What to do?

[Hannah1284]

Ah! So my husband and I are preparing to run the Disneyland Half Marathon (I'm also doing the 10k). After returning from the Princess Half last week, I decided to settle down and look at booking the hotel and whatnot for Disneyland. Unfortunately, it seems there is nothing available at the Disney properties.

Here's my question...

Do I book through gettravel.com (rundisney) to guarantee a stay at a Disney property (Grand Californian)? Or, do I book through Disney directly at a good neighbor hotel and risk keep checking for a Disney property opening with no fee to change if something becomes available?
Any advice is helpful?

I have read a lot about how its not as important to stay at a disney property in Disneyland, but it just seems to complete the whole experience. Am I just stuck in a WDW mindset?

 

[lego606]

Ah! So my husband and I are preparing to run the Disneyland Half Marathon (I'm also doing the 10k). After returning from the Princess Half last week, I decided to settle down and look at booking the hotel and whatnot for Disneyland. Unfortunately, it seems there is nothing available at the Disney properties.

Here's my question...

Do I book through gettravel.com (rundisney) to guarantee a stay at a Disney property (Grand Californian)? Or, do I book through Disney directly at a good neighbor hotel and risk keep checking for a Disney property opening with no fee to change if something becomes available?
Any advice is helpful?

I have read a lot about how its not as important to stay at a disney property in Disneyland, but it just seems to complete the whole experience. Am I just stuck in a WDW mindset?

They're very nicely designed and they do come with the morning EMH/DCA entrance but, really, if you're not a morning person both of those perks aren't worth much. Magic Morning just kind of doubles that so really, unless you're a morning person, staying there and thinking there will be WDW-level perks (transportation, evening magic hours, etc) isn't the best option.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You're right, hotels aren't a big deal at the DLR. They don't make our visits better. We're more into entertainment, rides and other attractions.

I know it's going to be hard to let go of your WDW training for this trip, but try. Trust me, you don't want to spend loads and loads of cash on a DLR hotel anyway. They are seriously overpriced and the benefits aren't that great. The offsite hotels are just fine and some of them are even closer to the parks than the onsite hotels. Some of them have Disney decor in the rooms and they're very nice. You'll be happy to be saving your money.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

The only word of warning I have is that the marathon route can play havoc with traffic on the nearby streets. Pick a place that is close enough where you can absolutely walk and make sure that you won't need your car the morning of the race. One of the hosts on Mousetalgia literally could not leave the parking lot of his hotel on Harbor... there's just no way to do it with the race going on and I think the route for the half- and full marathon always goes down Harbor (IIRC). Also, you are not gonna want to travel far after running 13.1 miles! Good luck!

 

[croboy82]

Yeah I can just agree that there are a few (very) nice hotels just around the corner within walking distance.

I would book disney hotels too if a) they weren't that overpriced or b) they'd offer me something special.

In the end I just need a place to sleep