The first weekend of November brings the last runDisney race weekend of 2018- Wine and Dine. runDisney race weekends, with the exception of Marathon Weekend, all utilize the same format with the 5k on Friday morning, the 10k Saturday morning, and the half marathon on Sunday morning. A runner who registers for and completes both the 10k and the half marathon can earn an additional challenge medal, which this weekend was referred to as the Two Course Challenge.
The Fall Feast 5k
The Fall Feast 5k begins and ends in the Animal Kingdom parking lot. With approximately half of the course is inside the Animal Kingdom park, there is also quite a bit of distance included in Pandora- The World of Avatar. This is a very family friendly event where you’ll see lots of families running their first 5k together. And due to the short distance, there are often very intricate individual and group costumes.
Two Course Challenge
Both mornings of the Two Course Challenge started in the Magic Kingdom Parking lot. There, runners had the opportunity to get pumped up for their runs with a pre-race DJ and take pictures with characters. As always, Disney went all out and had their Fab Five decked out in Chef’s attire.
Each corral of the race was sent off the fanfare of fireworks. One of the highlights of a runDisney race is the on course entertainment. This includes DJs on course, video screens, and most importantly character stops!
During both races, Disney put out great characters. A highlight of both days were some of the rare photo ops featured on course including Oswald, The Adventures Club, Jimmy Cricket, Pinocchio, and Mushu.
Another highlight of a runDisney race is running through Disney, which includes the Disney World Parks. For the 10k, runners journeyed through EPCOT, whereas the half marathon runners were able to make their way through three parks- Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT. Both days had almost ideal running conditions, which included low humidity and cooler temperatures, even if the morning of the half marathon had a slight rain at time.
There’s nothing quite like running through the Disney parks- no other race location has quite the same atmosphere or iconic locations. Even the finish line of a runDisney race is special. There will be Photopass photographers, and announcers calling out the names of finishers. If you’re lucky, you might experience a little pixie dust and hear your name announced as you approach the finish line.
Post-Race Party
One item that is unique to the Wine and Dine weekend is the party that occurs the evening after the half marathon. Every half marathon runner received a party ticket with their race entry fee which included entrance to EPCOT Sunday evening after the race. Party goers had the opportunity to ride select attractions, purchase offerings from the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, and enjoy party specific entertainment that included special character meet and greet opportunities.
Overall, if you enjoy food and want the experience of a runDisney race, Wine and Dine weekend might be the one for you.
Have you participated in the Wine and Dine race weekend? Let us know what you enjoyed most in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.!
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Want to run the Wine and Dine race? Contact The Magic for Less Travel for more information and a free, no-obligation quote.
