Race, Relax, Repeat

After falling head over heels for runDisney during my very first Princess Weekend in February 2024, I’ve pretty much been hooked ever since. I’ve made it to nearly every race weekend at Walt Disney World—and even crossed the country to join the excitement at a Disneyland runDisney event this year!

With Springtime Surprise marking the last runDisney race weekend of the season, I decided it was time to treat myself. So when I spotted a Club Level room available at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, I didn’t hesitate—I put down that $200 deposit faster than you can say “post-race Mickey waffle.” Bonus: this was my very first time staying Club Level!

Upon checking into Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, I was greeted by a Cast Member who called up to the Club Level Concierge to let them know I was on my way. Moments later, I was personally escorted up to the Regatta Club! 

When you’re staying in a Club Level room, you’ll need to use your MagicBand or Key to the World card to tap for access to the lounge floor in the elevator. Once I arrived, the Concierge team welcomed me with a POG Juice Mimosa (yes, please!) and gave me a quick rundown of everything included in the Club Level experience. They even had a personalized welcome letter waiting for me—such a thoughtful touch!

What impressed me the most? The Regatta Club had special offerings just for runners during the race weekend! If you know runDisney, you know those 2 a.m. wake-up calls are no joke—especially without a little caffeine and fuel to get you going.

To my delight, they opened their coffee bar at 3 a.m. just for runners! There was also a spread of race-friendly snacks: bagels, fresh fruit, trail mix, and bottled water—all ready to grab on your way out the door. It was such a thoughtful touch and made those early mornings feel just a little more manageable.

Even better, they offered a special pasta dish each night to help runners carb-load before the big day. I’m not sure if other Walt Disney World Club Level lounges offer the same runner-specific perks… but now I’m on a mission to find out!

When I walked into my freshly remodeled Water View Room, I immediately fell in love with the charming nautical touches—and of course, the hidden Mickeys sprinkled throughout! My room overlooked the iconic Stormalong Bay, which is currently being refurbished for the summer. Even though I couldn’t take a dip this trip, it was exciting to see all the progress being made. I’m already looking forward to experiencing it once it reopens!

I took on “the challenge” this weekend, which meant running all three races—a total of 19.3 miles! I knew I’d be exhausted and wouldn’t be spending as much time in the theme parks as I normally would, so staying Club Level ended up being the perfect choice.

Each day, I enjoyed breakfast, light snacks, and Hors d’oeuvres right in the lounge, which made fueling up super easy (and honestly, pretty relaxing too). I even brought my laptop along and got some work done—booking magical vacations for my clients while lounging with a snack in hand!

I was really impressed with the food offerings throughout the day, but the desserts and cordials in the evening totally stole the show for me. They even switched up the menu during my stay, so I got to try a nice variety of options! 

After a weekend of feeling thoroughly pampered (and totally wiped out from all those miles!), I’ve officially decided: Club Level is a must for all my future runDisney weekends. It was the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and Disney luxury—and I can’t recommend it enough!

Even if you don’t stay Club Level the entire time, a split stay is a great option—enjoy Club Level for a night or two to unwind and recharge, then transfer to another resort for the rest of your trip.If you’re curious about trying Club Level or planning your own runDisney weekend, a travel professional at Be Our Guest Vacations would love to help you find the perfect fit!