How Far is "Far" From Convention Center Marriott to DL?

[viluvsdisney]

Hi again! We've loved all the feedback for this DL trip - seeing as we've never been. But I'm SO confused on the distance of this hotel (Marriott by Ceonvention Center). Some people think it's within walking distance, and others have kindly "warned" us that it's a bit of a hike to DL. It will be my DD7 and myself walking. We're avide walkers - BUT - I do understand how quickly 7 year old legs wear out (and mine ) after a day of Disney. So, my question is - what do I prepare for? A long walk -over 20 minutes to the gates? And if we opt for transportation, is it a wait for a trolly ride to DL. I'm not sure what to expect.
Some other feedback has mentioned that this hotel is "a distance" away from dining options/restaurants. We won't have a car - we will be walking if possible. Any info is MUCH appreciated!

 

[darph nader]

We stayed at the Marriot about six years ago (had thier own shuttle back then).My teenage sons could'nt wait for the shuttle. Walked back, liked to kicked their butts.It' a LONG walk,probably would have killed me.IMHO that would be quite a hike for a 7 yr old. About 3/4s of a mile, easy. After a long day at D/L it is a hike.

 

[c&m]

We have stayed at the Anaheim Hilton and the Anaheim Marriott, and we had always walked into DL. Our DDs (as young as 3 and as old as 6 at the time) walked with us. It is a 10-15 minute walk. We don't consider it a "hike", just a pleasant walk and we chat while we walk. We've done hikes, and the distance between the Hilton/Marriott is definitely not considered to be one. However, we are an active family and are in good shape. We've also seen loads of other families on the walk with us, a lot of them pushing strollers or having small children walk with them.

You can always try the walk. The ART's route is along S. Harbor. If you feel that your little one is worn out and can't handle the walk, you can always hop on one.

 

[SunshineOR]

I wouldn't walk it at the end of the day with my seven-year-old. Yeah, if you're really going you can probably do it in 15-20 minutes, but after hiking around the parks all day you might end up losing your happy Disney feelings and just being cranky and too tired! Really, the ART transit system is so convenient and cheap. Your dd will be free and I think it will cost you like $3 a day for back and forth all day anytime. If I remember correctly, the Marriott convention center is the last stop on the way to DL and the first on the way back, so you're talking a 2 minute ride! It's clean, cheap and you and your dd can snuggle and talk about the day on the way back instead of whining and griping on the trek back to the hotel. The front desk staff will set the whole thing up for you and show you where to go and how to ride.


Our first trip, we were at the Anabella, which on a map is just across the street from DL. We had younger kids, 3 & 5, but no stroller and it was a shorter walk than you'd be doing, probably a 10 minute walk. It was horrible! We would have an incredible day at the parks and leave so happy, and then by the time we walked back to the hotel the kids were crying, everyone's feet were killing them and we were at each others' throats. Never again walking to DL from off-site unless the kids are teens--and even then we wouldn't unless we really HAD to.

 

[Wendebird]

I use this map quite a bit. It gives you an idea how far away you are & what's in the area.

FWIW, If you see where Ho Jo's is to the Entrance Plaza. That was too far for my then 5 & 7 year olds to walk back to every night. We don't use strollers after the kids hit 5 years, so that was a lot of walking for them. The walk back at night was just hard on them & hard on my ears.

I think you'd be better to use ART. (Do you know what that is?)

I'm so not used to these kind of boards with all the business of the icons & stuff. I kinda like the streamlined look of laughingplace

Sorry, but the boards will not let me post the link to the map website. I tried.

 

[viluvsdisney]

Is the 3/4 mile reference (from Marriott) up to the DL entrance? And what would we be "walking" through? Is it DTD?

 

[karylrocks]

You would not be walking through DTD. You would either walk down Harbor (which is on the opposite side from DTD) or you could cut through the Hilton, past the convention center, through the south DL parking lot and come in from behind California Adventure. If you are lucky the parking lot tram will be running and that would cut your time in half. It sounds confusing; you sort of have to see it to understand that route but it is a bit shorter.

With kids I would opt for the ART; it stops right in front of the Marriott. Coming back from the park, you could also take the ART that stops at the Hilton (it is a different number) if it comes first and then cross the street to the Marriott. (Actually that would be jaywalking so use your discretion; here in Portland nobody pays any attention to where you are supposed to cross the street .) I stayed at the Hilton in December and DH and I walked half the time and took ART half the time. I will be staying there again in June with 2 teen boys and will probably plan to use ART, I have a feeling they are going to run me ragged in DL! It is also nice that you can ride it back to your room for a break and then ride back without paying again; $3 for the whole day. Sometimes waiting for the ART is really nicer than walking when you are tired, and it comes so often that you probably would not get back much sooner anyway. I think the ART sometimes stops running for an hour or so in the early afternoon, so make sure to check the schedules.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Here is an aerial of the DLR with the Anaheim Convention Center. The Marriott is to the right of the Convention Center.


Here's a view that you can manipulate: Aerial View

The Marriott is to the right of the Convention Center. You can go to the left (west side) along Disney Way, & cut through the Grand Californian Hotel, or you can cross the street - there is a crosswalk there - and go through the parking lot (there MIGHT be a shuttle running from the parking lot to the parks' entrances), or you can go to Harbor Blvd on the right (east side) of the parks and go through the pedestrian entrance.

My daughter & her friend walked from the convention center to the parks with no problem last year -- I think it is up to each family whether they feel up to the walk or not.