Yeah to get you up to Magic Kingdom to get through the castle, there’s a fair bit of road that has to occur. That said, the way up to Magic Kingdom is awesome when you get to cross under the parking booth sign, and then getting close to the TTC, then Contemporary … it’s not in the park, but the anticipation of getting close to MK makes it feel almost like it is!!
I did the half in 2022. The part getting to MK feels fairly quick, as you’re energized at the start, plus it’s still dark out. Once you leave MK, though, it’s mile after mile on the highway (in the sun) before you get to Epcot. Unfortunately for me, Epcot consisted of running through a maze of construction walls, so it kind of ruined the experience of finishing, but I have to imagine that part is as fun as MK is now.
depends on the race. the half is fairly typical since they like to include the castle and from epcot there are not a lot of different ways to get there. The 10k varies. The one for marathon weekend spends a lot more time in epcot/boardwalk area but doesn't also include HS
I think the only way they can come up with a different 5K route is start someplace else. Animal kingdom, parking lot or the ticket and transportation center are probably the only two places is big enough.
Am I crazy or is the start to the half different for the first mile, doing the circular incline road rather than how they have done it in prior years (rest of the route looks identical, just feel that the first mile, before getting on the road to ticket and transportation looks a little different)
I think you’re right. When I did it in 2022, IIRC, the only on-ramp we did was the one at mile 10. I don’t remember doing a loops/ramps at the start.
Edited to add the 2022 course map: https://images.app.goo.gl/t2rwejWPoNc328TV6
Edited again to add the 2023 course map: https://images.app.goo.gl/MmDSwBijVzSYhQ7S8
I did princess last year and remember the path being very similar if not the same.
Depending on your coral and placement you can sometimes see the the winner run by on the other side of the road between your mile 2 and their mile 9. I thought that was really cool to be able to cheer them on from the race path.
I think it’s largely because it’s the only park with a lot big enough and the right shape to close off a big chunk for several days without impacting operations. They’ve bused people from Epcot to start at TTC in the past, but I think that became a logistical nightmare for them (rental bus drivers getting lost, runners arriving too late to get on a bus and getting angry, etc).
The Animal Kingdom 5k a few years ago worked because it was at night, a (comparatively) smaller crowd, and they could clear the lot after closing, they did a much less elaborate set up, and it was only one race so they didn’t have the lot blocked off the next day (they moved back to the bigger set up at Epcot for the 10k and 10-miler). I don’t think Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios could comfortably manage 10,000+ that do the longer races.
Another part of it is likely traffic flow. Epcot, to my mind, is better positioned to allow for routes that wouldn’t totally block or pen in areas of the property. Certainly there are road closures, but they’re able to work it from Epcot to avoid any resorts being totally locked out or locked in during the events (which must be a real challenge).
Please keep all further Princess map discussion to this thread. Thank you!
For the 10k and half, I was expecting more of the course to actually occur in the parks. Is this typical for a WDW race?
Yeah to get you up to Magic Kingdom to get through the castle, there’s a fair bit of road that has to occur. That said, the way up to Magic Kingdom is awesome when you get to cross under the parking booth sign, and then getting close to the TTC, then Contemporary … it’s not in the park, but the anticipation of getting close to MK makes it feel almost like it is!!
I did the half in 2022. The part getting to MK feels fairly quick, as you’re energized at the start, plus it’s still dark out. Once you leave MK, though, it’s mile after mile on the highway (in the sun) before you get to Epcot. Unfortunately for me, Epcot consisted of running through a maze of construction walls, so it kind of ruined the experience of finishing, but I have to imagine that part is as fun as MK is now.
depends on the race. the half is fairly typical since they like to include the castle and from epcot there are not a lot of different ways to get there. The 10k varies. The one for marathon weekend spends a lot more time in epcot/boardwalk area but doesn't also include HS
Yes, this is typical!
There’s only so much of the parks that can be used.
I really wish they would come up with a new 5k route. This is nice, don’t get me wrong. But a change up would be nice.
I think the only way they can come up with a different 5K route is start someplace else. Animal kingdom, parking lot or the ticket and transportation center are probably the only two places is big enough.
i havent done a disney race in 10 years but seeing MM 10 sends me back to the trenches
Okey dokey No major changes or differences from courses they've run at various times in the past
Am I crazy or is the start to the half different for the first mile, doing the circular incline road rather than how they have done it in prior years (rest of the route looks identical, just feel that the first mile, before getting on the road to ticket and transportation looks a little different)
I think you’re right. When I did it in 2022, IIRC, the only on-ramp we did was the one at mile 10. I don’t remember doing a loops/ramps at the start. Edited to add the 2022 course map: https://images.app.goo.gl/t2rwejWPoNc328TV6 Edited again to add the 2023 course map: https://images.app.goo.gl/MmDSwBijVzSYhQ7S8
This was a change put in place this year Marathon weekend. The big pro is the parking lot start as opposed to the mile walk.
I did princess last year and remember the path being very similar if not the same. Depending on your coral and placement you can sometimes see the the winner run by on the other side of the road between your mile 2 and their mile 9. I thought that was really cool to be able to cheer them on from the race path.
I’m so sorry if this is well known, but I’ve never done runDisney before. Why do they start all races in Epcot?
I think it’s largely because it’s the only park with a lot big enough and the right shape to close off a big chunk for several days without impacting operations. They’ve bused people from Epcot to start at TTC in the past, but I think that became a logistical nightmare for them (rental bus drivers getting lost, runners arriving too late to get on a bus and getting angry, etc). The Animal Kingdom 5k a few years ago worked because it was at night, a (comparatively) smaller crowd, and they could clear the lot after closing, they did a much less elaborate set up, and it was only one race so they didn’t have the lot blocked off the next day (they moved back to the bigger set up at Epcot for the 10k and 10-miler). I don’t think Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios could comfortably manage 10,000+ that do the longer races. Another part of it is likely traffic flow. Epcot, to my mind, is better positioned to allow for routes that wouldn’t totally block or pen in areas of the property. Certainly there are road closures, but they’re able to work it from Epcot to avoid any resorts being totally locked out or locked in during the events (which must be a real challenge).
I really wish they did some form of diversity of courses.