Disney World Resort Fun Runs: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

[NOTE THAT THESE RACES ARE ALL CURRENTLY ON HOLD AND HAVE BEEN SINCE THE SHUT DOWN. IF YOU’D LIKE TO SEE THEM BACK, LET THE AMAZING RESORT CM’S KNOW HOW MUCH WE LOVED AND APPRECIATED THEM!!]

The Disney resort fun run has really started to make a name for itself. These sweet little runs – usually around 3K, or 1.86 miles – are perfect for beginning runners, families wanting to get out there together, or runners at any level simply looking to start their vacation day in a healthy way and perhaps see an otherwise familiar resort in a new light. They’re full of Disney fun and enthusiasm but casual enough that the most novice among us – and the youngest children – can run or walk to the finish and get a little swag…not to mention the comfort of knowing, while indulging in Mickey pretzels and ice cream bars later, that the day at least started out healthy.

I’ve embraced these runs as a way to get out there with the kids and get them started on the path to race events (if they love it as much as I do). It’s amazing how much I’ve seen them grow as runners in the short time that I’ve done these with them. We take it easy and stay hydrated along the way – but I feel like I can watch their endurance (and race etiquette) grow a little more every day.

The challenge with these runs has honestly been just finding out about them. Many of them are new – and they tend to be a bit informal – so the main guest relations line often doesn’t even have them on their calendar, much less know the details.

As of the date of this article, the resort fun runs are all $15 per person and free for children under 3. Registration can often be done beforehand at the resort’s community hall but is generally easily done the morning of the race by showing up 30 minutes before the run starts. At the finish of the race, the resorts generally provide cold water, fruit, and an assortment of granola bars or other snacks to recharge.

There are rumors of other resorts starting their own runs soon, and any of the ones listed here could change at any time – and I will update accordingly as I have new information, but as of today the current list is:

WDW Resort Fun Run List

• Sunday: Port Orleans French Quarter, Beignet Dash (8 a.m.)
• Sunday: Riviera Resort, Topolino Trot (7:30 a.m.)
• SET TO RESUME AS A WEEKLY RACE ON MARCH 24, 2020 – Every other Tuesday: All Star Resorts, All-Stars & Icons Fun Run 
• Wednesday: Old Key West, Southernmost Point 3K (7:30 a.m.)
• Wednesday: Coronado Springs, The Running of Coronado Fun Run, 1.2 miles (7:30 a.m.)
• Thursday: Saratoga Springs, Derby Dash (8 a.m.)
• Thursday: Yacht and Beach Club, Regatta Run (normally 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. January-February 2020)
• Friday: Boardwalk Resort, Seaside Sprint (normally 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. January-February 2020)
• Fort Wilderness has also had 5Ks to celebrate holidays including the 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving – so always check the calendar for runs if you’re staying there during those times of year.

Sunday: Port Orleans French Quarter, Beignet Dash

• Day, Time: Sundays, 8 a.m.
• Distance: 1.5 miles
• Day-of registration: Begins at 7:30 a.m. between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool, at the corner of Carriage Path and Reveler’s Row
• Starting location: Between building 5 and the Doubloon Lagoon Pool (same location as registration)
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: Mardi Gras bead finisher medal and coupon for 3 free beignets at Sassagoula Floatworks. There are also cute signs available for post-race pictures. (Exhibit A above!)

The Port Orleans French Quarter Beignet Dash was the original resort fun run of this type. It just celebrated its one-year anniversary this March. It happens every Sunday morning and is still usually the most popular and well attended of the resort runs in WDW. Having been around for the longest, at this point it just feels the most organized. The CMs that run it put on a good show, they have cute signs for post-race pictures, and the CM lifeguards cheer along the route – which is lovely, running its way from POFQ to POR and back around the water.

It’s generally just a beautiful course – nice and flat other than a slight incline at 2 bridges – and you’ll leave with lots of fun pictures.

And last but definitely not least, the race bib includes a tear off coupon for 3 free beignets (a $4.49+tax value!) at Sassagoula Floatworks in POFQ. Note that the coupon is only good for the day of the race, so try to do the run on a day when you have time afterwards to eat at the resort.

Sunday: Riviera Resort, Topolino Trot

• Day, Time: Sundays, 7:30 a.m.
• Distance: 1.2 miles
• Day-of registration: Begins at 7:00 a.m. 
• Starting location: On the movie lawn between the main pool and the lake
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: Topolino Trot pin and an Italian Ice

This newest fun run lets you explore the grounds of Disney’s brand new Riviera Resort.

[ON HOLD UNTIL MARCH 24, 2020 – AFTER WHICH IT IS PLANNED TO BE A WEEKLY EVENT] Every other Tuesday: All Star Resorts, All-Stars & Icons Fun Run

• Day, Time: This race is set to resume on March 24, 2020 and they aim to make it a weekly (rather than biweekly) event after that – Previously every other other Tuesday
• Distance: 1.2 miles
• Day-of registration: Begins 30 minutes prior to run at The Reel Spot at All Star Movies
• Starting location: Outside of The Reel Spot at All Star Movies
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: You get a bag of goodies at the end that includes an awesome custom pin with spinning football, water, a banana, and a granola bar

How fun is this sign?? Hei Hei’s DNF cracked us up.

The race starts at All Star Movies, so park there and walk through the main building. When you exit out the back head left to The Reel Spot (behind the food court). This is where you’ll register and then start the run.

We were incredibly impressed with how well organized this run was. All of the cast members that we asked along the way knew exactly where to direct us and registration was seamless.

The course winds its way through All Star Movies, Music and Sports, ending on the football field at All Star Sports. The path was well marked with signs and cheering CMs and gave us a great look at a resort that, believe it or not, we were seeing for the first time!!

At the finish, they had cold water and gift bags for every runner that included more water, a banana, a granola bar, and an incredibly cool original pin with a spinning football. The pin alone made the run more than worthwhile – and you’ll only get it by completing this race.

Overall we could not get over how well done – and well attended(!) – this morning race was. They even had a dedicated bus to take you from All Star Sports back to the All Star Movies parking lot when you were finished. Major shout out to the cast members who organized this so well – right down to their matching shirts.

Shout out to Jarel!!

As of right now the All-Stars & Icons Fun Run is scheduled for every other Tuesday. Definitely check it out. It was a great way to check out the huge All Stars property!!

Wednesday: Old Key West, Southernmost Point 3K (or Jinglebell Fun Run)

• Day, Time: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.
• Distance: Usually 3K (or 1.86 miles) but varies now as they change the course to accommodate construction
• Day-of registration: Begins at 7 a.m. at OKW’s Community Hall (in the back of the hospitality house near the game room and fitness center) – and because they handle registration there and the race starts a short walk away, make sure to be there early. They do close up at Community Hall before 7:30 and make their way over to the sand castle play area.
• Starting location: Just past the sand castle play area at the Family Tree.
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3. This was the only run that honored a DVC discount. Not sure if it was a fluke, but worth asking if you’re a Disney Vacation Club member!
• Swag: Water bottle and medal. The morning that we last participated it also happened to be a Christmas in July celebration, so we were given bells to tie onto our shoes (or wherever else we wanted them) so that we were ringing our way through the course.

I absolutely adore this run and the CMs that handle it. They’ve been doing it since January and the last time that we went they were celebrating Christmas in July and handed out ringing holiday bells for everyone to tie to their shoes – which made for a very jolly jog! Love the extra swag at this one and the relaxed, Old Key West vibe.

Wednesday: Coronado Springs, The Running of Coronado Fun Run

• Day, Time: Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.
• Distance: 1.2 miles
• Day-of registration: Begins at 7 a.m. 
• Starting location: TBD. Recently moved with the opening of Gran Destino.
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3. 
• Swag: TBD

Thursday: Yacht & Beach Club, Regatta Run

• Day, Time: Thursdays, normally 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. January-February 2020
• Distance: 3K (or 1.86 miles)
• Day-of registration: 30 minutes before race at Bayside Marina outside Yacht Club
• Starting location: Bayside Marina outside Yacht Club
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: Pin, Sunglasses, Custom Earbuds for Adults, Rubber Duckie and Hershey Kisses for Kids

Holy swag!! September 6, 2018 marked the very first Regatta Run at the Yacht and Beach Club and God bless my older son – he wanted to go before school even though (or maybe because!) it was his 8th birthday. The race was well attended and, even for the first run, was very well organized. Registration and the race start are at the Bayside Marina outside Yacht Club on Crescent Lake. You then run a well marked course toward and behind Boardwalk, down the path to Hollywood Studios, turning around a little ways down behind Boardwalk, and returning to complete the loop around Crescent Lake – so similar to the Boardwalk Seaside Sprint track but not exactly the same.

The coolest thing about this run, though, might be the swag. Easily more than any other run – at the finish you’ll find water, bananas, Kind bars (or whatever they offer that day), along with bags for adults and kids. The adults’ bags have an awesome unique pin made just for the race, earbuds, and custom sunglasses. The kids’ bags also have the pin and sunglasses, and substitute a cute themed rubber duckie and Hershey’s Kisses for the earbuds. (See pics of all of the swag above.) They also had cute themed props for pictures after the run.

I was so impressed with this 3K and was so glad that my kid decided to start his special day with it.

Thursday: Saratoga Springs, Derby Dash

• Day, Time: Thursdays, 8 a.m.
• Distance: 3K (or 1.86 miles)
• Day-of registration: Begins at 7:30 a.m. at Saratoga Springs’ Community Hall
• Starting location: Just outside Community Hall (on the parking lot side)
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: Medal

This was a great run with such amazing energy from the CMs. Saratoga Springs has a nice long New Balance running trail, so it was no surprise that this course was a true full 3K. It wound around the resort but was well marked throughout with cast members at certain key spots to cheer and give directions, so even with the small number of people running and becoming spread out over time, there was no chance of getting lost.

Friday: Boardwalk Resort, Seaside Sprint

• Day, Time: Fridays, normally 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. January-February 2020
• Distance: 1.4 miles
• Day-of registration: Between Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall beginning 30 minutes before race
• Starting location: Between Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall heading back toward Hollywood Studios
• Cost: $15 pp, free for children under 3
• Swag: An awesome pin (the horse is on a spring so it moves!) and a coupon on the bib for a free Goofy Glacier (must be used within 7 days of the run)

As of the date of this article, this race has only happened two times so they’re still figuring out the details a bit as they go. For example, the sweet CM that was queuing us up to start insisted that it was 2.2 miles rather than 1.4. My to my kids’ relief, it was indeed the advertised 1.4 miles.

I loved the course of this fun run – in part simply because I love Boardwalk and its New Balance running path – but it was also very easy to navigate and you could really see your fellow runners along the way, which made for great support for the kids. The course starts between Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall and heads out on the path by the water toward Hollywood Studios. Just before the bridge that passes overhead you turn around and go back and then continue past The Swan and The Dolphin and around the Boardwalk, past Yacht Club and Beach Club and finishing where you started.

I’ll continue to update this post as things change and (hopefully!) new fun runs are added at other resorts, so ****please*** reach out to me if you hear news of others!! And let me know if you participate in any of these and what you think of the experience!!