In what is becoming a new annual tradition, the Disney theme parks are hosting another 24 hours of Disney that started today at 6am. So, from 6am today through 6am tomorrow, the  Disneyland Resort and the Magic Kingdom will be open for business. The first time Disney hosted such an event was on February 29, 2012. Back then, the event had two totally different outcomes. The 24 hours of Disney at the Magic Kingdom went off with very little drama. However, at Disneyland, which is much more of a locals theme park, the crowds swelled beyond the loftiest of Disney expectations for a day in the middle of the week in February. It was a day that was not blacked for annual pass holders. Once they got off from work, they headed to spend the rest of the evening at Disneyland. The bad part was that it happened after upper management at Disneyland left for the day, leaving the middle level managers to deal with the crowds they were not prepared for. To make matters worse, the traffic around Disneyland made it nearly impossible for reinforcements to be called in. All of that lead to keeping cast members well past their scheduled shifts. It was a crazy scene. Last year, they did this event on the same weekend it’s being held this year… Memorial Day Weekend. They planned much better and the craziness of 2012 was nowhere to be seen.

I saw this picture on the Touring Plans twitter feed. I love me some Marvel movies. So, this would be very cool to me. If you’re going to be at Disneyland for the full 24 hours, why not break up your day with some Marvel movie fun at the Captain EO theatre for no extra money? I’d be down for the marathon. The only thing that would make this cooler is if they also were showing The Avengers, Iron Man 3 andThor: The Dark World as well. With Captain America: The Winter Soldier still playing in theatres, I know they wouldn’t include that. How long until that Avengers Super Heroes Half Marathon again?

174 days? That’s still too many to wrap my head around.

That’s a better number! Not only is that 96 days until the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend activities begin, but it’s 96 days until my birthday! Of course, the number listed is a countdown until the Expo at the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend begins. There are 97 days until the Disneyland 5K, 98 Days until the Disneyland 10K (and first race in the Dumbo Double Dare Challenge), and 99 days until the Disneyland Half Marathon! That’s right ladies and gentlemen, we’re under 100 days until the Disneyland Half Marathon day! Can you believe it? If you’re into planning your trip, check out my blog posts from last year for the Disneyland First Time Tips, Disney California Adventure Tips, and Disneyland Dining. Of course, these were written last year. I’m already planning similar posts for next month that will build on what I wrote a year ago. Plus, after running the races last year, I have a better feel for what it’s like to race in the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend races. If you’re a Walt Disney World regular, you should know that planning the Disneyland vacation is a little different. For instance, if I were visiting Walt Disney World on the same weekend as the Disneyland races are being held, I would have already booked my dining reservations. At Disneyland, you can’t book dining until 60 days before. So, I will make sure to have an updated posting on tips for those of you visiting my home Disney theme parks for the Disneyland Marathon Weekend for the first time up in the early part of June so you won’t miss out on your planning. Trust me when I say that planning a Disneyland Resort vacation is much easier than planning a Walt Disney World Resort vacation.

I know that I can’t wait until I’m crossing the finish line again at the end of the Disneyland Half Marathon! By the way, are any of you at one of the Disney theme parks for their 24 hours of Disney experience right now? If so, I hope you have a magical 24 hours. If you aren’t there, you can always go there virtually. The Disney Parks blog has this live feed of Disneyland. Click here to check it out! I love this idea! You can toggle through live feeds at Main Street U.S.A. and the Rivers of America at Disneyland. Also, you can see live feeds from Cars Land and Paradise Pier at Disney California Adventure. There will also be live coverage of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade (6:30pm and 12:30am PDT), Fantasmic (9pm and 10:30pm PDT), “Magical” Fireworks (9:25pm PDT), Sunset over Cars Land (approx. 7:40pm PDT) and World of Color (9:45pm and 3am PDT). I say that if you can’t be at the parks, there’s always a way to fill your day with Disney magic. Of course, nothing actually beats the experience of being at the Disney theme parks in person. Have a magical weekend everyone!