My first tip is a tip for myself ... I gotta start asking runDisney to pay me a commission. I bring them so many new people!
Okay. Tips.
Running in General:
1 - Your journey is yours and yours alone. Other people will tell you what to do based on their experience - process their comments and see how they apply to you. What works for others may not work as well for you, but be willing to try new things and see how they work.
2 - Get a good pair of shoes. Most runners will tell you to go to a running store and get fitted - they'll look at your foot and your running style and help you find a shoe that works well for you. Be aware that these shoes may run in the $100-$150 range. If you're not comfortable paying that much for shoes, there are two options: 1 - get fitted for shoes but don't buy them at the store, and see if you can get them cheaper online, or 2 - buy running shoes at your local shoe store, but do some research online about the shoes you're planning to buy to see what other people say (these will likely be entry-level shoes that won't be as comfortable and certainly won't be good if you choose to work towards longer distances).
3 - Many people use some version of a Couch to 5K app to train for their first 5K. I didn't do that (I used a different plan at first and then kinda made up my own plan), so I can't give you any personal reports on that, but a lot of people love it.
4 - Don't be afraid of setbacks. Everyone has them. Just process it and keep moving forward (unless you are injured, in which case ... go to a doctor).
5 - There will always be people who are faster than you. There will always be people who are slower than you. You are only competing against yourself.
I've never done a race at
Disneyland (although I'm still hoping that I can somehow make it out either in September or for the Avengers race in November), but here are my general runDisney tips:
1 - The runDisney experience can be very overwhelming for a first timer. Read as many trip reports and blogs about the races as you possibly can. Find videos on YouTube.
2 - Remember that there will be a lot of people at this race. Pack your patience.
3 - While there is technically a pacing requirement for all the races, runDisney is known for not enforcing the pacing requirement for the 5K. There are clocks, but no official timing. It's never a bad idea to stay below the required pace, but don't be afraid to slow down or stop for pictures/characters if you think that will make the race more enjoyable for you.
4 - People show up 2-3 hours before the race expo (which is at the Disneyland Hotel). There will be some merchandise that sells out, but unless you definitely want a particular merchandise item that is likely to sell out right away (which will mostly be the half and challenge stuff), you don't have to go first thing in the morning. As long as you get there before it closes on Thursday, you'll be fine.
5 - Wear your medal in the parks after the race. Characters and Photopass photographers will love it.
Okay, I'm going to stop my incessant babbling now. I saw that you introduced yourself on the Disneyland Half Marathon thread, so hopefully people there will give you some good advice. And feel free to ask me if you have any questions!
We did end up getting a decent amount of sleep so it ended up being ok. I can't say the same for the last trip we just took. 
She said to come in and grab her when they arrived.
and great photo pass photographer!
$5!
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