Road Closures Half-Marathon Weekend?

[kangamama]

Does anyone have a link to a map of the road closures during half marathon weekend/labor day weekend? We aren't staying walking distance, and I am concerned about getting to the parks in time for rope drop. Anyone know?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Let's start with the OCTA Public Bus Route changes and the times they are effect.

First the full Half Marathon.

file:///C:/Users/darkb/Downloads/Disney%20Half%20Marathon%2043_46_47_50_57_83_543%20(2).pdf

Saturday's 10K.

(not yet available.)

And Friday's 5K.

file:///C:/Users/darkb/Downloads/Disneyland%205K_430%20(2).pdf

And the city hasn't updated its info, but here is last year's info, shoulc be about the same.

http://www.anaheim.net/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=239

 

[lurkergirl]

The event guide has the road closures:
http://rodale-usa.instantmagazine.com/dlhm16/disneyeventguide52016

 

[Bigrob37]

Here is the direct link to the road closures.

http://rodale-usa.instantmagazine.c...ondriving-directionsroad-closures-copy-copy-2

 

[Darkbeer1]

OK, one area that is always open is the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure from the south bound I-5 freeway. So you might need to go north on I-5 to Lincoln, and then head back down the I-5 to Disneyland Drive and the special fly-over ramp direct into the parking structure over Ball Road. This doesn't get blocked.

The Harbor Blvd, Disney Way and Katella Avenue exits can close off the freeway. If you are staying south of the resort, and use city streets, you can drive up Harbor to Convention Way, and the Toy Story Lot. But not sure about the bus service from the lot to the park entrance.

 

[Bigrob37]

Do they allow access from Ball road turning right on to Disneyland DR, for the Mickey and Friends Parking lot? Was trying to see if coming up Walnut to Ball and accessing the parking lot that way would work? I would think it would be open by looking at the course itself, but unsure now.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Well, Ball Road is part of the road course, and why I stated you needed to go up to Lincoln and then head south to access the Fly-Over ramp.

But your plan might work, as they can just force you onto the Parking lot entrance. You might have some delays though depending on the exact time of day.

 

[kangamama]

OK, one area that is always open is the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure from the south bound I-5 freeway. So you might need to go north on I-5 to Lincoln, and then head back down the I-5 to Disneyland Drive and the special fly-over ramp direct into the parking structure over Ball Road. This doesn't get blocked.

The Harbor Blvd, Disney Way and Katella Avenue exits can close off the freeway. If you are staying south of the resort, and use city streets, you can drive up Harbor to Convention Way, and the Toy Story Lot. But not sure about the bus service from the lot to the park entrance.

Thank you! We are staying south, and I'm planning on Uber/Lyft on Sunday morning to get to rope drop

 

[Darkbeer1]

Thank you! We are staying south, and I'm planning on Uber/Lyft on Sunday morning to get to rope drop

OK, how to get to a good drop off point, that is tough.

Maybe take the I-5 northbound to the Harbor Blvd exit, make a left to Manchester and HoJo's (Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel)/Mimi's Café, and then a short walk. The driver then can easily head north back to I-5. That will avoid the sections of Harbor that will be closed. Maybe plan for breakfast at Mimi's Café, they get good reviews, and I personally have eaten there multiple times and like it.

But I think most Uber/Lyft/Taxi drivers will be confused by the road closures in the area, and would plan more time in regards to the issue.

 

[kangamama]

OK, how to get to a good drop off point, that is tough.

Maybe take the I-5 northbound to the Harbor Blvd exit, make a left to Manchester and HoJo's (Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel)/Mimi's Café, and then a short walk. The driver then can easily head north back to I-5. That will avoid the sections of Harbor that will be closed. Maybe plan for breakfast at Mimi's Café, they get good reviews, and I personally have eaten there multiple times and like it.

But I think most Uber/Lyft/Taxi drivers will be confused by the road closures in the area, and would plan more time in regards to the issue.

Maybe we are better off driving and parking, then?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Kangamama, that is up to you. The way the race works, the start and end are on Disneyland Drive and the Disney owned Hotel area. But the finish (last mile) has to use the intersection at Harbor Blvd and Disney Way, and that is the area for drop offs, and since it is the finish, is at the same time as rope drop. (The course uses the access road behind DCA).

If I had to choose, yes, I would drive, using the I-5 to Lincoln and then get back southbound to Disneyland Drive. Here is a marked map, I using the Discovery Cube as a starting point south of the park as an example.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6942231

 

[Bigrob37]

Well, Ball Road is part of the road course, and why I stated you needed to go up to Lincoln and then head south to access the Fly-Over ramp.

But your plan might work, as they can just force you onto the Parking lot entrance. You might have some delays though depending on the exact time of day.

We are staying off of Walnut, which is why I was asking. Ball road closure is only between Disneyland Dr and Anaheim and only on Sunday for the Half. Was asking if anyone knows if you can access the Parking Structure from Ball road (Walnut side) and not have to go up to Lincoln and back down.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I drive down Ball Road on a regular basis over Disneyland Drive, but never during a Marathon morning (as a local, I avoid the area on those mornings).

As stated, looks like it will work, but the worst time for possible delays would be between 5 and 7 AM, as it is the start of the course, and has a short time period where Ball Road is used by the runners. But the end of the course, the runners are much more spread out and causes longer closures, which includes Disneyland Drive near the Paradise Pier Hotel and the Simba parking lot, as the runners do cross the street.

So I would say yes, go for it, but be prepared for somewhat of a delay. Also Walnut gets busier with traffic, including buses, shuttles, etc. due to detours.

If I was staying in the Condo's behind the Mickey and Friends Structure or the Holiday Inn, I would just walk.

 

[deli8788]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb question....will we be able to walk on sidewalks where the road closures are? Like on Harbor Blvd?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Sorry if this seems like a dumb question....will we be able to walk on sidewalks where the road closures are? Like on Harbor Blvd?

Not a Dumb question.

For the most part yes, but it depends on the direction.

The worst intersection will be those walking North on Harbor over Disney way on both sides. There will be times when you can cross, but the runners get priority, especially the front runners.

So sidewalks will be open, as for the crosswalks, well, that is more of the issue.

Same with pathways on/around the three Disney owned Hotels, and the western end of Downtown Disney. Also the crosswalks going north up Disneyland Drive from Katella Avenue.

I remember one year when some Disney exec thought running through most of Downtown Disney would be a great idea (Basically exiting DCA behind Soarin' and its CM gate and then head to the Disneyland Hotel and finish line). I promise you that will NEVER be repeated due to the issues that it created.

 

[deli8788]

Not a Dumb question.

For the most part yes, but it depends on the direction.

The worst intersection will be those walking North on Harbor over Disney way on both sides. There will be times when you can cross, but the runners get priority, especially the front runners.

So sidewalks will be open, as for the crosswalks, well, that is more of the issue.

Same with pathways on/around the three Disney owned Hotels, and the western end of Downtown Disney. Also the crosswalks going north up Disneyland Drive from Katella Avenue.

I remember one year when some Disney exec thought running through most of Downtown Disney would be a great idea (Basically exiting DCA behind Soarin' and its CM gate and then head to the Disneyland Hotel and finish line). I promise you that will NEVER be repeated due to the issues that it created.

Thank you for the info. We are planning on walking north on Harbor from our hotel. We were planning on being at the parks for rope drop. Hopefully we can make it happen. I saw the maps said the road closures were until 730?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Thank you for the info. We are planning on walking north on Harbor from our hotel. We were planning on being at the parks for rope drop. Hopefully we can make it happen. I saw the maps said the road closures were until 730?

No, the closures are based on WHERE on the course the crossing is. So the Ball Road closures end first, and also easier to deal with as the runners are closure together.

By the time they get to the Harbor and Disney Way Intersection, it is the end of the course, where the runners are more spread out. The official map states the full closure will be between 5:15 and 10:30 AM, but in reality, the race starts at 5:30AM, so I would say just before 7 AM they will have to close the crosswalk for the premiere runners to get their best times, after that, you have large groups for the next hour or so which will be hard to stop to allow for people to walk across the course. As it gets later in the run, say 9 AM, then the police are willing to hold up runners (well now joggers/walkers) to cross the course. (same with the Disneyland Drive at the Paradise Pier/Simba crosswalks. And of course, Disneyland Drive is closed for the start, and in fact all week starting tonight to set up the start overnight.

 

[Malcon10t]

So I would say yes, go for it, but be prepared for somewhat of a delay. Also Walnut gets busier with traffic, including buses, shuttles, etc. due to detours.

Last Jan we were coming back from our cheering section and came down Walnut to turn on Magic Way. Took us 40 mins from Katella to Magic way!

 

[bumbershoot]

I remember one year when some Disney exec thought running through most of Downtown Disney would be a great idea (Basically exiting DCA behind Soarin' and its CM gate and then head to the Disneyland Hotel and finish line). I promise you that will NEVER be repeated due to the issues that it created.

Pretty sure we did this path for Star Wars just this year.

 

[kangamama]

So looking at the closure map more carefully, and comparing it against where I'm going to be coming from (Sheraton garden grove, on S. harbor), I think we will be ok using uber or lyft. Honestly, if they can just get us to harbor and katella, I'll be happy. I know that's not too far, but I want to save my kids' walking energy for inside the park. I think we will just leave early, have breakfast someplace on harbor, and then go line up. (Or maybe I'll convince my 8 yr old that he doesn't need to do Jedi training yet again and we can forget the whole rope drop issue all together!)