5k characters?

[Raenstoirm]

You all have me rethinking my 1/2 plan. I dont want to come so far and then get swept. Are there characters along the 5k route? I was thinking maybe I would the run 5k and get pics with whatever characters are out for that race so I can skip those the next day, pending of course there are characters out for the 5k!

 

[Koda]

I am curious to know this, too. I am doing the 5k with DD on Friday, and the 1/2 on Saturday by myself (with 1000s of my fellow WDW running friends!).

 

[JCH]

You all have me rethinking my 1/2 plan. I dont want to come so far and then get swept. Are there characters along the 5k route? I was thinking maybe I would the run 5k and get pics with whatever characters are out for that race so I can skip those the next day, pending of course there are characters out for the 5k!

Yep, definitely are! In my experience, there are usually about 5 stops with at least 2 rarer characters. For the Marathon weekend 5k last year there were: The 3 Caballeros (the theme that year), Mushu, Beauty and the Beast, Alice, Jasmine and Aladdin, and maybe more as they tended to switch them out a bit.

 

[mking624]

I did the Halloween 5K last year and they did have characters out. I only stopped for the grave diggers. Since it took place at AK, they also had a few small animals out with their handlers.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Cool. So now I have a plan! But that means I have to fly in a day earlier. Another day at Disney, so sad!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

I've heard some runners express disappointment in the lack of character photo opportunities at the 5K races, but I've never done a 5K myself.

If you're worried about time and getting swept, just remember that character photos will be a whole lot more fun when you have that medal hanging around your neck. Characters make a big deal out of it. Chip and Dale were a riot this year, bowing before me, arguing about which one of them actually won the race, and finally settling the matter with a game of rock, paper, scissors. That was much more fun than the high five with characters as I crossed the finish line. Having Prince Phillip wish me luck was nice after my picture with him and Princess Aurora, but it was even better later that day when I talked about the race with Princess Aurora.

I'm actually tempted to sign up for the Jingle Jungle 5K owing to the Christmas theme, but am thus far telling myself no because I don't want to overdo it for the 1/2 later that night. I would hate to get swept from the 1/2 because I was too exhausted from the 5K that morning. There may well come a day when I try for both the 5K and a 1/2, but not with my possible only chance at the C2C on the line.

 

[Raenstoirm]

If you're worried about time and getting swept, just remember that character photos will be a whole lot more fun when you have that medal hanging around your neck. Characters make a big deal out of it. Chip and Dale were a riot this year, bowing before me, arguing about which one of them actually won the race, and finally settling the matter with a game of rock, paper, scissors. That was much more fun than the high five with characters as I crossed the finish line. Having Prince Phillip wish me luck was nice after my picture with him and Princess Aurora, but it was even better later that day when I talked about the race with Princess Aurora.

Are all the "cool" characters out after the race for pics? (Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy in their royal finest, princes, the 3 caballeros or Brer crew or Scrooge or whoever else they bring out for that particular race)?

 

[poohbear8]

I did the Royal Family 5k last Feb, which was my first race ever. I didn't stop for fear of being swept and what I thought were long lines. In hindsight, now that I have done the TOT race, I could have stopped at least some.

Rapunzel was the theme and she and maybe her prince were outside near the corrals before the race. The line was long, so I skipped it. When we got done, we headed back over there and the Prince was there alone. When we were done with him, they said that Rapunzel was coming, so we got back in line and waited for her. Much shorter than before the race. They also had her horse there for pictures.

During the race there were some rare characters, though I can't be sure who I remember seeing. I "think" Mulan, her prince, and Mushu. Snow White and a one of the dwarves, maybe. I think Genie, Jasmine, and maybe Aladdin were there. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy were probably there. I don't remember if they had special clothes on or not. I'm sure I am forgetting a few.

Anyway, yes there ARE characters on the course. I haven't run the Princess yet, so I can't say if they are the same ones you will see the next day.

I do agree with the PP about the characters making a big deal about the medal the next day! I went on a character hunt, since it was my first race ever, which I ran nonstop (not planned, but if you don't stop for pictures, you just keep going). I was so very happy and all of the characters made a big deal about it!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Are all the "cool" characters out after the race for pics? (Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy in their royal finest, princes, the 3 caballeros or Brer crew or Scrooge or whoever else they bring out for that particular race)?

I'm afraid I may have confused you earlier. if so, I apologize. Speaking of the Disneyland 1/2, the only runDisney event I've done to date, there were no characters after the finish line. The Fab 5 plus chipmunks were lined up at the finish line to high five you as you finished, but there were no chances for posed photos at the finish line. Immediately thereafter we went into the runners chute and the family meet up area.

All my character photos were taken in the parks the day of (and after) the race as part of my admission to Disneyland. I do know that the Wine & Dine 1/2 has an after party with characters, but I don't know which ones will be there.

Because everyone is looking to get the picture and get out of there, lines for even the most popular characters can be relatively short. I've heard stories of people waiting in line for over an hour to get pictures with princesses and their princes at MVMCP, but the line for Prince Phillip and Princess Aurora was about 3 minutes during the Disneyland 1/2. Darth Vader is essentially impossible to meet at Disneyland if you're old enough to run the Disneyland 1/2 and his line was about 7-8 minutes long. By contrast, I waited around an hour at Star Wars Weekends to meet Darth Vader.

 

[Raenstoirm]

I'm afraid I may have confused you earlier. if so, I apologize. Speaking of the Disneyland 1/2, the only runDisney event I've done to date, there were no characters after the finish line.

Yeah, that is what I originally thought. So I am back to having to pick up my pace to get to meet the "cool kids" that I wont wait an hour (or more) in line for at the parks and the few that are unmeetable at the parks in general.

Hmm, someone just made a thread about how she finished her first half in 2:15. That's craziness to me, but I may just have to get that fast to get my pics!