For over three decades, Disneyland has hosted a fundraiser that has caused a late opening for both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. It will be coming back this summer, and could throw a wrench into your park plans if you don't know what day the parks will be opening late.
Keep reading to see what day the parks will be opening later than usual, and what this great fundraiser is. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including new Disneyland menu changes and the end date of a Disney California Adventure ride refurbishment.
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5K Fundraiser Returning to Disneyland
The CHOC Walk in the Park fundraiser, which takes place before the parks open to the public, is coming back to Disneyland on Sunday, August 2. Both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure will be opening late on this date, with no early entry allowed into either park to give space for the three-mile walk. Regular operating hours, including early entry, will resume the next day.
Last year, Disney California Adventure opened at 8:30 AM on the day of the event. As of right now, it is not known when exactly the parks will open for this year's walk, but expect it to be around that time. For exact times, be sure to check the Disneyland calendar as the event gets closer.
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The organization co-hosting this fundraiser, Rady Children's Health in Orange County, is a pediatric health care system that has partnered with Disneyland for 34 years to raise money for its specialty care, education, research, and pediatric programs. Last year, this event boasted over 6,500 participants and brought in more than $3 million, making it quite a successful fundraiser! These funds ensure that children receive the best care regardless of their ability to pay.
CHOC Walk Disneyland Crowds
If you would like to participate in this 5K walk, guests must register and pay a nonrefundable fee of $10 (if aged 3 and older, guests 2 and younger are free), and raise a minimum of $125 before the event begins. That $10 fee does count towards the $125 fundraising minimum. It is important to note that participation does not give you access to Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure after the event ends; you would have to purchase park tickets separately. Alternatively, if you raise over $400, then you could receive one Park Hopper ticket as an event incentive, which would only be valid on August 2.
Speaking of event incentives, CHOC Walk participants also receive discounts in the Downtown Disney District, as well as discounts on hotels and parking. Further information about these perks has not been revealed just yet, but you can read our coverage from last year's event to see what discounts are typically offered.
Attendance for walk participants takes place on July 31 and August 1, which is also when pre-event fundraising is due. There is no check-in on the day of the walk. Guests can dress up in their favorite Disney-themed costumes and bring signs or banners, but they will have to adhere to Disneyland's regulations for what is and is not allowed in the park if they plan on reentering.
The event begins at sunrise, which for last year's walk was 6 AM. After this, guests will walk the three-mile route starting on Main Street U.S.A., and spanning across both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Cast members and characters will line the route to cheer you on, similar to the runDisney events.
CHOC Walk History
The CHOC Walk in the Park began in 1990 to commemorate a new patient care tower. The first few walks were over five miles long, beginning at the MainPlace Mall in Santa Ana and ending in the Disneyland parking lot. This original route passed that hospital, visibly showing participants what they were walking for.
Soon, the CHOC Walk outgrew that route. From 1993-2001, it took place in Costa Mesa, at South Coast Plaza. The current iteration of the walk, CHOC Walk in the Park, debuted in 2002, when it moved to Disneyland with a slightly shorter route: three miles as opposed to five. This was the first fundraiser of this kind in Disneyland, and raised over $550,000, which was the most money raised in the event's history at the time. Two years later, the Walk in the Park had its first million-dollar event.
Now, CHOC Walk has raised over $49 million to support pediatric health, and is recognized as “one of the largest and most unique pediatric fundraisers in the nation.”
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If you will be visiting Disneyland on August 2, be sure to plan your day in the parks accordingly! Apart from the late openings, there might also be larger-than-usual crowds. CHOC Walk predicts that there will be between 350 and 400 teams participating, with a minimum of six people per team. While this late opening might be seen as a slight inconvenience in your vacation, it is a long-standing tradition in support of a great cause!
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