Hidden Time Losses When Using a Car At DLR

[HydroGuy]

Some DLR visitors decide to stay at a hotel which is too far to walk to DLR. So they drive their car to DLR each day. I would say this is the worst transportation decision you can possibly make. I summarized the "hidden" time losses related to parking here:

www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17150206&postcount=9

I was reminded of this by a post I saw on another DLR forum here:

www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56133

Here is an excerpt:

I got to the parking structure around 10:28am. I skipped the tram and headed towards the Downtown Disney Monorail station and by the time I actually made it to the hub... it was a little bit after NOON. Yup, it took me an HOUR AND A HALF to get into the structure, park, walk to the monorail station, take the monorail, and walk to the hub. That really is INSANE.

Do not be penny wise but pound foolish. A Disney trip will cost you a lot of money. Your best choice is to get a hotel within walking distance (see "HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862). But if you decide to stay too far to walk, by all means do not drive your car. Get a taxi for $10-15. It is a small amount compared to your overall trip cost and can drop you off 2-3 minutes away from the DLR gates. Plus parking will already cost you $11 per day.

Some hotels have reliable shuttles, and that works for some people. But if you have to wait excessively long for a shuttle or bus, then get a taxi for heaven's sake.

EDITED TO ADD (SEPT 2009): It appears that DLR's current policy is to open the parking structures 60 minutes before park opening on days when there is no Magic Morning and 90 minutes before park opening on days when there is Magic Morning (hence, 30 minutes before MM). The time pressure described above will thus apply on days when you are driving and plan to attend MM. The time pressure is less on other days.

In August 2009 I drove to DLR and made it from the parking structure to the DL gate in 15 minutes. I arrived at Mickey & Friends at 7:15AM and there were no cars in line. So I drove right up, paid, parked, took the tram, and made it to the DL gate by 7:30. However, if there is traffic at the parking structure some recent threads indicate it can still take a long time to get to the DL gate.

IMO it is still best to not drive. It can be done without a long delay. But the uncertainty of possible delays means it is best to not drive unless you have no other choice.

EDITED SEPT 2017 (INCLUDING UBER/LYFT): See this post today about using the Toy Story parking lot: https://www.disboards.com/threads/parking-avoid-it.3636249/

I usually don't park at the DL parking areas. But we had a hotel with my daughter's drama troop that was way down Harbor. So on our last morning, I decided to do the Toy story parking lot. Got there about 8am. HUGE MISTAKE. From the time I hit the line to get into the lot on Harbor, through the standing in line for a bus, until the time I hit security: 1 hour!!! Wow! Never again.

The hotel had a shuttle, but I wanted to be able to get out faster. Absolutely wrong. if you're thinking about parking, you may want to consider this.

Also see this recent thread on Uber /Lyft which is a new option that did not exist when I first authored this thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/where-do-uber-and-lyft-drop-off-at-disneyland.3629816

 

[got2travel]

I totally agree

I just don't understand why someone would insist on driving to the park just so they don't have to be dependent upon a shuttle or to save time. It doesn't make sense. You're going to have to deal with a shuttle of some sort since you have to take the tram. Then you have to manuver that giant parking structure. By the time you've finally gotten to your car, I'm relaxing in my room!

 

[Albort]

agreed. there is actually 3 lines you have to wait for just to get to the front gate.

1) driving ticket, to get your parking ticket.
2) Parking spot
3) shuttle to get to the hub.

if you can walk, hell, WALK! dont be lazy!

 

[hlbtimes2]

Yep, I agree as well. We dont stay anywhere that isnt walking distance. Its just not worth the "savings" on the room.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Absolutely!!! I tell this to anyone that will listen!! It's just not worth it and it makes it even less worth it if you have lots of little ones and double strollers and diaper bags to contend with!!

Andrea

 

[PeterPansPixie]

Even if you can stay in a suite at the Hyatt Regency for under $120/night? And take their shuttle? We have teenagers and want our own bedroom.

We have never used a shuttle at DLR so we are a little worried about it.

 

[Mel90210]

This coming from a girl from SoCAL and a travel agent now living in the midwest. Sometimes its not possible. I realize that most of this board is about Disney...but that area is huge and I don't see why if you travel all the way to California you wouldn't want a car. Staying at the resort/or other properties may be fine for some. But I want a comfortable bed I have Ulcerative colitis so when that hits..I really want a comfortable bed. I don't understand why anyone would pay $300.00 + to stay at either resort there are plenty of other properties with better amenities. I have been to both CA and FL and I have to say that CA has a lot of catching up to do in reference to the room comforts. No one should pay that much for the bedding packages they have there.

 

[tinkerbelt]

I think it also depends on the day and time that you get to the parking structure as well. We live in the area, so we always drive, and it rarely takes us longer than 20-30 minutes from Ball Road to the main gate. We've been on busy days where it has taken longer, but usually the wait is not too bad. Also, I like having the car there to keep a change of clothes, blankets, a tripod, a cooler with sandwiches, etc. It's much easier to hop on the parking tram mid-day and take a quick ride to the car than it is to walk to an off-site hotel to pick up stuff. And the walk from the main gate to Mickey and Friends is not that far. In all honesty it is probably the same distance as a lot of the nearby off-site hotels.

 

[Mel90210]

I agree...by the time you go outside and wait for the tram get there load everyone off and on...its almost the same difference.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I think it also depends on the day and time that you get to the parking structure as well. We live in the area, so we always drive, and it rarely takes us longer than 20-30 minutes from Ball Road to the main gate. We've been on busy days where it has taken longer, but usually the wait is not too bad. Also, I like having the car there to keep a change of clothes, blankets, a tripod, a cooler with sandwiches, etc. It's much easier to hop on the parking tram mid-day and take a quick ride to the car than it is to walk to an off-site hotel to pick up stuff. And the walk from the main gate to Mickey and Friends is not that far. In all honesty it is probably the same distance as a lot of the nearby off-site hotels.

I don't know about that! I have never made it back to my car in the parking garage in 5 minutes after exiting the gates!! I make it back to my room at Desert Inn and Suites in no more than 5 minutes after exiting, less if I hit the light just right!!!

Andrea

 

[MATTERHORN]

This coming from a girl from SoCAL and a travel agent now living in the midwest. Sometimes its not possible. I realize that most of this board is about Disney...but that area is huge and I don't see why if you travel all the way to California you wouldn't want a car. Staying at the resort/or other properties may be fine for some. But I want a comfortable bed I have Ulcerative colitis so when that hits..I really want a comfortable bed. I don't understand why anyone would pay $300.00 + to stay at either resort there are plenty of other properties with better amenities. I have been to both CA and FL and I have to say that CA has a lot of catching up to do in reference to the room comforts. No one should pay that much for the bedding packages they have there.

I agree Completely! He was talking about about all hotels within walking distance not just Disney properties!! I rarely pay over $100 a night to be within 5 minutes of the gate, even less if I want to be within a 10 minute walk! You don't have to pay $300 a night to have the convenience of a walking hotel, that's the benefit DL has over WDW!!

Andrea

 

[Mel90210]

We like to stay at very nice hotels...and usually near the beach. As for WDW I think their off properties are way better than what DL offers. I wish I would see more Hyatts and Sheraton based properties in there.


But each their own.....we love DL but we don't base our whole vacation around it. DW you have to ...it takes forever to get through those parks.

 

[HydroGuy]

This coming from a girl from SoCAL and a travel agent now living in the midwest. Sometimes its not possible. I realize that most of this board is about Disney...but that area is huge and I don't see why if you travel all the way to California you wouldn't want a car. Staying at the resort/or other properties may be fine for some. But I want a comfortable bed I have Ulcerative colitis so when that hits..I really want a comfortable bed. I don't understand why anyone would pay $300.00 + to stay at either resort there are plenty of other properties with better amenities. I have been to both CA and FL and I have to say that CA has a lot of catching up to do in reference to the room comforts. No one should pay that much for the bedding packages they have there.

I can see why some people want a nicer hotel, etc., and a car for other reasons. I am just saying that if you use the car to get back and forth to DLR it wastes a lot more time than most people realize. If you have a reasonably reliable hotel shuttle, then use it. Otherwise, just get a taxi.

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree...by the time you go outside and wait for the tram get there load everyone off and on...its almost the same difference.

No it isn't. If you stay at one of the closer hotels it takes 5-10 minutes from your hotel room door until you are standing at the DLR gates.

If you are traveling by car from a hotel, in this link www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=17150206&postcount=9 I describe how it will take you 30-75 minutes from the entrance of the parking structure to the DLR gates. If you are staying at a hotel a few miles away, you also need to add the time from the hotel room door to your car in the hotel parking lot (at least 5 minutes) and the drive to DLR which can take awhile with traffic lights (10 minutes). So that is 45-90 minutes from your hotel room door to the DLR gates. It is not "almost the same" at all.

I am not saying anyone is "wrong" who does DLR this way. I am just trying to make a point to those who have not thought this through that they may be spending a couple hours a day extra at DLR just on transportation (in total round trip). If you stay for four days this could burn 8 hours of your time.

If your hotel is too far to walk, a taxi would minimize this, and for not much more cost than a parking fee at DLR.

 

[got2travel]

Even if you can stay in a suite at the Hyatt Regency for under $120/night? And take their shuttle? We have teenagers and want our own bedroom.

We have never used a shuttle at DLR so we are a little worried about it.

Taking their shuttle is fine. I've stayed at the Hyatt and their shuttle is pretty efficient. What we are saying is don't choose to drive when you can walk or use a hotel shuttle.

 

[Mel90210]

Well I am talking about the Hyatt Huntington Beach..which is truely amazing..across from the Beach. Then again us LA girls are used to sitting in traffic.

lol.

Each his own. I have stayed at DL on the concierge level and really liked the turn down service with the Mickey Rice krispies.

 

[HydroGuy]

OK, here is another post I saw today. This person wasted time waiting for a bus to some hotel which was too far to walk. They experienced significantly less time in the parks.

www.micechat.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1493612#post1493612

We compared our visits when we stayed at the GCH in '05 and off-site in '04. In '04 we spent, on average, four hours less in the parks each day due to transportation, "avoiding" the crowds, trying to figure out the buses (and ending up taking a taxi after 45 minutes of waiting) and suffering when it got chilly and our sweaters were back in the room.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

I agree with what you've said, however, when you have small children and may need a change of clothes, food, etc etc and don't want to lug it around the park- the luxury of heading back to your car (or sending daddy!) makes it worth my while, especially when my parking is paid for on my AP

Just my 2 cents

 

[HydroGuy]

I agree with what you've said, however, when you have small children and may need a change of clothes, food, etc etc and don't want to lug it around the park- the luxury of heading back to your car (or sending daddy!) makes it worth my while, especially when my parking is paid for on my AP

Just my 2 cents

Good points. As I am sure you are aware, there are lockers both outside the parks and inside the parks. For some people that is a better option than returning to a car or even their hotel room.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I agree with what you've said, however, when you have small children and may need a change of clothes, food, etc etc and don't want to lug it around the park- the luxury of heading back to your car (or sending daddy!) makes it worth my while, especially when my parking is paid for on my AP

Just my 2 cents

I hear ya there!! But I have never had it take 5 minutes to get to my car like it does for me to get to my hotel room at the crosswalk!! I think it's much quicker than waiting for the tram which can take 5 minutes or more until you even get on one!

But to each his own I guess! No way I am doing the tram with myself and three little ones and all their stuff and the double stroller!! Not having to fold it up or take everything out or worry about my kids getting on first/last while I load stuff is worth every penny I spend to stay 5 minutes away!

Andrea