My First Disney Race

Dayna Player Robinson
5 hours ago
5 min read

(and Why It Was Nothing Like Any Race I’ve Ever Done)

I just wrapped up my very first Disney race weekend — and honestly, I’m still processing it. Not because it was hard, but because it was different from every race experience I’ve ever had.

I ran the 10K with my son, which made it extra special. This was also his first trip to Disney. And for context: we are very much an explore-the-outdoors, avoid-the-crowds kind of family. He’s been to some amazing places, done some cool races, and spent plenty of time on trails and in wide-open spaces… but Disneyland?

Nope.

Not until now.

And wow — this was not just a race. It was an experience.

Disney Runners Are a Different Breed

(In the Best Way)

One of the first things I noticed? The people who run Disney races are ALL IN.

Like… really into it.

Almost everyone we talked to casually mentioned doing multiple Disney races — at both Disney World and Disneyland — as if that was the most normal thing ever. Conversations often started with something like,“So which Disney races have you done?”

And I’d be standing there like,“Uh… this one. This is my first. Hi.”

It felt like showing up to a family reunion where everyone already knows each other — but in a friendly, welcoming way. Everyone assumed you were part of the club, even if you were brand new.

Did you even know about the Brooks Mickey Mouse shoes?!?

Let’s Talk About Getting Into the Race (Because It’s a Sport Itself)

If you’re thinking about doing a Disney race, know this:

Signing up is intense.

You don’t casually log in and register.

You need:

5–6 computers open
The exact date and time the race opens
Your credit card is already saved
Fast fingers and a little luck

Because these races sell out in minutes. Not hours. Minutes.

Once you’re in, though, you wait. Six-ish months of anticipation before race weekend finally arrives.

The Expo: Organized… But Also Slightly Confusing 😂

Expo day was interesting.

You go upstairs to get your bib. They hand it to you and I’m immediately thinking: “Okay… where are the pins? The shirt? The rest of the stuff?”

Turns out — downstairs.

So down we go, and that’s where you get:

Your race shirt
Pins
The rest of the goodies

The expo itself was a good size, but honestly? Smaller than I expected for a Disney event.

And then later I found out I completely missed the Brooks portion of the expo because it was outside in another area.

But let's be honest, my kids where done with the expo at that point any ways.

Race Morning: 3:30 AM Wake-Up, 5:00 AM Start

Race day is early. Like… very early. But most of our Utah races, you get up early on race day, just to ride the bus up the canyon to sit at the start line for hours.

Here the corrals/secuirty open at 3:30 AM. The race starts at 5:00 AM.

I’ve already had multiple athletes tell me that alone would be a deal-breaker — and I get it.

We did make a great hotel choice, though. We weren’t too far from the start line.

You do have to walk past the start line to go through security and then back again, but total extra walking was maybe half a mile.

Not bad at all.

We were in Corral A (which apparently made us very popular — there was some serious corral envy going on). We got there early, sat on the ground, and watched the entertainment on the big screens.

And this is where Disney really shines.

A Start Line That’s Actually… Fun?

Normally at races you’re:

Freezing
Standing by a fire
Or stuck in a long porta-potty line

Disney?

Completely different.

There were tons of bathrooms.

I never saw a line — before or after the race.

They kept everyone entertained the entire time.

Music, videos, energy.

It didn’t feel stressful or rushed.

The start itself was very chill.

Everyone was in costume, which was incredibly entertaining. And the pacing felt respectful — no one sprinting past, no aggressive weaving.

We weren’t flying by people, and no one was flying by us. It felt… pleasant.

Running Through the Parks (Cars Land = Winner 🏁)

The first park we ran through was Cars Land, which is my favorite (Mom of 3 boys) — so that alone made the race for me.

You follow cones the entire way, with Disney “cast members” cheering you on constantly. Between California Adventure and Disneyland, there were crowds lining the route, which was such a cool boost.

Inside Disneyland, you get a mix of:

Running down the main streets
Behind-the-scenes areas
Backstage sections you’d never normally see

We stopped for a few photos at spots we really cared about or where there wasn’t much of a wait. That’s another big difference with Disney races — stopping for pictures is part of the plan.

The Finish Line

Near the end, my son gave me his usual warning: “I’m going to leave you and sprint it in.”

That’s his thing.

I just told him not to kick too early. He paced it perfectly and finished strong — but he was done.

Between:

Walking the parks the two days before
Waking up ridiculously early
Running the race

He was ready to sit immediately.

Disney does have a bit of a walk after the finish before you’re fully out and can relax, but once we made it through, my husband found us easily — which I really appreciated.

I also got to see a few runners I know finish, which was fun.

Final Thoughts: Would I Do It Again?

This race wasn’t about PRs or pacing strategies.

It was about:

Experience
Energy
Community
Doing something completely different

Everyone was incredibly kind, welcoming, and genuinely excited to be there. Disney runners are passionate — and once you see it firsthand, you understand why.

Is it early? Yes.

Is it crowded? Yes.

Is it unlike any other race? Absolutely.

And honestly? That’s what made it special.

If you’re even a little curious about Disney races — try one.

Even just once.

You might find yourself accidentally becoming one of those people who casually says, “Oh yeah, I’ve done a few Disney races.”

And now… I kind of get it. ✨🏃‍♀️🏰

Have you ran Disney? Drop a comment and let me know!

Happy Running!

from your Favorite Exercise Physiologist

- Dayna