Springtime Surprise - Magic of Running

This weekend happens the 2nd weekend in April and always has a new theme. The race weekend consists of sunrise yoga, a 5k, a 10k, and a 10-Miler. You can also register for the weekend’s Challenge by running the 5k, 10k, and 10-Miler to earn a bonus challenge medal.

runDisney 2024 Springtime Surprise banner image

2024 Race Weekend Information

The race weekend theme is Embrace the Adventure! The way that each race is described is very adventure and place focused and I hope this means unique race courses/entertainment. I am also hoping this means one if not all the races will be held at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Race Weekend Dates: April 18-21, 2024
Registration Dates: Club runDisney – Aug 15, 2023 | Regular Registration – Aug 22, 2023 10am ET
Where: Epcot, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL
Events:
- Expo: Apr 18-20, hours TBD and will vary by day. Best guess: Thurs 10-8, Fri 12-7, Sat 11-3
- Yoga: Apr 18, 2024 | $111.93 | Disney’s Hollywood Studios | 5am
- Neverland 5k: Apr 19, 2024 | $107.99 | SOLD OUT | Epcot | Time: 5am
- Adventure is Out There 10k: Apr 20, 2024 | $150.99 | Epcot | Time: 5am
- Hakuna Matata 10-Miler: Apr 21, 2024 | $212.00 | Epcot | Time: 5am
- Ohana Challenge: Apr 19, 20, & 21, 2024 | $485.00 | SOLD OUT | Epcot
- runDisney Springtime Surprise Splash: Apr 21, 2024 | $85 | Typhoon Lagoon | Time: 7pm

Important Links:

Race Weekend Description

Springtime Surprise 5k

The Springtime Surprise 5k (3.1 miles) occurs on the Friday morning of the race weekend and is an untimed, family race. The race has been run in and around Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot in the past but it will likely be run in Epcot in the future. There are usually 4-6 characters along the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a snack box, and a banana.

Springtime Surprise 10k

The Springtime Surprise 10k (6.2 miles) is run on the Saturday morning of the race weekend and is a timed race usually around Epcot and the Epcot resort area. The race begins and ends in the Epcot parking lot, runs backstage, around World Showcase Lagoon, around Crescent Lake, through Epcot, and finishes back in the Epcot parking lot. There are usually 6-8 characters on the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a snack box, and a banana.

Springtime Surprise 10-Miler

The Springtime Surprise 10-Miler is run on Sunday morning at 5am. The race starts in the Epcot parking lot, runs into Future World, then runs to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, around Crescent Lake, around World Showcase, and then ends in the Epcot parking lot. There are usually 10-15 characters on the course and at the finish you will get a medal, a water, a Powerade, a challenge medal (if applicable), a snack box, and a banana.

Springtime Surprise Weekend Maps

2023 Springtime Surprise 10-Miler

2023 Springtime Surprise Monsters Inc 10k Race Map

2023 Springtime Surprise 10k

2023 Springtime Surprise 5k

The runDisney 2022 Springtime Surprise Tower of Terror 10 Miler race map at Walt Disney World.

2022 Springtime Surprise Tower of Terror 10 Miler Map

The runDisney 2022 Springtime Surprise Race for the Taste 10k race map at Walt Disney World.

2022 Springtime Surprise Race for the Taste 10k Map

The runDisney 2022 Springtime Surprise Expedition Everest 5k race map at Walt Disney World.

2022 Springtime Surprise Expedition Everest 5k Map

Past Race Weekend Info and History

This race weekend was originally introduced as the Star Wars Dark Side Half Marathon Weekend in 2016 and took place April 13-16. It mirrored the Disneyland Start Wars race weekend that then rebranded to Light Side. If you ran both, you got a special coast to coast medal for completing the Kessel Run. It hosted a 5k, 10k, and Half Marathon.

In 2022, the race weekend turned into to Springtime Surprise and was changed to a 5k, 10k, and a 10-Miler (which is much more forgiving since April can be very hot). The fun of the weekend that each year it will have a new theme!

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