Days Inn Rodeway Inn Mickey and Friends Parking

[CourtFool]

I am considering staying at the Days Inn Anaheim West. I am aware of the bad reviews it has received. My question is what is the walk like from the Days Inn or the Rodeway Inn to the Mickey and Friends Parking facility shuttle. It appears right next door on Google maps but I am wondering how pedestrian friendly it is. Is there a clear walkway or do you have to go through a parking lot? Can you pass through the garage on the East side? How early do the shuttles start? How late do they run? How often does one stop at this parking facility?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer further detail.

 

[Bud Ice]

It's would give you a better view to include terrain and satellite maps.

Mickey and Friends lot is fenced off to a large degree, and entrance is meant for cars.

There's a walkway along Disneyland Drive. Can catch the shuttle, but you're basically walking
around the structure to the DTD-facing side.

 

[CourtFool]

Thanks for such a fast reply!

Where along Disneyland Drive do you catch the shuttle?

 

[SMD]

To get to M&F from DL Dr you have to walk to Magic Way, cross DL Dr, walk on Magic Way about half way to Walnut and then pass through the Pinocchio lot to get to the M&F shuttle. It's probably about half as far as walking directly to the park. I did it during the race weekend. A CM suggested I go through the CM parking lot, which was a little bit shorter. I did it when going back to the hotel, but the next morning they stopped me when I tried to walk through. My guess is that exiting at night in jeans and a t-shirt I could have been a CM in plain clothes exiting, but trying to go in in the morning I looked like a park goer.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It's an easy walk to the shuttles at Mickey & Friends. It's about a 1/4 mile from Mickey & Friends to the parks if you also just want to walk all the way to the DL Resort. (I often walk back to the parking structure from the parks, and it's an easy walk).

<Pictures Removed>

 

[SMD]

Can you walk through the gate next to the tram loading area? I'm pretty sure I had to walk down to the sidewalk between the trees on the left and walk down that path, then there was a pedestrian walkway to the trams.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I don't know of any other gate than what I'm showing in the pictures -- what gate are you talking about, @SMD

 

[Reepicheep]

It's an easy walk to the shuttles at Mickey & Friends. It's about a 1/4 mile from Mickey & Friends to the parks if you also just want to walk all the way to the DL Resort. (I often walk back to the parking structure from the parks, and it's an easy walk).

Mary Jo, is there now a sidewalk on the west side of Disneyland Drive (as shown by your red line)? When we stayed at the Days Inn (around 8 years ago), it was necessary to cross to the east side of Disneyland Drive before heading south. Then, cross Disneyland Drive again when we reached Magic way.

************

In regards to the cast member parking lot: for our first couple of stays at Days Inn (8 years ago), we were allowed to cut through the parking lot in both directions. Then, suddenly Disney stopped people from walking south through the lot, although we still used the lot to head back to the hotel (I suspect even this was against the rules, but no employee ever stopped or warned us when we were walking North). I found a comment in a Days Inn Tripadvisor review from last summer where the reviewer talks about taking the shortcut through the employee parking lot, but no indication is given as to whether this was going to the parks or returning to the hotel.

 

[SMD]

If you keep walking towards Walnut there's a vehicle exit with a sidewalk. It's lined with trees heading into the lot. The one you outlined had fencing around it and was storing things when I was there for the race.

And no, there is no sidewalk on the west side of DL Dr. You do have to cross, walk on the east side, go up and down that incline over the street and then cross DL Dr again at Magic Way. The map above shoes the red line crossing the traffic lanes leading into the parking structure. The walking route is actually the path on the right, on the other side of the flyover.

Another reason I think people get away with exiting through the CM lot is that the attendants are at the gate, and you're 3/4 of the way through before they see you. If I were a CM, I probably wouldn't want guests allowed into the supposedly secure lot where I park either.

 

[Reepicheep]

If you keep walking towards Walnut there's a vehicle exit with a sidewalk. It's lined with trees heading into the lot. The one you outlined had fencing around it and was storing things when I was there for the race.

What you say is correct, as of 8 years ago when we did the walk. Basically, Mary Jo, I think your red line on the map turns North too soon.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

If you keep walking towards Walnut there's a vehicle exit with a sidewalk. It's lined with trees heading into the lot. The one you outlined had fencing around it and was storing things when I was there for the race.

And no, there is no sidewalk on the west side of DL Dr. You do have to cross, walk on the east side, go up and down that incline over the street and then cross DL Dr again at Magic Way. The map above shoes the red line crossing the traffic lanes leading into the parking structure. The walking route is actually the path on the right, on the other side of the flyover.

Another reason I think people get away with exiting through the CM lot is that the attendants are at the gate, and you're 3/4 of the way through before they see you. If I were a CM, I probably wouldn't want guests allowed into the supposedly secure lot where I park either.

What you say is correct, as of 8 years ago when we did the walk. Basically, Mary Jo, I think your red line on the map turns North too soon.

Thanks, guys. I'll fix the pictures.





Here's the pedestrian gate:

 

[SMD]

These are the routes.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Got it... just letting you guys know that there is a pedestrian gate to the east (right) of the road entrance that will save you a few steps.

 

[SMD]

Got it... just letting you guys know that there is a pedestrian gate to the east (right) of the road entrance that will save you a few steps.

That's the one that was closed in January.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

That's the one that was closed in January.

Well, shoot!!!

 

[SMD]

Well, shoot!!!

Since you have to walk past it anyway, hope it's open, but just plan that the walk will be a little bit farther.

Something else that hasn't been mentioned. To attempt to go through the CM lot there are stairs. You have to pass through the parking garage and on the CM lot side there isn't an escalator or elevator. So if that's an issue, consider walking around.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Since you have to walk past it anyway, hope it's open, but just plan that the walk will be a little bit farther.

Something else that hasn't been mentioned. To attempt to go through the CM lot there are stairs. You have to pass through the parking garage and on the CM lot side there isn't an escalator or elevator. So if that's an issue, consider walking around.

That's a good point. If you come in from the CM parking lot (or park in the structure on that side) you have to go up to the 2nd level via the stairway, cross the parking structure, then go down to the tram area.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I was at Disneyland with my daughter tonight, and told her before we left I needed to check on that pedestrian gate. lol So, the closure must have been temporary - it's open now. These were people going to Disneyland around 7pm or so (as we were leaving).

 

[Reepicheep]

I was at Disneyland with my daughter tonight, and told her before we left I needed to check on that pedestrian gate. lol So, the closure must have been temporary - it's open now.

Thanks for confirming this. It's been a lot of years since I stayed at the Days Inn so my memory could be faulty, but I don't recall that a gate even existed at that location back then.

We had no bad experiences doing the walk up Disneyland Drive to Ball Road, but I always felt a bit uncomfortable in the evening when it was dark, and we were walking back to the hotel. We were usually totally alone, with no other tourists in sight. Lots of vehicle traffic, though. I assume the walk was and still is totally safe, but I'm not sure I'd do the walk late at night.

 

[CourtFool]

Thank you all very much. I knew I could count on the Disboards to get me some detailed intel.