An Epic Guide to runDisney Wine and Dine Weekend

lf you are planning to attend the runDisney Wine and Dine Half Weekend, here is everything you need to know to make sure you have a well planned and therefore fun weekend. I’m going to share everything I learned and everything I know I wish I’d known before race weekend.

Whew. Now that I’ve had a few days to recover and think about it, I’m writing this blog post because I got a lot of questions. This is my third runDisney Race, my second half marathon and my I can’t even count time at Disney.

So here is my advice. I’m going to divide this post up to help you with what you need to know about registration, training, what you need to bring with you, suggestions on where to stay, ,navigating the expo, how not to wear yourself out BEFORE the race and what to do after.

Ok, let’s gett into it.

Let’s Start with Registration

Step one for any runDisney race including your runDisney Wine and Dine race? Registration.

These races sell out FAST. We’re talking minutes for some of the more popular race distances.

Registration for runDisney Wine & Dine typically opens in February or March, for the late fall race weekend. You’ll want to bookmark that date and be prepared. Race registrations open at 10 am Eastern Time. My advice is to be online and in the virtual queue BEFORE that time. 15 minutes ahead.

If you’re a faster runner (under about a 10:15 mile pace) you will need to have proof of time ready to put into your registration. This will determine your starting corral assignment. You will need a recent race that shows your qualifying time.

You will need to be prepared to pay the full registration fee. There is no Klarna or affirm or holds. Registration fees typically range from around $120 for the 5K to $260 for the half marathon.

Now, Let’s Plan for the Actual Weekend

There are a few things that you need to do before the runDisney Wine and Dine Weekend and making sure that you have all of the details worked out early makes everything go so much better when race weekend arrives.

Book your Travel and Hotel ASAP

I recommend booking your hotel and flights ( or planning your drive) as soon as possible. Wine and Dine weekend is a busy time at Walt Disney World. You have the race participants PLUS the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is usually going on PLUS if it is in October like it was this year, you are dealing with the Halloween crowd. And if its in November, people coming for holiday celebrations.

Hotels book up, flight prices go up, and you don’t want to be scrambling last minute.

For hotels, you have a few options, but here’s what you need to know: not all hotels offer race morning transportation. This is HUGE. The races start REALLY early (we’re talking 2-3 am wake-ups), and you need a reliable way to get to the starting line.

Where to Stay

The Yacht and Beach Club located right near Epcot

On-Property Disney Resorts The official Disney resort hotels offer complimentary bus transportation to the race start line. This is a major perk and honestly takes so much stress out of race morning. You don’t have to worry about driving, parking, or finding an Uber at 3:30 am. The buses run on a schedule specifically for race participants, and they know exactly where to take you.

Swan and Dolphin Resort I stayed here for my Princess 10K and it’s one of the most underrated placed to stay off property. Here’s why: it’s a great price point compared to some of the Disney deluxe resorts, it’s walking distance EPCOT (where the race starts and finishes), and it has those magical race morning buses. Seriously, the Swan and Dolphin is SO close you can practically see it from parts of the race course. ( literally, you run past it) The convenience factor is unbeatable, especially when you’re exhausted after your race and just want to get back to your room quickly.

Off-Property Hotels This race we tried something different and stayed at The Residence Inn at Flamingo Crossing.

We had a two bedroom suite with two bathrooms, a living room area and a full kitchen. There was free breakfast every morning and there were plenty of options for fast food , walgreens a target and coffee.

While I really loved the property and will suggest it as a good off property option for families, you will need to arrange your own transportation. This typically means renting a car or using Uber/Lyft. We exclusively used Uber/Lyft and lets just say those charges can add up. We scheduled an uber the night before to pick us up at 2:30 am( no surge prices) with no issues, but the return from the race…was hellish on tired legs and tired bodies.

Next time, I would rent a car.

When to Arrive

When planning when to arrive, I will say the latest you would want to arrive in the morning before your race. And if you are traveling across time zones,make allowences for that.

Plan accordingly because whenever you arrive YOU MUST go to the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex to pick up your race bib in person. It has to be you—no one can pick it up for you, and you can’t race without it. The expo is only open certain days before the race, so you need to plan accordingly.

Depending on what race I’m running, I try to get there at the latest the early morning the day before.

Theme Park Tickets and Dining Reservations

The inclination is to book park tickets for the day before and the day of the race. But friends. Let me share from experience that trying to do all the things: parks everyday, reservations and lightning lanes trying to get in every magical minute is a big fat NO.

You will be exhausted and dehydtrated even before you start your race.

Instead, my plan is:

Day 1: arrive , go to expo, maybe resort hop to get a dole whip and then relax in the hotel and go to an early dinner.

Day 2: Race day: up early to race, come back to the hotel eat breakfast, nap. Get up later ( 5 ish) and head to the park for the after race party at Epcotand dinner.

Day 3( Monday ish) This is the day I have my park ticket. You make think your legs are toast, but this is actually a good way to walk some of the lactic acid out of your legs and casually enjoy the parks while getting medal photos.

This is the way. Trust me.

Now Let’s Talk about Getting Ready for the Actual Race

Training and Running Gear

Ok, one thing I want everyone to know is that you don’t have to be an experienced runner or athlete to run a runDisney Race. They are accessible to everyone. Some people run the whole thing, some people run/walk ( raises hand) and some walk the entire distance.

Training Programs If you want somewhere to get started, runDisney offers completely FREE training programs on their website, and they are wonderful. I used it for my very first 1/2 in 2015.

They have options for beginners and experienced runners, and they’re specifically designed for their race distances. Its a very organized program and if you are new to races start there.

Gear you need:

There are so many things you could bring but I’m going to give you the bare minimum that I think you should have.

Running Shoes: If you buy nothing else, this is the most important investment you can make. My advice is to go to a running store and get properly fitted for shoes. Also, when you do get them, make sure you have enough time to break them in during training.

I am a brooks girl and wore these runDisney shoes for my Wine and Dine Half.

Socks: It may seem like a small thing, but TURST ME, you need good socks. I personally love Feetures Plantar Fasciitis relief socks because i suffered from plantar fasciitis last year when i ran my marathon and these socks were a life saver. If its not broke, dont fix it.

Anti-Chafing Products: Listen. Long distances and the potential humidity in florida almost guarentees chafing. Products like Bodyglide and Megababe( my fav) are made to be slathered on any area that rubs( inner thighs, underarms, bra line,feet) . I personally slather Vaseline on my feet and in between my toes.

Headphones: If running with music is your thing ( or a book or podcasts) , you need good headphones. I personally love my Shokz headphones because they allow me to still be aware of my surroundings. And the battery lasts my entire race.

Fuel and Hydration: Practice your fuel plan BEOFRE the race. Figure out what works whether that’s gels, chews, fruit snacks etc. DO NOT TRY ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY.

Race Day Outfit: Plan and TEST your race day outfit during training. Espeically for a disney race. That toule tutu looks great! But did you check to see how much itching and scratching actually happens during your run?

Race Day Tips and Tricks and observations

Yes, your alarm is going to go off REALLY early

For Wine & Dine races, your wake-up call is going to be somewhere between 2-3:00 am.

YES. AM

Yes, it sounds crazy, but all of this depends on how close you are to the start line and how much time you feel like you need to give yourself to get ready, eat something, get to Epcot, get though security , check your gear, use the restroom and get to your corral before the race it starts.

If you are at a Disney resort or at The Swan and Dolphin, the race buses usually start running around 2:20-3:00 am. They run continuously until the corrals are full.

If you are staying off property like we did, schedule your Uber/Lyft the night before and if you drive plan to arrive at the EPCOT parking lot by 3:00-4 am. Parking is free for race participants, but it fills up, and you want to give yourself plenty of buffer time.

Once you arrive at EPCOT

Once you arrive, you’ll go through security (just like entering the parks). After security, make sure that your race bib is visible( they check for it) and go to gear check to drop off your clear bag. A volunteer will take your bag, put a sticker on it with your bib number so that when you come back, they can easily find it. After that, you’ll walk through the parking lot area toward the starting corrals.

Getting Into Your Corral

The corrals are organized by your pace/proof of time. Your corral assignment will be on your race bib. There will be signs telling you where to go. There are porta potty’s near the corral just in case. While you wait, this is the perfect time to warm up, eat a snack and get hydrated.

And now…The Starting Line

The corrals are released in waves. Its a festive atmosphere with fireworks.Your race time starts when YOU cross the starting line (not when the first corral starts). The timing chips in your bib track your individual time.

A few need to knows

The Dreaded Balloon Ladies

Let’s talk about these lovely ladies. and why they are important to keep track of.

The balloon ladies are the very last people to start every single runDisney race. You will know who they are because they are carrying… Disney balloons. LOL

They walk at a consistent 16-minute mile pace for the ENTIRE race, no matter the distance. NO MATTER WHAT. They do not deviate from that 16-minute mile pace.

THAT IS IT.

If the balloon ladies PASS you during the race, you will be swept off the course. Cast members will direct you to a bus that takes you back to the finish area. You won’t get to complete the race on the course, and you won’t receive an official finish time or medal.

BUT little known fact is that you CAN walk WITH the ballon ladies. Stay with them or slightly ahead and you will finish the race. But if I see those ladies coming….I pick up the pace. Just saying.

Why do they matter?

If you’re in a later starting corral, you have less buffer time before the balloon ladies catch you.
If you want to stop for character photos or use the restroom, you need to factor that time in
Some character lines can be 10-15 minutes long at popular stops

My tips:

If you’re starting in one of the later corrals, skip the first few chacters stops to make sure you build in some time between you and the ladies.
Keep an eye on the balloons throughout the race. I was always looking for them.
Time your bathroom stops wisely. If there is a long line and you can hold it, go to the next one.

Ok I know this part sounds stressful but you will be fine. There are so many people encouraging you , you have trained and a 16 minute mile is totally doable.

How do I know? Because this time, because of my knee, that was my overall pace for this race. I started about an hour before the balloon ladies so I had built in time. I made one bathroom stop about mile 6 and no character stops because Darth Vader and Chewbacca weren’t an option LOL.

Character Stops

One of the BEST parts of runDisney races? The character meet-and-greets along the course! There will be multiple character stops throughout the route, and even MORE once you get into the parks—especially around World Showcase in EPCOT for Wine & Dine.

Here’s how character stops work:

Characters are set up at designated spots along the course
There’s a PhotoPass photographer at each character stop
Cast members hold signs at the back of the line showing which character you’re waiting for and approximate wait times
The lines can range from just a few people to 15-20 minutes depending on the character’s popularity
You can stop at as many or as few as you want—it’s completely up to you!

The Course Itself

The Wine & Dine course is AMAZING. You’ll run:

On the highways (yes, they shut down actual roads for you!)
Through backstage areas of Disney World that guests never get to see
Into EPCOT
Around the World Showcase
And this year, we ran through parts of Hollywood Studios including Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge
The course is mostly flat—Florida doesn’t have hills!
Some sections have narrow paths, especially in backstage areas, so be patient if it gets crowded
Mile markers help you track your distance (though GPS watches can be spotty in some areas)

Water, Bathrooms, and First Aid

Disney does a fantastic job of making sure runners have the support they need during the race.

Water Stops: Water and Powerade stations are set up approximately every 1-2 miles. The exact locations are shown on the course map in your runner’s guide. Volunteers hand out cups, and there are usually trash cans right after each stop.

Bathrooms: There are porta-potties on the public parts of the race course (like when you’re running on the highway) and regular park bathrooms during the in-park sections of the race. Try to use the ones IN the parks. TRUST ME.

First Aid: Medical tents and first aid stations are located throughout the course. They have Vaseline, Biofreeze and Tylenol. I caught a hamstring cramp around mile 8 and the biofreeze was a lifesaver.

Pacers

There are pacers at the race who are doing the run/walk method according to Jeff Gallaway.

I stuck with the 3:30 pacers for my last 3 miles and they were lifesavers.

There are cameras taking photos of you…

There are PhotoPass photographers stationed throughout the course! They’re usually at scenic spots, character locations, and key mile markers.

They will catch you even if you dont catch them. For example.

I was walking and tired. LOL

Crossing the Finish Line

You did it! Once you cross the finish line, Volunteers will greet you with:

Your finisher medal (!!!)
A bottle of water
Snack boxes with fruit, pretzels, and other post-race goodies

What happens next?

Keep moving through the finish area—don’t stop right at the finish line
Head to the gear check area to pick up your bag (remember, it’s organized by bib number)
Go to the medical tent if needed

me at the medical tent. They will wrap your knees in ice. It’s a lifesaver.

After You Cross the Finish Line

You did it! You’re officially a runDisney Wine & Dine finisher! Now what?

REST

After you get back to your hotel, shower, eat some protein and carbs and CRASH my friend!

Pro tips:

elevate your legs
ice those knees
eat some protein
NAP like it’s your job

What to do After the race

If you have followerd my advice, you are well rested and ready for dinner and the post race party.

The Post-Race Party

Depending on the year, Wine & Dine weekend includes a post-race party at EPCOT, usually on the evening after the half marathon. If you ran the half marathon, the party is included with your ticket. Anything under and it’s an extra charge.

What to Expect at the Post-Race Party:

The party typically includes:

Access to EPCOT after hours
Complimentary food and beverages from around World Showcase
Special food and drink stations set up specifically for runners
Entertainment (live music, DJs, special performances)
Attractions are open (usually select rides)

Since your post party ticket lets you into the parks around 5, I like to make a dinner reservation in the park shortly thereafter.

chips and margarita after the runDisney wine and dine half marathon

I mean, tacos, chips and salsa and a margarita is the perfect prize after that race! I personally did not stay until 1 am, but it was fun to hang out a bit .

Post Race Party Tips

Wear comfortable shoes (NOT your race shoes—give those feet a break!)
Bring a light jacket: it can be chilly at night this time of year.
Pace yourself with food and drinks ( remember, you might still be slightly dehydrated)
Don’t feel like you have to stay the whole time

Final Thoughts

The runDinsey Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend is truly a special experience.

Whether this was your first runDisney race or your tenth, whether you ran the whole thing or walked portions, whether you stopped for every character or powered through without stopping—you ran this race! And that’s something to be incredibly proud of.

I hope this guide to the runDisney Wine and Dine race weekend was helpful! Let me know if you have any questions, and I hope you have a wonderful race weekend!