Once upon a time, in a Walt Disney World far far away in 2019, runDisney cheer sections were epic! Along the courses, runners could expect to see friendly faces with snacks, drinks, and awesome race signs to keep them going. As with many things in the post-2020 world, the rules and expectations have changed. If you are cheering on a runner at an upcoming event, here is your runDisney spectator guide so you’ll know how to cheer at Disney World races.
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runDisney Spectator Guide: How To Cheer At Disney World Race Weekends
As we all know, the world has changed- and that includes how runDisney allows spectators to cheer a race.
Here is your spectator guide for runDisney events so you know how to cheer safely at a Walt Disney World race weekend.
Best Locations For Cheering runDisney Events
The ChEAR packages did not come out for the 2021-2022 race weekends at the time of this writing.
That may mean they are a thing of yesteryear, or it may simply still be in the evaluation phase. So you can’t count on those premium locations being available for your cheering needs.
Here are the official suggestions from runDisney for your cheer sqaud.
Wine and Dine Spectator Cheer Locations
We’ll update for each race as we know more, but this is the official scoop from runDisney.
There will not be any spectators allowed on highways or overpasses at this time.
If a park is open, you will be able to see your runner along the routes inside the park. But if it is still closed at the time they run through, that will not be an option.
Where to Cheer the 5K Wine and Dine Runners
| LOCATION | TIME | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Start – Epcot Explore Parking Lot | 5:00 a.m. – 6:00 a.m. | Accessible via Epcot Explore Parking Lot |
| Finish – Epcot Explore Parking Lot | 5:15 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. | Accessible via Epcot Explore Parking Lot |
Where to Cheer the 10K Wine and Dine Runners
| LOCATION | TIME | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Start – Magic Kingdom Rapunzel Parking Lot | 5:00 a.m. – 6:10 a.m. | Accessible via Resort Shuttle or Parking Shuttle from Epcot |
| Finish –Epcot Explore Parking Lot | 5:25 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. | Accessible via Epcot Explore Parking Lot |
Where to Cheer the Half Marathon Wine and Dine Runners
| LOCATION | TIME | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|
| Start – Magic Kingdom Rapunzel Parking Lot | 5:00 a.m. – 6:20 a.m. | Accessible via Resort Shuttle or Parking Shuttle from Epcot |
| Finish – Epcot Explore Parking Lot | 5:55 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Accessible via Epcot Explore Parking Lot |
If you check out the runDisney race maps for the Wine and Dine, you’ll see that the half and 10K both go through the Boardwalk resort area.
If you are staying at these resorts, you should be able to walk out to the racecourse and cheer your runners on.
If you are NOT staying at these resorts, it is unclear how likely you will be able to take an uber or drive and park in the lot in order to cheer.
Be prepared to be turned away as parking lot security has tightened a bit over the past 2 years.
Can You Hand Out Drinks Or Snacks To Your runDisney Runners?
Unfortunately, no, you cannot hand out drinks or snacks to runners along the runDisney racecourses anymore.
You can share fun race signs and ring those cowbells!
Spectator Tips For runDisney Events
- Bring a sign! They really help make the miles go by for the runners on the course.
- Be loud! Clap, cheer, encourage, cowbell- whatever works for you can help keep the energy up for the runners on the course.
- Know what your runner looks like! This is HUGE- and helpful if your runner is in costume. Picking out a Goofy Hat is easier to see than someone in basic black Nike athletic gear!
We hope this runDisney spectator guide will help you cheer those magical miles!
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