Bringing a large bag into DLR property, but not into a theme park

[bcla]

I'm going to be traveling and passing through Anaheim where I'm probably going to stop at Downtown Disney to browse and maybe get some coffee. Maybe also a remote work meeting where stable Wi-Fi would be helpful. However, I won't be driving (all public transportation) and won't have a place to stash my stuff unless perhaps I ask if I could do that at a hotel. I was thinking of bringing a large bag that may exceed the size (not quite sure if it's more than 24" long) that they say isn't allowed in the theme parks, but I don't have a ticket and I'm not going in to DLP or DCA. I was also thinking maybe some alcohol (in glass) that I plan on consuming later when I stay at a hostel later that day. I think I need the large bag in order to carry a sleeping bag since the hostel seems to charge additional for bedding.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/park-rules/

I'm not sure if I might be able to bring it through the security, but tell them I'm only there to walk around and/or go to Downtown Disney. Or perhaps ask if maybe I could get short-term storage at the Grand Californian or Disneyland Hotel. If they can do that, it sounds like bringing alcohol into the hotels is allowed but I would need to go around. Might not be the greatest idea because of the time it would take to get back to Harbor. But if so, maybe just stash it at the Disneyland Hotel bell desk and then leave a decent tip?

I found something claiming that Desert Inn has coin-op lockers that are open to the public.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

All the rules apply regardless if your are going into the parks or just DTD. The alcohol is a definite no. Not sure how much over the size limit your bag goes but it could be a no.

 

[bcla]

All the rules apply regardless if your are going into the parks or just DTD. The alcohol is a definite no. Not sure how much over the size limit your bag goes but it could be a no.

I know that alcohol is a no go past security, but if I might be able to leave it at a hotel that might be an option. There's no security entering the Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian, although the entrance on the west side would be be a pain to get to. Apparently wine is allowed past security if one is taking it to a restaurant where one would pay a corkage fee. Here's what I was concentrating on from the park rules page. In particular, that prohibition seems to only refer to going to a theme park. I was thinking maybe someone entering through Downtown Disney but staying at the Grand Californian or Disneyland Hotel might be abled to bring large luggage in as long as they're not taking it into DCA or DLP.

Prohibited Items​

• Alcoholic beverages, except in the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort. Wine may be brought in to the Downtown Disney District to be consumed at select table service restaurants only, corkage fees apply.
• Glass containers (excluding small containers such as baby food jars), except in the Disney Resort hotels.
• Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24" long x 15" wide x 18" high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

From what I understand, the Disney hotels will not allow you to check a bag at the bell desk if you don’t have a stay at the hotel booked.

Maybe one of the hotels on Harbor might allow you to do this? Hopefully if anyone knows of a place they will chime in for you.

 

[bcla]

From what I understand, the Disney hotels will not allow you to check a bag at the bell desk if you don’t have a stay at the hotel booked.

Maybe one of the hotels on Harbor might allow you to do this? Hopefully if anyone knows of a place they will chime in for you.

I'm hearing conflicting reports about the onsite hotels.

The last time I did anything like that was in Vegas, where the bell captain didn't even ask, although I was staying at the same hotel. About the only other time I remember doing that was in NYC where it cost something like $6 at Penn Station so we didn't have to lug it around for a few hours while we went sightseeing. I don't recall if we were asked if we arrived or were departing on a train, but my wife had arrived separately on Amtrak.

I'm thinking the bag won't be that big a deal other than being searched. It sounds like a large bag can be brought into the esplanade or Downtown Disney, but that they'll stop someone trying to bring it into one of the parks. I recall it's OK to bring something like a large cooler past security, but they would make someone check it into a locker before entering one of the parks.

 

[starlite_]

I have never seen anyone bring a suitcase thru security, I would honestly not risk it and find luggage storage off property.

 

[DizMe]

I had to do this last year when my daughter and I wanted to stop at DTD on our way from one hotel to another an hour away. I asked about it on this board and was told to try Desert Inn and Suites. They have coin-operated luggage lockers. We got permission to use one and for $1 or $1.50 in quarters, were stored 2 carry-on sized suitcases in one locker.

Edited to add: it was a very easy walk across the street (Harbor) and through security. We didn't have a car, though--we used ride share.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

So they do check everything BUT I had someone in front of me meeting family and was giving them a rather large shipping bag of avocados and they let them in after checking it. So it can be random at times.

My mom had a medium size bag and I had my camera bag and we were fine

 

[bcla]

So I’m here now and there was no issue other than it took a while to search through all my stuff. Frankly the most scrutiny I got was for a small pocket flashlight, which I needed to demonstrate worked. I didn’t bring a cooler or any alcohol.

 

[CharleneTheDM]

I saw on Instagram that there are jumbo lockers in the picnic area in the esplanade that can fit a small suitcase:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkbERXkA5sP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

[bcla]

I saw on Instagram that there are jumbo lockers in the picnic area in the esplanade that can fit a small suitcase:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CkbERXkA5sP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Saw those. I tried to get in on a video meeting, but moved because the music just wouldn’t stop. I finally relocated to a courtyard at the Grand Californian. Occasionally there could be noise like a cart moving through or a leaf blower. And the Disneyland Monorail passed overhead through that courtyard. But then they started piping in elevator music, although it wasn’t a series of Disney and Lucasfilm tunes.

They had small ($7) and larger ($10) lockers next to the restrooms outside of DLP. I think the ones at the picnic area are the large size. Probably wouldn’t have helped for my particulars.