Next year, Disney Cruise Line will officially join in on the fun of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend by adding a sea component to the regular land based race weekend with the all new Castaway Cay Challenge. The new joint venture between Disney Cruise Line and runDisney which was mentioned a while back on guest surveys, will offer runners participating in the 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend an opportunity to have their cake and eat it to with a chance to sail on the Disney Dream and compete in a special 5k race at Castaway Cay.
Sure you can run the Castaway Cay 5k on any Disney Cruise sailing to Castaway Cay, but only during the marathon weekend January 7 – 11, 2015 can you compete in the 5K, 10K, and/or half marathon and then set sail on the Disney Dream for the last let of the journey. On January 12, 2015 the Disney Dream will set sail from Port Canaveral on a 4-Night Bahamian cruise to compete in the Disney Castaway Cay Challenge on January 14th.
Castaway Cay 5K Highlights
- 3.1 mile course through Disney Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Lines’ private island in the Bahamas
- Course runs past sparkling lagoons, the harbor, and white sandy beaches
- Surprise Disney magical moments and entertainment on-course
Every runner who finishes the new runDisney Castaway Cay Challenge will earn two medals – an inaugural Disney Castaway Cay Challenge medal and a Castaway Cay 5K medallion to accompany any medals earned for running any of the Disney Marathon Weekend events at Walt Disney World.
Castaway Cay Participants Receive:
- Castaway Cay Challenge Inaugural Event T-Shirt
- Commemorative Castaway Cay 5K Finisher Medallion
- Commemorative Inaugural Castaway Cay Challenge Finisher Medal for participating in one Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend 5K or longer event PLUS the Castaway Cay 5K
- Post-race refreshments
- Exciting Activities and access to Special Merchandise on board Disney Cruise Line
- Featured Healthy Menu Options on board Disney Cruise Line
The cruise will feature a stop at Nassau, Castaway Cay, and a day at sea will include exclusive activities designed for Castaway Cay Challenge participants, plus special menu items and merchandise.
To sign up for the Castaway Challenge, runners must book the Jan. 12, 2015 Disney Dream cruise using promo code RUN, and then register for the Castaway Challenge at www.runDisney.com. Race registration opens May 23, 2014. A quick check on Disney Cruise Line’s site shows that this will cost a minimum of $600 per person with double occupancy.
If you are not already registered for a race at the weekend, I’d suggest doing this ASAP as the runDisney website indicates there are two races that are not sold out. As of publication the only 2015 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend races available are the runDisney Kids races and Goofy’s Race and Half Challenge.
UPDATE: The event limit has been reached and the Castaway Cay Challenge is sold out according to the runDisney website linked above. While the event is sold out, the sailing is not.
A few readers booked on this sailing asked us whether or not guests can still participate in the traditional Castaway Cay 5k event even though they are not part of the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Disney Cruise Line did inform us that guests sailing on the January 12, 2015 Disney Dream sailing may participate in the traditional Castaway Cay 5K. However, only those that complete the Castaway Cay Challenge (the 5K on the island and a race at Walt Disney World during the Disney Marathon Weekend) will receive the inaugural Castaway Cay Challenge medal. It was not stated, but I think it is safe to say the regular medal will be handed out at the end of the 5k on Castaway Cay for those not participating in the Castaway Cay Challenge.
According to what I read the kids races do not count. Only 5k, 10k, half and full marathon and they are all sold out. Only the half and full combo is available unless of course they saved slots in some of the marathon weekend races just for this. I am already registered in the 5K and 10K and have already done the Castaway Cay 5K as well. I would love to add this in but two weeks off from work is just too long and another $1900.00 to cruise just prices me out but I hope they continue this as I would love to try in the future.
Goofy challenge!!! Just booked the cruise!!!!
We’re running the 10K on 1/9 then going on the Dream the same day! Unfortunately Disney doesn’t count that and we can’t get a medal 🙁
We did this in 2012 during the Wine and Dine 1/2… wish they had a medal back then, not planning on that again no matter how nice the medal ends up being! :3
I am signed up for the Dopey Challenge (four runs, four parks, four days) and so seeing this show up really excited me. I am not going on a cruise to recover from the runs and do the Park to Paradise Challenge TOO! YAY.
oopa, I am NOW going on the cruise instead of not. 😉 I can’t wait!
We have signed up for the cruise. We are doing the 10K. Now just waiting till noon to see how much the Castaway run will cost.
My Husband and I are registered for the Dopey challenge and I just booked for the Castaway challenge!!! 🙂 perfect way to start 2015
My husband and I are signed up for the Dopey and the Castaway Cay 5 k. We are traveling with a large group of people who are not signed up for any Marathon weekend events. Any idea if they will be able to sign up for the 5k on the Dream? I know they won’t receive the special runDisney medal but what about the regular 5k medal?
Renee, that is an excellent question. I sent an email to DCL and will let you know if I hear back from them on this matter.
Renee, DCL replied with the following: “Guests can still participate in the traditional Castaway Cay 5K, but only those that complete the Castaway Cay Challenge (the 5K on the island and a race at Walt Disney World during the Disney Marathon Weekend) will receive the inaugural Castaway Cay Challenge medal.“
Wish they’d start charging to participate in the Castaway Cay 5K so you’d get a nicer finisher medal and a t-shirt.