The Disneyland Race is finally back after YEARS on hiatus, and I cringe a little thinking that this is how people will experience SoCal racing. Why? 1. It is ridiculously … MORE
The Disneyland Race is finally back after YEARS on hiatus, and I cringe a little thinking that this is how people will experience SoCal racing. Why?
1. It is ridiculously expensive, probably 3-5x more than any other race in the area
2. It really shows off SoCal poorly. Sure, you start in Disneyland for a few minutes, but this race really just runs you around Anaheim – which is pretty dreary, honestly.
3. It is brutally crowded and popular, which is pretty shocking considering #1 and #2.
4. After being gone for many years, I’d expect their first couple efforts to need a lot of improvements
5. For the billions of dollars to enter the race, it doesn’t include any real park admission. This is just name-branding a bad race for bling. If bling is what you want, maybe just do the virtual?
I run every major race in the SoCal region and this is honestly the bottom of the barrel. Fortunately, it is already sold out so I couldn’t even run it if I wanted to, but I wish people would come visit SoCal for basically any other race but this one!
I have nothing against Disney or Disneyland whatsoever. Go to the park, come to Anaheim – have a great time. Just keeping it real about this race!
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Avoid this one
The Disneyland Race is finally back after YEARS on hiatus, and I cringe a little thinking that this is how people will experience SoCal racing. Why? 1. It is ridiculously … MORE
The Disneyland Race is finally back after YEARS on hiatus, and I cringe a little thinking that this is how people will experience SoCal racing. Why?
1. It is ridiculously expensive, probably 3-5x more than any other race in the area
2. It really shows off SoCal poorly. Sure, you start in Disneyland for a few minutes, but this race really just runs you around Anaheim – which is pretty dreary, honestly.
3. It is brutally crowded and popular, which is pretty shocking considering #1 and #2.
4. After being gone for many years, I’d expect their first couple efforts to need a lot of improvements
5. For the billions of dollars to enter the race, it doesn’t include any real park admission. This is just name-branding a bad race for bling. If bling is what you want, maybe just do the virtual?
I run every major race in the SoCal region and this is honestly the bottom of the barrel. Fortunately, it is already sold out so I couldn’t even run it if I wanted to, but I wish people would come visit SoCal for basically any other race but this one!
I have nothing against Disney or Disneyland whatsoever. Go to the park, come to Anaheim – have a great time. Just keeping it real about this race!
Personal Record
Running in Disneyland was awesome, lots of fun going through the park. Running through Anaheim was really enjoyable too, we ran through Angels Stadium and that was a highlight too. … MORE
Running in Disneyland was awesome, lots of fun going through the park. Running through Anaheim was really enjoyable too, we ran through Angels Stadium and that was a highlight too. The weather was unbearable 84 degrees and 82% humidity at 5 AM
best they could with the heat
Normally this is one of my favorite races of the year. This year the heat was UNBEARABLE. When I left my hotel room at 3:30am, it was 83 degrees. This … MORE
Normally this is one of my favorite races of the year. This year the heat was UNBEARABLE. When I left my hotel room at 3:30am, it was 83 degrees. This of course, was not RunDisney’s fault…there is nothing they can do about the weather. They made sure to give plenty of heat warnings and they encouraged everyone to be careful, pour water on themselves, not to skip any water stations…but there were still people dropping like flies. I was able to finish and was happy I was able to do that. It was really hard.
Great Race if You Love Disneyland
I am an avid fan of Disneyland and all things Disney, so this race is not for everyone. I am also a huge fan of Pixar, which is why I … MORE
I am an avid fan of Disneyland and all things Disney, so this race is not for everyone. I am also a huge fan of Pixar, which is why I signed up for this particular race. The course support was really good and there were plenty of great picture stops. The half-marathon course is a little boring when you are running the streets of Anaheim, but running through Angel’s Stadium is a really fun experience. However, I usually start to peter out and slow down once I come out of the stadium and you still have about three miles to go to the finish. I never get a great time at these races because they are very crowded. But I did really appreciate the earlier start time since the weather and humidity was awful. This race is ALWAYS hot. Overall, a great time if you love Disney. The medals are second-to-none.
Fun and magic, despite record highs
At the start of the race, at 5 am, it was already in the high 80s. By the time we got to the finish line, it was 96, but felt … MORE
At the start of the race, at 5 am, it was already in the high 80s. By the time we got to the finish line, it was 96, but felt like 105. Despite the brutal heat, the race course was well supported with cast members, water stations, entertainment, and characters. Disneyland’s limited space made it feel a little cramped, especially compared to a race at Walt Disney World, but the pixie dust was still there and we still had a great time.
Disney 5k celebrates Pixar
I've left reviews for this and other Disney runs before and ...I guess this is good news..not alot has changed. After the stripped down runs they produced last May with … MORE
I’ve left reviews for this and other Disney runs before and …I guess this is good news..not alot has changed. After the stripped down runs they produced last May with the Tinkerbell Half it is a relief that things seem back to normal. There were plenty of photo ops along the way featuring “The Incredibles” and other Pixar properties. Most of the run took place in California Adventure (where most of the Pixar attractions are) with the route in Disneyland is there mainly to get you through the photo op running through the castle.
The route includes some back stage areas and we saw new areas I had not seen before.
There was a new 5am start which was a bit welcome since it was very hot and humid this day. A nice surprise was a cool towel at the finish line after you receive your medal.
The mandatory Expo was still a bit of a shell of what it used to be. No guest speakers, no bar and no Clif samples.
Andrea and Carissa did an entertaining and enthusiastic pre show before the run.
Fun run!
Disney puts on a good race. The race runs smooth with gear check and their corralling system. The races start on time, and the course is exciting, as long as … MORE
Disney puts on a good race. The race runs smooth with gear check and their corralling system. The races start on time, and the course is exciting, as long as you’re in the park. I love running through the parks, fun characters, great scenery, but once one the streets of Anaheim, it gets a little boring. Though, high school bands and cheerleaders come help along the way! Gets more exciting when you get to run through Angel Stadium, then back into downtown Disney. Super fun! Would recommend running a Disney race!
Country Bear Jamboree Disneyland 5K
This is the classic run at Disneyland. There are now four of them with their own theme. The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend is a little looser on the themes and … MORE
This is the classic run at Disneyland. There are now four of them with their own theme. The Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend is a little looser on the themes and this year the theme was a ride, Extremely appropiate except this ride, the Country Bear Jamboree, was just down 15 years ago. I was less nostalgic and more angry – why did you take a Marc Davis ride out!! For Winnie the frickin’ Pooh!? Will next year be Adventures Through Inner Space?
All that aside these runs are addicting. When I finish I always winder when the next one is. (I know when because I pay 6 months in advance). The early start time (5:30am, usually) messes with your whole day but there is definitely magic afoot.
The run was more DCA then DL this year presumably because of the Star Wars Land construction. So we get to see a little extra DCA and backlot then usual and it was nice. The end of mile 2 was a little difficult due to running up the tunnels that run under the parks but other the that you are pretty smooth sailing (this may change by next year). There are A LOT of photo ops along the way. This run is not timed and you people do a lot of stopping. But people watching is part of the fun. Costumes are allowed as long as your face is visible and your cape will not smack others in the face. Staff arrive early and are on the course to yell encouragement and provide high fives. There was a water station at the half mark.
Again the course is not timed for 5k’s and my GPS measured the distance at 3.2 miles.
So. Changes this year….. The T-shirt wasn’t up to the quality of the last RunDisney run I did in May…which is ok, I guess…of course they raised the prices. They touted that the 5K medal would be metal instead of rubber and what I got was underwhelming compared to the ones I received the last 5 years. They no longer give you a physical copy of the multi-page program instead you get a couple page cheat sheet so check out the one they give you on line. The corral system was more expansive (good). The MC team…. well, I miss Rudy. He is a legend around these parts. I LOVE local legend Andea staying as part of the team – she sounds like she’s been doing this for years. Carissa reporting live from the back corrals is a great idea and she did a great job. The other MC…well, Rudy couldn’t have done that better? C’mon, guys. Bring Rudy Back.
REMEMBER! You have to pick up your Bib at the expo the day before! In Person! The expo at the Disneyland Hotel is very informative and I was able to sign up for this November’s Dr. Strange 10K there at a reduced price although it was officially sold out.
It's Disney
This is a great event, if you're a fan of all things Disney. It is not just a race at Disneyland. It is a Disney event from start to finish. … MORE
This is a great event, if you’re a fan of all things Disney. It is not just a race at Disneyland. It is a Disney event from start to finish. They do a fantastic job at keeping the excitement the entire time. Their expo is great. The SWAG is awesome. I loved the medal (the 2015 version was a spinner).
The course…wow…the course. Through Disneyland, out through part of Anaheim, through Angels ballpark, back to Disneyland. It was awesome x infinity. They even had youth groups (I believe boys & girls scouts) in the Angels ballpark to cheer you on as you ran around the field. The course itself was worth every penny.
One thing that must be mentioned, if you do not like crowds of walkers, then avoid this event. I personally don’t mind it at all. Part of the fact that it is a Disney production, the event does get a lot of first-timers and individuals that walk more than run.
On top of that, there are awesome picture opportunities throughout the course, including pics with Disney characters. This also causes some bunching in certain areas.
My advice – if you’re serious about running for a time target, do not do a Disney race. You’ll only frustrate yourself. Go into ready to enjoy the run and understand your final time may be under your average.
You don't get what you pay for
I love Disney and I know overtime they put on something it is sure to be a sight. However, this race was $180 and all I got was a shirt … MORE
I love Disney and I know overtime they put on something it is sure to be a sight. However, this race was $180 and all I got was a shirt and a medal. They did not offer anything aside from a box with a banana and raisins in it at the finish. They also were too crowded. I was supposed to be in Corral C but it was packed, so they closed it and told us that we needed to head the D corral. Well, that was full as well so they told us to just keep going until there was an open corral. This was not acceptable and I was very upset. I paid a lot of money for the race and I was bummed out that they could not accommodate everyone that was there. I will not be doing this one again
Favorite Half Marathon
This was my second time running the Disneyland Half. The part of the course that is in the Disney parks is fantastic, though you end up running a large stretch … MORE
This was my second time running the Disneyland Half. The part of the course that is in the Disney parks is fantastic, though you end up running a large stretch of the race through parts of Anaheim which are less than ideal. You also get to run through Angel’s Stadium, which to me was even more exciting than running through the Disney parks. The medal for the 10th anniversary of the run was a little disappointing – it seemed a bit cheap and fell short of the high expectations I have for Disney swag based on previous races. Overall, though, this continues to be my favorite half marathon to run.
Powered by Pixie Dust
In my opinion, Disney runs are meant to be fun and laid back - not meant to rush through. There was a lot of crowd support, great energy throughout the … MORE
In my opinion, Disney runs are meant to be fun and laid back – not meant to rush through. There was a lot of crowd support, great energy throughout the race, and I’m personally obsessed with the fact that we got to not only run through Angels stadium, but that we were projected on the jumbotron and there were spectators filling up the stands. Disney runs are pricey! A little too pricey! But you will fill the disney magic from start to finish.
Well run as are all Disney races.
Typical Disney race, extremely well run but expensive and crowded, especially the first several miles. It was cool running under the BIG A in the Angels parking lot as well … MORE
Typical Disney race, extremely well run but expensive and crowded, especially the first several miles. It was cool running under the BIG A in the Angels parking lot as well as running through the stadium.
Typical Disney production
The Disney races are "fun" type runs for runners of all abilities. But be aware, the vast majority are there to socialize, stop for photos in the park, and are … MORE
The Disney races are “fun” type runs for runners of all abilities. But be aware, the vast majority are there to socialize, stop for photos in the park, and are unaware of runner etiquette. You spend very little time in the parks at distances over 5k, with the majority of the mileage taking place on the streets of Anaheim. The entertainment along the course is top notch to make up for being on the streets. There are plenty of water stops and ALL OF the volunteers to a fantastic job along the course and at the expo. Running through the park takes patience, but once on the you can open up if you wish. The medals are always amazing. I would not recommend running in a Disney race if you are an experienced runner going for a PR.
2014 Dumbo Double Dare
Ran the 19.3 miles (10K + Half) Dumbo Double Dare in 2014. Fun race and got to meet Jeff Galloway. Course is flat from what I remember. Fun weekend. MORE
Ran the 19.3 miles (10K + Half) Dumbo Double Dare in 2014. Fun race and got to meet Jeff Galloway. Course is flat from what I remember. Fun weekend.
2014 Dumbo Double Dare
Ran the 19.3 miles (10K + Half) Dumbo Double Dare in 2014. Fun race and got to meet Jeff Galloway. Course is flat from what I remember. Fun weekend. MORE
Ran the 19.3 miles (10K + Half) Dumbo Double Dare in 2014. Fun race and got to meet Jeff Galloway. Course is flat from what I remember. Fun weekend.
My first runDisney experience
Had a great time running through the parks. Plenty of aid stations. Very good production. Very early start time which throws my body off a bit. MORE
Had a great time running through the parks. Plenty of aid stations. Very good production. Very early start time which throws my body off a bit.
Disneyland Half Marathon
See attached blog post link. This is where I outline everything you need to know about this race. It includes pictures and videos to help your research. MORE
See attached blog post link. This is where I outline everything you need to know about this race. It includes pictures and videos to help your research.
Fun Atmosphere, great swag, a bit pricey
We all know Disney races are not cheap. That being said though, you do get what you pay for. In this case it means adoring fans along the course route, … MORE
We all know Disney races are not cheap. That being said though, you do get what you pay for. In this case it means adoring fans along the course route, fun disney fanatic scenery, disney charachters, early morning with Mickey Mouse, great swag and an overall exciting atmosphere!
The Happiest Race of the Year
Disney doesn't disappoint - awesome race swag, great energy at the start, well supported route with lots of community involvement (local bands, cheerleaders, boy & girl scouts). Running through Disneyland … MORE
Disney doesn’t disappoint – awesome race swag, great energy at the start, well supported route with lots of community involvement (local bands, cheerleaders, boy & girl scouts). Running through Disneyland and onto the field at Angel Stadium were the highlights of this race.