Hi Tina!
Thank you for bringing your question to the Disney Parks Moms Panel!
Congratulations on signing up for your first marathon. You've picked the most magical 26.2 miles in the world!
Race mornings start very early. You may not sleep much the night before, so make sure you get a good night's sleep two nights before the race. If you're staying at one of the
Walt Disney World Resorts, you will need to be on a runDisney bus no later than 4 a.m. I try to get in line by 3:30 a.m. to be safe. If you're driving, plan to arrive by 4 a.m. because traffic can get crazy.
Make sure you are staying hydrated in the days leading up to your race, and don't try any new foods that may mess with your stomach. That's not always an easy task at
Walt Disney World, with all of the wonderful restaurant choices! I also usually bring an old sweatshirt to wear in the morning as it can be a bit chilly. I throw it off once I start running and warm up. Disney donates all items on the course to charity, so it's for a good cause.
The start area is very festive! There are DJ's leading runners in warm-up dances, characters around for photo opportunities and lots of porta-potties! You will go through a bag-check line on the way in, but it generally moves very fast. There is a 10-15 minute walk to the corrals, so runDisney will start directing runners that way around 4:30.
Even though it's early in the morning, I have always found race mornings to be a lot of fun. Everyone is excited and nervous, so it makes for great energy!
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions as your race approaches!