Hi there Mallory,
Thank you for running over to us at planDisney with your question! I have participated in (what my husband considers to be too) many runDisney race weekends, and the
Springtime Surprise 10-Miler is one of my absolute favorite races. Running past the iconic topiaries of the
EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival is such a fun way to start and end the race.
I'm so glad you chose to stay at a
Disney Resorts Collection hotel. While you likely won't embrace your inner 'hakuna matata' until you cross the finish line, the complimentary transportation provided to guests of resort hotels gives you one less thing to worry about after that early morning race-day alarm. Mallory, as a hotel guest, you have access to amenities (including transportation) for the entire day of your check-in, even if the room is not quite ready yet. Upon arrival at the entrance to your resort hotel's parking lot, simply show the Cast Member your reservation in your
My Disney Experience mobile app so that they can confirm you as a guest. Once you have been granted entry, look for signs indicating the location of runDisney race weekend transportation. At some resort hotels, they aren't easily visible from the lobby, so you might need to check with a Cast Member who can point you in the right direction. I suggest boarding a bus as early as possible to avoid unnecessary stress. There are usually plenty of photo ops in the staging areas to fill any extra time you may have.
Mallory, I also suggest using Walt Disney World's
Direct-to-Room service to simplify your check-in process and allow you to focus on the finish line. To do so, you'll need to link your resort hotel reservation to your
My Disney Experience account either online or in the My Disney Experience mobile app. Once that is taken care of, you'll be able to utilize the online check-in feature as your arrival date approaches. After you have checked in digitally, you'll receive a notification once your room is ready on the first day of your reservation. When you're ready to rest your legs post-race, you can use your phone or MagicBand to unlock your resort hotel room.
If you are arriving by car, my Tarzan-loving planDisney pal Brent provided a helpful explanation of the parking process for early arrivals
here.
If you have any additional questions before your race, feel free to
drop back by.
Wishing you miles of smiles in 2024,
Lizzie