Disneyland Half Marathon 2024

[LilyJC]

I have a couple of questions for those that have done previous DL races.

1. What is the weather likely to be for a January race?

2. I usually skip the Disney World 5Ks that aren't part of the weekend challenge because I don't particularly enjoy the 5K distance, to save some money, and to get a full park day. Is there anything particularly awesome about the DL 5Ks that might make me change that plan?

1. So Cal weather is impossible to predict. Sometimes it’s mild and pleasant in January, but some years it’s rainy and freezing (like this year!).

2. If the courses are similar to what they used to be, DLR 5Ks and 10Ks are far superior to WDW. Our two parks are so close to each other that the races spend the majority of the time in/behind the scenes of DL and DCA. Also, if you stay on property or at any of the bazillion super close other hotels/motels, you are walking to/from the finish line. This avoids all that exhausting bus nonsense that we have to deal with for WDW races. You would certainly be able to have a full day in the parks after doing the 5K and likely 10k as well.

 

[DLgal]

1. So Cal weather is impossible to predict. Sometimes it’s mild and pleasant in January, but some years it’s rainy and freezing (like this year!).

2. If the courses are similar to what they used to be, DLR 5Ks and 10Ks are far superior to WDW. Our two parks are so close to each other that the races spend the majority of the time in/behind the scenes of DL and DCA. Also, if you stay on property or at any of the bazillion super close other hotels/motels, you are walking to/from the finish line. This avoids all that exhausting bus nonsense that we have to deal with for WDW races. You would certainly be able to have a full day in the parks after doing the 5K and likely 10k as well.

I agree with all of this.

If this race weekend was happening THIS weekend, it would be miserable. It's pouring rain and FREEZING today.

If it happened in mid Jan 2022, it would have been shorts weather.

There is no way to predict the weather in January here. It's similar to WDW in that way.

The 5k and 10k at DL are Run Disney's 2 best race courses, in my opinion. The 5k is almost entirely in the 2 parks and Downtown Disney. The 10k has a couple stretches of road running, but nothing like the 10k at WDW which is almost half road/parking lot running.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Argh, as someone who has easy access to WDW but hated all the highway miles, hearing about all the park time for the DL races is giving me FOMO! I don't think it's in the cards for 2024, but it sounds like someday I'll need to make the trek out there for those races.

 

[The Expert]

If you do one race at DL do the 10K. Optimum park time in both parks and all around property -- it's amazing. I actually didn't love the half course at DL (caveat - I never got to do the one that went through the stadium), because a good majority of it was on the streets of Anaheim.

 

[camaker]

If you do one race at DL do the 10K. Optimum park time in both parks and all around property -- it's amazing. I actually didn't love the half course at DL (caveat - I never got to do the one that went through the stadium), because a good majority of it was on the streets of Anaheim.

I'll second this recommendation. I ran DLH weekend in 2016 and 2017 after having heard absolutely rave reviews of the DL courses. I was totally underwhelmed by the half marathon course and didn't find it to be anything special. The 10k course, on the other hand, is one of my favorite courses of any distance with its large proportion of park time.

 

[Kender]

January can be rain.

If you do one race at DL do the 10K. Optimum park time in both parks and all around property -- it's amazing. I actually didn't love the half course at DL (caveat - I never got to do the one that went through the stadium), because a good majority of it was on the streets of Anaheim.

I did like the half marathon course for Tink. There was a residential street with such fun people that came out to watch and cheer on runners. This one kid had a jar of pixie dust and would sprinkle a little on anyone that asked. Definitely uplifted my spirits

But big downside at DLR with the residential running is not much course entertainment except for residents that decided to do something on their own. 5K and 10K races are definitely the best at DLR just for the maximum park time alone. Agreed.

 

[sandam1]

January can be rain.

Not ideal, but I don't usually melt.

If this race weekend was happening THIS weekend, it would be miserable. It's pouring rain and FREEZING today.

Yeah, I come from Buffalo, NY so I doubt that our definition of "freezing" is the same. Last weekend's start temps around 50 for the 10K and the half were absolutely ideal for me.

The 5k and 10k at DL are Run Disney's 2 best race courses, in my opinion. The 5k is almost entirely in the 2 parks and Downtown Disney.

So another question - of the historical courses, which one(s) right down Main Street and do you run through the castle? I started runDisney so that I could do that at Disney World. If a race course includes that section, I'm probably going to have to register for it - even if it is the 5K.

 

[luv2cheer92]

Not ideal, but I don't usually melt.



Yeah, I come from Buffalo, NY so I doubt that our definition of "freezing" is the same. Last weekend's start temps around 50 for the 10K and the half were absolutely ideal for me.



So another question - of the historical courses, which one(s) right down Main Street and do you run through the castle? I started runDisney so that I could do that at Disney World. If a race course includes that section, I'm probably going to have to register for it - even if it is the 5K.

The lows seemed to be around 50 in Anaheim this weekend, which I would agree is not cold. That's even a good bit warmer than ideal for me, the rain would feel good at that temp. That's tank top weather haha

 

[fatmanatee]

The criticism of the half is fair, I will note though that for the SW half I did, they had marching bands and cosplayers outside of the parks.

 

[fatmanatee]

So another question - of the historical courses, which one(s) right down Main Street and do you run through the castle? I started runDisney so that I could do that at Disney World. If a race course includes that section, I'm probably going to have to register for it - even if it is the 5K.

Geez, for whatever reason I can’t recall if the half went through the castle, and the map isn’t that helpful (unlike WDW maps it doesn’t show the detail of where you run in the parks). However, the 5k and 10k both ran around it, that’s confirmed by those maps, which do have full detail bc the races stay on property.

Here’s a half map:

 

[DLgal]

The lows seemed to be around 50 in Anaheim this weekend, which I would agree is not cold. That's even a good bit warmer than ideal for me, the rain would feel good at that temp. That's tank top weather haha

No you wouldn't wear a tank top. Sure, 50 doesn't sound cold compared to 20s and teens, but when it's accompanied by cold rain and wind, it's miserable.

 

[Kender]

Not ideal, but I don't usually melt.

Lol! Sorry, forgot to delete that after I saw a lot of others already responded there was a lot more to that thought

 

[Kender]

No you wouldn't wear a tank top. Sure, 50 doesn't sound cold compared to 20s and teens, but when it's accompanied by cold rain and wind, it's miserable.

I think people really underestimate what a temp feels like in California versus other states . Especially when it can jump around a lot in a day.

 

[DLgal]

I think people really underestimate what a temp feels like in California versus other states . Especially when it can jump around a lot in a day.

Seriously. I've lived in upstate NY, New Jersey, and Northern VA. I know what frigid feels like. It's cold right now.

 

[luv2cheer92]

No you wouldn't wear a tank top. Sure, 50 doesn't sound cold compared to 20s and teens, but when it's accompanied by cold rain and wind, it's miserable.

I literally have worn a tank top during a race in those conditions lol

 

[Livelovedance]

After reading here I’m wondering if I should bother trying for the DL race weekend. I would have to work Friday and then hope for a flight that evening, which means I wouldn’t arrive on time for the 10K. I could do the half on Sunday, but if the majority of the half is city streets is it worth it to fly there for just a weekend and have my first DL race not really be in the parks? I thought it was great that it fell on the holiday weekend because I’d be off Monday, until I remembered I can’t take off Friday. Maybe I should try for a race during Wine and Dine instead for a change (never experienced that one either), and hope for another DL race another time…

 

[fatmanatee]

After reading here I’m wondering if I should bother trying for the DL race weekend. I would have to work Friday and then hope for a flight that evening, which means I wouldn’t arrive on time for the 10K. I could do the half on Sunday, but if the majority of the half is city streets is it worth it to fly there for just a weekend and have my first DL race not really be in the parks? I thought it was great that it fell on the holiday weekend because I’d be off Monday, until I remembered I can’t take off Friday. Maybe I should try for a race during Wine and Dine instead for a change (never experienced that one either), and hope for another DL race another time…

The work concern is def valid but I should note that the 10k and half have had similar paths in the parks before. Here’s a screenshot from the last SW races, with the half map helpfully aligned so you can compare the two:



They had the same route in CA, the 10k has an extra little section, maybe a third of a mile? And looking at this it’s possible the half goes through the castle but it’s not at all clear. Between miles 4 and 5 both races left the parks.

Does that mean it’ll be exactly the same for 2024? Not necessarily. But I expect there will be plenty of park time for all of the races.

 

[DLgal]

I literally have worn a tank top during a race in those conditions lol

You can literally get hypothermia in those conditions if you aren't dressed with enough protection from the rain, but okay.

I would run in shorts and a t shirt in 50 degrees on a dry day, no problem. But in pouring rain and wind? Absolutely not.

 

[The Expert]

There was a residential street with such fun people that came out to watch and cheer on runners.

Yes! My DPM (dogs per mile) score was super high on that race. And I don't mean it to sound like there's nothing going on through those city street miles, but it's not the same experience as going through the parks.

I seem to recall not running through the castle during the Tink half, but around it. But I'm not certain about that.

 

[AZMermaid]

Even though there’s more park time… to me it feels different. Now I’ve never run a DL half, so this is just based on speculation and You Tube videos. Bit because the park time is in the middle and end (slightly) at WDW…. There’s 5 miles of anticipation On those highways! It feels to me like it’d be awesome at the start and then rough once the park time is done- no different than my local Rock N Roll (which I havent done either hahaha).

FWIW- warm or cold… running in the rain CA has been getting the last few weeks would be miserable. It’s day after day of downpouring. Im not sure they could hold the races. DL doesn’t drain well. It would for sure be at your ankles in spots. I saw video of the Mission Beach boardwalk flooding what looked like 2-4 inches. Sewage is spilling up into the rivers. It’s rough….