Grand Californian on May Marathon Morning - Advice Request

[ChrisNJ]

Hi Everyone. I am new to this community and have been enjoying everyone's great advice and reports. Disney does bring the best people together - that is the magic.

I have a few questions that I just can't figure out a good solution to. I'm arriving in Anaheim on Saturday May 9th at 10pm. While booking I wasn't able to get a room at the Grand Californian for that Saturday night, but I did book it for Sunday and on for a few days. My plan was to stay at a hotel a few miles away (on free loyalty points) and then cab it to the Grand Californian at 7am on Sunday May 10th, check my bags and head to the parks. The problem is that I found out yesterday from these boards that the Tink 1/2 Marathon is on Sunday the 10th and starts at 5:30am with lots of street closures. The main entrance to GC is on a street that is closed. I doubt I'll be able to get anywhere near the GC entrance via cab, and walking itsn't an option with luggage.

Do you think the GC would allow me to store my luggage overnight from Saturday the 9th - to the 10th when I check-in?

Has anyone had experience with trying to get to the GC during a race? (I did read the excellent report from the family that was trying to get out of the GC during a marathon and that has helped and scared me a bit - but thankful for it)

Do you think I should just scrap the plan to stay at the GC and stay on Harbour from Saturday on? Is it really such a great experience staying at the GC that I should try to make it work no matter what? I'm booked in a woods/courtyard view room. Should I get a room for Saturday on Harbour and then move to GC mid-day Sunday.

At a little background - I have visited DL several times fairly recently so I don't need to see everything. I have stayed at the DLH previously and thought it was great witht he Neverland Pool, but not so liking the new monorail pool that I need to do it again. I have stayed off-site and thought that was fine too.

thanks for any advice, Blue Sky thoughts or just your well wishes.

 

[kim3339]

You mentioned walking w/ luggage isn't an option, but is that from the Sat night hotel? You could most likely get to the corner of Katella and DL Drive w/o a problem and the walk to GC is a block. You'd have to cross the course, but CMs direct traffic when it's safe to cross over and if you get there a little earlier than 7 when not many people will be finishing quite yet, you won't have that much of a problem.

 

[ChrisNJ]

Thanks Kim. Walking from the first hotel to the GC is what is impossible, so would require a cab to get closer to DL. Glad to hear from a runner who thinks it's possible to walk from that corner to the lobby. It would be Sunday morning at about 6:30am as I want to be at a park for early entry. I've been in crowds with bags and I just don't think I can deal with it that early in the AM if it means having to walk very very far. A long block is do-able.

Best of luck on your run. It does look exciting to be in the parks while most are sleeping.

 

[kim3339]

Thanks!

Yeah, at 6:30 you should be fine. W/ the race starting at 5:30, the 1st runner will be close to finishing around 6:30 or so. The course, as long as it's the same as in the past, will come out of backstage DCA and cross into the PPH parking lot right at that 1st stoplight. Other than that, you should be in the clear and not have to wait very long to cross over the course. Have fun!

 

[2tinkerbell]

The Parks open at 9:00am on Sunday, May 10th with EMH at 8:00am. I just looked this morning to write them down for my DD - the planner.

 

[ChrisNJ]

thanks 2tinkerbell. My goal is to be at DCA's main entrance (faster than the Grand's for morning) at 7:30. Figure I'll need the hour before to walk from the corner to the Grand, check bags, hit Starbucks and then wait for the magic to begin. Who am I kidding... the magic started as soon as I decided on the trip.

Thanks Kim3339. I'll cheer for the runners that I see in your honor.

 

[ChrisNJ]

RunDisney posted the street closings. Adding them here in case anyone else is traveling that Saturday or Sunday. The marathon, the Tomorrowland Red Carpet, Mother's Day, and the premier of the Hat Box Ghost are going to make this a very busy weekend with lots of traffic.

Here is the runDisney marathon information document. Street closings are a few pages in:

http://as1.wdpromedia.com/media/rundisney/pdf/tinkerbell/2015/Tink15_Program_Digital-3.pdf