Disneyland Half Marathon 2024

[DLgal]

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….

They would have absolutely cancelled the races if they were being held this weekend. That amount of rain is not safe for large crowds to run in, especially at Disneyland which gets VERY slick in some spots due to the materials they use on the ground. It's not all nicely smooth slip free pavement like WDW is. There are cobblestones, pebbled concrete, etc. And like you said, Main Street is prone to flooding to such an extent that ducks have been known to SWIM down it.

 

[RunWI1265]

My DPM (dogs per mile) score was super high on that race.

This is all I needed to hear. Give me all the dogs!!!

 

[Livelovedance]

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:

View attachment 732044

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.

This was very helpful, thank you! I haven’t completely counted it out yet, but I’m leaning towards passing on this one. Although I’m sure I’ll have major FOMO, I think as an east cost runner the travel time for the amount of time I’ll actually spend there for 1 race probably isn’t worth the trip. If I had the ability to take even one more day off that’d be a different story. I have about a month to decide for sure, but I’m hopeful that this will be the beginning of the return of many DL races to come and I’ll still have a shot at a C2C medal in the future!

 

[Kender]

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.

Oh totally! I just meant that it was nice on residential streets that so many strangers came out to support . It was nice at WDW having on course characters, but there was something extra sweet about the strangers at DLR. Especially when they had candy

I swear I remember going through the castle, but I would need to check my photos

 

[NYC_MW]

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.

We did for the 2016 Tink half (May). Don't remember the route at all, but my photos have us coming in through the back of Tomorrowland, past the Matterhorn at mile 2, entering the back of the castle, through to Main Street, hitting Paradise Pier, Cars Land, and ToT at some point after mile 3, then through the streets of Anaheim before finishing somewhere in the parking lots.

 

[softballpooh]

What DL races are typically offered during the year? Is this the only one? I know it’s just now returning but historically have they offered others?

I’m coming from the East Coast so I don’t love the timing of this one but I’m also CrD and feel like I should take advantage of an opportunity for guaranteed registration especially since it’ll likely go away for DL races. I’ve never done a DL race and would certainly also love the chance for a C to C.

 

[fatmanatee]

What DL races are typically offered during the year? Is this the only one? I know it’s just now returning but historically have they offered others?

I’m coming from the East Coast so I don’t love the timing of this one but I’m also CrD and feel like I should take advantage of an opportunity for guaranteed registration especially since it’ll likely go away for DL races. I’ve never done a DL race and would certainly also love the chance for a C to C.

In the past they’ve had four weekends but only one is announced for 2024 as of now. It’s anyone’s guess whether they’ll announce other races for later in the year.

 

[Kender]

What DL races are typically offered during the year? Is this the only one? I know it’s just now returning but historically have they offered others?

I’m coming from the East Coast so I don’t love the timing of this one but I’m also CrD and feel like I should take advantage of an opportunity for guaranteed registration especially since it’ll likely go away for DL races. I’ve never done a DL race and would certainly also love the chance for a C to C.

Prior to them all being cancelled, in 2017 they were:

Star Wars Light Side half marathon weekend (January)
Tinkerbell half marathon weekend (May)
DL half marathon weekend (September)
Super Heroes half marathon weekend (November)

We don't know yet what other races are returning if any. And obviously DLHM weekend has been moved to a very different month.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

I would LOVE to do a Star Wars or Avengers weekend. Fingers crossed...

 

[sandam1]

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.

I hope for everyone's sake - particularly all of the people suffering through these storms and their destruction - that we won't see a similar type of rain next year. Once in a lifetime is enough.

But thanks to all for their input on the weather. I don't do super hot weather and am hopeful that California has better race weather than Florida has recently (last week's MW which was just about perfect IMHO not withstanding).

 

[sandam1]

One more question - thoughts/suggestions on off-site hotels? I have a bunch of Marriott points that I would like to use to keep the costs down, but I am open to other suggestions as well. Since we are going to be there a number of days, having something with a kitchenette/near reasonably priced food options would be ideal.

 

[DLgal]

One more question - thoughts/suggestions on off-site hotels? I have a bunch of Marriott points that I would like to use to keep the costs down, but I am open to other suggestions as well. Since we are going to be there a number of days, having something with a kitchenette/near reasonably priced food options would be ideal.

The Westin would be perfect for the races. You can use Marriott points there.

 

[Jillfo]

One more question - thoughts/suggestions on off-site hotels? I have a bunch of Marriott points that I would like to use to keep the costs down, but I am open to other suggestions as well. Since we are going to be there a number of days, having something with a kitchenette/near reasonably priced food options would be ideal.

In addition to the Westin mentioned by DLgal, there is a Residence Inn along Katella Avenue on the opposite side of the convention center along with a SpringHill Suites. I stayed at the SpringHill Suites for one of the Tinker Bell races. Very convenient.

 

[The Expert]

One more question - thoughts/suggestions on off-site hotels? I have a bunch of Marriott points that I would like to use to keep the costs down, but I am open to other suggestions as well. Since we are going to be there a number of days, having something with a kitchenette/near reasonably priced food options would be ideal.

DH and I have stayed at the JW the last few trips and it's fantastic. It has a wonderful rooftop bar, too. Though it looks a little further on the map, you can cut through the mall it's adjacent to and be over at DL in maybe 10 minutes. I've also stayed at that SpringHill for Tink and it was super easy for the corral location (at least where the corrals were then).

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

We go through the Castle. Here is my mom and me in 2016 for Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. You cans see people coming through the castle. This was the 10k.
The castle was decorated soo pretty for the 60th.
(Fun fact that is me running it pregnant)

 

[fatmanatee]

View attachment 732541

We go through the Castle. Here is my mom and me in 2016 for Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend. You cans see people coming through the castle. This was the 10k.
The castle was decorated soo pretty for the 60th.
(Fun fact that is me running it pregnant)

Here’s the map for that one:



Realizing now that I was wildly misreading the map, I thought the castle was a bit further south.

 

[The Expert]

So happy to know I just misremembered the castle moment!

 

[kristenabelle]

Think I might have to go for it. My only Disneyland race was Infinity Gauntlet challenge that got me my coast-to-coast in 2015. Would love to use my club early registration here, and I know I'm not doing Dopey again for at least a while. Looking forward to following along!

 

[Novatrix]

I was briefly toying with doing Goofy at MW and then flying to CA to do the Disneyland races, but after how my legs felt yesterday and today one week out from MW with short "easy" runs, I don't think a half marathon a week after a full marathon is in the cards for me next year.

Definitely following along, and I hope they bring back at least one other race weekend in the future. May the odds be ever in your favor on registration day!

 

[nekonekoneko]

I'm in the early stages of planning on what to do, where to stay, and how to get to Anaheim. As for the three properties on site (DH, GCA, PP) are there any difference in onsite benefits between the three? Like how in Orlando, Deluxes get that Extra time once a week in one park that the moderates and values don't get?