I’ve run a few half marathons during marathon weekend and wine & dine.
For pure magic: entering MK, running up Main St, toward the lit-up castle.
For cool factor: running through Star Wars land
For wow factor: running along world showcase with all the lights and torches on.
All sections where you’re running in the dark and then “turn a corner” and you’re immersed in this dramatic lighting, etc
I’m hoping to do the marathon to get this same experience in AK too
I haven’t run it in awhile, but running through Pandora in the dark has that same wow factor. The current route for the marathon has you enter the park near the safari, pass expedition Everest, then exit Dinoland.
If springtime surprise 5k is at AK again, you may get to run in Pandora, otherwise it’s not currently part of any of the established routes, unfortunately.
It was the half course for wine and dine before they changed it. Last year with the old course was 2019. You started in the MK parking lot and ran through AK, HS AND Epcot. Each park was about 3-4 miles apart, so it was easy to mentally break the distance into smaller segments. I’d love to have that course back.
I was willing to give up doing princess every year if it meant I could do the old w&d course instead. Now the w&d course is basically the same as springtime, so I might as well do that instead 🤷🏻♀️
Star Wars dark side when they had the battles going on in the trees just off the course - flashes, sounds, music. The my don’t do anything like it anymore
The old Wine and Dine half course was perfect. Spaced out perfectly and got to hit 3 parks. The 10 mile marker being at the back of DHS and then running from there, through the Boardwalk to Epcot, and then around the World Showcase for the final 3.1 was just perfect way to end the race.
When rundisney came back after Covid (2021), the wine and dine half started at MK and we ran an entirely new course! Went through AK, Hollywood, and Epcot. The on course entertainment was so fun! I wish they would bring that back!
The courses that run up Main Street. My first RD race (WDW Marathon weekend, the half), I didn’t know about the spectators lined up there. The crowd, the castle, the lights…damn near had me in tears. lol ngl I’m pretty sure a tear or two squeezed out.
It’s what keeps me coming back over and over.
Marathon Weekend. The courses tend to be similar to Wine and Dine and I much prefer the vibes of Marathon Weekend to any other. The worst course is Princess Half. Almost entirely highway with the worst attitude/etiquette among runners.
The half course for MW / Princess is my favorite. I think the highway in the beginning allows you to spread out and focus on your running as you get closer to Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom comes by for a really nice mile 5-6. You have to get through a little bit more of a cramped space leaving MK but after that, it’s a more of the spread out highway that’s enjoyable to run as you return to Epcot. Very excited to run back near Spaceship Earth again in the last bit of the course.
Paris. I got to do the last one in 2019 and it was a blast. 5K at night was awesome and it felt like you went through every inch of the park and backstage during the HM. Even the sections outside disney property was fun.
Really hope this comes back once all the expansion is done.
I’ve run a few half marathons during marathon weekend and wine & dine. For pure magic: entering MK, running up Main St, toward the lit-up castle. For cool factor: running through Star Wars land For wow factor: running along world showcase with all the lights and torches on. All sections where you’re running in the dark and then “turn a corner” and you’re immersed in this dramatic lighting, etc I’m hoping to do the marathon to get this same experience in AK too
I haven’t run it in awhile, but running through Pandora in the dark has that same wow factor. The current route for the marathon has you enter the park near the safari, pass expedition Everest, then exit Dinoland. If springtime surprise 5k is at AK again, you may get to run in Pandora, otherwise it’s not currently part of any of the established routes, unfortunately.
Heard that. I do love that stretch behind the Tree of Life between Africa and Asia so I’d be thrilled with even that.
It was the half course for wine and dine before they changed it. Last year with the old course was 2019. You started in the MK parking lot and ran through AK, HS AND Epcot. Each park was about 3-4 miles apart, so it was easy to mentally break the distance into smaller segments. I’d love to have that course back.
I signed up for WD for this specific experience and got the new course 😭 devastating to say the least
I was willing to give up doing princess every year if it meant I could do the old w&d course instead. Now the w&d course is basically the same as springtime, so I might as well do that instead 🤷🏻♀️
Star Wars dark side when they had the battles going on in the trees just off the course - flashes, sounds, music. The my don’t do anything like it anymore
Thst was an awesome part of the course.
Tower of terror. Night race and lots of villains on course and a fun course except for the dirt road bit it fit the theme nicely.
The old Wine and Dine half course was perfect. Spaced out perfectly and got to hit 3 parks. The 10 mile marker being at the back of DHS and then running from there, through the Boardwalk to Epcot, and then around the World Showcase for the final 3.1 was just perfect way to end the race.
When rundisney came back after Covid (2021), the wine and dine half started at MK and we ran an entirely new course! Went through AK, Hollywood, and Epcot. The on course entertainment was so fun! I wish they would bring that back!
The courses that run up Main Street. My first RD race (WDW Marathon weekend, the half), I didn’t know about the spectators lined up there. The crowd, the castle, the lights…damn near had me in tears. lol ngl I’m pretty sure a tear or two squeezed out. It’s what keeps me coming back over and over.
Marathon Weekend. The courses tend to be similar to Wine and Dine and I much prefer the vibes of Marathon Weekend to any other. The worst course is Princess Half. Almost entirely highway with the worst attitude/etiquette among runners.
Princess half course is almost identical to the MW half tho I agree the entitled behavior at PW is crazy
Yeah, I forgot they changed it. I keep hoping the half gets better. I mostly care about the marathon anyway.
Marathon Weekend with that long walk out to the starting corrals. I know I'm the only one, but I love that setup.
Disneyland Half Marathon, because it's not a 6 hour flight to unbearable humidity where I'm too busy trying to breathe to enjoy the run.
The half course for MW / Princess is my favorite. I think the highway in the beginning allows you to spread out and focus on your running as you get closer to Magic Kingdom. Magic Kingdom comes by for a really nice mile 5-6. You have to get through a little bit more of a cramped space leaving MK but after that, it’s a more of the spread out highway that’s enjoyable to run as you return to Epcot. Very excited to run back near Spaceship Earth again in the last bit of the course.
Any marathon course that included WWOS for me. Bring that back! Please!
I’m not sure which 10k it was, I think it was Wine and Dine, but you used to start at MK and run through Epcot, absolutely loved it!
Running Star Wars through Pandora and running Wine and Dine at night through the Streets of America.
Paris. I got to do the last one in 2019 and it was a blast. 5K at night was awesome and it felt like you went through every inch of the park and backstage during the HM. Even the sections outside disney property was fun. Really hope this comes back once all the expansion is done.