Holiday Inn @ 1240 South Walnut St.?

[KelliLee702]

We've just made reservations for April.
According to the web it has recently been refurbished.
Anyone stay there recently?
How is the trek to the parks?
It looks like it is really close to the Parking Structure, Is it?

TIA!

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/LAXAW/transportation?start=1
They are on the southeast corner of Ball and Walnut and one block east of the Disneyland Way. From my last trip around the structure I think you would have to walk all the way around the block to the east. Going south would mean going around the fence and entering on the south side. With a car you just drive around the block but walking is pretty far.

 

[KCmike]

We were thinking of staying there as well. I have heard you can walk through a fence where the trams run and follow that route to the esplanade. When someone was saying that they still said it was a good walk to the park. They also said if you have little ones it would be too far.

 

[KelliLee702]

I have heard you can walk through a fence where the trams run and follow that route to the esplanade. When someone was saying that they still said it was a good walk to the park. They also said if you have little ones it would be too far.

Do you mean the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure Tram that goes to the Parks?
No "little ones" for us . . . DS12 & DD10

Thanks!

 

[KelliLee702]

With a car you just drive around the block but walking is pretty far.

If yes, where do we park?

 

[wendylady36]

It is very close to Mickey and Friends. This is a picture I took from my room:

The yellow wall is the only thing separating the two, but you still have to drive around the block to get to the entrance.

I wouldn't walk it though, especially at night. There isn't much lighting on the pathways and overall it's a pretty long walk. I just drove to the parking structure each day.

 

[mechurchlady]

The hotel has the parking structure on the south side, stand with your back to that. On your left is Walnut and straight ahead is Ball Road. Either go out Walnut and turn right then right again onto Ball Road. or go out a driveway onto Ball road.

Ahead of you is an overpass. Turn right at the overpass and if you go under the overpass you went too far.

Now you need to start merging left. California allows a right turn on red if no signs are posted prohibiting turns. Also California allows drivers turning to turn into any lane they want with the exception being double, triple and quadruple turns which usually have the lanes marked.

As you are in the left lane you will see two signs and you are going to go left. The right lanes go to the hotels, Magic Way which will take you back to Walnut, and Downtown Disney Parking.

You will then go under a massive structure with green plants hanging from the side. Have you payment or AP card handy. If you have people in the car with you then aim for the left side of booths. They will take the credit card, cash or AP card from anyone in the car so you thus will be in a short line.

Watch out and you will do a double or triple right and into the parking garage. Disabled parking is best on levels 2-6 and in the bus parking. Chip and Dale is not a fun place for disabled to park, long walk. You are at the whim of the parking lot and might be in the front area or way out on the boondock.

Save your parking stub for reentry if you decide to go to the hotel.

Exit out the structure and stay away from the far left lanes that bypass Ball Road if they are open. Drive around the overpass and turn left from the far left lane. The overpass bypasses Ball Road and is open for southbound traffic in the morning and northbound in the evening. If you get stuck on that then u-turn at the end in theory, I never tried that.

 

[KelliLee702]

Thanks for all the info. It sounds like you have done that once or twice!

Is is a real "pita" to drive to the garage for what seems such a short distance?

Also, how much is parking?

One more . . . does the hotel have a shuttle? I guess I could look that up on their web site.

Thanks, again!

 

[lcasa]

Parking is up to $12 a day now for a car! (ouch)

Doesn't the hotel have a shuttle? I've been there for some club meetings - it would be a healthy walk as everyone says - and I'm not sure I'd want to do it late at night. Not that the neighborhood is that bad, but you never know who may want to prey on tourists.

A cab ride might be cheaper than parking...

 

[fairykin]

We Always stay at the Holiday Inn on South Walnut.
There is a pic of the hotel room in my trip report on my signature.

This hotel has just undergone a year long renovation. The beds are really nice and the linens great!

The lobby is like you were walking into a club in l.a. very modern with clean lines and fresh colors.

There is a little bar downstairs where my mom and i had a cosmopolitan.

Also...there is a covered patio that you wait at for ART to pick you up and take you to the park. You pay $4 a day and ART will pick you up and take you to and from the park as many times as you wish until the park closes.

We always use ART.

They have a great breakfast too!

 

[fairykin]

The great thing about this hotel is it's nice and quiet.. no highway noises and such.

Also they have a little shop inside the hotel with souveniers and snacks.

 

[jlmarr]

We were thinking of staying there as well. I have heard you can walk through a fence where the trams run and follow that route to the esplanade. When someone was saying that they still said it was a good walk to the park. They also said if you have little ones it would be too far.

Here's a map of the walk to the parking structure tram stop:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2523085

Or instead of taking the tram you could cross DL Drive and walk all the way, or go through DTD. The route shown is the least amount of walking, a bit over a half mile. ART is a good alternative too.

 

[Piper]

Is the ART lift-equipped? I am booked for June 7-11 and I emailed the hotel, but they never answered. Unfortunately this is something I really need to know. Thanks for any help.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.rideart.org/index.php?loc=1

http://www.rideart.org/index.php?loc=6
That is their disabled information. There is another service that they talk about but for ART it is disabled accessible. They also take pets in carriers and working service dogs.

ART Call Center
Toll Free Call Center 1-888-364-ARTS (2787)

OCTA Paratransit Call Center
Contact OCTA Community Transportation Department at 877-628-2232 for rules and eligibility.

Hey Piper are you going to stop and see me? I remember you from disAbilities.

 

[Piper]

Thanks, Laurie. That was a big help! I would enjoy meeting with you. The plans now are for my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson to join me. I think I will only be doing 2 days in the parks and one rest day in between. That wasy they can get some "just family time" inbetween. (My DD and DGS haven't been to DL either.)

 

[mechurchlady]

If you need anything at all just holler, you know me from disAbilities, the hound dog. Want to make sure your vacation goes fine this time.

 

[KelliLee702]

Parking is up to $12 a day now for a car! (ouch)

$4.00/day for ART for 4 vs $12.00/day for parking?

Cab it one or both ways?



I guess we'll figure the whole thing out when we finally get there.
We'll be driving in Friday night and probably arriving late.

I'm glad to hear that the Hotel is very nice and quiet!
Thanks Icasa and fairykin for all your input!

Just another week to go . . .

 

[KCmike]

How is the pool and hot tub? Are they big etc....

Any pictures?

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.anaheim-yellowcab.com/AnaheimTaxiRates.html#anchor_41

About 1.3 miles would be $5.55 or $6.20
About 2.2 miles would be $8.15
Total would be around $13.70 to $14.35

Driving
$12 parking
3.5 miles at 25 mile to a gallon is about 50 cents give or take.

Summation
If you are not planning to move your car then it is better to take a taxi. It will cost you about $1.20 to $1.85 extra but you would be dropped off at the taxi stand next to Harbor Blvd. In the parking garage you could be parked in the northwest corner and have to hike to the trams. I think it is worth the extra money to avoid the trams and hiking.

If you are planning to return to your car for a trip back to your hotel then it would be way more expensive. ART also would be cheaper if you can get from your hotel to DLR without a lot of problems.

The parking system reads AP cards and will not let that AP back into the lot unless they have they cardstock stub or they pay. That is to stop friends from getting a bunch of cars into the lot for free. Good luck on your trip.

 

[fairykin]

KCMike.... The pool is Big and around it are little shell like cabana lounges. It's all been redone so it's nice.

Let me see if I can find some pics for You all to get a peek at the hotel.