WDW Magazine December 2016 - 2017 Crowds at WDW | Page 99

PRE-RACE EVENTS

Runners must pick up their race packets prior to race day at the expo, held at the ESPN
Wide World of Sports (WDW races) and Disneyland Hotel Exhibit Hall (Disneyland races).
The expos are an experience in themselves! Along with picking up your official race
number, t-shirt, and clear running bag (only bag allowed to check on race day), you can
purchase running gear from multiple vendors, gain valuable insight from the experts at the
Speaker Series, or even a massage for your upcoming race! You will also find the official
runDisney merchandise there.
Another highly anticipated pre-race event is the Pasta in the Park Party offered at EPCOT
for an additional fee. The party includes a buffet of, well, you guessed it: pasta, along with
characters and a DJ. The party is usually held for a few nights before race day. Note: this
event is no longer offered for Walt Disney World Marathon weekend in 2017.

RACE DAY

So, when the big day arrives, there’s no doubt that you’ll have some race day jitters,
especially if it’s your first time. You’ll want to arrive early for your race, and if you’re staying
off property, we suggest REALLY early to avoid the traffic (We’ve arrived as early as 3:30
AM to get a decent parking spot and a little nap in the car).
Once you’re ready to enter the race staging area, you must enter through security, so be
prepared for the lines and take that into consideration when planning your entrance time.
Disney provides race day entertainment from a live DJ, which helps alleviate some of those
jitters and gets you warmed up for what lies ahead. There’s also several vendors set up for
early morning coffee or pre-race snacking. In addition, you can get your pictures taken in
front of the official runDisney backdrops, and people-watch as you’ll see tons of costumes!