Just when we were in the swing of having them back, they're gone again. With the upcoming construction, it was announced there were not going to be anymore races for the foreseeable future here on the West Coast. This was the last race on Feb1 as the 5k and 10k took place the prior days. From what I gather from others, this can take many years to come back. I believe this was a new half marathon course at least new to me since the Star Wars Half days. This course was very refreshing, the stretch of it on Anaheim Blvd, running past the Packing District and the Ducks ice rink. The good thing about the "out and back" parts is seeing if you can spot the "balloon ladies" if it's a concern or maybe friends who run at a different pace or checking out their fits. I appreciated the DJ's and bands out there. They brought the energy! Everything was just so cute with the "It's a Small World Theme" but maybe I'm biased because I happen to love the color purple as in the bib, medal, and long sleeve tech t-shirt. It delighted me to see several runners dressed in this theme because I'm not creative enough to assemble my own costumes. PhotoPass photo opportunities were inside the park and some at the reunion area. These digital photos are included in registration and show up in the app same day. I must say the finish line replica photo op in the reunion area was a time consumer in the hot sun. Powerade was the electrolytes on course. I was wondering how they were able to get the taste and concentration consistent to realize they were being poured from the plastic bottles. Not too much to sample or any freebies at the expo if you compare that with other major race expos. The post-run snacks are not much nor memorable unless you count that nacho-like cheese from the box. IYKYK Yes, you pay a pretty penny just to participate but only you put a value on this experience. I would say if you're a Disney fan and have the means, to just do it one time for the experience but that dream has run out luck on this coast for now. read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

I did it :D my first half marathon, and I couldn't have picked a more magical way to do it than RunDisney's Halloween weekend at Disneyland Most of my training happened on the treadmill, which honestly taught me a lot about consistency and mental endurance. I followed the official RunDisney training program from their website and trusted the process--even when life was busy and motivation was low. Race morning was early (very early), but the energy, costumes, music, and Disney magic made every mile worth it. Running through Disneyland in the dark, then heading outside the parks with rolling hills, the heat that I did not prepare for was challenging--but unforgettable. These are the things that really helped me: 1. Enlist a buddy to do it with you. I somehow managed to persuade my oldest son to come with his mama. My son who is in his prime, who at the time just came back from officer training school (boot camp). He was jumping, singing, running circles around me during the race, yelling out motivational pep talks. It was kinda annoying and motivating at the same time. 2. Use the free pacers There are multiple pacing groups, and sticking with one helps you stay calm, consistent, and confident. It really helped to see a whole group pushing through. Being next them reminded me about Dory..."Just keep swimming... Just keep running!" 3. Arrive early + move up in your corral We arrived around 4:15 AM, which gave us time to settle in and get closer to the front of the corral--huge stress reducer. 4. Stay close to the start line if possible We stayed at a hotel near the start, walked over, and later met my hubby near the mall. Less logistics = less stress. 5. Go to the Expo on Day 1 Exclusive merch sells out fast (RIP glow-in-the-dark shoes). The expo is free, fun, and has lots of freebies. Pro tip: go again on the last day for sales. 6. Practice in your costume This is non-negotiable. What feels cute for 10 minutes may not feel cute at mile 9. I practiced in my Ursula costume a handful of times. I saw people ditching parts of their costumes. 7. Hydration is covered Water and electrolytes are provided on course. I didn't need to carry water, but some people prefer to--do what works for you. 8, Know the course You start inside Disneyland, then head outside the parks where the hills show up. Save your energy for those miles. 9. Pictures Make sure your number is visible. Photos come free with it. There a a good number of photo opp in the parks. Unfortunately we couldn't stop since we were the last coral. So we did "passing" video shots. You should practice doing this. 10. Volunteers The volunteers outside of Disney were awesome! Seeing the signs, hearing the encouragement, and grabbing the sweets helped a ton. Soak it in and it will keep you motivated I discovered that I hate running long distance. At the same time I also realized I like doing it at Disney and after the race I told my son lets do the Dopey Challenge next. Where you run the 5k, 10 k and half marathon all in the same weekend. Of course my sweet son replied, "sure thing mom as long as your paying." This race reminded me that you don't have to be perfect--you just have to..... "just keep running, just keep running, running....running". If you're thinking about doing a RunDisney race, especially your first half marathon, do it. Train smart, trust the plan, and soak in every magical mile. read more

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"The Happiest Race on Earth" I have been running 5Ks for over ten years. I have done some longer ones, but never a half marathon. Maybe if I was younger, I would have tackled one of them. But these days I just enjoy the shorter runs. I ran my first ever runDisney 5K in 2024 after they shut down for years because of COVID. It was runDisneys return to Disneyland park. For 2025, I decided to run my first ever half marathon and I was excited to do it Disney style. Years ago, I had friends that would drive all the way to Disneyland to do the Tinker Bell runs every single year. They would tell me how they would get dressed up and run through the park. I would look at their photos and it looked fun. But back then, running wasn't as big of a deal to me and I had no interest in running a run called the Tinker Bell run. But the thought of running through the park intrigued me enough to check out runDisney when I got into competitive running years later. Disney held their first marathon at Walt Disney World in 1994. Disneyland started theirs the following year. Over the years, runDisney became a half marathon and added 5K and 10K runs. Each half marathon weekend has a different theme to it. These races allow you to run through the theme parks with live entertainment and Disney characters sightings along the way. The runs include a finisher's medal, all sorts of swag and timed results. As I was doing some reading up on these races, I started to realize how big of deal and popular they are. Majority of the runDisney races take place at Disney World in Florida. Disneyland had canceled their runs in 2018 when they were building Star Wars Galaxy's Edge and also because of the pandemic. In 2024, they decided to bring back their half marathon weekend after a seven year hiatus. These days I am big into running and do about ten competitive races a year. I also come from a family of Disney fanatics. I mentioned to my sister that the half marathon weekends were coming back to Disneyland and that we should try and do one of them. Registering was a chore for us as you have to sit on the computer for hours in a queue to see if you were one of the lucky ones to get in. They aren't cheap either! On race weekend, you have to attend the Disney Expo the day before to pick up your bib and shirt. They have an official merchandise area that you can pick up addition stuff for the run. I met Disney runner and Olympian Jeff Galloway at the Expo and he gave me a few tips. The reason I signed up for the half marathon run was because the shorter runs were sold out when I got passed the queue. After dropping a couple hundred dollars on additional merchandise, we crashed early to get ready for the run. I watched sister and my nephew run the 5K and then I ran my half marathon two days later. Race time is early morning because they have to clear everything out before the park opens to the general public. Despite being how early and cold it was, I had a fun time. When I ran the 5K last year, I noticed that a lot of the runners were more about taking photos with characters than actually running. I did enjoy seeing all the costumes that people were wearing. The half marathon runners are a little more serious about this particular race. It is timed and expensive. I started to train for the half five months before the run. Then a few weeks before the run, I developed sciatica from my stenosis condition. It wasn't easy and my time was average, but eventually I was able to run off the pain. The race starts outside of Disneyland and goes through the park the first couple of miles. The rest of the race takes place in the Anaheim streets around the park. Disney star Ashley Eckstein was on hand to kick off the race. The medals that they give you are pretty cool and you are given snacks and drinks after the run. The half marathon medals are definitely way cooler than the shorter distance ones. Overall, I had fun and enjoyed running my first half marathon at Disneyland. read more

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Wow!! This was my first half marathon, for the Disneyland Halloween Half Marathon, and I had such an amazing time. I registered for the race around the end of February. I had originally wanted to register for the 5k, but it sold out! Instead, the only option that was available still was the Disneyland Halloween half marathon! I ended up booking it, and figured that I had about 6 months to train for the half marathon! There is a great training plan offered by Jeff Galloway for 5k, 10k, half marathon and even a marathon! You'll need to provide a proof of time if you're looking for a better corral placement. I ended up getting placed in corral F, which luckily, helped me to complete the Halloween half marathon! You'll need to have a 16-minute per mile pace. There are pacing-people and in the last corral, there are balloon pacing members to help you keep the 16-minute per mile pace. Since Disney has to open the parks and open the roads for Anaheim traffic, you may get picked up if you're not maintaining the 16-minute per mile pace. Picking up the race-bib was held at the Disneyland Convention Center, right next to Disneyland's Hotel. It was on the second level. There is also a Disney Health and Fitness Expo that was on-going during the Halloween Half Marathon. I ended up picking up some merchandise I had pre-ordered online through the Rundisney website. The first part of the half marathon, up to mile 6, is within Downtown Disney, California Adventure, and Disneyland. You'll first start out towards the Anaheim convention center, and loop around into Disney California Adventure for the first 3 miles. From there, you'll run the next 3 miles into Disneyland and end up backstage at the Star Wars themed area. The rest of the 7 miles were through the local streets of Anaheim, the Honda Civic Center, and then running through the Anaheim Angels stadium, which was amazing! I wanted to make sure that I completed the race, so I didn't stop for any pictures! There were a lot of photo opportunities along the Halloween Half Marathon. I didn't want to risk it though, especially with how long the lines were to wait for photo opportunities with Jack Skellington, Mickey Mouse! There were a variety of photographers along the route within the theme parks. I was able to spot them and get some good pictures! If you're looking for some great race photos, if you can spot them before, you can smile or jump in the air, and hopefully you'll get a cool picture! It was a really hot race outside in Anaheim on the week of the 6th, September 2024 for the Halloween Half Marathon. Some of the days reached up to 105-109. On the Sunday, for the Half Marathon, Disney added extra water stations at each mile and provided extra food along the course, which was wonderful! It was important to stay hydrated. By the time I was done with the race around 9:00 A.M, with a start time around 5:30 for corral F, it was around 85F out! The race started at 72F at 5:00 A.M. It was so much fun that I ended up registering for the next Disneyland race in January 2025! The cast members, volunteers, and the local Anaheim community members are amazing! There were so many people cheering the runners on the course! It was such an awesome event! read more

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Ran the 2025 Disneyland Half Marathon and it was awesome! It has been a bucket list race for years and glad they finally brought it back to California. The first 4-5 miles were the best part as the course goes through Disneyland and DCA. The race started at 0500 so all the lights were on, characters were out waving to the runners and for the first time I got to experience the park with no crowds (ran with Corral A). The only downside was not being able to go on any rides or have access to the park after crossing the finish line, but it was lit! It was a good day to PR, which I was happy to do with a 1:47:44 official time! The energy was high and positive vibes were everywhere. Great experience and would definitely recommend running a Disney race at least once in your life, no matter what distance. "Every mile is magic." read more

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The much anticipated return to Anaheim.... It was so good to be back with RunDisney here in Anaheim! I always said I wanted to do the Coast to Coast but in reality Disneyland is my home. We have to be crazy to be excited to run right (well we're only half crazy or if you ran the DDD 19.3 crazy actually. We usually stay on Resort property and roll out of bed to head to the start line but this race was different. The start line was closer to the Anaheim Gardenwalk. The walk there did not seem too bad and when we arrived walking through the security checkpoints to get to the start line wasn't too bad. However, the security lines coming back through Downtown Disney was crazy. Not only did you have the runners and their families going through to get back to the hotels or the parking structures but we were also grouped in with everyone heading into the parks for the day. There seemed to be a little less entertainment than usual and since there was an event at Angels Stadium we missed running over home plate but all in all it was great to be back. It was fairly cold and I was a bit off my game so these races were a little harder for me but the volunteers, staff, and wonderful people greeting and cheering us throughout the course got me through it (plus my family coming to check in on me along the course). I have ran a few other races but none of them can compare to the RunDisney races. There is something to be said about running through the parks and seeing everything along the course. Just happy to be back (even if it means getting up at 3AM to get ready and get into our corrals) ;) read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

Disney half marathon is such a great event. Great for all ages. Well organized event the staff were friendly and helpful. Even though I didn't get to run with my wife she had an amazing time. She got to see a bunch of Disney characters there were entertainment everywhere on the running course, and there were a lot of water station and a great amount of people cheering and supporting the runners. Now I can't wait for our Disney Star Wars 10k run in January... read more

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The start line corrals made me think I was back at 2011's Vegas Rock n Roll. Lots of disorganization and participants starting in different corrals than they are assigned to. It was so crowded and very hard to find the pacing groups. Parking should have been included in the registration. Paying to park at 430A for a couple hours before the park is even open is ridiculous. and apparently someone isn't happy with how I felt about the event, lol. Perhaps a private message would have sufficed, if you had a couple questions for me! Everyone is entitled to their own review based on their experience. Different strokes for different folks people! There are TONS of Disney fans who may absolutely adore this race. I signed up with a friend who ended up moving away and was unable to attend this race. I don't know anyone who would sign up for any race based on the shirt... Again, I think it's just silly how some Yelpers can't handle what others think of something. I have never run a race in the shirt provided but it is a nice addition to receive one with your registration and to have it look nice and be something you would actually wear, is a plus. When sizing is off and a Small is the size of a Large and it's something you would never wear, it's disappointing. As I suspected this race was not one where I set a PR. I don't feel the estimated finish times and corrals were aligned correctly. If I'm starting in a corral that people are walking from the very beginning, we have an issue. The first several miles were spent weaving in and out of walkers and people stopping to take pictures at every single stop, which is super fun when you are at Disneyland or California Adventure but during a race I have never experienced SO many photo ops. I didn't see a ton of brightroom photographers along many miles of the course. Running through California Adventure - and having an opportunity to view Cars land was totally awesome, as was the water show and lighting in California Adventure. The Disney crew/employees were super supportive - seeing their smiling faces and high fives along the course in the parks and near by is a very nice touch. Having some of the rides on and going in Disneyland was also very fun. Water stations were abundant and very well organized along the course. Portable restrooms were also plentiful. My favorite part must have been running through Angel stadium - very cool! my son was super jealous ;) when I told him about this part :) and a nice break from the concrete (my knees and joints appreciated those moments) All in all this is a "fun run", it's always fun to dress up and hearing spectators cheer you on screaming "Run, Belle Run" was so sweet :) So many great spectators from local schools (including bands, and cheer squads), a nice car show half way through, ethnic dancers at certain miles with a few pretty bland miles. Announcements over loud speakers were also very nice - informing all participants of turns in the course, changes in elevation and narrow roads. Finish line cool towels, snack packs, waters and bananas were great too and walking right out and having self serve buckets filled with pre made ice packs for your use was wonderful! This is a half marathon for fun, filled with many people who are uninterested in their finish times or competing with themselves to set PR's. It's not a race I would personally run again but if you love Disney - you may love this run. read more

I LOVE Disney and I also love this course! It is well stocked at every water stop with hydration for participants. It has amazing race support with volunteers and spectators that come out in droves to offer a friendly face while you pound out the miles. Of course running through the parks and by all the characters is pretty amazing as well and only helps make this one of the best courses for a PR. My personal highlights are running through the castle, racing around the bases of Angels stadium, and all of the spectators who come to support the runners. This race has progressively gotten more and more crowded over the years. While I love it, it pulls racers of all types and shapes. This is a good thing though because it is inspiring people who may not normally do a half marathon to get on their feet and make it happen. The downfall to this is the race etiquette does not always exist. There are seasoned and a lot of rookie runners on this course. After the first couple miles it is easy to maneuver around people, but in the parks there are narrow passages that make passing a challenge if speed is your game on course. It really is a good course to relax and enjoy the sites, because when you are in the parks or at the stadium it is pretty magical. I personally don't stop for photos with characters, but a lot of people do. I prefer to mentally snap shots during course because I hate to stop and restart again. The race expo was my gripe this year. It was WAY too crowded and made me nervous that race day was going to reflective of this, but it wasn't. FYI, don't do the expo first thing Friday morning. It will not benefit anyone. There was a HORRIBLE line just to get into the expo to pick up packets and to get into the expo to purchase goodies for hours. No bueno. Wait until after 2 pm and try to hit it. I have never had a problem when going later. The only downfall when going later is merchants sell out, but I am not usually a big shopper at expos, so it is not a problem for me. (Remember, nothing new on race day) My two cents; great course, fun times with buddies, buy a pass to go into the parks at least one day, and enjoy the experience. read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Start line - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

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First time in years Disneyland hosted a half Marathon. And from the looks of the crowds, virtually everyone was excited for this event to return. Like a Disneyland ride, had to go through a virtual queue on the runDisney website to sign up for this event. By the time I got the opportunity to sign up for the event, only the half marathon was available. Despite being one of the more expensive half marathons. Fortunately, that was the event I wanted. When the route was sent to all the runners, I noticed that the route changed from previous years. No longer were we able to go through Angels Stadium and instead of beginning and ending at the park, the route ends on Disney Way. The race itself had some nice views and characters to take pictures with. Just make sure you keep the 15 minute pace or the balloon ladies will signal the sweepers are coming to get you. I was able to finish in under 3 hours so it wasn't that big of a deal for me. Overall, it was a good experience and had all the fanfare and spectacle in a Disney production. read more

What an amazing experience! 13.1 miles later and another bucket list item checked off, I highly recommend anyone interesting in running a half marathon to make Disneyland's Half Marathon as your first choice above any other options around Los Angeles. You run through both Disneyland and California Adventures. Throughout the park, you see familiar characters and even have opportunities to take photos with them. When you're out on the streets, high school cheerleaders, dance drill, band, and orchestra cheer you on to victory! There were so much to see and experience, you almost don't want to stop running just to see what's next. There are water and portable restroom stations throughout the route. Other than having to wake up at 3am to get to the park, I enjoyed every moment of it! Make sure you train ahead of time so you don't jack up your knees like I did. read more

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I just recently completed the 10th Anniversary of the Disneyland Half Marathon and I loved it even though I personally did not have a particularly good race. I'm one of the legacy runners that have run all of them starting with the inaugural race in 2006 and I must say that you pretty much have to be a big Disney fan to appreciate what this race has to offer. If you aren't a Disney fan, I would suggest that you look elsewhere because this race will probably not be your cup of tea. Here's what you can expect from this race. It is pricey! As of 2015, the registration fee was $199 for the half marathon. The weather will most likely be hot and humid. Train for the weather or you will not have a swell time! You will get to run through both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks. You will then run through the streets of Anaheim to the Honda Center. The highlight for most people is being able to run on the warning track inside Angel Stadium. One year we did not because there was a game later that day. There's plenty of course support especially from many squads of cheerleaders and owners of vintage cars that line a good portion of the course. Overall: Even with the hefty price tag, I plan to run this race every year until I can't run no more! For me, it truly is the Happiest Race on Earth. Just keep in mind that the Disney magic that most of us love doesn't come cheap! :) read more

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5-stars for being a medical volunteer! I love being a medical volunteer! It is super fun and you get a free Disneyland ticket (for a future day). The half marathon goes through Disneyland and around Anaheim. Although I don't think Anaheim is a very "scenic" city, it is mostly flat so the half marathon easier than some others that have hills. It gets really crowded after the race so be prepared to hit a lot of traffic when leaving the Downtown Disney area! read more

(Half #22, 2015) Being that it was both Disneyland's 60th anniversary and the Disneyland Half Marathon's 10th anniversary, thousands upon thousands of diamond-shaped, Mickey-themed half marathon medals--in hot demand!--were poised at the finish line. And one of them had my name on it. Even though I was a Cast Member for many years, I've still returned to the Parks, if not simply because I'm an Annual Pass Holder (by the way, being a pass holder allows for early registration for Disney's sold out runs), even more so because I love running through and around the Parks. It's fun. And for me, it brings back lots of great memories. Some of Disney's most infamous villains were out in force this year, skulking about the three courses, and that was cool! Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook & Mr. Smee, Dr. Facilier, Hades, Ratcliffe, Shan Yu, Evil Queen, Foulfellow & Gideon, Brer Fox & Brer Bear, Lady Tremaine, Drizella & Anastasia, Jafar, and Queen of Hearts: they were all there, and many runners, as they usually do, stopped for a breather, stood in line, and snapped a few quick shots. I mean, really, when's the last time you were able to get photos with Hades?! This year, as well as running the 10K and the Half for the Dumbo Double Dare, I also ran the 5k. The medal is made of rubber, not as eye-catching as the others, but the Fab Five were on it, and that's cool. I'll run it again, for sure. And as far as Dumbo's Double Dare, I believe this will become a tradition. read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - 2015 tech tees. - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

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___________________________________ | | | Hey Chun P! Give give me $175! OH BOY! I | Money! Money! I LOVE MONEY!!!! I |__________ ___________________| \ \ \ \ \ \ ______________$$$$$$$ _____________$$$$$$$$$ ____________$$$$$$$$$$$ ____________$$$$$$$$$$$ ____________$$$$$$$$$$$ _____________$$$$$$$$$ _____$$$$$$_____$$$$$$$$$$ ____$$$$$$$$__$$$$$$_____$$$ ___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$_________$ ___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$______$__$ ___$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$_____$$$_$ ___$$$$$$$$$$$__________$$$_$_____$$ ____$$$$$$$$$____________$$_$$$$_$$$$ ______$$$__$$__$$$______________$$$$ ___________$$____$_______________$ ____________$$____$______________$ _____________$$___$$$__________$$ _______________$$$_$$$$$$_$$$$$ ________________$$____$$_$$$$$ _______________$$$$$___$$$$$$$$$$ CHUN P: "Hey Mickey! Got your email to sign up for the 2013 race...My wife and I ran this back in 2006 for the Inaugral Half Marathon. It was fun, but back then you only charged $55 per person...now 8 Years later, you want $175 per person...that's RIDCULOUS!" MICKEY M: "Hey now! Its inflation and the money goes to charities, don't be such a cheapass Chun P!!!" CHUN P: "WTF! The CPI Index has averaged 2.8% for the past 8 years, which gives us an inflation factor of 1.249. An inflation-adjusted price would be $68.67. But at $175...that's 218%...so Mickey, WTF?! And if anyone really cared about the charities, they could just donate directly, skipping that greedy middleman: YOU!" MICKEY M: "Uh...um...But you get to run through my beautiful parks!" CHUN P: "Actually only about 25% of the race actually takes place in your parks. Most of run is on the ugly suburban streets of Anaheim, which is incredibly boring. OOohhh...strip malls! OOooohhh...tract housing! OOOoooh...gas stations! Anaheim Stadium? Thats maybe half a mile. You should call it 'Tour de Anaheim'." MICKEY M: "Look smartass! I have shareholders to answer to, have you seen last Quarter's earnings? The Board of Directors is threatening to replace me with Goofy!" CHUN P: "Chill out bro, according to the website your race is already 75% full, so I'm sure you'll soon find the remaining 25% of suckers, uh, runners I mean, whom are ready to give you $175." MICKEY M: "Whew! That's great, the Board will be pleased! OH BOY! Thanks!" CHUN P: "I'm also a shareholder, so please do what it takes to keep the stock price high! At $54, its up 40% since its 52-week low of $38. Great job, you greedy rat!" read more

Ok I didn't do the half marathon, i did the 5k but there wasn't a check in there so i'll pretend like i ran a bit more ;) 5k was great, got to run through the park and lots of great photo ops! definitely a easy run and good for beginners, worth it to at least once for sure read more

The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, as of 2013, comprises a 5k, 10k, and half marathon. This year was the introduction of the 10k course and therefore the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge (10k + 13.1). These sold out horrendously quickly mostly during the Walt Disney World Marathon weekend during a presale in January. OVERALL: The perks of Disneyland is that on the smaller races you can spend much more time in the parks because they aren't so spread out. So, I feel like you get more magic for your buck. For the most part, the path is wider than anything I experienced at Walt Disney World. The shirts are still not the greatest for women, but at least they don't have the tiny long sleeves that I got in January at the WDW weekend... ---------------------------------------- RunDisney Expo -- Thursday-Saturday of race weekend These expos are always so horrendously crazy. Fortunately, it is well queued and spaced out much better than the one for Nike Women's in San Francisco (the only other one to really compare it to.) There are a ton of great exhibitors. Some of my favorites include: -- TheStick.com. They have these awesome rolling stick things that fit in your carry-on, go through TSA, and pack smaller than a foam roller. Great for kneading out all that lactic acid build up or for bringing circulation to an area. Use it like a rolling pin on your body. -- KT Tape. Headed up by awesome James, this crew goes to the RunDisney events and will tape runners for free. The product can be hit or miss depending on if you are wearing lotion, temperature of the race, etc. However, I really appreciate them being willing to tape folks up so that they stay uninjured and supported. Be wary -- the lines are 1.5 hrs long usually to get taped up! -- Run Threads. I didn't purchase anything here, but I kept seeing the cutest Disney running shirts on the course that were from these guys. They certainly help get you in a festive and cheery mood for the run. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disneyland 10k -- Saturday, August 31, 2013 This day started sooo humid. The 10k was prepped to start just after the 5k race ended. I LOVED this course more than I can say. It was predominantly inside the parks, and the rest of it stayed on resort property with tons of stuff to look at. I spent a crazy amount of time taking pictures of and with characters, my favorite attractions, and of other people's costumes. I would say that this course is a 5-star rating, and probably the perfect course for those who aren't quite ready to commit to a half marathon. If you were worried about PRs -- don't. It's too hot of a weekend, and you'll miss all the characters. ----------------------------------------- Disneyland Half Marathon -- Sunday, September 1, 2013 Again, the good news is that the race course is wider. The bad news - unlike WDW, Disneyland Resort property is no where big enough to support a half marathon which means that you're running through industrial Anaheim. We spent a good portion of that running into the sun, which was largely unforgiving on this day. The first three or so miles are on-resort and get you all set to go. The second you leave the property, you're climbing up that Ball / I-5 overpass and headed straight for the sun. (What a joy to run with sun in your eyes!) This also marks the end of any Disney characters until you make it back onto property with one exception noted later. The majority of this course is spent running toward Anaheim Angel Stadium and around the Honda Civic Center where the hockey Ducks play. There are several local high schools out with marching bands and cheer squads. There was a Mexican cultural dance group, a Hawaiian halau (Halau Hula O Noelani) -- both providing live music and dancing. There was a really cool long stretch of both hot rods and modern roadsters. Here comes the one exception -- you see Lightning McQueen as you go from Honda to Anaheim among the roadsters. As you run through the Angel ballfield, several scouts (both Boy and Girl) will be cheering for you. I wasn't so much of a fan of running through Anaheim, which was far less interesting than the back side of water (Jungle Cruise skipper joke). I had wished that Disney would have peppered a few more Disney characters along this route. It was nice to see local parties out, but they had opportunities for expanding the Disney presence -- whether through song, characters, floats, cardboard cutouts... Getting creative here. --------------------------------- Yes, I had a good time. I think I had the best time at the 10k. The medals are cute. And now it's time for me to go get a massage... ;) read more

Clusterf*ck madness.. getting in and out of the expo. Tip park at downtown Disney rather in the lots. Two hours free before you get charged. Corrals are given prior and you have prove if you have better times to get bumped up. Sigh. And then there's the corral madness in the morning. YOU have to wait to get into the corrals and then wait more. It's just waiting madness just like the theme park. Only saving grace - no crying kids. :) They're just lucky to have all these rabid disney fans + people who don't mind all this madness. ugh. read more

2017 Disneyland Half Marathon!!! It was hot like a motha this weekend!!! I still wish there was an easier way to get your bib. You have to drive to Disneyland to pick it up and there is no where to park to just pick it up. Expect to pay for parking just to get your bib!!! Loved the route, we got to run through Angels Stadium. Ton of water stations. 1 snack station. It was energy jelly beans. Pixar themed, I loved all the awesome outfits. Up characters were my favorite. The medal was so so for this event. Finally finished all 4 themes! read more

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Now that I am able to walk again, I can write an honest review. I'm not a runner by any means, and this was my first half marathon. :) They say that it's not about the destination, but about the journey - pishaw, I wanted that medal at the finish line! I thoroughly enjoyed and ached and agonized along all 13.1 miles of this course, but it was so worth it. Highly recommended to any first timers as there are plenty of other first timers too! :D And it's so fun to dress up in a costume! Yes there are characters throughout Disneyland and California Adventure parks and yes you can get in line to see them/take a picture with them, but you really gotta make up your time for the time lost while waiting in line later.. think oft he park portion as a slow-time out part, and you really start again when you get on Ball. The longest part to me was going from just leaving Disneyland all the way to Honda Center... and the last mile! WTF (where's the finish) kept going through my mind but I just "kept on running" or swimming, as Dory would say, in my head, one step in front of the other! I'm psyched for the next one, I think I'm a little addicted to these events now. :D read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Just a sample of the characters out that you can take pictures with - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

This is such a fun race. Overall, it's well organized, has great scenery throughout (characters, a run through Angel's stadium, etc,) and you get tons of perks (t-shirt, water, food, medal...). I would say that one of the bummers is that there are characters stationed throughout the beginning of the course, and you absolutely would love to take pics with them all, but if you are stationed in one of the back corrals, you will have the pace keeper catching up to you pretty quickly, so this become impossible. You'll have to pick and choose who you really want. It's also one of the warmer races, since it's in September and weather is still in the 90s, so prep for that part. One last negative is that the majority of the run has you facing directly into the sun. Unfortunately, wearing sunglasses for 13 miles isn't really an option you want to consider, so you are stuck squinting it out. The start and finish line is energetic! The characters you get to meet are hard to find anywhere else, or impossible to find anywhere else. The medals are super serious and awesome. Overall: A Really overall it's a great race and I'd do it again!! read more

This is my second Disney race, but my first Disney 1/2 marathon. Would I run again? Was it worth it? Hmmm... I'd have to think long and hard about that one... Let me give you the bad first... and end with the good. Some of the annoying parts of the race began at the expo. 1) Only 30 minutes of free parking to get your race bib and visit the expo!? WHAT!? 30 minutes!? The lines at the expo are ridiculous mapped out with unnecessary zig zags, and take you all the way to the basement of the hotel and back up to the top. Since its a big race, the area to get your bibs, your shirt and the actual expo area is way spread out. So, what if you go past 30 minutes?? It's $17/ hour. Umm.. excuse me.. I think not! Why only 30 minutes!? So, I ran through the entire expo.. barely got a chance to visit the vendors.. I went straight for the race bibs, came out, got my shirt. and ran out. Whew. I barely made it out in time... 2) Parking on the actual race day was $15. (I think or $17). What!? We have to pay for parking again!!??? Oh, Disney please be nice to your people... I mean I almost had to pay an arm and a leg for the expo parking, now I have to lose both arms and legs for parking on race day?? 3) The actual race course was quite boring (not the activities and the supporters..) Just the part where we ran through the city of Anaheim, in some industrial areas between the park and the Anaheim stadium was very very boring. Now, what I did enjoy: 1) Lots and lots of supporters (cheer squad!)!!!! They were about 20 different high school bands, color guards, and cheerleaders from OC to support the runners.. in addition to the hundreds of high school students volunteering at the water stations. They were so awesome, so encouraging, and so appreciated. 2) The medal was very cute. I like it a lot. 3) Running through both CA and Disneyland parks was fun too. I think the course in both parks allowed us to see at least 1/2 or more of both parks which was a nice perk. I wish we stayed longer.. but.. 4) See various characters along the way was great too... Cinderella clan (prince, step mothers, and step sisters), Storm Troopers, Jafar, Cruella, Ursula, Sully, Chip and Dale, Pluto, Goofy, etc. read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Well-deserved medal :) - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

One of the items on my bucket list included running a Disney Half Marathon. Why? 1) It's Disney! and 2) if you've met me, you know that I am not a runner. At all. So after reading up on training strategies and experiences from other non-runners, I sucked it up and was determined to participate in the 2013 Disneyland Half Marathon. The gods must have been smiling at me on January 2013 when Disney opened up a new race -- a 10K! Woo hoo! Relieved at having to now only master half the distance of a half marathon, I signed up in January and set my mind to train. While it didn't quite turn out the way I envisioned, I am glad to have been part of the inaugural 10K and proudly own the medal proving it. Some tips for y'all: 1. Sign up when registration opens. No hesitation. 2013 took a day or two to be sold out. 2014 only took 1 hour. Bam. 2. So far, you don't need proof of time for choosing which corral you want to be placed in for the 10K. It's a different story for the half marathon. Basically, if you're in the last corral, it is a lot easier to be swept up by the pacing people. You need a 16-minute per mile pace. 3. If possible, I would do most of the running/non-stop work in miles 1-3. That's when you're running out of Downtown Disney into the streets of Anaheim towards the Convention Center and looped around towards Harbor Blvd. Why? Because it's outside of the Disney resort and there's not as much interesting things to slow down and look at outside than inside the park. If you can speed through miles 1-3, you can ease up and enjoy miles 4-6 which are inside DCA and DL and a good portion of backstage areas. Which leads to #4. 4. Take pictures and take in what you can when you are inside the parks. These Disney races are not cheap (10K is $100+ when other non-Disney 10Ks run [haha. punny] for around $40), so the premium you are paying for is the ability to go on a route along the backstage areas. Plus, there are characters out and awesome visuals to see (World of Color fountains turned on!). 5. SMILE. =D There are photographers randomly along the route so you may end up with a ridiculously photogenic "candid" shot with the most perfect Disney background. 6. When you train, try to train for realistic course expectations. As a CPA, I only had the chance to train at night (think after 9 pm - 1 am. Midnight runs were not uncommon), so when THE day arrived, man, it was sad. Sure, your race starts around 6 am, but it's Labor Day weekend. I trained in nice breezy 60 degree night weather with the moon and some street lights lighting my way. Come race day, I am already soaked in sweat when I am out of Downtown Disney. 95+ degree weather with the sun in your face. I wanted to be scooped up in a golf cart right then and there. Fantastic. Learn from me. If you have any qualms, I would say just go for it. If you're only going to do one race in your lifetime, make it a Disney race! ------------------ Also, just to throw in some tax humor. I've been telling my co-workers that I signed up for a 10K and it wasn't until months later that half admitted they thought I signed up to do a review of a 10K (it's an annual report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that gives comprehensive details of a company's financial performance). They were wondering why I was yammering on about having a work project that normally doesn't happen until February. You can also tell my public accounting co-workers aren't all racing experts. read more

My 100th review!! I may be biased as this was the last race of the Dumbo Distance Dare and the run that would earn me my Coast to Coast medal (medal for completing a half marathon or longer at both WDW and Disneyland in a calendar year), but I'm definitely a fan! As is typical with Disney races, the biggest negative is how early you have to get up and start traveling in order to be in your corral in time! My friend and I were staying off site, but luckily are hotel offered an ART stop and ART was free for runners (you could pick up a ticket for the weekend at the race expo) and started its routes early to accommodate runners! From the ART drop off point, it was just a short walk through Downtown Disney towards the Disneyland Hotel to get to the staging area and corrals for the race. The corrals are located over by a parking garage at the Disneyland Resort complex. I would recommend getting into the corrals early, as these corrals did get much more crowded than the corrals at WDW typically do. Disneyland is working with more limited space, so squeezing in thousands of runners is bound to be challenging! While you are waiting, you are able to listen to the race announcers providing some final safety reminders as well as some general entertainment. If you are in a corral closer to the start line, there are Jumbotrons where you can see the announcers as well. As a tip for new runners, make sure to submit proof of time when you register for a run Disney race! Corrals are set up by your anticipated end time, so this will help ensure you are with the right pace of runners. Disney races tend to run like clockwork and the first corral was off right on time! If you are in a later corral, keep in mind the corrals are spread out so you will be starting several minutes after the official start of the race. The great thing is that Disney still makes a big deal out of the start of every wave! You don't feel like you are missing out by being in a later corral. Once you are underway you first weave your way through both Disneyland theme parks. Since I had run the 10K the day before, I appreciated that they switched up the course a bit and you were not running the exact same path as the prior day. Once you make it through the parks, the majority of the course is spent running through Anaheim. As a whole, Anaheim is not the most exciting backdrop for a half marathon, but Run Disney did a great job at ensuring there was interesting entertainment to take in along the way. Different types of dancers, bands, cheerleaders and an auto club that brought 100s of cars to show off and cheer along a large portion of the course! Keep in mind, you will not see Disney characters outside of Disneyland. One of the highlights of the course, around mile 11 or so, is running through Angel Stadium! Quite cool! There were 100s of spectators in the stadium, including several adorable boy scout groups cheering the runners on! Definitely gave a little boost to my motivation to run! I think my favorite thing about the course was the wide variety of spectators along the entire course! There was a family giving out ice cubes toward the end as well as a large group of Disney fans with candy and cold sponges. It's always awesome to see how a community comes together to support strangers!! The race weaves it's way back to Disneyland and before you know it you are done! You are promptly awarded your Disneyland Half medal. If you qualified for Coast to Coast or the Disneyland Dumbo Dare, both have pickup spots a little bit farther down the chute where you can present your wristband to receive those medals as well! I have to give a shout out to Run Disney, because when I got home I realized my Disneyland Half medal was pretty beat up (I thought the scratches were smudges from my water bottle) and they sent me a brand new medal! So awesome. In the post-race area, you receive s snack box, banana, Powerade to send you off! This race was definitely a special one for me and I am so happy it was a success! Loved every minute! As Run Disney likes to say, every mile is magic! read more

Of the two CA Disney races I've done, I preferred this to Tinkerbell. This year was both the 10th anniversary of the race and the 60th anniversary of the park, so it was bound to be epic. I didn't hit the race expo until Saturday, but there was still plenty left. Apparently, some of the limited edition stuff went early, but that was fine for me. I was able to hit up my favorite Sparkly Soul and then go to a We Run Social meetup. As per usual, Disney races start super early. I stayed at a hotel nearby and there was a complimentary shuttle--awesome! We did still have to walk quite a ways, but all good. Because I had submitted a previous proof of time, I was able to secure a spot in corral B, which made a HUGE difference. We were off and running pretty quickly (pun intended). This race seemed to have less time in the parks than Tinkerbell. We made a few character stops and naturally a castle picture because, you have to take that one. Then we were out on the streets of Anaheim. Admittedly, Disney did a great job getting people out for us, and the car clubs had nearly TWO MILES of cars! There were also cheer groups, hula dancers and other entertainment. Finally, we hit Angel Stadium... epic to run in there, see yourself on the jumbotron and be greeted by thousands of boy scouts and girl scouts who are SCREAMING for you!!! EPIC! Then back out to the streets of Anaheim. OK...miles 10-13 were the worst, not just because they were late in the game, but because there was very little here to keep you entertained. Few spectators, cheer stations, etc. Finally, we were back on Disney property and I knew the end was near. We were given an awesome medal with a nod to the Diamond Anniversary, and cool snap towels. Seriously, the cool towels were amazing and one of the best things I've ever gotten at a finish line. I paid for a massage, which was fantastic and then headed out. Definitely one to consider repeating! Like any Disney race, it's super spendy and you don't get anything besides the race and the official shirt. read more

**This is strictly from a volunteer's point of view** While I know Disney can be pretty cheap with their cast, I know they spare nothing when it comes to their guests. This thing was amazing and I shockingly enjoyed myself. I of course didn't pay for anything, got a free staff t-shirt and a Powerade out of it. I didn't think ever that 17,000 people would show up for this. Disneyland Drive/Magic Way/Downtown Drive were beyond packed. I have seen it wall to wall cars before at dead stop, but this, this was disgusting. It was like Y2K NYE at Disneyland... (93,000 short tho, haha). I was a bike rider that let people know their times throughout the race and at certain mile makers. 13.1 miles in 4.75 hrs is literally a joke to ride, but it was fun nonetheless. I have ridden a bike through Disneyland and California Adventure plenty of times, but it was still nice worrying if my road tires were going to get stuck in the railings on Main Street or if some person not paying attention to anything but themselves was going to crash into me (note: runners/walkers get EXTREME tunnel vision... yelling does nothing). Once we left both parks, there were school bands playing a long the way. One on Anaheim Blvd kept playing Offspring songs, a notable Polynesian dancing group in one area and cheerleading squads toward the end. There was also 2 small streets on the way to Angel Stadium that had tons of classic cars from the 1920's all the way to 2010. My jaw dropped when I saw a 427 Cobra. That was the best part of the race for me, there was always something to look at and always something to listen to as I didn't even turn my ipod on. During the small route through the Santa Ana River Trail I had to walk my bike, as dirt and rocks don't mix with road tires, but I did feel bad for non-event cyclists who had to wait for people as I didn't see any signs that the trail would be closed to the public. Inside Angel's stadium people were in the stands cheering, I of course again walked my bike down the first base line, around home plate and down the 3rd base line into the outfield. Most if not all cyclists rode through, it just didn't seem right to wiz right through it. There was a little ride around the Honda center, but nothing note worthy. There were water and potty stops along the way. I believe Clif & Jelly Belly sponsored as there were gel & bean packages all over the ground. [On a side note, Clif used caffeinated gel, which I am completely against (I use Hammer gel non-caffeinated) & Jelly Belly used non-caffeinated assorted, which I give 2 thumbs up]. At mile maker 10 I think it was, we had a hard stop with people who were below a certain time. It was crappy to watch people who were too far behind to finish. People were crying and yelling... there was even a pregnant lady who was due in 2 weeks who wouldn't stop if her life depended on it. We couldn't physically make anyone stop, but we had to let them know they wouldn't medal. As the event came to an end I was pleased to see how fast Anaheim reopened the streets to the public as there were signs posted everywhere that week when streets would be close and resume normal traffic. All in all it was a great experience, met some cool people and still needed a riding fix, so I rode home after. (And yes, I'll be doing the same thing at The Tinkerbell 1/2 Marathon on 01/20/13) read more

After a long time watching other people finish their own races, I finally decided to sign myself up for one. Disneyland half was a no brainer - I freaking love Disney and am in close proximity to Anaheim. You get to run through Disneyland! What more could you want! I also have had the opportunity to play in one of those high school bands that you see along the way. This was my first ever half marathon. Being a non-runner when I signed up, I knew I was in for a challenge. It was a long 8 months of bringing myself up to half marathon shape...or at least close to it. What I found with this race was constant updates and organization. I received many emails along the way and packet pick up was a breeze. During the actual race expo, you picked up your bib first, then you go up to the expo hall for your shirt and other goodies. The expo itself was extensive with many free samples and shops. They also had speakers and photo-op places. On the actual race day - I ran the half marathon on Sunday - they ask you to be in your corrals by 5am. I unfortunately was in the last corral and didn't actually start until almost 6:30. What a horrible start time! By then, the sun was already coming out and the heat started coming in. While on the run through Disneyland and California Adventure, you can stop by several characters! I loved this but the lines were long for the popular characters and since I started in the last corral, time was ticking on me. Because of that, I didn't get all the pictures I wanted. By the 4th mile, the heat started to get to me and it was hard for me to keep up my training pace. By then, we were on the streets of Anaheim. I found this super boring and at one point we ran under a bridge where homeless people were situated. Really? At least show the nice parts of Anaheim! After that, we went around Honda center then through Angel's Stadium. That was my other favourite part because the stadium was full of screaming crowds! Great support there! After that, you make your way back to Disney and end at Downtown Disney. Once you finish, you get your medal, refreshments, photos, then food. I got a free massage too which was awesome! Basically, would I run this again? Maybe, if I can find the funds to do so. This race definitely isn't for time, but for fun! I'm considering doing the 10k instead of the half since I still get the Disney magic, but for a lesser cost. read more

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I would give this race a 4.5 if I could. 2013's race was my first half marathon in over 10 years. I was a little hesitant, but everyone told me how incredible it was, and how it's fantastic, and it's magical...all totally true. If it weren't for all that running, it was be an incredible experience ;) Here's my humble breakdown: PROS 1) It's Disneyland! There's tens of thousands of people participating in this event, and every single one of them are super jazzed about being there. Can't beat the vibe. 2) Speaking of vibe...all those local middle school and high school cheer squads and bands make the experience THAT much more exciting. 3) You get to see the back parts of Disneyland and California Adventure. The first 5ish miles or so is throughout both parks. Storybook land! Cars Land! The World of Color lights and water show are going! This is the best part of the race (besides finishing, of course). Running through the castle is a memory you can't forget. 4) Bathrooms are a plenty. If you can coach your body to handle your business before you leave your hotel room, more power to you. If not, there's hundreds of port o potties at the start, restrooms are open in both parks (I made sure to visit a bathroom in Disneyland, knowing that would be my last flushing toilet opportunity for the next 10 miles), and more port o potties along the course. 5) You get to run through Angels Stadium. What?! It's the coolest feeling. And there's hundreds of girl and boy scouts sitting in the stands, cheering you on. AND if you watch closely, you can see yourself on the jumbotron! 6) Water stops are plentiful and exceptionally managed. There are dozens of volunteers who are ready to hand you your water/powerade at each stop. AND they are on both sides of the street so there's not a herd of people rushing to one area. 7) Photo ops are everywhere! I'm one of those people who like to seek the photogs out and pose along the course. After the race, you get an email linking you to a bunch of photos that were taken throughout the race, and I think I had about 25-30 photos to choose from. 8) Yes...you have to wake up at an ungodly hour. BUT...Disneyland has shuttles that pick you up from surrounding hotels and take you to the park entrance. Super convenient. 9) The course is relatively flat. No super challenging hills (just one gradual hill over an overpass). CONS 1) Not exactly Disneyland's fault, but hot damn...the weather was almost unbearable! Not only was it easily in the high 90s, but it was crazy, abnormally humid. 2) The corral 'assignments' were a little bizarre. They assign you to a corral based on your expected finish time: fasters runners start before the slower runners. However, there didn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason as far as managing the corrals were concerned. Everyone wants to start sooner, since it'll be darker and therefore not as miserably hot, but those unlucky few who get pushed towards the back have to pretty run the entire race with the sun out. 3) It's expensive. I mean, really expensive. I believe this last half marathon was $175. I expect to pay about $100 for a good half marathon, but in true Disney style, the prices are exponentially higher. I mean, I kinda get it...the medals are kick ass and the cost to actually run this race is probably expensive, but when you have about 30,000 runners, you're still raking in a crap ton of money. And that's not including all the 'exclusive' runDisney gear they sell at the expo and all the other travel costs involved. 4) There's about a mile stretch where you are running STRAIGHT towards the sun. Ugh...the brightness was blinding! 5) The middle portion of the race is BO-RING! After going through the parks and along the surround roads leading to Disneyland, the industrial parts were just...blah. No cheering crowds, no entertainment...just you and hundreds of runners around you, running into the sun. If you've ever thought about trying a half marathon, this is one you want to do. The vibe of the race is just incomparable. The experience is definitely the best, and the support exceeds all expectations. read more

A four day event starting with the runDisney Expo, Pasta Party, 5k Family Fun Run, 10k Run, and the Half Marathon. There's the Dumbo Double Dare too for the more adventurous. No matter what level runner you are, even walker, this event is a must for your bucket list! When else can you run through Disneyland and California Disney? Plus, the finisher medals are BA-BLING! A very well organized event considering the thousands of participants. Disney really knows how to deal with crowd control. This has got to be my favorite run yet. I am hooked!! Don't expect to PR at these races. You'll be bound to take pictures with the characters along the way. And especially after you've ran through the castle. The best photo stop! Next runDisney events at Disneyland: Àvenger, Star Wars, and Tinkerbell. Don't miss them...I won't! read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - Early morning 5:30am start. Fountains and lights were on at The World of Color. Truly a magical race! - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

This is the 1st Half Marathon run for both my husband & I!!! We both loved it!! Everything was well organized & there are plenty of porter potties out there, but we choose to use the bathrooms in the park(luckily we only need to use it one time). There were great entertainment along the run. And yes...just like the other reviews...our highlight was running in Angels Stadium!! It was the best feeling everrrrr!! The medals definitely did not disappoint!!!! read more

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The Happiest race I know! This has got to be the race with the most Disney loving people I know! Plus, you create your own personal best time! Score to winning! This is my 3rd time running this race and each time, it's fun and exciting especially when you're running with your friends! Love all the costumes and creativeness that people do! Go Team OK! The race involves running in the parks, stoping to take pics of Disney characters, running through Anaheim (I know where to get flooring & industrial tools!), and running in the BIG "A" (look I'm on the jumbo tron!) and then back to the parking lot of Disneyland. Disney is very organized and has a lot of sponsors! Love their expo and what nots! The race price has gone up, but hey it's Disney...and the price you pay equals the fun and swag ya get! Great run for beginners cause you are aiming for your own personal beat time and it's the HAPPIEST race in Earth! Happy, Happy! read more

It was a great experience, but that's about it.. I would not recommend for 1st timers. I thought since it was Disney and the high price I paid to run, that we would've gotten more gifts& treats at the end of the race, & at the expo during bib pick up. I have completed other races and have experienced the great expos with free giveaways and completed other marathons with a unlimited amount of vitamin waters, protein bars, water, bananas, bagels, etc. I did enjoy the DISNEY experience and had a great time but I would not pay the HIGH fee ever again. My money for Disney will continue as a annual pass holder, Because i love Disneyland. read more

Disneyland Half Marathon - The start of 1/2 marathon - Races & Competitions Near Me - Anaheim, California

Ran this half this year for the first time. Did the Tinkerbell half earlier this year and they're somewhat similar in that they both take you through both parks front and back stage. This one though takes you through Angel Stadium and had more to see like the classic cars during the middle of the race for 3miles straight. That definitely took my mind off of my achy feet. Medal is great. Disneyland is an extremely organized race compared to the many others Ive ran in the past. Does come with a hefty price though. Don't expect much at the expo. Much like the Tinkerbell, the expo doesn't have many giveaways. You get your race shirt and thats about it. Yes i would recommend this race. its fun! read more

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I think this is one of the most fun and very well organized running events I've experienced. Perfect for all ages. There are kids events, 5k, 10k, and Half marathon distances. Over 18k participants over the weekend makes this one heck of a weekend. The routes through the parks and behind the scenes is very cool. Reminds me of when I used to work at DLand years ago. What keeps me coming back the past 4 years I've done this, is the energetic atmosphere and that I like Disney. This was one of my first running events ever and I got hooked the first time I ran in 2012 and can't wait to sign up for the following year. the staff and volunteers are amazing and hats off to them to make the event enjoyable and running smoothly. Without going into too much more detail, since the event should be experienced first hand. This event sells out quick so be sure to sign up the day it opens online. AP holders have early registration, but that also fills up quick. To get the most of this event during the run, definitely train so you're not hurting (too much) while taking in the scenes. The distractions in and outside of the parks are so welcome and make the miles feel shorter. Despite the increasing costs every year, I'll definitely be back running this event. There are other RunDisney events throughout the year, but this one will always be in my calendar to run every Labor Day weekend. read more

Now, everyone knows the only reason I'm writing this review is so I can broadcast to the world that I made a 7.31 minute-mile with a time of 1 hour 38 minutes!! That is the fastest I will EVER be in my entire life so I'm basking in the glory now. Haters gon' hate!!!! Including my calves, who HATE me so much right now. With the pandering for praise out of the way, I have to say that this is an amazingly organized half marathon that I would recommend to any idiotic soul who enjoys putting their body through a 13.1-mile run and paying for it. What a production! 2012 was my first time doing this race and only my second half marathon. But even without much experience, I can tell this is a nicely organized one. It started at a cool 5:45am, aka pre-stroke time. The corrals were organized with lots of employees helping to direct people-traffic, and Corral A (my corral) was highly restricted from entry, which kept out the slow riff raff fraudulently trying to enter. I kinda felt like I was one of those upper level folk on the Titanic. The race started outside Downtown Disney and snaked it's way through CA Adventure and Disneyland. The park was closed, but the lights were on, the characters were out, the crowds/employees were cheering, and the rides were running, which made it especially magical. There were photographers along the route if we wanted to stop to take a pic with Jasmine or Cinderella or that weird ass, new ginger princess ~shiver~. Main Street, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, and Cars Land were all on our route as well. And Disney's liability attorneys must have had their hands in this race because every so often, I would hear a soothing voice say, "caution, there is a sharp turn ahead" or "the pavement will be uneven". Thank god for those sharp turn warnings. 50-man pile up avoided. After exiting the parks, we were off onto the riotous streets (oh ZING!) of Anaheim. We passed by the Honda Center and right through the middle of Angel Stadium, with crowds cheering like we were superstars. At some point, we were running on dirt next to a creek, then some farm road with old 50's cars lined along it, and then next to the 5-freeway. And yes, I did ponder ditching the race and running on the freeway. Then back home to Downtown Disney! Overall, what a great course, relatively flat with only a handful of minor dips and hills to overcome. Major props to the sideline folk along the route cheering on total strangers! They kept me going!! Even the ones that gave me a Truman Show-style freak-out by cheering my name, until I figured out at mile 8 that my name was on my bib.... I may have been physically and mentally exhausted, but this well organized and eye-popping race was well worth it! And as expected from Disney, the finisher's medal is AMAZING!! So why 4-stars, not 5? Because for the cost to do this ($$$), Disney couldn't give us free parking or free entry into the park for the day???!!! COME ON DISNEY!! Cheap. Ass. Mouse. read more

Great first half marathon to do if you're a beginner. Not so great if it's your first official half and you don't have proof of being able to run faster to be in the earlier corrals (jk it's still a great half but really, it wasn't fun to be in the last corral because of everyone you had to dodge). Make sure you sign up to get a heads up when they'll be opening up the registration so that you can be sitting at the computer when registration starts because it will sell out quickly! It does cost double of regular halfs but you're paying for the experience. C'mon it's Disney. & yes, you have to pay for parking, too ($17) granted you don't have a free parking pass You pick up your bib starting a couple days before up to the day before your race, although I swear I saw signs that said you can pick up last minute bibs at 3:30 AM...and the speedy people start at 5:30 AM. PLEASE NOTE: if you are in the later corrals, STILL get to the parking lot as if you're running at 5:30 because they WILL block off the original route to get to the parking structure once you get off the freeway because the run started and you'll be stuck circling around asking for directions and almost miss your start time. If you don't want a walking start, get to the starting line before your corral start or else you'll be walking for a good 5 min before you cross the starting line. And don't worry, the disney cast will pump you up for your race, you won't even remember you dragged your butt over at 5 am in the morning. Once the race starts, you run through disneyland and California adventures for the first 4 miles and there is a huge adrenaline rush! You can stop and take pics with the characters and in certain landmarks but be prepared to wait in line if you want to take pics. Then once you leave the park, the adrenaline runs out and you start feeling THE ACHES AND PAINS. Oh yes. The aches and pains but don't worry! Look out for the red shirt medics and they'll have biofreeze for you. Make sure you hydrate hydrate hydrate. Especially with the powerade. You need to replenish your electrolytes. Thank the volunteers because if you're complaining you had to get there at 5 AM, they had to get there as early as 3 AM! High school bands and cheer teams will come and cheer you on almost all the way and give high fives to everyone! They have the cliff bloks before the angel stadium (the only time they'll give you something other than water/powerade..bummer). They had a super cute shirt design and a medal design incorporating both the 10th half anniversary and the 60th disneyland anniversary. If you plan on walking, watch out for the balloon ladies! They're the ladies walking exactly at the 16 min pace and they'll encourage you to keep running but if they pass you, that mile may be your last mile and a shuttle will come pick you up. But don't worry, you'll still get your medal and goodies and any medical aid you need. Smile big for the cameras because hey, you never know...you might become the poster face for the next half. Wear costumes because if you were to wear a costume for any race, it'd be this one. You won't stick out like a sore thumb. Guests go all out and you see costumes ranging from Minnie's and Mickey's to tinkerbells to mr roger to Walt Disney himself! Congratulations on your initiation to...the happiest race on earth (: welcome to the rundisney family. & if you're daring, sign up for the coast to coast challenge (half in Florida and CA in same calendar year) and/or the double dumbo challenge (10k and half in one weekend) I also suggest you to try volunteering for disney. It was one of the most fun races to volunteer for. read more

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Holy moly It's already 15 days into the year and I've not done any review yet. Thanks for reminding me! The DL half marathon... What to say. It used to be a great and glorious race where people from all around the world woudl come and acheive a check off their bucketlist. Now? It's just a place where people from all over the world come and get ripped off. Why? Before: Swag bag - Filled with samples, coupons, advertisements for other races, and the standard race instructional stuff. All things a runner would love to have because free s*** is cool! Post race refreshments - schmorgasborg of banana's, oranges, clif bars, bagels, power aid, and water. Rehydrate and refuel after the race so you can pay to get into the park! Registration - Reasonable. It is Disney so paying 2x a normal San Diego half marathon is what I'd expect from Disney Starting line - Fireworks!!! Fire!!!! great things to get you amped up Now: Swag bag - a few pieces of paper with what to do/where to go, your bib, and a safety pins. Post race refreshments - a small box with all natural crackers, raisins, and a peanut butter packet the size of two ketchup packets. They also had some water/power aid. Where's the fruit?!?! Registration - Insane!!! Now at $175, that's 3-4x the other races. The problem is that the still sell out. Just insane. Starting line - Some hollywood reject actor saying "go" and making canned comments about "A- coral is for awesome!". What happened Disney!??! I'd have expected so much better from you. It's been a good 4 years that I've run the race, but with the crap you pulled this year, I'm out. Introduce a dumbo double dare? Good for you. You're charging MORE for that than if you did the two races together. Way to pass on the cost of the medal instead of just eating, oh I dont' know $10 for a medal that cost you what? $1!!!! I'd HIGHLy suggest you do NOT do this race. I love running, love these races, but it's gone WAY too far down hill. Oh and lastly, the course is NOT through the park. It is through 8 miles of the backstreets of Anaheim. TL:DR - Used to be great. Now? No read more

Anything Disney related is just AHH-mazing! Since this half marathon is during the 60th Anniversary, the theme was the Diamond celebration. There are characters stationed within the parks. There are professional photographers with each of the characters and they will take pictures using your personal camera/phone as well. Mickey and Minnie mouse are only there at the start line but you can't take pictures with them. The characters include the cast of Notre Dame, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland. The course took us through downtown Disney, California Adventures, Disneyland, backstage of both parks, streets of Anaheim, Angel stadium, and back to downtown Disney. We got to run on the bases of Angel stadium and the seats were filled with a cheering crowd. A lot of people say the course after the parks is really boring but I've never ran around the city of Anaheim so I was entertained. There were a lot of bands, cheerleaders, and spectators along the course. Luckily I submitted my previous half marathon time and was placed in Corral B. The race began at 5:30 am and my start time was at 5:34 am. Since I was in the earlier corrals, the line to take pictures wasn't too long. I wasn't aiming to beat my PR with this half marathon since I took a lot of pictures, but since the lines weren't too long to take pictures of characters, my time was only impacted by a couple minutes. I hear the later corrals have more walkers and the lines get more crazy. Cons: - The race entry is $200. It's more expensive than a park admission. - Early start time of 5:30 am eek - Massages were $1/minute and can be purchased at 5 and 10 minute intervals. Massages are free for the Nike Women's marathon. Who profits the money from massages? The parks? The masseuses are volunteers who are getting training hours. - They no longer allow other people to pick up race packets before the race and there are no race day pickups. This is a hassle for out of town runners. My flight landed after the expo ended so I had to change my flight last minute in order to make it in time. - It took an hour for me to get out of the parking structure after the race. They need better traffic control. - There is only about 4 miles within the parks. Half of the time, I was running around the backstage of the park. - The post-race food was subpar. There were chips, candy, pretzels, protein bar, banana, Gatorade, and water. For $200, I was expecting more. Pros: - It's Disney.. DISNEY!! Enough said. - Very organized race - Plenty of water stations - The medal is just gorgeous - Disney characters throughout the course within the parks read more

A gorgeous shiny gold medal will await you at the end of 13.1 miles. Leave it up to Disney to put on a great show! The whole run was fabulous. I think I caught myself smiling a lot through the race, especially the part where you run through the actual Disneyland Park and California Adventures. There are a lot of stops where you can stop to take pictures with the characters, so this is a good run to just say heck with the time and make frequent stops while in Disneyland to snap photos with your running buddies if you feel so inclined. The middle of the course goes through a corporate type of community so it's definitely not as exciting but the end of the race picks up as it goes through Angel's Stadium and ends back in the Disneyland parking lot. Course is flat and very well organized with lots of water stations along the way. I did the race in 2013 and loved it. Only thing is since the run takes place in the early fall, it can get pretty hot towards the end of the race so be prepared with sunglasses or a hat. The snacks provided after also come in a cute little Disney-packaged box which I really enjoyed. Totally incredible! read more

If you're going to run a single half marathon in your lifetime, this is the one to complete. First to cross or last to cross, Disney knows how to make you feel like a million bucks. You're greeted not only by Disney characters along the way, but they have plenty of performers and shows going on to keep your adrenaline pumping! The whole event is extremely well organized, and they pretty much give you all the information you'll need on their website. On top of that, the expo you go to before the race is full of great information and top vendors. Keep in mind though, this thing sells out FAST. I planned on running this a few years ago, and I was debating for it for a week. When I decided to register, they were already sold out. It was only a week of debating! This past year, I signed up for the email reminders and even put a reminder on my phone. It was pretty much now or never. I registered the day it opened, and from what I heard, it sold out in 48 hours. The only reason why this is 4 stars is because it really costs an arm and a leg to register... and it doesn't even include entrance to the parks besides getting to run through it at the beginning of the run. It's worth it to do at least once though. I mean, where else can you run a half marathon and give Mickey Mouse a high five as you cross the finish line??? read more