How to walk up to the Mickey and Friends tram

[ballarinamom]

So, after many stays at the Disneyland hotel, we have never ridden the tram. This next trip we will do a prestay at the Staybridge at the Park off of Ball. We thought this would be a great opportunity to check out the tram. I know it's a convoluted path to get from Disneyland Drive and Magic way, but we have all day. Can anyone walk me through how we get to the tram from the Staybridge, Springhill suites and Holiday Inn express area?

 

[DLgal]

So, after many stays at the Disneyland hotel, we have never ridden the tram. This next trip we will do a prestay at the Staybridge at the Park off of Ball. We thought this would be a great opportunity to check out the tram. I know it's a convoluted path to get from Disneyland Drive and Magic way, but we have all day. Can anyone walk me through how we get to the tram from the Staybridge, Springhill suites and Holiday Inn express area?

It is a pain.

You have to do this:
Walk towards Disneyland Drive, cross it.

Walk up Disneyland Drive on the sidewalk side.

Turn Right on Magic Way at the crosswalk

Use the sidewalk entry at the corner and walk up the stairs to the pedestrian bridge.

Cross the bridge, and then take the escalators down to the main level outside the security entrance.

 

[Wesley815]

*apologies, my reply came in just after DLgal

Basically you have to walk "around" the structure to get to tram loading area;

Disney used to allow guests to cut through Ball Cast Member lot (upper middle of pic) into Mickey & Friends lot however I think that stopped, not 100% sure.

Ball Road east to Disneyland Drive south to tram loading in 'front' of structure, or if from Holiday Inn walk Walnut Street south to Magic Way east and tram loading on left (north) hand side of street.

N
W E
S

You can use street and satellite view on maps.google.com for better idea before going;

 

[ballarinamom]

*apologies, my reply came in just after DLgal

Basically you have to walk "around" the structure to get to tram loading area;

Disney used to allow guests to cut through Ball Cast Member lot (upper middle of pic) into Mickey & Friends lot however I think that stopped, not 100% sure.

Ball Road east to Disneyland Drive south to tram loading in 'front' of structure, or if from Holiday Inn walk Walnut Street south to Magic Way east and tram loading on left (north) hand side of street.

N
W E
S

You can use street and satellite view on maps.google.com for better idea before going;
View attachment 736714

I hadnt thought about walking to Walnut. We have all day and will just be getting off the plane. We check into the DLH the next day and have our first par day the day after that. So we wont wear ourselves out. And its something we can check off the list. Thanks

 

[DLgal]

I hadnt thought about walking to Walnut. We have all day and will just be getting off the plane. We check into the DLH the next day and have our first par day the day after that. So we wont wear ourselves out. And its something we can check off the list. Thanks

Walnut is an option if you are not staying at Staybridge. But if you are, it's a much longer walk than going on Disneyland Drive. Either way, you still have to get onto the pedestrian bridge and cross back over Magic Way to get into the tram loading area. There is no entry to the area on the ground level. It's fenced off.

 

[ballarinamom]

It is a pain.

You have to do this:
Walk towards Disneyland Drive, cross it.

Walk up Disneyland Drive on the sidewalk side.

Turn Right on Magic Way at the crosswalk

Use the sidewalk entry at the corner and walk up the stairs to the pedestrian bridge.

Cross the bridge, and then take the escalators down to the main level outside the security entrance.
View attachment 736712

Is there a sidewalk for the entire walk or will we be dodging cars from the shoulder of the road?

 

[DLgal]

Is there a sidewalk for the entire walk or will we be dodging cars from the shoulder of the road?

There is only a sidewalk on one side of Disneyland Drive. That's why you have to cross it before you walk up towards the structure.

Magic Way is also annoying. There appears to be a sidewalk on both sides, but it dead ends and you cannot cross Magic Way at most intersections, just in one spot.

Use the Disneyland Drive route. It's easier.

 

[chezcurrie]

Another option if this is simply a “check the box” thing would be to hop on the tram from Downtown Disney to the parking structure, get off (go back through security) and ride it back. You can pretend you are a local that left something in their car … not that that ever happens.

 

[ballarinamom]

Another option if this is simply a “check the box” thing would be to hop on the tram from Downtown Disney to the parking structure, get off (go back through security) and ride it back. You can pretend you are a local that left something in their car … not that that ever happens.

I thought of taking it on the way back. So how would we get out of the facility to make it a shorter walk?

 

[chezcurrie]

I thought of taking it on the way back. So how would we get out of the facility to make it a shorter walk?

On the way back meaning from the parks? Meaning take the tram to the parking garage and then walk to your hotel? I am not overly familiar with the area, but I would hesitate to say that might not be optimal. There is a LOT of traffic around the parking structures. I’d personally do the loop de loop from Downtown Disney - it’d keep you in the ”bubble” and since you have ample time it‘s like getting a ride on a non ride day - my 6 year old loves the tram.

 

[DLgal]

I thought of taking it on the way back. So how would we get out of the facility to make it a shorter walk?

The only way in and out of the facility is the pedestrian bridge accessed from level 2 of the Pixar Pals side of the structure. This is not an efficient means of getting back to the hotel, if you are staying at the DLH.

I'm gonna just be real here. There is nothing magical about the tram ride. It's annoying to have to go through security and then line up and wait and then wait and then the ride is super boring. All you will get to see are all the 100 Years of Magic flags with incorrect dates and misspellings on them.

I mean, I get wanting to kill some time and get some steps in on your arrival date, but after that, it will never be more efficient than just walking back to the DLH. It will add like 20-30 minutes to what is a 10 minute walk.

 

[ballarinamom]

The only way in and out of the facility is the pedestrian bridge accessed from level 2 of the Pixar Pals side of the structure. This is not an efficient means of getting back to the hotel, if you are staying at the DLH.

I'm gonna just be real here. There is nothing magical about the tram ride. It's annoying to have to go through security and then line up and wait and then wait and then the ride is super boring. All you will get to see are all the 100 Years of Magic flags with incorrect dates and misspellings on them.

I mean, I get wanting to kill some time and get some steps in on your arrival date, but after that, it will never be more efficient than just walking back to the DLH. It will add like 20-30 minutes to what is a 10 minute walk.

I know its not going to be exciting but after many, many trips we haven't done it. We will be spending one night at the Staybridge before we move into the DLH for a week. Our daughter will be graduating with a double degree with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in industrial design in hopes of working for one of the firms who build attractions. She wants to be the next Mary Blaire! LOL! She has been blessed to go behind the scenes with designers and engineers at several parks across the country and a few in Europe including some Disney parks. What may be boring and uneventful for some will be very exciting to her. And the difficult path to the tram actually will be of interest to her.

 

[DLgal]

I know its not going to be exciting but after many, many trips we haven't done it. We will be spending one night at the Staybridge before we move into the DLH for a week. Our daughter will be graduating with a double degree with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in industrial design in hopes of working for one of the firms who build attractions. She wants to be the next Mary Blaire! LOL! She has been blessed to go behind the scenes with designers and engineers at several parks across the country and a few in Europe including some Disney parks. What may be boring and uneventful for some will be very exciting to her. And the difficult path to the tram actually will be of interest to her.

Well, then it sounds like it will be an interesting experience for your daughter. The parking structure is quite a marvel of engineering.

 

[ballarinamom]

Well, then it sounds like it will be an interesting experience for your daughter. The parking structure is quite a marvel of engineering.

As usual, my DH and I are just along for the ride! LOL

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Well, then it sounds like it will be an interesting experience for your daughter. The parking structure is quite a marvel of engineering.

I agree! I think the two structures are quite beautiful, honestly.

 

[Wesley815]

She has been blessed to go behind the scenes with designers and engineers at several parks across the country and a few in Europe including some Disney parks. What may be boring and uneventful for some will be very exciting to her. And the difficult path to the tram actually will be of interest to her.

Side note- if fireworks are scheduled for everyday you're visiting it's fun to watch once from top floor of Mickey & Friends since you can see behind Toowntown into show launch area. I also like seeing how things work/behind the scenes.

*again this is only if truly nothing else to do since no music of course, being local I've seen a few times on way out of park.

 

[ballarinamom]

Side note- if fireworks are scheduled for everyday you're visiting it's fun to watch once from top floor of Mickey & Friends since you can see behind Toowntown into show launch area. I also like seeing how things work/behind the scenes.

*again this is only if truly nothing else to do since no music of course, being local I've seen a few times on way out of park.

 

[ballarinamom]

We actually have two nights of just tooling around until we go to the parks. She would find a back view interesting as she did a shadow ship with the company who does the Six Flags fireworks. She set them up nightly and worked the projection mapping. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[DLgal]

I agree! I think the two structures are quite beautiful, honestly.

I'm still perplexed about how the whole ramp system works.