Your Official runDisney Kids Race Guide: Tips for Having the Best First runDisney Experience

Whether it’s the 100-Meter Dash, the 200-Meter Dash, the One Mile Run, or the Diaper Dash, run Disney Kids Races are an amazing experience for kids! From a pre-race warm up dance party to crossing that finish line with a Disney character cheering you on, the run Disney Kids Races presented by GoGo squeeZ® will be an event your kids won’t want to miss! As your kid runners get ready for their race weekend at theESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, let’s walk through all the fun things to do and what you won’t want to miss!

If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort Hotel, you can take advantage of the buses running to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The buses will drop you off in Disney Parks fashion just outside the gates and they are easily labeled for you to find the correct bus back to your hotel. Alternatively, keep in mind that parking is FREE at the Complex.

Once you arrive, be sure to take some awesome photos on your way in with the iconic ESPN globe and your race medal backdrop! If you’ve never been to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, you are in for a treat. This state of the art complex is home to more than 100 varieties of sports! It’s really cool to walk around the beautiful facilities and marvel at the fields, the arenas, and the gyms. For any sports fan, the place is just plain cool.

Race Bib Pick-Up

This first stop once you arrive at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, is to pick up your race bib and participant shirt. Locations may vary from race to race, so be sure to watch for the signs onsite and head to the right location! Upon entering the building, you’ll look for the run Disney Kids Races counters where you’ll be checked in, ensure all waivers are signed, receive your race bib and participant shirt! The race bib will have a tag that matches the number on the bib and will act as the claim ticket for your child after their race. Don’t forget to take a picture with the GoGo squeeZ photo backdrop with your race bib! Make sure to share photos from your weekend using the #ReadySetGoGo tag!

run Disney Health & Fitness Expo

After you’ve picked up the bib and shirt for your kid runners, head to the run Disney Health & Fitness Expo at the VISA Athletic Center. Inside, you’ll find everything you’ll need as a runner; food if you’re hungry and fun activities, too! Stop by the GoGo squeeZ booth for some yummy samples before the race day, create some chEAR signs to cheer on your favorite kid runners, check out the Kids Race medallions they will earn the next day, and take some fun photos! You definitely don’t want to miss this!

By this time, the kids might be hungry. The ESPN Wide World of Sports Grill has a wide variety of snacks and meals, including some specials made just for runners. Wetzel’s Pretzels is inside the VISA Athletic Center on the 2nd floor and there are a few specialty food stations on the Expo floor. You can also find Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company at the Complex and a few vendor carts that have hot dogs and lemonade for purchase. Pro Tip: Did you know that pineapple soft serve is available at the ESPN quick service?!

Commemorative Merchandise

Don’t leave without something to remember your race! Special run Disney Kids Race ears are available for purchase, along with so much more inside The Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports. There will also be some character meet and greets here, and other fun activities for kids! Also, if you pre-ordered any merchandise, this is where you’ll pick it up.

Before you leave, you may want to take a stroll around the Complex to locate the Track & Field Complex where the Kids Races will take place. The One Mile Run will begin on Field 20 and finish at the same finish line as the other races on the Track & Field. There are signs pointing you in the direction for the Kids Races throughout the Complex, but I always like to get the lay of the land before arriving for a big event.

Sleep tight princes and princesses! Race Day is tomorrow!

Warm Up With GoGo squeeZ

Don’t fear! Waiting for your race to start will be AT LEAST half the fun! The infield is full of family friendly activities, all hosted by GoGo squeeZ! Hula hoops, soccer balls, lawn chairs for parents, a kids coloring table, and a rockin’ DJ will have the fun going and the kids warmed up for their race in no time! Expect plenty of GoGo squeeZ applesauce for everyone to fuel their run and water stations, too! Spectators can make their way toward the finish line or the covered bleachers.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget sunscreen for the whole family! Ready…Set…GoGo!

Start Times and the Rolling Waves

One of the best features about the run Disney Kids Races is the rolling starts! This allows parents a bit of wiggle room so that your child won’t miss their race even if you don’t arrive exactly at the start time!

The 100-Meter Dash will begin at 10:30 a.m. and runners will start their race in waves until everyone has run. So, if you’re running a bit behind, don’t worry! The waves typically last for about an hour (30 minutes for the Diaper Dash). Find signs for the 100-Meter Dash and go to the corral to make your way to the start line! Then…Ready… Set… GoGo! For the 100-Meter Dash, parents can choose to run with their children if you feel they might need a hand. Once they cross the finish line, they will get their medal and a post-race snack of bananas, GoGo squeeZ, and water, then their bib number will be checked by volunteers to ensure everyone is with the correct child before leaving the corral at the finish. Head over to one of the GoGo squeeZ’s photo backdrops where an official Disney PhotoPass Photographer will capture your kid’s finish with their medallion!

One Mile Run Racers

The One Mile Run is presented by GoGo squeeZ BlastZ and will include some bigger and bolder snacks and activities happening before the race begins! The race will conclude at the same finish line as the other races at the Track & Field. One Mile Run starting waves begin at 1:00 p.m.

What a fun race day! Whatever race you choose to run, you can have fun “training” together by eating healthy and getting some exercise as a family! We had so much fun “training” together by making race tracks with sidewalk chalk, cray paper finish lines and fueled up with healthy snacks to make you and your kids GoGo even faster! It was magical just being able to spend some BE Time together leading up to our big race weekend! Celebrating at the finish line and telling them how proud I was of them and their accomplishments of crossing that finish line was the best! I hope your kids will enjoy their first run Disney Kids Race as much as we did!

Blog brought to you by Marisa Langford from GoGo squeeZ® Applesauce, the presenting sponsor of the runDisney Kids Races.