Hi Esther,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you so much for asking us a question.
I was absolutely thrilled to hear that you’ve taken the plunge and registered for a
runDisney event this year! I’m warning you: those races are addictive! I was a “one and done, thank you very much” after my first event in 2018 and now I’ve not only done more than 20 runDisney races since then, including two Dopey Challenges! It sounds hokey, but runDisney truly changed my life and made me believe that the impossible really is possible.
One of the things that sets runDisney races apart from other races for me (local or otherwise) is how accessible they are, in every sense of the term. This not only means that they welcome (and celebrate!) runners of all ages and abilities but that they also make logistics easy on participants. This is especially true if you’re staying in a Disney Resorts Collection hotel, such as
Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. I’m thrilled to say that there absolutely will be race transportation available for you to get to your race and that it starts as early as 3 AM!
In fact, I highly recommend getting on one of the earliest buses to make sure that you aren’t pressed for time the morning of your race. This isn’t like a local race: there are thousands of participants and you’ll have to go through security when you arrive at EPCOT. Plus, there can sometimes be a bit of a walk between where the buses will drop Guests off and the starting corrals, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to get to where you need to go. If you’re there extremely early, don’t worry! There’s plenty for you to do! From getting snacks, to character experiences, to a DJ playing tunes to pump you up, you’ll absolutely find a fun way to pass the time before you hear “3-2-1-Goooooo!” for your corral!
One final tip: did you know that all of your race pictures are taken by
Disney PhotoPass service photographers and are included with a
Memory Maker package? I highly recommend purchasing a package – runDisney race pictures are amazing and truly unlike any other race photos you’ll ever get. Be on the lookout for the green tents in the Theme Parks while you’re running!
I hope Every Mile is Magic for you during your upcoming race. Please don’t hesitate to come back and see us if you have any other questions.
Have a Magical Day,
Lynne