If you’ve ever visited Walt Disney World, you know it takes some time before you can navigate it easily. There are so many nuances and details to know, and when you arrive, it’s easy to be swept up in the meet-and-greets and parades before realizing you don’t have dinner reservations, are sunburnt to a crisp, and sat down for more than 10 minutes all day.
The 2016-2017 runDisney race season gets up and running in September with a string of nine race weekends and events geared for runners of all ages and levels. In the U.S., each race weekend offers runDisney Kids’ Races, 5K, 10K, half marathon and a massive health & fitness expo, while Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend also features the full 26.2-mile marathon.
The runDisney series kicks off Labor Day weekend with the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna and concludes with the Tinker Bell Half Marathon presented by PANDORA jewelry in May. In all, more than 200,000 runners from around the world are expected to participate in runDisney events at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort and, for the first time this season, Disneyland Paris.
Here’s a breakdown of all runDisney race weekends coming up this season:
Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Sept. 1-4): More than 32,200 runners are expected to participate in the various events during this 11th annual event. Many runners will participate in more than one event, including more the than 6,000 runners doubling their running fun during the 10K and the half marathon in the Dumbo Double Dare challenge.
Disneyland Paris – Val D’Europe Half Marathon Weekend (Sept. 23-25,): The much-anticipated debut of the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon Weekend comes this fall. Kick-off parties, uniquely designed medals and a course that takes runners through the Disneyland Paris Resort area and the Parisian countryside sets this inaugural international event apart from other runDisney races. This race weekend features the Disneyland Paris 5K and Disneyland Paris Half Marathon, as well as the Castle to Chateau Challenge for runners who complete the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon and a runDisney race in the U.S.
Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend presented by MISFIT (Nov. 3-5): This culinary-themed race coincides with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. For the first time, what used to be a nighttime race will now take place in the early morning hours. Participants will run through multiple theme parks and finish at Epcot, site of an exclusive after-hours post-race party. New this year are the Disney Wine & Dine 10K and Lumiere’s Two Course Challenge, for runners who do both the 10K and the half marathon.
Super Heroes Half Marathon Weekend (Nov. 10-13): This 3rd annual race weekend includes a 5K that pays tribute to the 75th anniversary of Captain America, while the 10K gets its theme from the upcoming film, “Doctor Strange”, the latest installment in the Marvel film franchise. The Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon caps the weekend’s events. Runners can put their super powers to the test by participating in the Infinity Gauntlet Challenge – running the 10K and the half marathon. There’s also a pasta party during the weekend’s events, where guests can indulge in a buffet dinner and interact with their favorite Marvel super heroes.
Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna (Jan. 4-8, 2017): This is runDisney’s signature event, which began in 1994 and features a marathon that takes runners along a magical 26.2-mile journey through Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Known as one of the top family-destination races, this race weekend attracts more than 55,000 runners and their guests. Participants who didn’t get enough action during the race weekend can run from the parks to paradise by participating in the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge. The Monday after the marathon takes place, guests can sail on the Disney Dream and run a 5K on Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.
Star Wars Half Marathon Weekend – The Light Side (Jan. 12-15, 2017): One of two Star Wars-themed races in the runDisney series, this race weekend at Disneyland Resort is one of the most popular runDisney events of the season. Runners can meet and pose for pictures with their favorite Star Wars heroes as well a variety of races including the Rebel Challenge – tackling the 10K and the half marathon.
Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (Feb. 23-26, 2017): With more than 26,000 runners participating throughout the weekend, this is 8th annual event one of the largest women-specific endurance events in the country. The fiercest princesses of them all can sign up for the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, which involves running the 10K and the half marathon.
Star Wars Half Marathon – The Dark Side (April 20-23, 2017): This race weekend is the newest at Walt Disney World, taking place for the first time last April. Before the race, runners have the opportunity to interact with their favorite Star Wars characters from the dark side of the force. The toughest runners can participate in the Dark Side Challenge by doing the 10K and half marathon on back-to-back days.
Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend presented by PANDORA jewelry (May 11-14, 2017): This 6th annual race coincides with Mother’s Day weekend and is Disneyland Resort’s women-specific endurance event. Runners can earn their “wings” across the weekend’s events, and those with a little more faith and trust can do the Pixie Dust Challenge – “flying” through the 10K and half marathon.
Some of the most special features of a runDisney event are the highly coveted medals for each race. In addition to the event-specific medals, runners also have the opportunity to earn a special Coast to Coast Challenge medal, given to those who complete a half marathon at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World resort in the same calendar year. Runners who specifically do the Disney Princess Half Marathon and Tinker Bell Half Marathon will receive a special pink edition of the Coast to Coast Challenge medal. And if the force is with them, runners who participate in both Star Wars-themed half marathons will earn the Kessel Run Challenge medal.
For more information on runDisney events, visit runDisney.com.
A team of Star Wars superfans today revealed the new toy line for the highly anticipated “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” movie via a series of fan-made animated shorts launching on the Star Wars YouTube channel. As part of a competition in collaboration with creative network Tongal, a team was assembled to write, direct and produce original, fan-made stop-motion shorts starring key toys from the new line to kick off a global UGC contest that asks fans to share their own “Rogue Stories.”
“These fan-created shorts are a tribute to the incredible content that the Star Wars community posts online every day,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “The Go Rogue campaign was designed with Star Wars fans in mind – we want them to be front and center in the run up to ‘Rogue One’ by imagining and creating their own Rogue Stories.”
Here’s a quick look at some recent food and beverage updates at Walt Disney World® Resort:
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Minnie Mouse invites Guests to meet all of her friends at delightful dinner parties throughout the year to celebrate each season. And, from Sept. 12-Nov. 6, 2016 you can enjoy a frightfully fun character experience during Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine. The cost is $46.99 per adult and $27.99 per child, plus tax and gratuity. Some dining plans are accepted. Book today online at DisneyWorld.com/dine or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
Beginning this year, you are invited to gather for chills and thrills when the all-new “Frightfully Fun Parade” takes to the streets at Disneyland® Park, featuring a spectacle of spooky spirits from the deepest bayous of New Orleans to Halloweentown and beyond.
From “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Jack Skellington the Pumpkin King brings greetings from Halloweentown, as residents arrive to celebrate their favorite time of year. Grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize when Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion attraction comes to “afterlife,” with swirling ballroom dancers, ominous gravediggers and a trio of hitchhiking ghosts. Inspired by Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” Dr. Facilier calls on mystical powers, summoning his Shadow Men from the bayou to loom large over his strange and twisted Voodoo parlor, and the mischievous Disney Villains appear out of the darkness, ready to stir up some trouble. A dark and dungeon-like lair takes over the parade route, bringing with it a wicked gathering of villainy from Hades and the Evil Queen to Jafar, Cruella and more!
The “Frightfully Fun Parade” will be presented exclusively during Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separately ticketed event at Disneyland Park hosted over 17 nights from Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 2016.
Parking is not included in the ticket price and parking fees will apply. Mickey’s Halloween Party is a nonsmoking event. Smoking will be permitted in designated areas outside Disneyland park in the Main Entrance Plaza.
Mickey’s Halloween Party tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Space is limited and event dates may sell out. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. Tickets are not required for Guests ages 2 and under. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive. Parking is not included. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Entertainment may be cancelled due to inclement weather or otherwise.
Both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts have been raising their annual pass prices aggressively over the past few years, especially so at Disneyland, where a no-blockout annual pass now costs more than $1,000 a year.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” has conquered both audiences and critics, debuting to $179.1 million—the fifth-biggest domestic opening of all time—and earning a 90% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. “Captain America: Civil War” is the highest-grossing film of 2016 domestically, internationally and globally, earning more than $1.14 billion at the worldwide box office. It also continues Marvel Studios’ winning streak as the 13th consecutive film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to debut at #1 at the domestic box office.
When Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” arrives early on Digital HD, Digital 3D and Disney Movies Anywhere on Sept. 2 and on Blu-ray™ 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand on Sept. 13, viewers can join the nonstop action and pick their side—Team Cap, commanded by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), or Team Iron Man, led by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.).
Rogers and Stark are joined by a star-studded lineup of beloved Marvel Super Heroes, including Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Bucky Barnes aka Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Sam Wilson aka Falcon (Anthony Mackie) Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes aka War Machine (Don Cheadle), Clint Barton aka Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Vision (Paul Bettany) and Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), along with new recruit Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and joined by two new additions to the MCU: T’Challa aka Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Peter Parker aka Spider-Man (Tom Holland).
More than 60-minutes of thrilling, exclusive bonus material includes: an inside look at the evolution of lead characters Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, a behind-the-scenes exclusive on the making of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” never-before-seen deleted scenes and hilarious outtakes. Plus, home audiences can learn more about the latest additions to the MCU and get an exclusive, first look at Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, coming to theaters Nov. 4, 2016.
Not-so-spooky ghosts and goblins return this fall – while dastardly villains unleash some mischief — during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, delighting fun-seekers of all ages inside Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort.
On 29 select nights from September 2 through Halloween night October 31, Magic Kingdom Park will host this spooktacular after-hours party from 7 p.m. – midnight.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween party features Disney characters donning their favorite Halloween costumes, while partygoers navigate treat trails and candy galore throughout Magic Kingdom themed out for happy haunts. Partygoers can dress up in Halloween costumes and explore their favorite Magic Kingdom attractions.
Eerie entertainment features the twice-nightly “Mickey’s Boo-To-You Halloween Parade,” and “HalloWishes,” a green and orange fireworks spectacle complete with Disney villains, caps the evening festivities. And the Sanderson Sisters are back! Returning for a second year, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show brings together Disney Villains and the mischievous sisters to cast a spell over Magic Kingdom three times each party night.
Party dates for 2016 are: September 2, 8, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29 & 30 and October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 & 31. Guests may visit Disneyworld.com/Halloween for party dates and prices, or call 407-W-DISNEY.
Guests also can purchase tickets to a special dessert party taking place during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Happy HalloWishes Dessert Party. Here, guests can indulge in decadent desserts, a buffet of sweet treats and specialty non-alcoholic beverages and will receive preferred viewing for the 8:30 p.m. performance of Mickey’s “Boo-too-You” Halloween Parade, as well as preferred viewing for the Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular. For dates, prices and to make reservations for the dessert party, guests may call 407/939-5262.
Party guests can also make dining reservations at some of most enchanting table-service restaurants in the park, including Be Our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Crystal Palace. To reserve a table during Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, guests may call (407) WDW-DINE or visit DisneyWorld.com/Dining.
If you’ve ever been confounded to hear of adult couples traveling to Disney World together—without kids—you’re not alone. But there’s a good reason so many duos head to Florida’s most magical destination.
As we shared a few weeks ago, the Main Street Electrical Parade at Walt Disney World® Resort will soon be “glowing” away to inspire Guests at Disneyland® Resort in California for a limited-time encore engagement. But, before it makes its cross-country journey, you have until Oct. 9, 2016 to enjoy this sparkling spectacular at Magic Kingdom® Park.
We hope you can join in to celebrate the Main Street Electrical Parade featuring thousands of shimmering lights and some of your favorite Characters from cherished Disney stories!
