Springtime Surprise 2026 (Apr 16-20)

[nancipants]

And this is why I stopped doing the 10 miler on this weekend! Very happy to just be doing the 5K this year.

Yeah, I decided I'm not doing Springtime next year.

Which hopefully guarantees it'll be Star Wars.

 

[Naomeri]

Yeah, I decided I'm not doing Springtime next year.

Which hopefully guarantees it'll be Star Wars.

My decision whether to continue with Springtime depends on whether they follow through on their statement of not recognizing perfect status. If they change their mind, I'll maintain my status. If they don't do perfect status, I think I'll start rotating race weekends based on theme and when I feel like traveling.

 

[fatmanatee]

Yeah, I decided I'm not doing Springtime next year.

Which hopefully guarantees it'll be Star Wars.

I'm shifting back to MW as my main race weekend next year so yes... Star Wars.

 

[fatmanatee]

I didn't submit any proof of time, so I guess that means my corral is luck of the draw. The weather won't bother me. Low 60s is just fine.

Non-POT corral for the 10 miler is based on whatever your pace estimate was. It'll be D or later, but if you put the fastest pace there's a good chance it ends up being D.

5k and 10k tend to be crowded in general, 10 miler can be more wide open but there's a narrow path between Epcot and HS that I've heard can be a bit cramped. If you're concerned about getting going quickly then I'd recommend trying to get to the front of the corral.

 

[tx911]

Non-POT corral for the 10 miler is based on whatever your pace estimate was. It'll be D or later, but if you put the fastest pace there's a good chance it ends up being D.

5k and 10k tend to be crowded in general, 10 miler can be more wide open but there's a narrow path between Epcot and HS that I've heard can be a bit cramped. If you're concerned about getting going quickly then I'd recommend trying to get to the front of the corral.

Thanks! I'll try to do that. I'm using the 10k as my goal race. If I get a sluggish start I'll just bag it and run for fun.

 

[fatmanatee]

Thanks! I'll try to do that. I'm using the 10k as my goal race. If I get a sluggish start I'll just bag it and run for fun.

Oh it's the 10k? In that case no POTs except for Challenge (I believe it'll be one corral for all the races). If you're just running the 10k your corral will be based on pace, with the fastest being up front.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

As a first-timer for a runDisney event, how realistic is it to have a time goal? Will the thousands of runners make things super slow out of the gate and therefore make a time goal unattainable?

Echoing and elaborating on what others have replied: If you are in the A or B coral, you can probably run for time. IIRC, we've had people on this forum who used a rD race as a Boston qualifier. But, if you aren't starting up front, you are surrounded by walkers and pace groups. And as others have noted, the courses tend to have some choke points where the course narrows. My general advice to people is that there are much cheaper races much closer to home for PRs, and to come to WDW to PR in fun. My first couple of times, I came and I ran and finished with pretty decent times, and then realized that I was doing it all wrong in that the race was over, photos were minimal, and the experience ended all-too-soon. So now I find other races for PRs and run Disney strictly for fun, which means sacrificing finishing times for expanded fun and photo ops.

 

[tx911]

Oh it's the 10k? In that case no POTs except for Challenge (I believe it'll be one corral for all the races). If you're just running the 10k your corral will be based on pace, with the fastest being up front.

I'm doing the challenge

 

[The Expert]

Yeah, I decided I'm not doing Springtime next year.

Which hopefully guarantees it'll be Star Wars.

Literally the ONLY thing that would get me to sign up again!

 

[lookingforsunshine]

For those manifesting Star Wars— last year I said I wasn’t doing Springtime unless it was Pooh themed. And look where we are. Haha.

 

[marty3d]

Yeah, I decided I'm not doing Springtime next year.

Which hopefully guarantees it'll be Star Wars.

I'm shifting back to MW as my main race weekend next year so yes... Star Wars.

Literally the ONLY thing that would get me to sign up again!

 

[PrincessV]

At risk of being the contrarian… it’s my favorite race weekend of the year and if I could only ever do one again, this would be it, no matter what they call or theme it! Love the weather, love the low-key vibe, love having a 10-Miler as an option.

That said…

PLEASE BRING BACK STAR WARS RACES!!!

 

[Naomeri]

For those manifesting Star Wars— last year I said I wasn’t doing Springtime unless it was Pooh themed. And look where we are. Haha.

We've all been manifesting Star Wars for years. Obviously, you've got the magic touch. So...a little help?

 

[hpygrll]

We only keep doing it in hopes of being perfect, but like others have said - how long do we wait for that!

 

[1lilspark]

I was really hoping Star Wars for the 5th anniversary and this was me i think key art for 2027 was teased at earlier weekends though and it doesn’t give Star Wars vibes

 

[marty3d]

PLEASE BRING BACK STAR WARS RACES!!!

This is the way.

I will 100% go to my first Springtime Surprise if they make 2027 or 2028 a Star Wars theme. The more I think about it, the more likely it is that they would do 2028 at the tail end of a Star Warts 50th celebration rather than have it a month before the official anniversary.

 

[Baloo in MI]

I am with the perfect status wishers! I am a northerner and generally melt during the 10 Miler; really it is the humidity that does me in. But I have kept coming back hoping, wishing, manifesting this last opportunity to build a perfect status. One can hope, and melt…

 

[nancipants]

We've all been manifesting Star Wars for years. Obviously, you've got the magic touch. So...a little help?

This would be even better since @lookingforsunshine doesn't know anything about Star Wars.

 

[Mr_Incr3dible]

I'll be at WDW for SS, but in the parks with my DS2. I just checked the Epcot concerts and Rick Springfield will be there the 12th and 13th. Just dang that we'll miss him. The wife and I saw Springfield a couple of years ago and he still sounds good.
Fun fact: "I've done everything for you" was written by Sammy Hagar, but Springfield's version made it a hit.

 

[LilyJC]

A little PSA for anyone renting a car through Costco Travel - I was able to rebook and get another great deal plus the $25 cash card offer! Happy with this last minute offering!