Disneyland Resort Half-Marathon Weekend Traffic Alert

If you are into the wonderful world of collecting runDisney medals, you undoubtedly already know that this weekend is not only Labor Day, but also the sold-out Half-Marathon Weekend at Disneyland Resort. But even if the only Disney running you do is to Peter Pan at rope drop, you should be aware of the athletic activities in case you were planning on an early morning visit to the Anaheim parks in the next few days.

Race-related activities kicks off this morning with the Disneyland Health & Fitness Expo, which continues until 5pm Saturday at the Disneyland Hotel. On Saturday (8/31) the 5k Family Fun Run and 10k race start at 5:15am and 6:15am, respectively, with Kids Races held in Downtown Disney at 10am. Finally, the Pasta in the Park party takes over a corner of Disneyland at 6pm (separate ticket required, sold-out).

The main event begins at 5:30am on Sunday (9/1), with the marathon course winding through the parks and the city of Anaheim. There are designated viewing spots on Disneyland Drive at Katella Ave, the Esplanade, and near the ESPN Zone, but you may not watch the race from inside the parks (even with an annual pass) unless you purchase a $140 ChEAR Squad package at the Expo.

Sunday’s race will affect traffic in the area from 5:30am to 8:00am, with the Katella Avenue exit from northbound I-5, the Disney Way exit from southbound I-5, and both Harbor Boulevard exits from the I-5 all closed. Be aware and look for alternate routes if trying to arrive at the resort in time for the 9am park openings on this day. Also note that, due to the races, there will be no early entry (Magic Morning or Extra Magic Hour) at either park on Saturday or Sunday.

For more information, read the complete half-marathon brochure here.