Thanks for racing over to planDisney, Wayne! I'm glad you came by with another great question.
Spectating at
runDisney races is second only to running them. I think it is fantastic that you are going to cheer on your son during his first Walt Disney World Resort race. I've got lots of experience spectating at
The Most Magical Place on Earth, so I'm excited to answer your question.
Wayne,
runDisney races start early (5:00 AM or earlier) and the time you need to get to
EPCOT will depend on a few factors. First, it will depend on your son's starting corral. For the fastest runners, they must submit a
Proof of Time if they believe they will finish the race within a certain time. Based on his Proof of Time, your son will be assigned a start group - usually lettered beginning with A - and that will indicate the order in which he will start the race. Early start groups begin first, and it can take a while for those with later start groups to cross the starting line and begin the race.
Another factor is how quickly your son anticipates running the race. When I calculated my husband's race finish for his most recent race, I multiplied his average mile speed by the number of miles he was running to figure out the earliest I'd need to be at the finish. So, if he started with Group A right at 5:00 AM, and ran 10-minute miles, I knew I'd need to meet him at around 7:00 AM (give or take a few minutes). The best bet is to check with your son to see what he anticipates his overall race time might be, and work back from there.
Some logistics for spectating: Parking tends to be free for spectators arriving before the theme park opens. This is subject to change, but it is one reason I like to arrive around 6:00 AM, regardless of the length of the race. Please keep in mind that both runners and spectators will go through security screening on their way to the start line/finish line, so give yourself extra time for that process. I like to arrive early, grab a coffee, and camp out near the finish line. I don't want to risk missing anything! There are often food trucks located near the spectating area, in case you want to grab food.
Wayne, after the race, runners will generally receive their medal and a snack box, and head toward gEAR Check. Once they pass gEAR Check, there will be a reunion area, where friends and family can greet their runners. If you need any help, be sure to ask a friendly Cast Member to direct you.
I hope this information helps! I know it was a lot so if you have any more questions, please feel free to swing back by and
ask me another question. I'd be happy to help!
Every mile is magic,
Melissa