Official 2016 5th Anniversary Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend!

[margitmouse]

Thanks for the thoughts. I think I just need to buck up & register. I am using Jeff Galloways 10k training plan to do a 10K next month for POT. I'm up to 6 miles & am supposed to do 7 tonight
I will continue my training for the 1/2. Depending on my mood my runs so far have been averaging anywhere between a 10 1/2 & 12 1/2 min miles. So u know I'm under the 16 min requirement. My thing is I don't enjoy running. I'm doing it for the end aka Disney run & medal! decisions......decisions....

Oh yea! Definitely another addict in the making!!

 

[spideymike]

My wife was in the same boat. She's been a longtime runner and we started doing the runDisney races in 2012 with Tower of Terror. It would be our annual date weekend for the next three years until they discontinued the race. We are doing Wine & Dine this year and since I started doing Avengers 1/2 last year - and now the upcoming Star Wars Rebel Challenge and Dark Side Challenge, she was hemming and hawing about going to do the Tinkerbell 1/2 - especially on Mother's Day. It is a little frivolous to fly across the country just to get a pink Coast to Coast medal, but I helped make the decision by buying it for her as an early Christmas present. Now she can do both Princess and Tinkerbell and get a pink Coast to Coast as well. I know she'll have a great time.

 

[Ariel484]

@spideymike that's husband of the year material right there!

 

[VickiHD]

Thanks for the thoughts. I think I just need to buck up & register. I am using Jeff Galloways 10k training plan to do a 10K next month for POT. I'm up to 6 miles & am supposed to do 7 tonight
I will continue my training for the 1/2. Depending on my mood my runs so far have been averaging anywhere between a 10 1/2 & 12 1/2 min miles. So u know I'm under the 16 min requirement. My thing is I don't enjoy running. I'm doing it for the end aka Disney run & medal! decisions......decisions....

It sounds like you are off to a good start. The Galloway training plans are also a good way to keep you on track....so keep up the good work.

I get what you said about not enjoying running.......I guess I have a love / hate relationship with it myself. I don't enjoy the training, it's difficult at times, but I LOVE the race itself. Tinker Bell is such a fun race with tons of support from spectators and entertainment. Next year will be the 5th anniversary year...so hopefully it will be even more special than usual.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

Thanks for the thoughts. I think I just need to buck up & register. I am using Jeff Galloways 10k training plan to do a 10K next month for POT. I'm up to 6 miles & am supposed to do 7 tonight
I will continue my training for the 1/2. Depending on my mood my runs so far have been averaging anywhere between a 10 1/2 & 12 1/2 min miles. So u know I'm under the 16 min requirement. My thing is I don't enjoy running. I'm doing it for the end aka Disney run & medal! decisions......decisions....

My only word of warning/caution/advice. It is EXTREMELY easy to train and train for months and months for a race like Princess, come home, and stop running. Especially if you do not enjoy it at all. Then your next race you are just in a world of hurt for not continuing to train. So my advice. Run the Princess. Enjoy it. Love it. Come home. Maybe just maybe take a week off from running. Then start back up with where ever the Galloway training program is when you get home. If you get home and the Galloway program is at week 6, then do what the plan says for week 6. That way your training will be a little easier than you are used to, but it gives you a strong foundation to run Tinkerbell.

I started out with 3 halfs in 2013 spaced fairly far apart. This year I'll complete 15 halfs including the Dopey Challenge, Pixie Dust, and W&D. I just completed one 2 weeks ago, and have another in 2 weeks, followed by one the following week then just 2 weeks until W&D. I come home from W&D with one the following weekend.

I really do not truly enjoy running either. But I'd rather be strong and active than the opposite. Find a focus or a purpose. Disney and Disney Bling is a great focus. If you're already at 10.5-12.5 M/M, you got this. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

BTW with the closing of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyers Island, and All things Petting Zoo and Ranch related January 11th, 2016. That includes most of the backstage area too, how will the Tinkerbell course be affected by Star Wars land construction??

 

[kirstie101]

BTW with the closing of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyers Island, and All things Petting Zoo and Ranch related January 11th, 2016. That includes most of the backstage area too, how will the Tinkerbell course be affected by Star Wars land construction??

I'm interested to know this too!

 

[Keels]

BTW with the closing of Rivers of America, Tom Sawyers Island, and All things Petting Zoo and Ranch related January 11th, 2016. That includes most of the backstage area too, how will the Tinkerbell course be affected by Star Wars land construction??

I was just thinking about this as I was reviewing the Disneyland 5K course for my Trip Report. I imagine, at least for the 5K, it's going to be a lot of running by construction walls.

 

[hiroMYhero]

2017 Races are up!

 

[bcarey2k]

2017 Races are up!

View attachment 127475

No Paris listed .... Interesting.

 

[Anisum]

Booked my hotel for this trip. I find booking hotels in Anaheim so much more painful for some reason.

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

Technically Paris is not handled by runDisney. Different production company. Notice the inaugural 2016 DLP isn't listed either.
This calendar stops in May 2017. Otherwise DL, W&D & Avengers 2017 would be listed too.

 

[ksinglet]

Any advice or suggestions for hotels? I talked my mom into traveling with me I am going to get registered this weekend. Looked up hotel prices at Disney hotels & im having sticker shock. Was hoping to use my DVC points, priced out at double what my hotel on property for the Princess is.
What is a nice, close, inexpensive hotel?
Thanks!

 

[margitmouse]

Any advice or suggestions for hotels? I talked my mom into traveling with me I am going to get registered this weekend. Looked up hotel prices at Disney hotels & im having sticker shock. Was hoping to use my DVC points, priced out at double what my hotel on property for the Princess is.
What is a nice, close, inexpensive hotel?
Thanks!

I think @Keels said she liked the Fairfield. Seemed fairly close.
We're at Tropicana? I think 138/ night through acclaim travel.

I'm looking for some transportation help!
This is our first time to DL, I have no idea which airport to try to fly into, we are coming from Boston.
And
Is there any kind of shuttle service from the airports?

 

[WDWarchitectureguy]

Any advice or suggestions for hotels? I talked my mom into traveling with me I am going to get registered this weekend. Looked up hotel prices at Disney hotels & im having sticker shock. Was hoping to use my DVC points, priced out at double what my hotel on property for the Princess is.
What is a nice, close, inexpensive hotel?
Thanks!

We've liked the Anaheim HoJo on Harbor Blvd. Right next door to the Fairfield Inn. HoJo runs around $140-$160/night. They have been flexible with us on check in and check out times, and very friendly staff. Plus they have a couple of nice pools. One with a large splash play area for kids and one nice and quiet pool for relaxing.

We're staying at Eden Roc Inn & Suites at Katella and Disneyland Dr coming up in December. A little further walk to the park, but only $120/night.

The further you get from the park, the generally less expensive. But you're making up for the savings in leg power.

I think @Keels said she liked the Fairfield. Seemed fairly close.
We're at Tropicana? I think 138/ night through acclaim travel.

I'm looking for some transportation help!
This is our first time to DL, I have no idea which airport to try to fly into, we are coming from Boston.
And
Is there any kind of shuttle service from the airports?

Either LAX (LA International) or John Wayne International in Santa Ana. We've flown in and out of both. LAX is further away. We've always rented a car but we do other things besides just Disneyland while in the LA area. There is a shuttle from John Wayne that you pay for. No Disney ground transportation like Florida. It's about the same price for the shuttle as a typical taxi ride. Or use Uber. Your airport also depends on your airline. We're flying Virgin Airlines this December and they only fly into LAX. AA and Southwest both fly into John Wayne. I prefer John Wayne because it's smaller and everything is right there. Walk out of the terminal building across the entrance drive to the parking garage and car rental. There is no car rental immediately at LAX. You leave the terminal building and get on the appropriate shuttle bus to the rental carrier.

If you do end up renting a car, I suggest WAZE app on your phone for driving directions. Instead of Apple of Google Maps. Example. Last trip to LA. Went to a dress shop in LA for my wife. Took us roughly 45 minutes to reach the shop from our hotel at DL. She shopped, then it was becoming rush hour. Google maps had us take the same route back to our hotel and the trip was 1 hour 45 minutes. I asked the store clerk for an alternate route she might know of. The clerk suggested Waze. Trip time 1 hour 10 minutes. 35 minutes less. I was confused, but Waze had me on the highway, then exit, two lefts, a right, etc etc, get back on the highway, 3 exits down get back off the highway, cut through a neighborhood. It worked! And shaved 35 minutes off the trip. Made me a believer. And Waze knows how to navigate LA traffic.

Good Luck!

 

[margitmouse]

We've liked the Anaheim HoJo on Harbor Blvd. Right next door to the Fairfield Inn. HoJo runs around $140-$160/night. They have been flexible with us on check in and check out times, and very friendly staff. Plus they have a couple of nice pools. One with a large splash play area for kids and one nice and quiet pool for relaxing.

We're staying at Eden Roc Inn & Suites at Katella and Disneyland Dr coming up in December. A little further walk to the park, but only $120/night.

The further you get from the park, the generally less expensive. But you're making up for the savings in leg power.


Either LAX (LA International) or John Wayne International in Santa Ana. We've flown in and out of both. LAX is further away. We've always rented a car but we do other things besides just Disneyland while in the LA area. There is a shuttle from John Wayne that you pay for. No Disney ground transportation like Florida. It's about the same price for the shuttle as a typical taxi ride. Or use Uber. Your airport also depends on your airline. We're flying Virgin Airlines this December and they only fly into LAX. AA and Southwest both fly into John Wayne. I prefer John Wayne because it's smaller and everything is right there. Walk out of the terminal building across the entrance drive to the parking garage and car rental. There is no car rental immediately at LAX. You leave the terminal building and get on the appropriate shuttle bus to the rental carrier.

If you do end up renting a car, I suggest WAZE app on your phone for driving directions. Instead of Apple of Google Maps. Example. Last trip to LA. Went to a dress shop in LA for my wife. Took us roughly 45 minutes to reach the shop from our hotel at DL. She shopped, then it was becoming rush hour. Google maps had us take the same route back to our hotel and the trip was 1 hour 45 minutes. I asked the store clerk for an alternate route she might know of. The clerk suggested Waze. Trip time 1 hour 10 minutes. 35 minutes less. I was confused, but Waze had me on the highway, then exit, two lefts, a right, etc etc, get back on the highway, 3 exits down get back off the highway, cut through a neighborhood. It worked! And shaved 35 minutes off the trip. Made me a believer. And Waze knows how to navigate LA traffic.

Good Luck!

Thanks for the help! Going to have to check long beach too I think, jet blue flies in direct from Boston.

 

[Anisum]

Any advice or suggestions for hotels? I talked my mom into traveling with me I am going to get registered this weekend. Looked up hotel prices at Disney hotels & im having sticker shock. Was hoping to use my DVC points, priced out at double what my hotel on property for the Princess is.
What is a nice, close, inexpensive hotel?
Thanks!

I've stayed at the Sheraton but that's a bit far. Same with the Marriot. This time we decided to do Hotel Indigo though we considered Park Vue Inn for the free breakfast and location. I found tripAdvisor, this list on Disney Tourist Blog, and this map to be useful. Anaheim is all about the long blocks and busy streets so consider that when deciding on a hotel. It also depends on how fast you walk. For example some have told me that the Marriot is a good half hour but I can get it done in 20 minutes (of course during normal park hours you can hop the Disneyland shuttle from Disney's nearby parking garage. The walk from Katella to Ball Rd. along Harbor is about 1.6mi if I remember correctly.

 

[kirstie101]

Any advice or suggestions for hotels? I talked my mom into traveling with me I am going to get registered this weekend. Looked up hotel prices at Disney hotels & im having sticker shock. Was hoping to use my DVC points, priced out at double what my hotel on property for the Princess is.
What is a nice, close, inexpensive hotel?
Thanks!

I've stayed at the Hojo on Harbor for races and been very happy with it. It is actually our go to hotel when traveling to Disneyland but part of the reason is the kiddie pool area and it doesnt sound like you'll need that. Its still a good hotel for the races. Its a hotel, not a motel, with interior corridors. Most properties around Harbor and Katella are motels. They have the most comfy beds in the world. Staff are nice. Parking is free. Mimi's restaurant is right next door. Its about a 8 minute walk to the Disneyland gates. a 20 minute walk to the corrals on race morning. A 30 minute walk back to the hotel after the race (security check point to the esplanade is open by then). They offer a runners discount if you call them directly.

I've also stayed at the Anaheim Desert Inn and Suites and the Best Western Park Place Inn and Mini suites and would recommend both. They are both about a 5 minute walk to the parks as they are right by the cross walk to the parks.

I've heard great things about the Best Western Stovalls Inn on Katella. Its very close to the corrals. I'm trying it out in January for Star Wars.

A brand new Holiday Inn should be opening in December on Manchester. It would have a similar walk to Hojo's. Maybe a minute longer. Most hotels on Harbor and Katella are walking distance.

 

[flvy]

I finally registered. I've been looking at the Tinkerbell medals since I first got interested in Disney races at the beginning of the year. It was too late for the 2015 race, and this year I couldn't pass up the 5th anniversary race!

I haven't planned a thing because of Wine and Dine, but I'm so so so excited for this.

 

[Keels]

Holding out for the Grand Californian for this race, but will probably go with Disneyland Hotel if I can grab it and save GC for September. Husband will be coming down from Marina del Ray on Saturday morning after I finish the 10K - no running for him this weekend. He wants to do more breweries again the 10K day and then Napa Rose again after the half with us either going to Hawaii on the Monday after the race or back to Texas.

I'll be coming in early (again), but I DEFINITELY learned my lesson this year and will significantly limit my park time. Meals at Wine County Trattoria (pre-half lunch there was PERFECT, I highly recommend), Carthay Circle and Chef's Counter at Napa Rose, with some pool time and Trader Sam's time in between.

Also - the Uva Bar at Downtown Disney turned out to be one of me and husband's favorite places this trip! Great drinks and the food is outstanding - especially the calamari. Great place for a spot to chill.