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Roads set to close Sunday for Disney race
September 3rd, 2009, 3:00 am · 10 Comments · posted by Sarah Tully
Half marathon racers in 2008. Click on photo for slideshow.
Racers dressed like Minnie and Mickey Mouse are expected to stop traffic this weekend as the Disneyland Half Marathon route snakes through Anaheim streets.
Now in its fourth year, the Disneyland Half Marathon and related events remain popular, with Sunday’s big race reaching capacity at 13,500 participants. Registration was closed in July, about the same time the half marathon has filled up each year.
Other events, including a Diaper Dash for crawling babies and a Family Fun Run 5K race, also are full. About 18,000 people will take part in the events that wind through Disney theme parks.
“I think it’s really successful, and they drive a lot of family participation,” said Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “There’s a real uptick in the park activity. It’s turned out to be a really nice event.”
For outsiders, the 13.1-mile centerpiece race means closed roads and fuller visitor venues.
On Sunday, some roads near Disneyland and Angel Stadium will be closed starting at midnight and lasting as late as 10 a.m. CLICK ON MAP TO SEE SPECIFIC ROAD CLOSURE TIMES.
Disney hotels usually fill up and others book more rooms, Ahlers said.
Bill O’Connell, who owns five Disney-area hotels, said earlier this week that about 85 percent of the rooms were full and he expected to book the rest of them by the Labor Day weekend.
Runners come from all 50 states and 13 countries.
Cindy Inloes, her husband and two adult children flew in from their home in Hawaii just to join the 5K race last year. Since that time, they’ve moved to Northern California and they plan to return again this weekend. This time, Inloes is joining the half marathon, while her three family members are trying for the 5K again.
“I am a huge Disney fan,” said Inloes of San Ramon. “We were able to go through Disney before the park opened and that whole experience. … The race was fun, but it was because it was Disney.”
Next year for her 50th birthday, Inloes plans to sign up for both the Disneyland Half Marathon and the one in Walt Disney World in Florida for the Coast to Coast Challenge Race. Racers on both coasts are eligible for a special medal. This year, 1,751 are going for that medal, the second year it is offered.
A Health and Fitness Expo at the Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, is free and open to the public. Hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Check back this weekend for coverage of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend at ocregister.com.
Read previous blog items about Disney events:
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Another “Mickey Mouse” idea from the same folk who brought you the “highest-price place on earth.” In the words of the late Jim Varney (the Hey, Verne guy), who pays for this ex-tra-va-gan’-zo?
These selfish people and interests who close streets and interfere with the plans of others should be ashamed. Public streets should never be closed for the private entertainment of selected groups.
Marathons are OK, but closing streets and making if difficult or impossible to reach ones destination are unconscionable. They should stop the race and allow time all waiting traffic to cross at intervals of not more than thirty minutes.
Several years ago my wife and I and some important clients that we were planning to meet at Long Beach Marina for an afternoon sail had our day ruined by road closures that blocked off all access from the east, north, and west. By time we found a rout via PCH well to the south of Sea Beach we were over 3 hours late and our guests never made it at all.
Hey negative Nancy (aka: Richard/DICK), don’t get bitter, get better.
Its promoting a healthy lifestyle for adults and kids, as well as a great family outing.
You are completely in your right to not like Disney but they are a for profit company and if it weren’t for them, Anaheim would be another third world city like Santa Ana.
“These selfish people and interests who close streets and interfere with the plans of others should be ashamed.”
Wow, one could easily flip that around and call you the selfish one. God forbid you should be inconvenienced for one day. Even though it’s announced ahead of time and alternate routes are available.
Too bad about the sailing gig, a good reason to remember the six “P” philosophy:
Proper
Planning
Prevents
Piss
Poor
Performance
They could double their participation in this race if they included the people who run away in horror from the Disneyland ticket booths when they find out how much it costs to get in.
Good thing I don’t have to go anywhere near here on my way to some real fun…the Orange International Street Fair!! It’s an event that promotes international relations by allowing us to “visit” other countries and enjoy their food and most importantly, sample their beers!!
Too bad I rarely get past Irish Street…..mmmmmm….Guinness!!!
Seriously you whiners. It’s one single day and the roads will be open by 10 a.m. I’d love to do this half marathon but it is always way to hot and the price entry fee deters me. But good for others who are willing to complete the race.
LAME!!! wah wah wah!!!
I did this race last year and as far as marathons go, this is poor. $120 when most are half that price. Also they have no clue how to host a race. They put the slow people up front and the fast people in back. Then your fighting to get past these people for the first 5 miles. The first miles are in Disneyland and the pathway is so narrow it’s impossible to get around people. Then there are stupid people who pay to join a race, then stop and take pictures with Disney characters. They could spend half and go to Disneyland all day. All the people I know refuse to do this marathon again.
Brian:
The roads wee not opened until almost noon. I still think the the public roads should only be closed for a truly important reason. A bunch of immature sprinter s who could do their thing any where is not a an important reason.