiple backdrops. Even PhotoPass cast members were readily available to snap photos against a specialized backdrop.

Finishing the race and having the opportunity to celebrate with music, dancing, and characters (as those from the starting line returned to congratulate runners) was the perfect way to end my runDisney experience. 

Overall Thoughts

My first runDisney race experience was nothing short of magical. I had run non-Disney 5K races in the past, and they didn’t compare to the magic of Disney’s. From the moment I picked up my bib, to the moment I crossed the finish line (while Minnie Mouse cheered for me), I felt encouraged, happy, and accomplished. 

I can’t forget to note that a runDisney race is more expensive than many others; however, the level of magic and entertainment provided to runners is unmatched. Although I was hoping for a couple more characters from “The Little Mermaid,” (like Max and Ursula), since that was the theme of the race, I very much enjoyed the variety of characters on the course and liked that PhotoPass pictures were included once I linked my bib number to MyDisneyExperience. 

Although I was alone and didn’t have friends or family running with me, the other runners were super friendly and made me feel welcome. One thing I noticed about runDisney is that many runners who regularly participate in races know the cast members by name, which was heartwarming to see. runDisney truly is a community and one I instantly felt part of, even though it was my first race.  Every mile was truly magic, and I hope to participate in another runDisney race in the future.

If you’re interested in participating in your first runDisney race or are looking for more information about future runDisney events, more information can be found here.

Check out our story below for details about the first official runDisney Guidebook:

Disney to publish first official runDisney guidebook