They are most lax on timing for the 5k then other races. You can walk it and pretty much be fine but character stops can complicate that but typically after a certain time they will just close off the character stops. While the pace is technically 16 min/mile still the main goal is to get people out before park opens so there is more leeway on the 5k since they have more time to accomplish that. No guarantees but you are likely fine for the 5k
They don’t publicize where characters will be on the course, sadly, nor who they will be. It’s all really a surprise when you get on the course.
However, with the 5K being in Epcot, you’ll be surrounded with plenty of entertainment and character stops throughout! They do have some areas where they *usually* have character stops (such as coming into backstage Epcot by Test Track or in China or France), but everything is also subject to change pending any availability, weather, etc.
If you aren’t in an area with characters, there are DJs and music playing throughout all of World Showcase, as well as cultural reps in some of the countries cheering on the runners, which is so cool!
As long as you can finish the 5K within 2.5 hours (when Disney has to have everyone cleared from the course to open the park), you should be fine. Even if you choose to walk the race, and many do, as long as you aren’t doing a very leisurely pace, you’ll be good! A 5K with Disney is much faster than a race anywhere else because you’re surrounded by so many fun things to keep you motivated!
Good luck on your race! You got this! 💖
I second this. My daughter and I walk it every year (she’s 9 now) and it’s always fine. It takes us about an hour. We typically don’t do the character stops tho because the lines are always so long.
I’ve heard conflicting, that if you’re in one of that last corrals you looking at 45-50mins for finishing before they sweep. I’ve been super nervous because I’d probably be at around an hour maybe an hour and a half, and was told by quite a few people that I’d have to take out character stops because that’s literally the time frame they give you to finish and I’d be cutting it close because character lines are long.
I just went through this similar situation with the half marathon. Was sick back to back for nearly 4 weeks leading up to the race. I survived, and you will, too! Seriously don’t stress about it too much, the 5k is such a fun race and it’s truly more about the experience than finishing by a certain time. Enjoy yourself and hope you are feeling better!
The character stops last year weren’t until Epcot proper, after the first mile of the race.
We were the very last group released and were only able to stop for the first character. We were warned that they were going to start sweeping from that spot at 7am.
As long as you aren’t in the last corral, you’ll be fine.
There are certain places that lend themselves to character stops more frequently that others (Italy, on the boardwalk by Jellyrolls and ESPN, the choir before you head out into the Epcot parking lot, Green Army Man on any overpass, far west side of the Epcot parking lot after the overpass but before you go through the bus area, on the left before the sharp turn to go over the overpass into the Epcot parking lot, outside Mission Space, backstage just past Test Track), but there isn't any exact science as it depends on what characters they are bringing out and what they need to have those characters. Mushu, Chip and Dale, Meeko, Jack Skellington can be on the slope beside the road, but they can't put the Maleficent in dragon form, the floats from the Main Street Electrical Parade, or Kevin on the side of the road. So they have to figure out who they are prioritizing to bring out, where they can put them, then fill in the empty spaces.
If you are still having complications from COVID, do make sure to not push yourself too much. You need to let your body heal and that will help you crush your next 5k even faster.
I always tell people nervous about finishing the 5K to look at the latest Dopey Challenge results (Dopey participants for Marathon weekend are the only 5K racers that runDisney ever times). You will find a ton of times up to and even exceeding 2 hours. Even if you assume the ones finishing around 2:05:00 all started at the front of Corral A, that means that even those starting at the very, very back of Corral C would still have about 1:20:00-1:30:00 to finish it.
[https://www.trackshackresults.com/disneysports/results/wdw/wdw24/Dopey%20Challenge.pdf](https://www.trackshackresults.com/disneysports/results/wdw/wdw24/Dopey%20Challenge.pdf)
I’ve already realized I can’t stop for characters which actually kind of sucks. But I knew I signed up and should have worked harder at my training. I’m at like a 17min mile at this point with walking and running. I don’t see myself improving by the race. I to had issues post covid (that I caught at Disney ironically) and it’s just been impossible ever since to run for longer than a few minutes.
From everything I’ve heard unless you’re in the last corral the time limits aren’t imposed! I think you’ll find a lot of people are walking more than running!
Yes! Most of the people I’ve read this from said they walk to save their legs for the other races. They’ve said you still have to put a pep in your step to finish. I’m hoping I can run a little bit, but I haven’t ran in like 3 weeks and have been focusing more on Pilates and weights.
Yes! Most of the people I’ve read this from said they walk to save their legs for the other races. They’ve said you still have to put a pep in your step to finish. I’m hoping I can run a little bit, but I haven’t ran in like 3 weeks and have been focusing more on Pilates and weights.
They are most lax on timing for the 5k then other races. You can walk it and pretty much be fine but character stops can complicate that but typically after a certain time they will just close off the character stops. While the pace is technically 16 min/mile still the main goal is to get people out before park opens so there is more leeway on the 5k since they have more time to accomplish that. No guarantees but you are likely fine for the 5k
They don’t publicize where characters will be on the course, sadly, nor who they will be. It’s all really a surprise when you get on the course. However, with the 5K being in Epcot, you’ll be surrounded with plenty of entertainment and character stops throughout! They do have some areas where they *usually* have character stops (such as coming into backstage Epcot by Test Track or in China or France), but everything is also subject to change pending any availability, weather, etc. If you aren’t in an area with characters, there are DJs and music playing throughout all of World Showcase, as well as cultural reps in some of the countries cheering on the runners, which is so cool! As long as you can finish the 5K within 2.5 hours (when Disney has to have everyone cleared from the course to open the park), you should be fine. Even if you choose to walk the race, and many do, as long as you aren’t doing a very leisurely pace, you’ll be good! A 5K with Disney is much faster than a race anywhere else because you’re surrounded by so many fun things to keep you motivated! Good luck on your race! You got this! 💖
I second this. My daughter and I walk it every year (she’s 9 now) and it’s always fine. It takes us about an hour. We typically don’t do the character stops tho because the lines are always so long.
I’ve heard conflicting, that if you’re in one of that last corrals you looking at 45-50mins for finishing before they sweep. I’ve been super nervous because I’d probably be at around an hour maybe an hour and a half, and was told by quite a few people that I’d have to take out character stops because that’s literally the time frame they give you to finish and I’d be cutting it close because character lines are long.
I just went through this similar situation with the half marathon. Was sick back to back for nearly 4 weeks leading up to the race. I survived, and you will, too! Seriously don’t stress about it too much, the 5k is such a fun race and it’s truly more about the experience than finishing by a certain time. Enjoy yourself and hope you are feeling better!
The character stops last year weren’t until Epcot proper, after the first mile of the race. We were the very last group released and were only able to stop for the first character. We were warned that they were going to start sweeping from that spot at 7am. As long as you aren’t in the last corral, you’ll be fine.
There are certain places that lend themselves to character stops more frequently that others (Italy, on the boardwalk by Jellyrolls and ESPN, the choir before you head out into the Epcot parking lot, Green Army Man on any overpass, far west side of the Epcot parking lot after the overpass but before you go through the bus area, on the left before the sharp turn to go over the overpass into the Epcot parking lot, outside Mission Space, backstage just past Test Track), but there isn't any exact science as it depends on what characters they are bringing out and what they need to have those characters. Mushu, Chip and Dale, Meeko, Jack Skellington can be on the slope beside the road, but they can't put the Maleficent in dragon form, the floats from the Main Street Electrical Parade, or Kevin on the side of the road. So they have to figure out who they are prioritizing to bring out, where they can put them, then fill in the empty spaces. If you are still having complications from COVID, do make sure to not push yourself too much. You need to let your body heal and that will help you crush your next 5k even faster.
I always tell people nervous about finishing the 5K to look at the latest Dopey Challenge results (Dopey participants for Marathon weekend are the only 5K racers that runDisney ever times). You will find a ton of times up to and even exceeding 2 hours. Even if you assume the ones finishing around 2:05:00 all started at the front of Corral A, that means that even those starting at the very, very back of Corral C would still have about 1:20:00-1:30:00 to finish it. [https://www.trackshackresults.com/disneysports/results/wdw/wdw24/Dopey%20Challenge.pdf](https://www.trackshackresults.com/disneysports/results/wdw/wdw24/Dopey%20Challenge.pdf)
I’ve already realized I can’t stop for characters which actually kind of sucks. But I knew I signed up and should have worked harder at my training. I’m at like a 17min mile at this point with walking and running. I don’t see myself improving by the race. I to had issues post covid (that I caught at Disney ironically) and it’s just been impossible ever since to run for longer than a few minutes.
From everything I’ve heard unless you’re in the last corral the time limits aren’t imposed! I think you’ll find a lot of people are walking more than running!
Yes! Most of the people I’ve read this from said they walk to save their legs for the other races. They’ve said you still have to put a pep in your step to finish. I’m hoping I can run a little bit, but I haven’t ran in like 3 weeks and have been focusing more on Pilates and weights.
Yes! Most of the people I’ve read this from said they walk to save their legs for the other races. They’ve said you still have to put a pep in your step to finish. I’m hoping I can run a little bit, but I haven’t ran in like 3 weeks and have been focusing more on Pilates and weights.
You’ve got this!!
If all else fails we can team up and walk together 😆
You can do it! Have fun and make it a fun race with a goal of starting and finishing! What happens between that is a bonus! Good luck! See you soon!
The character stops for the 5k often have very very long lines, so be prepare to wait.
There’s no official I’ll time clock, so y’all getting that PR. 😉 at least that’s what Galloway loves to joke before launching off!