New runner - give me the low-down of different race options at WDW

[peacefrogdog]

I have skimmed through the threads on this page, and while I'm sure I could find all the information I'm looking for by spending more time, hoping to go the quick way and post here.

I'm a DVC owner, and in combination with just starting running, I'm looking for race options over the next few years to : 1) give me a reason to book another trip, 2) to be able to say I did a formal race, 3) do the race with one of my kids. The race merchandise and characters are not big things for me.

When looking at the main races (Marathon weekend, Wine & Dine, Princess) - from what I can best tell the routes for the 5K are similar if not the same, and they look to differ based on theming/characters, extra events (like Wine & Dine party), and time of year. I see that there have been some park specific races like the ToT themed race or the EE race in AK, but those were a few years ago.

That being said, my questions are:

1. For someone who just wants to race to achieve a goal of running a race - does the specific race really matter beyond the time of year?
2. Any thing else I should consider?

Thanks in advance, and please feel free to direct me other threads I may have missed that answer these questions.

 

[Herding_Cats]

The themes would be the biggest difference. Marathon weekend is the only weekend that has a full marathon. Princess and f&w are 5/10/half and we don’t know what will happen with the new spring surpise series yet.

AFAIK marathon weekend is always the fab5-ish for medals. Princess weekend is always princess medals, and f&w is a toss up. F&w has an after party in Epcot (I don’t know any details other than there is one.)

There are a TON of people at Disney races. There’s part of an episode on Disney plus about it and as I’ve yet to do an in person Disney race it was kind of amazing to see all the people (especially watching that episode during lockdown in a pandemic ) The races are very early in the morning.

 

[Onceuponamarathon]

That being said, my questions are:

1. For someone who just wants to race to achieve a goal of running a race - does the specific race really matter beyond the time of year?
2. Any thing else I should consider?

Thanks in advance, and please feel free to direct me other threads I may have missed that answer these questions.

1. Marathon Weekend and Princess are the only two courses that go through Magic Kingdom. If you want to run through the castle, you have to do the half or full during marathon weekend or the half during Princess. Those are your only options.

2. Remember to look at when you're training, not just the time of year of the race. For example, Marathon weekend has long runs closer to the holidays in the training plan. Wine and Dine means starting training in July (which depending on where you live, could mean running on the surface of the sun). Map the training plan against any big vacations, holidays, etc.

3. I'm not sure what distance you're looking at but generally speaking, no one runs the 5k. It is not timed, and there are tons of characters. As a result people tend to use this race for character stops and maybe jog between them. Princess 2020 had 6 character stops in 3.1 miles. The 10k for Princess and Marathon Weekend is the best timed course in my opinion. Bulk of the miles are world show case + boardwalk area. I already mentioned the Princess and Marathon Weekend half's go through the castle. Wine and Dine's race traditionally goes through AK, HS, and Epcot. No one knows about the new spring fling yet.

4. Wine and Dine gets an after party. If you do the half, you get entrance to Epcot for a runner's only celebration (friends and family can purchase entrance to the party too). They keep most of the rides and food booths open from the festival. They have a DJ playing music throughout the whole park. Characters. Speciality Drinks. You even get a 15 dollar gift card to get you started.

 

[GreatLakes]

The post above hit just about everything I was going to say. The only thing I have to add is also take into account what else is going on at the time of the race. If you want to go to Flower & Garden or Food & Wine select the race that happens at that time. If you want to see some holiday decorations do Marathon Weekend and come down a bit early.

You mentioned doing a race with your kid. Their age will also impact this unless they are adult children. All of the races happen during the school year so hopegully one lines up with a break. There is also a minimum age for each race. I believe it is 14 for the half and full, 5 for the 5K, and I've never found a minimum for the 10K so that might also move the needle on the distance.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

If you want to run for this upcoming running season I would look to see if you can get your dvc room for the runs. The Wine and Dine looks fully booked up. Marathon and Princess is hard but there seems to be some choices still and Spring Surprises seems to have the most options.

 

[DopeyBadger]

You mentioned doing a race with your kid. Their age will also impact this unless they are adult children. All of the races happen during the school year so hopegully one lines up with a break. There is also a minimum age for each race. I believe it is 14 for the half and full, 5 for the 5K, and I've never found a minimum for the 10K so that might also move the needle on the distance.

@peacefrogdog

Past policy was 5 years old for 5k, 10 years old for 10k, 14 years for HM, and 18 years for M/Goofy/Dopey. The page where this info used to be no longer exists on runDisney, but I found it by googling "age requirement runDisney half marathon". It remains to be seen whether there will be any changes. But the Wine and Dine 2021 race page does minimally say 5 years old for the 5k (nothing on other race distances).

 

[Wendysofftoneverland]

Princess weekend, when I did it in 2011, seemed to be more female-centric. Marathon weekend has a heavy emphasis on challenges, and it is the only place I've ever said I'm "only" running a marathon. Maybe it is just my personality, but even when I did the 10k and half marathon 12 weeks after giving birth, it didn't feel like that much of an accomplishment, when surrounded by Dopey and Goofy challenge runners. So I would personally avoid that one for a first race. Also, marathon weekend means you are running your longest training run right around New Year's Eve. Spring Surprise might line up with spring breaks and might be the warmest race weekend. Marathon weekend can be freezing cold or 80 degrees. Wine and Dine has an afterparty, but as a previous poster mentioned, your training starts in the summer. Princess run was my first rundisney and I feel like that was a great first half marathon for me.

 

[butterscotchcollins]

If you want to run for this upcoming running season I would look to see if you can get your dvc room for the runs. The Wine and Dine looks fully booked up. Marathon and Princess is hard but there seems to be some choices still and Spring Surprises seems to have the most options.

For cash rooms too - I just panic-booked Coronado Springs because there were only a handful of resorts with availability (and I wasn't about to spend $1500 a night to stay at outdated Grand Floridian.)

 

[Jsciv]

For cash rooms too - I just panic-booked Coronado Springs because there were only a handful of resorts with availability (and I wasn't about to spend $1500 a night to stay at outdated Grand Floridian.)

There's really not a need to panic or rush rooms TOO much. More resorts are likely to open up between now and race day, as well as the usual sales that start 1-3 months before any given off-peak season (and those have continued throughout the post-pandemic era). There's no reason not to make a safety booking as soon as you feel financially able to, but I wouldn't fret about rooms being completely sold out (especially during the MW and Princess weekends) as there will likely be plenty of chances to book between now and then.

 

[Herding_Cats]

There's really not a need to panic or rush rooms TOO much. More resorts are likely to open up between now and race day

Since Disney announced the other all stars and port orleans (and akl) reopening dates, and made them available, what else is left that’s not scheduled to be open? More capacity at the resorts?

 

[HangWithMerida]

I’ll second a lot of what the other posters mentioned.
I did a 5k (star wars) with my daughter when I was first getting into running. Like you mentioned, the character meet-and-greets are not really my thing so I usually just take a good look as I go on by. There were a lot of walkers but there were also quite a few people running too. That said, the options to stop are there. That race was early April, so pretty much around the spring surprise time. It was really hot the year I did it. Some years, it’s probably very lovely.
I have also done W&D HM (And am doing it again this year). I really like the after party for W&D for what it’s worth. You finish the race, go back to your room to shower, eat, nap then wake up refreshed and head to a party with a bunch of other crazy runners.
Re: training. I live in a spot where training for W&D HM begins on the surface of the sun. It’s worth considering how much time you will need to train and where that falls in your year depending on the distance you are aiming for. I run year-round but usually cut back a lot in the summer due to the heat. If you also run year round, your serious training phase is much shorter than someone who only runs a few months a year or is specifically starting to run for a certain race. That said, for me personally the Princess HM is the sweet spot for race training because I am already training for other HM’s in the winter and the temps tend to be more predictable cool in February. So I am also trying to do that one in 2022.
Someone above mentioned the challenge focused vibe around the marathon weekend. I always said I would never run a marathon, but I won’t lie, I feel the pressure when I start thinking about that weekend. I see a lot about Goofy vs Dopey and can see how that environment might have a different feel that the races I have already done. I’ve already started thinking about how crazy I would have to be to do it. And tack on the castaway challenge to boot. Maybe it’s just the race rabbit-hole we all fall down when you start Disney runs. They are fun and super addictive!