If you were staying one mile to DL, would you walk or drive?

[cruisehopeful]

If you were staying one mile from the entrance plaza and you had a car and a signature AP (includes parking), would you walk or drive? Last time I walked because I figured it would take just as long to drive and park and shuttle in. The walk back felt really long after a long day at the park, though.

Staying somewhere else next time, but it's a mile away in a different direction.

 

[cp11]

Our walk is usually a little over a mile, more like 1.5, one way. Car is too much hassle. The only time it was a hassle is after the half marathon and my daughter was too tired and sore.

I also had an AP with free parking, tried it the first time, then never again.

 

[ashley0139]

I would definitely drive. No way I would walk a mile before I was going to walk all day, or walk a mile after being in the parks all day. With the free parking it wouldn't even be a question.

 

[GatorChris]

That's a tough one. Because DL is so much bigger, i might be tempted to drive and shuttle in on those days. And maybe on the DCA days, walk over. But after 4 or 5 days of walking in the parks, that mile starts to get pretty long. For us, the HoJo is on the outer limits of where we want to walk after a long day in the parks. Any further and it would be a pain.

 

[ImDMous]

We usually stay at the Hilton at the convention center which is 1.1 miles away. We'll walk in the morning and take the Toy Story shuttle at night. The walk from the shuttle drop-off across Harbor to the hotel isn't all that much shorter, but you get a break with a little ride in between. On the last morning we'll check out and park the car in Toy Story so we can just shuttle back for our last trip.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I stayed for 5 days and stayed at Sheridan Park which is roughly 1 mile.

We walked some and took the Toy Story bus some.

When you're used to WDW walking like we are its a breeze.

 

[Darkbeer1]

One issue, which lot do you park in and where do they send you to park?

The walk from a far parking space at Mickey & Friends can be 1/3'rd of a mile each way to just get to the tram loading area, so say around 1/4 of a mile on average. And then about .15 of a mile to the tram loading area.

Toy Story is better but you could still be walking about 1/4 mile to catch the bus, and then the .15 of a mile to get from the drop off to the center point of the Entrance Plaza.

So I prefer walking to save time and hassle with the loading and unloading.

My second choice is using the ART Shuttle (or similar service depending on the Hotel/Motel), yes, you do have to load/unload, but it picks you up near your Hotel/Motel.

I don't like to use the Theme Park Parking lots for many reasons, first off, you really don't know what lot you will actually park in, based on the actual date and expected crowds, plus what is going on at the Convention Center, Disney will close some lots at any time and send you elsewhere. If you get sent to Simba, (next to the Paradise Pier, no tram is provided), you could also end up at Pumbaa, Anaheim GardenWalk or Convention Center parking. And then if you do get to park in one of the two main areas, you still have the walk to the tram/bus loading area, and then load/unload. It takes up a lot of time, such as waiting to pay your parking fee (or just showing your pass), those lines can get long, especially early in the day.

Edited to add - leaving at night just after the fireworks or closing can also create long lines just to get out of the parking lot, and the city sometimes only allows certain options as to where you can go.

I would even look at Uber/Lyft/taxi or using the OCTA public bus service before parking my car.

That is my two cent opinion.

 

[rentayenta]

We'd drive if parking was free.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Walk. Getting the car in and out of the parking structure seems like too much time and hassle. I'd rather walk an extra mile each way. It may seem like a lot, but honestly, it's not so bad. There's always ART or the Toy Story buses, too, depending on where the mile puts you. I would only drive if it was free parking.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Which hotel? Not all claims of "one mile" from DL are created equal!

 

[bluefunnel]

We get free parking but I still prefer to walk. Knowing how long it might take me to get to the park is important to me, and being rerouted to another lot ruins that.

Until the parking issue gets fixed(possibly when the new garage is built?), We're sticking to walking.

 

[disneychrista]

Unless I am right across the street, I am driving. I am getting "old" and just can't walk that much anymore. The parks aren't so bad because is short bursts of walking with sitting in between.

 

[StormyCA]

I'd either drive or take the ART shuttle or Uber

 

[Chiomaca]

Parking is such a pain that I generally walk, even for the half marathons. But with kids, most of the hotels are on a shuttle route and we just take those. Most of them are free on marathon weekends, too, which is cool.

 

[DizMe]

I've stayed at the convention center several times and walked. Sometimes we walk to the Toy Story lot and take the shuttle. I've considered Uber but I've never actually done it. I avoid the parking structure at all costs, even though I get free parking. I generally don't have a car, though!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We usually walk. We enjoy the warm up before hitting the parks and the walk back is a nice way to decompress before getting back to the room. Walking back, usually to the Sheraton Park, allows us to stop at CVS for snacks, treats, and drinks to enjoy at the hotel.

 

[Astylla]

We have the Signature pass and previously Premium with parking so we would always park at Toy story or M & F . Now though we've realized the money we save staying further and parking is s huge loss if park time/ midday break time unless on short hours. Now it's basically walking distance ( no further than HOJO/Candy Cane Inn) or nothing.

But a mile is a lot at the end of the day , we've done it not realizing how long Anaheim blocks are our honeymoon trip and was exhausting. I'd definitely drive but you could always taxi or uber back if needed.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Which hotel? Not all claims of "one mile" from DL are created equal!

That's a good point. Last time, we were at Hampton Inn in Garden Grove which is a straight walk down busy Harbor. Next, I'll be at Peacock Suites which isn't as busy of a pedestrian walk and I'm not sure how sketchy it is at night. The shortest walk on google maps would take me past Motel 6, so maybe it isn't too bad.

We get free parking but I still prefer to walk. Knowing how long it might take me to get to the park is important to me, and being rerouted to another lot ruins that.

Several times I have driven to Mickey and Friends only to be rerouted to Toy Story. And when the traffic is bad, it takes a long time. I think one time it took us 45 mins from the M&F lot to get to the Toy Story lot and on the bus to the entrance. It's the reason why I think walking is just faster, but my feet to get sore by the end of the day.

Now it's basically walking distance ( no further than HOJO/Candy Cane Inn) or nothing.

That's my initial feeling, too. I have hotel points and timeshares, so for financial reasons, I tend to use those. If I didn't, I'd probably stay at Candy Cane or Park Vue every time. I love to not drive and I also love not having to walk too far after a full day of walking already.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Peacock Suites is just over one mile in walking distance (using the standard from the Front Lobby desk to the center of the Main Entrance Esplanade star). Stay on Disney Way on the south side of the street, and you should be just fine, you go by a group of Hotels/Motels and Anaheim GardenWalk, so fairly busy and well lit.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6950585

Compare that to the Paradise Pier Hotel/Simba Parking, which walk is about 3/4 of a mile, and has no tram service options. (Peacock Suites allows you to opt for the ART shuttle )

 

[hsmamato2]

The one time we visited, our hotel was a bit over a mile away, we walked,as a mile isn't much (barring health issues) even if it was a slow tired walk, it still felt better to just walk to/from than hassle with either parking or waiting for shuttles,etc. we enjoyed it!