HydroGuy
A Pirate's Life For Me
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2005
Note from August, 2017
See discussion later in this thread about how Uber and Lyft change the advice (i.e., "Rule") I give here in the OP. My advice is that a walking distance hotel is still best, but staying further away and using Uber or Lyft do not carry the same penalties as they did in the past. They are a good solid #2 option. Another good option is stay at a hotel near the Toy Story parking lot and using the shuttle from there back and forth to DLR.
Also see this thread about current maps for Uber and Lyft around DLR: https://www.disboards.com/threads/where-do-uber-and-lyft-drop-off-at-disneyland.3629816
Rule
Get a nearby hotel within easy walking distance
Who This Rule Affects
Multi-Day visitors, and Day visitors who must drive a long way and need a hotel
Explanation
After spending oodles of money to visit DLR, why waste time getting back and forth to the parks? And why make it harder to take an afternoon hotel break?
DLR has three resort hotels and numerous good neighbor hotels within easy walking distance to the park gates (5-15 minute walk). If you are getting a hotel, why not stay at one of these?
If you stay at a nearby hotel, you never have to wait for a bus or take time to get back and forth to your car. You just take a short walk. This will help you spend more time at the parks and keep you fresher. It will also help ensure you will get there for park opening which is essential if you want to experience more rides.
On my last trip to DLR I sat with a family on a Grizzly River Run raft who were visiting DLR for three days from Arizona. They chose a Marriott hotel about 1.5 miles from DLR. They decided to use the ART system (www.rideart.org ) for transportation. They told me on the previous two mornings they had had to wait over an hour for a bus to DLR. What a shame to waste this much time they could have spent inside the parks with their children - all because of a poor hotel choice.
Helpful Hotel Links
"How Far Is It?" (shows actual distances in feet from hotels to DLR entrance plaza) http://www.mouseplanet.com/7280/How_Far_Is_It
"Walking Distance Hotel List w/ discussion & details of hotels" by OnTheRoadAgain http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2796786
Anaheim Resort Map - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30832784&postcount=1
Interactive Map of DLR - http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092124&lon=-117.9188132&z=19&l=0&m=b
Lots other maps here: MAPS and AERIAL SHOTS + Airport/Transportation Info
Why Did I Post This Rule?
I find myself posting answers to the same question in different threads, and decided to make a list of "rules" to which I or others can quickly link in the future. In addition, the ideas behind the rule are often posted by others so I do not claim originality for the rule.
Other HydroGuy Rules
HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851
HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852
HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856
HydroGuy's Make Sure You Get On Your Favorite Ride Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199860
HydroGuy's Hotel Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
See discussion later in this thread about how Uber and Lyft change the advice (i.e., "Rule") I give here in the OP. My advice is that a walking distance hotel is still best, but staying further away and using Uber or Lyft do not carry the same penalties as they did in the past. They are a good solid #2 option. Another good option is stay at a hotel near the Toy Story parking lot and using the shuttle from there back and forth to DLR.
Also see this thread about current maps for Uber and Lyft around DLR: https://www.disboards.com/threads/where-do-uber-and-lyft-drop-off-at-disneyland.3629816
Rule
Get a nearby hotel within easy walking distance
Who This Rule Affects
Multi-Day visitors, and Day visitors who must drive a long way and need a hotel
Explanation
After spending oodles of money to visit DLR, why waste time getting back and forth to the parks? And why make it harder to take an afternoon hotel break?
DLR has three resort hotels and numerous good neighbor hotels within easy walking distance to the park gates (5-15 minute walk). If you are getting a hotel, why not stay at one of these?
If you stay at a nearby hotel, you never have to wait for a bus or take time to get back and forth to your car. You just take a short walk. This will help you spend more time at the parks and keep you fresher. It will also help ensure you will get there for park opening which is essential if you want to experience more rides.
On my last trip to DLR I sat with a family on a Grizzly River Run raft who were visiting DLR for three days from Arizona. They chose a Marriott hotel about 1.5 miles from DLR. They decided to use the ART system (www.rideart.org ) for transportation. They told me on the previous two mornings they had had to wait over an hour for a bus to DLR. What a shame to waste this much time they could have spent inside the parks with their children - all because of a poor hotel choice.
Helpful Hotel Links
"How Far Is It?" (shows actual distances in feet from hotels to DLR entrance plaza) http://www.mouseplanet.com/7280/How_Far_Is_It
"Walking Distance Hotel List w/ discussion & details of hotels" by OnTheRoadAgain http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2796786
Anaheim Resort Map - http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=30832784&postcount=1
Interactive Map of DLR - http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8092124&lon=-117.9188132&z=19&l=0&m=b
Lots other maps here: MAPS and AERIAL SHOTS + Airport/Transportation Info
Why Did I Post This Rule?
I find myself posting answers to the same question in different threads, and decided to make a list of "rules" to which I or others can quickly link in the future. In addition, the ideas behind the rule are often posted by others so I do not claim originality for the rule.
Other HydroGuy Rules
HydroGuy's Fireworks Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199851
HydroGuy's High Season/Off Season Tradeoff Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199852
HydroGuy's How To Avoid Long Lines Rules: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199856
HydroGuy's Make Sure You Get On Your Favorite Ride Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199860
HydroGuy's Hotel Rule: www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
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