By When you’re new to Disney vacations, the last thing you’d think is, “Gee, I wish I had a reason to walk or maybe even run a lot more!”
Well, plenty of people disagree with you. That’s how Disney half-marathons became a thing. And the impressive part is that they are WILDLY popular.
Most events sell out, and some of them book quite quickly. So, let’s quickly discuss the joys of runDisney, a lifestyle as much as it is a series of races.
What is runDisney?
Many wellness enthusiasts love Walt Disney World (and Disneyland) for reasons beyond the theme parks, shopping, and dining. They know that they can participate in running events in and around the parks as well.
runDisney events are a series of races that Disney hosts several times a year. These events prove so popular that tickets go on sale six to nine months in advance… and sell out almost immediately.
Some people jokingly refers to runDisney as a cult, but there’s reverence in their voice when they do so. These events embody the best of Disney as a community of adult fans.
We’ve never run one of these races, but some of our closest friends have. They swear by these events and frequently schedule their entire Disney vacations around them.
We… do the opposite. That’s because we’ve been at Disney on the mornings of runDisney events. Since the races occur on streets around the parks, traffic gets a bit circuitous. Also, access to some parts of the park may be blocked off even to ticket holders due to the races.
Buses must take alternate routes to avoid the joggers, runners, and even walkers. That’s the thing about runDisney. You can take the race as seriously as you prefer.
Some competitive racers attend these events and try to win. So, unless you’re a 5k, 10k, or half-marathon expert, you probably won’t win. That’s okay, though! You’re here for the experience. According to race policies, you only need to maintain a 16 minute mile pace, which most people can do.
runDisney events feature Disney themes, just like the attractions and hotels do. For example, Disney hosts the Disney Princess Half-Marathon annually. The event’s more than just a catchy name.
Participants enjoy character greetings before, after, and even during the race! You won’t see anything like that during the Olympics or the Boston Marathon!
During a recent event, guests could hang out with Elsa & Anna before the runDisney Half-Marathon. During the race, characters like Isabelle and Miranda from Encanto, Tink and Fawn from Peter Pan, and Vanellope from Wreck-It Ralph appeared. Donald Duck even wore a knight costume for the race.
So, as you can see, despite the name, more than Disney Princesses appeared. It’s basically one giant Disney lovefest, albeit a sweaty one due to all the racing.
Many racers don’t rely solely on Disney, though. They go ahead and dress up in Disney costumes themselves! That’s perfectly okay during the races, albeit with a few rules you should read if/when you plan to participate in a runDisney event.
Disney also establishes photo ops throughout the race course, with popular spots being Spaceship Earth and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.
Anyone who completes the race wins a medal. These change for each event, with runDisney fanatics merrily displaying all their prior achievements on their trophy cases.
People care about these medals. Whenever Disney publishes images of the medals for upcoming events, they quickly go viral in the vibrant runDisney community. For some, these races are a way of life.
Disney has leaned into this by adding record-keeping to the runDisney site. You can track your results and racing certificates online. PhotoPass is also an integral part of the experience.
Photographers will stand at some of the landmarks I mentioned and snap (posed) photos of the racers. So, when you do a runDisney race, you should always spring for PhotoPass.
Speaking of cost, runDisney events aren’t free. You sign up for them online, with a 2026 event costing $120 for a 5k, $166 for a 10k, and $260 for the half-marathon.
runDisney typically offers Challenges as well. For instance, the 2026 Disney Princess event includes the Disney Fairytale Challenge. Hardcore runners can race in the 10k and half-marathon. You’ll pay $432 for the privilege, but when you complete all 19.3 miles, you’ll earn three exclusive medals.
Disney thoughtfully publishes the race course for every event. Most of them occur on backroads near the parks, with race segments entering the parks at various intervals.
So, you’ll start outside the park, run into the park for a while, and then exit to a back road. It could also be the opposite, with some races starting inside the park.
Typically, shorter races begin inside a Disney park, especially when it’s Disneyland. Conversely, longer races usually start outside the parks, but you’ll work your way inside during the race.
The latter strikes us as optimal since you have a goal during your race. You’re running to reach a Disney theme park and participate in the various character greetings and photo ops. Plus, the backdrop is quite a bit nicer inside the park than in the exterior areas.
Another benefit of runDisney is the merchandise. Race participants gain access to Disney gear created specifically for the race and the runDisney program.
During the expo’s first day, runDisney typically uses a virtual queue to manage when you can shop. Disney does this because much of the merchandise is in high demand to the point that a lot of it sells out. You’ll want to be among the first to shop when possible. And there’s a way to do that…for a fee.
runDisney has proven so popular that you can even buy a membership. Club runDisney’s Silver Tier costs $289. It includes benefits such as a member jacket, access to a virtual runDisney event, and Club runDisney race bibs.
The Gold Tier is quite pricey at $635, but members receive all of the following:
- Member Welcome Kit:* Member Jacket, Club runDisney Magnet, Membership Card, Club runDisney Virtual 10K Medal, Club runDisney Member Pin
- Tier 1 pricing year-round for available runDisney Races
- Exclusive 2026 Club runDisney Virtual 10K
- Club runDisney designation on race bibs
- A guaranteed opportunity to purchase one race registration in each race weekend through early registration
- Club runDisney Expo Experience, including early access to runDisney Merchandise Shop
- Early access to renew your Club runDisney Membership before sales open to the general public
We’ll resist saying anything snarky about the value of the Gold Tier, as runDisney people kinda scare us. They’re a devout group. Imagine more fit Tibetan monks. Gold Tier members do receive guaranteed access to the merchandise, though, which is a big deal to many.
Circling back to virtual runDisney events, you don’t need to be a Club runDisney member to participate in most of them. You can purchase an entry online for about $60. It’s something fun to try once. While these experiences lack the character encounters, they’re still an excellent trial to determine whether you’d enjoy runDisney.
Disney hosts events about every other month on average, not counting the virtual ones. Walt Disney World usually offers four runDisney events annually, while Disneyland has two. These totals vary, though. So, please check the official runDisney site for information about upcoming races.