Proof of Time

You do NOT need a Proof of Time to run a run Disney race. When you register for a runDisney race, you are asked to input your estimated finish time. If your estimated finish time puts you in the first few corrals, Disney will ask you to provide a “Proof of Time.” This article covers everything you need to know about the Proof of Time requirements and how they work.

Proof of Time Cut Offs

The McMillian Conversion

Disney has never publicly confirmed what “industry standard calculation” they use when evaluating Proof of Time submissions. However, it is believed Disney uses McMillian pace calculations, and that’s the conversion I have used for the graphics below. This isn’t foolproof. The only people who really know what the cut-off is for each race is Disney. In case it wasn’t obvious, I am not Disney.

The belief that McMillian is the industry calculation used by Disney is based on runners self-reporting on forums their submitted times and if they made the cut. The numbers from the self-reports seem to line up with the McMillian formula best, but it’s not perfect. Some people have self-reported more generous cut-offs than McMillian. Consider these cut-offs a conservative idea of where the Proof of Time cutoffs may be, and understand that these are not official in any way.

You will not automatically be placed in the last corral for submitting a proof of time that is too slow (contrary to popular belief). Disney only places runners in the last corral if they submit ineligible race distances or incomplete info that cannot be verified. That being said, Disney takes into account corral capacity when assigning corrals. If you do not meet the proof of time cut-off, and the corral you “should” be placed in is full, you will be placed in the next available corral. If that one is full, then you go to the next corral. So on and so forth. Thus, you may end up in a much slower corral than if you had not submitted a Proof of Time altogether.

If none of this makes sense, skip to the next section. I explain everything you need to know ;-).

2:30 Proof of Time Cutoff Estimates

The proof of time cutoff for the Disneyland Halloween Half, which is the first race of the 2024-2025 race season, has a 2:30 half or equivalent. This is what that looks like with the industry correction applied.

I Promise, the Math is Mathing.

I want to take a moment to dive a little deeper into what it means to have an “industry standard calculation”. It is very tempting to see 2:15 Half as the proof of time cut-off and think you just need to submit a race that shows the equivalent 10:18 min/mile pace. That would be inaccurate.

The longer runners go, the more they slow down. Many big-name coaches and scientists have tried to pinpoint an exact formula for how much an athlete’s pace will slow down at a longer distance. And conversely, how much faster an athlete could run at a shorter distance. McMillian is just one person who has created such a formula. McMillian tends to assume you slow down a little more than the other formulas, but the truth is most industry formulas (including McMillian) are very similar and will result in cut-off times similar to the ones that I’ve listed.

The Dopey Penalty

Disney requires that you submit a Proof of Time based on the longest distance you are running. This means if you are running Dopey (5k + 10k + Half + Full Challenge), your Proof of Time must meet the Marathon cut-off rules, not the Half Marathon cut-off rules. This makes a big difference. The Half Marathon cut-off rules require a 2:15 half, but the Marathon rules require a 2:08 half. It doesn’t matter that you’ll also be running a half as part of the Dopey challenge. Your corral placement for all races is based on the Marathon. This applies to the Goofy Challenge as well.

Screenshot Your Proof of Time Info and Submission.

You don’t find out what corral you are placed in until you pick up your bib at the expo. Having a screenshot on-hand of your submission is useful, just incase there has been a mistake. Every Proof of Time submission is manually verified and sometimes things are missed during the process.

I’m Lost. Start at the Beginging

First, let’s talk about the corral system.

Like most large races, Disney uses a corral system. A corral is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a big holding area for the participants. When you get to the corral area, you’ll see the corrals are arranged with corral A at the start line.

Runners are released by corral and mini-waves.

Corral A is released first. Then Corral B, then C, and so on and so forth. Disney also uses mini-waves within each corral. A mini-wave is just a chunk of runners. Instead of letting all the runners in a corral take off at once, Disney breaks the corral down into waves. The announcers will give a countdown, fireworks will go off, and the first chunk will be allowed to take off while volunteers hold back the rest of the corral for 1-2 min. Then, the next chunk of runners (with another countdown and, yes, more fireworks) will be released. Disney repeats this pattern until the corral is completely released.

It takes a long time to get all the runners on the course.

Disney has some of the largest races in America. It takes about an hour to get everyone on the course, but that can range to as low as 45 min or as long as an hour and 15 minutes. As you can imagine, there is a big difference between being the first runner on the course and the last. Because Disney races start before the sun rises, those in later corrals spend more time on course post-sunrise, which can be hotter. The lines for characters are also longer for those who start in a later corral because more people are ahead of them on the course. Waiting an hour longer to start also means being on your feet for an hour more.

I cannot emphasize enough that you can have a wonderful race from any corral start; these are simply some reasons why people prefer to be in earlier corrals.


How do you get into an early corral?

Disney generally assigns each athlete to a corral based on their expected finish times. The fast athletes are first, the next fastest are next, etc. This order is a safety protocol that is used industry-wide.

So, how does Disney know your expected finish time? They ask. During registration, there’s a required question asking what your estimated finish time will be for each race. ONLY when you select a time that is faster than 1:30 for the 10 miler, 2:15 for the Half Marathon, or 4:30 for the Full Marathon will you be asked to provide what is called a Proof of Time. If you don’t select a time faster than these cut-offs, you do not have to provide a Proof of Time.

Note: Disney has an AWD (Athletes With Disabilities) program. Safety is the priority, and some AWD Athletes may need corral placement accommodations due to their specific needs. This is a call made by Disney on a case-by-case basis. You can find more about the AWD program and what registration looks like here.

Proof Of Time Details

What is a Proof of Time?

A Proof of Time is simply a finish time from a previous race that meets or exceeds the cut-off times Disney requires for the early corrals. So again, that would be faster than a 1:30 for a 10 miler, faster than a 2:15 for a half marathon, faster than a 4:30 for a marathon, or faster than the equivalent of those times using an industry calculation. There are more rules as well. It must be an in-person race, USATF Certified (or the equivalent), and you must have run within a specific time window.

Finally, the proof of time must be submitted prior to a certain date before each race. I keep the important dates page of this website updated with the proof of time submission deadlines and the qualifying time windows for each race. You can also find this information on the rundisney website.

What does it look like at registration?

When you register, you are asked what your estimated finish time will be. If you select a finish time that requires a Proof of Time, you will be prompted to provide the following info:

  • Name of Race

  • Distance

  • City

  • State

  • Date (must be within the qualifying window)

  • Finish Time

  • Website Link to Results

This can be a lot of info to enter. I have a full registration guide with all my tips, but the big tip for Proof of Time is to select a slower corral at registration that doesn’t require all the extra info. Then go back and enter your Proof of Time details after you’ve secured your bib. It will remain editable until the Proof of Time submission deadline. The exception to this is if you happen to register after the submission deadline. If this is the case, the only time you can give your Proof of Time information is during registration.

Still Have Questions?

Your best bet will be to contact runDisney. I always recommend emailing over calling.