2026 Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend

[The Expert]

Hey guys! My daughter and I are signed up for the half marathon and we are so excited! We ran the Princess Half Marathon last year and I ran the risk of being near the balloon ladies simply because of character photos (I figure if I'm spending so much money to run this thing, I should have the character photo ops to make it enjoyable)! That race killed my times!! LOL My question is, are there are as many characters out for the W&D Half Marathon? If so, I need to find the schedule and strategize this time!

Thanks! Kim

Yes, you can expect a similar number of characters. runDisney does not put out a list, but sometimes there is one leaked in a few of the online rD communities (and often shared here) the morning of the race. You really won't have it early enough to plan, but you can/should have a list of "must stop" characters in your head in case they show up on the course.

 

[Luvmyfam3]

Yes, you can expect a similar number of characters. runDisney does not put out a list, but sometimes there is one leaked in a few of the online rD communities (and often shared here) the morning of the race. You really won't have it early enough to plan, but you can/should have a list of "must stop" characters in your head in case they show up on the course.

Thanks!

 

[sheila14]

Question: if staying at All Star Movies for the run, where does the bus pick you up at the resort? I heard that I would have to walk to All Star Sports to get the bus.

 

[jpholic]

Question: if staying at All Star Movies for the run, where does the bus pick you up at the resort? I heard that I would have to walk to All Star Sports to get the bus.

the bus will stop at all three resorts in this order - sports, music, movies.

they pick up at the front entrance for expo and race mornings.

 

[1lilspark]

Question: if staying at All Star Movies for the run, where does the bus pick you up at the resort? I heard that I would have to walk to All Star Sports to get the bus.

For all star bus picks up on the side of the building by bell services

 

[Naomeri]

the bus will stop at all three resorts in this order - sports, music, movies.

they pick up at the front entrance for expo and race mornings.


View attachment 1063869

And they will have buses lined up at each resort when the buses start running to the races. I assume they start sharing later in the pick-up window, but I've never headed out that late. They definitely always share on the way back to the resorts, dropping at Sports, Music, then Movies.

 

[sheila14]

Thank you for answering this question.

 

[The Expert]

MNSSHP dates just dropped! Anybody up for another party-to-5K?? I attempted it a few years ago and ended up needing to nap between, but @Naomeri was successful. I may have to give it another go!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

 

[Naomeri]

MNSSHP dates just dropped! Anybody up for another party-to-5K?? I attempted it a few years ago and ended up needing to nap between, but @Naomeri was successful. I may have to give it another go!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I stayed so long at the party (and had such a long bus wait) that I didn't really have time for a nap--I got back to my room at 1:34am and was on a bus for the 5K at 2:49am. I had to take off my Halloween costume, have a snack, and then put on my 5K costume. I suppose I could've caught a 5-10 minute catnap somewhere in there, but that would've been worse than just staying awake at that point.

 

[Disneyhanna]

As a night owl, the party to 5k always sounds so tempting. I am up until 1AM most nights, and on weekends usually 2-3AM. But then things start going south after 4AM....so I think I would be fine until I got to the race, and then that wait in the corrals would just be miserable. By the end of the race I would probably be seeing things

 

[DianaMB333]

This year I will do Halloween Party, skip the 5k, and run the 10k and the HM…

Last year did the Halloween before the 5k.. felt good, kept going, then the 10k.. kept going .. day of HM I was on autopilot ready to crash lol…

 

[The Expert]

I took about a 2 hour nap between the party and 5K last time, but was also able to go back to the hotel and sleep for a few more hours before checkout and flying home. I didn't do any other races.

I am again just doing the 5K this year. I'm staying with my mom this time and not leaving until Saturday, so I feel good about it!

 

[marty3d]

MNSSHP dates just dropped! Anybody up for another party-to-5K?? I attempted it a few years ago and ended up needing to nap between, but @Naomeri was successful. I may have to give it another go!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

This would probably be tempting if I was doing the 5k - could sleep after the race. But I specifically didn't register for the 5k in order to get MORE sleep so not sure this would be the best idea for me especially since I will liley do the after party on Sunday.

 

[jpholic]

MNSSHP dates just dropped! Anybody up for another party-to-5K?? I attempted it a few years ago and ended up needing to nap between, but @Naomeri was successful. I may have to give it another go!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

i fly in friday afternoon and seriously contemplating going to the party that night, take a quick cat nap, and then heading over to epcot to support friends running the 10k.

 

[FlyingDonut]

I'm doing the 5k to party.

 

[1lilspark]

I commend anyone doing party to 5k
In 2024 we did Fantasmic Thursday night as it fell on actual Halloween…I ran the 5k Friday morning then made the choice to rope drop Gideon’s instead of taking a nap before heading to Epcot… by midday I was about to crash out in sunshine seasons lol

 

[Naomeri]

I commend anyone doing party to 5k
In 2024 we did Fantasmic Thursday night as it fell on actual Halloween…I ran the 5k Friday morning then made the choice to rope drop Gideon’s instead of taking a nap before heading to Epcot… by midday I was about to crash out in sunshine seasons lol

It certainly makes it easier to go to sleep on time for 10K day

 

[ghrundis]

For those doing MNSSHP don't forget they are going to have multiple 5K start times this year. You might get lucky depending on your point of view and get a later start time or you might get the 4:30AM start time.

I have not seen anything yet on how runDisney is going to determine what start time you get

 

[radiodome21]

When I was at Marquette there was a bar that would open at 6 am. The few times we’d “Open The Harp!” were after staying out all night. Sure it sounded liked a great idea at 2 in the morning but then you’d be wrecked the entire day. I kind of imagine going to MNSCHP and then running the 5k is somewhat similar, minus the hangover.

And of course now I want to do it. Combining two of my favorite fall events into one

 

[Novatrix]

I was debating on either the 18th or the 22nd, but if other DISers are going on the 22nd I'll definitely pick that day. Even if it's to quickly wave hi in the park.

Never did the party the night before a race, but I have done the extra magic hours the night before a MW 5k. Wore my costume to the park just in case I'd need to go straight to the race, but fortunately was able to go back to my resort and nap for an hour before doing the 5k. Best of luck to anyone doing that before a 10k though, that'd be too much for me!