Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[johde]

Hi Angie
This is my first Disney Race too but I would assume as long as you have an official finish time your good to go. And besides your 3:29:30 is a whole 30 sec. below the course cut off so there's nothing anyone can complain about. (BTW my first half was 3:28:56 in Cleveland).

 

[Danhockey04]

Official time is 3:30 I believe, so you should be good for C2C challenge. I am flying Continental from Orlando to Orange County (SNA). I picked them up for $229 round trip per person. Then I got a great deal from my girlfriend's dad who does travel groups to the Disney parks for $49/night right across from Disney. I am going to use SuperShuttle, I believe it's called, it is $10 per person each way from airport to hotel, with it being two of us, it will be cheaper. Park tickets, I'm seeing all the deals I can get and go with the cheapest, all that I have left to pay for is park tickets.

 

[kim3339]

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!

You should be fine for C2C. It's a beautiful medal too!

As for airports, Orange County (SNA) is closer to DL and trafficwise easier and shorter to get to. However, depending on flights and the prices of them going up, you could also fly into LAX. They also have more flights going in and out than Orange. Either one works, but Orange is a little easier. Transportation from the airports aren't hard either you can take Super Shuttle or the DL Express(from Orange), but I think Super Shuttle is cheaper. Unless you are going to travel around Anaheim and LA, you really don't need a rental car b/c everything is pretty walkable.

The expo and start/finish are in and close to DL Hotel, but there's no official hotel. Don't know if you've been to DL before, but it's a lot different from WDW- all the h/motels are surrounding the park so transportation is a lot easier at DL. Most of the hotels are on Habor, Katella or Ball. Race weekend there is a shuttle that picks up at some of the hotels and drops you off at the edge of DL on Harbor and you will have to walk through Downtown Disney to get to the race start. But most people just walk from the hotel. You can go through Get Travel on the DL website for hotels and tickets, but in my experience, if you have a AAA card or Entertainment Book, you could possibly find even cheaper hotel rooms. A lot people stay at the HoJo with the Entertainment Book for really cheap. I know I got a room at the Travelodge for the weekend for like $65 or so a night! To give you an idea of hotel locations and ideas, if you google hotels and disneyland they little map with the dots pop up and you'll see a ton of hotels.

Ticketwise though, Get Travel, in my opinion, is the best.

Hope this helps!

 

[Cripey]

Official time is 3:30 I believe, so you should be good for C2C challenge. I am flying Continental from Orlando to Orange County (SNA). I picked them up for $229 round trip per person. Then I got a great deal from my girlfriend's dad who does travel groups to the Disney parks for $49/night right across from Disney. I am going to use SuperShuttle, I believe it's called, it is $10 per person each way from airport to hotel, with it being two of us, it will be cheaper. Park tickets, I'm seeing all the deals I can get and go with the cheapest, all that I have left to pay for is park tickets.

Good Grief...$229!!!! That's a great price. My BF and I are trying to decide this weekend finally if we can swing the DL half and the Wine and Dine one month apart....I really want the C2C now that I finished the Princess...he got his last year. I looked last night and Continental round trip from Houston to SNA was well over $400 for that weekend! I'll have to stay on top of that because if I can get it for close to your price that would be awesome!

 

[Disfan11]

Originally Posted by Sarah_Rose -
We bit the bullet and registered and booked flights over the weekend.
We're flying Alaska Airlines for $220 rt (Friday - Monday) and we have the Anaheim HOJO booked for 3 nights.
Now I just have to decide if we're taking DS (he will be 1 year at that point) and hiring childcare for the HM morning, or leaving him at home with my parents...


Sarah,
I'm from the Seattle area also.
My family is staying at HOJO the same dates. Maybe we'll see each other there!
I just did the Princess 1/2 marathon and had the best time!
I can't wait to do the Disneyland 1/2 and get my Coast to Coast medal!

 

[Sarah_Rose]

DD will be staying with my in-laws...school is already in session here, and we don't want to pull her out for 4 days that early on since we are taking her out for a Disney Dream cruise over Halloween. I worried about hiring childcare for so early in the am anyway. DH and I will have a great date weekend...our first real trip away since DD was born.

Yeah, I'm leaning towards leaving DS with his grandparents... I realize that if I brought him, it would be more for me than for him. He came to WDW for Marathon Weekend in January (at 5 months old) and though we all had a good time, I know that he would have been happier at home at that age. It'll be nice to have some adult time (dinner at the Blue Bayou! actually staying in the park late enough to see fireworks!) and DS will love being spoiled by his grandma all weekend.

Sarah,
I'm from the Seattle area also.
My family is staying at HOJO the same dates. Maybe we'll see each other there!
I just did the Princess 1/2 marathon and had the best time!
I can't wait to do the Disneyland 1/2 and get my Coast to Coast medal!

Hi there! We'll have to try to meet up with each other sometime during the weekend! Congrats on the Princess 1/2 - this will be my first Coast to Coast, too, and I'm really looking forwards to getting that medal! Where in the Seattle area do you live?

 

[Danhockey04]

Good Grief...$229!!!! That's a great price. My BF and I are trying to decide this weekend finally if we can swing the DL half and the Wine and Dine one month apart....I really want the C2C now that I finished the Princess...he got his last year. I looked last night and Continental round trip from Houston to SNA was well over $400 for that weekend! I'll have to stay on top of that because if I can get it for close to your price that would be awesome!

I booked back in the beginning of February, before the gas prices have gone up, and I have a stop in Houston, hopefully you can find better air prices.

 

[verticalchaos]

YES! My flight is now booked as well!! Thank you Continental Miles!!! It was only $7.50 out of my pocket! Whee!!!

Race registration? CHECK!
Hotel reservation? CHECK! (Portofino Inn and Suites)
Flight reservation? CHECK!

Now it's all about the training!

 

[Saylan]

I really want to do this race but looking for deals (and having never been to Cali or DL) I'm nervous I'll make a wrong booking. Does anyone know if places accept CAA (the Canadian version of AAA)? I want to save as much money as possible (without staying in a roach motel) but I'm at a loss with all these hotels nearby.

 

[Cripey]

I really want to do this race but looking for deals (and having never been to Cali or DL) I'm nervous I'll make a wrong booking. Does anyone know if places accept CAA (the Canadian version of AAA)? I want to save as much money as possible (without staying in a roach motel) but I'm at a loss with all these hotels nearby.

I don't know anything about CAA, but my BF and I are planning to stay at the Hilton Anaheim again that is right by the convention center...very nice hotel, short walk to DL, and is a "good neighbor" hotel so it also has bus service to DL. We stayed there last year for the race and were very pleased...I liked it better than the DL Hotel that we stayed at the year before that. Right now, they have an $89/night deal, but it is non-refundable and requires payment in full at time of booking. I believe it's the same deal we got last year too, except we stayed longer and got the 4th night free...probably won't be able to stay an extra night again this year, but I really thought the $89 rate was good for this hotel. Also, the staff here was very nice...the concierge actually answered alot of questions for me via email before our stay and was very friendly...one of the main reasons we're staying here again. (and room service after the race was delish!) There is also a nice Marriot directly across the street from the Hilton that I've heard good things about...I think their rates are similar, but not sure.

 

[jeanigor]

I really want to do this race but looking for deals (and having never been to Cali or DL) I'm nervous I'll make a wrong booking. Does anyone know if places accept CAA (the Canadian version of AAA)? I want to save as much money as possible (without staying in a roach motel) but I'm at a loss with all these hotels nearby.

This will be my first time out there as well. My traveling companion however, has been out there many times. She is looking for a good deal at a Good Neighbour hotel (especially if they have some sort of breakfast included).

 

[Saylan]

Thanks, Cripey. I'll definitely look into that one. It's always good to get recommendations from people who have been there!

This will be my first time out there as well. My traveling companion however, has been out there many times. She is looking for a good deal at a Good Neighbour hotel (especially if they have some sort of breakfast included).

You're lucky to have her guidance! If you or she happen to come across any suggestions on how to look into the travel plans, I'd be happy to hear them. Right now the challenge seems to be flights and how to get from the airport to the hotel. Most places near me don't fly to Orange County so it looks like LAX will have to be the destination.

 

[Cripey]

Thanks, Cripey. I'll definitely look into that one. It's always good to get recommendations from people who have been there!



You're lucky to have her guidance! If you or she happen to come across any suggestions on how to look into the travel plans, I'd be happy to hear them. Right now the challenge seems to be flights and how to get from the airport to the hotel. Most places near me don't fly to Orange County so it looks like LAX will have to be the destination.

Last year we used Super Shuttle to get from airport to hotel, recommended by the Hilton concierge. We flew into Orange County, but I know Super Shuttle services LAX too. We were pleased with the Super Shuttle service and their promptness and will use them again. Booking was easy too...you can do it all on their website. Last year was the first time we had stayed off of DL property (and only 2nd time to DL) so I was in your shoes too trying to figure out how everything was going to work and how we were going to get around. DL is a bit different than WDW as far as getting around...I was used to WDW and not having to care about anything when making travel plans! Don't worry, you have 5 months to get it sorted out and once you get there, it will all make sense...it really is a very small area...just tons of places packed in!!!

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

Orange County is a lot more convenient to fly into, but with that, you get higher ticket prices. We rented a car since we were visiting family in the area as well but I know a few of the runners I met took the Super Shuttle and had no issues whatsoever. All the Good Neighbor hotels have shuttles to the park and frankly are within a good warm up walking distance to the corrals. The hard part at DL is meeting your family after the race if they don't get there early. There are a lot of spectators at this race, more road closures, and a much smaller area at the finish line compared with WDW. My family had a difficult time just getting in to park. But, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Anaheim and it was fantastic. The shuttle to and from DL was very convenient. The Holiday Inn Express is a lot closer and includes breakfast. Not sure what the rate would be, but anyone is welcome to check out my friends and family rate link in my signature.

We are splurging this time and staying at the Grand Californian. So much for my budget this year!

 

[johde]

Just booked the race. RunDisney.com is showing 90% full So I bit the bullet and registered. This race seems to be selling out quick. Thing are coming together.

Hotel Mostly Check (race weekend at travelodge ball road followed by Villas at Disney's Californian). Depending on exact dates may need to change things up.
Race Registration check

Airfair checking daily but Still waiting. Hopefully it will drop here sometime for a short period of time.

Tickets. Have Disneyworld Tickets I can use if necessary but waiting on potential fall special.

 

[Swmr359]

Well I am officially signed up for this race! I guess I need to start training again. And also find flights and a hotel.

 

[pigletliz]

I'm registered, as well. Just finished my first Princess half, so I'm going for my first Coast-to-Coast

 

[Cripey]

Finally registered! The race jumped to 93% full this morning, so I didn't want to chance it and wait any longer...I can't believe I'm going to get the C2C medal!!!

 

[johde]

It's seem amazing that this race is selling out this fast. Looking back over the thread 2/8 it hit 58% and has now hit 93%. At that pace I see no more than another week or two especially with the mad dash around here.

 

[jeanigor]

It's seem amazing that this race is selling out this fast. Looking back over the thread 2/8 it hit 58% and has now hit 93%. At that pace I see no more than another week or two especially with the mad dash around here.

I'm sure there was a large bump from the sign ups at the Princess expo. They may also put a false ceiling on their numbers. I'm sure the marketing department will say it looks better to sell out and 'find more room' than to not sell out until just before the race.