Should we go Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon weekend if we're not running?

mooglegirl

Earning My Ears
Joined
Sep 26, 2010
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18
So I have convinced my husband that on our next trip to visit my in-laws we should take a day to go back to Disneyland. I just noticed that the weekend we'd be there is the weekend of the Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon. I've searched, but I can't seem to find out if the park functions normally that weekend or if we'd run into alot of closures/areas blocked off.
I was hoping someone who's been could help me out :)
Thanks in advance.
 
This has been handled better and better. It used to cause more traffic problem for guests driving to the resort than anything else.

It may have the day's park hours shifted back.

For the most part they design the course so the in park running is done first so it's over and done with before the gates open for guests. There is a thread on here with description of this event.

For a lighter weekend, the added guests don't impact crowds hugely. The races are strategically planned for the slowest times of year.
 
The 5k is after hours on Friday (but DL closes at 8 and DCA at 9pm that night) and the half is early Sunday morning before park opening.
 
This has been handled better and better. It used to cause more traffic problem for guests driving to the resort than anything else.

It may have the day's park hours shifted back.

For the most part they design the course so the in park running is done first so it's over and done with before the gates open for guests. There is a thread on here with description of this event.

For a lighter weekend, the added guests don't impact crowds hugely. The races are strategically planned for the slowest times of year.

The park hours have already been posted and they are closing early on Friday for the nighttime 5K and both parks will open late on Sunday. MM is being moved to Monday. The day with the longest park hours is Saturday. Ski sounds like he is describing the DL half, the course for the Tink half runs through DL at the beginning and DCA towards the end of the race. People are also anticipating a course change for the DL half in September since the DCA construction will finally be done. This is also an inagural event, so no crowd level data. There will be 10,000 runners at this race, the DL half has 14-15,000.

ETA: The Tink starts at 5:45 AM. The DL half in September used to start at 6:45 AM, but starting with 2012, the start time will also be 5:45 AM.
 

I want to say that it shouldn't be a problem, but there are times when you never know. I did see on Miceage that they are doing an event that weekend as well, but I don't know how many people they draw to their events.

But here's some info that might help you. I've done the DL 1/2 the past 5 years and gone into the parks every time. That event is held over Labor Day weekend. It's not crazy like this time of year, but it's not slow either. I've never seen wait times over an hour except ST (but it had just re-opened). I also know that there are less people registered for the Tink 1/2 than the DL, by a couple of 1,000. Also, Tink is geared more for women whereas DL is mixed. I know the w/ the Princess race in WDW, some women come and run w/ friends as opposed to bringing their families, so less people.

There's also a 3:30 time limit on the race and that starts when the last person crosses the start line. So even if the last person crosses at 6:15, they should be finished before 10. And Disney does have sweepers to pick up people who have fallen behind, I've never seen them, but I've heard from people they do enforce they time limit.

Not sure where you're staying, but the only place you might run into trouble is on Harbor where Disney Way dead ends, by the old entrance to the parking lot. We run into DCA through there and you'll have to wait until there's space to cross to get across. But they usually have a guard out there helping you get across. But by the time both DL and DCA open Sun. morning, everything should be fine.

And if you're staying close to the start area (PP) and Katella/DL Way you might hear the dj around 4:30 and fireworks/PA System around 5:45.

Hope that helps!!:goodvibes
 
Thanks, all. Alot to think about. We took the kids for the first time last April (spring break) and it was very crowded. This is a last minute trip, so we were thinking of driving up for the day (in-laws are north of San Diego). I looked at the crowd projections and they were really low and started to get excited that the park would be kinda empty...
In my brain is the time I went to Disneyland with my brother almost 20 years ago and after dinner the park cleared out. We walked onto Space Mountain and Star Tours. It was like having the park to ourselves for a few hours. :yay:
 
We will be hosting a DIS meet the morning of the Tinkerbell Half to support our own DIS Podcaster Tony's run to raise money for Power of 10/Give Kids the World.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/disdlteam/marathon

(more on the DIS's own Power of 10 - http://www.powerof10.us/)


:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:
We'll put up a sticky for the meet if anyone wants to join us at the start of the race in the esplanade to cheer Tony (and other DISers running) on and then move over to the Tangaroa Terrace for the post-race celebration and a chance to try some of our favorite treats that they have to offer.

Those who donate to Power of 10 at the race will have a chance to win some fun raffle prizes!

Come and join us!!!!
 
On what dates do these races take place?

The 5k is on Friday at 10:30pm after the parks close, there are Kids Races Saturday morning at DCA at 8am before the parks open, and the 1/2 is Sunday morning starting at 5:45am until around 9:30-10 by the time everyone's finished.
 
The 5k is on Friday at 10:30pm after the parks close, there are Kids Races Saturday morning at DCA at 8am before the parks open, and the 1/2 is Sunday morning starting at 5:45am until around 9:30-10 by the time everyone's finished.

Sorry if I am being dense...what weekend will this take place?
 
I wonder how I missed this information. Probably because it never occurred to me to look for crowds on that particular weekend. Has one or both of these events taken place on the last weekend of January before? I ask because the 26th is DH's birthday and the 31st is our anniversary, so this will be the fourth time we've visited DLR during the last weekend of the month.

After telling DH about this thread, he is bummed and thinks we should switch to another weekend. We visited WDW in August and DLR the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we were really looking forward to off season crowds. I'm not sure it makes sense to change our plans, mainly because I think it is so great to visit on his actual birthday, but also because it is an easy time for the kids and I to miss school. Any thoughts on how different the crowds would be compared to years past?
 
I believe this is the first year for this race. We too booked first and realized later about the marathon. We're sticking with it. We'll be there the 24-31. The crowd calendar had the weekend being 6 and 7 with the days before and after being 3's. There are some blackout dates for some passes so that may help. Plus, as stated above, the events take place outside of park hours.
 
After telling DH about this thread, he is bummed and thinks we should switch to another weekend. We visited WDW in August and DLR the weekend before Thanksgiving, so we were really looking forward to off season crowds. I'm not sure it makes sense to change our plans, mainly because I think it is so great to visit on his actual birthday, but also because it is an easy time for the kids and I to miss school. Any thoughts on how different the crowds would be compared to years past?

I wouldn't change plans. A lot of runners come and never tour the parks, so it's an artificially inflated number for attendance. They do take up the hotel rooms though! I think you'll be just fine!

And if you want to meet other DISers, come to our meet on that Sunday! The owner of the DIS boards will even be there! If you are willing to get up super early to have some unique Disney fun, we'll be ChEARing the DIS runners on and raising money for Give Kids the World!

There will be an official thread on this meet later in the week - keep your eyes peeled!
 
This is first year for Tink that's being held at the end of Jan. DL half, Labor Day weekend, will be going on it's seventh year.

And I agree, we met people that are from CA that are just there to run, not to go to parks. The first year I thought it being Labor Day weekend and the run would make the parks unbearable, but we found that not to be true at all, especially after just getting back from being there at Christmas time. Yikes!
 
I wouldn't change plans. A lot of runners come and never tour the parks, so it's an artificially inflated number for attendance. They do take up the hotel rooms though! I think you'll be just fine!

And if you want to meet other DISers, come to our meet on that Sunday! The owner of the DIS boards will even be there! If you are willing to get up super early to have some unique Disney fun, we'll be ChEARing the DIS runners on and raising money for Give Kids the World!

There will be an official thread on this meet later in the week - keep your eyes peeled!

This is first year for Tink that's being held at the end of Jan. DL half, Labor Day weekend, will be going on it's seventh year.

And I agree, we met people that are from CA that are just there to run, not to go to parks. The first year I thought it being Labor Day weekend and the run would make the parks unbearable, but we found that not to be true at all, especially after just getting back from being there at Christmas time. Yikes!

Thanks for the reassurance. We are sticking to our plans. I will watch out for the thread about the DIS meet, as well. It would be great to put some faces to names! :goodvibes
 
Just wanted to add in case this helps... Disneyland park is open until midnight on Saturday, but as a runner I know personally I'm planning to leave the parks around 8pm since the race starts at 5:45 the next morning. If other runners are doing the same thing, maybe the park will be even emptier than usual.
 


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