CHOC Walk at Disneyland - who's up for the challenge?

[AVP]

OK Team MousePlanet, it's time to represent at CHOC Walk! The event is Sunday, October 19th at the Disneyland Resort.

Who's up for the challenge? We'll form a MousePlanet team so you can register to walk with us, (I'll post the details later) and we're cooking up a few goodies for our participants.

AVP

[Mommy2NicknMax]

I hope I can participate this year. I've missed it the past two years. I'll have to see when my parents are coming out to visit. They are supposed to come out in Oct this year.

[HisKid]

I'm not sure what it is, or what I would be committing to. Could you give me the details?

[AVP]

I'm not sure what it is, or what I would be committing to. Could you give me the details?

Unfortunately the CHOCWalk Web site is down right now or I could give you many more details. Essentially we form a team of 6 or more people, and each person has to pay a registration fee of $75. (Note, in the past it was only $25 per person, so I'm not sure what / why or even if this has really changed, but other teams I'm familiar with have told their members that the fee went way up this year.)

Teams earn prizes based on how much they earn, and we can raise additional funds by either holding fundraisers or getting donations from friends / family, whatever. Once we have a MousePlanet team registered, other MousePlanet / MousePad readers who want to donate to our team can go to a specific link on the CHOCWalk Web site and pledge a donation. Some teams raise tens of thousands of dollars - it's really pretty cool.

The walk itself is a fairly short - it's a 5K - and the route goes through Disneyland and DCA. There are characters all around and music playing. It's a LOT of fun. I haven't done a CHOC Walk since they moved it to the Disneyland Resort. The walk ends before the theme parks open, so it's definitely an early morning.

I'm trying to get more info from CHOC, and I'll post more once I have additional details.

AVP

[HisKid]

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a lot of fun, although I would love to have dd and maybe my mom join me, and $225 is a heck of a lot of difference from the $75 it would have been before! That is a lot more to have to budget. Man, aren't most walks like that in the 25-30 range? I also would need to be sure that my ankle is rehabbed enough to do it. When would you need to know by?

[cstephens]

The walk itself is a fairly short - it's a 5K - and the route goes through Disneyland and DCA. There are characters all around and music playing. It's a LOT of fun. I haven't done a CHOC Walk since they moved it to the Disneyland Resort. The walk ends before the theme parks open, so it's definitely an early morning.

I've been interested because it's through the parks, but I haven't figured out yet whether I'd be able to handle it. I'll wait to see what further details are up and talk to a friend who's worked it the last year or two to see what she thinks.

[AVP]

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a lot of fun, although I would love to have dd and maybe my mom join me, and $225 is a heck of a lot of difference from the $75 it would have been before! That is a lot more to have to budget. Man, aren't most walks like that in the 25-30 range? I also would need to be sure that my ankle is rehabbed enough to do it. When would you need to know by?

Team registrations have to be finalized by October 1st, but registration is supposed to open August 4th. We need to know who our 6 "core" members are to register a team.

I'll keep everyone posted - I have a call into CHOC and I'm waiting for a reply.

AVP

[AVP]

CHOC called me back today, and here are the current details:

The registration fee is actually $50 per person, and we need 6 people to walk. Registration includes a CHOCWalk t-shirt, an access code to the Build-a-Bear Web site and the wristband that offers admisson to the park for the walk ONLY.

Walkers can also purchase discounted admission tickets to the park ($61 or $63 for a one-day Park Hopper) that can be used until November 15th.

I'll register the team as soon as registration opens, then post the links where those who aren't walking can donate in support of Team MousePlanet.

So far Maus and I are committed, so we need a few more walkers to be able to form the team. Please contact me if you're interested in walking!

AVP

[Tinkermommy]

This will be our third year doing the CHOC Walk. In fact, above my desk, I have the blown up group pictures of us in our Disney VoluntEARS shirts with allll the other voluntEARS people in front of the train station before the sun comes up.

It's really not difficult to do -- the Tinkerbaby has done it both years. Our group has included kids as young as 5, and they had no trouble. You can power walk (once the crowd thins out) or you can meander. But since the park's not open, you definitely have to stick to the course.

The last two years, it started on Main Street; wound through Disneyland, went backstage and out through the Esplanade, wound through DCA before ending up in Downtown Disney. There is a rousing morning ceremony where some kids who have benefitted from CHOC speak -- that's always very inspiring. Throughout the walk, there are characters cheering the walkers on and volunteers handing out water. Last year, we met the "boss of Disneyland" as the kids said (Ed Grier) on the course, and he was kind enough to pose for a picture with our group.

In Downtown Disney, they have snacks for walkers. Some merchants set up tables and pass out free stuff like you'd get at a convention -- visors, etc.

The participants are all so enthusiastic, and you really do come away feeling like you've done a good thing. We enjoy it so much that we stay in a hotel the night before (we live about 2 hours away from Disneyland) just so we can get up before dawn to do this. I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who wants to feel like they've done something good!

[HisKid]

What if I joined and started and then midway during the walk, my ankle started totally having a fit and I had to stop? That wouldn't negatively impact the team, would it? I don't THINK it should be a problem by then, but I would rather underpromise and overdeliver, kwim?

I should start getting an idea of how much I really CAN walk without issue. Any idea of how many steps are in a 5k? lol

[janell]

Im getting ready to run out the door, but you have your fourth walker. AVP, I'll contact you when I get back. Im exicded, I did this two years ago and missed last year.

[AVP]

What if I joined and started and then midway during the walk, my ankle started totally having a fit and I had to stop? That wouldn't negatively impact the team, would it?

To be really honest, I don't think it even matters if you finish. The idea is to get people to donate to CHOC - the rest is icing. It's not a timed event and there are no medals that I remember. There are even people who do the "walk" in wheelchairs.

Im getting ready to run out the door, but you have your fourth walker. (

WOOT!

(Wait, who's my 3rd?)

AVP

[HisKid]

(Wait, who's my 3rd?)

AVP

Maybe she thought Tinkermommy was walking for MP?

[janell]

Maybe she thought Tinkermommy was walking for MP?

Yes I did, sorry. I may have two other walkers too. My mom wants to do it, although she will be scooting. LOL renting her a scooter from an out side vendor and maybe a friend of mine.

Do we know what time this whole thing starts?
If you have a baby in a stroller, do they charge you for that?

[Maus]

Go Team MousePlanet!

Glad to read these experiences. There for a moment I thought I was going to have to train!

[AVP]

We're official! Team MousePlanet is one of the first teams registered for the 2008 CHOC/Disneyland Resort Walk in the Park on Sunday, October 19.

According to the information I had participant registration is not supposed to open until August 1st, but it appears that the Web site is currently accepting registrations. I was able to register as a walker tonight.

To walk with Team MousePlanet, visit the Participant Registration page on the CHOCWalk event Web site. Once you register you can add yourself to a team using a drop-down selection bar from the "Team Selection" page. We are listed as "Team MousePlanet," and team names are listed alphabetically in the menu. (All of the 2007 teams are still listed, so don't be shocked to see the HUGE list)

Here's an update on the registration fee: you do not need to pay that amount at the time you register. According to the event Web site, "When a walker registers, they will have the option of donating $50 themselves or they may pledge to raise $50 by October 1, 2008." (Note that registration does not guarantee you a place if the walk sells out. At least $50 must be paid to ensure your spot in the walk, but you do have some time to raise that amount). If we don't get 6 PAID people by October 1st, we can all still walk but we'll be individuals rather than a team.

If you can't join us in person for the walk but would like to sponsor a Team MousePlanet walker, please contact me for information. You can also join Team MousePlanet as a "Sleeping Bear," (a participant who is fundraising but not walk), and help to raise money with Team MousePlanet.

Please post here as soon as you're registered!

AVP

[Maus]

I'm registered!

[janell]

Ronell and Janell are registered.

[Drince88]

Oh, if I'm a sleeping bear do I still get the activity points as if I'd walked?!!!

[HisKid]

Oh, if I'm a sleeping bear do I still get the activity points as if I'd walked?!!!

Only if you count them against virtual food as if you'd ACTUALLY eaten it.

Congrats on getting registered as an actual team, btw. Still hoping I can join you, but the ankle almost seems to be slipping backward since the mini MA/MP meet day. Very frustrating. Lots can happen between now and then, though. Super relieved that I can slip in later, though, and nothing is depending on me. By next year, I'm sure I will be able to be firm up front. I hope, anyway. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

[AVP]

We have 5 people registered, so we just need one more to "guarantee" our team's spot in the walk! We're also ranked 3rd in team fundraising, behind KIIS-FM and the VoluntEARS. LOTS of thanks to the readers who aren't walking but who have pledged donations!

AVP

[adriennek]

I'm #6!

Adrienne

[Maus]

I'm #6!

Adrienne

Hooray!

[adriennek]

Tee Hee - I love your .sig, Maus

Adrienne

[AVP]

Here's the update as of July 31, 2008:

Team MousePlanet currently has $145 in sponsorships, and is ranked in 7th place among all registered teams. Not to be a downer, but I imagine that's the highest rank we'll achieve once registration officially begins tomorrow, (there are only 19 teams registered right now) but it's fun for a few hours.

I see Maus had a brilliant idea, and I encourage all of the members of Team MousePlanet who are walking to add something similar to their .sig. Unfortunately CHOC hasn't set up a way to donate to a specific TEAM, so anyone wishing to contribute to Team MousePlanet should pledge to a member of Team MousePlanet instead, using the links found in their signature file.

AVP