Characters return to exclusive Disney World event

Characters are a big part of the Disney experience. It is so great to see them return to this exclusive event!

runDisney expo

Hey, runners! Are you ready for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend? The special weekend starts TODAY and ends on Sunday!

The 5k is tomorrow, November 4 and the 10k is Saturday, November 5. The half marathon takes place on Sunday, November 6 and concludes with the post-race party at Epcot that evening.

Today, Disney is hosting the runDisney expo so runners can shop for merchandise and pick up their race bib, shirt, and pre-purchased merchandise. It is a great time with some fun entertainment.

Characters return

Speaking of entertainment, characters are back at the expo! When the parks closed in 2020, runDisney events did not return right away. When they did return, several changes took place to ensure the safety of everyone.

While characters have remained on the courses over the past two years, they were not at the expo. We are happy to share that they are back! At past expo events, there were always two characters greeting Guests.

First up, we have Genie! Genie is on the Challenge medal for the weekend, so this makes perfect sense. Do you think we could ask him to grant us Fantasmic! Lightning Lane access tonight?

Second, Mira is greeting runners and fans at the expo. In case you did not know, Mira is a young girl who has been appointed by the Queen of Jalpur as a royal detective. She works to find clues to help solve cases both big and small. You can find her show on Disney Junior!

Genie and Mira are out visiting with Expo Guests today.

Mira has only been out and about around the parks a handful of times, so this is a real treat to see her. The great thing about these character experiences at the expo is it changes every year. We are happy to see characters back at this event!

They are out until 7:00 tonight, so be sure to stop by if you can!

Are you at the expo for Wine and Dine? Did you meet these fun characters? Share your experience with us in the comments below and share your photos with us on Facebook!