Downtown Disney and DCA entrances

[SaraBeth07]

We will be staying at the Alpine Inn on Katella Ave (which appears to be slightly to the right on Katella Ave, just outside of DCA) in a few weeks and I'm trying to get a feel for how things are laid out at Disneyland.

I can see the large entrance from the street for both parks - on Harbor Blvd. It appears that this is the best way for us to reach Disneyland from our hotel. DCA and Downtown Disney appear to have a second entrance off of Disneyland Drive...is this true? If so, it would probably be best to get to DCA and Downtown Disney from our hotel via Disneyland Dr, right?

TIA!

 

[figment_jii]

We will be staying at the Alpine Inn on Katella Ave (which appears to be slightly to the right on Katella Ave, just outside of DCA) in a few weeks and I'm trying to get a feel for how things are laid out at Disneyland.

I can see the large entrance from the street for both parks - on Harbor Blvd. It appears that this is the best way for us to reach Disneyland from our hotel. DCA and Downtown Disney appear to have a second entrance off of Disneyland Drive...is this true? If so, it would probably be best to get to DCA and Downtown Disney from our hotel via Disneyland Dr, right?

TIA!

There is only one entrance to DL and DCA for the most part. Guests of the Disneyland Resorts can use the Grand Californian entrance to DCA and there is technically the monorail, but it's not fast. So the majority of the guests enter the parks via the Esplanade (the area between DL and DCA). You can approach it from the Harbor Blvd or DTD sides (bag check is located on both sides and it'll ultimately get you to the same place).

Based on where the Alpine Inn is located on Katella, I think you'll still be better of walking east on Katella and then north on Harbor. You'll skirt the perimeter of DCA and then enter the resort area by the bus pick-up area (this is probably the entrance you're seeing on the maps).

If you're planning on checking out DTD or the DLR resorts, then you could head west on Katella and the north on S West St/Disneyland Drive. When you reach the Grand California, go into it and cut through the lobby and head out to DTD. Otherwise, the route is a little weird getting to the far west-end of DTD (by the DLR hotel).

 

[SMD]

When you walk out the front of the hotel, if you're going to the parks, go left on Katella and take Harbor. If you're going to DTD or the hotels, go right on Katella and take West St. The DCA entrance is directly across from DL, if you go the other way you'll end up walking through DtD.

FYI, Google Maps still shows Cars Land under construction. The old walkway and tram that used to be accessible on Katella is no longer there.

 

[HydroGuy]

We will be staying at the Alpine Inn on Katella Ave (which appears to be slightly to the right on Katella Ave, just outside of DCA) in a few weeks and I'm trying to get a feel for how things are laid out at Disneyland.

I can see the large entrance from the street for both parks - on Harbor Blvd. It appears that this is the best way for us to reach Disneyland from our hotel. DCA and Downtown Disney appear to have a second entrance off of Disneyland Drive...is this true? If so, it would probably be best to get to DCA and Downtown Disney from our hotel via Disneyland Dr, right?

TIA!

The area between DL and DCA is called the Esplanade. You can reach it from the Harbor side or from DTD by way of DL Drive. Once in the Esplanade there is one entrance to DL and one to DCA.

There is a second entrance to DCA thru the GCH. It for DLR hotel guests only but can generally be used by anyone after the parks have been open a couple hours.

This map will help you see how it is all laid out:

http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=33.809212&lon=-117.918813&z=19&m=b

 

[SaraBeth07]

Great info! Thanks, everyone!