Navigating a Marathon Weekend?

[Cal-Pie]

DH is on business in So Cal for the next month and I'd really like to take the kids and join him for a weekend and spend one day at DL. As the kids end of school year schedule fills, it looks like the only time we could go would be next weekend (May 12-14), which is the Tink 1/2. Am I insane to go on a marathon weekend? Is there usually any difference in crowds between Saturday and Sunday on a marathon weekend, is one better than the other? If we stay in Ontario and drive down in the morning, how will we be affected by marathon road closures?

We always do 5 days in the parks and stay on Harbor within walking distance, so a 1 day drive in trip is totally new to me. As I'm typing this, my rational side says a 1 day trip isn't worth it, but my Disney side wants to tell me rational side to shut up. Help? Please?

 

[SMD]

For road closures, check the runDisney site for Tink, they closures will be on there. You could try driving in the night before, but you might have a hard time finding a decent rate on a room at this point. It's not a 3 day weekend like other races, but it will still be crowded. Mother's Day was always popular before this race was moved. If you look at the calendar, you'll see that both parks open an hour later than they usually would on a weekend on Saturday and Sunday, and EMH is still happening, just an hour later than it usually would. That's because the races will be going through the parks before they open.

 

[figment_jii]

As SMD said, be sure to check for road closure information. I will say, the one time that I tried to drive into the M&F parking lot on a race morning (it was a Sunday), it took a long time to get into the structure (>30 minutes). So be prepared for a bit of a wait at the structure (we got there a little before scheduled park opening). Once inside the park, the day went fine. There were crowds, but we still had a lot of fun.

 

[Eclectic Goddess]

Comparing the days: Be prepared for significant road closures on Sunday, though fewer on Saturday. The parks will be busy regardless, but Saturday is usually busier first thing, because more runners are recovering from the race and not headed straight into the park.

As a runner, I am also obligated to point out that there's no marathon weekend at DL. Race weekends, yes, but a half does not count as a marathon, as there's 13.1 miles difference.

 

[Davidg83]

http://rodale-usa.instantmagazine.com/rundisney/dltbhm011517#!/road-closures

That link should take you to the road closures. If not, it's on page 10 of the race guide.

 

[Malcon10t]

Only DIsneyland Dr should be closed on Saturday. Sunday for the half, you should be able to come north on Harbor to at least Katella. You could park in Toy Story and they can shuttle you in.

 

[Belledisney]

I am going this week/weekend as well. I am nervous about it but I've pretty much come to the conclusion that it's always a mad house now. Sometimes you just get lucky and it's not busy. We had to go this weekend for a graduation so no choice but it is what it is at this point ! You should go I'm sure it will be fun.