DLR Newbie hotel question

[TinkAgainU]

Is there a map of this walk? I feel like someone posted one at some point but I forget where.

Haha, faster to make you one. The yellow is your walk in the morning - the circled S is Security to walk thru Downtown Disney and to get to the area between the two parks. The blue is your (shorter) walk back at night since you can cut thru the Grand Californian to leave thru the locked gate (circled G in my map). There is also a gate from California Adventure straight into the Hotel which I marked with a blue X in case you are in DCA at closing. The walk between the hotel and the G/Locked Gate is very pretty day or night although it just looks like street in this photo. Hope this helps

 

[TinkAgainU]

You might also want to take the bus in the morning if you're high tech. Download the A-WayWeGo APP which shows where your bus is in real time - these buses pick up right in front of the Westin and drop you reasonably close to the promenade for the two parks. I usually take the bus there in the morning, and walk back at night. You can also take the bus back at night An Uber works both ways too if your little guy is tired - and the Uber drop off, like the bus, saves a lot of walking. If walking works for you, it's one less thing to learn. Here is the map with the Bus Stops (B) and Uber or Lyft Drop Off/Pickup (U)

 

[Pluto468]

Haha, faster to make you one. The yellow is your walk in the morning - the circled S is Security to walk thru Downtown Disney and to get to the area between the two parks. The blue is your (shorter) walk back at night since you can cut thru the Grand Californian to leave thru the locked gate (circled G in my map). There is also a gate from California Adventure straight into the Hotel which I marked with a blue X in case you are in DCA at closing. The walk between the hotel and the G/Locked Gate is very pretty day or night although it just looks like street in this photo. Hope this helps View attachment 901429

Thank you SO much! I'm a visual learner and just can't wrap my head around directions without a map. I've considered the Westin a few times but couldn't picture the walk. This makes it much easier

 

[irlandaise]

Haha, faster to make you one. The yellow is your walk in the morning - the circled S is Security to walk thru Downtown Disney and to get to the area between the two parks. The blue is your (shorter) walk back at night since you can cut thru the Grand Californian to leave thru the locked gate (circled G in my map). There is also a gate from California Adventure straight into the Hotel which I marked with a blue X in case you are in DCA at closing. The walk between the hotel and the G/Locked Gate is very pretty day or night although it just looks like street in this photo. Hope this helps View attachment 901429

Gosh, I'd never thought about the limits on accessing Downtown Disney from Disneyland Drive. You have to make a big detour through the Disneyland Hotel? There's no access to DTD from the eastern side of Disneyland Drive for people who can't cut through the GCH?

 

[TinkAgainU]

Gosh, I'd never thought about the limits on accessing Downtown Disney from Disneyland Drive. You have to make a big detour through the Disneyland Hotel? There's no access to DTD from the eastern side of Disneyland Drive for people who can't cut through the GCH?

You are making a detour when you walk in that way, but not all the way to the Disneyland Hotel now they've move Security over a bit it's not quite as far. The pedestrian gate to get into the front area of GCH is a one way gate (exit only) unless you have a room key, so coming back is a little shorter walk. There is also a gate at the same spot for Pixar Pier Hotel people to get into DCA thru their own security, but again, requires a room key to open it. Sometimes, someone might let you in, but I'd prefer not to fuss with Disney Security over a breach of security first thing in the morning lol. And you still have to go thru "regular" security after you go thru either of those gates to actually enter a park. That detour is not an ugly walk, rather like a pre-Disney walk since you're on Disney property at that point so everyone you pass is either on their way to the Parks, or an employee.

 

[lilsonicfan]

You are making a detour when you walk in that way, but not all the way to the Disneyland Hotel now they've move Security over a bit it's not quite as far. The pedestrian gate to get into the front area of GCH is a one way gate (exit only) unless you have a room key, so coming back is a little shorter walk. There is also a gate at the same spot for Pixar Pier Hotel people to get into DCA thru their own security, but again, requires a room key to open it. Sometimes, someone might let you in, but I'd prefer not to fuss with Disney Security over a breach of security first thing in the morning lol. And you still have to go thru "regular" security after you go thru either of those gates to actually enter a park. That detour is not an ugly walk, rather like a pre-Disney walk since you're on Disney property at that point so everyone you pass is either on their way to the Parks, or an employee.

Helpful map, thank you! Question, can non-GCH guests go in through the Grand lobby and out to downtown Disney or to DCA or are those only for hotel guests?

 

[Tinkaboo]

This is super helpful- thank you. I will take your advice and the bus at the Toy Story lot is a great tip! I hadn't considered the time to the main gate from the Holiday Inn, I just figured the entrance through Downtown Disney put you in the park. That is good to know. I assume I can get an uber fairly easily from the Hilton to DLH if we dont want to walk?

There are Uber drivers who do nothing all day but trips up and down Harbor from DL to the various hotels. There are short hops and they can do several in an hour. Ithink I’ve met them all

 

[TinkAgainU]

Helpful map, thank you! Question, can non-GCH guests go in through the Grand lobby and out to downtown Disney or to DCA or are those only for hotel guests?

Anyone can enter the hotel from either Downtown Disney or DCA at any time. You can then exit the hotel to Downtown Disney any time (thru Security). You can exit the hotel into DCA (thru Security) during the day as long as you have a ticket EXCEPT only guests can go from the hotel (thru Security) into DCA for "30 Minute Early Entry" before the park opens on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun I think (be sure to check), as that's for hotel guests with tickets and room reservations only - they do check both.

But to clarify once more - nobody can enter the Grand Californian from the street (Disney Way) on foot or with a car unless they have a confirmed hotel or hotel dining reservation. There is a locked gate for pedestrians who have already checked in, and a manned guard shack to stop cars. They WILL turn you away. Anyone can leave lol, but not enter (gate can be opened from the inside by anyone leaving on foot). There are security cameras, and I've seen security appear more than once when someone tried to come in without a room key

 

[lilsonicfan]

Anyone can enter the hotel from either Downtown Disney or DCA at any time. You can then exit the hotel to Downtown Disney any time (thru Security). You can exit the hotel into DCA (thru Security) during the day as long as you have a ticket EXCEPT only guests can go from the hotel (thru Security) into DCA for "30 Minute Early Entry" before the park opens on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun I think (be sure to check), as that's for hotel guests with tickets and room reservations only - they do check both.

But to clarify once more - nobody can enter the Grand Californian from the street (Disney Way) on foot or with a car unless they have a confirmed hotel or hotel dining reservation. There is a locked gate for pedestrians who have already checked in, and a manned guard shack to stop cars. They WILL turn you away. Anyone can leave lol, but not enter (gate can be opened from the inside by anyone leaving on foot). There are security cameras, and I've seen security appear more than once when someone tried to come in without a room key

Thank you! We stayed at the Grand in Jan 2024 and didn't know of these restrictions! Very informative.

 

[VGCgroupie]

There are Uber drivers who do nothing all day but trips up and down Harbor from DL to the various hotels. There are short hops and they can do several in an hour. Ithink I’ve met them all

Our last Uber driver was a retired Cast Member and said he really enjoyed doing the Disney pickup and drop offs now in his free time.