More Half Marathon, & Half Pavement Dug Up!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look at a couple of the latest happenings through-out the Disneyland Resort, brought up in this week’s Monday in the Parks article on MiceAge:

  • Contrary to what we reported yesterday, Darkbeer is reporting that the area around Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters will be repaved, not the area around Star Tours. This would require the Fastpass machines to be temporarily shut down.
  • For complete coverage of the Disneyland Half Marathon yesterday, I would check out Darkbeer’s SmugMug page. On there he has many excellent pictures covering the whole length of the course, including many of the performers from the Pixar Play Parade (including the stilt chefs) cheering on the runners.

Finally, here is a press release released yesterday by Disney on the Half Marathon:

John Lucas of Eugene, Oregon, Wins Third Annual Disneyland Half Marathon, Setting New Record

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2008) – Course records were broken in Men’s, Women’s and Master’s divisions in the third annual Disneyland Half Marathon, Sunday at Disneyland Resort.

John Lucas, a marketing specialist for a sports apparel company in Eugene, Oregon, crossed the finish line first with a Disneyland Half Marathon record time of 1:08:05 (exactly two minutes faster than the 2007 winning time), leading the field of an estimated 13,500 participants.

“It’s a very meaningful place for me,” Lucas said of Disneyland. After qualifying for the Olympic trials in the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon, Lucas took his girlfriend Molly to Disneyland and proposed to her in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. The couple also honeymooned at the Resort after their wedding in 2007.

“My favorite moment (in today’s race) was coming back through Disney’s California Adventure and seeing Mrs. Incredible and Sully cheering us on,” Lucas said, referring to Disney•Pixar characters who lined the course.

Lucas said he liked the competitive field and “the flat course really helped me keep a rhythm.”

Placing second overall was Mark Batres, 23, of Rowland Heights, Calif., with a time of 1:09:55. Chokri Dhaouadi, 36, a Tunisian runner who trains in Las Cruces, New Mexico, finished third with a time of 1:12:14.

Mary Akor, 31, of Gardena, Calif, was the women’s half marathon champion. Akor finished with a Disneyland Half Marathon women’s record time of 1:19:24, despite losing her race chip and having to start from the back of the pack. She caught up with the women’s leader at approximately the five mile mark, in the 13.1-mile event.

“I had to make my way through all the other runners,” she said. “But it was a great race with so many people out there cheering us on. That really made it special.”

The women’s second place finisher was Mary Kate Bailey, 33, of San Diego, Calif., with a time of 1:19.33. Suzy Schumacher, 39, of Phoenix, Arix. – last year’s winner of the women’s Disneyland Half Marathon – took third place with a time of 1:25:12.

Kevin Broady, 45, of Brea, Calif., who finished first overall in the 2007 Disneyland Half Marathon, earned a notable Master’s Division (age 40+) victory this year with a division record time of 1:13.26 and a fourth place overall ranking.

Edith Martinez, 40, of Brea, Calif., was the top women’s Master’s finisher with a division record time of 1:28:29.

In the men’s Half Marathon wheelchair division, Ralph Pieplenbos, 55, of Monrovia, Calif., crossed the finish line with a time of 1:19:27.

Last year’s winner of the women’s half marathon wheelchair division, Kristen Messer, 21, of Austin, Texas, repeated this year with a winning time of 1:37:42.

Approximately 13,500 runners from 50 states and 16 countries registered for the magical 13.1 mile Disneyland Half Marathon this year. The field included first-time half marathoners as well as veteran runners. The course traveled through two Disneyland Resort theme parks and along Anaheim streets with landmarks such as Angels Stadium and Honda Center, while colorful Disney characters and festive music inspired them along the way.

Runners who completed the half marathon received a commemorative Sleeping Beauty Castle medal, the signature medal of the Disneyland Half Marathon and one in the Disney endurance series collection.

The Coast-to-Coast medal, a new award, was presented to nearly 1,000 runners who completed either the Walt Disney World Marathon or Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January and then completed Sunday’s Disneyland Half Marathon. The Coast-to-Coast medal showcases the iconic “Partners Statue,” of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse.

The 2009 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend will be held Sept. 4-6, with the Half Marathon being held on Sunday, Sept. 6. Registration for the 2009 Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend opens on Monday, September 1, 2008.

For more information and to view complete searchable race results visit www.disneylandhalfmarathon.com.

Disneyland Half Marathon Coverage

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

This weekend is the weekend for the Disneyland Half Marathon, & tons of preperation work has been going on through-out the Disneyland Resort, & a couple of smaller events were held yesterday morning. So here are pictures of the preparation & events (plus a few other things) as taken by David “Darkbeer” Michael:


Special park hours are in effect today


The Health & Fitness Expo was held in one of the ballrooms at the Disneyland Hotel


This is where you would of signed in for the various races


Concept art for the DVC Villas coming to the Grand Californian, as seen at the Health & Fitness Expo


The starting point for the Half Marathon


And the finish point


A few smaller races were held yesterday morning


They made use of the old Green Army Men stand that used to be outside the Esplanade promoting Toy Story Midway Mania


The starting point for most of these smaller races was the Timon parking lot


One of the few times that Heelys are welcome in Disney parks


Signs directing people to each of the different races inside DCA


The finish point in Paradise Pier


The Toy Story characters were there to celebrate


This basically looks like a crawling race for very young kids… A bit stupid if you ask me!


Now moving away from the Half Marathon… Halloween Time is now being promoted before the security tents


Filming of some sort going on in New Orleans Square


Construction walls in front of the old Fantasyland Skyway Station


This sign is up in front of the upcoming DCA Preview Center


Finally, auditions were held yesterday at the ESPN Zone, for the ABC show Wipeout

Week In Review

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Here are a few of the more interesting happenings from the week, that have popped up on the internet while I was in Las Vegas:

  • Halloween merchandise has started rolling out in Disneyland Park, & Dateline Disneyland on MiceAge has complete coverage of merchandise.
  • According to the OC Register, two Cast Member “heroes” were honored in the Grand Marshal Pre-Parade yesterday afternoon. “Robert Olvera, an ager & painter at the Disneyland paint shop, & Juan Morales, a server at Hook’s Pointe, have both been called heroes for saving the lives of two different men.”
  • Also according to the OC Register, Auditions for the ABC show Wipeout are to be held at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney tomorrow from 10am ’til 2pm. Applicants should be “fun, strong-willed, outgoing & have a great sense of humor,” & must be able to swim. For additional information, shoot an email to wipeoutcasting@gmail.com.
  • The OC Register also has a complete listing of what roads will be closed when this Sunday due to the Disneyland Half Marathon.
  • Finally, a permit was filed this week by Disneyland to build a so-called “giant teapot” as part of Pixie Hollow. You can see the permit for yourself here.

Be sure to check back tomorrow, as we still have tons more catching up to do!

Monday in the Parks DLR Update

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Let’s take a look through some of the latest happenings through-out the Disneyland Resort, brought up in both pictures & words in this week’s Monday in the Parks on MiceAge:

  • A couple updates for you on the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event that is being held on October 5th. Turns out that regular Disneyland guests from normal operation that day may be able to stay for the stars parading up the red carpet, much like was done with all 3 Pirates of the Caribbean movie premieres. When all stars & guests for the event are in the park, the regular guests will be escorted out. It also seems that bleachers may be put up along the banks of the Rivers of America, for a maximum amount of guests to be able to see Miley perform.
  • Disney is in the process recording new television commercials for next year’s promotion, which will either be called Magical Celebrations or What Will You Celebrate? Many stars, including Johny Depp were at the park/will be at the park to film these commercials alongside “guests”.
  • 2009 ParkHopper tickets are starting to become available on Disneyland.com. The Early Bird ticket special for 2009 will have everyone at kid’s prices for 3 day or more ParkHopper tickets. This special will last from January through to April 2009.


Traffic is going to be severely effected due to the Disneyland Half Marathon this upcoming Sunday… For information & tips on how to beat the traffic, check the Monday in Parks article


Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party being advertised at both the Disneyland turnstiles…


… And DCA’s turnstiles


A water pump has been added to the It’s a Small World flume


Over at Ariel’s Grotto, this is what has become of the turntable of sorts where you would meet Ariel


According to the Monday in the Parks article, Ariel has replaced Pocahontas over at the Princess Fantasy Faire. No word if you’ll still be able to greet with Pocahontas anywhere… The picture shows that Ariel is in the same dress as used in the Ariel’s Grotto restaurant in DCA

The 7 Things I Hate About Miley

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We have a little more info for you on the Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 event being held at Disneyland, in the form of a press release:

ANAHEIM, Calif. (August 21, 2008) – When the world’s most popular teenager turns “Sweet 16,” it’s cause to celebrate. And when that teen is Miley Cyrus – star of Disney’s “Hannah Montana” – there’s no better place to celebrate than at a Disney Park.

To honor the occasion and Miley’s philanthropic passion, Disneyland Resort in California has created “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration,” an unforgettable event for Miley and her fans that also will serve to recognize Youth Service America and help drive awareness of the need for youth volunteerism.

The Hollywood-style bash is planned for Sunday, Oct. 5, from 6 to 11 p.m., with ticket sales limited to 5,000 fans.

Tickets, priced at $250, go on sale at 9 a.m. PDT, Saturday, Aug. 30, at www.disneyparks.com/miley.

For Miley, the birthday bash is a once-in-a-lifetime event and she plans to make new Disney theme park memories during the evening. “I only turn 16 once, so it’s going to be an awesome party with my favorite rides, hanging out with friends, fireworks and more,” she said. “I’ll even get to sing a couple songs.”

The evening will celebrate Miley’s career as a Hollywood Records solo musical artist and as the “secret pop star” she portrays on the wildly popular Disney Channel series, “Hannah Montana.”

Miley’s Sweet 16 at Disneyland will feature a medley of party elements, large and small, that will allow guests to join in the celebration of Miley’s magical milestone. Special Party Zones will highlight the music and fun of Miley and Hannah Montana with themed activities and entertainment. Some of Miley’s favorite attractions will be open in each Party Zone, and the party will end with a bang as fireworks fill the Disneyland sky.

Sharing the Celebration with Youth Service America

In addition to all the birthday fun, Miley’s Sweet 16 will shine a spotlight on Youth Service America, an organization that seeks to improve communities by increasing the number and diversity of young people, ages 5 to 25, serving as volunteers. (For more information, visit www.YSA.org.)

In keeping with Miley’s passion for youth volunteerism, Disney Parks will make a significant contribution to Youth Service America.

With the organization’s involvement in “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration,” Miley said she hopes that other young Americans will be encouraged to volunteer in their own hometowns.

“The best part of the party is we’re going to recognize some really cool kids from Youth Service America who are giving back to their community,” she said. “That’s so awesome because I think it’s really important for kids like us to volunteer.”

For More Party Information

For ongoing information about “Miley’s Sweet 16 – Share The Celebration” party at Disneyland Park in California, as well as details on how to obtain tickets, fans may go to www.disneyparks.com/miley for details.

On the website linked at the beginning of the press release, Disney have put up a little video explaining the event, some photos, as well as event & ticket information.

Stay Away!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

If there’s ever been a time to stay away from Disneyland, this is it! Entertainment Tonight reports:

ET breaks the news that Miley Cyrus will celebrate her Sweet 16 birthday during a once-in-a-lifetime bash at the Happiest Place on Earth — Disneyland!

The “Hannah Montana” star is also sharing the spotlight during the private party with some deserving young people from Youth Service America who’ve been making a difference in their communities.

And ET has learned that Miley’s fans are going to be able to join in the fun too! A limited number of $250 tickets to the exclusive event, “Miley’s Sweet 16 — Share the Celebration,” go on sale on August 30 at 9am PDT.

Watch ET tonight to hear what Miley has planned for the big celebration on Oct. 5!

Goodbye Ariel, Hello Doors?

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

We now official confirmation, in the form of pictures of construction walls, that Ariel’s Grotto is indeed closed. Here are a few pictures of construction, as well as a couple of other things from around the Disneyland Resort, off of the lovely SmugMug page of David “Darkbeer” Michael:


Not sure how well you can tell in this picture, but the King Triton & Ariel figurines have already been removed


The walls start by, & run right along with the line for Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters


On the path towards the Matterhorn


The Ariel’s Grotto sign is still in place as of yesterday


And here’s where you originally got in line to meet with Ariel… This is obviously where the walls end


Moving away from Ariel’s Grotto… The cars on the Casey Junior Circus Train that originally had just a cloth coverings as opposed to doors now have real functioning doors


A ceremony was held yesterday, giving Bruno Serato, the owner of the Anaheim White House restaurant, the eighth star in the Orange County Walk of Stars, which is located in the path next to the 15 minute parking lot on Harbor Boulevard

50th Anniversary Monorail Pin

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The What’s HapPINing official Disney pin blog put up a preview of a pin being release next year, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Monorail system:

It should be safe to say that Disneyland will somehow be celebrating the 50th anniversary of not only the Monorail, but also the Submarine Voyage & the Matterhorn next summer.

Picketing Pictures

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The ever useful David “Darkbeer” Michael of MiceAge.com was on the scene outside the Disneyland Resort yesterday, as Unite HERE held their protest against the Walt Disney Company. Here are a few of his pictures showing this unfortunate event (and plenty more can be found on his SmugMug page):


They marched from the Paradise Pier hotel, all the way down to the Timon parking lot entrance


Once there, 32 picketers joined arms in the middle of the road, blocking traffic on all sides!


Unfortunately for them, but luckily for Disneyland Resort guests, all 32 picketers were arrested

UPDATE: The OC Register has put up a couple of videos showing the picketers march, & then them getting arrested. Check ’em out HERE.

32 Picketers Arrested Outside Disneyland

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

ANAHEIM, California – Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell and other fictional fixtures of modern-day childhood were handcuffed, frisked and loaded into police vans Thursday at the culmination of a labor protest that brought a touch of reality to the Happiest Place on Earth.

The arrest of the 32 protesters, many of whom wore costumes representing famous Disney characters, came at the end of an hour-long march to Disneyland’s gates from one of three Disney-owned hotels at the center of a labor dispute.

Those who were arrested sat in a circle on a busy intersection outside the park holding hands until they were placed in plastic handcuffs and led to two police vans while hundreds of hotel workers cheered and chanted.

The protesters were arrested on a misdemeanor count of failure to obey a police officer and two traffic infractions, and were expected to be booked and released later Thursday, said Sgt. Rick Martinez of the Anaheim police.

Bewildered tourists in Disney T-shirts and caps, some pushing strollers, filed past the commotion and gawked at the costumed picketers getting hauled away. The protest shut down a major thoroughfare outside Disneyland and California Adventure for nearly an hour.

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