Hey there,
Loooong time lurker, post time poster! I actually signed up because I could tell you were getting frustrated looking for an answer lol, so I decided to step in and its a good excuse to finally sign up!
Actually I stayed at this hotel last year for the opening of Star Tours and TLM for 2 nights! So yes, I can tell you plenty! Hotel as you know is VERY basic! It actually has a punch hole key card lol. Yeah, you sleep and GO! But its run by a nice Indian couple and they are very helpful! Rooms generally clean, but yeah a little outdated!
Okay, your actual question, it will take you 12-15 mins TOPS to walk from the hotel to the resort if you are relatively fit, young and a sprint walker! I actually timed it lol. If you not of those and a little slower or with kids, it will still at mos take 20 mins at most I reckon! And you have to be pretty slow!
As for shortcuts, technically there is none in terms of walking (you just walk out of the hotel, turn left and then walk down Harbour), there is ONE big advantage about staying in this area and you got the Toy Story Parking Lot!
Yes, its only about 10 mins away from the hotel. Technically like I said, the walk is about as long as it takes to get to the parking lot lol, BUT its still great if you have kids AND at night when you are dead tired and want to take the bus back! What I did the 3 days was usually walk to the resort, but then take the bus back at night!
And its totally legit. I even asked one of the attendants at the Toy Story lot if I'm not parked there can I still board, she said to me, "As long as you are going to Disneyland to see the mouse you're welcomed aboard!"
So hope that helps! I'm going to the opening of DCA 2.o and I was thinking about going back to the hotel this year, but decided to go a little bigger hotel wise! BUT, I will still be taking the Toy Story bus since I'm in that area again!