Art

[bnbheartdisney]

I've never used the ART system before and was hoping to get some input from those that have used it.

We'll be staying at the Residence Inn Garden Grove and parking at Disneyland. I really dislike having to park because it takes up so much time and was hoping for an alternative. Since the hotel doesn't have a shuttle, this is the last resort.

To those who have used it, how timely/reliable is it? Would it be best just to park rather than use ART - did it take longer to use ART than to park? To those who have stayed at a further hotel, what was your experience?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[BecomingObsessed]

When we used ART last year, it seemed like we were always waiting for it outside our hotel for at least 20 minutes. Perhaps we should have timed it better. I don't remember ever seeing a published schedule though. Both nights we took it leaving DLR, there was one waiting and it left very quickly.

I personally don't like how packed it gets on the busses. It's never fun to feel like a sardine! We've never parked at the garages though, so I couldn't tell you my opinion on which was the lesser of two evils.

 

[spacemermaid]

Me, I love ART...so much cheaper (and easier, IMO) than driving to/parking at DLR. But then again, I've no kids to watch/strollers to stow, I stay in hotels relatively close to the park, and I'm used to using urban public transportation, so YMMV.

You can buy ART passes ahead of time through their website, and have them either sent to your home or sent to the hotel you'll be staying at. The passes come with detailed route maps, which I'd never seen before I'd ordered the passes ahead of time.

 

[Tink91]

We use the ART from Peacock Suites every time we stay in Anaheim, its great and it can take you to more places than Disneyland which saves alot of money. We went to Target, Block and Orange and Crystal Cathedral, I am sure there are more places you can go from the ART.

 

[DahliaRW]

We took ART from the same hotel (garden grove RI) and it was fine. The worst was waiting to leave the parks. The hotel front desk can give you a schedule.

There is another ART route that serves the hotels one block closer to disneyland. I'd find out that route because then you can take whichever gets there sooner to get back (it's a REALLY short walk between the hotels).

The only thing is, ART will not get you there in time for Magic Mornings.

 

[DanT]

We used ART last October during the Utah and Arizona invasion
was on time or early every time, we were staying at the LaQuinta over behind GardenWalk.
We also used it for MM on Saturday with no problems...there way before park opening for MM.
Maybe it depends on the time for MM

 

[specialks]

I would love to know what your experience is like after your trip. We are staying at the RI GG in Dec and wanted to give ART a try as well. We also haven't liked the time spent parking and getting to the gates. I wish we could stay closer but the price and perks at the farther hotels makes the transport issues worth it! I'll be anxious to hear what you think -- also, will you have kids or strollers?

 

[DahliaRW]

We used ART last October during the Utah and Arizona invasion
was on time or early every time, we were staying at the LaQuinta over behind GardenWalk.
We also used it for MM on Saturday with no problems...there way before park opening for MM.
Maybe it depends on the time for MM

When we were there (2008) ART started running 1 hour before normal park opening time. So to get to a 7am MM, the earliest ART was 7am. So we wouldn't have been there on time. Now, that might have changed since then. We just drove on the MM.

 

[DanT]

If you look at the ART schedule for this week and the schedule for DL for this week...on the MM days they start pickups at least 40 minutes before MM opening...
So seems to me that ART makes accommodations for the park hours on a weekly basis.

 

[smiley_face2]

It's also cheaper to buy a multi day pass than to pay each day seperately! We always get a pass for our stay even though we are at Hojo's... there are lot's of evenings when you are just to tired to walk back no matter how close it is! and it's nice too if you want to hop back to your room in the afternoon to change, rest, eat etc. that would be a pain if you had a vehicle to try and repark! They do run on a schedule, but not on a set one, in other words, yes there is a bus every 20 minutes, but not specifically at 10 to the hour, or 5 after the hour etc.

 

[pixiewings71]

We do not like ART, we either stay close enough to walk or we drive and park. We've used ART a few times and it's always jam packed and there are loads of people waiting, for us it's just not good enough. We stay at the Peacock a lot, we would rather walk in the morning and take a taxi back at night.....