runDisney’s New 5K, Explained: What’s Changing at Wine & Dine 2026

The runDisney Companion update • September 24, 2026

A quick note before we dig in: where I talk about why runDisney made these changes or how they’ll play out, those are my own educated guesses. I have no inside information, just a lot of race mornings behind me.

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Now that the official digital guide to the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend has been released, I’ll soon be combing through every detail and releasing my usual full race-weekend guide, both here and on Instagram. But in the meantime, we need to cover some changes to these races and related logistics that are clearer now that this information is out.

When I sent The runDisney Companion off to print, there was one topic that I knew we would be revisiting soon: the 5K races.

runDisney had announced that more people would be able to register for its 5Ks beginning with the 2026–2027 season, along with an earlier first start for that race distance and corral waves heading out much later into the morning. These were big changes and they were obviously going to come with lots of other revisions to the usual 5K process, so everything 5K-related in the book had a big asterisk on it.

Now, with the Wine & Dine details coming out, we can start to see how this new 5K process will take shape—and it’s really interesting how they seem to be trying to address the potential challenges of this much bigger 5K.

Race Day Changes

Let’s walk through it all together: what’s new for Wine & Dine and how to be prepared for it.

1. We’ll cross the 5K start line in waves over more than 3½ hours, with corrals grouped into three corral-opening times.

This is the big one, and more or less the reason for every other change on this list. And I am THRILLED about it. A bit of background and reasoning around this: I don’t have specific data on this point, but I think it’s safe to say that the 5K is most runners’ first race distance. At 3.1 miles, it feels like a meaningful but perhaps more accessible distance to people just getting started running and wanting to test the waters at a race event. The runDisney 5Ks were also untimed (emphasis on the were, more on that later) and so also that much less intimidating.

Many people end up getting the bug at that first 5K and going on to tackle more 5Ks, longer distances, different race destinations…and then they get their friends on board, bring their spouses and kids along…it is, for all intents and purposes, the gateway race distance. And for that reason, I’d venture to guess that the 5K is responsible for a heck of a lot of healthier people out there these days. A health-snowball rolling down a hill, growing as it goes.

And so it’s always been especially a bummer that the 5K just logistically needed to be the smallest race, in terms of numbers of participants. You see…races handle crowd control in part by releasing people onto the course in waves. In this way, they trickle people onto the course in the hopes of reducing crowds and bottleneck situations along the way. The occasional crowded spot is inevitable, but they do their best to reduce congestion on the course.

runDisney does this by grouping runners into start groups based on expected pace and releasing runners onto the course in waves over an extended period of time. The problem with a 5K is: There’s only so much course to spread people out over and if you’re going to be bringing everyone in for the race at once and releasing them onto the course in continuous waves over a reasonable amount of time, you’re going to run out of course for them to be sharing. Some of the first runners to start will be taking their time enjoying the course while runners continue to pile up behind them, and the course becomes a crowded, miserable experience for everyone with out-of-control character lines and bottleneck areas.

And so, almost by necessity, while they were probably out there doing the most good in the world, the 5Ks allowed for the smallest number of participants. Registrations typically sold out incredibly quickly, which, while the case for most races, perhaps especially runDisney’s, these days, was especially bad for the 5Ks and probably therefore all the more discouraging for 5K hopefuls.

So, all of that to say, the best way to understand all of these changes is through the lens of “how do we make it possible for more people to have access to this gateway running event that might change their life—when the course itself doesn’t make that easy.”

And this is how they did it.

Initially, we’d been told to expect start times spanning from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. The detailed information released about the 5K tells us that instead waves are projected to start between 4:30 a.m. and 8:08 a.m. There will be 7 start groups, lettered A-G. Runners in start groups A-C will have their corrals open for entry at 3:15 a.m. and are projected to start between 4:30 a.m. and 5:11 a.m. Then there is a bit of a gap before the next group: Runners in start groups D and E (which groups probably have more people than each of A-C, if we go by past experience) will have their corrals open for entry at 4:45 a.m. and are projected to start between 6:00 a.m. and 6:38 a.m. Then again there is a bit of a gap before the next group: Runners in start groups F and G (which groups probably have more people than each of A-E, if we go by past experience) will have their corrals open for entry at 6:00 a.m. and are projected to start between 7:30 a.m. and 8:08 a.m.

Here’s the full published schedule for the 5K from runDisney:

Start Group	Group opens	Group closes	Projected start	Latest start in your block
A	3:15 a.m.	4:15 a.m.	4:30–4:35 a.m.	5:11 a.m.
B	3:15 a.m.	4:20 a.m.	4:36–4:53 a.m.	5:11 a.m.
C	3:15 a.m.	4:40 a.m.	4:54–5:11 a.m.	5:11 a.m.
D	4:45 a.m.	5:45 a.m.	6:00–6:20 a.m.	6:38 a.m.
E	4:45 a.m.	6:05 a.m.	6:21–6:38 a.m.	6:38 a.m.
F	6:00 a.m.	7:15 a.m.	7:30–7:50 a.m.	8:08 a.m.
G	6:00 a.m.	When the start line clears	7:51–8:08 a.m.	8:08 a.m.

I cannot tell you how excited I am about how all of this is going to pan out. This is going to give access to the 5K to so many more people. And also? I don’t want to say anything definite as we’ll all have to see how this pans out…but I feel like this is going to turn the 5K into such a huge social event to kick off the weekend. (Granted Expo itself is one as well, but still…) I can’t help but imagine this scenario, with people trickling in from the course into the reunion area over the course of 4 or so hours, with people who have arrived but not yet entered corral for their start group still hanging out in the DJ and character area too. It will be interesting to see how it pans out but this just feels like a very festive and more relaxed atmosphere.

Taken together, these changes are how runDisney was able to open the 5K to many, many more participants this season.

2. Your 5K arrival time is based on your start group.

It used to be that runDisney strongly recommended that you arrive no later than 4:00 a.m. for a race that started at 5:00 a.m., and at 3:30 a.m. for a race that started at 4:30 a.m. Now, for the 5K and only the 5K, they are strongly encouraging participants and spectators to arrive one hour before their projected start time. That is, of course, very different from asking everyone to arrive by one hour before the start of the entire race.

Spectator viewing is accessible from 4:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. at the start line and from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the finish line.

It takes time to park and 10-15 minutes to walk to the start area from there, including a pass through security, so still be sure to allow time for that, along with likely traffic, in your morning plans. If you arrive after your start group closes, you can drop back to a later start group. As has always been the case, you cannot move up to an earlier start group.

Because they’re allowing for later arrival times, they’ve also extended the times for free parking at EPCOT. In the past, you’ve generally been able to get in and park for free until 6:00 a.m. Now that’s been moved back to 7:30 a.m. That change applies to all race days during Wine & Dine weekend, not just the 5K.

3. The 5K bib has a second tear tag.

There has always been a tear tag on our race bibs for shirt pickup. When you pick up your shirts for your race(s) after you get your bib, they’ll tear off, or have you tear off, the shirt tag at the top of your bib in exchange for it. It’s a simple step that makes sure you get the one shirt, and only the one shirt, included with your registration. And now there’s a bottom tag on the bib too. It has your start group’s opening time on it. And as with the shirt tag, it makes sure that you run the one 5K, and only the one 5K, included with your registration. It’s a simple but clever way of making sure that people don’t try for a second pass through the course when they finish and there are start groups still open for entry. That was never possible when every start group was in the corrals at once, but now a runner in an earlier corral could presumably run the course, cross the finish, and then claim to be just arriving and dropping back, enter a later corral, and get a second opportunity to enjoy the course. Would it be fun to do the course more than once? Sure. But it would also defeat the purpose of clearing the course for later start groups. By adding this simple tag to the bib, they’ve made it possible to allow later runners to get a bit more sleep, opening and closing their corrals later while still making sure no one tries to run the course twice. Clever.

Leave it attached to your bib until you’re asked for it by Cast Members upon entering the start group area.

Again this is just a 5K thing—the 10K and half marathon don’t share this new start group block process and so don’t need this new bib tear tag to enter the start group area.

4. For the first time in forever (besides Dopey), your 5K bib will have a timing chip.

This is the most direct update and correction to the information in The runDisney Companion: For the very first time outside of the shared 5K/10K bib of the Dopey Challenge, there will be a timing chip in your 5K bib.

Remember how I said there was one more thing that pointed toward runDisney’s perhaps enforcing the 16:00/mile pacing requirement at the 5K more so than in years past? Well, this is it.

A timing chip is great news if you want a real 5K time (runDisney hasn’t said yet whether it will publish results). But it also gives runDisney an exact record of when each of us crossed the start line, which is what it would need to enforce the pace fairly, block by block. So as thrilled as I am, I wouldn’t be surprised if it means paying closer attention to that 16:00/mile pace than we’re used to at the 5K. Also, with a chip on your bib, runDisney will know if you’re still on the course if they’re trying to clear it for the next group.

According to the official event guide: “All races have a pace of 16-minutes-per-mile. Those that fall behind pace, may experience course modifications.”

Needless to say, do not remove the chip from your race bib. It belongs there and will be the proof that you crossed the start line—and the finish line.

5. Bus transportation for the 5K will start earlier, end later, and run continuously.

For the 5K, buses will run continuously in both directions between the resorts and EPCOT from 2:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. In years past there has been a gap in service between transportation to the race and transportation back after the race, as event transportation needed to wait for the start line to clear. Event buses will drop off and pick up at the EPCOT bus loop and so won’t need to cross the course to get in and out of EPCOT. Rideshare guests will use a dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone between the HeiHei and Moana parking lots.

The 10K and half marathon will then return to the usual gap between drop-off and pickup. For the 10K, transportation to the starting area will run from 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and return transportation from the finish area will run from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Rideshares during the 10K will use that same dedicated zone between the HeiHei and Moana lots.

For the half marathon, transportation to the starting area will run from 2:30 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. and return transportation will run from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Rideshare locations during the half marathon will change throughout the morning from the EPCOT rideshare loop to the EPCOT Charter Lot and then back to the EPCOT rideshare loop again, so pay attention to the written guide and ask a Cast Member if you’re in doubt.

6. If you’re running the 5K, you already know your corral.

If you’re registered for the Wine & Dine 5K, you got more than general race weekend information in your inbox this week. You got your start group. Normally, you don’t get your corral information until you see the letter on your bib when you pick it up at Expo, and that still seems to be the case for the 10K and half marathon. (We wouldn’t expect a change there, since the process hasn’t changed.) But, with all of these changes, including the fact that your start group now impacts your recommended arrival time, runDisney has been kind enough to tell 5K runners their start group now. With that information in hand, you can look at the timing information for the morning and plan accordingly before race weekend.

The other changes

7. Expo opens a little earlier and closes a little later on the first day.

If you’re planning to visit Expo on the first day, which you have to do if you’re running the 5K, note that it’s opening at 9:00 a.m. and closing at 8:00 p.m. that day—an hour earlier opening and an hour later closing than usual. Do we want to guess together why this is the case?

You’re catching on: Probably the increased capacity of the 5K. You have to pick up your bib on day 1 of Expo if you’re running the 5K, which means day 1 of Expo is probably going to be much, much more crowded than usual. To that end, you can absolutely still drive, but runDisney warns that parking might be limited and that you might be directed to an off-site lot with a complimentary shuttle if parking fills. Again, likely the masses of additional people that will need to visit on day 1 before the 5K. If you take resort transportation, it is scheduled to start that morning at 8:15 a.m., so 45 minutes before Expo opens instead of the usual 30.

All things being equal, I might consider waiting until Friday to head to Expo to avoid the crowds if you aren’t running the 5K or pressed to get any particular merchandise before it sells out, but I wouldn’t stress it either way. runDisney is clearly thinking this through. Just build in a little extra time for parking and potential lines and bring your patience.

8. Some bib and shirt pickup locations at Expo have changed.

Usually you’d collect your bib(s) in the Field House and then head to the Athletic Center for your shirt(s). (If you’ve never done this before, don’t worry. Everything is very clearly marked, there are people to ask everywhere, and everyone is going to the same places anyway.) This generally looks to be the process for Wine & Dine, except that on the first day, 10K runners will pick up their bibs and shirts together in the Auxiliary Court of the Field House, on the entrance level. My guess as to why: once again, the expanded 5K. They probably have so many 5K bibs and shirts to give out that they had to make room, and opted to move the 10K pickups elsewhere. It wouldn’t have been efficient to move the Challenge pickup area elsewhere, since so many people do both the 5K and the Challenge (i.e., all 3 races). More people probably come Thursday to pick up their bib and shirt for the Saturday 10K than for the Sunday half marathon, so the 10K was probably the most sensible race to move. Then, after the 5K is behind us when Expo reopens at noon on Friday, they can move the 10K items back with everything else.

For our purposes, I just wouldn’t blindly assume that you’re going where you usually go for bib and shirt pickup. Just follow the signs and Cast Member directions when you arrive.

9. Bib pickup is expressly ONLY available at Expo, and not on race morning.

I’ve always cautioned against trying to pick up your bib on race morning. There was never any guarantee whatsoever that it would be available, and it’s the absolute last source of stress that you need on race morning with everything else going on even if you did manage to collect your bib there. runDisney is explicitly telling participants not to rely on this by stating outright that bib pickup is available at Expo only, before race day. You will not be getting your bib the morning of the race and, as always, unless you are a minor you need to pick up your own bib. So make absolutely sure that your travel plans will land you here with ample time to get to Expo, including potential traffic and off-site parking.

10. The first virtual queue on day 1 opens at 7:00 a.m.

In the past, the virtual queue to shop for merchandise on the first day of Expo has opened at 8:30 a.m. At Wine & Dine 2026, it will first open on Thursday, October 22, at 7:00 a.m. The second round will be at 1:00 p.m. as usual.

If there is particular merchandise that you absolutely want to get or you otherwise want to shop early, note that you’ll need to be within range and on the My Disney Experience app at exactly 7:00 a.m. to join the queue before it fills to capacity. “Within range” is typically within about 45 miles of property. If history is any lesson, combined with what are likely to be vastly increased numbers of people on day 1, the virtual queue will fill up very quickly. Also, and again perhaps to reduce the number of people hanging about at ESPN Wide World of Sports, they are suggesting arriving with about 30 minutes left on your estimated wait time, rather than the usual 60 minutes.

11. Club runDisney perks are earlier, too.

The early shopping windows for Club runDisney on Thursday, October 22 are 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for Platinum members and 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. for Gold members. Both tiers are able to access the Field House and Athletic Center starting at 8:00 a.m.; and Platinum members’ separate bib pickup at Club runDisney Headquarters in the AdventHealth Arena begins at 7:00 a.m.

Note the general complimentary bus transportation to Expo is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, so Club runDisney members planning to go before then will want to arrange their own transportation if they don’t have a car to drive there.

What’s still the same

You can still drop back.

Plenty of things are still the same, but of interest in the context of these changes—it’s worth mentioning that the longtime rule allowing you to move back to run with someone in a later start group still applies. You can drop back to run with someone else, or simply because you’re running late or otherwise want to be in a later corral. Just know that you won’t be able to reenter the start group area or course after you’ve run the course, as you won’t have the tear tag on your bib to give to the Cast Members collecting them for entry.

To sum it all up

All of these changes are easy to sum up: They vastly increased the capacity of the 5K, which is awesome, and they’ve taken a lot of steps seemingly aimed at trying to mitigate the resulting crowds, both at the race itself and at Expo on Thursday when all of the 5K runners will be picking up their bibs. The short story is that none of this should make your race worse, but it may well make it different. The waves of start times, transportation and Expo details, and other changes are just something that you and any spectators cheering you on should be aware of. And we should all bring our patience as runDisney tests these new measures and does what it does best: learns from experience, makes adjustments, and moves forward. No one can predict how exactly all of this will play out, so let’s all just be aware of the details, bring our patience, lend a hand to any new runners in need of help along the way, and be grateful that this is all happening to make way for so many more people to experience these most accessible races.

The 5Ks over the rest of the season are similarly expanded in size, but don’t assume that the Wine & Dine process will last the season. As they continue to tweak things to make the process better for everyone, just stay aware each weekend of any details that are relevant to you.