runDisney [A New Way to Experience Disney]

It’s the Princess Run this weekend! Which only means one thing…we need to start planning for runDisney 2021. No, I’m not just talking about training our legs to go the distance (Hercules? Anyone?). Anywho… I’m talking about booking reservations, signing up for the run, and starting to plan what delicious food you’ll be rewarding yourself with after the race!! These are the things that matter. Just thought you should know… in case you thought your race time mattered.

If you like running or you like to have fun or you like both…then a runDisney event is probably something you would enjoy(check out race pictures here). It isn’t your typical run where everyone is watching their time. There are Character meets all along the way and many runners choose to stop and take fun pictures with the Characters! If time matters to you, make sure to enter your race time when you register so you get into one of the first two corrals so you don’t have to be trapped behind a crowd of runners.

runDisney [My Experience]

Entertainment Extravaganza

There is an abundance of entertainment at every runDisney event! Disney has excellent deejays set up throughout the course to keep runners going. Their pre-race game is pretty strong with Donald Duck and his buddies too! You also get to run throughout Disney property which includes the parks and the castle!

Speaking of visual entertainment…the costumes other runners choose to wear are phenomenal. Phenomenal in a creative sense…and phenomenal because someone is choosing to wear that while they run 13.1 miles. I skipped the 2020 Marathon weekend at Disney world. However, last year as I ran, I kept thinking things like, “Oh, that has to be chafing him in all the wrong places.” or “Wow, she has to be sweating a monsoon in that outfit.” “Oooo…he carried that the entire race?!”

#reallife

I’ll just let you in on a little real life. I’m just over here telling my quads that they are NOT rocks and they CAN make it to the finish line if they CHOOSE to do so. Okay. I’m sure by now, you’ve guessed I’m not a runner. Not by a long-shot. Buuuutttt…I married into a family that runs…so…there’s that. runDisney is the only kind of race that I’ll run with them. They like to run and I like the entertainment – whether it is of Disney or runner origination – I don’t discriminate.

In other news – my husband was singing Disney songs during the race…which I secretly enjoyed but was also like “Where are you getting the breath to sing while you run?!! You aren’t Snow White…and we don’t have to whistle while we work…or run in this case.” Then he reached over to hold my hand the last half mile of the race…to which I scowled and snapped, “NO. I’m just trying to survive.”

It was our most magical moment ever in the Happiest Place on Earth.

We recovered. I recovered. Actually, I did hold his hand for the last 15 feet of the race. You know, it’s all about the Insta…gotta be looking good for those Memory Maker Photographers (they are everywhere like paparazzi). Let’s be honest – I wasn’t looking good…I was looking more like Princess Anna when she wakes up on Elsa’s Coronation Day. #reallife

runDisney 2020 & 2021 Dates

Disney has four runDisney weekends each year, with multiple races on each weekend! Below you can find the big race weekends with the races that are available listed below them.

Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend – January 6-10, 2021

• 5k
• 10k
• Half Marathon
• Full Marathon
• Goofy – run the half marathon one day, and the full marathon the next day
• Dopey – run all four races (5k, 10k, half, and marathon) in four days
• Castaway Cay Challenge – mix running a 5k with a cruise experience!
• Kids Races

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend – February 19-22, 2021

• 5K
• 10k
• Half Marathon
• Disney Fairy Tale Challenge – run the 10k and the half on consecutive days.
• Kids Races

Star Wars Rival Run Weekend – April 15-18, 2021

• 5k
• 10k
• Half
• Rival Run -10k and Half on consecutive days
• Kessel Run – run the Star Wars Virtual Half Marathon at home and then run the Star Wars Half Marathon at Disney
• Kids Races
  

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – Fall 2020 & 2021

• 5k
• 10k
• Half
• Two Course Challenge – 10k and half marathon on consecutive days
• Post Race Party available
• Kids Races

runDisney Prep 101

Room Reservations

First things first, you need to book room reservations. Not just any room reservations, but ideally you want to be on Disney property. They provide transportation really early in the morning to the race. Yes – you want to get on that bus. Trust me.  Availability for the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend in January is starting to fill up already. So if you want to runDisney in January, then you need to act fast. DVC Rental Store is excellent at finding a Deluxe Disney Resort for the price of a Moderate Disney Resort! Check room availability and how to save up to 65% when booking through them!

Let’s Run This!

This is the best kind of race to run, and if you are looking for running advice, Disney even has a training tips and race day prep page. Check it out! Not only that, but Disney has an intriguing runDisney blog that will be sure to motivate you as you prepare! Start training now, and maybe I’ll see you out there! Just don’t try to hold my hand!!! Hope you have a Magical Day!!!