Aug 22, 2014

Five Things to Love About runDisney


I keep hearing more often about the high cost of runDisney. Yes, the registration fees are higher compared to other races of the same distances. And yes, the cost can stack up with travel, on site accommodations, park tickets, food, etc. Frankly, that's going to happen with any destination race, there's just more to do when you're going to Disney. But you know what, there is plenty to love about runDisney. For that higher registration fee, you get an A++ experience. This week, I'm using the Friday Five linkup to address this. It fits perfectly into the topic, that was built with a fill-in-the-blank. This week's topic is

Five Things to Love About runDisney

1. The Bling and the Shirts

Goofy Challenge 2015 Medal and Shirt
Fighting... urge... to... register...
I love both the race shirt and medals you get from a runDisney race. They're awesome quality. With the exception of the 5K races, they great quality tech shirts with cool designs. The bling is heavy duty, awesome designs that constantly get updated and refreshed. You even get unique medals that spin or with a working compass (in the case of Expedition Everest). Anniversary years for races or challenges also come with special designs. Just check out the 10 year Goofy Challenge shirt and medal recently shown off. Spots are still available for the challenge. I wish I was one of them. (Anyone want to finance my trip? You can pick my #2 from this list...)

2. The Costumes

One thing you'll see at Disney more than any other races are costumes. I love that about runDisney. You'll have everything from picture perfect outfits that look straight out of the movie to very cool "inspired" costumes that may look like what Snow White would choose if she was running the Princess Half Marathon. I prefer the more full on costume for the shorter distances like the 5K, where it's untimed, and the less cumbersome inspired ones for the longer half marathons. Just like Disney in general, you get to be a big kid without having to worry. I am a very big kid inside (and out really).

3. The ChEAR Squad 

ChEAR Squad
Sporting the ChEAR Squad shirt
with Mary Poppins herself!
If you're familiar with this, I don't mean just the actual ChEAR Squad, which is a package you can buy at WDW Marathon weekend, but the spectators in general. I just wanted to use ChEAR. You see, it says EAR, like Mickey is know for his ears... get it? See, it's a clever name. Anyway, the spectators at the races are great. As with any long course, there are portions where there is no one but the runners and the sporadic volunteer, but throughout the course, I've never seen more people cheering on anyone running by them. It's fantastic. When you head through the parks, it's LINED with people. When you're slow and later like me, it's not just people there who know people running. It's people who just happen to be at the park, stopping to cheer. It really helps give you a boost on the course like you wouldn't believe. It really adds to the magic.

4. Running through the Parks

Running in front of castle
Why yes, that was awesome to do.
And speaking of magic [kingdom], one thing you'll get nowhere else is running through the parks. I love Disney. I love the Disney parks. Getting to run through them, around them, through back cast areas... fantastic. When else can you run down Main Street USA, out through Cinderella's Castle, around the Tree of Life, by Everest, around a giant Sorcerer's hat, circle through 9 countries and out Spaceship Earth (the giant golf ball for the non-Disney) all in ONE course?! That's the Marathon in January in a nutshell. Even the 5K went under Test Track, around through the countries and out under Spaceship Earth. It's hard to beat. The same thing goes in California, running through both parks there as well as some of Anaheim. Where else do you run the magic like that?

5. Run-cation in Florida or California (or coming soon, Paris)

Lastly, part of the cost for people is also one of the things I love. Running in a runDisney race means a trip to Florida or California. Who doesn't love that kind of trip? I mean, from traveling from the cold northeast to Florida in January? Heaven. When we left it was so cold we had to wait to board the plane because the breezeway door froze open so they had to shut it so the walk to the plane wasn't too cold. I will gladly leave that for a sunny 70 degree day. Sure, the cost of the run-cation is why I can't go in January, but that's mainly so I can take one later in October (so don't feel too bad).

Of course, if you're following the runDisney rumor mill, the runDisney schedule will include Disneyland Paris in fall 2015. If that interests you, you may want to make sure your passport is ready and start saving for an international run-cation, and tentatively keep September 2015 open.

Honorable Mentions a.k.a. Cheating in a List of 5 Things

I also need to throw in here the awesome way they do food post race at runDisney. I'm not even talking about the wonderful options you have around Disney property. At the end, there are tables and tables of water and Powerade. After that, there are tents you go by and they give you a snack box and banana. The box has a very good assortment of snacks. The beauty of this method is people can't be jerks and take all the food. Even if you're the last person, you know they'll have a box waiting for you. And speaking of the last person...

They treat the last person to cross the finish line like the first. They never leave early. They never take down water stations or barriers before you get there. They are there cheering until the last possible second. Don't believe me? Check the runDisney blog and video from the Tinker Bell Half Marathon in 2013. A++ experience. The only way Disney knows how.

A Helping Hand

Liked this post and want to see more? Just want to do me a favor anyway? I recently started a Facebook page to go with my blog (you're reading it now) and Twitter (@rgrdisney) when I did my giveaway, so I'd love if you'd help it grow and give it a like. If you do and drop me a message, I'd be more than happy to return the favor. Thanks.

</self-promotion>

Linking Up

Check here for some links out to others sharing, staring with our three lovely hosts: CourtneyCynthia and Mar. Check their posts (Eat Pray Run DC, You Signed Up for What?! and Mar on the Run to see the full set of links). I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!

Our hosts:

You Signed Up for What?! - Five Things to Love About My Vacation

Mar on the Run - Blogging Conference Love

Eat Pray Run, DC - Five Things to Love About Summer

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up

Heather @ Divas Run For Bling - 5 Things I Love About Half Marathons

Nicole @ Fitful Focus - Five Thins I Love About Life Right Now

Jennifer @ Run Jenny Run - Five Things I Love About J&A Races


Image credits:
Goofy medal & shirt - runDisney Facebook

20 comments:

  1. I can see why the Disney races are so popular! Glad you enjoy them.

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    1. Thanks. My love of Disney really powers it to start with, but there is a lot about the whole experience I love.

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  2. Thanks for sharing John, I had no idea about Disney Paris.... Seems like they pay attention to every single detail, I like when races have boxed lunches and the ChEAR squad is very clever!

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    1. Yeah. It's been rumored for a while. I've heard from a travel agent he's had it confirmed by runDisney, but that's still not first hand knowledge by me, so I still list that as "rumored". I love rumor and speculation, but it's important to remember that grain of salt.

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  3. I guess this makes the 3:00 am wake-up times worth it! Disney does know how to do events well!

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    1. Yeah. The wake up calls aren't pretty. In fact, the 4 day in a row wake up call are part of the Dopey Challenge. What they should sell is a package with corral side beds to sleep in the night before.

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  4. I love runDisney too! Their medals are definitely some of the best I own. But the cost makes it difficult to participate every year, so I limit myself to every couple years. (and I live just an hour away from Orlando). Hotel fare, registration and park admin for a family of four adds up quick.

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    1. Yeah. I ran this past January and then have next October lined up. I'd love to run them more often, but just not feasible. I'm hoping to try and do one a year for right now. Unless I win the lottery and move to Golden Oaks. ;-)

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  5. I love runDisney races for all of the reasons you mentioned. Its also where I was first inspired to start running, and for that reason runDisney will always hold a special place in my heart. I wish we could run the races more often, but there's of course the cost factor that's keeping that from being a reality.

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    1. I saw runDisney a while before I started running, from the standpoint that I new they did a marathon and half marathon and put it on my "someday after I get fit" list. Then took the leap and started training for my first half, so it will always be special to me as well.

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  6. Replies
    1. It's an experience worth doing at least once.

      One of the guys that ran with me in January isn't even really a Disney person and he loved it. Heck, he signed up for Dopey this year without me. He's hooked.

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  7. disney is one of my bucket list run items! also - i stopped by and gave your fb page a like :) eat pray run dc is on fb too!

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    1. Thanks. Stopped by yours too. I need to just go by all the blogs I read and look for the Facebook link sometime, but I figure here if people point out I can show some support easily.

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  8. I've only done one RunDisney race so far (the WDW Marathon) but I'm in love! I want to do the Tinker Bell half, the Wine & Dine, and the Goofy Challenge (mayyyyybe the Dopey if I'm crazy enough). :) Great post! And thanks for the call out!

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    1. I REALLY want to do Goofy, but he's been my favorite since I was a kid, so it's all purely about getting HIS medal. I think when I do it I may just make it Dopey, because at that point, whats an extra 9.3 miles? Haha.

      Wine & Dine is high on my list too, because of the after party with all the food and drink you get after you run from the Food and Wine Festival. And you just ran, so no guilt!

      You're welcome. Always like to call out and share a couple people's and I enjoyed yours. :-)

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  9. Wow Disney Paris, hmmm! I've been hit or miss with Disney. Enjoyed my experience there but it's so expensive and difficult to make any other plans when their races sell out so fast so far in advance! You have to be really committed!

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    1. Yep. Now they'll have to add an Country-2-Country to go with Coast-2-Coast.

      It is hard how many of them sell out so quickly. We are almost seeing a slow in that. Tinker Bell Half Marathon in Disneyland is not sold out yet. Even the Pixie Dust Challenge is still 94%. I mean we're old talking about on sale a week and a half, but still a little surprising to me. A little bit of wallet overload with all the new west coast races I guess. Or wallet underload as it would be.

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  10. I had NO Idea the challenge was still available. I wanted my mom to run the half so she could get her coast to coast but it sold out so quickly. Now she got us all to run PHM with her again. Had I known the challenge was still open I would have told her to sign up ( and just run part of it..lol). O well, i'm not complaining about running PHM again, it's just that it's going to be a very heavy race load for us next year!

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    1. That's cool that you're all running together though.

      If you're talking Tinker Bell, the half AND challenge are still available. Just the 10K and Kids Races are sold out right now.

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