5 Big Reasons Why You Should Do The CHOC Walk In The Park

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Photo courtesy of CHOC Walk In The Park

You may have heard that the CHOC Walk In The Park presented by the Disneyland Resort will be happening again this year on Sunday, August 11th. But do you know why it’s one of the best and most fun charity fundraisers in Orange County? Here are 5 big reasons why you should be doing the CHOC Walk!

 

Reason #1: Support our local children’s hospital!

CHOC stands for Children’s Hospital of Orange County. CHOC is comprised of 2 locations in Orange and Mission Viejo, primary and speciality care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and 4 unique centers of excellence: The CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic, and Hyundai Cancer Institutes. 

Perhaps you are lucky enough to never have had to bring your child to CHOC. But chances are, you know someone who has. Whether it’s because their toddler accidentally electrocuted himself, or because they had a major surgery done, or simply received routine medical care there. CHOC has touched the lives of children and families throughout Orange County since 1964.

By doing the CHOC Walk and helping to raise funds, you are supporting this non-profit hospital and its efforts to provide excellent care for children of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. 

 

Reason #2: It’s fun!

As a long time Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder, I’ve walked through the parks more times than I can count. But there’s something magical about being there before it officially opens. The 5k route takes you through every land in Disneyland park, across the Main Entry Plaza, and then through every area of Disney’s California Adventure park. You even walk through some special “backstage” areas that are usually off-limits to park guests. As a CHOC Walker, you get to go behind the magic and see some things few people get to!

Plus there’s a slew of Disney characters stationed at multiple points along the route. You can stop to take a photo with a character and then continue on your walk at your own pace. It’s a great way to break up the 5k and allow your little ones to have some fun. It’s also a great motivator. My kids were eager to keep walking so that they could see which character would be waiting for them at the next point on the route.

CHOC Walk

In past years, we’ve seen Storm Troopers in Tomorrowland, Mary Poppins and Burt riding carousel horses in Fantasyland, Donald on a 3 Caballeros parade float at what is now Pixar Pier, and many more!

 

Reason #3: Discount tickets for Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure theme parks!

Disneyland rarely offers discounted tickets nowadays. Even the AAA discount on tickets has gone the way of Paradise Pier (which is to say, it’s with us no longer). And prices have basically doubled in the past 10 years. As a CHOC Walk participant, you are able to buy discount park tickets at a deeply discounted price.

These are the prices from the 2019 CHOC Walk:

$67 for a one day, one park ticket. That means you can only use it for entry to one park. 

$93 for a one day, park-hopper ticket. That means you can use it to get into both parks on the same day.

Each CHOC Walk wristband allows you to buy 1 ticket. So if you walked with a group, that’s a lot of discount tickets you’re able to buy for a future visit! 

Just note the black out dates for 2019: Tickets valid August 11, 2019-September 10, 2018 with the following black out dates: 8/31-9/3. 

 

Reason #4: Hotel and other discounts!

Though you may live within driving distance of the Disneyland Resort, it’s always fun to do a staycation! Do the CHOC Walk, and you are eligible for a major discount at several hotels in the Disneyland Resort area, including the Disneyland Hotel! In previous years, we’ve been able to stay at the Grand Californian Hotel for about half of the rack rate. Staying on property during peak summer time would be out of our budget otherwise. 

Additionally, Discount hotel rates are available at several other Good Neighbor hotels nearby including the Courtyard Marriott Theme Park Entrance, which has one of the best hotel splash pads in the country! 

Several Downtown Disney shops have also offered special discounts in the past to CHOC Walk participants on the day of the event. They include 10% off at La Brea Bakery, Sanuk, and Kayla’s Cake, 20% at Wetzel’s Pretzels, and a free kids drink with any smoothie or bowl purchase at Jamba Juice. Click here to read more about all of these fantastic discounts.  

Bonus: If you bring your CHOC Walk wristband to any Orange County Chic-Fil-A location you get a FREE sandwich! 

 

CHOC Walk
The view from our fabulous Grand Californian Hotel room last year. The route took us down the paved road on the right just below Grizzly Peak. And the view at night of Disney’s California Adventure park was spectacular!

 

Reason #5: Opportunity to win amazing prizes!

Several years ago, my friend was the top individual fundraiser. He won an overnight stay in the exclusive Adventureland Suite at the Disneyland Hotel, and some other amazing gifts. The reward shouldn’t be your sole motivator for fundraising, but it’s certainly a nice thank you for your efforts. The top fundraising prize this year includes a luxury suite at an Anaheim Ducks hockey game plus several more incredible items.

Now, you don’t have to be the top, 2nd, or even 3rd best fundraiser to win cool stuff. Depending on how much you raise, you’re eligible to win anything from a commemorative lapel pin all the way up to free Disneyland park hopper tickets! Click here to drool over all the amazing prizes you can win just for raising funds for your CHOC Walk. More prize details will be added closer to the CHOC Walk date!

 

Join our team for this year’s CHOC Walk!

Orange County Moms Blog has been so inspired by the amazing stories from patients that we have heard over the years that we have been supporters for this cause. So we have decided to start our own fundraising CHOC Walk team! And we’d love for you to join our team and walk with us!

Orange County Moms Blog, Corona Moms Blog, and the hit podcast They See Me Mommin’ have teamed up to create the ultimate family CHOC Walk team. We are a fun and friendly bunch, so any and all who’d like to be on our team are welcome!

If you sign up before 4pm on July 29th, you still qualify for Early Bird Registration and the $85 minimum fundraising goal. After that time, you’ll need to pay the $95 Late Registration fee up front (but can still collect funds up until the actual event date and possibly afterwards). 

Click here to join the “They See Me Mommin’ OC” team.

 

More Ways To Participate

If you can’t do the actual walk but would like to make a donation in any amount, you may want to click here to support Team Django. Django is a beautiful sweet boy who received lifesaving care at CHOC during his infancy. His family is thankful to be doing the CHOC Walk for their 9th year now!

Last year, the event also hosted the CHOC Walk Rock’N Luau. This was a Hawaii-themed party and bowling tournament held at Splitsville Luxury Lanes in Downtown Disney on the eve of the CHOC Walk. If they announce plans to do this event again, we’ll update this page with the details!

 

Why I Walk

My family and I will be walking again this year of course. We have walked in the past with the Bergelectric Charitable Foundation and in memory of our forever young friend Colin, who was treated for terminal brain cancer at CHOC. And we walk for all the past, present, and future CHOC families. It’s a fun day of healthy exercise and kid-friendly Disney entertainment for a very good cause. Join us!

 

CHOC Walk

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Hilary Feldstein Ratner
Follow me on Instagram @EcoFriendlyMama, Twitter @EcoFriendlyMa, and Pinterest @EcoFriendlyMama! Though I was born and raised in New York City, I've lived in SoCal for over ten years now and am proud to call this beautiful and diverse place my home. My husband and I have a son and baby daughter (whom I was 9 months pregnant with when this photo was taken!). Prior to becoming a mommy I spent several years in feature film publicity and acquisitions for Miramax and later as the Creative Executive for Hilary Swank Productions before seguing to the music industry where I did Online Communications for the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares. In my ample pre-parenthood free time, I also freelanced as a script analyst and screenwriter. I am fortunate now to be able to devote all my time to my family, but I still love to write so am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this blog! I am a foodie, avid traveler, environmentalist, preschool board member, and unabashed Disney nut. I can also be found writing about green parenting and eco-conscious living on my personal website, https://ecofriendlymama.com.