WDW Daily News

The fifth anniversary collection of the Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend finisher medals were revealed today. The collection includes medals for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K and the runDisney Kids Races. Each half marathon runner that completes the 13.1 mile race will receive a specially designed commemorative medal that has an actual spinning element. Almost 20,000 runners are registered for the race weekend that includes a sold out nighttime half marathon race that starts at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and winds through three Disney theme parks, ending with an exclusive Finish Line Party at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. The race is Nov. 7-8, 2014 at Walt Disney World Resort with the half marathon starting at 10 p.m. ET on Nov. 8, 2014. ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is located at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

A touch of eternal winter is coming to the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend presented by Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals at Walt Disney World Resort next year. Two of the popular family-focused events during the race weekend, the Disney Princess 5K and runDisney Kids Races, will have a new Frozen theme with new medals depicting a Frozen motif from the hugely successful Disney animated film. Registration for the race weekend opens July 15.

In addition to the Disney Princess 5K and the runDisney Kids Races, the Feb. 19-22 race weekend will feature the Disney Princess Enchanted 10K and Disney Glass Slipper Challenge, which involves running the 10K and the half marathon on consecutive days (19.3 miles). Runners who complete the Challenge will earn the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge Medal to go along with medals from each individual race.

The Princess Half Marathon Weekend is one of two women-focused runDisney events. The other is the Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend in May at Disneyland Resort in California. Both races focus on healthy active lifestyles for women and girls and are among the largest women-specific running events in the country. For instance, after nearly 7,500 runners ran in the inaugural Princess Half Marathon event in 2009, the popularity of the race has grown considerably with more than 26,000 registered runners for last year’s race.

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Beware of the Disney villains as you set out on your thrilling The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ 10-Miler nighttime run along streets haunted by Disney’s most frightening villains and characters! But don’t be afraid! There are plenty of “not so scary” thrills for daytime runners in the Disney Happy Haunted 5K Trail Run. And that’s just the start of the weekend excitement. runDisney Kids races, a nighttime Disney Villain Hollywood Bash, plenty of on course Disney entertainment, and exclusive access to select rides in Disney’s Hollywood Studios make it a towering weekend of fun!

Check out the medals for the event:

Runners taking part in the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend can add the ultimate finish to their experience – the new Disney Castaway Cay Challenge, a joint venture by runDisney and Disney Cruise Line.

After competing in the 5K, 10K, half marathon and/or full marathon during the Disney Marathon Weekend (January 7-11), runners can compete Jan. 14 in the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge, a special 5K race on Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private Bahamas island. Every runner who finishes this newrunDisney Challenge event will earn two medals – an inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge medal and a Castaway Cay 5K medallion, plus any medals earned for running any Disney Marathon Weekend events (5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon).

The Castaway Cay Challenge takes place during the 4-night Disney Dream cruise itinerary that sets sail Jan. 12, 2015 from Port Canaveral, Florida and includes a stop in Nassau in addition to Castaway Cay. The cruise will feature exclusive activities designed for Castaway Cay Challenge participants, plus special menu items and merchandise.

To sign up for the Castaway Cay Challenge, runners must book the Jan. 12, 2015 Disney Dream cruise at www.disneycruise.com and then register for the Castaway Cay Challenge at www.runDisney.com. Race registration opens May 23.

Congratulations to all the runners who participated in the Expedition Everest Challenge on Saturday night. Despite the rain more than 5,000 of you braved the elements and conquered your fears in search of the Yeti. Although several runners dressed up and did their best Yeti impressions, there were no confirmed sightings of the “real” Yeti, and all runners have been accounted for.

Schedule of Events

Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo

Jan. 7 – 10

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

runDisney Kids Races and Mickey Mile

Jan. 8, 9 & 10

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Pasta in the Park Parties

Jan. 8, 9, 10 & 11

Epcot

runDisney Family Reunion Breakfast

Jan. 8 & 9

Epcot

Disney’s Family Fun Run 5K

Jan. 8, 6:15 am

Epcot

Walt Disney World 10K

Jan. 9, 5:30 am

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Walt Disney World Half Marathon

Jan. 10, 5:30 am

Epcot

Walt Disney World Marathon

Jan. 11, 5:30 am

Epcot

Cool Down Party

Jan. 11

Downtown Disney

Who couldn’t use some more bling? All new medals await runners who complete races in the 2015 Walt Disney Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna, January 7-11. Registration starts today at runDisney.com.

Among the slew of new Disney Marathon Weekend medals will be a commemorative 10th anniversary Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge medal. The 39.3-mile challenge involves completing Saturday’s half marathon and Sunday’s full marathon.

The Walt Disney World 10K will feature a new Minnie Mouse-inspired medal. Disney Half Marathon runners will earn an all new Donald Duck themed medal. And a Mickey Mouse-inspired medal goes to finishers of the 26.2-mile Walt Disney World Marathon.

Also, the popular Dopey Challenge is back for a second year for athletes completing all four timed events in successive days (the Family Fun Run 5K, the Walt Disney World 10K, the Disney Half Marathon and the Disney Marathon) for the chance to earn six medals for completing all 48.6 miles.

In addition to the four races, the Disney Marathon Weekend will feature Disney’s Health and Fitness Expo, where runners pick up race packets, shop for the latest running apparel and technology, and meet industry experts such as runDisney official training consultant Jeff Galloway and runDisney nutritionist Tara Gidus. The expo is free and open to the public at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which is also the site of the runDisney Kids Races and the Mickey Mile for the littler ones to experience.

There are also additional features for the entire family to enjoy, including breakfasts with Disney characters, Pasta in the Park parties at Epcot to “carb up” for the next morning’s races and celebrate Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge’s 10th anniversary, ChEAR Squad amenities to help fans cheer on the runners, a Race Retreat for a VIP running experience and a Cool Down Party at Downtown Disney to celebrate each runner’s victories.

Transitions Optical, Inc., signed an agreement with Walt Disney World Resort to be a sponsor of signature events at Epcot, the runDisney series and Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney.

The event sponsorship agreement will encourage wearers of prescription eyeglass lenses to enhance their visual experiences and enjoy all of the sights in their lives – both at these signature events and beyond – with Transitions^® adaptive lenses™.

Throughout the year, Transitions Optical will be a sponsor at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival as well as the Disney Sports runDisney series, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the Walt Disney World Festival of the Masters in Downtown Disney^®, and the Atlanta Braves Spring Training and the Summer Festival, both held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

While at these signature events, Disney guests will have the opportunity to learn more about the Transitions family of products, particularly the recently introduced Transitions^® Signature™ lenses, which are the most responsive everyday adaptive lenses, darkening even more outdoors and providing maximum clarity indoors and at night. Wearers of clear eyeglass lenses will visit designated areas to receive lens trial decals for the chance to try Transitions lenses in their own prescription, to experience enhanced vision firsthand.

“Through this relationship and the tremendous base of consumers it serves, we look forward to the opportunity to educate people of all ages about what enhanced vision truly means and encourage them to try Transitions lenses for themselves at signature Disney events such as the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival,” said Sherianne James, director, North America marketing, Transitions Optical.

“We are excited to have Transitions Optical as a new sponsor at some of our signature events across Walt Disney World Resort,” said Michael Cohen, vice president of alliance management for Walt Disney World Resort. “Transitions will showcase its product and allow guests at some of our most popular events to try the Transitions Signature lenses in their own prescription.”

To amplify its campaign touting Transitions lenses as the “Official Sponsor of Sightseeing™” – a program based on the top-rated interests and passions of Transitions lenses wearers and prospective buyers, including cuisine, music, sports and travel – Transitions Optical will bring brand ambassadors Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., GRAMMY^® and CMA Award winning country artist Darius Rucker, and celebrity chef and Food Network star Robert Irvine to several of these signature events to interact with consumers and share their own stories about how wearing Transitions lenses has impacted their lives. As part of its on-site activation at each of these Walt Disney World events, Transitions Optical will also offer giveaways and the chance to win exciting prizes, including signed memorabilia from each ambassador.

To learn more about Transitions lenses and the Official Sponsor of Sightseeing program, visit www.transitions.com.