Robin, are you ready for an epic weekend running through theme parks before they open? There is nothing like starting a race with fireworks and celebrating your accomplishments alongside so many supportive and cheering athletes. The
Disney Princess Half Marathon motivated me to go from a 5K runner to attempting a half. I wanted that photo in front of Cinderella Castle so much that I kept putting on my sneakers to log all those training miles.
Walt Disney World is truly the most magical place to race, and a pair of shoes can change your life!
I imagine those castle photos and all the characters along the route are important to you, too. The new
PhotoPass guidelines for
runDisney events seem to allow five bibs per weekend. I emailed runDisney, and they confirmed the 5K will count as one bib and the
Fairytale Challenge as another. With three runners and six bibs, you will need to add PhotoPass for one of the races to have them all.
I know this is a change from previous races and not what you hoped to hear. You could add
Memory Maker One Day to get all the bibs included. But this is what I would do: don't register all three 5K bibs if you plan on running together. I ran the
Disney Marathon Weekend this year with
Melissa, and we got a lot of photos together. The 5K tends to be more casual. If you get your character photos together, you should get all these photos. When you see the green PhotoPass banners, run side-by-side, high five or create other magical group shots. Link the three challenge bibs and enjoy all the 10K and half marathon photos your heart has been dreaming of, like a classic castle photo and celebratory Finish Line crossings!
This weekend's weather may be a bit on the chillier side. It was Marathon Weekend, too. If you wear layers, make sure your bib is visible to the PhotoPass photographers. And if you forgo linking one of the 5K bibs, remember who has PhotoPass, so those bibs are captured in the pictures.
And don't forget about the t-shirt and medal shots inside the theme parks. Take your bragging rights with you for more PhotoPass fun. While everyone was rope-dropping
TRON Lightcycle / Run the day after the marathon, I enjoyed the shorter lines for victory photos on Main Street, U.S.A. and in front of Cinderella Castle. The photographers were so amazing that I gave each one a Cast Compliment in the
My Disney Experience app. Your whole family can take as many of these photos as you would like and they will be part of your PhotoPass account, including capturing pictures of up to 25 connected "
Family & Friends."
Robin, I know this is not the answer you hoped for, but I sincerely hope your race weekend is magical, you get photos that capture all the joy, and you celebrate all you accomplish like a princess!
If we can help with any other questions, please race back by
planDisney. We're cheering for you!
Every Mile is Magic!
Jana