Hello there, April!
Welcome to planDisney. We're so glad you raced by with this question.
I remember my excitement leading up to my very first runDisney experience in 2022. I researched past course maps, plotted where my family might be able to spot me, and tried calculating what time I could expect to cross the finish line (and how quickly I could make it to a celebratory lunch). It's natural to want to plan out your most perfect day, but for now, an "Hakuna Matata" mindset of no worries is the best advice I can offer at this time.
Course maps have not yet been released for the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend events so we don't know for sure where runners will be at any given mile of the course. Last year, runners participating in the 10-Miler event were in Disney's Hollywood Studios around the 4-mile mark. However, there is no guarantee the course will be the same, or even if it will go through Hollywood Studios at all. I'd personally love to see the
Hakuna Matata10-Miler stick to its
Lion King theme with a "circle of life" around the Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, but we won't know until the maps of this particular path unwinding are released closer to the event.
You'll get your corral assignment when you pick up your bib at the
runDisney Health & Fitness Expo. Race events typically begin at 5:00 a.m. EST but runners are released in waves with those in the last corrals released closer to 6:00 a.m. Your finish time will depend on your corral placement but also on where you are within that corral. The earlier you arrive at the race, the closer you will be to the front of your corral.
Based on last year's course and the
pace minimum of 16 minutes per mile, my guess is that Disney's Hollywood Studios would not be open in time for your family to see you during that stretch of the race. The
hours and events calendar is only available through April 20, at the time of my writing, and it shows Early Entry for resort guests beginning at 8:30 a.m. Assuming a 6:00 a.m. race start and a 16-minute pace runners would likely be past Disney's Hollywood Studios before it opened to guests. Again, this is still all up in the air depending on the course map and your starting time. As Mufasa said, "Everything the light touches is our kingdom" and soon enough we'll all know just how far that light travels along this year's race route.
When I ran the 2022 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon my family was able to track my progress as I completed the course. They found me for some hugs and high fives before I entered the final stretch of the race outside EPCOT and were able to reunite with me after I crossed the finish line. Your family can review more spectator information as it becomes available in the Digital Expo & Event Guide prior to your event. Hopefully, you'll be able to connect for some hugs and photos before heading out to enjoy the rest of your day together. Hold that finisher's medal high as you say cheese!
April, I'm sorry I don't have a clearer answer for you but stick with my problem-free philosophy until more details become available. Until then, I wish you no worries for the rest of your days. I promise every mile will truly be magic!
Remember who you are,
Amy