Springtime Surprise 2026 (Apr 16-20)

[Naomeri]

My biggest tips would be:

For race strategy -
1. Walk the 5K. This race isn't timed so go as slow as you want to (within reason, of course). Take the photos and have fun.
2. Do the 10K as easy as you can without getting in trouble with the balloon ladies. Have fun, but not too much fun. Immediately after you finish, go into recovery mode. Get some food, re-hydrate (it's likely to be hot and humid so drink, drink, and drink some more), and get off your feet as soon as you can.

In general -
- Respect what you are doing. My friend/travel partner says that, when I'm doing a challenge, it is a running weekend with a side of vacation until I'm finished running. That means that what I need to do to feel good about running takes priority. If that means skipping the standing in long ride lines or not eating my favorite rich dessert or being in bed at 7 p.m., so be it.
- Do some back to back to back days in training. There are things that happen to your body when doing multiple days in a row and you don't want to have them pop up for the first time on race weekend.
- Have a plan for everything going into the weekend and stick with that plan. It's very easy to get distracted by things at Disney and suddenly find yourself doing something that you didn't do in training. Repeat after me "nothing new on race day." But that being said, don't be afraid to throw that plan out if it isn't working for you. At least twice on race weekends, I've found myself telling my travel partner, after two hours of park time, that I was done and going to head back to the hotel room.

I hope this helps!

I will add to the post-10K recovery suggestions: get a ticket to a water park and hang out in the lazy river in one of the chair tubes so you can kick your legs to move around, but not have any weight on them. I did it in 2023 when they had cheap water park entry for runners and it felt so good. The Typhoon Lagoon post race party in 2024 was good for recovery at the end of the challenge too.

 

[KCO5988]

Not over doing it during the day, getting enough rest and finding basic healthy food for the first 4 days since I have a sensitive stomach. It is also just never experiencing three early run days in a row. I am hoping to do more challenges in the future if this goes well.

I have a very sensitive stomach too and celiac disease, I can give you basic healthy food recs depending on where you'll be those first 4 days! (They'll be all gluten free, but most places have a normal version of whatever they have that is gluten free!) And I'm sure other people on here have recommendations they will share with you as well.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

My biggest tips would be:

For race strategy -
1. Walk the 5K. This race isn't timed so go as slow as you want to (within reason, of course). Take the photos and have fun.
2. Do the 10K as easy as you can without getting in trouble with the balloon ladies. Have fun, but not too much fun. Immediately after you finish, go into recovery mode. Get some food, re-hydrate (it's likely to be hot and humid so drink, drink, and drink some more), and get off your feet as soon as you can.

In general -
- Respect what you are doing. My friend/travel partner says that, when I'm doing a challenge, it is a running weekend with a side of vacation until I'm finished running. That means that what I need to do to feel good about running takes priority. If that means skipping the standing in long ride lines or not eating my favorite rich dessert or being in bed at 7 p.m., so be it.
- Do some back to back to back days in training. There are things that happen to your body when doing multiple days in a row and you don't want to have them pop up for the first time on race weekend.
- Have a plan for everything going into the weekend and stick with that plan. It's very easy to get distracted by things at Disney and suddenly find yourself doing something that you didn't do in training. Repeat after me "nothing new on race day." But that being said, don't be afraid to throw that plan out if it isn't working for you. At least twice on race weekends, I've found myself telling my travel partner, after two hours of park time, that I was done and going to head back to the hotel room.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for your tips. I am going to follow the running plan from RunDisney which has back to back days worked in which will be a new experience for me but takes the guess work out of doing the planning.

 

[5xdisneyfans]

I have a very sensitive stomach too and celiac disease, I can give you basic healthy food recs depending on where you'll be those first 4 days! (They'll be all gluten free, but most places have a normal version of whatever they have that is gluten free!) And I'm sure other people on here have recommendations they will share with you as well.

I will be sure to ask once I have better idea where I will be on those days but to start I am staying at Coronado Springs. Thanks

 

[fatmanatee]

Heads up, spring discounts are available now and cover this weekend. Hoping Universal follows because their prices for the week following this one are kind of insane.

 

[1lilspark]

I asked my sister who isn’t running but is doing parks with me if she’d rather save 80 ish and move from a standard to a preferred location at an all star or save 30 ish and upgrade from a standard at all star to a standard at pop

Pop with its race weekend party vibe and skyliner won

 

[amazingact21]

Heads up, spring discounts are available now and cover this weekend. Hoping Universal follows because their prices for the week following this one are kind of insane.

Thanks for sharing! Got my room at Sports with a Passholder discount.
Still working on convincing my friends to join me for the weekend. Hoping since I have the room it'll be harder to make excuses now.

 

[Naomeri]

Just booked my room at AsMu, saving almost $450 with the new AP discount

 

[KCO5988]

Just booked my room at AsMu, saving almost $450 with the new AP discount

Wow! I'm booked at sports but my AP has expired. Was waiting until closer to MW to renew (well not really renew, just re-buy). But I guess I should hurry up and get it so I can take advantage of the discounts before they're sold out.

 

[Baloo in MI]

The passholder discount was significant (great excuse to keep getting our annual pass! ). Saved close to $500!

 

[Disneyhanna]

I saved about $325 over 4 nights at Pop. Darn, now Swan is more expensive than Pop, might have to stick with Pop now

 

[KCO5988]

I got my AP ordered and then instead of using the discount to save $$ staying at sports, I switched to Pop. I still saved $7 though...

 

[Naomeri]

I got my AP ordered and then instead of using the discount to save $$ staying at sports, I switched to Pop. I still saved $7 though...

I’ve done that in the past—if a discounted rate at a different resort is still about the same as the rack rate I was willing to pay originally (since discounts aren’t guaranteed to happen) it’s still a win in my book.

 

[KCO5988]

I’ve done that in the past—if a discounted rate at a different resort is still about the same as the rack rate I was willing to pay originally (since discounts aren’t guaranteed to happen) it’s still a win in my book.

I like that way of thinking!

 

[5xdisneyfans]

Does anyone use cooling towels on their runs? With how hot/humid SS weekend is I was wondering if anyone uses one for the 10 miler? I have never used one but I have never ran a longer distance in the heat. Mileage won’t pick up for my training until we are in the middle of freezing temperatures here so I won’t be experiencing it then either. When I use to run longer distances I would start before the time I will probably be starting in Florida since I expect to be in one of the later corrals with no P.O.T.

 

[sandam1]

Does anyone use cooling towels on their runs? With how hot/humid SS weekend is I was wondering if anyone uses one for the 10 miler? I have never used one but I have never ran a longer distance in the heat. Mileage won’t pick up for my training until we are in the middle of freezing temperatures here so I won’t be experiencing it then either. When I use to run longer distances I would start before the time I will probably be starting in Florida since I expect to be in one of the later corrals with no P.O.T.

I regularly carry a cooling towel, but I usually use it primarily to wipe off the sweat. But, in a pinch, I have poured water on it and it does help. When I'm not actively using it, I just tie it to my running belt.

For me, the "not pretty, but works" method of cooling down is grabbing a couple cups of water at every water stop and pouring them over my arms and shoulders and down the back of my neck. (I don't go over my head because I don't like water in my eyes.) Warning if you use this method: My clothes are moisture wicking so they usually dry pretty quickly, but my underwear gets (and stays) pretty damp. Also, be aware of an electronics on you and make sure they don't get soaked.

 

[nancipants]

I regularly carry a cooling towel, but I usually use it primarily to wipe off the sweat. But, in a pinch, I have poured water on it and it does help. When I'm not actively using it, I just tie it to my running belt.

For me, the "not pretty, but works" method of cooling down is grabbing a couple cups of water at every water stop and pouring them over my arms and shoulders and down the back of my neck. (I don't go over my head because I don't like water in my eyes.) Warning if you use this method: My clothes are moisture wicking so they usually dry pretty quickly, but my underwear gets (and stays) pretty damp. Also, be aware of an electronics on you and make sure they don't get soaked.

I do this, too. I learned to bend over and dump the water over my head that way so it doesn't on my clothes. Not that it matters because my clothes are soaked from sweat anyway.

 

[radiodome21]

I remember we got mission cooling towels in our SS bags last year. I had no idea what it was or how to use it. I left it on my room and my 14 year old son asked me if I got one after the race and told me what it was. I thought it was a sweet towel. He was back home and yet he knew was familiar with them .

 

[Naomeri]

I remember we got mission cooling towels in our SS bags last year. I had no idea what it was or how to use it. I left it on my room and my 14 year old son asked me if I got one after the race and told me what it was. I thought it was a sweet towel. He was back home and yet he knew was familiar with them .

There was a guy at the 2024 W&D after party wearing a kilt made entirely of Mission cooling towels