240: 2026 runDisney Springtime Surprise Recap: LIVE from the Inaugural Rise and Run Cruise!

Merch sold out by lunchtime. “Perfect” status quietly returned. Someone built a race plan around getting a photo with Boba Fett. That’s the kind of wonderfully specific runDisney chaos we love, and we’re recapping it live from the inaugural Rise and Run Cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas.

We break down the 2026 RunDisney Springtime Surprise weekend from the expo to the finish line, including what went smoothly, what still needs fixing, and how to think about merch strategy if you can’t arrive on day one. We also talk about the surprise perfect recognition, why messaging matters for long-time participants, and what runners can do when demand keeps feeding resellers. Along the way we share a big personal update, Greg’s honor of guiding a runner through the New York City Marathon, plus some of the sponsor support that makes these weekends and trips easier to plan.

Then we hit the races: the 5K with standout theming and costumes, the 10K from a cheering perspective with behind-the-scenes finish line logistics, and the Inside Out themed 10-miler that closes the runDisney season with moody lighting, core memory vibes, and character stops that spark big feelings. Star Wars energy shows up loud through character lines, which leads to our ongoing debate about whether a full Star Wars race weekend could return and what might be standing in the way.

We finish with a rapid-fire race report, a live trivia contest that doubles as a weirdly fun Rise and Run history lesson, and plenty of moments that remind us why the runDisney community keeps growing. Subscribe for more runDisney race weekend recaps, share this with a friend planning their next Disney running trip, and leave a review with your favorite Springtime Surprise moment.

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