You registered for your runDisney race! Your proof of time is submitted! You secured your travel plans, grabbed your bib at the Expo, even laid out your clothes the night before! Now the only thing you have to do is show up in your corral right before your race starts, right? Right?? Well…not so fast!
It’s almost comical watching the dawning realization cross a new runDisney runner’s face when they start doing the backwards math…okay, race starts at 5:30 a.m. Buses run from 3:00 to 4:30, but they recommend getting on the bus no later than 4:00 to guarantee getting to your corral on time. I need an hour to shower, dress, tape up, fuel and hydrate. (More if your routine includes some specialized costuming like incorporating props or facepaint, adding a “tattoo” or donning a wig. Yes-those are real things!!) Don’t forget quality bathroom time, too! 😉
So, do you really need to get to your corral THAT early? The answer is a resounding yes! Here are the Top Five Reasons you want to be in your corral hours before the sun rises…remember-the early Donald gets the worm!
5. Travel Time and Last Minute Emergencies
You’ve heard the mantra-Hope for the best, prepare for the worst! It applies to runDisney, too! We have been extremely lucky with bus service from Pop Century, never waiting more than a few minutes for a bus. With its single stop, it’s not uncommon to fill the bus quickly or even have a second bus already waiting! We had to wait a bit longer the one time we stayed at Port Orleans Riverside with its multiple bus stops, but got there with time to spare, too. Others, however, report that bus service can be hit or miss, so shoot for an earlier bus!
Once you get off your bus, you start logging your miles…but not your race miles! LOL! You have to walk through the parking lot with hundreds of people, have your bag inspected, go through gear check and locate your corral. It all takes time, and it’s not uncommon to log your first mile this way!
Sometimes you have a last minute situation that needs to be addressed. Say your flight was delayed, causing you to miss the Expo the day before. You need to leave time to go to Runner Relations to pick up your bib the morning of the race. This service is not advertised, but is a courtesy currently offered to runners in the event of an emergency. Make sure you have your license and signed waiver-though they can help you out with this as well!
At Wine & Dine, if you were running the challenge, they gave you your bib, but also a bracelet to indicate you’re participating in the Two Course Challenge since you weren’t able to get your picture taken at the Expo. Same with t-shirts…you have to go to the Expo to pick them up afterward! And you can always grab some safety pins here if you need them, too! (Remember-no guarantees…this service could be discontinued at any time, so only take advantage of this if you really need it!)
It’s also a good idea to keep a little bit of cash on you just in case! Most runDisney races have a table where you can buy a cup of coffee pre-race. I’m not brave enough to do this, but many do! They also have a large water station, typically set up by the corrals. This is complimentary and a great way to ensure you are properly hydrated. Since I usually travel late and have all my liquids confiscated, I often feel under hydrated and am very grateful for this service! (Though both of these could lead to needing #3…again!)
4. On-Site Entertainment
I remember showing up for our very first runDisney event-the Frozen 5K back in February 2015 for Princess Weekend. (The theming wasn’t just Frozen…it was an unseasonably cold 37 degrees! Brrrr!) We were bright-eyed and bushy tailed…and took advantage of our early arrival to do it all! There were all kinds of photo ops (more on that later!) and a DJ leading a dance party! We answered trivia questions, did popular group dances, sang along, took selfies…anything to stay warm! It was tons of fun!
Though we have not been as ambitious since (I think we were on that very first bus!) we always try to leave enough time to take it all in!
3. Porta-Potty Row
The bane of runners everywhere…the dreaded porta-potties! No one likes having their routine disrupted, and runners are no exception! Whether your body clock is off, you’re experiencing nerves or are just over-hydrated, the porta-potties are in high demand! Even though runDisney does a great job of supplying hundreds of units, thousands of runners are vying for them! Lines can get loooong, so you don’t want to wait too long! They do move relatively quickly, and there are more porta-potties closer to the corrals, so it’s always a good idea to keep moving towards the farthest ones for the shortest waits!
2. Fun Photo-Ops
This is the best reason to get to your corral early! There are so many great opportunities for fun photo ops! First, themed race characters are available with Photopass photographers before every race! Lumiere was on hand last November for his Two Course Challenge during Wine & Dine Weekend, and this year Mickey and Minnie were the stars of the show in their chef gear! Since the lines get very long, and they’re strict about ending the character meets in time for runners to make their corrals, I chose to wait in a shorter line to see Chip and Dale, who were adorable in their aprons. I was one of the last runners to meet them-but don’t worry-they’re also available for pictures after the race as well!
In addition, Photopass photographers are roving around, and will happily snap pictures of you and your friends before, you know, you get all sweaty! You don’t need a magic band or card of any kind…as long as your bib number is visible you can link your photos to your account on the My Disney Experience app. (Directions how to do this are clearly stated on the back of your bib!!)
Finally, pre-corral is a great time to take your own photos and selfies! It’s crazy…you wouldn’t believe how often, despite the literally thousands of people, you run into people you know-often from all around the country! Running Club members, runDisney peeps, Facebook friends, Instagram followers…it’s unbelievable! It’s also fun to take pics with other runners dressed in similar themes, or just totally fan-girl over some of the more epic costumes people create!
1. Corral Placement
First, you have to get to your corral. During Wine & Dine Weekend, the corrals are relatively close together, so you can accomplish this easily. For larger races like Princess and Marathon Weekend, there are more corrals and more people in each corral. That means you sometimes have quite a long trek to find your corral. (And if you closed down Hollywood Studios after partying at Club Villain the night before your Half Marathon, the walk seems endless…!)
They will also check your bib to see if you’re in the right corral, so leave time for that, too. Remember, you can always go back to join a friend in a later corral, but you can’t move forward! And if you’re not in your proper corral before they start the transition walk to the starting line, you’ll have to fall back to a later corral. All that work for your proof of time-don’t chance it!!
Regardless of your corral, there are advantages to being as close as possible to the front of it! As each corral takes off, those in front have the best view of the starting line, the announcers and the fireworks! Now that they release each corral in mini-waves, more people get to experience this!
Mini-waves are runDisney’s attempt to consolidate the corrals. For example, the Princess Half Marathon used to have corrals that stretched from letters A-P…that’s sixteen corrals! This year they only have eight, corrals A-H. Less corrals equals more people in each corral. Instead of everyone starting at once from any given corral, two volunteers will divide the crowd with a rope, and walk that group right up to the starting line.
Doesn’t seem like a big deal until you do the math. This year for Princess, Corrals C, D and E have about 2,000 people each. It is speculated that each of those corrals will include two mini-waves. But what if you’re in Corral F? There are almost 10,000 Princesses there!! It is speculated that they’ll be released in six mini-waves. This is huge!! With possibly eight waves spaced out between Corrals A-E, your position in Corral F could place you in the ninth mini-wave if you’re right in front, or as far back as the 14th mini-wave if you’re all the way in the back! The final two Corrals will have less people and less mini-waves, but this logic applies to every corral-so stake your spot out early!
Also, starting in front of your corral means that you have open road in front of you, at least for a little while! No crowds, no bottlenecks! Establishing your pace, finding your groove and stopping for characters is a little bit easier!
Getting to your corral earlier also allows you to position yourself strategically. When I run intervals, I like to place myself at the right side. This allows me to easily transition from running to walking just by raising my arm and moving a few steps to the right. If I am running straight through (and by “straight through” I mean only stopping for characters!) I like to be front and center!
If you are in a farther corral or concerned about the 16 minute mile requirement, being at the front of your corral gives you an additional buffer between yourself and the Balloon Ladies, too. These ladies (which can actually be women and men!) are the last people to cross the start line and walk the course maintaining a consistent 16 minute mile…you just have to stay in front of them and you’ll have your Finishers Medal in no time!
Okay, your teeth are brushed and your “Flat” is laid out-time to set the alarm and go to sleep! Have Siri wake you at 3:00 and set a back-up for 3:15…maybe even ask the Front Desk to call if you’re worried about oversleeping! (And good luck if you’re doing this two, three, even four days in a row!!) Keep the Visine handy and fuel up-you’re going to need it to rock your runDisney race! Just remember to get to your corral on time!
Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT with her husband, two children and cat, Rocky Road. She is a runDisney enthusiast, new AP holder and autism mama. You can follow Jacqueline on Instagram at @neverlandpress and @morphingintominnie.
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