The ultimate fun run
IS THIS 5K RACE A MINNIE MARATHON? BRIDGET BATCHELOR HITS THE GROUND RUNNING FOR A SPELL OF DISNEY MAGIC
THE sun is setting and there’s a tangible buzz of anticipation in the air as a tribe of Mickeys and Minnies watch the sky darken to an orange-hued sunset over the Disneyland park.
Fairly standard for a Friday evening at the Paris Magic Kingdom, you might think, but, look, there’s Princess Jasmine and Aladdin doing warm-up stretches alongside a gaggle of Toy Story Aliens... and... are they The Incredibles?
It’s Disneyland Run Weekend, the annual race event comprising a 5k, 10k, half marathon and children’s races. This year’s event is from September 24 to 27 – the fifth anniversary celebration – but there’s more! Because, from May 8 to 10, RunDisney will also be adding a Disneyland Paris Princess Run, for all ages and abilities.
The 2019 races attracted some 27,000 participants, and it’s easy to see why.
The atmosphere is incredible, If you must run, why not do it through Europe’s most magical theme park?
We had arrived by Eurostar for two nights at the Disneyland Hotel with Disney tour operator MagicBreaks as part of their MagicRun Weekend package.
With a direct route from London St Pancras taking us straight to Marne-la-Valéé, just a few minutes’ walk from the parks, and the hotel, it couldn’t be easier.
You cannot help but be enchanted as you approach the pink colonial-style hotel with its iconic Mickey clock. Inside, the grand foyer with its sweeping staircase, stunning chandelier and luxurious furnishings, not to mention that very special Disneyland Hotel scent (if you know, you know) is enough to leave you open-mouthed with wonder.
Little touches everywhere remind you this is no ordinary hotel, down to the Mickey ears on the toiletries and the Fantasia ballerina elephants on the bathroom tiles.
Having arrived mid-afternoon, there was plenty of time to explore the park, get a couple of rides under our belt, and fuel up before the big event with a meal at Inventions, one of two restaurants inside the hotel.
With an extensive buffet of hot and cold dishes – starters, mains and desserts, all equally tempting – there’s something to suit all diets. We tucked into a smorgasbord of seafood to start, and a hearty pile of fresh and delicious pasta – pre-race carb-loading at its best – and met some very special friends. It’s not every day you have dinner with Tigger and Eeyore.
As the sun began to set we made our way to the event village for the Disneyland Paris 5k, just a short walk away. I’d thought the 8pm start time might prove a little late for young legs but my companion sped away from the start line, leaving my own rather more jaded legs struggling to keep up.
But there was plenty to keep my mind off my ageing knees: spectators cheering the runners along; spotting the fantastic fancy dress efforts (those Aliens seemed to appear every time we were flagging); the icing on the cake, for the little one especially, the Disney characters dotted along the route.
I was especially thrilled to get a wave from Thumper, one of the, shall we say, more retro personalities.
As we ran, night fell and it was thrilling being behind the scenes in the lamplight. Running through the parks, when all the daytime hordes have gone, was unforgettable.
As we passed Big Thunder Mountain, we passed numerous Day of the Dead-inspired characters for the upcoming Halloween celebrations, wonderfully colourful, spooky creations.
Catching a glimpse of Sleeping Beauty’s castle behind us, we left the park behind, coming back around to Walt Disney Studios for our first sighting of the 13-storey Tower of Terror, dystopian in the darkness.
As we neared the end of the route, we had a welcome last-minute boost from the spectators in the Production Courtyard before crossing the finish line, and accepting our 5k finisher’s medal – a hefty bronze Lion King affair.
There were goodie bags with healthy snacks – they didn’t last long – along with fruit, bottles of water and juice for everyone.
The Disneyland Hotel has a good-size pool with a separate Jacuzzi pool and, in the quiet of the evening, we unwound and eased our weary muscles.
Next day, breakfast back at Inventions was another hearty buffet – we filled up with bacon and chocolatey pancakes for a full day exploring the park.
Disneyland Paris gets busy – especially on event weekends, and during hot weather – so be prepared to queue. The parks open early for those staying in a Disney hotel, so make the most of the Extra Magic Time to get in ahead of the crowds. Some of the bigger rides don’t open until the main opening, though, so it’s a good time to get a photo in front of the castle and tick off some of the smaller rides.
When it comes to the big rides – Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – the queues can get incredibly long. It can be worth splashing out on the Ultimate Fastpass which, although pricey, will massively reduce queuing times for all the biggies.
But if your budget doesn’t stretch to it, prices range from £26 for
one-time speedy access to family attractions (low season) to a whopping £131 for unlimited access to all FastPass attractions (high season). You can scan your park ticket for a free FastPass for a set time to ride. Don’t leave it too late though, as there are limited tickets for each time slot.
It’s a great way to make sure you get all the big rides under your belt – more than once if you’re lucky – and avoid up to two-hour queues at peak times.
There’s plenty to do if the big thrill rides aren’t your thing – being shot out of Hyperspace Mountain at 44mph isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, nor is plummeting down the lift shaft of a haunted hotel.
There are five areas to explore in Disneyland Park – Adventureland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland Frontierland, and Main Street USA
– plus Walt Disney Studios. You might even meet a character or two – you can find them at various locations and restaurants around the park, so don’t forget your autograph book. You can also book special character dining experiences, but you’ll need to be quick.
We met Rafiki from Lion King while grabbing a quick bite at Hakuna Matata, and for a special race weekend meetand-greet, Mickey and Goofy were entertaining guests with stretches and lunges outside the castle. That’s a warm-up we won’t forget in a hurry!
The parks really do have something for everyone. A highlight for me was Ratatouille, an immersive 3D experience complete with smells, sensations and plenty of surprises. It’s charming, funny and you’ll want to go on it again and again.
My adrenaline junkie companion loved Crash’s Coaster, a Nemo-themed rollercoaster that’s a whirlwind of wonder and helter-skelter madness.
The RC Racer is a stomach-dropping take on the pirate boats of old, while Pirates of the Caribbean is a log flume journey through the world of Captain Jack Sparrow – well worth a bit of a queue. If you want to take it a little slower, the classic It’s a Small World with its animatronic population and annoyingly catchy tune is a must, as is a stroll through Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
There’s plenty to eat, drink and spend your money on. My advice is pace yourself as you’re bound to stumble on something you (or, more likely, the kids) want to buy every half an hour or so.
Booking is recommended if you want to eat at one of the many restaurants – we had a wonderful Moroccan buffet at Cafe Agrabah in Adventureland, with spicy chicken, vegetable cous cous, hummus and sugary pastries on offer.
After a day of adventure, maybe catching one of the incredible parades which wind their way down Main Street USA, make sure you settle in early for a spot in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle to watch the famous Illuminations.
If you haven’t had enough magic for one day – as if that’s possible – this incredible light show and firework display is an unforgettable experience.
Something of an emotional rollercoaster, we were mesmerised by treasured memories of Disney through the ages from the first Mickey Mouse in the 1920s to the latest Star Wars adventure projected onto the castle.
The enchantment just keeps on coming at Disneyland Paris, and as we finally made our way back home we took a little bit of Disney magic with us.