It was a blast. I had so much fun. First I didn't run. Very expensive and it sold out like in an hour. However I did volunteer. Waking up at 1:30 in the morning to get there by 3 am. Struggle, but I got there with around 1000+ volunteers. We park our cars at ESPN center and walk into building. We sign in, get our shirt and lanyard. They mark the lanyard card as we get our items. So there's no seconds. We put our shirts on and proceed to get our snack box that the runners also get at the end of the race. We get to make our breakfast box. Which can be a muffin or croissant. Snack bar or apple. Coffee or juice. We eat a little before we go walk to find our bus to take us to our location. I chose the finish line food. Which is there recovery box of snacks. Very good choices. Apparently everyone was saying cheese and I was okay. I didn't know they had cheese in the boxes till I got back home and open it myself. Fast forward to about 10:30 am. About 8000 runners came past us on both sides of tent. We folded some tables and started to close some sides. Once we saw the balloon ladies. We new it was time to box up the remaining boxes and head back to buses. We were looking for a blue ballon. Started walking toward it and waited our turn to get on bus. We were maybe 10 minutes away from where we parked. We went back inside the center and was able to take a picture with Minnie Mouse. Then we went to get our Thankyou gift for helping out. A igloo bag and a beach towel that says princess half marathon 2024. Again I didn't look at it till I got back home. Plus they gave us a coupon for lunch truck outside. I had a beef patty melt on toasted bread with something that I think was hashpuppies. I had half of it, saved the rest for later. Overall it was great. I look forward to April. read more

This was my 12th(?) half marathon. I think. I'm losing track. It was DEFINITELY my third Princess Half Marathon. Somehow, the race just keeps becoming more magical every year that I run it. My race times also just keep getting longer, so maybe the secret is to stay on the course for as long as possible to soak up every magical moment. Unique race strategy, I know. RunDisney requires you to maintain a minimum of a 16 minute mile pace to avoid being swept. I'm not a "fast runner," but I'm getting faster every year and am currently sitting in the middle of the pack or most races. So you may ask - how and why are my race times for this race getting slower and slower every year? This isn't a "race" to me. It is an experience. I submit a proof of time every year hoping to get an earlier corral so I CAN be slower and have more time. The 16mm pace doesn't start until the very last corral starts and this race is MASSIVE. Most corrals have more than one wave starting. It is over 30 minutes from the time the first corral gore until the last corral. The lower your corral, the more time you will have. This is why I do not suggest you race this as your first half marathon. There are two perspectives to this race worth covering... From a Runner's Perspective Eh- like 2 or 3 stars I don't even hang my medals any more and I have lost track of how many half marathons I've completed. The bigger the race the more different your experience will be. This is not an ideal race to "race" unless you are in a really early corral. Even starting in corral D, a good portion of the race was just too crowded to truly run even at a 11-13mm pace. The only miles I could fit in running my 9:30-10:30 pace were the ones most early on. Once I got to Magic Kingdom- forget about it. This race also had an ungodly start time. 5:30am. But that doesn't mean arrive at 5am- nope. If you are staying at a Disney Resort get on that bus or monorail by 3:30am. If you are coming off site, you will still want to leave around the same time or earlier. My friend coming from a hotel around Universal left her hotel at 3:45 and the traffic combined with the long walk to the corrals (around a mile from the staging area). She was too late to enter her corral and ended up having to start two corrals back. The time sucks- but Dom't chance it. There is water and Powerade stations, on an overcast day like we had this weekend it was plenty, but on the hotter years I have definitely wished to carry a hand held for the highway, even though that isn't even something I do for marathons. They give out sports beans instead of gels, which don't typically do much for me. I'd say the majority of people run this race for the experience and for the Disney magic. Runner's etiquette for this is almost non existent. You will get bumped. Walkers don't stick to the right and people move in large packs. It isn't a pleasant experience for a serious runner focused on just running the 13.1. From a Disney Fan Perspective ALL the stars. 5 doesn't seem like enough. Yes- a lot of this race is highway. There are only so many miles you can get in the park for the route to make sense and to be able to accommodate thousands of runners. Plus Epcot is open for a lot of the race, so being able to accommodate runners and the general public is a logistical challenge. This year the route even changed to eliminate most of Epcot. Disappointing, but I get it, especially with the International Festival of the Arts happening at the same time. There is still SO MUCH Disney Magic during this race. The highways give you more time to really appreciate the costumes around you. Even for the half marathon people can get intense with their costumes, pure artistry! It is also just cute to read the Disney sayings and get into character yourself if that is your style. (My outfit for the half is usually more survival based.) Running through Magic Kingdom gives me the BIGGEST smile on my face. It is just magical and with this race you get to run through the castle. As a runner and Disney fan this is always so special to me. They have so many character stops throughout the race. I think they average to be one every mile or mile and a half (most are jam packed in MK though). Sometimes you get to see characters that never make an appearance in the Park. This year they had a villain stop that absolutely made my day! The lines can be long. It isn't an autograph or interaction stop though so they usually move as quickly as possible. About 30 seconds per picture. This is the perk of starting in an early corral and being properly trained for a half marathon so you can make up time running and have some extra time to play with by starting in an earlier corral. I just love this race. It gives me an excuse for an annual girl's runcation and trip to Disney. I always get some fun pictures and have a truly magical experience that just keeps getting better every year. read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you love Disney and you love running, you will most definitely love this race experience! I've ran this race in the past and loved the experience of dressing up in my favorite Disney princess character or it can be any Disney character of your preference. Just FYI it is 13.1 miles so I do advise some training partake prior to the event, this running crowd has a mix of competitive runners but also plenty or runners that just do it for fun and in the spirit of supporting a local charity and improving their overall health. Aside from running in this event I have also volunteered with DRC volunteer group, we helped mile 6.2 water station by handing out cups of water to runners and encouraging them while they run. The energy and live spirit very early in the morning is the type of positive vibe that people need to "just keep running". Notes: -Registration for race is usually in the month of July, make sure to mark your calendar as this race usually sells out fast! Race registration may be pricier then your common local races...but it is Disney so its to be expected. -Start training and preparing for race at least 3 month in advance, you don't have to be fast- you simply gotta keep moving! -Beware of the balloon ladies!!! The balloon ladies are the 16 min per mile pacers, which means they are at the end of the race and you should at least keep their pace the entire race or pass them. If the balloon ladies are faster then you, you risk being picked up by run disney staff and not finishing the race (which means missing out on some of the things you only see at this race course).... read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Mile 6 water station - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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My fourth half marathon and my second runDisney event (first was Tinkerbell 2014). WOW, the difference between a DL CA race and a WDW FL race is striking. WDW definitely was a much better experience. One disadvantage of WDW is that because Disney owns 80,000 acres, you will be consigned to taking busses all weekend to do anything. At least at the Disneyland resorts, you can walk some places. The expo was at the ESPN Wide World of Sports. Similar to Tinkerbell, the bib pickup was in one area, and the expo and shirt pickup was in another. This time, I went to the expo on Friday. The expo space was also a lot larger than at DL, so it was not as crowded/hectic. I also thought the selection of vendors was better here at WDW than at DL. We took the bus Sunday morning at 3:45 AM (YIKES) to head over to the start area. Be warned, you will walk a couple of miles from the bus drop off to your corral (no exaggeration). Corral placement is strictly enforced and you cannot move up. However, if you are racing with someone, they can move back. My race partner was in B and I was in J, so he came back with me. We spent the first 3 miles evading walkers before we caught up to people that were closer to my current pace. (This is not a ding... just giving awareness). The good news is, the passageways throughout this race are MUCH wider than at Disneyland, so passing isn't too hard,, where at Tinkerbell, it was near impossible at times. Compared to Tinkerbell, this race spends far less time in the park (maybe 1.5-2 miles versus 5 at Tinkerbell), BUT the non-park entertainment is much more consistent here. You will continually find new things to see or photograph on the roads. At Tinkerbell, you left the parks and basically had a half of a race that was not super interesting. Crowd support was GREAT. In the park, it was so loud, and people were fabulous about cheering us on. The 10K went past my hotel the day before, and my race partner and I spent some time cheering on those runners, too. Disney voluntEARS and cast members were similarly great. Everything was well organized. Because it was so humid (so shwetty), they actually had Powerade at every water stop, not just every other. I appreciate that they adjusted for the weather. The race finished back at the Epcot parking lot (after a quick run through the Epcot resort). The finish area was much bigger and better organized than Tinkerbell. My only nit on this one is that you could not take personal pictures at the Step and Repeat... at Tinkerbell, MarathonFoto would take a pic, but you were also welcome to let someone snap one with your phone/camera, too. The finish line festival had a DJ, and it was at a good volume (the band at Tinkerbell was so loud you couldn't speak). They also had vendors there with other food/drinks beyond the complimentary snack pack--even alcohol. I loved that there were lounge chairs, too, for people who needed to rest, and picnic tables for snacking. Definitely a great experience. My only complaint is that once you are on Disney property, if you don't have a car, you are basically stuck, and can't easily get to simple amenities like a grocery store or Starbucks for race supplies. The runDisney crew at Walt Disney World definitely have their act together and I had a fantastic race experience... seriously thinking about Wine and Dine for 2015! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Of course you have to dress up for a runDisney event... here we are as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

If you love Disney and you love running, you will most definitely love the Disney Princess 1/2 marathon and the weekend events. Disney sure knows how to put on a show...albeit a magical expensive show....it is a show none the less. It all starts with the registration....the first race! You wait forever and stalk the website until it is finally open and then you can, hopefully, win a spot at nearly 200.00 a person to run this race. Then to get a room, on or off Disney property...it is a race to secure a room for the weekend. The expo: Then you have the Expo....which for a Disney event, I was a little disappointed. Normal race expos have multiple kiosks lining the area with give a ways and many venues for running health and safety. As for Disney, there were 3 different areas of attendance....the bib pick-up, then you had to attend a different area for shirt pick-up, then another area for merchandise purchases. And seriously Disney...as if you haven't already robbed the runners of their monies, you charge the craziest prices for apparel. A Princess 1/2 marathon finisher long sleeve shirt....89.99...forget it! I did pick up a running head band tiara for the race...but that was from a vendor and didn't charge me an arm and a leg. The race: Let me start with the start of the race...wow....SO MANY PEOPLE!!! Disney is not very good with communication and race instructions. The race corrals were such a distance from where one would think to start...and no announcements were given to instruct the runners were to go to line up. Some corrals even had 7-9 starting times within 1....very confusing. I didn't even cross the start line until 47 minutes after the race had officially started. RunDisney requires you to maintain a minimum of a 16 minute mile pace to avoid being swept up and not being able to finish the race. Where as this is not a problem for me or any avid runner, but add in the Magic Kingdom and any and all of the princesses or princes. Now you have a line worse than any ride inside of Disney. I couldn't have stopped at any photo opportunity if I wanted my medal! The route: As we ran ourselves from Epcot via the streets to Magic Kingdom, the race course never freed up...it was as if we were herded animals fleeing the area, especially when we ran in Magic Kingdom. Runners stopped in the street for pictures of Main St and the castle...causing such back up. However, Main St. was beautifully lit up and the streets were lined with the cheer squad supporting the runners. (shame on you Disney for charging the spectators 85.00 a person to cheer us on!) I will admit...seeing the castle lit up and running through it was magical....even if it was a bit crazy crowded with runners and spectators. The finish line: This was a little bit of a let down also....as we made our way back to Epcot to finish, and you crossed the line, you were herded down a path to exit. Getting your medal, water, power aid, and a small box of snacks, you were expected to clear the way as fast as you could. Wait a minute, I JUST crossed the finish line, give me a chance to breath and find out what is going on! I may or may not run another Disney event, but it will for sure NOT be for time! read more

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Disney does everything well and this is no exception. Anyone complaining about anything here can't wrap their head around 25,000 participants where 5,000 are not going to finish. (Most that come to this are not "runners" and I met many women who had tried before and not finished or hadn't trained at all for this event). That's a lot of water, medical and help stations Disney has to provide PLUS many many buses along the route for those ready to call it a day. (If you do other half marathons, organizers do not expect that at least 20% of the runners can't finish). But Disney does it with a can-do attitude, starting with: Bib/T-shirt pick up at the ESPN complex: don't miss the wine slushies, glitter beer and character photo ops! (Even if you don't shop much, like me, this can be a fun few hours.. if you do shop, allot the afternoon) Stay at a Disney property: no headaches of parking and traffic, great bus service to and from the races, congrats card/gift in your room afterwards... (at least at the Beach Club resort). The restaurants/market offer special runner food, etc. they're ready for you. I had the magic bands mailed to me ahead of time so you don't even go to the front desk.. just straight to your room when you arrive. No waiting. (They email or text you your room number and the magic band opens the door) The races start early. Get over that ahead of time. You will be on the bus between 3 and 3:30 am. And the. You will wait for 2 hours or more to start. Sit and chat with friends of get in the character meet and greet lines to pass the time. Do NOT worry about the Balloon Ladies with the 16 minute/mile time. In the 10K AND the half marathon, there are points on the course that they will NOT SWEEP you off the course one you pass it. In the 10K, it's around the 3 mile mark. You will see the buses on the left and you will be leaving the service drive and entering the back of Epcot. You can stroll from there. I was in all three races and saving my legs for the half so I stopped running at that point. Balloon ladies passed me on the Boardwalk and I kept stopping for pics after that. On the half marathon course, you need to get to the 10.3 mile or so... My half marathon time was 3:32 and the Balloon Ladies were nowhere near me, and I was in corral G. (They start in the back of the last corral so get there early and be in the front of your corral! They will never catch up, even if you stop). My time for the 10K was 1:53!!! Literally stopped for every single photo op and bathroom and was not swept up. There are many places on all three courses where you will not be able to run or even jog... the course narrows and gets clogged... these are not courses for real runners, unless you're an elite in the first corral. (And why would you pay this much money to race through all of the entertainment?? ). I paid $430.00.. that's all three races plus my husband did the 5K only too. That's a lot of $ but this is a Disney vacation... not an isolated event. I haven't seen this many character photo ops since we took the Disney cruise.. you will literally see every character you can think of, and some you don't even know, if you do all three races. The 5K and 10K both go through Epcot but they change up the characters so it feels different. There is no better feeling than entering Epcot at the end of the 13 miles to Elsa singing Let it Go and the Hallelujah choir singing "you made it!" And yes the Disney snack boxes aren't great at the end... it's snacks from all th sponsors.. but the medals are amazing!!!! read more

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This was the first Disney run I did and so far after doing several others this has been my favorite. I also had the opportunity to volunteer this year and had a blast! The run is on the pricier side for half marathons but worth it for the experience. If you cant pay for the run try to volunteer. Princess Half Run *This race sells out quick. You need to be on your computer waiting for registration to open right when it becomes available or you will miss it. *You will be up early! Give yourself time for traffic and parking if you are driving. You will also need time to walk from parking to your corral, far walk! *Plenty of water and aide stations, take advantage of them. *This is not a race to PR. Have fun, dress up like your favorite princess, and take lots of pictures. *If you have the energy, go to one of the parks after. You can get there early enough to take pictures with characters and your medal while not having to wait in a long line. Princess Half Volunteer *Check to see when volunteer spots open, they go by quick as well. *Awesome perks. You get a jacket, snack box and a disney pass mailed to you at a later date. *Hours may not be the best. The earlier you register, the better picks you have of times and locations to volunteer. *Cheer as much as you can! As a runner on mile 12, just the small "Go Belle" puts a smile on your face. Thank you Run Disney for these opportunities! read more

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It literally hurts me that I can't, at least, give this event a 4 star, simply because this isn't an event I'd would voluntarily do ever again. It just wasn't the same experience as the Tinkerbell Halfs that I've done. Bus pick-up at a designated hotel is was really early. Like 3:30am early. There's a line for that. Bus shuttles us to Epcot Center. Another line for that. Trying to just get to your corral? Line. Oh, and then there's the corral itself, while you're waiting for it to start. Another line. Let's not forget the shuttle ride back. Yep. Line. The run itself was from Epcot to Magic Kingdom and back. Honestly, I didn't even realize that I ran through MK. I ran into the park, blinked and realized I was out of the park and back out on the freeway, heading towards Epcot. That's it? There were bottlenecks in the run, where there wasn't much running room. At times, I was literally stuck jogging in place unable to manouver around. But, that's to be expected, even if it does suck to have to wait for an opening. The one thing that I did like were the various cast of characters out there for runners to see. They had the evil queens and witches, the princes and, of course, all the princesses and more. They even had a pirate ship which was pretty darn cool. If the weather wasn't 85+ and humid, maybe this would have been a better experience. But, I can't really blame the heat on Disney, now can I? It's fun to do once, but for me...never more. I got what I came for, my Disney Princess Medal and my Coast-to-Coast. As one sign holder wrote it, "Only Disney can make you get up at 2am and spend $140+ to run 13.1 miles in this heat." Too true. LOL. read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Schwag and medals - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Running like a girl was never so much fun! My friends and I decided to do the Princess Run this past June when we were at the Rock N Roll Seattle Marathon expo. Why did we decide to do the run? Was it for the course? No. Was it for the chance to run through Disney World? No. Was it for the beautiful shiny tiara shaped medal you get for finishing? Hell YES!!! Sure that sounds like a pretty lame reason to sign up for a race, but hey, to each their own right? Now break this review down into three parts: race expo, pre-race, and the actual race. Race Expo: By far one of the more crowded expos I have been to yet. Sure I went on a Saturday, but hot mess, that place was packed to the brim and it was hotter than a hot potato. The goody bag was pretty awesome. It was an actual mesh bag that had a disposable kodak camera, a pair of socks, a personalized runner's bib, and race shirt. There were lots of event themed merchandise, and considering this is race targeted at the ladies, they were really good in have a range of sizes instead of just smalls and mediums. The best part was taking a picture with Cinderella's godmother and the footmen when you walk in! Pre-Race: I'm used to getting up early for races. I do. But waking up at 3AM for a 6AM race was a little bit of issue. Considering I was still on west coast time, I was a bit confused. Since we were staying at a Disney hotel, there was a shuttle system to pick us up and drop us off at Epcot, but the wait was pretty insane. Just think of waiting for a Disney ride at 4AM in 37 degree weather. Not fun. After getting to Epcot it was another 20 minute walk in the freezing cold to the actual start line. The wait there was even more unbearable. We didn't want to be late so we followed the guidelines and ended up in the corrals before 5AM. The fireworks for the start of each corral start was a cute touch. Very Disney. In a good way. Actual Race: The actual race was pretty good. Sure there's a bunch of walkers that crowd up towards the beginning, but by mile two it thins out considerably. Most of the course was pretty flat with the exception of two minor little hillish dips. Nothing too intense, but it might break your stride a little. The course is littered with Disney cast members. There were the Princes, Princesses, Pirates, Fairys, Villains, etc. You can stop to take pictures with them, but there usually was a bit of a crowd. There are plenty of bathrooms on the course, but there were always longs lines. I saw plenty of people hop down to the bushes and pop a squat. My friend spent 15 minutes waiting for a port-a-loo, while I waited 2 mins inside the Magic Kingdom for an actual loo. This race was really cute, but could have been better. The shuttle service could have been more efficient, and some sort of breakfast or refreshments could have been at the start for the people there an hour early. I'm not sure I'd do the race again, but I sure am glad to have given it a go for the experience and most for the medal!!! Princess Har Gao out. read more

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I've run the Disneyland Half Marathon for the last three years, and at the end, I would keep seeing people get an extra medal. I finally asked someone about it. So if you run the Disney World Half or the Princess half and also run the Disneyland Half, you get the Coast to Coast medal. This year, I made it my goal to do the Princess and Disneyland Halfs to get that extra medal! The race started at 6am...UGH...and it was super cold. One of the Disney workers told me it was the coldest winter in 30 years! We woke up to 30 degree weather....BRRRR! Since we stayed at a Disney hotel, there was a free shuttle that took us to the start area where we had to wait in the cold. We then had to walk about another mile to get to the actual start line. The race itself was really fun. There were so many people out there to cheer on the runners. And there were Disney characters throughout the course, so you could stop and take pictures with them. This helped keep my mind off my freezing cold and tired body. The toy soldiers from Toy Story were pretty funny. As I stopped to take a picture with them, they yelled at a walker..."There's no walking in this race!!!" They kept the crowd quite entertained with their commentary. The end of the race took us through a part of Epcot and out to the parking lot. There wasn't much to see at the post race expo, so we just headed straight to the shuttle buses to beat the mad rush. This was my first race on the East Coast, and I'm hoping to return to do it again one day....hopefully with warmer weather! read more

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This was my first half marathon in 2016 and I was excited for it to be a Disney race. I know most people love all things Disney and the races are no exception. Honestly I just don't see the appeal. The races are super expensive and I spent most of my time running on the streets between Epcot and Magic Kingdom. I much prefer nature (especially the ocean) for my races, but maybe that's just me. Disney definitely knows how to organize and manage 10s of thousands of runners efficiently. It was clear where you needed to go and when, and the corals went off as anticipated. The course is definitely crowded and there are lots of backlogs in smaller areas. Running through the magic kingdom was pretty special. But it was such a small portion of the race it seemed like I blinked and it was done. Plenty of photo ops if you are into Disney characters, but that isn't really my thing. Lots of people to cheer you on which is nice. And the water stations are very well stocked When you finish they have different stations for water, thermal blanket, food and of course the medal. One big draw back is how much extra walking Disney required. To and from the finish/start and then back to the parking lots. You end up putting on way more miles then the 13.1. Glad I did it once but now I will stick to the more affordable gorgeous races by the ocean or in the country side. read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Having been wondering after my first 13.1 in January if I had it in me to do another, my husband pointed out the obvious reason why I should: It's the PRINCESS RUN in Disney World. Duh. Good point so I signed up pretty last minute to run like a Princess with my tiara. Bling over comfort any day right? Its Disney, c'mon, you know its going to be stellar! I have participated in many shorter races but also have been very involved in many Marathons picking up packets and at the Expos over the past ten years as my husband is an Ironman and Marathon Runner. Having been to so many amazing Expos, and knowing Disney is top notch I was highly disappointed at the tiny size of the venue in comparison to the amount of racers. The pick up process for our bib and bag was long and tedious. The Chicago Marathon has over 40 thousand runners and it was so much nicer than this that had only 17 thousand. The place was wall to wall people and some of the rudest I have ever encountered in any Expo, maybe the crushing throngs of bodies made people uneasy, I don't know. Either way after about an hour and a half of trying to check out merchandise I couldn't take it any more and left. Just keep it in mind Disney, I would have definitely purchased Official Merchandise but I didn't, and am sure many other people felt the same way. Since the race is pre-park opening, they need to get the race going and done before the regular tourists arrive and in true Disney form, you would NEVER know there had been throngs of people running through earlier. I was impressed at how fast they erase all traces of the race. The race itself, aside from the UNGODLY hour you had to be at the park was a lot of fun, they had bands, DJ's and Characters all throughout the race to keep it fun. Of course you will lose time on your race by stopping and standing in line to take pictures with them but considering the fact that 60% or more of the 'racers' were walking it didn't seem to be of much concern. As for that, I hope they take into consideration that fact and make it clear to the first timers and walkers or for anyone who even thinks they might walk that its best to go in the corrals towards the back at the start out of consideration for those who are running or jogging the whole time, but if you have to walk try to stay on the right side. Towards the end of the race trying to get through some very narrow areas with most people walking was a nightmare. All in all, I got goosebumps with the fireworks at the start, also running through Cinderella's Castle, with the whole Disney crew cheering you on like you really are a princess it was an amazing time. It was a great time and hanging out at EPCOT afterwards was the perfect way to keep the blood flowing in my legs. I am trying to convince my hubby that he would make a great Prince to run with next year. read more

I love Disney. I've wanted to do this race for a couple of years now. Any bib that will add "Princess" to the front of my name = a must do. Expo: I thought it was a decent size. Things were split between buildings of the ESPN Sports Complex, which was a good and bad thing. Good because there is no way everything could fit into 1 building, but bad if you needed to go back and forth to get your bib or your shirt or go back and get that 1 running shirt you decided last minute you can't live without (not that this happened to me. Cough). The building with all the vendors was PACKED. Small aisles + tons of runners = not a pleasant combo. There was A LOT of cute running gear though, but be prepared to drop mad money if you want the official merchandise. $80 for a Champion-branded zip-up...that doesn't even have thumb holes!! Sigh. The price we pay. Run: Parking was super organized with attendants telling you where to park. Bag check also wasn't bad at all. If you're in a later corral, be prepared to wait an hour (or two) before you actually get released. Kind of ridiculous, but at least they send every corral off with their own fireworks. I'm pretty sure only 1-2 miles of this whole half marathon was actually though the Disney parks. The rest of the race was running the highways that connect the different parks. There weren't many spectators on the course, but in lieu of that, they had DISNEY CHARACTERS every mile that you could take pictures with. The concept = really fun. The lines to take pictures with the characters = not so fun. Post race festivities: After you finish, they had wet, cold towels (which was a god-send considering the humidity that day) and pre-packaged boxes of food. This year, they also gave you drawstring bags to put all your stuff in, which I loved. There are also princesses to take pictures with while you're waiting for the rest of your people to finish. Medal: I think this is my favorite half marathon medal. I mean, look at all the pictures people have posted. It's beautiful!!! read more

What a delightful experience! I decided I wanted to participate in this race because well, it's Disney. Nothing like fireworks, music, and characters to encourage you as you complete this run. This was my first Disney race, and I loved it! There were some parts of the the course, however, that were super narrow and made actual running impossible. The goody bag was disappointing, as I expected more. With 19,000 plus people participating in this race, however, I feel the event ran very smoothly. read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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YAY 13.1 miles of fun! I've been eyeing this race for a while and finally got to do it this year. It was fantastic! Started off with an Expo Fit for a Princess - which was fantastic! Lots of great vendors, fun products, photos ops, etc. We had a great time shopping around. The race itself began at 6am on Sunday morning. We couldn't have asked for better weather! I didn't even need a jacket at the start. I ran this race with my mama as a Mother-Daughter Team, and we had a great time! There was entertainment just about every mile, so we were constantly looking and smiling at something - characters, a hot air balloon, all kinds of stuff! Lots of princess, oooh lala! Plenty of food and beverage stations, including water and powerade. And, just about everyone who ran this race, men included, we wearing tutus, crowns, tiaras, what have you. It was so much fun! Then came the finish - Mickey Mouse and minnie waiving us in - to be greated with a beautiful Tiara Medal, and a fairy godmother to dust us in Pixie Dust! So Great! This is a perfect "first half marathon" to anyone thinking about a race, and to all those seasoned runners, it's a fun, quick and mostly flat course. Top it off with the half marathon at Disneyland, and you'll even get the Coast to Coast medal! Love disney! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Almost to the finish! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I wish the 5K wasn't so expensive. But besides price, everything was done extremely well. This was my first Disney 5K and I wasn't 100% sure what to expect. Before the race there were character meet n greets available but there were close to 60-90 minute waits for them. I hope Disney in the future will have even more meet n greets to keep the lines shorter. On the actual course there was a decent amount of characters, but still pretty long lines. There was only 1 water station on the course and the water tasted terrible. It did not taste like your typical Disney water. The course was well designed and it was clear as to where to go. There were some very narrow sections making it very difficult to pass people. I was in group C but hopefully next time can do group B since I had a hard time running around people. The finish line was very exciting. I was happy with the amount of photographers throughout the course. My photos have been gradually uploading to my account throughout the day. I wasn't a huge fan of this year's medal as I have 0 emotional attachment to Elena as I've never even seen the show. However the quality of the medal is nice, the T-shirt is nice, and the finisher snack pack was very well packaged with a variety of options. Would I do another Disney race? Absolutely. However I wish it was cheaper and next time I may do a 10K or try to get in an earlier wave. read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Daughters first 1/2 marathon. Mom had done a full Marathon and was her coach. The park did this right. Buses to the park and back. We had cheer section seats, closed circuit TV to watch the race and private bleachers for finish line. Lots of help, very positive event! If you've never done a 1/2, this would be my recommendation. 20,000 entrants! Very happy and very proud. They will have a 1/2 marathon in Disney Europe in Fall of 2016. read more

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Simply an amazing experience! This was my first year doing this with my best friend and it was amazing! Everyone is so supportive. Everyone is cheering you on, even if they don't know you! The event is well organized. I'll be back next year! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Glass Slipper Challenge is the way to go! 10K then half marathon one day after another.. YES! Just do it! I will say man the 3 am waking up to run at 5:30am thing is tough especially when you're doing it 2 days in a row but is it ever so worth it in the end! There's a reason this challenge sells out so fast! The experience of being able to run through the parks before they are open especially right by the castle in magic kingdom is simply amazing. There are also a lot of characters on the run that you can take photos with.. I personally didn't stop for photos only because that's just how I run.. if I stop my legs are done. The vibe during the race is amazing- so much energy even at 5:30 in the morning! Note that for the Half Marathon start it is a bit of a walk from the Epcot parking lot so be sure to allocate enough time for that.. like at least 30 minutes due to crowding, leaving time to pee, finding your corral, etc. If you're going to drive be sure to allocate more than enough time for that- they do close off highways for the race so there will be some traffic. I recommend taking the provided shuttles from participating Disney resorts. We had someone staying at one of the resorts so drove over and parked at her resort to hop on a shuttle (we stayed on a property that did not have a shuttle). read more

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Out of all the Disney events I've run, this was the worst one yet. I've run the Disney Half Marathon, Tinkerbell (http://www.yelp.com/biz/tinkerbell-half-marathon-anaheim#hrid:A165m9adJGnIWj8unPyDDw) and this past weekend, completed the Princess Half Marathon for my 2013 Coast-to-Coast challenge that earned me some extra bling once I crossed the finish line http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/disneys-princess-half-marathon-orlando?userid=rCx7tb3toOJUsvdOeqYY0g#VGlrIgPcXlnV9xaNFYqIdg). EXPO: I thought the expo was run pretty well. We were there as they opened their doors Friday morning. This was a good call because by noon, lines for everything were really long. I had a little hiccup with my registration, which really delayed our plan to get through everything quickly. They didn't have me down for the Coast-to-Coast challenge so I had to jump through hoops to show them my Tinkerbell race results. This was not at all very convenient. Once checked in, I had to wait in "Runner Assistance" long line only to be told that I had to go clear across the expo to wait in another line to print out results from Tinkerbell. Once that was complete, I had to go back to the longer line found at Runner Asssitance to get my bracelet that showed I was eligible for the coast to coast challenge. It doesn't seem like much by it literally took me 1.5 hours to do this. All because they didn't have computers or a laptop at the Runner Assistance station to look me up in the system. Doesn't it seem logical for them to have resources like this in place? Additionally, lines for the t-shirt lines were really long. Because I was held up trying to prove my completion of Tinkerbell, by the time we got into the shirt line, it was literally wrapping around the perimeter of the expo and then zig-zagging through the room. The same could be said for the official race day merchandise which turned out to be a complete waste of time because the merchandise was not all that great and most of the merchandise was already gone by 1pm on the first day they opened. The one good thing about the expo was the vendors were much better than the Tinkerbell expo. Loved the headband vendor (picked up lots of those) and the physical therapy section ($25 for 20 min. did wonders) and last but not least, the Champion booth which had a great selection of running jackets at great prices. RACE & COURSE: According to Disney, there were 26k people competing in this event. That's a whole lot of people! Our shuttle dropped us off at 4AM and it took about 30 min to get to our corral. Race materials said it would take 20 min but it was so packed, a brisk walk or warm up was next to impossible. I was in corral C and they were really strict with making sure that you were getting into the right one. Once you got into your corral though, there was not really a lot of room for you to warm up so warm up before you get in and prepared to sit and stretch only. Once the race got under way, the streets had participants running/walking shoulder to shoulder. There are a lot of walkers right out of the gate so you had to constantly dart around them. It was very difficult to get a really good pace going. I thought it would thin out but that NEVER happened. There were lots of areas of the race where you were literally just standing there waiting to get through the section. The castle was one of those sections as well as a few other areas where it narrowed through the park. I just didn't enjoy the run at all and would highly recommend that Disney rethink the course and the number of people who are allowed to run. Yes, they had lots of picture opportunities for fans but putting that aside, the course was really boring and if you think you're going to have this amazing experience running through DisneyWorld...think again. Most of it is highway running and you run no more than 2 miles through the park and most of that is in the back alleys. And because there are so many "runners", forget about running through the castle - talk about a traffic jam! You came to a screeching halt. I mean screeching! The FINISH: Conditions on race day were hot and humid. We got really lucky with the cloud cover because it kept the sun away, however, with the amount of money Disney made with this race, it would've been nice if they handed out cold towels to cool people down once they crossed the finish line. They handed out little post race meals; banana, warm water (wish it was chilled) and a to-go box filled with random goodies. It would've been nice if they provided a small bag to carry everything with. In the end, I don't think I'd ever be inclined to do this race again with the existing course and the number of people. I came for my Coast-to-Coast medal and conquered but they'll never see me back for a repeat. There are far more enjoyable races than this...sorry, Disney! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - 2013 Princess Half Marathon medal as well as my Coast-to-Coast medal. Two stars - one for each medal. = ) - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Review for the disney world princess half marathon 2018: I have run a lot of half marathons but this was my first disney race. Here is the breakdown- PROS: you run through the Magic Kingdom & Epcot Lots of characters on the course you can get photos with (their photog & your own phone) You have to provide proof you have run a race at your predicted time in order to get into a front corral. I LOVE this. Too many people lie & clog up the running area. Cool medal Driving in & parking was easy. The espn sports zone had a huge selection of run disney clothing. CONS: The price- $200 (holy hell) It starts at 0530am Terrible/lack of info on social media the start corrals were almost a mile from the start village. That is highly unusual & I had no idea. I was hanging out at the village & never heard any announcements about it either. I had to jog a half mile to get there in time. Most of the run is on the access roads hetween parks. There is not enough of the course in disney itself. The finisher zone is weak. Warm water & powerade. Nothing is chilled. You get a small box of snacks (like on an airplane). I ended up throwing away most of it. It had stale chips, gross processed cheese, nasty fruit strips, 2 oreos & applesauce. The expo was disappointing. I'm used to vendors giving out samples of their product & that was almost nonexistent. read more

It was the only thing that could convince me to run 13.1 miles. And the only thing that could convince hubby to join me in Disney World. ....a princess-themed race.... All said and done, we had a great time. Disney sends out training plans and tips, staying engaged with racers in the months before the big day. They organized a pretty great Expo with drool-worthy shoes and gear for women, plus yummy Luna bar samples and other goodies. Bib and packet pick-up was smooth. Shuttling to and from the Downtown Disney to the conference center was easy to figure out. Day of, we arrived at 4:15 and had parking pretty close to the finish line area. There's a DJ, plenty of porta-potties, and bag check at that point. As you're ready, you start the 10-minute walk to the start line. Don't stop at the short row of porta-potties that you first happen upon... there are dozens more just a short walk further. They tell you to be in your corral by 5am, or you can't race; but honestly, there were people filtering in long beyond that. And once you're in your corral, you just have to play the waiting game. Signs and volunteers will herd you towards your corral. I recommend running a 10K or longer before the race and logging your time when you register, or at Runner Relations, in order to get the earliest corral possible. They're spaced about 10 minutes apart... friends of ours were placed in the final corral and had to wait an hour-and-a-half after the first firing of the gun in order to start the race. By the time they were on the course, it was so clogged up with walkers, they couldn't even run portions of it... particularly once inside the Cinderella castle and into Magic Kingdom. My husband and I were in Corral D (I think that's the earliest corral men are placed in, since this is a Princess race, and ladies-first!). So we had a pretty good start, although there was still congestion through many of the earlier parts of the race which required weaving. The entertainment in the first half is great -- live band, giant Pirates ship, lots of characters (lines were long), running through Disney. The second half, as you run on service roads, really dulls down. They could really use some more music or something placed after Mile 7 to re-energize folks. I remember looking around and noticing we were all sluggish at that point. The water and Poweraid placement, about every 2 miles, was perfect. And I was pleasantly surprised at the number of spectators (since Disney charges). After the race, water and Poweraid was aplenty and we got a lunch box with a really nice assortment in it. The after-race party was high-energy with a DJ, celebratory beer and champagne for sell. I did think they should have had more water beyond the finish line of the race, which is not all that close to the after-party. So grab two when you finish, or keep one in your checked bag, so you have when you pick-up the bag. I'd had RunKeeper going, and it clocked me at a 9.50 pace; but my chip time told me 10.02. RunKeeper also told me I ran beyond 13.1. I don't know if there are course inaccuracies (I guess RunKeeper isn't all that accurate), but that was kind of a bummer! The high points? High-fiving Minnie Mouse at the finish, and hearing hubby's and my names called out by the announcer as we crossed the line! Price-wise -- this race is EXPENSIVE. And they still push you to stay in Disney resorts (which, by the way, we didn't. And getting to and from the race was totally easy and hassle-free). You don't even get into the park for free -- and the runner 'discount' is paltry -- c'mon! The goodie bags don't have many goodies, considering the buy-in. And no percentage of the race goes to charity! They partnered with a non-profit for disease awareness, and encouraged donations; but dang, with 26,000 runners, they're making a killing. I'd like to see some of that go back to the community! The costumes from fellow runners were awesome, and I enjoyed spotting different characters amongst my fellow racers... especially the one Sally I saw. And a really cool homemade Jasmine. Hubby and I went as Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and got a lot of shout-outs from passers-by, just because, I think, we were not a traditional prince/princess. Those cheers really motivated us on! I'd recommend this race; just be aware of the high number of casual runners -- and enjoy. It's Disney World after all! read more

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This was my first rundisney event... and I really just signed up on a whim... like, it was 98% full, and I was like eh, sure, why not. I was very skeptical about the entire thing. I mean... I feel like run disney events are not exactly ... what you call COMPETITIVE races. Honestly? It's a lot of overweight people who just want to cross something on their bucket list or to put at 13.1 sticker on their car. But as for the race itself, it was PURE. FUN. It took me the longest I've ever run a half - simply because I did stop for many of the character stops - which probably added a good 30-45 minutes to my clock time haha - but when I decided to run for the experience rather than for a competitive time, even though it took me over 3 hours to complete, it felt like the shortest race I've run. I probably could have PR'd if I didn't stop along the way, but I am so glad I took time to enjoy the EXPERIENCE of all the characters. I can save my PR for another day :-) It wasn't just one character stop per mile. There were SEVERAL things you could stop for per mile. The princes (Aladdin, Eric, Hercules), men in tuxes where you could pose with the glass slipper, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear, Mickey and Minnie, Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, the evil queens, Genie of the lamp, green army dudes, and of course, THE FAIRY GODMOTHER... just to name a few. They also had music groups performing and motivational posters along the way. A few tips for people thinking about running it. These are all tips given to me by someone who had run the Disney World Half Marathon... and they all held true: - Don't bother bringing sunglasses. The race starts at 5:30 and you will most likely be done before it gets too sunny. - If you are stopping for Captain Jack, the line is extremely long. But HE IS ALSO ON THE WAY BACK around mile 11 or so... and a much shorter line. - When you run through the castle, stay to the left because that's where all the camera men are lined up. - The course is mostly flat with the exception of a few highway on/off ramps. A lot of the course bottle necks and it can be difficult to get around walkers. - Don't bring anything with you to the race if you don't have to. There is a security check point where they searched bags. This is before you even get to the bag drop-off area. Much easier to just walk through the no-bag line if you don't have to bring anything. - There are portapotties when you first arrive in the waiting area, but there are MORE when you get to the start corrals. They also have plenty on the course as well as people using the actual park bathrooms once you run through magic kingdom. - Wear your medal to the park! You will get many congratulations and if you see any of the princesses they all make fun little comments. Princess Jasmine said she wanted to run, but they didn't allow Magic Carpets (aw) :-) I didn't think I would want to do this race again, but the experience of it was so fun, I would do it again. If I were a rich princess. read more

And it was love. I traveled across the country for the Disney Princess experience and I loved every moment of it... until afterward, and before (the time zones really sneak up on you even though you're excited.) I may have had gripes about it 9 months ago but today, I cannot wait to sign up again! The expo was a zoo but it was my first runDisney event and I didn't care. My bib said PRINCESS SIMONE so nothing could stop me. In retrospect, we should have spent more time there and stopped through more booths, though we waited long enough to get in and maneuver around that I doubt I would have stayed much longer. Parking was OK considering the event is so large. Definitely could have been worse but we got there early enough that I could stretch, use the portapotty, and my boyfriend could collect himself (he had to wait with the cheer squad while I made my way through 13.1 miles...) There were lots of photo ops and lots of early morning motivation/ stretching/ cheering. I wasn't used to the humidity so that was a good and a bad thing while starting out. The later corrals of course start much later. This was my first 1/2 in several years so I said I was going to be slow and end up near the back... but the excitement of the fireworks and the characters and everyone dressed up was a solid distraction. Every mile marker has something going on and something to look forward to. I wish I had stopped to take photos and see characters but I was so convinced I would get carted off if I didn't make time that I didn't. The humidity really got to me around mile 7 but there was a nice woman with what I thought was hand sanitizer at the first aid station... turns out it was a form of icy hot and my enthusiasm was renewed! Then mile 8 played this girl is on fire and I felt pretty great about myself. Back track a few miles to RUNNING THROUGH THE CASTLE. Talk about an experience! The downside is the bottleneck afterward but running around Disneyworld (especially as my first time setting foot in the place) was pure elation. My inner 5 year old was making a list of all the rides and places I needed to go the next day. Water and gatorade was along the way and there was always enough. I had my own shot blocks but I believe those were somewhere as well... Looping into the finish was tough. Not only was the humidity getting the best of me (even at 7am) but there were some hills -- incredibly rude, runDisney! Coming through Epcot made up for it. Again, experiences I was having for the first time. When you cross the finish there is so much excitement and princess dust and the medal. You walk through the refreshment area then you're guided over near a photo op and where you can meet your family. It was pretty crowded but manageable and my boyfriend had a great seat from the cheer squad -- he said that was worthwhile since you have an actual seat, snacks, and can upgrade to the warm tent with cocoa. The clappers were great too, he brings those to all my other races now so I can find him and he can cheer loudly (: My princess experience is one I'll always treasure and look forward to having again. It inspired me to coast to coast in 2014 and got me back into running! "If you can dream it, you can do it." read more

Overall, good experience but would not repeat. Expo: not great, though was actually better than I had expected. The shirt was megh, but long which is great for tall runners like me. Race morning: No food for runners in the Disney hotels (I was staying at Port Orleans French Quarter), not even coffee. Participating Disney hotels have shuttles that will take you to the start. I heard at least one bus got lost, and since traffic was insane the people in the bus could not make it to the race in time. The start was 20 minutes walk from the drop off point. Bathrooms were placed very awkwardly such that in that 20 minute walk several times there were bottlenecks due to people trying to pass and others make lines to go into the bathrooms. No volunteers to guide us through so for 10 minutes we had no idea why we were completely stopped. Race itself: Disney characters waiting to be posed with (yes, LINES to pose with disney characters in the middle of a half). They were pretty entertaining. Also some bands, people in stilts, hot air balloon...and of course running by Cinderella's castle in Magic Kingdom. I had read before that you run through trash areas. Yes, it really does happen, twice. The first time is not a problem, since there is no smell. The second time the stench was extremely strong which caused many gags. The race finishes at Epcot, with many quick turns, which can be confusing. I wasn't sure when the turns would end and the finish line would be there. Seed yourself as high as possible. I was passing people all the way. It was sold out, I think at 14,000 runners. One strange note: I was running with my mom and so I would grab one gatorade cup and start passing it to my right to hand it to her and start grabbing another one for myself. In several water/gatorade stations the volunteers would literally PULL AWAY the cup from me as they saw that I had another in my hand. Really?? What if I was really dehydrated and I needed two? The cups were only about 1/4 filled anyway... After race: Nice medal and great goody bag. Humus, edamame, dark chocolate. Lots of water and gatorade. Great medical tent right at the finish line offering to strap ice to anyone willing. read more

I have been running Disney races for a while now and this one is by far my favorite. It is smaller than other half marathons like the princess or Disney half in January, but still with more than enough people to make it fun. The course is similar to the second half of the Disney full marathon - you go through animal kingdom and MGM. The best part of the race is running through the Christmas lights in MGM. So pretty! Your motivation to finish the race is the "finish line party" at Epcot. Rides and food kiosks stay open and you can go on the year's smelliest version of Soar'n with your fellow runners. Wine and Dine is expensive but that's is almost expected at a Disney race. Here are tips: Staying at a Disney hotel is nice but not necessary. Driving and parking is simple and quick. You do not need to get there too early. The busses run efficiently even with long lines. Either be stuck in line or stuck forever in the staging are. Your choice. Use the bathroom on the bus to avoid long lines for the portopotties. You will be waiting at the staging area for a while. Bring a blanket or clothes you don't want anymore (they donate whatever you leave behind) and something to do. Dress up! Almost half the runners do so you won't feel silly at all. Don't worry about time. You are not Ryan Hall. Enjoy yourself and the experience but don't expect a PR on such a crowded night course. I really like this race. For the sake of finances I have limited myself to the Wine and Dine and Disney Marathon Dopey Challenge for this year. But if I could only chooses one it would definitely be Wine and Dine. read more

Glass Slipper Challenge 2014 This was our 3rd Disney Race weekend and Disney totally redeemed themselves after some of the magic was lost on the Tinker Bell Half. Starting at the expo, we took a bus from All Star Sports where we were staying. A bit hectic, but we easily got our packets, shirts and took some photos. They also had a shirt exchange which I didn't use, but thought it was an awesome feature since I can never figure out which size of women's cut shirts to order. They also had 2 merchandise booths set up (one in each building). I only bought a tiny medal for my Vinylmation that I already had at home, but it seemed like most things were still in stock as of Friday morning. You can see my separate review for the Enchanted 10k. As for the Princess Half, on race morning we took one of the first buses out of All Star Sports. The entrance to the race was significantly more crowded on Sunday than it was for the 10k. We did what we learned the hard way last year and instead of hanging around before the gear check, we walked through to the corrals right away. They have a bank of port-o-potties right before you enter your individual corrals so we used those instead and then got in B corral to wait for the start. I really hate the rule that men have to start in B (it is just plain dangerous to put faster runners behind slower runners), but they made a VAST improvement over Tinker Bell. They had an elite wave and then the A corral was very small. The husband had a lot fewer issues getting around the slow people in A here than he did at Tinker Bell, so it made it a more fun race for him. I fit in well with the B corral pace and was glad I chose to wait with him in B instead of starting in A where I was placed. On course entertainment was great. I wish the weather hadn't been SO humid. I was drenched almost before the race even started. I had no problems with crowding on the race, but I know in the further back corrals that can be a problem. If you are running for time, this is not a race for your first half marathon. You will want to run another race first, get a qualifying time and submit that to Run Disney so that you can get into an earlier corral. There are TONS of walkers in the back corrals and despite a lot of rude comments from pretentious jerks, those walkers do train for these races and often do these races for greater reasons than to just get in your way and slow you down because you didn't bother submitting a qualifying time. End rant. The only disappointment in this race for me was that a lot of the characters on the course were repeats from the Disney Donald Half and Mickey Marathon in 2013. Mary Poppins, Lilo & Stitch, Genie... I basically knew what I was going to see before I saw a lot of them. I hope they start switching out characters so they are different in the future. One really nice perk that I liked is that at the finish line they gave us a mesh drawstring backpack. This was great for holding my water, snack box and towel instead of trying to juggle all of it and take pictures with my medal. An awesome touch! Since we did the Glass Slipper Challenge and Coast to Coast, we had wristbands to collect these medals at the end. I do wish that we didn't have to wear the wristbands all weekend, but it did make it very quick and easy to pick up our extra medals at the end. I also really really liked that they had Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel and Cinderella in the parking lot at the finish to take photos. The husband runs a lot faster than me and I like having the opportunity to take photos with him and characters at the end since we are not on the course together. I also really liked that the entertainment was spread out throughout the entire course. At Tinker Bell, all of the entertainment was stacked in the first 5 miles which left the rest of the race dragging on. For this reason (and the lack of characters AFTER the finish line), I don't think I will return to Disney Land for anymore Run Disney races. I will return to Disney World for Run Disney in a heartbeat. I love these races and yes, they cost a fortune, but you get a LOT more for your buck than you get in a typical race. It takes a ton of work, logistics, volunteers and crew to put on these races that your local race just doesn't require. read more

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So what's my running background? I'm an easy going, late bloomer that recently got into running in the past 3 years. I've done 3 other half marathons prior to this one, and my PR is 2:21, so no, I'm not a super athlete (need to burn off all those calories since I love to eat). Now keep in mind that my best was 2:21, yet I should've started in corral B! Usually, that'll put me in corral 4 of 6 with normal races, so you can imagine, this is not a very fast race. The Good: Super fun! Wear a tiara! Wear a tutu! dress like a Disney princess!...because everyone else does! Looks like the majority of people do this run with friends. There are stops along the way to take pics with Disney characters, but unless you're in the first few corrals, there will be quite a wait. It's a fairly flat race with one "hill" around mile 11 (it's an off ramp). The expo is at the ESPN Wide World of Sprts Complex. It's huge and everything is fairly well oranized to pick up your bib. I got to see the family 5K race while picking up my bib, so it was really cute. But that's all the good I really have to say for the race. Parking is a non-issue on the day of the race as well. The Bad: The goody bag is really disappointing!!! and I think this is a reflection of Disney taking over. The bag is a disposalbe plastic bag!!! For $150, come on Disney! The t-shirt is made from wicker material, but again, the actual design and the fabric was cheap. Unfortunately, this was a lot of people's first run, so when I say alot, I mean ALOT of walkers. I think in the years past, the race wasn't as crowded, but this year, they had 16,000 participants, and the first year Disney took over (previously sponsored by Lady Foot Locker). So imagine being stuck behind an overwhelming overcrowded path of walkers who don't know running etiquette the entire race! I expected the weaving between walkers maybe for the first few miles, but I really wasn't prepared for how annoying it would be for the entire race. You really can't run... it's more of a walk, with some areas of jogging. (Come on, it's still a half marathon run). And you can't really weave either because it's so overcrowded and there's not enough room along the path. You're placed in corral A-H based on previous times, but I was stuck in the later corral because I was running with a friend that was a first timer herself. Hopefully, next year, I'll be able to report back a better experience! (Despite my complaining, yes, I'm planning to do this again next year.) Just to give you an idea, I attached a photo... wall to wall walking mid race. In order for people to cheer for you along the way, they have to buy tickets! So the crowds majorly sucked! They weren't just your usual race watchers out there just to generally cheer, they were always looking for family members and that's it! I'm from the school of folks that enjoys the race for the scenery and the crowds and support. There are no photo ops along the course unless you stop to pose with characters until the very end, first exitting through the castle at mile 6, and when you enter Epcot, around mile 11). (Oh yeah, and I love finding the photographers along a race for a pose ;)). Post race, they "ran out" of mylar sheets! Again, come on Disney! Now that I know where to put the expectation meter, hopefully I'll have a better experience and plan next year better! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Disney Princess Half Marathon 2012-in the Magic Kingdom - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Completed the Glass Slipper Challenge and now just need to knock out the Tinkerbell Half Marathon to get my PINK Coast to Coast medal! Woot woot! Now that I've run half marathons at both parks (Disneyland Half Marathon in 2013), I can safely say that I preferred the one at Disneyland. I know, I know, blasphemy, but let me explain why. Course: Both Orlando and Anaheim are pretty flat so there is little in the way of any hills. Everyone complains that you barely run through Disneyland, but I found the same to be true at WDW. Over half the race was on the road between Magic Kingdom and Epcot which brings me to... Crowd Support: So much better at Disneyland! Because you run through the city of Anaheim, there are people literally lined up all along the streets with signs and ice and cheers. Local businesses and schools have bands and cheerleaders and there was a mile lined with classic cars. At WDW you can really only spectate at the parks so that road I mentioned before is basically deserted. Don't get me wrong, the park employees and volunteers do an amazing job though! Organization: Run Disney has some of the best organized races. At Disney Princess, I was placed in Coral J (out of P) and it only took about 30 minutes to get to the start line, compared to nearly an hour at Disneyland (granted, I was in the last corral here). I was surprised at the end though that there was such a long line to get your finisher's photo taken when there was barely anyone at DL. Oh and WDW gets a slight edge here because parking was FREE!! Expo: About the same. I just wish the expo stayed open later. I flew in on Friday, landed around 5 PM and had to pick up the rental car and high tail it to the expo to get my packet before they closed at 7. I was starting to sweat it a little! If you wore your medal to Downtown Disney after the race some stores gave you discounts which was pretty cool. Despite my gripes about the expense, super early start time and streets jammed with tu-tus, I still like Run Disney because let's face it, it's fun and their medals can't be beat! read more

Running this race is definitely one of the best life experiences I've had. It was so exciting and a great accomplishment. I've run more races then I care to remember and this was by far the most crowded. Usually things are crowded in the beginning and then as the distance goes on it'll begin to thin out. Not here! It was crowded all the way to 13.1! Most of the roads you ran on were sloped so my feet and ankles were killing me the next day. I would recommend it to anyone! It was a great experience!! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

There is a lot of hype around this race. For me, it was a one and done. For the money, it wasn't worth it. The merchandise is cute, and the experience is good (if you get in a good corral). I am more of a competitive runner, and there are just too many people for that (if you get stuck in a later corral). If you do decide to run, make sure to provide a proof of time to ensure a proper corral. The races themselves take place in the parking lots (for the most part). This decreases the amount of spectators (as well as viewing areas for the spectators that do come).The expo isn't as scary as everyone makes it sound. There are a ton of cast members working, so the lines move rather quickly. You need to be at your corral around 4 am in order to get a good spot. I would just much rather run a race with more scenery, less cost, more swag, and less waking up before the crack of dawn. read more

I LOVE this race weekend! I have completed the glass slipper challenge and have down the Half Marathon alone. I highly recommend this race! It's so fun and great to do with a group of friends. All the costumes are so creative and there are endless possibilities. For my first time (2013) I dressed as one of the newly added Princesses....Princess Leia! Hahahah Disney had recently purchased Lucas-films rights and so she is technically now a Disney Princess hahahah! And last year I did the Glass Slipper Challenge (10k Saturday and Half Marathon Sunday) I dresses as Village Belle for the 10K and Princess Belle for the Half Marathon. It was a blast!! The course was pretty easy (Minus the humidity!!) and the water stations were perfect! RunDisney is pretty great at setting up enough water and electrolyte stations! read more

If you are a runner looking to run for time, DO NOT RUN ANY DISNEY RACE EVER! Disney races are crowded and there are a lot of inexperienced racers/runners participating. If you are going for the Disney experience, this is for you. The course starts outside of Epcot, which is kind of a hike away from where the buses drop you off. There were characters at the pre-party that you could get photos with. Once we got to our corral, we headed towards the front and realized that we could no longer see the TV that was showing the hosts/entertainment, which kinda sucked. One of the best thing about Disney runs is that (almost) everyone is friendly. You are all exhausted because you got up at 3am or earlier to catch a bus and you walked all the way to the corrals and there's definitely someone to talk to. It was awesome to be able to cheer on the first time 1/2 runners and listen to the stories of veteran Disney 1/2 runners. While the 1/2 takes you through Magic Kingdom, it doesn't last very long. There were opportunities to take photos with several characters along the way and some DJs/marching bands to entertain. The volunteers were AHMAZING! There was no shortage of water/powerade cups being handed to you when we would run through the water stations. The highlight for us was being able to take photos at the castle. We weren't in a hurry, so when traffic bottlenecked, we just slowed down and took it easy rather than getting frustrated at everyone slowing down or walkers being on the left. Some runners would use hand signals to move through the crowds or tell other runners if they were on your left/right trying to pass, others wouldn't. After running through MK, you head back towards Epcot, which was mostly street running, like before going into MK. Assuming the course stays the same year after year, I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay the Disney price to run it again. It was fun, but more of a one and done experience than doing it year after year. That said, now we're definitely looking into going to Disneyworld this year to get our Coast to Coast medals! read more

I ran this race as part of my coast to coast challenge!! It was the first year that Disney was going to provide a pink coast to coast challenge medal so I definitely could not say no!! I love Disney and love taking part of the Disney Half Marathons and this was my third Disney race but I will have to say that this one was had the worst course out of the three. I was barely in Magic Kingdom and when I was, it was so crammed that I couldn't run at all. I had to walk for most of the time I was in the park because there was absolutely no space. Also, there was a little time when I was in Epcot but it wasn't anything magical. Then the majority of the race was outside on the highways and I dont know who thought it was a good idea to place a ramp in between mile 9 and 10 but it was HORRIBLE! I was running slanted to my right and I was so scared that I was going to roll my ankle! Also, throughout the course, you go for miles and miles without having any sort of entertainment. The worst part of the race was that I had to walk almost a mile to get from my car to the starting line. It was a great experience running in Orlando but I think this race has a lot of upgrading to do. I guess one perk about this race was that I didn't have to pay for parking! It was free! read more

Disney's Princess Half Marathon - Coast to coast challenge shirt! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Dude, Disney, you are so well put together (not that I expected ANYTHING LESS) especially for a heafy entry fee for a 1/2 marathon.. $125 I believe? The most expensive half Ive ever ran, well, until I signed up for the Nike Womens 1/2 this Oct.. anyways.. We stayed at a Disney Resort (a cheapy family one) so transportation to the race ruled! Imagine LOTS of women who think they are 8 years old, all giddy happy and decked out in glitter... it was awesome.. The expo ruled, it was a big scene with the fairy Godmother and EVERYTHING! Picture opportunities were priceless, and the free stuff was pretty good. The lines were long, but it is Disney! The course was pretty much highway oriented, but Disney did a good job with setting up lots of scences and characters along the way to distract you from the fact that you woke up at 2:45am to run 13 miles, in soon to be total humid weather, on a black top highway.. You run through alot of disneyland but not to much of epcot.. the volunteers were awesome, water stops were plentiful, and organization at the start in regards to corals was as good as it gets (SFM good) Total recommend.. I am a sucker and I entered for the Disneyland half for another $120!! so I could get the coast to coast medal, that review to come soooooon! read more

I am very disappointed with the 2012 Disney Princess Half Marathon. This was the half marathon for non-runners. With over 19,000 people, this made it very difficult to actually run. The race was very congested and my friend and I spent the entire time weaving in and out of walkers/slow runners. We expected it to clear out after the first several miles, but it never did. We kept having to speed up and slow down when someone would suddenly stop running in front of us and walk. People were walking 6 across on a one lane road, and no one seemed to understand the "walkers to the right" policy. We spend some of the time running in the grass off the road just so we could get around people. I know this is supposed to be a fun race, but unless you were in the first couple of waves (with a fast qualifying half marathon time from another race) you didn't really have the opportunity to run. There were 8 waves, the last one starting 45min after the first. This was our first half marathon, we trained for it, and felt like it was for nothing. We were training sub 9 min miles and ended up averaging an 11min mile overall (with four stops for pictures with characters - you could have stopped at least a dozen times and waited in line for 3-5min each time). In short, if you want to run a half marathon, this is not the race for you. If you are fine with walking/jogging to say that you have done a half, then go for it. read more

I ran this race in 2011 and then again in 2018. My first Disney half marathon was in 2010, since then the price has skyrocketed for half marathons with a lot less entertainment. Let's face facts if you are completing a Disney race it is not for your best time you are there for the Disney experience. The course was mostly spent on Disney's roadways not in the parks. Every now and then there was something along the side of the road. All character's lines were so long that unless you were in one of the first corrals, there was no time to stop. It was the same way with bathrooms. Many of the roads were just one lane of traffic for the runners...you could barely move. About 2 miles total were spent in Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I was happy for the many water stations and the two wet sponge stops. Needless to say it was much better in 2011. Traffic before the race was a nightmare. There is nobody directing traffic until you enter Epcot. It took about an hour to go 3 miles. In all these years, they have not improved traffic-it's actually gotten much worse. Once you get there get ready to walk a couple miles to the start line. (Just what you want to do-add a few miles) If for some reason you have any problem that Run Disney needs to solve, don't expect Disney style customer service. Run Disney reps are rude. Honestly, after having to deal with them, this will be my last race. I love Disney, but the races are ridiculously overpriced for what you get...stressful drive and crowds, boring course, having to run by everything because there is no time to stop. You would be better off finding a local fun race and visiting the parks when there are not so many people there for race weekend. read more

Everyone should experience a Disney run at least once. The energy is infectious and while you're sleep deprived from getting up at 3am to put on a costume and shiver for an hour before running your butt off, it's truly a great event! Disney is so systematic about packet (and gear) pickup, pre-run corrals, start line fireworks for every wave, post run snack boxes, mylar heat sheets (take one, you'll thank me when you stop to relax) and medals. In fact, take a mylar sheet on the 10k day to use the morning of the half! The only con was that there weren't a lot of good photos opps, I figured since it was the PRINCESS run, there would be princesses galore... No such luck, just a bunch of supporting characters. Meh. After doing it once, I don't think I would do it again but I'm glad to have had the experience! read more

I "ran" the Disney Princess Half this weekend with several friends and it was really fun! Most people wore non-traditional running clothes, ranging from running tutus and glittery headbands to full Cinderella costumes. There were Disney characters along the course with whom you could stop for pictures and music, ranging from Disney movie soundtracks to 90's pop, played at various points along the course. I've read reviews of other Disney races where people complained that the events were poorly managed. This "race" was extremely well organized. Yes, you have to get out of bed ridiculously early (5:30 AM start), but there were plenty of port a poties, well-stocked aid stations, more than enough staff in the parking lot, etc. The one weird choice in terms of organization was that they handed out Gu at mile 8 - and then no water for another mile. This meant that many people ended up carrying their Gu for a mile (no big deal, just silly) and others ate the Gu and then spent the next mile very thirsty. Going into this event, you should be aware that most people do not run it with the goal of finishing quickly. I am very glad I did this once, but as someone with a competitive streak, I will probably stick to regular races in the future. Many participants seem unaware of normal running etiquette and do things like running in shoulder to shoulder groups that prevent passing or suddenly stopping to walk in the middle of the road. The set up of the course, with characters along the sides, encourages participants to stop and wait for photos. If you are looking to run quickly, you could get out in front of the group (a past half-marathon time of under 1:50 will place you in the first corral) and probably have a strong time. That said, you are paying for the experience - for the characters, the music, the fun of running in what is essentially a giant Disney parade. If you are looking for a fast race, it probably doesn't make sense to come to Disney. But if you're looking for a fun costume run with friends, this is well worth the higher than average half-marathon entry fee. read more

This was my first runDisney event and I believe that I ended up with a unique perspective of the experience. The Expo was very busy at the start on Thursday. I ended up there earlier than it opened at about 9:30. At that point, there was already a lot of merchandise sold and a huge crowd trying to make purchases. I believe that I waited in line about an hour to pay for the Dooney and Bourke purse and about the same amount of time in the line for clothing merchandise. Other than that, everything seemed to be well organized. I was able to get my race number quickly as well as my shirt once I entered the other building. Some of the vendors were really great to see and I enjoyed learning more from the speakers. I returned on Friday to get a pair of New Balance shoes and because I went early both days, I do feel like I missed some of the excitement as far as pictures with characters, etc. Race Day was well organized in my opinion. The ride to get to the drop off area at Epcot took about 45 minutes from my hotel, Caribbean Beach then about 20 minutes to get to the corral once inside. While there were a huge amount of people there, there were restrooms to use by most of the corrals, so we did not have to get stuck in the front where the line looked super long. (Maybe 30 minutes?). Throughout the start, there was entertainment from announcers to fireworks. I was in corral N, so I actually started about an hour later than A, but was not bored. The only complaint I would have here is that the announcer messed up at some point, calling N corral O, which messed both myself and my family watching up. Along the race path, there were tons of exciting things to see. I chose not to stop for pictures as the lines were super long, but enjoyed getting to see princesses, villains, heros, pirate ships and other entertainment along the way. Overall, the areas were pretty packed, but the castle was the worst. We spent about 8 minutes trying to get through and had to stop from the running we were doing. Granted this is the spot where Frozen characters appeared, but it was too tight to be such an exciting spot. There were also a lot of photographers on the way out of the castle, which made for great pictures, but added to the congestion. There were numerous water stops and powerade stations along the way, including a cliff gel spot at Mile 8. This was really helpful so that we did not have to carry anything unnecessary with us throughout the way. My unique experience came in at just past mile 10. It turns out I must have had a stress fracture prior to running in the Disney Princess Half, which I obviously had no idea of, and it turned into a full fracture in two places during the race. I have to say that Disney medics are absolutely on top of their game. Another runner alerted the medical tent, which were every few miles, to my condition and I received help within a matter of minutes. It probably would have been even sooner if the road was not filled with traffic from the race shutting down a few extra roads. They were able to carry me to a van and to the full station medical tent at the finish of the race. There were a number of empty beds and a very helpful staff. They got me the medical attention I needed right away and my family, which made all the difference to me. Even though I was not able to finish due to the injury, they applauded my efforts and did what was needed to make sure I was cared for as quickly as possible. I think that the runDisney group did a great job putting this together in a lot of aspects, from making sure there are fun surprises along the way, to making sure runners are taken care of in all aspects. I plan to return next year and finish. I would highly recommend this half marathon for a runner looking for a fun race to participate in. read more