Disney's Neverland 5K


The Neverland 5k was the first race in the Tinkerbell half marathon race weekend. We were excited about this race because we heard the course was all throughout both Disney Parks ( Disneyland and California Adventure).  When we woke up, we were bummed to see it was raining.

Alice and the White Rabbit for the Neverland 5K
These were our race outfits "Pre-Rain".  Because we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, we only had a short walk across the walkway and through downtown Disney (which is really just a strip of shops. Not as extensive as DTD in WDW), before entering the gates of Disneyland. 

Because we stayed so close, we didn't leave terribly early.  We didn't even realize that there were no corrals until we put our bibs on. We figured it would be set up like the very first 5K we did at WDW many years ago when they left everyone go at once.


It was neat that we got to start the race inside of the park. The start line was around the hub in front of the castle.  There were no corrals on our bib, but they did let people start in waves. We had no idea where one wave started and the other began but somehow we were in the second one (corral B).
Before we started the race, we were told that we would be seeing Peter Pan's shadow throughout the course and when we did, we were suppose to "crow".  We saw the shadow about 4 times through out the course and it was funny to hear all the noises people were making. 

Shortly after we crossed the start line the rain started to pick up again. The surfaces were getting slippery so we decided to walk. We didn't need anyone getting hurt. To be honest, this course was SO crowded that I don't think we would be able to run even if we wanted to. I think everyone had the same idea as us because it looked like everyone else was walking too.

Because of the rain, a lot of our pictures came out blurry but I wanted to show this one of the tunnel we went through. Also, you can see how crowded it was, and this was well into the race.

 We did manage to stop for a few photos.  This race started at 5:00 am so it was really quite dark for most of the race.
The sun finally started to come out as we were running through Paradise Pier. 
And then just around the corner was the finish.  I was hoping we got a finish line picture( we didn't though) because that was the only time we were really running. As we were running across the announcer said "Here comes Alice looking cute as ever". That made me feel good seeing as though I felt like a wet mess!

I loved the fact that we had so much time running through the parks during this race, I just wish that it would have been lighter out so we could have enjoyed it more. The rain definitely put a damper on things too. By the time we got back to our hotel we were soaked.  We had planned to go to one of the parks this day after the race but we were so cold and the dark clouds didn't look like they were going away anytime soon.  We had a nice breakfast at the resort and then went back to our room to warm up. We hit up the expo again before going to browse in Down Town Disney later that afternoon.

What has been your favorite 5K?

44 comments:

  1. Wow, it looks far more wet/rainy than I realized waking up that morning. My favorite 5k was our first and only Royal Family 5k at WDW. I think it was in 2013.

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    1. We did that race too! I love the Royal Family 5K's!

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  2. Too bad it was raining, but it still looks like a fun race!

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  3. You both looked adorable, I love the outfits! I think that kind of crowding would have thrown me way off, but it still looks like you had a great time despite the crowds and weather!

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    1. It was very crowded and not just in that tunnel part!

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  4. Your costumes are absolutely adorable! It sounds like you ladies didn't let the rain put a damper on your 5k experience though.

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    1. Thank You! It was at least nice to have the experience.

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  5. I honestly think these costumes are some of my fav!!! Hate it rained on you guys... but it's always sunny in your heart on a Disney Run -= right? :)

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    1. Thank you Rebecca! That's a good attitude to have for sure!

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  6. Holy moly, that was some crowded race! Too bad about the rain, but dang, you guys looked really cute in your costumes!

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    1. Thanks Shelley. It was crowded but even worse going through the tunnels.

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  7. Your costumes are adorable! The thing with Peter Pan's shadow is something different and fun, love that idea!

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  8. Oh boo on the rain but your costumes are so cute! My favorite 5k was the first one I did, at Disney. It was the only one that I know of that went through the Magic Kingdom.

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    1. Was that the Halloween 5K? I read about that one somewhere. I bet that was fun!

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    2. Was that the Halloween 5K? I read about that one somewhere. I bet that was fun!

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  9. Wow, that's a crowded race. The costumes are adorable. The boardwalk looks slick.

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    1. Yea, there were quite a few slicks spots on the course.

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  10. Loved the outfits! Alice chasing the White Rabbit.. that would have been a great photo op. Too bad it rained.

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    1. Perhaps we will get to wear these outfits again somewhere!

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  11. I think I would be frustrated with how crowded that course is! It is very cool that you get to run through the parks though. I haven't done a Disney 5k before, but my favorite one around here is probably "Wines and Vines" because you get wine afterward! I'm running it again this Sunday :)

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  12. You both look so cute! Despite the dark, you did get some good photos. That is so cool - starting a race inside the park. I'd love to do that 5k one day. ~DB

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    1. I loved being able to walk down Main Street to start the race. Too bad the sun only started to come out as we were rounding the finish!

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  13. You two are super cute! Look at those outifts! To bad about the rain! Fun to run in the park!

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    1. Thanks, we liked those outfits. Too bad we got rained on!

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  14. such cute costumes! I am so glad you had a good time even with the rain. I am debating doing the 5k next year just because it is the only disney 5k all completely in the park!

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    1. I did not know that it was the only 5K that is completely in the parks. That's cool. I just wish it would have been sunny so I could have seen most of it..lol

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  15. That's right, I completely forgot we were dealt with those huge rain storms out west here last week! Sorry they put a little damper on your race weekend.
    I know I have already told you this, but those costumes are just too cute!

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    1. Thank you! Yea, we missed one of the nicest /warmest weeks at home for cool temps and rain in CA...lol

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  16. That seems kind of crazy that they would put on a race that was probably done by 6am! A 5k at 5am? Craziness! Running in the rain is kind of fun, but not if you're all dressed up in an elaborate costume I bet haha. I absolutely love the "Peter Pan's Shadow" part of the race. Disney just has a way with things like that :) always making everything so special.

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    1. I actually wouldn't mind running in the rain if I was out on the streets but there are so many different surfaces in the park that some of them become very slick when wet! Yea, the Peter Pan's shadow thing was a nice touch!

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  17. That's cool that you got a shout out from the announcer as you crossed the finish line! That's too bad about the rain and I had no idea that this 5k was that crowded.

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    1. Yea, that's happened a couple times! It makes me smile!

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    2. P.S This was the most crowded 5K I have ever done. I think it was attributed to the rain and people walking because they didn't want to slip and fall.

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  18. That's such a shame about the weather and the super crowded course! I love your costumes though. You three ladies look fantastic! How were the line ups for the characters? I especially love the photo of you with Hook and Captain Smee.

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    1. Thank you! There was no line for the first set of Pirates and I bet that's because people probably did not see them right away. It was dark and they were off to the side. The other characters had a bit of a line but we weren't really running anyway so we decided to wait!

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  19. The costumes turned out so well! Do they start all the runs so early because of the potential for hot weather or to get the runners cleared out before the daytime crowds? I know I've seen the reason why somewhere... but I forget. ;) Anyway, bummer it was so crowded and rainy -- but I like the Peter Pan theme and you guys really look great!

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    1. If I had to guess I would say they start so early so they can have everything cleaned up before the parks open. I've done the 5K's at Disney World before and they started around 6:30-7:00:am. This is the earliest 5K I've ever done!

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  20. No, the course was pretty crowded the entire way. It's a good thing we were just doing this for fun and pictures!

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  21. I think these might be my favorite of your costumes! So cute! I old have walked too. It's crazy how crowded it was in that tunnel!

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  22. Your costumes are so cute, but boy that course does look really crowded.

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  23. I've never run any of the Disney races. Normally I don't mind the rain (I think it's good for racing), but if I were wearing a costume or hoping to take lots of pictures, I'd been bummed. Your costumes were cute!

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