Reviews of runDisney Events

Reviews

16

Rating

6.06 / 10

Recommended By

50%



Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 11/14/2023

Rating: (1)
Not Recommended

DO NOT PARTICIPATE. I've ran more events than I can count - this was the worst ever. If you have one small problem you cannot talk to anyone at Disney (they cannot help you) about runDisney. You can only go through the form on the website and wait one week for a reply. Do not call in as they cannot transfer you - go directly to filling out the form.

The expo was a disaster. I tried getting more information about the race and got bumped around three different buildings while waiting in a line to then be told to go to another building for help (which meant another line to wait in). The Disney World app kept crashing and we couldn't eat dinner after figuring out the runDisney mess. We got back to our hotel room at midnight - which the event starts at 3am. We decided it wasn't worth it.

Pros:

Email form on the website works

Cons:

Everything else
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Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 04/05/2023

Rating: (5)
Not Recommended

Virtual races. Make sure you get the right size shirt & don’t accidentally make a mistake. They won’t exchange it or even let you buy another one.

Pros:

Fun

Cons:

Virtual-Make sure you get the right size shirt & don’t accidentally make a mistake. They won’t exchange it or even let you buy another one.
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Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 11/23/2022

Rating: (2)
Not Recommended

2022 Disney Run was my first and last. I ran the 5k fun run on Friday and the 10k on Sat. The 3am wake-up was tough, but I knew that going in. Lots and lots of participants and, although I’m a veteran runner, I lined up at 5am w my daughter in the back to mostly walk. Crossing the START line at 6 am was … not what I’d expected.

So anyway, the courses fairly sucked, imo. I guess that ~ 20% was “in the parks” and the rest was parking lot, no-scenic periphery roads, service alleys behind buildings, and some highways. Better run courses here in S MS.

The Sunday nite afterparty… well, I didn’t go… 10 pm to 1 am. The race person described it “The park stays open for you and some rides are operating, some characters are there, and some souvenir stores and food places are open to buy food.”
The race flyer info mentioned a dance w a dj playing music.” Maybe someone can tell me it was better than it sounded?
The opportunity to spend more money?

Not feeling the love here at all.
EW, Gulfport, MS

Pros:

Ok LS Tshirts

Cons:

“Wine and Dine” logo on 5k shirt. Haven’t figured that one out.
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Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 11/04/2022

Rating: (2)
Not Recommended

My boyfriend and I were excited to race for the first time this year! Unfortunately, we had issues getting his waiver signed but finally got it straightened out. Then, he had a mandatory, unexpected work obligation come up that took him out of the state on the only day we could go to the Expo to pick-up the bib and shirt. We were told that if he couldn't be there in person that he couldn't race nor could we get our money back or at least try to race in a different event in the future. It was very disappointing to say the least as there was no empathy or understanding. I didn't want to race by myself, so I went to go pick up my shirt so I could try to redeem the experience for myself. Never receiving any communication or instructions on what to do (since it's my first time), I went to get my shirt but they said I couldn't pick it up until I picked up my bib, so I had to go to a completely different part of the Wide World of Sports to get my bib then return to get my shirt. If there had been better and more communication, especially for first time runners, and also something that could have been done to help with my boyfriend's last minute trip (i.e. let me FaceTime him so I could pick up his items or have a copy of his ID with me), that would have gone a long way. Now we've paid for an event we didn't get to enjoy with a negative impression on RunDisney. I completely understand the terms we agreed upon when signing up and paying for the race, but things do happen. Work, sickness, death, and other unexpected events do arise, and I'd like to think there could be instances were special considerations and/or arrangements can be made. I hope everyone enjoyed the event and that there can be improvements made in the future to improve the experience!

Pros:

Disney themes

Cons:

Lack of communication, no understanding/empathy
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Reviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 01/09/2022

Rating: (7)
Not Recommended

Ran the WDW 2022 full marathon this weekend. I am glad this was my 2nd Marathon because it would of been a difficult first full marathon . Half of the time the path was way too small. If everyone was running maybe this would of been better but too many people were walking or they would run and just jump out in front of you to go get photos. This is the first race ever I have been pushed by a runner. I have ran many races and I’m used to walkers or slow runners staying to the right but instead they are just everywhere and take up the small paths. Also I get people have to spit and I’m used to that but this is the first time I actually been spit on directly. Instead of spiting to the side, this runner spit into the crowd and I legit saw it fly in the air I tried to avoid it but I landed on top of my shoe. Not only is that gross it is not very Covid friendly. I recommend for the experience! But I’m not sure I’ll ever run a long distance race at Disney again. Wanted to do the dopey next year but maybe I’ll stick to virtual…

Pros:

Medals and the fact that you run through Disney world!

Cons:

Too crowded, to many walkers, a lot of people have very poor race etiquette!
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Reviewed by EricV Review Date: 11/10/2021

Rating: (2)
Not Recommended

We just returned from the Wine and Dine 10k and half marathon. Having fun the half a few years ago, my wife and I were really looking forward to running these events. Some of the issues we had had to do with weather - which was out of anybody's control - but the fact that we were HARASSED throughout the entire race by RunDisney workers and "balloon ladies" who were screaming at us to keep pace. These races are advertised as "fun runs" and walkers are encouraged to participate. I don't know many people who walk at a 16 minute mile pace. My wife also got injured during the 10k so she didn't get to do the half. When we asked for her medals, they refused. I did send an email to the event planners and within 10 minutes I received an email basically telling me "We are sorry you're disappointed, but you're not getting the medals". Learning experience for sure.

Pros:

Medals and shirts were very nice - as advertised.

Cons:

Pretty much everyone connected to the event. Lack of interest on RunDisney's part to resolve the situation.
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Reviewed by candycakes Review Date: 03/14/2013

Rating: (2)
Not Recommended

I love the idea of the princess half marathon. I started running a year ago, turned 40 this year, & wanted to celebrate with this race. From the beginning, it was an enormous headache. Rundisney advertises discounted packages. However, when I tried to book thought them, it was $1000 then booking on line myself. They didn't seem to care. They told me to book on my own then. We go to WDW at least once a year, so I knew what I was doing.
Once we got to WDW, all was good. Then the expo. Poorly operated, over crowded, no on directing you which giant line to wait in.
The parks were also overly crowded. We didn't get to a lot of rides, & only rode some once. Very disappointed.
The race itself was frustrating. I had trained hard for 6 months. I can run 10 min miles for the whole distance. However, there was no room to run. Too many people walk/run, and have poor race etiquette. Walking should not be allowed, period. I only ran 12 minute miles. Every photo op people literally jumped in front of me. Ever pic is ruined by some moron in a costume.
I would like to try again, but only in coral a or b. and next time I wouldn't be as nice if people jumped in front of me at photo ops;)

Pros:

Finishing a half marathon!

Cons:

TOO CROWDED!!
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Reviewed by tjm6515 Review Date: 03/02/2013

Rating: (5)
Not Recommended

This review is for the Princess Half Marathon weekend....

First event was the Runners Expo, usually the Expos are held in two large facilities at the WWoS. This event was held at the Coronado Springs convention hall which was waaaaay to small!! The lines to pick up your race info, shirts, and merchandise were very chaotic, not near as smooth as the Wine in Dine expo last November. As comparison the PHM expo took us nearly 4 hours from the time we got there until we left, the W&D last year only took us an hour!

Saturday Morning I did the Royal Family 5K. Thanks to proof of time, early registration, and prior runDisney runner I got in Corral A. I found myself at the very front of the corral almost right under the starting line. I had a good run, course was empty, Epcot was great to run through, this was a great race.

Sunday Morning my wife ran the Princess Half, it was way oversold for the course size. Imagine 26,000 people on only a one lane wide course... My wife usually runs a 14:00/min a mile pace. Thanks to the mobs of walker, she manged only a 16:10 per pace, glad she was in an early corral or she may have been swept! She imagined running through the castle, but sadly it was not a run through the castle, but a large mob barley walking!

We will never participate in a PHM weekend again unless they limit the number of runners or make the course wider! There are too many walkers as well and rookies/walkers with no race etiquette!

Pros:

Finisher Medals, Race Transportation

Cons:

Oversold, course to narrow, too many walkers
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Reviewed by csfranklin Review Date: 04/24/2019

Rating: (8)
Recommended

We LOVED trying our first races last fall (Nov 2018). My teens and I did the 5k through Animal Kingdom, my son and hubby did the 10k through Epcot, and my hubby also did the half. We loved the courses, the character picture stops, and the post-race snack boxes! The bib pick up was a little confusing, but we eventually figured out where to go. We stayed at POFQ, and would definitely recommend staying there because it is small and you can all fit on a bus to head over to the race easily. The 3 am wake up for the race is the absolute worst part if you did a park the day before and want to do one the day of the race, too. A nap and a big meal is a must on race day!

Pros:

Fun courses Rare character pics

Cons:

3 am wake up
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Reviewed by Stitch1623 Review Date: 04/17/2019

Rating: (9)
Recommended

We have done to date every rundisney race except the princess weekend, even ones they no longer do. Disney knows how to do a race and make it fun. I am a runner but not everyone in my group is and even for those that are not, they make you feel like you are. They make even the kids feel like they have accomplished something amazing and that is what it is all about. Yes it is crowded, so you cannot go in expected a PR, but you will have fun and make memories and help a great cause in the process.

Pros:

You’re running in Disney! And you celebrate in Disney.

Cons:

Crowds
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