Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

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.

Well, let's hope that things change a bit...and you won't have to join a team (not that it is the worst thing in the world, but I think the point of running on a team is not for a spot, but rather because a cause is near and dear to your heart and you planned to run with them in the first place) They don't ever seem to make decisions right away even with that response, and I think that the waitlist is a bit unethical. After all, your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable so in essence they would make double the money for one spot. I would imagine most people wouldn't call to cancel ( I know I wouldn't knowing that I wasn't getting a refund for it).

 

[Saylan]

Well, let's hope that things change a bit...and you won't have to join a team (not that it is the worst thing in the world, but I think the point of running on a team is not for a spot, but rather because a cause is near and dear to your heart and you planned to run with them in the first place) They don't ever seem to make decisions right away even with that response, and I think that the waitlist is a bit unethical. After all, your registration is non-refundable and non-transferable so in essence they would make double the money for one spot. I would imagine most people wouldn't call to cancel ( I know I wouldn't knowing that I wasn't getting a refund for it).

Thanks Shelby and Cripey! I'm hoping so too.

The wait list is UP! I got DBF in there. He has already said no team for him so it'll be wait list or nothing. We want to run together and that would be harder if he has to go with a package deal offered by a team.

I agree that the package deals should be something meaningful (or at least more than 'I want a spot').

The people he said who would be calling to free up spots were the groups who booked packages of entries (like the charity groups) who didn't need all their spots.

They've updated the website with lots of groups now so maybe DBF will see one that he likes but I doubt it.

 

[Cripey]

Thanks Shelby and Cripey! I'm hoping so too.

The wait list is UP! I got DBF in there. He has already said no team for him so it'll be wait list or nothing. We want to run together and that would be harder if he has to go with a package deal offered by a team.

I agree that the package deals should be something meaningful (or at least more than 'I want a spot').

The people he said who would be calling to free up spots were the groups who booked packages of entries (like the charity groups) who didn't need all their spots.

They've updated the website with lots of groups now so maybe DBF will see one that he likes but I doubt it.

When my BF ran with a charity, he did initially do that because he wanted to get into the race, but he did put some thought into the charity he chose. It ended up being a good experience though because he was assigned a specific child that he was sponsoring from that foundation and even corresponded with the family before and after the race so it turned out to still be meaningful and he was glad he did it. We were also invited to attend the team's pasta dinner the night before and he was able to meet alot of the people that run the foundation as well as several children and families that have benefitted from them.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

When my BF ran with a charity, he did initially do that because he wanted to get into the race, but he did put some thought into the charity he chose. It ended up being a good experience though because he was assigned a specific child that he was sponsoring from that foundation and even corresponded with the family before and after the race so it turned out to still be meaningful and he was glad he did it. We were also invited to attend the team's pasta dinner the night before and he was able to meet alot of the people that run the foundation as well as several children and families that have benefitted from them.

The Rally Foundation is definitely something near and dear to my heart and those on my team at work. It is a fantastic organization and I guarantee anyone who joined the team just for the spot initially would be won over! No shortage of Pixie Dust in that group! They don't have a DL team, just the WDW Team. But, I agree that it is worth running for!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Just signed up for the waitlist. Boo! I am hopeful, though, given that they opened the Princess both this year and last year, and they opened the Goofy last year to add 5,000 more people. Of course, that is Florida and not Cali, so that could make all of the difference. I will be looking into the charity option as well...nothing like doing a good deed and getting healthy all at once!

I just finished the Princess and at the Expo saw the Coast to Coast medal. WOW. Talk about must-have bling...

 

[kim3339]

Well, the numbers jumped again for the 5K. The 5K is at 90%, Strollers are at 99% and the Kids races are at 70%.

Just registered for the 5K again this year. I was thinking about just the 1/2 and waiting to decide on the 5K until stuff was announce, but it would've sold out by the time they do that! Plus, I figured, I've done both the past 4, why change it up now.

So if anyone's waiting to sign up for the 5K, better jump on it!! I'm thinking early next week for a sell out??

 

[Qltrgrl2]

My sister and I signed up for the 1/2 in Disneyland two weeks ago. I just found this site and am excited to talk about the race and preparations. We completed the Disney Princess Half and I am all about the medals so we have to go for the Coast to Coast. Also, my dear sister won her age category in FL, a big surprise since she had not run anything in over 20 years!

 

[johde]

Hi all, was just over at the RunDisney site, It's still showing 95% for the 5K but when you try to register active.com is saying full.

 

[RENThead09]

The RunDisney site isnt always updates to the current percentages. Just the last reported numbers. That happened to me last year with the 5K. This year I wasnt paying attention but saw it was as 95% the other day and get it in quick. 3rd DL Half for me, but first DL 5K.

 

[Saylan]

yeah, runDisney updates it but active is separate. When it was time for the waitlist, runDisney had to wait for active to set up the wait list before the could update it. This happened around noon so for a while it showed at 98% when it was really full.

 

[Cripey]

Made room reservations today...yay! We'll be at Hilton Anaheim fri-mon. We stayed there last year and really liked it.

 

[johde]

Purchased Airfare to LAX today. Prices didn't go down but credit card was giving 5% off Jan-Mar So I purchased Southwest giftcards for most of the purchase from Giant Eagle. Giant Eagle was also giving $.20 off on Gas for every $50 purchase. Being Southwest if prices go down I can cancel and rebook and purchase return airfare. The plane is supposed to land at 11:20 Saturday before the race.

 

[Swmr359]

For those of you who have done this before-do all the Good Neighbor Hotels have transportation to the race start? I'm still deciding where to stay and have my list narrowed down, but if I'm going to have walk somewhere on race morning that may cut the list down some.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

For those of you who have done this before-do all the Good Neighbor Hotels have transportation to the race start? I'm still deciding where to stay and have my list narrowed down, but if I'm going to have walk somewhere on race morning that may cut the list down some.

No, not all of them do. But, the furthest ones do. The one thing to keep in mind is that most hotels in the area are a comfortable walking distance to the start. It is nothing like WDW where you rely on a car if you aren't staying at a host resort, and then have to deal with actual car traffic race morning. I loved this race last year because all I had to do was follow all the people walking. I had my family drop me off because I didn't know where everything was - but ended up getting out and walking because it was more convenient. I honestly think a lot of people use it as their warm up!

 

[Cripey]

For those of you who have done this before-do all the Good Neighbor Hotels have transportation to the race start? I'm still deciding where to stay and have my list narrowed down, but if I'm going to have walk somewhere on race morning that may cut the list down some.

Don't know if this one's on your list or not, but last year we stayed at (and are staying there again this year) the Hilton right next to the convention center. It was a really short walk AND they had transportation to Disney specifically for the race as well as on normal days...so there were plenty of options. Their rates are really good, in my opinion, for such a nice hotel. We booked it last week for $89/night directly on their webiste...paid in full/non-refundable rate. (and they have a Starbucks in the lobby......written as I'm sipping one now ) Also, everyone I spoke with before and during our trip last year was really helpful and friendly.

 

[kim3339]

For those of you who have done this before-do all the Good Neighbor Hotels have transportation to the race start? I'm still deciding where to stay and have my list narrowed down, but if I'm going to have walk somewhere on race morning that may cut the list down some.

The hotels that do have the shuttles do not go to the race start either. They drop you off at the DL/DCA Entrance and you have to walk through DTD to get to the start. It's about 1/3 of a mile, not to long! But like others said, all the hotels are close and within walking distance.

 

[Saylan]

So um, BIG update for those who were following my hectic waitlist fiasco...

The DBF is IN!!!!!! The e-mail was kind of weirdly worded, but I see we've been charged (according to the e-mail, haven't checked my CC yet) so I assume he's in:

There is info where the name and order ID are, btw, but DBF isn't a fan of sharing items like that so I removed them. They aren't blank in the e-mail.

 

[Swmr359]

The hotels that do have the shuttles do not go to the race start either. They drop you off at the DL/DCA Entrance and you have to walk through DTD to get to the start. It's about 1/3 of a mile, not to long! But like others said, all the hotels are close and within walking distance.

No, not all of them do. But, the furthest ones do. The one thing to keep in mind is that most hotels in the area are a comfortable walking distance to the start. It is nothing like WDW where you rely on a car if you aren't staying at a host resort, and then have to deal with actual car traffic race morning. I loved this race last year because all I had to do was follow all the people walking. I had my family drop me off because I didn't know where everything was - but ended up getting out and walking because it was more convenient. I honestly think a lot of people use it as their warm up!

Thanks! From my maps it looked like the hotels were walkable, but I wanted to double check. I was able to find a map that has a list of hotels with race weekend transport.
I finally picked the Best Western Pavillions, looks walkable, has a bus, and has a costco deal I probably will end up walking, but I have back issues and knee pains so I wanted to make sure there was a bus if I need it.
Now I just have to find a good flight! Oh and train....

 

[MelindaRuns]

I called Run Disney directly a few days ago as Hubby had received his confirmation email but I had not. There was a typo in the email address they entered for me, so my confirmation got lost in the ether and will not be re-sent. (Drat! I wnated that email. Yes, I'm crazy-sentimental about this tusff.) But I was able to verbally confirm my registration with a member of the staff. You'll find the number on the lower left of all of the Run Disney screens: "Contact Us"

I'm with you JDRuns about the emails, etc. EVERYTHING - I want it all! Sentimentality, the whole experience, but also it is a little motivating to me to complete all my training runs when I can peruse all the emails, confirmations, and this forum. I guess I'm just a geek. A running geek!

 

[MelindaRuns]

No C2C medal for me My mother can't swing the trip and neither can I.

Bummer! It will be that much sweeter when it works out! I love your posts! You were instrumental in my prep/research for the WDW 2011 half! Thanks!!!