East Coast vs. West Coast: The Real Deal on the Coast to Coast Challenge

I did it! In September 2024, I finally completed my first-ever Disney Coast to Coast Half Marathon Challenge. This was a long-time bucket list item, and I was beyond thrilled to take on the challenge with fellow Disney-loving friends. Now, with my sixth Disney race just around the corner (and my fourth time tackling the 5K + the Challenge), I figured it’s the perfect time to share all the details from my magical journey across the country.

Whether you’re gearing up for your first runDisney event or planning your own Coast to Coast adventure, I hope this gives you a little more insight than I had!

The runDisney Experience
Each race weekend is packed with excitement beyond just the run itself. There’s the uniquely themed races, character interactions, and the runDisney Health & Fitness Expo, where you can pick up race packets, snag official merchandise, and explore the latest in fitness gear. If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you’ll also enjoy complimentary transportation to all race events, making logistics a breeze.

But be warned—these races are popular. Registration day can be almost as stressful as race day itself. Be ready to sign up the moment registration opens, or you might miss out. The 5K sells out first, followed by the 10K, Half Marathon, and then the Challenge. You can check out all the race dates and registration openings here.

Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend (Walt Disney World)
Held annually in late February at Walt Disney World, this race weekend is all about celebrating fitness with a touch of royal magic. It offers something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned runners.

Disney Princess 5K
A relaxed, family-friendly 3.1-mile trot around EPCOT. Since it starts before sunrise, running through the dark adds an extra layer of magic. It’s untimed, so there’s no pressure of getting swept by the infamous “Balloon Ladies.”

Disney Princess Enchanted 10K
This 6.2-mile race takes runners through EPCOT and the surrounding resorts, featuring plenty of Disney-themed entertainment along the way.

Disney Princess Half Marathon
A 13.1-mile journey that starts and finishes in EPCOT, winding through the Magic Kingdom for a breathtaking run down Main Street, U.S.A., and right through Cinderella Castle—truly the peak of the race!

Disney Fairy Tale Challenge
For those who love a challenge, this race combines the 10K and Half Marathon (19.3 miles total) over two days, earning you an extra medal!

The Princess Half Marathon Route

Start: The race begins in the Epcot parking lot. The first few miles are usually in the dark because of the early morning start. It’s typically pretty crowded, but by mile 3 it starts to thin out thanks to early port-o-potty stops and a couple of character sightings.

Magic Kingdom: Then you will make way to the Magic Kingdom, passing under the main entrance to Magic Kingdom, and past the Contemporary hotel. The sun is usually coming up about now depending on what coral you start in (and how fast you’re running!) You continue running down Main Street, U.S.A. with a spectacular view of Cinderella Castle. After passing through Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, you will run through the back of the castle. This is THE peak of the race, but it happens usually between mile 5 and 6, meaning you have a ways to go to get back to the finish.

Back to Epcot: Runners exit Magic Kingdom through a backstage area and take World Drive back toward Epcot. You can expect a LOT of highway during this part. In 2024, we took a slightly different route than I had previously remembered, looping on the backside of the Polynesian and Grand Floridian before hitting the major highway once more. Along these stretches there are a few characters, bathrooms, some DJs, and even some bands to keep you distracted.

The final miles to Epcot & Finish: Around mile 11 there is a pretty intense hill as you walk up not one, but 2 highway on-ramps. You will enter Epcot close to Figment and the final stretch winds through Epcot’s Future World, where runners complete the race near Spaceship Earth before finishing back in the Epcot parking lot.

Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon Weekend (Disneyland Resort)
This early September race weekend brings a spooky twist to runDisney, with races themed around Halloween and taking runners through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Disneyland Halloween 5K & 10K
Both races feature festive Halloween decorations, character meet-and-greets, and routes winding through the parks.

Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon
A 13.1-mile adventure that includes Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, and (unfortunately) a whole lot of Anaheim city streets.

Chills & Thrills Challenge
Just like the Fairy Tale Challenge, this combines the 10K and Half Marathon for an extra medal.

runDisney Kids Races
There are races designed for children aged 9 and under, including the Diaper Dash, 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 300-meter dash, with a start time of 8:00 AM. Gemma got to experience this in Disney World in 2019, but they took it away during Covid, and have yet to bring it back. When we went in September 2024, it was the first time a kids race had been brought back since the one in 2019. It's the cutest thing, and I highly recommend!

The Disneyland Half Marathon Route

Start: The race begins near the Disney Way, with runners setting off in the early morning hours around the hotels of Disneyland. It is dark when you begin, and thankfully for us, because the Los Angeles area was experiencing a once-every-five-years heat wave. We had already decided to try to cover as many miles early as possible running (we knew we would eventually have to walk), but you’ll hear later about how this was not a great strategy.

Disneyland Park: By Mile 1.5 your’re entering iconic areas within Disneyland Park, including Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, and other themed lands, experiencing the park's unique Halloween decorations. There are several character photo stops along the way, but we sadly did not stop at any of them per our “strategy” to wait for characters later in the race when we needed breaks.

Disney California Adventure Park: The course continues through Disney California Adventure Park by mile 3, allowing runners to enjoy the park's festive ambiance and attractions. It’s still dark by this point for most runners, so Pixar Pier is lit up and beautiful. 

Anaheim Streets: By mile 4.5, you are on the streets of Anaheim. Approximately 6 to 7 miles of the race extend into the streets of Anaheim. In my opinion, the streets of Anaheim were pretty boring. Like REALLY boring. It wasn’t particularly hilly, but for us it was brutally hot by mile 9. There was promise of the Angels Stadium, but it took what seemed like forever to get to it at mile 11.

Angels Stadium: Once you arrived at the stadium, you weaved through the parking lot and cones until you finally crest into the stadium where you literally had to walk. The path is on the warning track of the field, which is definitely cool, but impossible to run. Literally EVERYONE walked that part. There was a man who was announcing names of people as they walked by him, and then a camera man that put your face on the big screen on the way out. 

The final miles & Finish Line: After that you’re back on the streets, running next to the highway headed back towards the finish line. The race concludes back on Disney Way, close to the start line. 

Coast to Coast Showdown: Disney World vs. Disneyland

Characters: Did you see anywhere where I mentioned characters on the back half of the Disneyland half? Nope. Not a single character, band, or entertainment on any part of the course after mile 4. I couldn’t believe it, and we were SO disappointed since we passed up every single one of them in the first part of the race. We did a lot of investigating after the race and found out when you exit Disney property, characters and other entertainment are not allowed in the city of Anaheim. In contrast, the Disney World runs take place entirely on Disney property so they can put their people wherever and whenever they want. This is a HUGE advantage to the magic of the races at Disney World. I figure if you just did the Disneyland 5K, or even 10K, the thoughts would be different because there aren’t so many miles in the streets. 

The Course: The Courses both have long stretches of highway miles that are a lot less magical than others, but as stated before, one has a lot more distractions than the other. Both are mainly flat, road races. If Disneyland had more characters, bands and entertainment on the back half they would be nearly identical in toughness.

Start Time: The disadvantage to EVERY Disney race is the start time. Because they need the parks and roads open, the start times are at 5am, meaning that you need to be in your corral by 4-4:30am, and getting up… well you can do the math. 

The Weather: We really drew a crap hand for the weather in our Disneyland race, but I’m guessing it could happen almost anytime. We got particularly good weather for our February race in Florida, but it can definitely be cold, hot or raining—it’s FLORIDA!!! for crying out loud, the weather is wild. In the mornings of the Princess Half, we needed mylar blankets, and throw away long sleeves all the days. The morning of the Disneyland half, we needed nothing extra. 

Pre & Post Race Atmosphere: This is where the Disney World races just took over in the rankings. There is a chance we missed some of it, but the pre-race set-up for the Disneyland half was less than stellar. We were re-routed around what seemed like the “fun stuff” for our corral. When we got there, the lightning was TERRIBLE, and the terrain was not just concrete so it felt like you might slip and fall at any time in the dirt. Both races utilize port-o-potties, but there are a lot more obvious, less-smelly options on the way to the start line for the WDW races. The pre-race set-up for the WDW races is wide open in a parking lot with tons of extra lighting and tons of port-o-potties before you enter your corral.

After the race, when you are hustled down to get your medal and snacks, everything seems the same. Snack box, medal givers, Powerade, cooling towels!!! and all the things. Then, after that, you head for a photo with the famous race backdrops with your new bling. In WDW there are at least 10 different photographers with all the same backdrops ready to take your photo. I have never waited longer than 10 minutes for this photo before getting back on the bus.  After the Disneyland Half there were only two backdrops, with different artwork, and one photographer… the line was **SO** long, especially for people to stand (in the heat) who have just run 13 miles. We actually saw multiple people have to be carted off after passing out in the line waiting. It was B-A-D. Thankfully, we got our photo (we had to!!) to complete our Coast-to-Coast challenge goal. 

Final Verdict: Should You Do It?
If you like Disney, yes. If you like to run, yes. If you like running and Disney, 100% yes! They really are so magical, and NOT a race you want to try to PR on. Even though I kind of poo-poo’ed on the route for the Disneyland half, it probably wouldn’t take much to get me to do it again, because I’m sick in the head like that—AND I have faith that the weather would not do me that dirty again.

So lace up those running shoes, set your alarm ridiculously early, and get ready for some runDisney magic!