2016 Disneyland Paris Half Marathon

[Kandiekid]

Woo-hoo!!! I got my confirmation email at 4:35am, so I have my 2 half marathon spots!!!! Sooo happy

 

[dancingtodisney]

Does anyone know how the coral placements are going to work? It seems strange to only ask for proof of time of less than 1hr 30mins when I imagine there will be a lot of people outside of that range with very different paces.

 

[hotblooded]

Does anyone know how the coral placements are going to work? It seems strange to only ask for proof of time of less than 1hr 30mins when I imagine there will be a lot of people outside of that range with very different paces.

I'm not sure, but we're certainly bussing in a slower crowd than the French are used to seeing.

 

[chelynnah]

I was actually surprised that there was availability for as long as there was, being an inaugural race and the small entry field and (by US runDisney standards) low registration cost and fees.

Yeah, there's part of me that expected it to be closed in 10 minutes, and another part that thought it would last a day. Hard to tell for the reasons you state. I know the entry itself is relatively low, but for those coming from outside Europe travel and accommodation is really pricey imo.

I suppose I'm more surprised by how many booked packages. I really do hope it goes well. It would be great to see an annual event.

 

[hotblooded]

Yeah, there's part of me that expected it to be closed in 10 minutes, and another part that thought it would last a day. Hard to tell for the reasons you state. I know the entry itself is relatively low, but for those coming from outside Europe travel and accommodation is really pricey imo.

I suppose I'm more surprised by how many booked packages. I really do hope it goes well. It would be great to see an annual event.

I considered booking one out of fear that bibs would sell out, and I get the sense many others felt the same way. With all the registration changes, and the asterisk on the line about 4000 bib-only registration slots, I knew there was a real possibility I wouldn't get to run. I had to make peace with that, but it still stressed me out until registration day. Given the outrageous package pricing, made even worse by the fact that I have an annual pass and the tickets would go to waste, I risked it and waited.

I'm a big believer in staying on-site at WDW, given the convenience, affordability, and range of options. However, I can't justify the cost when there are excellent nearby off-site options at Disneyland California, Paris, or Hong Kong. I hope that they uncouple bibs from packages in the future, because it creates unfair sales pressure. I'm aghast that price-gouged rooms sold so well (did you see how the night before the race was double the regular cost?), but I have little hope that they'll change course when there's clearly an international audience willing to shell out (or cornered into it).

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Ok so now the fun part- the trip planning! Do the trains run 24/7 to DLP or should we stay on site for the race days?

Also how are the rooms set? We might have five of us going, would it be 3 people max per room on property? Or 4? Should we just invite more people to balance rooms?

 

[hotblooded]

Ok so now the fun part- the trip planning! Do the trains run 24/7 to DLP or should we stay on site for the race days?

Also how are the rooms set? We might have five of us going, would it be 3 people max per room on property? Or 4? Should we just invite more people to balance rooms?

I found a great deal off-site at Hipark Serris Val d'Europe, which is a 14-minute walk from the RER station at Val d'Europe and a 23-minute walk from Disneyland Paris. Many DISers like the Hotel L'Elysée Val d'Europe, which is a 1-minute walk from the RER station at Val d'Europe and a 3-minute ride to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy - Parc Disneyland. Many off-site hotels in the area have free shuttle service during park hours.

From my research, I found that the first RER A train on Saturday/Sunday departs Val d'Europe at 5:58 AM and arrives at MLV Chessy at 6:01 AM -- likely plenty of time to spare for a 7:00 AM race start. The train originates in Paris, so you could even stay in a hotel in central Paris on race day. On my last trip to Paris, I stayed in the city center and commuted to DLP for a few days. I found the 40-minute ride quite pleasant, though I'm from NYC so I'm accustomed to daily train travel. In my experience, French trains are much closer to on-schedule than I'm accustomed to at home, and they run at least every 15 minutes at most times of day.

To get an idea, here is the current RER A schedule for Saturday/Sunday in the direction toward Marne-la-Vallée Chessy:
http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_horaire.php?nompdf=a_sd_mlv&loc=horaires

 

[dancingtodisney]

I found a great deal off-site at Hipark Serris Val d'Europe, which is a 14-minute walk from the RER station at Val d'Europe and a 23-minute walk from Disneyland Paris. Many DISers like the Hotel L'Elysée Val d'Europe, which is a 1-minute walk from the RER station at Val d'Europe and a 3-minute ride to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy - Parc Disneyland. Many off-site hotels in the area have free shuttle service during park hours.

From my research, I found that the first RER A train on Saturday/Sunday departs Val d'Europe at 5:58 AM and arrives at MLV Chessy at 6:01 AM -- likely plenty of time to spare for a 7:00 AM race start. The train originates in Paris, so you could even stay in a hotel in central Paris on race day. On my last trip to Paris, I stayed in the city center and commuted to DLP for a few days. I found the 40-minute ride quite pleasant, though I'm from NYC so I'm accustomed to daily train travel. In my experience, French trains are much closer to on-schedule than I'm accustomed to at home, and they run at least every 15 minutes at most times of day.

To get an idea, here is the current RER A schedule for Saturday/Sunday in the direction toward Marne-la-Vallée Chessy:
http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_horaire.php?nompdf=a_sd_mlv&loc=horaires

I've also booked with Hipark! When do you arrive? It was a really good deal for me as well and as I will be alone for the first one or two nights it made sense for us.

 

[hotblooded]

I've also booked with Hipark! When do you arrive? It was a really good deal for me as well and as I will be alone for the first one or two nights it made sense for us.

I'll be there solo September 19-26. I'm too lazy to switch hotels, so it'll be my home base for central Paris, too. With a DLP annual pass and a Paris Navigo Semaine, I expect this to be a relaxing racecation.

 

[dibby5]

Just received notification that some extra bibs have become available.

 

[FFigawi]

For anyone who is interested, Jimmy Buffett just announced two shows in Paris on Sep 23 and 24.

 

[StarGirl11]

Does anyone know how the coral placements are going to work? It seems strange to only ask for proof of time of less than 1hr 30mins when I imagine there will be a lot of people outside of that range with very different paces.

I'm not sure, but we're certainly bussing in a slower crowd than the French are used to seeing.

I ran Reykjavik last August which had a joint half/full start. Their corrals times were self seeded and based on your average half time. The last corral had a start time of a plus 2:00 hr half.

I also tried once over the summer running with a group that trains at the local university track (for other reasons I chose to train on my own). In England. I run a 12:00 min mile. I couldn't keep up with the slowest members of the group.

To say the least the Europeans in general are fast. I am the least shocked that the only required PoT corral is a 1:30 corral.

ETA: Correction Reykjavik was a 2:10 plus half for the last corral. The first corral was a sub 1:35. I am genuinely curious to see what London is like in April.

 

[lzimm13]

I'm glad everyone seems to have gotten what they wanted! Through some sort of foreign transaction/fraud glitch I seem to have obtained 2 registrations! Don't worry, sadly I've paid for both of them I was just so worried about not getting a bib at all that when i got a fraud alert from my CC company I okayed it and figured the first transaction was denied. Apparently not so. Now I'm trying to book a hotel stay and park tickets.

When I try to book a hotel stay it automatically comes with park tickets and if I'm checking in on the 22nd and out on the 25th I don't want 4 days of tickets, I only want 3 but it doesn't allow you to modify that...or am I not looking in the right place?

 

[dolphingirl47]

We are registered for the 5K. I am really excited about this. I have not really done any running since high school so I will start a Couch to 5K programme shortly. My husband has run for many years and has done one previous Run Disney event. He was bitterly disappointed that there was no 10K on offer as this is preferred race distance.

To get an idea, here is the current RER A schedule for Saturday/Sunday in the direction toward Marne-la-Vallée Chessy:
http://www.ratp.fr/informer/pdf/orienter/f_horaire.php?nompdf=a_sd_mlv&loc=horaires

Thanks for sharing this. Whenever we go to Disneyland Paris, we tend to stay at the Ibis Marne-la-Vallee/ Champs, which is pretty much across the road from the Noissy-Champs RER station. Looks like we will have no issues staying there and making it in plenty of time for the race.

Corinna

 

[chelynnah]

I'm glad everyone seems to have gotten what they wanted! Through some sort of foreign transaction/fraud glitch I seem to have obtained 2 registrations! Don't worry, sadly I've paid for both of them I was just so worried about not getting a bib at all that when i got a fraud alert from my CC company I okayed it and figured the first transaction was denied. Apparently not so. Now I'm trying to book a hotel stay and park tickets.

When I try to book a hotel stay it automatically comes with park tickets and if I'm checking in on the 22nd and out on the 25th I don't want 4 days of tickets, I only want 3 but it doesn't allow you to modify that...or am I not looking in the right place?

Generally it automatically comes with that so you can use the park on your arrival and checkout days. It might be worth calling DLP reservations rather than trying online if you want to book stay onsite with a slightly different plan (like one less park day)

Although if I'm really honest you'll find far better prices offsite for hotels then you can just book tickets alone through the same area you bought the bibs.

 

[susall]

where is everybody staying? I have booked HM bib only. Original plan was Disney Hotel New York - but the prices have almost doubled. So I think I will wait until summer, maybe they reduce it again. We will come by car, so we have no time pressure.
Does anybody know if there also will be pacer?

 

[chelynnah]

Here's where we booked a couple of months ago. We're driving over

https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/hotels/disneyland-paris.htm

 

[StarGirl11]

We're staying at the nearby Marriott on points.

 

[TheDisneyDoll]

Finally got the email it took 2 days but I got the confirmation.

 

[jeanigor]

Just booked my flights. Found a swell price from Toronto. Hotel for the DLP portion of the trip is set. It all feels rather real now.