Here is my honest Opinion of my runDisney Fall Feast 5k 2019. Let's start with signing up for the race, which applies to any runDisney race during the year. Annual Passholders do get early access into registration site but you do have to log into your my Disney experience account first and then click onto the Annual Passholder tab for perks and discounts. There will be a link for runDisney and when there is an early access ready you will click on that link and it will take you there. When you decide on your race and register it can take awhile for it process on that first day especially during the first hour of registration. DO NOT REFRESH OR CLOSE THE WINDOW. You are technically in a virtual waiting room and if you refresh the page or redo the registration it sends you to the back of the wait list. Just be patient with the process and you will get your spot for the race for early registration. Now for anyone not a pass holder you will need to sign up the first day of open registration if you want to do the 5k and/or 10k. Those two races will fill up faster than half marathons, marathons, or challenges.
Before the races you will get the chance to go to the runDisney Health and Fitness expo. This is where you go to pick up all your race gear that is included with registration as well as your bib number. You get to purchase all your official race merchandise here as well. Then you can make your way to the expo hall and you can see multiple fitness vendors and get some free goodies. There is a runDisney area where you can sign up for future races (if they still have spots for them). You do not need to spend all day at this expo but it is fun to walk around for an hour or two and buy some great official runDisney merchandise. Just remember whatever they don't sell will end up at the Disney Outlets in about a week or two after the last race.
Its time for Race Day! You will have to wake up early the morning of the race. Check starts around 4:30 for the race but you can get there earlier if you would like to. If you are driving the good new is parking will be free for the race. On site Disney hotels will be providing shuttles from the resorts to the race start point. If you are not driving yourself I highly recommend spending the money on a Disney onsite hotel to make the morning commute easy and stress free. They do sell some breakfast items and coffee once you get through security. There are character meet and greets before the race with a dj dance area in the middle. If you have a bag or an items you don't want to bring with you during the race they do provide a desk where you can check in any items and pick them up after the race. I learnt the hard way that you should get to your corral (start area) early before the start time. I was so far back in my corral it took almost 45 minutes after the start to even get through the starting line.
What to expect during the race? Character photo opportunities are through out the entire race. Just keep in mind that the lines can get really long. You do have to create a my Disney experience account and link your bib number to the photo pass for your photos. The step by step process to set that up will be on the back of your bib number. The characters during the races are themed for that race. If you do the 5k you may see different characters from the 10k race. If you are doing these races for fun it is a great reason to sign up if you are on the fence of doing a runDisney race.
Through out the race there are photo pass photographers to capture you running on the course as well as with the characters. They do provide water for you through out the race as well. The medals at the end of the race are always so beautiful and detailed. You literally get it right after you cross that finish line from one of the volunteers. They do provide a free snack box, banana, bottled water, and bottled Powerade for after the race. They also have options for breakfast as well as champaign and beer after the finish line to celebrate finishing the race. It is a very rewarding feeling to finish even a 5k race. In February I will be doing my first 10k at the Princess Half Marathon weekend. I encourage anyone who has been thinking about trying a runDisney race to try at least the 5k out. I do understand they are expensive and that is also partially why I usually do the 5ks over the other races. The 10k for me is to challenge myself and the runDisney races now have me looking at other 5ks and fun runs that happen in Orlando. It is true that once you start doing them you be come addicted.
Please feel free to ask any questions about my experience at runDisney's fall feast5k or if you want to see a video of my very first runDisney 5k it is on my youtube channel www.youtube.com/thejessyjen
Love Always,
JessyJen
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