We've got exactly one month to go for the Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World! This is my all time favorite festival because it makes a stroll around Epcot that much more of an experience with the different topiary characters, flowers in full bloom, and butterfly garden! Now, the festival also has food stands that offer seasonal treats for sampling (a la the Food and Wine festival). After strolling around the world a few times, here are my personal recommendations if you want to try to not overdo it as you sample (but, luckily, you can still indulge if you want without guilt, as the sizes are much smaller!).
Arbor at the Gardener’s Terrace
I’d say your best bet here is the Smoked Salmon Stack with Avocados, Tomatoes, Sour Cream, Caviar, and Focaccia Crostino. Flavor Full Kitchen Either of the non-dessert options look like they’re on equal footing, depending on if you eat fish or not: Citrus-poached Salmon with Ancient Grain Salad, Roasted Vegetables, and Citrus Greens, or From the Garden: Roasted Beets, Cashew Cheese, and Micro Herbs with Lemon-Oil Dressing. Both are safe if you have a gluten intolerance! La Isla Fresca While I’m more prone to reach for shrimp before red meat, the Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro is probably the better bet since the shrimp is a sugar cane shrimp. The Citrus Blossom Your best bet is one of the seafood options: Lobster Tail with Meyer Lemon Emulsion and Grilled Lemon (gluten free!) or Tuna Tataki with Spicy Yuzu Glaze, Mango, Avocado, and Pappadam Crisp. Pineapple Promenade Dole Whip is here, my friends! The Honey Bee-stro Your best bet is the gluten free and vegetarian friendly option: Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Purée, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey-blistered Grapes, Sunflower Brittle, and Coriander Flowers. Northern Bloom (Canada) This gluten free option sounds pretty tasty: Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette, and Applewood Smoked Bacon. Because it’s a sampling size, the brown butter vinaigrette doesn’t worry me as much as it would if it were on a full-sized entree. Fleur De Lys (France) Your healthiest option sounds like the Vichyssoise aux Concombres: Chilled Cucumber Vichyssoise Soup (gluten free and vegetarian). There’s also the Canard Confit à la Provençal: Braised Duck Confit with Tomatoes and Olives on Polenta. Florida Fresh (between France and Morocco) Neither option sounds super healthy, but these are probably on equal footing: Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro-Lime Sour Cream, or Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish. I personally would go for the shrimp and just be cautious of how much gravy they put on it. Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco) The Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad sounds delicious and healthy! Hanami (Japan) I highly recommend the Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry, and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut, Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side. It’s lightly sweet and great if, like me, you tend to get a sweet tooth after a meal but don’t want a full blown dessert! The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (America) Of all of these, none of them sound good for you, but the lesser of evils would be the Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw. Primavera Kitchen (Italy) The Pizza Toscona and the Tri-colored Tortellini are probably on equal footing, however you probably get more protein out of the Pizza Toscana’s toppings (Sweet Sausage, Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan Cheeses)! Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany) I’d go for the Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (which is also vegetarian!). Lotus House (China) The Vegetable Spring Rolls would be my personal pick! Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico) These are probably on equal footing!
Trowel and Trellis (near Mexico) They’re offering Grilled Street Corn with a savory garlic spread that’s gluten free and vegetarian friendly! I’d go that route for sure.
Have you been to the Flower and Garden Festival? Let's chat in the comments about your favorite part of the festival!
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For Easter this year, my family and I went to Whispering Canyon Café, where they were serving an all you can eat Easter brunch. This got me thinking: a lot of people ask me what I think of the Disney buffets because they’re worried they’ll completely go off the wagon. Surprisingly, if you play your cards right, they can actually be one of the healthier routes for meals at the parks. Hear me out - you can have your Mickey Waffles and eat them too! - and enjoy some of my best practices for handling the two types of Disney buffet.
Firstly, it’s important to note that there are two types of buffets at Disney World. Some restaurants will bring you a platter or skillet of sorts with multiple food options for the table and serve it family style. From there, if you want more of specific items in your platter, you can let your server know. Others are a more traditional buffet. You’re seated, order your drinks, and then get up and serve yourself from the buffet options. Here’s a list of all the different restaurants on property that offer buffets or family-style meals at Disney World:
And, in case you’re heading to the west coast, here are Disneyland’s buffet and family-style offerings:
And, of course, some of these restaurants will have characters that come to mix and mingle with you, or one of the mealtimes (i.e. breakfast only) will be a character breakfast. These can be a little bit more pricey, but are great for either families with children who want to get a bunch of signatures in a short timeframe, or for the kids at heart who don’t feel like waiting in lines to meet characters!
Because you have control over what goes on your plate, buffets are usually options that can be pretty good for calorie counters, Weight Watchers, etc. You can bulk up on lean proteins, veggies, and fruit but still indulge a little on some special Disney treats you won’t get to enjoy once you’re back home from your vacation or, if you are a local like me, usually refrain from having. But that can also be dangerous if you worry about portions, so here are some of my best practices to follow when you’re enjoying a Disney buffet.
Which Disney buffet is your favorite? Characters or no characters? Let’s chat in the comments!
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The Star Wars Rival Run Weekend was one for the books! Even though this was my fifth half marathon, I faced a few challenges for this race that definitely kept me on my toes. Whenever I get a cold, it starts with a sore throat… which I woke up to on Wednesday morning. Thankfully it never progressed beyond that (thank god for Zicam and cough drops!), but I was also worried about my knee on top of it since I hurt it about a month prior (don’t laugh, but I hurt it doing a BollyX video, which is basically bellydance meets Zumba) to race day. But I took a page out of Han Solo’s book - “Never tell me the odds!” - and pushed through it anyways!
I’m going to do my best to make sure these character locations are accurate; they’ll be approximate, though, as I don’t recall exactly where along the mile they were! Mile 1
Characters: Rey on a Takodana backdrop
Marker: Kylo Ren 
What I remember above all else is how humid it was at the start! I was in Corral F and in the second wave of it, so we started around 5:58 a.m. based on when I started my Garmin (the first corral started at 5:30, so we didn’t wait too terribly long once they started sending them out). The course hasn’t changed from last year, so it was nice going into this half knowing exactly what to expect. You run past the Magic Kingdom sign, which is pretty neat, but it’s a pretty straight forward run. What I do like is seeing the fireworks go off from the other corrals, though - not only because I enjoy viewing them, but it’s nice to get a gauge for how many people I’ll have behind me.
Mile 2
Characters: None, but you could pose in Emperor Palpatine’s throne! Marker: Darth Sidious/Palpatine 
I actually always have to give runDisney kudos for how interesting they make this stretch. Running down Bear Island Road to get from Transportation and Ticket Center to Animal Kingdom could very easily be a 2 mile boring run through the woods down a service road, but instead they totally jazz it up. You start with red lights (in the nearly pitch black dark, otherwise) and a recording of Vader’s breathing and some taunts from the Sith Lord, so it gives the illusion of you running from Darth Vader. Combined with other light effects it is pretty cool! Plus as you go further down, there are more lights plus some fire and explosions with the sounds of Ewoks and blaster fire to make you feel like you’re running through the Battle of Endor in Return of the Jedi.
Mile 3
Characters: Ewok, plus a trash compactor photo op
Marker: Boba Fett
Towards the end of this Bear Island Road stretch is the Ewok photo op plus where you turn to start moving into the back of Animal Kingdom. As you get closer, you start to see some greenhouses and also where they keep the elephants and rhinos when they aren’t roaming the park and need some care! This part is always exciting, too, because you know you’re getting closer to Animal Kingdom.
It was around this point that the knee injury I had started flaring up, but nothing serious. On top of it, my cough drop that I took at around 5 a.m. before we started had worn off… but my Clif block, however, held me over until I wanted to use the other cough drop I had in one of my pants pockets! Don’t try that at home, kids; I do intervals of running 30 seconds and walking for 60 seconds when I do a half marathon, so I only did so for my 60 second walk break to avoid accidentally choking on it!
Mile 4
Characters: First Order stormtroopers and Resistance Fighters in Animal Kingdom
Marker: Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover, not Billy Dee Williams)
Jambo! This is where you end up entering near Harambe and move through there, to Pandora (always super pretty to run through, especially if you’re speedy and catch it while the sun is still down; I catch it during the sun rise which is breathtaking) and then past the front of the Tree of Life. This year, they had some Resistance fighters encouraging you to keep running so you could get them some intel on the First Order, which was pretty neat!
Mile 5
Characters: 501st Legion stationed as you went behind Everest, plus a Wampa photo op in the Animal Kingdom parking lot
Marker: C-3PO
You hit the fifth mile marker in the back of Animal Kingdom, where you are then greeted by the 501st and Rebel Legions! Of course, I always stop for these guys - they’re my friends! - and they’re always so excited to be there. After a quick hello and gently teasing the handlers (“Hey, so like, are you guys with Disney?”), I moved through to proceed to the Animal Kingdom parking lot, where it wraps the mile up with the Wampa photo op (to recreate the scene from Empire Strikes Back where Luke snatches his lightsaber from the snow).
Mile 6
Characters: none Marker: General Grievous 
This mile is largely uneventful; you have to go uphill to get to Osceola Parkway, which is a fairly boring stretch of highway but at least it’s not super long. The sun was rising and I was cursing myself for forgetting to bring sunglasses, but all was well! Overall, though, a rather uneventful mile. Since I was starting to get kind of hungry and really needed a cough drop again, I took the time to munch on some Goldfish and then soothe my sore throat to prevent both from becoming an issue.
Mile 7
Characters: Chewbacca
Marker: Count Dooku 
Not long after the Mile 7 marker is a photo stop with Chewbacca, which makes the highway stretch a little more interesting! Along the long stretches, they’ll have big screens up playing the Star Wars movies, so at least there’s that for entertainment along the way!
Mile 8
Characters: none, but you could pose on a speeder bike!
Marker: Leia 
Mile 9
Characters: Maul right before you entered Hollywood Studios
Marker: Darth Maul
I have never been more excited to to see the giant Tower of Terror ad that looks like the elevator dropping on the highway than I was to see it partnered with the Darth Maul sign. Even though my watch was still saying I had run about a quarter mile longer than the posted distance (which felt like a cruel joke), I felt like I could see the light at the end of the tunnel! My knee was really starting to hurt again now, so I took advantage of the medical tents offering some Biofreeze… only for a majority of the glob I grabbed to fall into the asphalt (my own fault for trying to rush). RIP, little blob of Biofreeze. But I had enough to know that it would hold me over for a while.
I think I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Darth Maul’s photo op with Tower of Terror in the distance, because that meant I was finally in the park! 
Mile 10
Characters: The 501st Legion in the Fantasmic courtyard (where you enter the park), First Order stormtroopers in the park
Marker: Darth Vader
Right after Maul’s photo op was the mile 10 marker, and then when you enter the park via the Fantasmic courtyard, the 501st and Rebel Legions have more troopers there to take photos with! I stopped to see Kylo and Hux (especially since I troop with Kylo often [she’s fantastic and has every single variation of Kylo!], and have with Hux before!) and I was super excited to see Ahsoka there (she’s my favorite light side character, you guys, so I ran over!). Not only was it nice to say hi to some familiar faces, but it gave my knee a bit of a break that it definitely needed. It was a total bummer with how much it hurt, but I just kept run/walking as best as I could.
After that, it was down past Tower of Terror I went! This threw my plan of just taking it easy from there on out right on out the window, because Photopass gets pictures of you as you run through the parks… and I didn’t want to be pictured walking for some reason (probably my sheer determination to not give up).
As you headed to the main drag of Studios, they had four stormtroopers - two to take a photo with, and two others patrolling the area. We also got to run by the newly renovated parking area and where the Skyliner stops are going to be, and it looks really nice!
Mile 11
Characters: Sabine Wren and Ezra Bridger at the end of the Boardwalk
Marker: BB-8 
Mile 12
Characters: The 501st Legion as you exit the park
Marker: Luke Skywalker 
(The road to mile 12 felt rough… especially because I hit mile 12 on my Garmin .36 miles before the marker (again, likely due to weaving through so many people). But thankfully, it was just through Epcot, and since my knee was yelling at me for not taking it easier in Hollywood Studios or along the Boardwalk, I made the decision to only run if there was a Photopass photographer and to just enjoy the scenery of Epcot. What’s nice is that with Flower and Garden going on during this race, you get to see a lot of the topiaries! It’s also cool to see the cast members from different countries cheering you on as they wave flags from their home countries. There was a really cute moment passing the China pavilion when a guy yelled, “Ni hao!” to the three women working there and they got all excited, yelled “Ni hao!” back, and then it was just a chorus of people yelling “Ni hao!”
Mile 13
Characters: First Order stormtroopers as you finish!
Marker: Rey
I had long forgotten about my sore throat thanks to my knee pain, and medical was awesome at wrapping some ice around it very tightly at the end of the course. After grabbing my cooling towel, water, and snack box, I met up with my dad and fiance - who crushed his goal of a sub-2 hour half - while we waited for my mom to cross the finish line not long after I did (we ran the first four miles together, but we parted for her to stop at the bathroom; we finished within minutes of each other but could never find each other after that because of how crowded these races are!). Despite my knee pain and sore throat, I felt pretty good and otherwise strong. I listened to my body while out there, and it paid off!
After the race, we treated ourselves to a breakfast feast at Port Orleans! Even with a massive Mickey waffle, bacon, and some beignets, I still had a pretty good calorie deficit at the end of the day and that’s the beauty of a long run, haha!
All in all, regardless of pain, I had a total blast on this course. Star Wars Half has such a chill vibe despite the crowd size, especially compared to a race like Princess Half Marathon, that I will always recommend it first and foremost. Sure, it was humid, but when I ran Princess it was hot and humid, too! That’s just Florida and something you need to be aware of so you don't push yourself too much if you aren't used to it. Plus, if you’re worried about not being able to stop for characters due to time, the 501st Legion is a great option to not sacrifice a lot of time waiting in a long line.
Have you run any of the Star Wars races? What did you think? Let’s chat! 
Who's ready to run?I am so excited about the Rival Run Half Marathon this year! This race falls on my dad's birthday weekend this year and I ran it last year when it was still pegged as the Dark Side Half... so naturally I chose the light side this year (sorry, 501st Legion friends!). That being said, race weekends can be a little overwhelming... so let's simplify everything and check out some of what the expo has to offer, shall we? The When & WhereYou pick your bib and gEAR bag up at the expo, which you should do above all else! This is also when you get your official race shirt and any pre-order merchandise you've received (a separate window). This all goes down at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex! Hours are...
Staying at a Disney resort? They'll be offering transportation to and from the expo and the races - just check the posted signage for the exact times and pick up locations. This includes Shades of Green and the Swan and Dolphin. You should find the info in the lobby! Interactive Zone Schedule |
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While the classic pineapple-vanilla swirl is my favorite, I heard the Rapunzel inspired lemon cone made with Dole Whip is also delicious! They also have a Hei Hei cone inspired by Moana (pictured above) and an Up-inspired cone (with white chocolate bits) made with mango and raspberry flavored Dole Whip, respectively, as opposed to pineapple. Over at the Pineapple Lanai at Polynesian Resort is the Heart of Te Fiti cone featuring lime flavored Dole Whip (which is the base of the Peter Pan float in Magic Kingdom)!
BEST: Prepackaged treats
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While the pastries you also find at the Confectionary counters don't apply here, there are quite a few prepackaged snacks - ranging from salty, sweet, sour, or any combination of the above - that aren't are terrible when you're counting calories, so while they aren't as Instagrammable as some of the baked goods... the packaging is still adorable and you can still curb your cravings, so it's a win-win!
The treats pictured here are all chocolate sweets, but there are also prepackaged candies from Goofy's Candy Company (which have Goofy on the packaging) and some more salty or cracker-based treats like trail mix, cheddar crackers, etc. from Chip and Dale's snack line. |
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BEST: Popcorn
BEST: Churro |
There are plenty of popcorn options at Disney that range from cheddar to birthday cake, but you can’t go wrong with good ol’ fashioned popcorn from a cart! An ounce of popcorn is only about 100 calories, plus rather than using real butter, they use a vegan-friendly flavoring. This is another snack that’s great to share (which saves you money!).
If you do want a flavored popcorn that's prepackaged, they do provide the nutritional info, so this would be another good time to utilize measuring cups if you really wanted to track exactly what you're eating. |
It’s hard to say exactly how many calories are in a Disney churro because while the estimated amount per churro is about 150-250 calories (depending on size), Disney’s are very long (so likely closer to a 200-250 range) and I question their definition of a serving size because some of the serving sizes on their cookies is for half of it. However, regardless, this sweet treat is a bit lighter than many other options if your sweet tooth is feeling needy, and if you aren’t terribly hungry but just need a bite of something sweet, they’re great to share with a friend! Plus, because churros tend to be lighter, they probably won't sit as heavily in your stomach as something else that's super high in carbs or sugar.
WORST: Mickey Pretzel
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Your average calories in a large soft pretzel can be in the 450-500 range… so that’s probably a fair estimate for the Mickey pretzels. These are great to share, so if you really want it for Instagram, try splitting it in half to share with a friend. If you’re that hungry, you’re better off having a meal, especially since soft pretzels aren’t known for being very filling snack options!
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WORST: Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar
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While a tasty treat on a hot summer day, this one is not the most diet friendly of our options! If you’re pounding pavement and getting nearly 30,000 steps per day at the parks, then this may not be your biggest concern. But if you’re having a more lowkey day, save your 330 calories, 22 grams of fat and 28 grams of sugar for something more worth it if you really want something sweet since these bars aren’t the most filling of desserts. The ice cream stands have other options - like fruit bars - that are much lower in calories, and sometimes don't have any added sugars!
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WORST: Mickey Rice Krispy Treats
There are a variety of rice krispy treats available at the parks, so the calories can vary from whether you want chocolate dipped ears, the entire thing with chocolate and candy, or just a traditional rice krispy. You may think you're not doing too bad by having a plain one... but they come in at 270 calories! Ears alone covered in chocolate? That number spikes to 300. If you really want a Rice Krispy Treat with manageable calories, just have the name brand mini ones! This is a shame, too, because they used to make a plain one that was 170 calories... but that seems to be a thing of the past.
WORST: Kakigori
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I’ve seen Kakigori be shared by other Disney blogs as a healthy alternative, but I disagree. Kakigori is sweetened with syrups which are loaded with, as you can probably guess, added sugars. This doesn’t even include the condensed milk options or if you add alcohol into the mix. While Kakigori can sometimes be low in calories, Disney also gives you an amount that will rival the size of a child’s head. But even if we wanted to give Disney the benefit of the doubt, there is not really any nutritional value here.
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(Worst of the) WORST: Turkey legs
Love them or hate them, these snacks are pretty popular… and also probably the worst possible thing you can get at Disney for your health! Your average roasted turkey leg runs at about 1,100 calories and 54 grams of fat, per the USDA. Need I say more?
Remember, most of my recommendations wouldn’t classify as healthy... but are more so meant to be enjoyed on occasion if you’re determined to have something but not experience guilt. What’s your favorite Disney snack? Let me know in the comments!
While a lot of these tips may seem like givens for any race weekend, the one thing I notice is that with runDisney, a lot of what may seem like common sense to an experience runner gets tossed aside (and even experienced runners have fallen victim to that, too). To help you know what to expect in a sea of tutus and sneakers with tiara gems on them, I’ve compiled my personal list of dos and don’ts for runDisney events so that way, even if race day is overwhelming, at least you can stay cool and confident.
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But don't worry - these are all products I'd recommend anyway and use whenever I run!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. But don't worry - these are all products I'd recommend anyway and use whenever I run!
DO train properly!
I know this seems like a given for any race, but you’d be shocked how many times I hear people say, “I totally didn’t train for this race at all!” or, “I trained a little bit, but I still feel extremely underprepared.” With any race, you’re going to want to train properly, but the beauty of runDisney races is that you get the schedule so far out in advance and likely, you’re signing up really far out in advance, too. Set a countdown on your phone with an app or hang a calendar in your home or office with a countdown on it, whichever helps you more, and make sure you find the right training plan that works best for your needs.
I know it can be hard to squeeze in the time to do so, but you’ll thank yourself race day. When I was training for my first half marathon, I was still living in Fort Myers, where it’s generally even more hot and humid than Orlando, and I’d be running late at night with my parents - who were also running the Space Coast Half with me - to get the long runs in and beat the summer heat. Our runs wouldn’t end until around midnight, but I went into my first half marathon with so much confidence that I was barely nervous. You don’t have to go out in the middle of the night like I did, but take a look at your schedule and find what works best for you. Who knows - maybe there are some local runs happening that fall in line with your training schedule!
I know it can be hard to squeeze in the time to do so, but you’ll thank yourself race day. When I was training for my first half marathon, I was still living in Fort Myers, where it’s generally even more hot and humid than Orlando, and I’d be running late at night with my parents - who were also running the Space Coast Half with me - to get the long runs in and beat the summer heat. Our runs wouldn’t end until around midnight, but I went into my first half marathon with so much confidence that I was barely nervous. You don’t have to go out in the middle of the night like I did, but take a look at your schedule and find what works best for you. Who knows - maybe there are some local runs happening that fall in line with your training schedule!
DO a trial run in your costume before race day!
You may feel silly running around your neighborhood or on the treadmill in a tutu and tiara or in a modified Chewbacca onesie, but it is well worth it to do a few test miles in your outfit before race day. I’ll never forget at Princess Half Marathon, there was a heap of abandoned tutus - both purchased and homemade - on the side of the highway as you were entering the Magic Kingdom’s parking lot.
 | It was a strange combination of sad and comical, so please do yourself a favor and make sure you’ll be able to enjoy the race rather than fussing over an outfit the entire time. Want a tutu but not sure you’ll be able to stand it? Try a Sparkle Skirt instead! These skirts by Sparkle Athletic are my personal favorite, as they rest over your leggings or shorts and are extremely lightweight, while still having the same effect as a tutu thanks to the sequins and the skirt's light swing. |  |
Want to incorporate something on your head without something as bulky and potentially uncomfortable as a tiara? Try a nonslip headband! Plenty of companies, like Sweaty Bands, make great nonslip headbands with fun designs. You can usually find them at the runDisney expos!
DO make sure you’re prepared for any kind of weather!
The weather changes you can experience in Florida can be crazy sometimes, especially if you’re running WDW Marathon Weekend or Princess Half Marathon weekend. I always like to get a mylar blanket that I can easily get rid of once I start the race, or you can get a cheap jacket at Goodwill and toss it (all clothing discarded along the course is collected and donated, so don’t worry about that!).
DO get up early enough so you’re feeling ready to run and not rushing!
Every race, without fail, I see quite a few people literally sprinting to the corral because they arrived late. If you’re worried about sleeping through your alarm, try getting up early the day before. Incorporating another race into your weekend, whether it’s to run or to volunteer, may be beneficial if your race isn’t the first (but it's important to know yourself to know if this will or won't help!). Otherwise, make sure you get to bed early enough to be well rested so you aren’t literally bolting through the Epcot parking lot at 5 a.m. Getting to your corral early enough will help you feel less nervous since it’s one less thing to worry about. Don’t sweat the bathrooms while you wait. There are plenty all throughout the start area!
DO show off your bling at the parks!
Since it’s unfortunately socially unacceptable to wear your race medals to the office, show it off at the parks after your run! Give yourself plenty of time to relax, stretch, foam roll, or however you like to recovery, but it’ll actually help move the lactic acid around if you leisurely enjoy your favorite park. Another perk to this is getting the characters to sign your medal! One of the reasons my Princess Half Marathon medal is my favorite is because Snow White - that year’s featured princess - signed the back of it, giving it an extra special touch (and a pretty cool character meet and greet interaction!). There are also locations where you can have your medal engraved; I got mine done at Disney Springs.
DON’T worry about the balloon ladies!
All across the internet you’ll see tales of people being swept by parade buses after falling behind the pace keepers, a group of women that are the last ones to cross the start line at any runDisney race marked by some balloons that they tie on to their outfit. I’ve got some news for you: they’re super nice, they’re not the official pace keepers, and you can still finish the race if you end up behind them. After all, that’s what happened to me at the Tower of Terror 10 Miler in 2014. I was seriously out of shape and on top of it, I was practically trampled at the start line by an overeager man twice my height, so even if I was in shape, I would have been hurting from the way he stomped on my ankle, causing it to twist and be in sharp pain for the rest of the race. Right after mile 7, I fell behind the balloon ladies. While people did get swept at the mile 7 point, I was lucky enough to have just missed that bus, and I ended up finishing the race and crossing the finish line. The whole time, I was waiting for someone to pick me up, as did a group of women around me doing the same pace. Yet, no one ever came and we finished together, much to all of our surprise. While I wouldn’t recommend falling behind the balloon ladies if you can avoid it, do know that it’s not the end of the world. Just do your best to catch up to them and keep pace with them so you can finish the course if you’re feeling up to it.
DON’T forget about race etiquette just because it's Disney!
As I previously mentioned, I’ve been trampled at a runDisney race before. I’ve seen women sitting in the corrals have others literally walk over her, their butts literally on the seated’s head, to try to rush to the front of the corral to avoid the balloon ladies. I’ve seen a group of women at the Princess Half Marathon walk together in a line of seven, all holding hands and singing a song together. While I understand that a runDisney race can be an emotional moment for people for a variety of reasons, the middle of the course as people are trying to get by is not a safe way to cherish that moment together by holding hands multiple people across. I recommend saving any emotional race day moments you want to have as a group for after the race; that way, you can also celebrate your accomplishment of finishing together and it becomes even more special. Or, if you know you want to have a bonding moment along the course, pick a spot based on the course map and when you get there, step to the side where you're not in the road so you can be respectful of the runners around you.
Runners who don't do this: this is all the more reason to be aware of your surroundings. I always go into a runDisney race anticipating that absolutely no one is going to be aware of their surroundings so I can act proactively in case of a potential accident.
If you’re running with a group, sticking to pairs of two to run side-by-side is the general rule of thumb. When transitioning from running to walking, raise your hand high so anyone behind you that’s running will know that you’re about to slow down and hopefully not barrel into you. If you can, shift to the side of the road - some people will tell you to go to the right side, but at a runDisney race, just focus on not causing an accident. This is not just for your own safety, but for others as well.
Also, if you’re a faster runner, don’t just blow through people who are walking! While it can be aggravating to see someone in a higher corral than they should be for their pace, it doesn’t give you an excuse to be rude either… something I’ve seen at many a race, but especially runDisney ones because I think people forget that most people’s priorities for the runDisney courses is to have fun!
Runners who don't do this: this is all the more reason to be aware of your surroundings. I always go into a runDisney race anticipating that absolutely no one is going to be aware of their surroundings so I can act proactively in case of a potential accident.
If you’re running with a group, sticking to pairs of two to run side-by-side is the general rule of thumb. When transitioning from running to walking, raise your hand high so anyone behind you that’s running will know that you’re about to slow down and hopefully not barrel into you. If you can, shift to the side of the road - some people will tell you to go to the right side, but at a runDisney race, just focus on not causing an accident. This is not just for your own safety, but for others as well.
Also, if you’re a faster runner, don’t just blow through people who are walking! While it can be aggravating to see someone in a higher corral than they should be for their pace, it doesn’t give you an excuse to be rude either… something I’ve seen at many a race, but especially runDisney ones because I think people forget that most people’s priorities for the runDisney courses is to have fun!
DON’T just plug your headphones in and go!
This ties back to race etiquette a bit in the regards of your personal safety and the safety of others around you. runDisney races will have moments where they announce a sharp turn ahead, and regardless, the sheer volume of people makes it dangerous to shut yourself off to anything other than your running playlist. I recommend either keeping the volume low or investing in a pair of headphones that don’t rest in your ear, but on the jawbone like the Aftershokz. I invested in a pair of their Trekz Titanium, which use bone conduction to transmit the sound to you. These are great because I hear my music perfectly, but can also be completely aware of my surroundings. They also rest pretty comfortably around my neck (as pictured) when I'm not actively using them before or after I start running (or I feel like listening to the sounds of the theme parks during a Disney race!) and their battery life has proven to be impressive.
DON’T worry about character photos!
One of the most frequently asked questions I get about runDisney races is, “I’m afraid I’ll fall behind the balloon ladies if I stop for character photos, but I really want them! Can I realistically?” My honest answer is that it all depends. If you’re running the 5K, they aren’t exactly strict with your pace, so enjoy whatever characters you stumble upon that you want a photo with. I've seen a lot of people say to try to prioritize your character photos, but it's often random (you can kind of predict who will be there based on past years, but there's no guarantee) so you're better off just playing it by ear rather than stressing over when you will or won't stop for a picture.
| When I ran the Star Wars Dark Side 10K and Half Marathon in 2018, I had plenty of time to stop for photos with characters and the 501st Legion* along the way since I was in one of the middle corrals. For Princess Half Marathon in 2018, I didn’t test my luck since the lines were insanely long and, even though I was in a middle corral, I didn’t want to risk it (when I say long, I mean some of these lines had to be at least 20-30 minutes long, no exaggeration!). However, I did get a quick photo with Mrs. Incredible towards the end and I had plenty of time since her line was super short. |  |
Depending on the length of the lines, your pace, and your corral placement, the likelihood of being able to take a bunch of character photos and not get swept will vary. If you want photos but don’t want to risk it, I recommend snapping a selfie near the line to get the character in the background, getting some photos at the expo (more on that here), at the start line, and/or at the finish (some of the characters will be there after crossing, but oftentimes there are characters waiting for you at the finish that will happily stop for a selfie, like my photo with Knight Donald above). So, really, there’s no sense in worrying about it since it can be so unpredictable.
*The 501st Legion and Rebel Legion are charity organizations that consist of screen accurate Star Wars cosplayers (including myself, my fiancé, and my parents!). The 501st and Rebel Legions are usually invited “troop” the Star Wars races at Disney (and have been at all of them in the past), so if you’re worried for time but want photos, I highly recommend opting for photos with the Legions, as the lines are usually quicker since it’s not an official photo stop hosted by Disney.
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DON’T try anything new on race day!
I highly recommend packing your own fuel versus relying on whatever they pass out at the runDisney races. Sometimes it’s sports beans from Jelly Belly, sometimes it’s Gu energy gels, but if you haven’t tried it before, mid-race may not be the best time. This is true for any race event, not just runDisney. If you don’t want to carry your own fuel on race day, really explore the vendor hall. In 2018 and 2019, I’ve been able to try sports bean samples thanks to a sponsor handing them out at the expo, which was great because that’s what was passed out when I ran the half marathons I did in 2018 at Disney World.
Hopefully, you’re feeling a little more prepared as you approach your first runDisney event! My first half marathon was not a runDisney race, and for that I am grateful. Not to say they’re a bad first option, but they are on a whole other scale of a local race that, while just as fun, would be less stressful than the sheer beast that is runDisney.
What’s your favorite part of a runDisney race? Let’s chat!
Hopefully, you’re feeling a little more prepared as you approach your first runDisney event! My first half marathon was not a runDisney race, and for that I am grateful. Not to say they’re a bad first option, but they are on a whole other scale of a local race that, while just as fun, would be less stressful than the sheer beast that is runDisney.
What’s your favorite part of a runDisney race? Let’s chat!
*Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. However, please note that I only am recommending things I genuinely use and enjoy!
I’m sure you’ve heard some horror stories from the runDisney expos, but there is no need to panic! You won’t miss out on the merchandise you want, and you will be able to get everything you need in no time no matter what people on Facebook say about the lines being multiple hours long just to get an “I did it!” t-shirt.
I’ve been to more runDisney expos than races I’ve run with Disney. Living so close and being a runner means that it’s a great opportunity to check out the expo floor and see what new running gear is out, even if it’s the same few vendors every time because I do spot some cool new things with each expo and you never know what you’ll find! Plus, I always like to say hi to Jeff Galloway and see when some of the other local races are going on for the year. So, that being said, I’d consider myself a bit of a runDisney expo expert… so let me help you not stress before race day!
I’ve been to more runDisney expos than races I’ve run with Disney. Living so close and being a runner means that it’s a great opportunity to check out the expo floor and see what new running gear is out, even if it’s the same few vendors every time because I do spot some cool new things with each expo and you never know what you’ll find! Plus, I always like to say hi to Jeff Galloway and see when some of the other local races are going on for the year. So, that being said, I’d consider myself a bit of a runDisney expo expert… so let me help you not stress before race day!
DO prioritize getting your bib first.
I know the runDisney merch is a huge deal (more on that later), but especially if you are in a rush, get your bib first! This way the most important thing you need is done and out of the way. Plus you get a nice big bag to go with your shirts - this is so that way you have a clear bag for bag check on race day should you need it - but it will be very handy to have as you do your expo shopping later. It’s a win-win!
DO set aside some money for the expo and establish some baselines before you head in.
I know this may seem like an obvious thing, but if you haven’t experienced a huge race expo before then it can be overwhelming and easy to impulse buy something! This is especially relevant for the main vendor hall rather than just the runDisney merchandise. With all sorts of cute shirts and cool gadgets available from limited edition Otterbox cases to foam rollers to a bunch of different sneakers, really make sure you know what you need and what you really want. This is a great opportunity to treat yourself to something new, whether it be a gadget or a costume piece for your race day outfit (as long as it’s nothing crazy; be sure to try it on so you know it won’t drive you nuts!) that you were hesitant to buy online.
DO take advantage of all the fun opportunities and freebies at the expo!
These may vary by expo, but more often than not I’ve been able to snag some free GoGo Squeeze applesauce pouches (which I’m hooked on), candy and Moon Pies from the Space Coast Half Marathon table, free samples of Daiya’s vegan pizza and Greek yogurt, free autographs from Jeff Galloway if you meet him (if you don’t have one of his books, he has little cards with info about his half marathon in Atlanta), a bag and 5K sticker from Geico (who has a slot machine style set up that determines your freebie), GIF photo opportunities, and more! There’s so much to do and see at the expos that it’s a shame to rush through the vendor hall just to get your bib and be on your merry way. Give yourself time to check everything out at the expo and see what’s out there; a lot of snacks that I like I’ve discovered thanks to runDisney!
Speaking of freebies and photo opportunities, DO check out what they have on the runDisney merchandise side!
Usually you can meet different characters where you can purchase the official runDisney merchandise and there will be separate non-character photo opportunities available as well. For example, at Wine and Dine 2018, Chef Mickey was meeting and you could also get a photo at the table where Lady and the Tramp shared that famous plate of pasta. For WDW Marathon Weekend in 2019, there was a photo op of a train backdrop with Oswald on top as if he was getting away with all the medals, and you could also meet Mickey in a tracksuit. For Princess weekend in 2018, Snow White and Princess Minnie Mouse met! While the lines can get kind of long, if you’re there early you can always ask a cast member what time they start and plan your day around that. It sure beats waiting at 4 a.m. and hoping you get a good spot in your corral, so it’s a great chance to get a special photo or a character to sign your bib if you are nervous about race day photo ops.
DO invest in a RFID guard for your cards if you don’t want to take out cash.
I’m not trying to fear-monger, but rather just help prevent what happened to me! At more than one runDisney expo, either I’ve been hit or a family member of mine has been… and we know it was from the expo because there were posts from other runners online saying they were positive it was at the expo. My mom even had a lady seemingly accidentally bump into her once, but then the lady wouldn’t back off… and wouldn’t you know, her card info was snagged! Unfortunately, card skimmers are going to be an issue at any event with a large crowd, and the runDisney expos are massive affairs. My fiance and I attend a lot of conventions, so he ordered a multipack of RFID blocking sleeves that are super thin so they won’t take up room in your wallet, and their paper material makes it easy to slip your card in and out. I’ve found these to be extremely helpful and always recommend carrying it or something like it when you’re going anywhere - I’ve had way less card issues ever since!
DON’T worry about getting there first thing on the first day of the expo!
Unless you’re running the first race of the weekend, it’s the day before, and you have no other time in your schedule to get over there, there is no need to worry about being the first in line. Even if you are in a rush because you need to pick your bib up before the race the next day and you can’t go in the afternoon, worry about the merchandise later. They’ve been way better about keeping plenty in stock the last few races in my experience (curse those eBay scalpers!) and every time I’ve gone to an expo in the afternoon after the morning rush dies down, there has still been plenty of merchandise available. Even at the 10th Anniversary for Princess Half Marathon, the only thing I saw fly off the shelves was one or two sizes of the Fairy Tale Challenge jackets. When I went to the WDW Marathon Weekend Expo in January 2019, they weren’t starting to sell out of the Dooney and Bourke purses until the last day and they had plenty of everything!
If you are very concerned about merchandise - I was for the Star Wars Dark Side weekend in 2018 since it was my first challenge, so I get it and have been there! - then DO consider pre-ordering merchandise.
It will save you a little money come expo time and while those nearly-$100 jackets may seem expensive, such is the reality of runDisney merchandise pricing. It is worth noting, however, that you don’t get to see the pre-order merch ahead of time, so if you worry about disliking the design then this may not be an option for you!
DON’T worry about food!
Didn’t snag a dining reservation but worried about having a healthy lunch before or after browsing around? There’s a quick service dining location at the ESPN complex that’s on your way out of the main vendor hall (and you can access it independently as well so you don’t have to go through the whole expo just to get there). I talk about my personal recommendations for Weight Watchers in my Restaurants Guide, but rest assured they will likely have something for you on their menu. The only food I would recommend bringing if you are being health-conscious or following a diet plan would be snacks (however, if you’re just enjoying yourself, then that’s not anything to be concerned with).
Ready for race day?
Good luck on the course! If you ever have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message - I'd be more than happy to help ease your pre-race (or pre-race expo) jitters!
Beign-yay!
Some of the Walt Disney World resorts host little fun runs throughout their property on a weekly basis! Saratoga Springs hosts the Derby Dash , The Boardwalk hosts the Seaside Sprint, Old Key West has the Southernmost Point 3k, the All-Star Movies resort hosts an All-Stars and Icons fun run, and Port Orleans - French Quarter hosts the Beignet Dash! Each fun run is about 1.4 miles in length and you get some cute goodies at the end. They're all $15.00.
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The Beignet Dash, as the name suggests, has you treating yourself to free Mickey beignets at the finish line! You can run and/or walk the loop more than once if you want; we got our free goodies at the unofficial finish line and then took another lap to get 3 miles in.
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The race registration starts at 7:30 a.m. between the pool and Building 5. If you're not staying at the resort, just let them know you're there for the Beignet Dash! You'll be able to park no problem. The race begins at 8:00 a.m. and takes you along the river and down to Port Orleans - Riverside. The views are beautiful!
You get to run through Riverside a little bit before continuing along the river and looping past the "mansions," which are rather pretty. One thing I gotta give them major credit for is how detailed the resort is - it really makes you feel like you're running through the French Quarter of New Orleans!
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After crossing a bridge - don't worry, cheering cast members and signs are located throughout the 1.4 miles so you don't get lost! - you loop back to the start, where you are treated to your rubber medal on beads. Your bib that you get at the start has your voucher for your free beignets at Sassagoula Floatworks (right near the start/finish point) - which are totally worth the indulgence!
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Overall, I would totally recommend this little fun run! It's great for both locals and people visiting if you want something fun to do on a Sunday morning to keep you and your family active. I'd say healthy, but that's debatable given the beignets (we all gotta live a little sometimes)! You can enjoy this race every Sunday morning - the others are on weekdays.
Have you participated in any of the Disney resort fun runs? Let me know!
"Stay afraid, but do it anyway." -Carrie Fisher
I'm already planning on doing the 2019 First Order Challenge because I loved doing it so much this year. The course was pretty fun - for a half marathon to only have a pocket or two of semi-boring but still entertaining stretches, I'll take it, especially since it's Disney. Plus The 501st Legion appearances really do make all the difference!
The courses were different enough for me to enjoy both of them as separate entities, and I found the shared parts of the two helped me feel more comfortable with the 13.1 as far as the mental struggle sometimes goes since you know what's coming and can get excited for the parts that you like.
The courses were different enough for me to enjoy both of them as separate entities, and I found the shared parts of the two helped me feel more comfortable with the 13.1 as far as the mental struggle sometimes goes since you know what's coming and can get excited for the parts that you like.
If you've never done a challenge before to tackle 19.3, my advice is to just trust your training. I felt really well conditioned after three prior half marathons to this one and found that the hardest part of the whole thing was waking up at around 2:30 a.m. two mornings in a row - though having to do so on Saturday definitely made it easier to go to bed early to wake up at that ungodly hour on Sunday!
If we're being completely honest... I knew I wanted to do a runDisney challenge as a part of my weight loss and fitness journey since it's something I never thought I'd be able to do. I was on the fence for Wine and Dine, but once the medals were released for this one, I knew I had to just take the plunge and go for it.
Totally worth it.
Totally worth it.
This will be a day long remembered...
The 2018 Star Wars Half Marathon - The Dark Side was my fourth ever half marathon and, by far, my favorite. Don't underestimate the power of the dark side... or of waking up at dumb a.m. to have your morning coffee, pre-race breakfast, and to your corral! Thankfully, the fireworks at the start line are always a good energy boost when you first get going.
Miles 1-3
I don't really have any photos from the first 5k stretch of the race for two reasons.
1. It was pitch black dark outside and the road was surrounded by woods, so most of the lighting was just provided by runDisney so we wouldn't trip, so any photos wouldn't have really come out anyway.
2. There wasn't too much to look at. To make up for this, Disney did have some cool set ups along the way: there was a part where they had audio going of Darth Vader speaking and some ominous lighting against the trees to make it seem like Vader was going to pop out of the woods at any given moment, and another where they had laser lights going and Battle of Endor sound effects to make it seem like you were running through the battle.
There were some photo ops here, but I didn't stop for them! You could sit on the Emperor's Throne or meet up with R2-D2 or some Ewoks.
1. It was pitch black dark outside and the road was surrounded by woods, so most of the lighting was just provided by runDisney so we wouldn't trip, so any photos wouldn't have really come out anyway.
2. There wasn't too much to look at. To make up for this, Disney did have some cool set ups along the way: there was a part where they had audio going of Darth Vader speaking and some ominous lighting against the trees to make it seem like Vader was going to pop out of the woods at any given moment, and another where they had laser lights going and Battle of Endor sound effects to make it seem like you were running through the battle.
There were some photo ops here, but I didn't stop for them! You could sit on the Emperor's Throne or meet up with R2-D2 or some Ewoks.
Miles 4-6
But things got way more interesting once you approach Mile 4! You start to enter Animal Kingdom and are running along a road behind where Rafiki's Planet Watch is. I even saw an elephant playing in one of his pens! This road then lead us to the Harambe section of the park, which provided some beautiful views of the Tree of Life. From there, we ran down by Festival of the Lion King (where stormtroopers were to take photos with) to enter Pandora from the side, which was absolutely stunning to run through! The sun was already up when I was there, but my boyfriend got the chance to run through it while it was still dark (he is much faster than I am) and said the bioluminescent vibe was super cool to run down.
From Pandora, we ran by the Tree of Life, through Dinoland, and then exited to the parking lot from there! Along the way were photo ops with The 501st Legion. In the parking lot was a photo opportunity with a wampa and Luke's lightsaber stuck in the snow. From there, it was on to Osceola Parkway!
From Pandora, we ran by the Tree of Life, through Dinoland, and then exited to the parking lot from there! Along the way were photo ops with The 501st Legion. In the parking lot was a photo opportunity with a wampa and Luke's lightsaber stuck in the snow. From there, it was on to Osceola Parkway!
Miles 7-9
I imagine this stretch of highway would be pretty cool if you are a tourist, but as a local, I was admittedly kind of bored. It wasn't as bad as the long, boring stretch on the back end of Princess Half Marathon. At least, like I said, if you don't live here, you can probably appreciate the highway signs, the distant views of Blizzard Beach or the Tower of Terror median sign or the entrance sign as you pass on the other side of the road. But for me, the screens along the way playing movie clips just was not cutting it.
However, running the 10k the day before gave me the benefit of knowing what was coming up and thus something to look forward to, especially because the back ends of the two races were so similar (and it's one of my usual running routes).
Available photo op: Sabine and Ezra! There was no line for these guys, but I met them at the 10k so I didn't bother to stop again.
However, running the 10k the day before gave me the benefit of knowing what was coming up and thus something to look forward to, especially because the back ends of the two races were so similar (and it's one of my usual running routes).
Available photo op: Sabine and Ezra! There was no line for these guys, but I met them at the 10k so I didn't bother to stop again.
Miles 10-11
Finally, Hollywood Studios! Similarly to the 10k, Maul was waiting as we entered the back by Fantasmic. Once you got closer to Fantasmic, the 501st Legion was there waiting! I stopped to see some of my friends again since I was actually reppin' instead of dressed like Rebel scum, and then was on my way back down through Hollywood Studios. Once you exit Studios, it's on to the Boardwalk, where the course is narrow but filled with awesome spectators.
Miles 12-13.1
On the way in to Epcot was Chewbacca! This course takes you through a majority of the World Showcase - instead of taking you past Canada, you go the other way to enjoy a majority of the loop - with Mile 12 falling in Morocco - and then head on to Spaceship Earth. Once you got past Spaceship Earth, the 501st Legion was waiting with the Mile 13 marker! Once you got to the finish line, stormtroopers congratulated you as you crossed and you could then get your medal.
As aforementioned, this course (which happens to be the same as Wine and Dine's) is my favorite. The Princess Half Marathon course is magical because you get to run through Magic Kingdom, but hitting up multiple parks takes the cake in my opinion since it makes for an overall more exciting experience.
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Jessica is a huge Disney and Star Wars nerd who channeled that love into motivation to lose 75 lbs.
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