Hi there, Kelly!
Thank you for running over to planDisney with your question. Can you believe the
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is less than a month away? All of your training is about to culminate in your crowning achievement, 13.1 magical miles! The start line awaits, so let's dash right to your question.
Although the
Digital Expo & Event Guide has not yet been released with specific start line information, due to impending road closures on race day, I can assure you that the key to a stress-free morning before a runDisney race is arriving early. With road closures typically beginning at 4:00 AM, I always plan to be at the start village no less than 90 minutes before a race begins. I would suggest having your family drop you off at EPCOT before they head to the
Transportation & Ticket Center for parking. If the half marathon course remains consistent with the course from years past, you will run between
EPCOT and
Magic Kingdom Park. By parking at the Transportation & Ticket Center, your family would likely have the option of seeing you there before taking the Monorail to Magic Kingdom Park (theme park admission isn't needed before the theme park opens). My husband loves cheering me on from Main Street, U.S.A. and has captured some amazing photos of me (in all of my sweaty princess glory) there. After you pass by (at record speed because of the Magic Kingdom pixie dust), they could take the Monorail back to EPCOT and cheer you to the finish.
If your family is feeling a bit more like Sleepy than Snow White on race day, you could always utilize a rideshare service such as Uber or Lyft to the start while they make their way to the Transportation & Ticket Center at a more reasonable (but still very early) hour. Once you cross the finish line (and take an epic post-race photo), you can all reunite and make your way back to the Transportation & Ticket Center together via Monorail. For me, nothing quite matches a delicious post-race breakfast, so I suggest making a stop at one of the
Disney Resort hotels located on the Monorail before departing The Most Magical Place on Earth.
I hope this was helpful, Kelly. Please keep in mind that all of this information is tentative and more details will be available closer to race day. Keep an eye on your email for the Digital Expo & Event Guide with specific timing, course, parking, and spectator information in the coming weeks. If you need anything else before your very big day, don't hesitate to
drop back by!
Cheers to smiles and miles in 2024,
Lizzie