2013 Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Race Report:

I grew up in a Disney that didn’t have a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and we didn’t wear princess costumes into the park.  I know.  I had a totally deprived childhood.

I was secretly envious of my daughter, when taking her to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, when she got to wear a tiara with glitter hairspray and a full princess costume in the parks, on rides and during breakfast in the Castle while meeting all her favorite princesses.

Well, if you too feel this way and you want to enjoy your inner princess at Walt Disney World, then Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend is the event for you!


Tiaras, tutus, fairy wings, princess costumes, glitter, sparkles – anything girly, princess and screams GIRL POWER is welcomed with open arms.  Don’t feel silly wearing your tiara through the airport, at the race expo or in the parks this weekend, because you will feel silly if you AREN’T wearing a tiara.

This was my first Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend.  I have been to Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend for the last 5 years and Disneyland Half Marathon weekend for the last 2 years.  This event has a totally different vibe.  It has a women’s focus, but is open to all.  It is a very different group of people who attend.  It’s about women having fun together while being supported by their MEN!  It’s a girl’s getaway weekend to run, go out to dinner and then go to the spa and have a good time!

Having just wrapped up Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend only 6 weeks prior, I went into this race with a totally different mindset.  I was going to experience a runDisney race and all its glory.  I was going to wear a tutu and tiara for the weekend.  Plus I was going to stop and enjoy ALL the character stops knowing full well that I would be adding precious MINUTES to my finish time - all the while knowing it would be totally worth it.  It would be runDisney magical!

The Disney Princess Half Marathon course follows exactly the same course as Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January.  However, it is different.  The theme is princess and runDisney has all the princesses out for the occasion.  There were some of the same character stops:  pirates, Lightening McQueen, Buzz Lightyear, Alice, Tiana, Mary Poppins and Stitch.  However, there seemed to be a lot more characters stops that included Belle and Gaston, Jessie, Princess Atta, all the Princes from various movies, plus even a few more – see above video!

The pace and the camaraderie of Disney Princess Half Marathon is one of empowerment and sisterhood with a Rosie the riveter “can-do” attitude!  If I had to choose between the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January and the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February, I would say that the races are on two different weekends.  They offer two very different medals and that you most definitely do need both to add to your runDisney collection!