Welcome back to planDisney, Mark! How exciting that you’re gearing up to lace up your running shoes for the
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend! I just know you’ll be treated like the Prince Charming you are out there on the course.
When I first heard you could run through Cinderella Castle, I thought, “Where do I sign up?” The Princess Half was my first runDisney race, and let me tell you, I’m hooked! Now, let’s talk spectating. As someone who travels with a very dedicated cheer squad, I totally get the importance of making sure your supporters are in the right spot.
In past years, the internal buses at
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have started running on race mornings around 2:30 AM to take runners to the Outpost Bus Stop. From there, you can catch the runDisney transportation bus that will take you to the start line at EPCOT. While these times and details are consistent with previous race weekends, I always recommend confirming upon arrival, as transportation schedules can sometimes change.
To make your morning as smooth as possible, it might be wise to call the
Reservation Line ahead of your trip and request that your cabin or campsite loop be close to the Outpost Bus Stop. There’s no guarantee, but it never hurts to ask!
When it comes to your cheer squad, the Main Street USA area in Magic Kingdom is a fantastic spot for spectating. The energy there is unmatched, even in the wee hours of the morning. If your crew grabs their coffee and cowbells and heads out early, they’ll be ready to cheer you on in style. Just a note: a theme park ticket isn’t necessary before 7:30 AM, but after that, they’ll need one to enter Magic Kingdom.
I called Guest Services, and it looks like the water taxis won’t be running early enough for race day, and neither will the buses to Magic Kingdom. My suggestion is to have your cheer squad board one of the runner buses from Fort Wilderness no later than 4:00 AM to head to the start line at EPCOT. From there, they can take the monorail to the Ticket & Transportation Center, exit the monorail, and follow the overhead signs to board the monorail to Magic Kingdom. Spectating is definitely its own kind of sport, but if that sounds like too much, they can always take a
Minnie Van directly to Magic Kingdom. You can find information about Minnie Vans from the Cast Members who work the table at the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo. They will be able to provide details about times and pick-up/ drop-off locations.
As race day gets closer, be sure to check the runDisney website for updated spectator details in the
Digital Event Guide. You’ll find everything you need, including live runner tracking and spectator locations.
As Hercules says, Mark, get ready to “Go the Distance!” You’ve got this, and I’ll be cheering you on—just from my couch this time!
Eean