Advice, please: hotel choice and Uber drop-off / DTD construction

[MemoriesintheMaking]

Hello,

My daughter and I will be making a quick 2-day DL trip this August and I am considering hotels and transportation to/from the parks. When our whole family is doing a big DL trip, we like to stay onsite, but when it's just a girls' trip, we stay offsite to keep things less expensive. We've stayed at Hojo and CCI previously. I was about to book CCI again but now I'm looking at Hotel Indigo combined with Uber to and from the parks.

My question, I suppose, is this: With the construction starting at DTD, do you think that will affect the Uber drop-off situation at DTD? My daughter has always loved walking through DTD in the mornings heading to the parks, so I thought having Uber drop us off at DTD would give her a little taste of that without actually staying onsite. However, if the Uber drop-off and entrance into DTD is complicated/impacted too much by the construction, I might not mess with it.

I know there is no way to know for sure about this, but any educated guesses / suggestions / opinions would be appreciated! I've never used the DTD parking/entrance so I can't picture it, much less what it might be like during construction. For two days, would you choose CCI and combine walking with their shuttle service, or Hotel Indigo with Uber back and forth? Thanks!!

 

[DharmaLou]

Please also consider Lyft

 

[MemoriesintheMaking]

Please also consider Lyft

I definitely will. I have both apps and have been happy with both services in the past. It's totally unfair to Lyft, but since Uber was the first ride share service I used, it's sort of in the "calling all plastic bags Ziploc and all tissues are Kleenex" category.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I would use CCI, just because we love it and have always had great stays there. Hotel Indigo gets good reviews here, and it is definitely walkable -- so keep that in mind. No one really knows what the DTD lot will look like after construction starts, but keep reading here for updates. If you decide to go with the HI and Uber/Lyft, you could ask them to drop you off at a hotel or restaurant across the street from the Harbor entrance, then walk across to bag check and the parks.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would consider GCH, drop of at the front, walk thru and right into DTD.

Jack

 

[j9isawesome]

I would consider GCH, drop of at the front, walk thru and right into DTD.

Jack

But without a room or dining reservation she won’t be allowed into GCH from that enterance. She would be forced to turn around and walk a couple blocks to enter at the DLH if she did that, unless they change the rules between now and then.

I’m sure that Disney will leave/create at least one entrance into Downtown Disney for those staying at the Disneyland Hotel and parking at the main parking garage because all of those people need to get into the parks somehow. I’m guessing that they will likely have some areas around the perimeter of the construction that are fenced off walkways so that you could still get to Downtown Disney from the DLH.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Sorry, I missed she was staying at the DLH

Jack

 

[j9isawesome]

Sorry, I missed she was staying at the DLH

Jack

They're not staying at the DLH. The OP said they are most likely staying at the Hojo. The issue is just that only people actually staying at The GCH are allowed to enter through the main enterance/street side door of the GCH as you had suggested they do. Uber isn’t allowed to drop none hotel guests off there.

 

[blackjackdelta]

OK. I understand the GCH rules, have stayed there many times. I guess I did not get they were staying at hojo.

Jack

 

[msteddom]

I'm not sure anyone really knows what is going to happen with the DTD parking lot at this point. If the DTD lot end up not being an option, you can always get dropped off at the pick up/drop off lot on Harbor, or get dropped off at Paradise Pier Hotel. Just keep in mind, that if you get dropped off at Paradise Pier, you have to walk through DTD. Walking through the Grand Californian front entrance is not an option.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

LOL. I think people are confused where you're thinking of staying. Hotel Indigo looks like the one you mentioned in conjunction with Uber/Lyft. I agree with asking to be dropped off at one of the hotels across the street on Harbor and walking to security. All bets are off when it comes to the construction. I'm eagerly awaiting information, too, since I am possibly planning a surprise trip for my kids, but I have a few months, so I'm holding off until I see how it looks like it will impact everything.

 

[MemoriesintheMaking]

I would use CCI, just because we love it and have always had great stays there. Hotel Indigo gets good reviews here, and it is definitely walkable -- so keep that in mind. No one really knows what the DTD lot will look like after construction starts, but keep reading here for updates. If you decide to go with the HI and Uber/Lyft, you could ask them to drop you off at a hotel or restaurant across the street from the Harbor entrance, then walk across to bag check and the parks.

That's very true - being dropped at a Harbor location would probably be easier. We did enjoy CCI when we stayed before, though, and the shuttle is a great perk. Thanks!!

I would consider GCH, drop of at the front, walk thru and right into DTD.

Jack

Sorry, I missed she was staying at the DLH

Jack

Haha - I know it gets confusing with so many posts about the many different hotels! Even I get mixed up about where I'm thinking of staying! We did stay at GCH for the first time this spring, though, and we LOVED it!! It's definitely at the top of our list when we take the whole family for a longer stay. It's an amazing hotel.

But without a room or dining reservation she won’t be allowed into GCH from that enterance. She would be forced to turn around and walk a couple blocks to enter at the DLH if she did that, unless they change the rules between now and then.

I’m sure that Disney will leave/create at least one entrance into Downtown Disney for those staying at the Disneyland Hotel and parking at the main parking garage because all of those people need to get into the parks somehow. I’m guessing that they will likely have some areas around the perimeter of the construction that are fenced off walkways so that you could still get to Downtown Disney from the DLH.

Thank you for the advice/input. I do remember reading about the GCH being strict now about letting hotel guests only through the front entrance. I feel badly for people staying at PPH or other hotels on that side who are unaware and are planning on using that shortcut. However, the GCH lobby was relatively peaceful and calm when we stayed there this spring, so that might have helped the lobby crowding issue a bit.

They're not staying at the DLH. The OP said they are most likely staying at the Hojo. The issue is just that only people actually staying at The GCH are allowed to enter through the main enterance/street side door of the GCH as you had suggested they do. Uber isn’t allowed to drop none hotel guests off there.

Thank you - the funny thing is that when I made the post, I wasn't considering Hojo, but now I am! I saw pics of their newly updated rooms in building 1, and they look really cute and nice. I think my daughter would love that kind of room. Hmm...it's a fun challenge to have - picking a hotel. Good thing I enjoy the planning part of vacations!

I'm not sure anyone really knows what is going to happen with the DTD parking lot at this point. If the DTD lot end up not being an option, you can always get dropped off at the pick up/drop off lot on Harbor, or get dropped off at Paradise Pier Hotel. Just keep in mind, that if you get dropped off at Paradise Pier, you have to walk through DTD. Walking through the Grand Californian front entrance is not an option.

Thank you - I will definitely keep that in mind! It will be very interesting to see what does happen once the construction starts up full swing. I still can't believe they are going to fit a whole hotel there!

LOL. I think people are confused where you're thinking of staying. Hotel Indigo looks like the one you mentioned in conjunction with Uber/Lyft. I agree with asking to be dropped off at one of the hotels across the street on Harbor and walking to security. All bets are off when it comes to the construction. I'm eagerly awaiting information, too, since I am possibly planning a surprise trip for my kids, but I have a few months, so I'm holding off until I see how it looks like it will impact everything.

Haha, yes, it does get confusing when so many of us are discussing the MANY hotels to choose from. Thank you for your help and input. I still don't know which option I will land on, but I sure do appreciate the boards here with all of the great information and all of the wonderfully Disney-crazy people that I can identify with!

 

[Malcon10t]

Thank you for the advice/input. I do remember reading about the GCH being strict now about letting hotel guests only through the front entrance. I feel badly for people staying at PPH or other hotels on that side who are unaware and are planning on using that shortcut. However, the GCH lobby was relatively peaceful and calm when we stayed there this spring, so that might have helped the lobby crowding issue a bit.

It appears they are installing a gate that hotel guests can put their key in and it opens. Not sure how they will handle reservations or people trying to coattail their way thru the gate.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Where would this gate be located?

Jack

 

[kylie71]

It appears they are installing a gate that hotel guests can put their key in and it opens. Not sure how they will handle reservations or people trying to coattail their way thru the gate.

This is super Exciting news! I love staying at the PPH and the DLH also... great news!
Yes, where is it going to be?

 

[Malcon10t]

This is super Exciting news! I love staying at the PPH and the DLH also... great news!
Yes, where is it going to be?

The new gate is up blocking the walkway about where the gatehouse is for the driveway. It has a key slot to open the gate. I can't see them not having security because of people trying to go around the gate by going in the road, or people having dining reservations, or following GCH guests thru the gate. You can't expect the guests to monitor who is behind them.

 

[tarheelalum]

OP. DTD is not going to look very good during the construction. I would have your uber/lyft drop you off on the Harbor Blvd side. We stay at the Indigo a lot and I think you will enjoy it there. Have a great time.

 

[blackjackdelta]

That makes no sense to me at all. If they do not have a person there I can see it having many problems with going and coming for just about anyone who is not a guest of the hotel.

Jack

 

[SeiterClan]

It appears they are installing a gate that hotel guests can put their key in and it opens. Not sure how they will handle reservations or people trying to coattail their way thru the gate.

Is this gate only for guests of GCH or all on site hotels like PPH & DLH too?

 

[blackjackdelta]

I would guess it would be for the GCH quests only since they previously did not allow anyone to use the front entrance except GCH guests for a pass thru to the DTD side. Just not understanding why?

jACK