Official 2011 Disneyland Half Thread!

[jeanigor]

Thanks for the information. I'm looking at taking 1 largish rolling suitcase and 1 dufflebag carryon (with the race stuff in it).I had 6:00 on the brain, but that's the Pasta in the Park time. I decided that was too expensive. I'm not sure where I want to eat yet. 5:00 will be 8:00 home time. The earlier flight only has a 25min layover in Nashville which I was afraid might be too tight. Right now, the SNA flights are significantly more expensive.

As long as they are on time, switching in BNA (Nashville) via Southwest is quick and easy.

 

[kim3339]

I'm not sure where I want to eat yet. 5:00 will be 8:00 home time. The earlier flight only has a 25min layover in Nashville which I was afraid might be too tight. Right now, the SNA flights are significantly more expensive.

I know it's early, but eatingwise, don't worry about it~ there's tons of places. DTD has ESPN(better selection than the WDW one), House of Blues, Naples(italian), Tortilla Joes, UVA bar has a good restaurant upstairs, there's a steak house in the DL hotel, a couple nice one's in the Californian, and on Harbor there's a Tony Roma's and at the other end is Aunt Mimi's(I think) so food's not a problem!

I know about the SNA flights, it's crazy!! I was going to use them, but it's already $156 just to fly down from San Jose. If I go LAX it's only $89. Insane!!

 

[johde]

I'm currently paying 169 just to get to California. There are cheaper faire all around it but none I can use. If I could fly Thursday, it 143. There's a saturday flight into SNA for $135 but it gets in at 8:00pm and the fares not available for Friday. I'll keep watching (Daily) and see if something better comes up. ONT looks closer than LAX but further than SNA. Is that right? ONT also doesn't seem to have the shuttle service to Disneyland.

 

[kim3339]

Ontario and LAX are about the same distance, I think only a couple of miles distance wise. Can't give you any advice though, never flew into there before. Not sure about the shuttles, you could look at Super Shuttle, that's the major one we have out here. A tip too- I think they might even be a few $ cheaper than the Disneyland Shuttle. Traffic could be a problem as well with Ontario, only b/c it's Labor Day Saturday and you have to go 10 west which is the freeway to Santa Monica and the beaches. Not sure how set you are on Southwest, but I know that Jet Blue flies into Long Beach which is only 20 miles away, and you can Super Shuttle to DL.

 

[verticalchaos]

I'm flying into LAX...but then again my flight was only like $7.50 with using frequent flyer miles (thankfully on a "real" airline...Continental/United!!)!

I'll meet up with my sister and running partner (and whoever else is coming along) either at LAX or at Portofino. They haven't booked their flight yet. We're getting in 9/1.

 

[HockeyKat]

Is SNA the closest? DL doesn't offer anything like Magical Express, no?

I am completely ignorant when it comes to DL, sorry. I subscribed to this thread in the hopes I can do this half next year and looking for any and all info about it.

 

[Cripey]

Is SNA the closest? DL doesn't offer anything like Magical Express, no?

I am completely ignorant when it comes to DL, sorry. I subscribed to this thread in the hopes I can do this half next year and looking for any and all info about it.

Yep, SNA is the closest and is a very small airport...no stress! However, most of the time I think the fares there tend to be a little higher than into LAX...but I think it's worth it...as long as it's not a really significant difference. No ME at DL though...we used Super Shuttle last year and plan to again this year. It was inexpensive (from and back to SNA), easy to book online, and they were very prompt both ways.

 

[HockeyKat]

Yep, SNA is the closest and is a very small airport...no stress! However, most of the time I think the fares there tend to be a little higher than into LAX...but I think it's worth it...as long as it's not a really significant difference. No ME at DL though...we used Super Shuttle last year and plan to again this year. It was inexpensive (from and back to SNA), easy to book online, and they were very prompt both ways.

I've used SuperShuttle before, although not in CA. I find them very easy to use as well.

Thanks for the info!

I really want the C2C medal and have already completed the 2011 Princess. However, I am bummed this year as I have a free flight to use on SW, but not only is the race already full, my husband (not a runner) has also never been to DL and wants to go too. I could do a quick weekend trip but having to do both of us, airfare, park tickets, hotel, etc. needs a year's advance budgetary planning.

 

[kim3339]

Is SNA the closest? DL doesn't offer anything like Magical Express, no?

I am completely ignorant when it comes to DL, sorry. I subscribed to this thread in the hopes I can do this half next year and looking for any and all info about it.

Yes, SNA is the closest, but there's also LAX, Ontario, Long Beach, and Burbank. Long Beach is the next closest and Jet blue is their big airline, then LAX/Ontario and then Burbank.

There's no shuttle like Magical Express, b/c the majority of the hotels around DL are non-resort hotels like HoJo's and Best Western. However, unlike WDW, they surround DL/DCA so you can easily walk to the resort and the race area. The 3 resort hotels are Paradise Pier, the DL Hotel and the Grand California. But sadly, they're also the most expensive hotels that surround DL.

There's a Disneyland Resort Shuttle that I know of as well as the Super Shuttle. But when I've looked at prices in the past, Super was a few $ cheaper.

 

[Rupert B Puppenstein]

I know it's early, but eatingwise, don't worry about it~ there's tons of places. DTD has ESPN(better selection than the WDW one), House of Blues, Naples(italian), Tortilla Joes, UVA bar has a good restaurant upstairs, there's a steak house in the DL hotel, a couple nice one's in the Californian, and on Harbor there's a Tony Roma's and at the other end is Aunt Mimi's(I think) so food's not a problem!

I know about the SNA flights, it's crazy!! I was going to use them, but it's already $156 just to fly down from San Jose. If I go LAX it's only $89. Insane!!

I think the convenience of SNA over LAX and the other surrounding airports is worth the extra cost. But, I never book flights this early anyway...in my experience, two months out for a East Coast to West Coast flight is the earliest I will book...it always ends up being so much cheaper. SNA isn't the smallest airport at all - and has the largest variety of flights (second of course to LAX) and is so much easier to get around, LAX is a nightmare IMO. My favorite thing about SNA is that it is just a few exits to DL.

I agree that DTD at DL is so much better than at WDW for restaurants! I can't wait to eat at Napa Rose again! I think I could eat there every single day!

 

[johde]

I had already missed 2 lower prices so I decided to "hedge my bets" and book the outbound flight now. I'm still hoping prices will go down. That's 1 reason I booked with Southwest. If they do go down, I can rebook at the lower rate.

 

[MelindaRuns]

A 37 night cruise? Sign me up IMMEDIATELY!

lololol I can't believe I didnt catch that.. lol. No, its Aug 23--Aug 30

 

[MelindaRuns]

Thanks! I just did a HM in 2:40 - 7 minutes off my WDW Half time. Technically I set PRs at the 10K and 15K marks in that, but I don't know that those would be accepted. I've got a 10K race next Sunday...we'll see what that estimates me at, and if necessary I'll submit that time.

*by "just did" I mean a couple of weeks ago. Hee!

Awesome! You ROCK! Keep it up! And let us know how your training is going. Its very motivational!

 

[verticalchaos]

Awesome! You ROCK! Keep it up! And let us know how your training is going. Its very motivational!

Thanks!

I just started a new training plan - run/walk a 10K - that increases my running time. I'd been doing 4:1 (minutes running: minutes walking) - this one starts me at 5:1 and works me up to run a mile/walk a minute for the target 10K. We shall see how it goes.

 

[mandac]

We usually fly into Long Beach. We used to fly into SNA but the prices have gone up a lot. Of course I am a lot closer, coming from Salt Lake. But if you are going to rent a car and drive, both SNA and Long Beach are great with the rental cars right at the airport. LAX you have to take a shuttle to the rental car and that can add a lot of time (and stress!) to the trip.

This is the first year my DH isn't doing the race with me. I am not even sure he is coming on the trip. He is hoping to get a gig teaching Math in high school this year and that wouldn't leave him much time to take a trip (even for the 3 day weekend) so this will be a first for me.

I don't count on the Disney race to be one where I can set a PR. I remember too many bottle necks where the flow would be moving at a slow walk. But if I can beat 3:00 I will beat my Disney Race PR. Looking forward to that.

 

[Saylan]

Just a head's up from run Disney's FB page:

"In honor of today's date, we wanted to give you the 411 on the Disneyland Half Marathon waiting list situation. The waiting list closed late last week. Those who were accepted from the waiting list were contacted with a registration confirmation. Those who were not accepted will be receiving an email notification of their status. If you did not get in the race from the waiting list, a limited number of spots are still available through groups and charities."

In case anyone's sitting on the wait list or wondering where it's at.

 

[Cheshirepixie]

Just checking in! My dad and I will be doing the race for the first time and it will be the first race for both of us!
My kids are doing the kids races, but my daughter keeps telling her teacher she's doing a marathon at Disney.

 

[Swmr359]

Anyone else having trouble staying motivated for this race? I think it's the weather; 80 one day and 40 the next...ugh

 

[verticalchaos]

Anyone else having trouble staying motivated for this race? I think it's the weather; 80 one day and 40 the next...ugh

My training plan doesn't even start until the beginning of June. Now I'm doing a 10K training plan.

 

[Embroidery Grandma]

Question about Desert Inn & Suites:

We are staying at the Desert Inn for Dl half and we bring our grandsons with us. My DH will be watching the boys in El Paso, Texas while my son will be in Hawaii with the military.

Does Desert Inn have any babysitting services or would it be safe enough to leave the boys by themselves? The boys are 12 and 10 and for the most part very well behaved. I know they would not leave the room and they probably would just be moving by the time we come back. We would have food in the room already because I heard the breakfast is not the best.

Thanks for any help I can get

Kathy