Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[Cripey]

Thanks!!! I probably won't rent a car, so it's good to know the shuttle fair will make up for an increase in cost. I'll keep an eye on flight price, although I really have no idea what a good price would be.

I just set up farewatcher through Travelocity and get the e-mails. A good price would be under the $300 mark for flying into Orange County even from your area. It looks like the flexible fare search for most cities is staying under that mark (but the search is only until June at this point) so you should be in good shape. Just don't book through Travelocity.

We flew from ATL to SNA last year and ended up paying a little over $300 because people in my family don't like to wait a bit and take a chance to get good fares! The week after we booked, it went down to $250. Oh well...

You can also use Air Fare Watchdog and Kayak for fare watching. The last 2 years it's been Air Fare Watchdog that has alerted me to SNA fare drops and as a result I was able to snag a $200 roundtrip both times...and that included all the taxes...praying this will happen again because fares are around $500 for me right now It's still early though...maybe the airlines just need some pixie dust!

 

[jeanigor]

You can also use Air Fare Watchdog and Kayak for fare watching. The last 2 years it's been Air Fare Watchdog that has alerted me to SNA fare drops and as a result I was able to snag a $200 roundtrip both times...and that included all the taxes...praying this will happen again because fares are around $500 for me right now It's still early though...maybe the airlines just need some pixie dust!

Thanks for the tip on AirFare Watchdog. I've used Kayak and Yapta to track fares, and will gladly add another one if it helps find a better fare.

Also registered for the 5K too.

 

[joan4mickey]

Ok so now that I'm registered I need to start thinking about flights...what is the best airport to fly into?

SNA and super shuttle. super shuttle will drop off and pick up from lots of hotels and you can usually find a coupon for $ off. you can walk from most hotels. i think i walked about half mile last year.

 

[fashionista311]

just wanted to give anyone a heads up who still needs a hotel - living social escapes had a great deal posted..$185 (instead of $358) for two nights in the anabella hotel in anaheim for a concierge room, breakfast, and parking. apparently the hotel is walking distance from from california adventure. there are black out days, but it doesn't look like the half marathon weekend is affected.

i don't know anything about the area, so i apologize if the hotel isn't the greatest...just wanted to pass along the info in case it helps anyone!

 

[BealsRwe]

First timer, well, for Disneyland anyways...can anyone give me the basics? Which airport should I fly into? Host hotels? What's the deal with transportation? I know nothing!! Oh, one more, the biggie, should have been the first thing I asked, I finished the Princess in 3:29:30, is that going to let me get the C2C?

TIA!

Congrats on finishing the Princess half! Yep...if you got your medal, and get yours for DL too...you will get the C2C. I finished the WDW half in Jan with a time of 3:19:07. DH and I are heading out to DL in Sept so we can get our C2C as well.

We are staying at the HoJo Plaza Hotel. I booked after reading all the positive comments on DISboards. Orange County, SNA, is the closest to Anaheim. When we flew out 6 years ago, we flew into LAX since it was cheaper. It is about 40 miles from Disneyland, while SNA is 20 or so. I got a great rate on our rental car through Priceline. Now just have to keep walking/running and then really pushing my training 16 weeks out or so.

Stephanie

 

[Sarah_Rose]

just wanted to give anyone a heads up who still needs a hotel - living social escapes had a great deal posted..$185 (instead of $358) for two nights in the anabella hotel in anaheim for a concierge room, breakfast, and parking. apparently the hotel is walking distance from from california adventure. there are black out days, but it doesn't look like the half marathon weekend is affected.

i don't know anything about the area, so i apologize if the hotel isn't the greatest...just wanted to pass along the info in case it helps anyone!

Thanks for the heads up! I bit - Tripadvisor reviews are pretty good on the hotel and it's cheaper than what we have booked at the HoJo.

 

[Saylan]

Up to 97% full today. It's just jumping up a fair bit each night now. I wonder if it'll fill by week's end.

 

[RENThead09]

Went up to 98% full today. Looks like tomorrow or Saturday will be the Magical day of full-FILL-ment. hehehehe Hope ya all got your registration in.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Went up to 98% full today. Looks like tomorrow or Saturday will be the Magical day of full-FILL-ment. hehehehe Hope ya all got your registration in.

How much do you bet that they will add more space due to popular demand if it fills up? It didn't seem like an overly crowded race last year...and can the Mouse resist the opportunity to make more money especially considering that the coast to coast medal is now available for four races instead of three? (Unless of course the announcement in April is the addition of another Disneyland Race?)

 

[Saylan]

Went up to 98% full today. Looks like tomorrow or Saturday will be the Magical day of full-FILL-ment. hehehehe Hope ya all got your registration in.

It says 98% but my DBF went to register and it's actually full. I hope they do add more spots but I wonder if they would have the capacity to do it. I assume that they pick a cap number that meets some sort of code.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

It says 98% but my DBF went to register and it's actually full. I hope they do add more spots but I wonder if they would have the capacity to do it. I assume that they pick a cap number that meets some sort of code.

The only reason I think that the additional spots could happen is because the Disney Princess in 2010 sold out and they added additional capacity. Granted that was at WDW where most of the roads we traveled were Disney property and not in Anaheim where they may have some regulations...but I would imagine if they do add more spots, they will be very strict with the 16 minute threshold or even start the race a bit earlier.

 

[Saylan]

I hope you're right because I think he's sad he missed out. There's no waitlist for this so I wonder how I would notice if there's more spots without checking constantly.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I hope you're right because I think he's sad he missed out. There's no waitlist for this so I wonder how I would notice if there's more spots without checking constantly.

They would announce it or someone here would! Definitely keeping my fingers crossed for those that missed out to have a second chance!

 

[johde]

Saylan - Sorry to hear DBF may have missed out. I'm surprised the race sold out this quickly. There have been several races this year selling out quickly. I would keep checking the run Disney web site and here to see if they open up additional spots.

 

[Cripey]

I hope you're right because I think he's sad he missed out. There's no waitlist for this so I wonder how I would notice if there's more spots without checking constantly.

He could always research about signing up to run with a charity. The first year my BF ran the WDW half, it was sold out when he decided to register and was able to get a spot with the Rally Foundation. Not sure if they have a presence at DL, but you could look into it. I think he may have paid a little more for registration with them, but it went towards his fund raising goal. If I remember correctly, he had to pledge to raise a minimum of $600 by the time of the race, if not, he would have to make up the difference himself. He didn't have any trouble getting the $600 in donations though so there were no problems there. Other than that, there were no other obligations...you don't have to run with them as a team or anything like that. If he really really wants in, a charity team might be the way to go...and he could help a good cause as a bonus too

 

[Cripey]

I hope you're right because I think he's sad he missed out. There's no waitlist for this so I wonder how I would notice if there's more spots without checking constantly.

There IS a waitlist My BF's cousin was thinking of running this with us, and when I read here that it sold out already, I went on and clicked the "registration" link for the race from the runDisney website and it takes you to a Waitlist registration page. You have to give a credit card #, but they don't charge you unless you are given a spot....this leads me to believe that they probably will add more spots, as was discussed earlier this morning. Tell him to get on the list!!!!

 

[Saylan]

There IS a waitlist My BF's cousin was thinking of running this with us, and when I read here that it sold out already, I went on and clicked the "registration" link for the race from the runDisney website and it takes you to a Waitlist registration page. You have to give a credit card #, but they don't charge you unless you are given a spot....this leads me to believe that they probably will add more spots, as was discussed earlier this morning. Tell him to get on the list!!!!

I tried but once I go to register him it says 'sorry online registration is no longer available'. This was for the waitlist, not the race. I will keep trying I guess.

 

[Cripey]

I tried but once I go to register him it says 'sorry online registration is no longer available'. This was for the waitlist, not the race. I will keep trying I guess.

oh, sorry...that's odd. I'd bet it's just a glitch that they will get worked out. Is this the first time they've done a waitlist? I don't remember ever seing one for races before...maybe that's why it's not working...they still need to figure it out! Also odd that the website still says 98% full, but not allowing registration...they are probably just still getting it updated today...I'd keep checking a few times today and this weekend and I would bet it gets sorted out soon.

 

[Saylan]

oh, sorry...that's odd. I'd bet it's just a glitch that they will get worked out. Is this the first time they've done a waitlist? I don't remember ever seing one for races before...maybe that's why it's not working...they still need to figure it out! Also odd that the website still says 98% full, but not allowing registration...they are probably just still getting it updated today...I'd keep checking a few times today and this weekend and I would bet it gets sorted out soon.

They had a waitlist for the Princess.

So here's what I know so far:

I called Active and this is what they had to say: There's no wait list at this time on their system. The register now link for the wait list is leading to the same page the original reg. link lead to. They directed me to call the event director.

I called the event director and they said this: Race is full. The wait list is coming.

However, they are encouraging everyone who want in to instead use one of the travel or charity groups that will be posted on the website shortly. Those groups will guarantee entry. Most of the groups have bought about 200 spots for possible participants.

Once they know their numbers, they will release any of the spots they have holding that they don't have people for. THOSE spots are the ones that will go to the wait list people. Some years it's been 0 and others it's been a few hundred and they won't know for quite some time what the numbers will be since they're only going up on the site today.

He seemed adament that the waitlist will probably not work out for most people and said we could try doing both, going with the groups and with the waitlist but that honestly, the waitlist would likely not result in a spot.

 

[Cripey]

They had a waitlist for the Princess.

So here's what I know so far:

I called Active and this is what they had to say: There's no wait list at this time on their system. The register now link for the wait list is leading to the same page the original reg. link lead to. They directed me to call the event director.

I called the event director and they said this: Race is full. The wait list is coming.

However, they are encouraging everyone who want in to instead use one of the travel or charity groups that will be posted on the website shortly. Those groups will guarantee entry. Most of the groups have bought about 200 spots for possible participants.

Once they know their numbers, they will release any of the spots they have holding that they don't have people for. THOSE spots are the ones that will go to the wait list people. Some years it's been 0 and others it's been a few hundred and they won't know for quite some time what the numbers will be since they're only going up on the site today.

He seemed adament that the waitlist will probably not work out for most people and said we could try doing both, going with the groups and with the waitlist but that honestly, the waitlist would likely not result in a spot.

That stinks, sorry! A charity group sounds like the best way to go then...at least he would know for sure he was in if he signs up with one.