With the New Year around the corner, now is a great time to start planning your Walt Disney World Run! Disney has many different runs to choose from. Whether you are a beginner looking to walk your first 5K, or you are an elite runner, ready to take on a marathon through Disney Parks, there is no better place than Disney to choose to run. Here, you will find all the information you will need to pick the perfect run for you, and everything you will need to know to sign up for your Disney Run.
What are the different races at Walt Disney World Resort?
Walt Disney World offers four different run weekends throughout the year. Each run weekend offers many different races and challenges to choose from. This is perfect for runners of all skill levels to find what they are looking for.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend January 5 – 9, 2022
Enjoy the Most Magical Running Weekend Ever at Walt Disney Worlds Marathon Weekend! Disney Offers four races, two challenges, and a virtual option for those wanting to run from home. (All Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Races are currently sold out.) Here is a list of the weekend races:
- Walt Disney World 5K – $95
- Walt Disney World 10K – $135
- Walt Disney World Half Marathon – $195
- Walt Disney World Marathon – $195
Over the race weekend there will be two challenges participants can participate in, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge and Dopey Challenge.
Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge
Bring out the Goofy side of you over two days of running and 39.3 miles! You will start by completing the Half Marathon on Saturday, then finishing the Marathon on Sunday. You will earn your Half Marathon and Marathon finisher medals and shirts, plus get the Goofy medal and shirt! Instead of purchasing both the Half Marathon and Marathon separately, you will need to register for the Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge.
Dopey Challenge
Ready to step up your game? Take on the Dopey Challenge, 48.6 miles in 4 days straight! Take on all four Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races and earn 6 medals and shirts, the four from the races and two from the challenges! You will have to register for the Dopey Challenges to receive the challenge medals and shirts.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend February 24 – 27, 2022
Break out your favorite princess tiara and running shoes for the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! Grab some of the regal medals while running a 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon and finding your happily ever after at the finish line! (All Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend Races are currently sold out for 2022)
Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga
Start your Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend with the Disney Princess Sunrise Yoga. Stretch out and find your inner strength to make it through the challenges ahead with a yoga session in front of Cinderella’s Castle at the Magic Kingdom.
Here are the races you will be able to choose from over the weekend:
- Disney Princess 5K – $95
- Disney Princess Enchanted 10K – $135
- Disney Princess Half Marathon – $210
Disney Fairy Tale Challenge presented by CORKCICLE
Step up your run and sign up for the Disney Fairy Tale Challenge! Complete the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K and the Disney Princess Half Marathon and earn a royal Disney Fairy Tale Challenge medal as well as the race medals!
runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend March 31 – April 3, 2022
Join in celebrating Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary during the NEW runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend! This race weekend will include some favorite runDisney events and includes Sunrise Yoga, a 5K, 10K, and 10-miler.
runDisney Springtime Surprise Sunrise Yoga
Start out your race weekend getting prepared mentally and physically in front of Cinderella’s Castle with a sunrise yoga session! This is a great start to your weekend and make sure you find your Zen for the weekend!
Races you will be able to choose from for your weekend are:
- Expedition Everest 5K – $100
- Race for the Taste 10K – $135
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10-miler – $190
runDisney Springtime Surprise Challenge
Test your endurance at the runDisney Springtime Surprise Challenge! Take on all three races, completing 19.3 miles in total. Once you complete all three runs you will receive the three race medals and shirts plus the inaugural runDisney Springtime Surprise Challenge Medal and shirts! You must register for this event to receive the medal and shirts.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – November 4 -7, 2022
Want to combine fitness and fun? Sign up for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend! This fun event has it all, Races, Health & Fitness Expos, Kids Races, and even a Post-Race Party at the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival!
Races you will be able to choose from are:
- Disney Wine & Dine 5K – $105
- Disney Wine & Dine 10K – $145
- Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – $225
Disney Two Course Challenge powered by AfterShokz
Join the challenge and combine the Wine & Dine 10K and the Half Marathon! Complete this challenge and you will earn the Disney Two Course Challenge medal and shirt, along with the two race medals! You must register for the challenge to receive all three medals and three participant shirts.
Post-Race Party
Once you’ve completed your runs, celebrate your hard work with an after-hours party at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival! You will have access to the Global Marketplaces, live entertainment, and select attractions. If you sign up for the Half Marathon or the Challenge, your race price includes the party. If you signed up for the 5K or 10K, you would need to purchase a ticket.
runDisney Health & Fitness Expo
Over the Half Marathon Weekend, you will have a chance to attend the runDisney Health & Fitness. This event will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and will be where participants will pick up their race bib, participant shirt, and pre-purchased merchandise.
runDisney Kids Races
Have the whole family participate in the fun with the runDisney Kids Races! Kids have the option to choose from the 100-Meter Dash, 200-Meter Dash, the One Mile Run, or the Diaper Dash. Each race has a pre-race warm up danced party and a finish line with Disney characters every kid will love!
Virtual Races
Not able to travel to Disney but still want to attend? Run your race virtually from anywhere by signing up for the virtual option for each race! You are even able to sign up for the challenges. You still get all the cool runDisney medals and shirts, without the travel!
What Do I Need to Know?
Before planning your runDisney experience, here are a few tips you will want to know.
- Each race comes with goodies!
All races will include:
- Your favorite Disney Character sightings and entertainment throughout the race
- Race Medal
- On and off-course refreshments
- Personalized bib
- Virtual goody bag
- Downloadable finisher certificate
- Many participants dress up for their race.
Whether it’s the Disney Princess 5K or the Walt Disney World Marathon, each race is filled with runners dressed up as their favorite characters. Many races have themes racers want to dress up as, so look ahead of time the race you are wanting to attend and see if there is a theme tied to it.
- There are pacing requirements.
Each race has pacing requirements you are required to follow to follow. Most racers must maintain a minimum of a 16-minute mile pace for all races. There are cyclist setting the pace on the course and if fall behind the pace you can be picked up and transported to the course pick up tent. It is suggested when training you try to maintain at least a 15-minute mile to be safe. The race is walker friendly if you can maintain the pacing guidelines.
- runDisney does offer PhotoPass!
Make sure to link your PhotoPass account to your bib number. Photo linking instructions will be included in race event guides and on the runDisney website. Photos are available 48 hours after your race.
- Register Early!
Registration opens about 8 months before the events. Check ahead of time when registration is going to open because they can sell out instantly! Select guest can pre-register for the event if they are runDisney members.
- Make sure to train for your event!
runDisney offers many great tools to help you train for your upcoming event. They even have training programs you can download straight from their website. Make sure you take advantage of the great resources runDisney offers!
- There is an age requirement for races.
runDisney does have an age requirement for their races.
- All participants in 5K races must be at least 5 years of age on race day.
- All participants in 10K races must be at least 10 years old.
- All participants in Half Marathons must be at least 14 years old.
- All participants in the Walt Disney World Marathon, Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge, and Dopey Challenge must be 18 years old.
- Age requirements are all the same for Virtual races as in-person.
So, have you decided which race you are going to sign up for? Whether it’s a 5K or a full Marathon, your first race or your 1,000th, racing at Walt Disney World can be a dream come true for many racers. runDisney is perfect for all skill levels. Beginners to elite runners will have a magical time running through the Disney courses and seeing their favorite characters along the way!
