This past weekend my wife and I went to Walt Disney World for Star Wars Weekend. I will do a recap of Star Wars Weekend later in the week. As for this post, I am going to recap my training run through the Epcot Resorts, Epcot International Gateway, & Disney Hollywood Studios.
I did this run on Saturday morning and did two laps of the following for a total of 5.25 miles. Since we stayed out late the prior night for the Star Wars Weekend Firework Show, I slept in, and went out for this run around 7:30am. It was around 70 degrees and 100% humidity. There were actually many runners out running.

Disney is really trying to promote running/walking and a healthy lifestyle.

Since we were staying at the Boardwalk Resort Villas, that is where I started my run. This was my view as I exited out of the hotel onto the Boardwalk.

As I headed out I went to the right toward Epcot’s International Gateway. At the end of the Boardwalk, I passed the ESPN Sports Zone.

I then run up the path over the waterway where the Friendships boats cruise by.

I then made the right to head toward the International Gateway.
I then arrive at the back entrance to Epcot, known as the International Gateway.

After making the loop at the International Gateway, I head back and go straight which took me by the Yacht & Beach Club Resort.

At the Yacht & Beach Club I passed by Stormalong Bay, which is the most awesome pool area on Disney Property, which includes a Pirate Ship water slide.

Just past the water slide, you can overlook Crescent Lake and look back at the Boardwalk Resort.

Next up was a run through the Dolphin and Swan Resorts.

I have attended IBM Conferences there for many years in my past, so I know these resorts just as well as the Disney Resorts.

I have always found this fountain at the Dolphin Resort so peaceful and soothing.

After leaving the Dolphin and Swan Resorts it was time to hit the trail along the river to Disney Hollywood Studios.

The trail…


I was told that Saturdays are far more crowded at opening for Star Wars Weekend, than when we went on Friday, so I decided to run up to the gates to see. That theory was confirmed. This was around 7:45am, well prior to the gates opening.

After checking out the crowds, I returned down the trail back toward the Boardwalk Resort, and repeated the course again.

After returning to the room and cleaning up, my wife and I headed to Epcot. As we were walking through the World Showcase, a dining booth caught my eye. It was a croissant doughnut with cinnamon sugar. It was light, warm, sweet, and awesome. I nice reload for a sugar high for the day.

This was a nice little run. My friend Greg over at WhyIRunDisney.com did this a few weeks ago and gave me the idea to try it. It was a very nice scenic run to start the day.
This was a start to a busy day. It started with this run at 7:30am and ended at 1:30am Sunday morning with Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom. My FitBit registered over 35,000 steps for the day, my longest effort in the 6 months of using it.
I hope you will try and enjoy this running route the next time you are at Disney. You can still run this route if you do not stay at one of the resorts on the route. If you review Greg’s post, he will tell you what he did to come over and do the route.
Happy Disney Running.