Going to Disneyland for the first time during the week of the Tink half?

[Nermel9]

Hi everyone!

So like my thread title says, I'm thinking of going to Disneyland for the first time ever next year the first week of May. At the end of the week is the Tinkerbell half marathon and all of the other races that go along with it. I know nothing about Disneyland crowds, I'm a Disney World girl, so I'm wondering if that week will be more crowded than a different week in May. Do the races bring a lot of people in? I was kind of hoping for lower crowds for my very first trip, but like I said, I know nothing about Disneyland crowds!

Advice? Is this week ok? Should I consider the last week of April or later in May? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

 

[kappyfamily]

Tink Half brings in roughly 15-20k runners,if not more, between all the races. So yes, a lot more people then normal. If you could pick another weekend you might be better off. Have fun!

 

[kappyfamily]

Just checked my numbers and this May between the 10k and half there was 19k racers and a bunch more that do the 5k.

 

[Imdboss]

I would go the week before if you can. Any race weekend is going to bring in a lot more people. If there's 15-20k racers plus the people that come along with them that aren't in the race that's going to be a big uptick in crowds. We've gone numerous times in Oct over CHOC walk weekend and the day of the walk DL is always packed.

 

[kirstie101]

What days were you planning on being in the parks? The race expo starts on the Thursday before the race so thats really when the runners start showing up. Crowds will build Thursday-Sunday basically, with Sunday being the most crowded.

 

[Nermel9]

What days were you planning on being in the parks? The race expo starts on the Thursday before the race so thats really when the runners start showing up. Crowds will build Thursday-Sunday basically, with Sunday being the most crowded.

I think I was planning to arrive April 30 and go home May 7. So the last day I'd be in a park would be the 6th. Maybe I'll have to look into the week before. Thanks guys!

Is the last week in April a good time to go?

 

[kirstie101]

I think I was planning to arrive April 30 and go home May 7. So the last day I'd be in a park would be the 6th. Maybe I'll have to look into the week before. Thanks guys!

Is the last week in April a good time to go?

Honestly I think you'll be fine. You wont notice a difference at all on Thursday from the rest of the week. And Friday you might not notice much either. We come in Friday night and do the parks Fri/Sat/Sun. I've always found Friday to be very doable crowdwise. Saturday isn't horrible either honestly. Feels like a busy Saturday in the parks. Sunday, the day of the half, is pretty crowded though. I think leaving on Saturday you'd be missing most of the crowds truthfully.

 

[Nermel9]

Honestly I think you'll be fine. You wont notice a difference at all on Thursday from the rest of the week. And Friday you might not notice much either. We come in Friday night and do the parks Fri/Sat/Sun. I've always found Friday to be very doable crowdwise. Saturday isn't horrible either honestly. Feels like a busy Saturday in the parks. Sunday, the day of the half, is pretty crowded though. I think leaving on Saturday you'd be missing most of the crowds truthfully.

Thank you! I was wondering what earlier in the week would be like, if people came for the entire week, then ran the races at the end, or if they just came for the weekend and the races. Sounds like most of the week will be ok!

 

[kappyfamily]

I think if you have the option though to go a non race weekend I personally would choose that. You can basically double the number due to family coming so 40k extra people, if not more in those two parks does make a difference. If it was disneyworld where everything is bigger, you don't feel it as much. Ivenow been to 4 race weekends at DL and you do "feel" it for sure.