Disney Races – Are They Worth It?

It’s that time of the year! New year, that is. New year, new you. New year, new resolutions. Personally, I prefer to use the word ‘intentions’. Maybe it’s because so many make resolutions that don’t follow through. But an intention…seems to have more flexibility. It’s not a plan or a wish, but somewhere in between. I know getting healthy is always a popular resolution. It’s different for everyone. Eating healthy. Going to the gym. Run a marathon. For this post, I wanted to talk about Disney races (aka runDisney) because it covers a lot of the resolutions (or intentions) people make for the new year.

For those of you who have never done a Disney race, basically, several times a year, runDisney hosts several races at various Disney parks. The races occur very early in the morning, prior to the parks’ opening time. The courses usually take you in the park and the exterior surrounding streets. Each race has a theme, and each race distance is usually associated with a Disney character. Depending on the race distance you choose, you will be paying anywhere from $85-300 per race. 

So are Disney races worth it? 

I am a big Disney fan, and I say yes. I have done both Disneyland and Walt Disney World races over the past few years (some with hubby, siblings, or by myself) and enjoyed them all. By the way, I should probably mention that I am not a marathon runner or even a half-marathon runner. I usually stick to the 5k or 10k races at both parks, and I’ve done the virtual half-marathons at my own pace at home. 

Either way, in person or virtual, I love doing Disney races.

Health Benefits

A Tangible Goal Will Help You Stay Consistent

Training for any kind of race, regardless of the distance, takes consistency. When you have a fitness goal like this in mind, you are more likely to do the best you can to train for it. Whatever that schedule is, you are more likely to stick to it when you have a tangible goal on the horizon. 

Yup, I said ‘tangible goal’. As an active person who started my fitness journey doing outdoor bootcamp before transitioning to indoor gyms due to job relocation, I’ve discovered that I hate weight loss/body fat percentage goals. I hate meeting with trainers and having them go over ‘goal numbers’. Why? Because it’s not realistic. So many other factors have to go into reaching that number – simply going to the gym and counting calories is not enough. 

But with a tangible goal like a race…you can literally feel and see the improvements you are making. Did you walk the whole 5k at a brisk pace and not feel winded? Did you beat last week’s 10k time? You’re more likely to continue so you can get better and beat your time.

You Develop Healthier Habits While Training for Disney Races

Now, I’m not saying you’re going to completely do a 180. For those of you who are constantly active, healthy individuals, certain habits come naturally to you. But for those of you who aren’t, there might be a day when you train when you feel sluggish, and you realize that you had a really heavy fried food meal that day. You decide not to do that anymore on a day you’re training. 

Or you decide to stop skipping breakfast and decide you’re gonna make a smoothie every morning. Or you decide you’re going to skip the heavy lunch and have a salad instead. Or when eating out with friends, instead of eating your entire meal, you ask for a container to go and only eat half of your meal and portion out the rest for another day. Small habits like these actually make a difference and you will find you’ll be doing more of them.

A Fellow Fitness Partner Will Boost Your Confidence

When you are training for any type of activity, you are more likely to have someone in your family or circle of friends willing to train with you. Their support and motivation will give you that extra drive to move forward. You will also have someone to confide in about your journey. They will either share a similar experience, or they will have previous experience and be happy to give advice. 

A few years ago, hubby and I had signed up for the 2016 Disneyland TinkerBell 10k. At the time, I was living in San Diego while he was working in Los Angeles. I was job hunting, staying with my aunt and grandmother while he rented a room on a month-to-month lease near his work. So while I stayed with family, I’d run at the local park on the weekdays and run with my cousin and his friends on Saturday mornings. He and his fellow marathon buddies had plenty of tips and were all very welcoming. Some of the group members were new to running, so we’d run the shorter distances together while the more experienced ones would take a side path and meet us at the finish line. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hubby and I both signed up for the 2021 Virtual Princess Half-Marathon. The in-person event usually occurs at Walt Disney World in February…so for the weeks leading up to February, we’d go out every few days and aim to run a mile and more and more…until we were running nearly 8 miles per week. Having someone to share the experience with you is a great confidence booster and keeps you motivated.

Fun Perks about Disney Races

Awesome Race Goodies

Every race participant gets a shirt, medal, race bib and coupons from race partner vendors. Remember that I said each race has a theme? The 2021 Virtual Princess Half-Marathon was Belle from Beauty and the Beast. So we received a moisture-wicking pink t-shirt featuring Belle along with a medal indicating our participation. And there’s no difference between ‘virtual’ and ‘in-person’ swag – except that virtual participants receive their items in the mail after the in-person race, download their race bib and print it out. In-person participants pick up their items the day before the race.

As for those coupons? Vendors with race merchandise like headbands, waist pouches etc will create coupons that you can only access from the race program guide provided by runDisney. The race program guide usually has the course maps, sponsors, and helpful tips on navigating race weekend.

Race Weekend Expo Access

Technically, you don’t have to participate in the races to go to the expo…but this is your opportunity to buy any essentials you need for running. I’ve been to both at Disneyland (Disneyland Convention Center) and Walt Disney World (ESPN Wide World of Sports). Both feature similar vendors…running clothes, running accessories, race fuel supplements, jewelry…anything you could possibly need. I love going to the expo…so much merchandise to look through! Vendors give out so many samples and coupon codes for future purchases that it’s tempting to buy what you see.

Also, runDisney has its own merchandise for sale only at the expo. I habitually buy something to commemorate my participation in a race. A TinkerBell bag…a Princess Corkcicle cup…a Princess hat…not only do they sell merchandise themed for each race, but they sell general runDisney merchandise. Mickey Mouse in a running motion on a T-shirt. Disney Christmas ornaments in the shape of sneakers…you name it. 

Run in Costume during Disney Races

Seriously, you can. In fact, it’s encouraged! I’ve gone as Peter Pan, Mulan and Chewbacca (to name a few). I think dressing up is the most fun because we know that we could never really dress up when we go inside the park, so this is the only time we can do it. 

I also love seeing other people dress up…I can appreciate the work that went into their costume design. Some people come dressed to just walk. And others come in a costume completely made for running. One year I saw someone dressed as John Darling (Wendy’s brother in Peter Pan) – nightshirt, top hat, glasses AND umbrella. It was awesome. 

Take Photos in the Park Without Crowds

One of the perks of doing a Disney race are the photo ops. Mile markers point how far along you are. And EVERYONE takes photos by the mile markers. But you can also take photos of landmarks along the course. Spaceship Earth at Epcot? Mickey’s Fun Wheel (now known as Pixar Pal-A-Round) at Disney California Adventure? Done. Best of all, you are bound to come across fellow racers who will gladly take your photo so you and all your family/friends don’t have to do the ‘selfie’ type pose which cuts off part of the background.

RunDisney photographers also line various parts of the course (and finish line), so keep an eye out and make sure to look at the camera as you approach them. (Make sure your bib is visible!) They usually are sitting in a chair with a miniature canopy shading them from the early morning sun. You can also find them at photo stations throughout the course…usually with a character or in front of famous landmarks. The lines for those can easily be up to a 45 minute wait. I prefer to quickly take a selfie with a character in the background and move on because I don’t want to sacrifice time. You’ll see other racers do something similar. 

A few weeks after the race you’ll be able to login online and view/download your race photos. 

Now, I’m not going to lie…Disney races are not cheap. The cost of a single race will get you a medal, a shirt and a bib. And I can tell you from experience that staying at a hotel for an in-person race was more convenient for me because I was from out of town. Hotels for race weekends fill up quickly, so if you plan on doing a race, book your hotel as soon as you know the race dates. You can always cancel your hotel if your race sells out.

Which brings me to my next point. Sign up as soon as it is available. Unless you’re doing the virtual races, the 5k and 10ks sell out the fastest. In spite of this extra level of stress (I once blocked out time on my calendar at work and took my iPad to the break room while simultaneously on the phone with my sister who was going to purchase races for me if she got in the queue first), I feel it’s worth it. Running Paradise Bay at California Adventure as the sun rises in the morning is one very memorable experience.

I will be honest. This is not a race to do a personal best. You will run into people who don’t know how to share the course…you’ll want to take photos…this is not the kind of race where you try to beat your best time. You do this because you love Disney, you want to be around people dressed as Disney characters, you have friends who want to experience this together, or you need a fitness activity to do with loved ones that doesn’t have a lot of pressure. 

Final Thoughts on Disney Races…

So which one should you do? Virtual race? Disneyland? Walt Disney World? Disneyland stopped their races in Fall 2017 due to resort construction, but they announced races would resume in 2024. Walt Disney World had virtual only during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but started in-person races again in 2021. (At the time of writing this post, Walt Disney World currently has in-person and virtual races, and Disneyland will soon be opening registration for in-person 2024 races.)

Having done all three, I feel that Disneyland is the best option. Some of the best 5k and 10k courses I’ve run were at Disneyland. Not only do you weave through both Disneyland, California Adventure and Downtown Disney, but you also go behind the scenes of the parks and see the passageways where cast members go to and fro. After you cross the finish line and grab your medal, post-race banana, water and take photos, you are going to be very, very hungry. At a Disneyland race, you can easily stroll into Downtown Disney and grab some breakfast – a few of the quick service restaurants will be open for you to sit outside, eat and watch the remaining racers go by. (They do a great job with crowd manipulation between racers, finishers and bystanders.) 

At Walt Disney World, you may not be eating for at least 2 hours after your race. You’ll need to wait for the bus that will take you back to your hotel. Ah yes…the buses. Did I mention that at a Walt Disney World race you need to get up at 3:30am and be at the bus pickup area of your hotel (if you’re staying on property) no later than 4am? Because Walt Disney World has such a large footprint, and everyone at the resort is going to the starting line at the same time, you need to be up that early so you can make it to your race on time. 

At Disneyland, if you’re staying on property or at any of the hotels that line the perimeter of the resort, you can easily walk to the starting line in 10-30 min. 

I definitely encourage any Disney fan to do a Disney race. If you love Disney, or if you need a little Mickey Mouse magic to help you get motivated to start a healthy lifestyle, Disney races are worth it!

I hope you get a chance to do runDisney!