effects of marathon on normal visitors

[busymom232]

so i just noticed that the marathon will be on while we are at disneyland. i was wondering what everyones thoughts are on how it effects normal visitors... we are in socal for 9 days and are doing other places with a few relaxing days too but thats gonna be out main weekend there... is it better to miss the weekend as its busy or less busy and everyones doing the race will we miss things not being there for the weekened??? and where exactly does the race go thru help please

 

[mystic_path]

Im curious too. I dont know if it is the same one you are talking about, but there is a half marathon going on at the end of August I think it is.

 

[rtfelt]

Weekends are always going to be busier at DLR than weekdays. If they can be avoided on your trip do it--whether or not there's a special event (marathon) or not. The half marathon is the Sunday before Labor day. For many CA schools this is the last weekend before school starts. That Saturday and Sunday will be busy just because of that. With the marathon added on, it will probably be busier. Are your 9 days going to be the week before or the week after that weekend? The week after should be MUCH slower because many schools are back in session (and most kids don't want to miss the first days of school) or getting ready to be back in session. I just know my kids usually aren't wanting/able to go that week (even though we usually don't start until that Thursday after Labor day) because they have pictures/registration/pre-school activities that make them not want to miss a day for DLR.

 

[fitzaboo]

We were there the weekend of the Tinkerbell Half in January. The only thing we noticed was the increased amount of traffic on the roads after the race was over. We took ART and it took a long time to get to the park compared to a normal ride on ART.

 

[busymom232]

ya my mom wanted to go for the last 2 weeks of august but i said no as i dont want the whole time we are there to be busy and i figuared here (in bc) the kids dont even get into there "real" classes till mid-late september, so missing a week wouldnt be a big deal. But i did think that socal kids went back late august. now does anyone know if theres fireworks every evening that time as that would be main drawing going on the weekend is the fireworks/fantsmic??? by the sounds of it we will be doing more relaxing the 1st week maybe knots seaworld and univerisal and end with disney....

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

ya my mom wanted to go for the last 2 weeks of august but i said no as i dont want the whole time we are there to be busy and i figuared here (in bc) the kids dont even get into there "real" classes till mid-late september, so missing a week wouldnt be a big deal. But i did think that socal kids went back late august. now does anyone know if theres fireworks every evening that time as that would be main drawing going on the weekend is the fireworks/fantsmic??? by the sounds of it we will be doing more relaxing the 1st week maybe knots seaworld and univerisal and end with disney....

Its a holiday weekend, but since most kids are back at school or about to go back I don't think that is a "huge" factor. The race starts early in the morning so it won't effect park time except traffic getting TO the parks.

 

[ludari]

This will be my third year doing the DL Half Marathon and you'll experience a larger crowd in the parks and resturants pre and post race with all the runners and their families/supporters. They will also be street and parking lot closures but all this should be wrapped up the afternoon. The run will go through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure but those are the first 5 miles so the runners can get out of the way and they can open the parks.

I have to say I really appreciate seeing people cheering us on and congratulating us when I'm walking around the parks later that evening with my medal on.

 

[Califgirl]

I've been there during a couple of the half marathons, and the extra attendance during park hours was actually barely noticeable. It is a holiday weekend anyway, so most guests are expecting some sort of crowds.

I just want to warn you, if you are staying at an on-site Disneyland Hotel ... it gets pretty loud at 4:45 a.m., or whenever they send the runners off. Fireworks go off, loud speakers are blaring announcements, I think at the Tinkerbell 1/2 there was a band. In any case, if your room is anywhere near where they are sending off the runners, don't be surprised if you are awakened by the festivities .

 

[Zbugz]

We were staying at the HoJo during last year's Labor Day marathon. We did receive notice about road closures, but they were for early morning, and we weren't affected by them by the time we headed out for the day. Other than noticing some runners returning to the hotel mid-morning, all was business as usual.

HTH, Zbugz

 

[rtfelt]

But i did think that socal kids went back late august. now does anyone know if theres fireworks every evening that time

SCA schools don't start until September--usually sometime the week of Labor Day.

They usually still have the fireworks and late closings that week of Labor Day, but I know the weekday fireworks stop in September. I just can't remember whether it's the 2nd or 3rd week. Check the schedule for park closing, and that will tell you whether there will be fireworks.

 

[Zbugz]

Last year the fireworks stopped mid-week right after Labor Day.

 

[interstate70s]

My family visited there the week before the 1/2 marathon last August. We checked in on Mon and checked out Sat, the day before the marathon, which was also Labor Day weekend. Mon through Thurs were pleasantly uncrowded and Friday morning was fine, the crowds were terrible Friday afternoon and evening though. The only thing that should be noted was that Magic morning hours were different that week due to the marathon. The days were Tues, Thurs, FRIDAY, and Sat. It was no problem for us as we stayed onsite, so it was actually a bonus, but if staying offsite, it would add a day that you couldn't be there at earlyopening. We picked our dates based on Touring Plans crowd calendar, which indicated LA schools were back in session the week before our trip. We would do these dates again if we had to go during the summer. Our kids schools here in WA always start after Labor Day. In fact we met a lot a families there from WA that week.