Written By Lisa

On the eve of registration for the Disney Princess 1/2 Marathon in 2016, here is a recap from Lisa of this year’s race!

It is one of my bucket list items to run all of the half marathons Disney offers (though that list keeps getting longer as they keep adding more races). A couple of girlfriends and I decided to make a long weekend of it and tackle the Glass Slipper Challenge (10k race on Saturday, followed by the half marathon on Sunday). We had such a blast! We all love Disney, so we did all the parks in addition to running the races.

We arrived on the Thursday before race weekend and headed to the expo. Definitely get there early. We were lucky to be able to purchase the items we wanted, but by that evening, many of the popular items were sold out (like wine glasses and jackets).

Running Disney races in costume is something I had never done, so we all decided to pick our favorite characters to dress up as. I ran the 10k as Minnie Mouse. It was a bit chilly that morning, so the inexpensive stretchy gloves came in super handy, as did the sweatshirt I was able to throw off about a mile into the course (they collect all items of clothing thrown off to the side and donate them to charity). There were some awesome character picture opportunities on the course, too! My friends and I even got our picture with princess Minnie Mouse tweeted on the runDisney twitter account! We felt super famous.

The morning of the half marathon was much warmer (thank goodness), but that also meant humidity. It made for a more difficult finish to our race, but we were racing for fun and pictures, not so much for time. I dressed as my favorite princess, Belle!

My favorite part of Disney races is running through the castle. This year, they had Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff on the balcony in the back. They were encouraging all the runners over microphones and it made for a lot of people stopping to take selfies (myself included)!

I also loved the funny signs people set up along the course. This one was super fitting for my costume!

In the end, even though it was a little more hot and humid than my preferred running temperature (and being from the Midwest in the winter, my body was not used to that weather!), it was an unforgettable experience! Disney races really are like no other. Added bonus, you get to enjoy your choice of pretty delicious food when you are done (our choice, nachos and a frozen mojito from Mexico in Epcot). Can’t beat that in my opinion!

And let’s not forget about the bling…I added these 3 pretties to my collection. (Another tip…we carried our bibs around the parks and had princesses sign them!)  All the hard work and training was definitely worth it! I highly recommend the runDisney Princess Half Marathon weekend to everyone, runner or not! It was a fantastic time and I can’t wait to do it again!

Generally speaking, when the kids are out of school Walt Disney World is crowded….. and more expensive. If you have a flexible schedule try to take advantage of off peak times to visit. September and early November through mid December (with the exception of Thanksgiving week) is a great time of year. 

Disney is constantly releasing promotions. Take advantage of them and save some money! No one knows better about what promotions apply to your travel than your Authorized Disney Travel Planner.

Consider passing on the Hopper option when purchasing tickets. While this option provides guests with flexibility it may not be necessary for those families traveling on a budget. At $64 per ticket, forgoing this option can save a family a few hundred dollars!

Does your family require a stroller? Don’t want to bring your own? At $15 a day for a single stroller and $31 a day for a double stroller rental costs can add up quickly! Consider renting from an outside company to save $$$! 

Don’t Break the Bank Purchasing Souvenirs- Set a limit for the kids before you go. Purchase a gift card for each child and encourage them to choose what they spend their money on wisely! 

Use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner! Most Authorized Disney Travel Planners provide their services at no cost to their clients- they are paid through Disney directly. Authorized Disney Travel Planners have the knowledge and expertise to book your family in an appropriate room and category that will meet your needs and budget! A good agent will continue shopping promotions for their clients even after they have booked and will automatically apply them to clients reservations to save them money!

What’s your best tip for saving money at Disney? Comment below and let us know! 

Written By Gina

After being seated you are free to go up to the Dessert table. We helped ourselves to tables brimming with pastries, cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, cakes, and more. There are so many yummy treats to choose from as well as a variety of hot and cold beverages. Most desserts are deliciously bite sized so you’ll have an opportunity to taste them all, and don’t worry, you have plenty of time to go up for more before Wishes begins.

 On most nights, during the dessert party you can also catch The Electric Light Parade during the beginning of your desserts. The view of the parade from the party is not ideal.  While you’ll be able to see the larger floats and hear the music perfectly, you won’t be able to see any of the characters or dancers on the ground. However despite the limited viewing, I did find that the music made my desserts taste even better. Usually this parade runs twice nightly so just be sure to catch this parade at a different time if it is important to you.

The Celebrate the Magic Show begins 15 minutes before Wishes and the view from here was great! The terrace provides you with a clear shot of the castle without the struggle of a very crowded Main Street. What’s better than a fantastic show while eating as many chocolate strawberries you can carry? Tinkerbell flying right over your head, that’s what!  When Wishes begins I remember just why this is the best viewing spot ever.

There are 3 reasons I will repeat this once every trip:
1. No long waits sitting on a curb fighting to keep my position.
2. Not having to juggle snacks down Main Street for my waiting family.
3. No worries that guests are going to put their whole family on their shoulders to see the show.

Written by April

What do you think of when you think of Disney? Do you think movies? Parks? Rides? A Mouse? What about running? Not many people think of walking, running, or any kind of exercise when they think of Disney. I know for many years I didn’t, I knew nothing about this completely different side of Disney. If you and your family are active, or looking to get active, Disney has you covered!

Disney’s race series, also known as runDisney, offers everything from diaper dash races for babies to kids races to family 5ks, all the way up to a full marathon. You can find them on both coasts, with races in Disneyland and in Walt Disney World. Disneyland offers 4 half marathon race weekends(where you can also find kids’ races, 5ks, and 10ks) and Walt Disney World offers 3 race weekends, with kids races to Disney’s only full marathon. Each race is themed differently, from a Princess race weekend, to Tinkerbell, Star Wars and Avengers.

Disney does races differently than many other organizations do races(and in my opinion, better!). One of the biggest perks are the race courses themselves. You spend time running through Disney’s theme parks before they open, even passing through the castle in some races. It makes for great picture opportunities!

runDisney races are just like Disney parks, they are tons of FUN! You can find tons of characters along the course for picture opportunities, everyone from Jack Sparrow, to princesses, to Woody and Buzz Lightyear and of course Minnie and Mickey.

 Many Disney racers have fun with their running attire. Sure, you’ll find the standard running gear, but you’ll also find racers dressed as princesses, racers in tutus, group costumes, the possibilities are endless!

If you are interested in participating in a Disney race, here’s what you need to know! First, register early. Disney races are becoming more and more popular, and while Disney has added new races recently, they still sell out quickly. You can contact your favorite travel agent to learn more about race dates and when registration opens. Next, train! For each race, Disney partners with former Olympian Jeff Galloway to provide training plans. They are aimed at all varieties of racers, from beginners to seasoned runners. You don’t have to be a runner to get involved. A Disney race and vacation around a race weekend is the perfect motivation to start moving. Get the family involved! Sign your kids up for the kids’ races or get the whole family together for the 5k. If your family isn’t on board, get your friends ready to race. Race weekends make great girls’ weekends, so get your girlfriends(or guy friends) together and make it a getaway. Lastly, have fun! Be creative, enjoy Disney, enjoy the sights and entertainment during the races.

Whether you’ve never done a race or you’ve done a dozen, Disney has a race for you!