Disneyland 1/2 Marathon

[Sunshineminnie]

Hi there,

I am seriously considering running the Disneyland Half this year. I completed the Goofy challenge and think it would be awesome to do all three! A few questions for those who have participated in the past.

Where did you stay?
Did you go to the parks after?
How soon did the race fill to capacity?
Was it as much fun as the DW marathons?

Thanks

 

[DianeL]

Hi Sunshineminnie!!!

Where did you stay? We stayed at the DL hotel. Nice. I know others stayed at the Good Neighbors Hotel and hopefully in bumping this up they will see and give their opinions

Did you go to the parks after? YUP! Noticed more people this year because of the Coast to Coast medals. It was pretty cool In 2006 I felt a bit weird wearing the medal but in 2008 we ALL were wearing our Coast to Coasts Course I still carried my Castle for photo ops

How soon did the race fill to capacity? Doesn't fill to fast. We signed up in 2008 I think May or June. Frankly I wasn't going to go until someone on Robert's site got a photo of the rendering at an expo. Then I emailed it to my DH and training buddy and it was decided that we HAD to go LOL

Was it as much fun as the DW marathons? It's different. They are saying a new course for 2009 but nothing up yet. You went thru the 2 parks early then the roads. But I felt they did a great job with entertainment with bands, cheerleaders, dancers and a huge crowd of scouts (both boys & gals!) at the Angel's stadium since we couldn't go thru in 2008. In 2006 we went thru the stadium, I don't know what they did in 2007, I've only done the 2 races so far. Then back again thru CA Adventure which was nice and run thru their DTD to the finishline. Kinda neat location for the finish line as you can find team mates cheering there (Chester )

I really enjoyed my 2 races at DL and look forward to going back. If you can manage it with time and travel I'd recommend it. Besides, it's at DL! How cool it that! The original park! It was pretty magical

And have you SEEN the shadow boxes of the 5 medals? You earned the Goofy, get the Castle and Coast to coast and oh my! That box full of medals is something! https://www.fondmemoriesgraphics.com/products.php?year=2008&event=7

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

This will be my first time ever to DL and I'm going for C2C bling. Have no idea of the answer to your questions, I am planning to go to parks after for sure.

Apparently there are several decent hotels to stay and the person in charge of helping with that from the event seemed very helpful to offer suggestions.

Here's hoping you get some answers that will help you make the decision.

 

[FireDancer]

I did the inaugural DL half in 2006 and liked it. I stayed at Paradise Pier which was nice because they bumped me up to a suite for free. I was by myself so it was way bigger than I would have paid for but it was on the top floor so the view was awesome.

To be honest if I went back I would save the money and stay at one of the good neighbor hotels. They are within walking distance and since I am the kind of person who just uses the room to sleep I would save the money.

I did go to the parks after the run and I actually did a tour, the Walk in Walt's footsteps tour. If you have never been to Disneyland you will notice it takes a lot less time to do the parks. The most fun part for me was just spotting the differences between DL and MK.

I know they are doing a new course this year so my experience won't matter but for what it is worth we ran through DL and DCA in the first 3 miles and then out into Anaheim. We ran through the Angels stadium (I think it was Edison field then, who knows now) and then finished at Dowtown Disney.

The course is flat and if you have never done a non-Disney World run it was pretty well run, on par with other long runs through cities. Since it is not all on Disney property they don't have the same level of control.

I was debating doing the DL half this year but am carpooling with some friends to do the VA Beach half and Baltimore Full. The price was better.

One other big difference you will notice with DL depens on where you are from. Being from Cleveland the 3 hour time difference made that 4:00 wakeup a lot easier. You also walk to the start so you don't have to give yourself quite as much time to wait for a bus.

Good Luck and I know you'll love the run if you do it.

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Wow DianeL! After seeing all the bling put together, it make me want to go even more!

I am seriously looking into it. I think that although I enjoyed Goofy, it will be "been there, done that" kind of thing for me. So this we be the year to go for it!

I also haven't been to DL since 1987. Wow does time fly. Has it really been 22 years? Yikes!

I'd love to go back and take my family. They would love it. What a fun trip at the beginning of school! And since it's only a half, I should be back, showered and ready to go to the parks! Woo Hoo!

I'm happy to hear that it doesn't fill too fast. It will give me some time to try to put together a budget and plan. I really do love planning! To me there are three kinds of fun with Disney. The planning and dreaming, the actual trip and the pictures and memories after!

Hope to see you all in DL over Labor day. Wish me luck and pulling this off!

 

[joan4mickey]

What Good Neighbor hotels do you stay?

 

[jbucci]

We went last year and stayed at Candy Cane Inn. The hotel was nice and really close to the park-- I think it was a shorter walk to Disneyland from the hotel than the walk from the parking lot at Magic Kingdom. It was our first trip to Disneyland, so we have nothing to compare to, but we thought it worked well for us-- no frills, but clean and close with internet access.

 

[Millenium Mickey]

Hi. I've done the D'land 1/2 in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Where did you stay?
GCH 2006, 2008. I'm staying there for 2009 also.
DLH 2007. It's nice to stay on property because you can walk to the start line and I usually don't get there until 15-20 minutes before the race begins.

Did you go to the parks after?
YES! There are a lot of locals that run the race but there are plenty of people in the parks wearing their medals. I fly home the morning after the 1/2.

How soon did the race fill to capacity?
2006 filled by March. 2007-2008 took quite a bit longer. For 2009, I assume it's not even 50% full yet since there are no updates on the website.

Was it as much fun as the DW marathons?
I haven't done any of the races in January so I can't comment directly. At least you don't have to get a bus at 4am!
Also, in 2006 & 2007 we got to run through Angel Stadium and were on the jumbotron. I hope they bring that back in 2009.

 

[mkymsehi]

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

 

[mkymsehi]

http://www.mousemisers.com/2009/two-free-nights-at-disneyland/

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Ooooo. Thanks so much! Still haven't decided, but really, really want to go!

 

[jbucci]

I've having trouble making a decision and I was hoping for some input from WISHers. The hotel deal of 5 nights for the price of 3 makes me really tempted to stay at the Disneyland Hotel as opposed to an offsite good neighbor hotel. From my looking around it will be about an extra $30 per night to stay at the DL Hotel when you average out the price. Does this seem worth it or should we save the money and walk a bit?

It will be me, DH, DD5 and my parents (both of whom have some mobility issues and tend to use a scooter in the parks).

opinions welcome and apreciated

 

[mkymsehi]

Jen,

It's a farther walk from Disneyland Hotel than it is from Desert Inn & Suites, when going to the park turnstiles. You have to walk all the way through Downtown Disney.

On the flip side, you're right at the start and finish for the race.

 

[dsnyfan21]

(lurking)...

 

[Scott H]

(lurking)...

Me too LOL,


Stayed at DL hotel last two years, will be at Paradise Pier this year pending a reservation. Airfare is done, just waiting for DVC points.

New course, interesting.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

I REALLY want to do this race, I have no idea how I will pull it off but I WANT that coast to coast medal! I am a little nervous about going to DL by myself I have never been before and don't like being confused all alone! I struggle enough getting people to come with me to WDW which is an hour down the raod so I don't think I can drag them across the country! Also the cost will be a lot but oh well I want that medal so I will try to figure it out, I have 6 months to do it, wish me luck

Kirsty

 

[Sunshineminnie]

Kirsty,

I know how you feel! I too really want that medal. I would also love to go to DL. Haven't been since the mid 80's. My dilema is Labor day weekend. If I go alone, I miss out on so many family/kid events. If I take them with me, I have to justify the cost #1. Justify them missing school and events #2. And #3, just trying to pull all of it together.

I have traveled many times by myself. It's always a little intimidating when you don't know your way around... but it always is fun! It's also a great feeling to be independant and go a little out of your comfort zone. Especially when you get the Coast to Coast at the end. Just think of how proud of yourself you will be!

I also know that they have a meet and greet set up with other Disers. Maybe you could get to know some of them and buddy up for the weekend????

As far as the cost goes. I've been on the Disneyland boards and there is a lot of good info there. Everyone raves about HOJO (Howard Johnson). It's within walking distance. As of yesterday, they still had their entertainment rate available. $59 per night for a standard.

I can't believe the cost. I can't believe it's within walking distance. WAY different than WDW!

Also, does Southwest fly from your area. I have found that I can usually get a good price, nonstop, if I am just patient enough.

Good luck with your decision! (My vote is GO FOR IT!). It will be fun and empowering.

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

HI sunshineminnie,

thanks for your feedback, I really really want to go now! going to have to save up the $$$ and figure it out,

 

[dsnyfan21]

Kirsty: HI, I did this one by myself last year. Met Pat and Susie as they were staying at the Candy Cane Inn. Met up with Jeff and Marcia!! You'll do fine once you get there. I really didn't enjoy the flight out there (5hours) but hey, the medals and meeting some fellow WISHers was well worth it!.

I am thinking about it, it's the airfare that is my issue and needing a direct flight.

Tracy

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

It would be nice to meet up with some of the WISHers, the only thing that concerns me really is, which airport to fly into and how to get from the airport to DL, did you have to hire a car? or get a cab? or does DL do transportation like WDW does? And is everything for the race within walking distance, I know DL is a lots smaller than WDW but is it easy enough to get to the expo and to and from the race start/finish?

Thanks for all your help