Running at Disney is unique …
If you are looking for a personal record (PR) or to qualify for Boston, these are not the races for you. 
Disney races attract thousands of people, many running for the first time, enjoying the opportunity of running around the Disney World parks, stopping for photographs at the numerous character stops en route.
For out of town races I usually fly in the day before expo, get settled in my hotel and have an early night. I am not a fan of crowds so usually don’t spend time at the expo, just pick my bib up, then back to the hotel to relax, eat early, get my running kit laid out, and then get to bed early.
Race day I get up a couple of hours before race start time, to have breakfast (bagel and peanut butter with a small coffee), take a short walk, go to bathroom and then head out to start line with a bottle of water in hand. After the race its back to the hotel, have a bath, foam roll and go to bed as I’m usually on the first flight out the next day.
Let’s just say this doesn’t work at Disney, for a few reasons, not least who would go to Disney, run, and leave straight away … not me. Given the cost of races and accommodation, plus that this would be a one off event I planned a vacation (with friends) around the challenge.
Fitting a Disney vacation around the Dopey challenge was a challenge in itself. Finding a balance between visiting parks, scheduling rides, eating out, and of course resting, running, and recovery was not easy. Eventually we settled on the schedule to the right, with parks on the lower mileage race days.
For runners who are not early risers race start time can be a bit of a shock. Disney races start early so runners are out of the parks before they open. With buses leaving resorts between 3:30 and 4:30 am, it makes for some really early mornings!
Races start at 5:30 am so there is a lot of standing around, slower runners potentially not reaching the start line until almost 6:30 am. This year 
temperatures were hovering around freezing so I was thankful that I had packed for all weathers including mylar blankets and throw away fleece blankets and gloves, that I wrapped over my shorts and t-shirt until my corral was ready to go. Being Disney there were character photo ops which I took advantage of as there was nothing else going on at that time in the morning and I didn’t want to be stuck in a corral for an hour and a half!
So did my training plan work?
I was assigned Corral A for the 5K and 10K and Corral C for the half and full marathons. Even in Corral A I needed to change my strategy on the fly, as within the first 1/4 mile of both the 5k and 10k interval runners were walking and slowing runners in the narrow exit chute. It wasn’t until mile 2 that the course cleared enough that I was able to get into a comfortable pace/stride. Running round 
Epcot in the dark was amazing, hitting Boardwalk in the dark (10k), more of a challenge! Throughout I didn’t look at my watch, the goal being to finish comfortably. I was amazed crossing finish line to see that I had a PR in the 5k, but aware that the atmosphere and crowd support was possibly encouraging me to run faster than I should given the races still ahead.
The half marathon was the mental challenge for me. In February 2018 at the Princess Half Marathon I’d equaled, to the second, my PR. The course was the same, so there was a drive to try to improve it … which would have been disastrous, given there was still a marathon to run.
During training I had started off with a goal pace for each of the races, but found that this didn’t work for me when I was running 3 or 4 days with increasing mileage. Instead I started running by feeling … this wasn’t a race 
series to PR, rather to complete and have fun doing so. I found a comfortable pace and set off, trying not to accelerate when others passed me. I kept running during the half, (aside from walking through water stations) not stopping for character photos, and was very pleased to be only 11 mins behind my half PR. Clearly my training was working.
Marathon day dawned and I felt really good, with no lingering soreness. Again I planned to just run comfortably, although this race, in addition to walking through water stations (I stopped at eac
h one taking in water or sports drink), I stopped for character photos in places where there were no lines. I started the race at 5:37 am which was a blessing as the temperature rose into the 80’s by the time I finished. Many later runners reported problems and I heard of several runners being pulled from the course for heat related issues. I crossed the finish line, stopped my watch, and then saw my time … I’d PR’d by 14 mins!!
Compared to previous marathons I felt really good. As I cooled down my legs tightened up, but not as badly as expected. I was hobbling and sore, but still managed a post challenge photo before heading back to hotel, cleaning up, stretching, and crashing out for several hours. Thanks to good race preparation, and keeping well hydrated and fueled, I recovered 
quickly enough to be able to make the trip to Disney Springs to eat and celebrate that evening.
So yes , my training plan worked. Using a generic Dopey training plan I incorporated its mileage, cross training and back to back running days, individualizing it to my unique needs and schedule. Through adding mesocycles (structured and specific training blocks), and allowing myself extra rest as I needed I ended up in great shape for this unique challenge.