The Ultimate Guide to the Happiest runDisney Experience

Fly on the back of the Avatar mountain banshee, traverse to the top of Everest, then race backward after the track runs out, and then PR your runDisney race all in one week. I’ve completed many races, but this was my first Wine & Dine 5K race at Walt Disney World Resort. I haven’t been to Walt Disney World since I was about 8 years old – 30 years ago! – so everything was a brand new adventure for me. I wanted to write this guide to give you insight into my favorite attractions, food, and lodging that will help you have the happiest runDisney fit-cation.

Lodging

There are many different but equally beautiful choices to stay in, but my favorite is Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge because of the wild animals in your backyard. I truly felt like I had escaped the hustle and bustle of the theme parks to a peaceful safari. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the balcony with my coffee while I watched the bison, giraffe, white pelicans and other animals foraging throughout the day. Anytime I came “home,” I was immediately transported to a peaceful environment. I stayed in the Jambo House side of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, but you can also stay in the Kidani Village. I just recommend that you get a room that faces the savanna. 

Download the Disney World app to unlock your door without a key, pre-order food, and book popular attractions ahead of time.

Parks and Attractions

Do you like waiting in line? Neither do I, especially when you have a race to run! The last thing you want to do is be on your feet all day. I highly suggest buying Lightning Lane passes for the rides you want to experience the most. I don’t think we waited more than 10-15 minutes when we had lightning lane passes. You will typically burn about 10,000 calories a day when walking around in the parks. I logged around seven to 11 walking miles per day! I went to Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Typhoon Lagoon, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and Hollywood Studios. 

My Favorite Attractions:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind 
2. Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
3. Avatar Flight of Passage
4. Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
5. TRON Lightcycle / Run

Honorable mentions & rides that I heard were amazing, but I didn’t have time to do it:

1. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
2. Spaceship Earth
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
4. Space Mountain
5. Test Track presented by Chevy
6. Tower of Terror

All of these rides listed above have their own unique wow factors. Some are fast roller coasters with twists and upside-down loops, while others are more 4D experiences combined with incredible visual stimulation. If you have questions about what to ride next, just ask the person next to you in the line you’re waiting in. Everyone we talked to was so nice and more than helpful in giving you their opinion on the best rides. It seemed like we were the only ones who hadn’t been to Disney! We even bumped into our in-line friends at other parks, and it was fun to revisit what we had done the previous day and what we would do next. 

Timing Your Stay 

My Wine & Dine 5K race was on a Friday morning, so for me to get in on the Wednesday before was near perfect. It gives you time to settle in with the potential time zone change and the routine of transportation to the parks, etc. I experienced two parks before race day, picked up my race packet, and enjoyed the fitness expo at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex. Pro tip: plan ahead and reserve a post-race massage at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. 

The post-race massage is very important for expediting your recovery. If you train appropriately for your distance, you won’t be walking like Donald Duck afterward, and you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of your time at the parks. I saw plenty of runners attempting a distance like a 10K or half or full marathon that probably didn’t train for that distance. I felt bad for them because they wouldn’t be able to enjoy the rest of their time at the parks when their walking was already painful post-race. I suggest you train for your distance or suffer the consequences, losing valuable time and experiences you could’ve had with your friends and family. If you must run but think it will be a tough race for you, don’t book additional nights after the race. 

The 10K race takes place on a Saturday, and the half marathon is held on a Sunday. The next time I participate in a runDisney race, I’ll opt for the 10K because the route runs through three different parks. Routes may change, so be sure to check Disney’s social media for the exact routes for the runDisney race you sign up for. 

Extra Curricular Activities

There were three other fitness activities that I really enjoyed on this trip: pickleball, a family fitness class, and an early morning yoga and guided meditation class. I got pickleball lessons on the tennis courts outside of Disney’s BoardWalk. It was my first time playing, but the coaches were great, and we were pickleball experts in no time. 

The yoga and guided meditation class at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon was calming and just what I needed after a long fit-cation. The lagoon was calm, and the park was closed, so nobody was around to disturb the class. Disney offers these classes at other locations around the resort, so check the schedule to see where you can take a class – I hear sometimes even Mickey and Minnie will join! 

The extra fitness activity I know everyone in the family will enjoy is Disney’s Family Fitness Fun at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort which offers a class with movements that are inspired by Moana. 

Did you know? Walt Disney World Resort has over 21 scavenger hunts, 18 playgrounds, over 17 jogging trails, 13 tennis courts, 12 fitness centers, 10 pickleball courts, 8 sand volleyball courts, 6 basketball courts, 3 family fitness classes, and 1 full-service spa. Let’s just say you can find any activity for the family outside of running the race.  

Food Options

I had a friend with me who was vegan, and the thing I was impressed by was that even though the menus at the resorts or elsewhere didn’t have all the vegan options, the waiters, chefs, and staff prioritized catering to any diet. My friend was happy and never was left out of the exceptional food offerings. You’ll want to reserve your brunch, lunch, or dinner accordingly, as they will book quickly. Before race day, your dinner should consist of high protein, light carbs, greens, and lots of water. That way, you’ll have the energy and hydration you need, and you won’t need to stop at any water stops or bathrooms when you race. The last thing you’ll want to do is drink all your water in the morning before running. It would be best to hydrate at least two days before the race – all that walking and screaming while on the rides will leave you more dehydrated than you think. The good thing is that Disney lets you bring water into the parks, so no excuses! 

I was starstruck to be mentored on this subject by legendary Olympian and runDisney’s official training consultant Jeff Galloway. He has camps all around the country, so you might find one near you so you can learn about nutrition and training for a race.

Race Day

You’ve ridden most of the rides, hopefully, and didn’t eat too many funnel cakes and Mickey ice cream bars. Now it’s race day. Before you lay your head to rest, you’ll want to first lay out everything you need to wear, even pinning your bib to your shirt. Your wake-up call should be about two hours before, and you’ll have everything there for you to put on and go to the bus transportation to the start. 

Disney plans their races two years in advance, and it shows. runDisney is one of the largest race organizers in the United States in terms of number of runners, with as many as 170,000 runners participating in runDisney events each race season. There are six race weekends a year, four at Walt Disney World Resort and two at Disneyland Resort. Each runDisney event has its own theme, and ours was themed after Alice in Wonderland. People’s race day outfits were so creative. I wish I were able to pack a costume. I encourage you to pack your themed outfit if you can! If you do wear a costume, you’ll probably be really hot. Be sure to grab the MISSION cooling towel at the finish line. 

I was impressed with how well-organized everything was. There were thousands and thousands of runners just for this 5K. Their bag check system was a breeze. The lettered corrals to organized runners were easy to follow. I also liked how they started mini groups of people throughout the morning so we weren’t trampling over each other. As we ran along the route around the lightbulb-lined EPCOT park, there were photo opportunities with characters, themed music, and all I saw were smiles.

The race medal is unique to each theme and high quality. Another fun perk about your race entry fee is that you get to party at EPCOT at night, where you experience the International Food & Wine Festival as you walk around the World Showcase with all of your race friends. These are unique offerings that are only available at this time.

Recap

Are you hyped yet? If you’re a first-timer, plan training months in advance and start small. A great place to start is to begin your training program with an Echelon treadmill. They have 40+ daily live classes and thousands of on-demand workouts for beginners and experts. 

I’m not going to lie; I was skeptical of the runDisney experience. I hadn’t been to Disney World since 1994 and had no idea what to expect. All I remember from that time was stamping my Disney passport at EPCOT and riding Space Mountain over and over again. I’m not a Disney fanatic by any means, either. However, when I departed for the airport to go back home, I left with a little bit of depression. It was such an incredibly fun time. I would go back in a race-to-the-finish-line heartbeat. I’m already planning on going back and running in the 10K in 2024. It’s the perfect distance for me and, honestly, I just want to run through Cinderella’s Castle. If you’re tired of running in the same races in your hometown and want to include the whole family on your vacation, a runDisney fit-cation is an absolute must. 

Like Donald Duck says, “Happiness is the richest thing we will ever own.”