There are so many activities you can participate in at Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay. One of the most popular excursions is Run Disney’s Castaway Cay 5k. In short, it’s a 3.1 mile tour of the island that runners, and walkers, can sign up for. As the race became more popular, Disney Cruise Line partnered with Run Disney to give runners a better experience. It’s appropriate for guests of all fitness levels.
If you’ve ever wanted to partake in this unique experience, here’s everything you need to know!
How to Sign up for the Castaway Cay 5k
When you first board the ship, go to Guest Services to sign up. It’s completely free to sign up for, but spaces fill quickly. Make sure you grab a spot as soon as possible after you board the ship. The minimum age is 10 years old. Younger children are free to run/walk the course with their parents, but cannot officially register and get a bib or a medal.
Don’t be shy about signing up either. Both walkers and runners are welcome. If you can keep a quick pace walk, or faster, then you’ll do great.
ETA 10/2019: People are now reporting that you can register for the 5K online before your cruise once your booking window opens (more details here).
What’s Included in the Castaway Cay 5k
What makes the race such a popular activity is the awesome medal that you receive for participating. The medal design changes each year and they also offer on course water for runners. There are two water stops.
What to Expect on Race Day
All runners need to report to the appropriate meeting spot on the island at the designated time – usually anywhere from 8:00-9:00 am. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night prior. You’ll hear a short presentation on the race route with specific instructions on what to expect. Then everyone gets started. If you have young kids, you will have the chance to first drop them off at Scuttle’s Cove, the secure kids area on the island. Expect warm weather almost all year round, and very hot & humid conditions during the summer months, so pack cool and comfortable running clothes that breathe.
The course takes you on the island’s airstrip, through a forested section and then you turn around to go back. You can catch some nice beach views around the Serenity Bay (the adult section of the island).
To keep the course magical, there are a few photo opportunities along the course. Many Cast Members cheer and encourage you as well.
Run Disney’s Castaway Challenge
If you are looking for double 5k challenge, then Run Disney’s Castaway Challenge may be for you. To earn a special “Castaway Challenge Medal” you must run a race during Marathon Weekend (5k distance or longer), in January at Walt Disney World, and then run the Castaway 5k during the sailing on the Dream right after marathon weekend. You would earn 3 medals total for participation. You must register in advance and it does sell out. There is also a charge for this. It’s perfect for a Land to Sea vacation, if you love running. For more information, prices, and race dates, look at RunDisney.com.
The accomplishment of completing the race is a magical memory that you can take home after your Disney Cruise Line vacation. So pack your running shoes and workout clothes for your next cruise. If nothing else, you’ll be able to enjoy a second dessert (or three) without guilt after you’ve run the Castaway 5k.
All photos ©Disney
We just did the race this past Saturday. It was totally fun, but hot. One note, bye the time the runners got off the boat, passengers were also able to debark, so we really didn’t beat the rest of the ship.
Thanks for the feedback Karen! I think this may be a recent change. I’ll update the article ASAP.
The same was trueness for us last June. We really only beat the other passengers off the boat by a few minutes. By the time we were walking to the start the rest of the passengers were coming off the ship.
Thanks for the report Bryan!
If the whole family runs is there a place to put beach bags at the race?
They will allow you to place your belongings on the family beach before the race starts, which is typically before the non-racers leave the ship (though not always per recent reports) and may allow you to get your first choice of beach chairs. If you will have valuables that you want to secure, I use this bag & love it. http://www.kyssbags.com
As a side note it over a half mile walk to the start line. And although the staff will say you will depart the ship as a group you get mixed in with the other passengers and can lead to you “missing” the start. I literally dropped my bag and started running.
What time does the race typically begin? My first cruise is this year.
Hi Dana! All the reports I have read say that runners meet on the ship at 8:00, and actually start the race on the island about 9:00.
Are there good places for other family members that are not doing the race to watch?
Hi Maryanne! The start and the finish of the race are at the same spot – the old airplane runway. You can take the tram to the starting point and if you like, wait there for the finish as well. It wouldn’t be longer than 45 minutes or so. I hope this helps!
How should we plan for our kiddos before/during race? Can/should only one of us participate?
Hi Nicole! I wish I had a concrete answer for you but I don’t. The runners typically meet onboard about 8 am and leave the ship as a group. The Oceaneer Club/Lab does not open until 3:00 on Castaway Cay day, but Scuttles Cove (the secure children’s programming on the island) opens at 9:00. Perhaps your kids could leave the ship with the runners and then you can quickly drop them off at Scuttles Cove right at 9:00, and then join the race? This is probably an issue for many people, so I suggest asking guest services after you board the ship and they will let you know what your options are.
When we raced before they told us that Scuttle’s Cove opens early to let racers kiddos in. We were able to drop off our kiddos before the race began.
My husband and I want to run… sans kidds. What can I do with the kids during the run? They are 4 and 2. I can put my 2 years old in the nursery but my 4 years old….
Hi Elizabeth! I wish I had a concrete answer for you but I don’t. The runners typically meet onboard about 8:00 am and leave the ship as a group shortly thereafter. The Oceaneer Club/Lab does not open until 3:00 on Castaway Cay day, but Scuttles Cove (the secure children’s programming area on the island) opens at 9:00. Perhaps your 4 year old could leave the ship with you and the runners and then you can quickly drop them off at Scuttles Cove right at 9:00, and then start the race after (although you might start a little bit later than other runners, but I don’t think that would be a problem)? This is probably an issue for many people, so I suggest asking guest services after you board the ship and they will let you know what your options are.
Are there Shutters photographers along the route?
Hi Bobbi! I know there is a Shutters photographer at the end of the race, but I don’t think they have them along the route. I could be wrong because I have never run the race myself, but that’s what I’ve heard from others.
They only had them near the finish line and at the finish line when we did it in 16’
Actually, my 5 years old daughter would like to run with me(and get a medal!). Can she parcitipate the race?
The minimum age to officially participate (meaning get a bib and medal) is 10. But, it is an open course and there is nothing stopping her from running it with you, just without the bib and medal.
Is there time to run the race and do excursions offered on the island?
Yes, but I wouldn’t reserve an excursion before 11:00 at the earliest, and 12:00 would be better so that you’re not rushed.
hi, just wanted to know is the race being done on all the cruises or is it on some dates
Hi Maggie! The race is held every time a ship visit Castaway Cay, weather permitting.
Please don’t think I’m a horrible person for asking this but is there a way that you can cheat the 5K.? The only reason why I ask is because I will be running/walking with my kids who are 11 and 12. Our cruise is end of August so I can only imagine that even that early in the morning the temperatures might be horrible. If it really is miserable I don’t want to push it with my kids and ruin our whole day. We have never been on CAsatawy but by reading I understand the course goes in one direction and you turn around. Can we simply turn earlier? We still get a metal I know it’s horrible even saying this normally I would never cheat. I have no issue with heat and humidity but I just get nervous putting my kids in those conditions And then expect them to have fun in the sun and water all day
Hi Alex! You’re right, in August it will be very hot and humid, even early in the morning. I have never participated, but from what I understand, it is an open course that would allow you to stop or change directions whenever you want. Looking at the course map, there is an opportunity to turn left instead of right and head to the finish line about halfway through the race. I don’t think this would be a problem, I would imagine there are always some people who don’t finish it for whatever reason. Would you still get the medals? I have no way to know, but I would think that you would. After all, it’s Disney!
I have a question… this will be my first 5K in a few weeks; want to know of there is a place on the island to get breakfast afterwards? I do not plan to eat before the race.
Hi Cindy! The places that serve food on Castaway Cay are open from 11:30-2:00, so if you want something to eat before that, you would have to go back to the ship.
If the cruise is stopping at Castaway Cay twice during the cruise, will the 5k be on both days? If that is the case are you able to participate both times?
According to my research, it is usually only held on the first day. Apparently there have been times in the past when they have held it both days, but I don’t think its the norm and I wouldn’t count on it. You can ask guest services after you board and find out for sure. If they do have it both days, you would be able to participate both times.
We just did this race on 3/11/18 and the course was not what a lot of people think; the course is paved, but there is no view except for trees and bushes. The course doesn’t even go around the island and there are no spots for viewing. We signed up to do this based on the assumption that we would see a lot of the island and have great views… not true; you are basically running through paved woods. And by the time you get off the boat and start walking to the starting line, non racers are getting off the boat as well and you get mixed in with crowds of people. The “medal” is rubber/plastic with the 5k logo stamped on it and if you want to purchase a 5k shirt, they are $40.
Same on 3/26/18. No bibs for tracking racers, no timing chips, no photographer, no results/rankings, etc. Pretty informal event and we were told during the briefing that they’ll look they other way if you want to cheat (really Disney?). Route started by the bike rental, up the bike path to the runway, take a left on the runway, take a right into the forested loop, take a right when exiting the loop to continue on the runway, do a u-turn at the end of the runway (not even a cone to mark the turn-around point), go back and do another forested loop, then return to the starting line.
I did the run disney weekend in Paris in October 10k and half marathon
Does this qualify for the challenge medal if I run the 5k please?
I’m sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that question. I bet if you post the question on a runDisney message board then you could get an answer.
No it doesn’t. It has to be the January Florida event.
We are doing a cruise with 2 stops at Castaway Key. Any idea what day is the race offered – our first day or 2nd?
Hi Kevin! According to others who have stopped twice at CC, the race is held the first day. However, DCL could change things up at any time so this is strictly a guess and you won’t know for sure until you board the ship.
When we run the Castaway Cay 5K my daughter will be 9, turning 10 2 months later. Will she still be able to register and get a big race and metal?
Hi Shannon! I think it just depends on if the CM who registers you enforces the age rule or not. I have no personal experience with this, so all I can say is that you can ask when registering. They might let her, they might not. Even if they don’t, she can still run with you but just won’t get the bib or medal.
Hi, I am in a wheelchair and was wondering if you know if I would be allowed to roll the course, is it all paved?
Hi Jay! I have not personally inquired about wheelchairs and the 5K, but I have read several reports online of people being told that wheelchairs and strollers are not allowed. You could always call DCL and double check though.
Ah thank you! For some reason it’s hard to find detailed information about the race and the one question I always try looking for an actual answer is what do you do if you have younger kids? Knowing that they allow you to drop off your kid at Scuttles is awesome. Thanks for confirming that because both my husband and I want to run this and we were afraid one of us wouldn’t be able to because the club would not be opened.
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy the 5K!
Is the 5K available on all Disney cruises that stop at Castaway Cay including the 3night sailings?
Hi Vivian! Yes, it is available on all sailings that stop at Castaway Cay.
Is it true that runners get first dibs on chairs/seats in the island?
Hi Sue! While that may have been true in the past, it is not true any longer. For a while now, the runners have been disembarking as a group at the same time that they open the gangways for all cruisers. Even more recently, I heard that they have switched the meeting place for the runners to a spot on the island instead of a spot on the ship, so now they disembark with the general cruisers and then go to the meeting spot on shore.
We plan to take a Disney Cruise that docks at Castaway Cay for 2-days. Is the 5k on day one or two?
Hi Lonnie! I have heard that it is usually held on the first day.
Thank you! That is our assumption too. This is our first cruise with two back to back days at the Cay. Can’t wait!
Is the 5k path suitable for pushing a wheelchair?
Hi Lory! I have read mixed responses to this – some say yes, some say no – which leads me to believe that DCL has changed their stance on this at least once. I suggest calling DCL to see what their current policy is.