Staying at the Hilton - walk or shuttle to the parks?

[holden]

Hi everyone! We are WDW vets arriving in DL at the end of this week. Everyone here has been very helpful with my Qs! I have another. We are staying at the Anaheim Hilton. Should we walk to DL and DCA, take a shuttle (I'm assuming they have one), or drive (we'll have a rental car)? DD7 will be suffering from jet lag and walking most of the day. I'm not sure how long the walk from the hotel to the park is, but I don't want her complaining already when we arrive at DL/DCA. DD3 will be in a stroller.

Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Mary09]

It's about a mile down Harbor if it's the Hilton by the Marriott. I've walked it and taken the ART shuttle both. It's a longish walk for little kids. My DD was around 7 and she didn't much appreciate that walk. I'd recommend the shuttle, which probably costs less than parking and gets you closer. I'm no expert, though.

 

[holden]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking that the walk might be too much for DD7. Especially when she will probably be up at 4am that morning due to the time difference.

 

[Momrow]

We've also done both from the Marriot, which is across the street. The ART might be a better bet. It is pretty quick and you can take it from the Hilton or the Marriot (2 different routes, but the stops are only a few feet away from each other).

 

[ChickenCarlos]

i would recommend taking the ART shuttle it is like $4 a day, compared to $15 a day to park your car, compared to walking in the heat for about a mile to the FAR entrance to the park. i love the Hilton and will always stay there, and the Shuttle comes every 15 minutes and is very reliable, the only part i dislike is trying to catch a shuttle around midnight, it is very crowded and seems to take longer to arrive than the shuttles through out the day, but they do offer a shuttle till about 12:30 a.m. PLUS you can also ride the shuttle to and from the Marriott because it is literally right across the street, just make sure to note which number it is.

 

[barefootmomma]

I agree with previous posters for the simple fact that your older child likely won't be happy with the hike. With two adults and one in a stroller, we find the walk to be just fine but I don't think I'd suffer it if my little one wasn't able to be in the stroller. We love the hotel, hopefully you will too!

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

I agree with previous posters for the simple fact that your older child likely won't be happy with the hike. With two adults and one in a stroller, we find the walk to be just fine but I don't think I'd suffer it if my little one wasn't able to be in the stroller. We love the hotel, hopefully you will too!

We've both walked and shuttled. Definitely shuttle it at night!! We love the Hilton too, and ask for a theme park view (if you can get it). We've had stunning dead-on views on our last two stays!! Like, who are those people paying a small fortune for a Bay Lake Tower view of the MK when this is so much closer and better? DH and I have literally turned off the lights in the room, sat on the floor, and watched the fireworks right in front of us. Cool beans.

 

[holden]

I hope we do get a Disney view! That would be great. I think we may have booked that already, but if not we'll try to get one when we arrive.

DH has stayed there before. When he checked in late one night, they said they gave him a "park view". He said he went to his room and the view was of a burned out building. and a parking lot He was confused. The next morning he realized it was TOT!

We are looking forward to the trip! It will be our first time in DL/DCA!

 

[Mitzicat]

I would recommend walking...there is a trick that the Hilton staff taught us. If you go out the doors by the convention center walk about 1.5 blocks, cross the street, you end up in the Disney Parking, walk over to the tram stop, get on the tram and it takes you to the front entrance. It was so easy. I did it like 5 or 6 times during my 3 day stay. Little ones might not like it, but felt it was easier than walking the main streets, taking a shuttle or public transportation.

 

[GrandBob]

I would recommend walking...there is a trick that the Hilton staff taught us. If you go out the doors by the convention center walk about 1.5 blocks, cross the street, you end up in the Disney Parking, walk over to the tram stop, get on the tram and it takes you to the front entrance. It was so easy. I did it like 5 or 6 times during my 3 day stay. Little ones might not like it, but felt it was easier than walking the main streets, taking a shuttle or public transportation.

Are you talking about the old Timon parking lot? If so, it's gone now, to make way for CarsLand.

-Bob

 

[dalstitch45]

I would go with the ART bus. You can buy a a daily pass of $4, or multiple day passes costing up to about $15 or less per person. It gives you unlimited trips on all their routes for your stay. This works especially well if you want to go to the Garden Walk or other places on the ART route system.

The Marriott and Hilton have two (2) different buses that stop right in front of each hotel. The walk is also nice in the daytime. I am a little leary about doing that walk at night. Plus, the kids will probably be tired.

Go for the ART bus. You can check out all their information at:

www.rideart.org

 

[Armadillo4]

I would recommend walking...there is a trick that the Hilton staff taught us. If you go out the doors by the convention center walk about 1.5 blocks, cross the street, you end up in the Disney Parking, walk over to the tram stop, get on the tram and it takes you to the front entrance. It was so easy.

Are you talking about the old Timon parking lot? If so, it's gone now, to make way for CarsLand.

Mitzicat: that was the best way to get to the parks from the Hilton! A short walk and then a tram ride. But then that parking lot (Timon) started construction for Cars Land--as GrandBob wrote--and they don't run the trams anymore. It was a terrific shortcut to the parks, because of the tram, and it was FREE to anyone.

Anyway, I second what everyone wrote above. The ART shuttle is probably best, especially for coming back to the hotel at night. And yes, if you can get a theme park view room, it is pretty sweet for the fireworks.

 

[Mitzicat]

Shows you how much things change in 3 years! Glad I didn't pick the Hilton for my trip next month!

Thanks for the update everyone. So I change my vote! Don't walk

 

[Mazzy]

We will be staying at the Hilton next week, and I noticed that their bus to the parks also goes to the garden walk, where the restaurants are. Has anyone used the shuttle purely to get to garden walk? We may want to go there in the evening for something to eat. Just trying to keep the walking down because DD has knee problems. Also wondering how the route works ie does it go Hilton then Disneyland then Garden Walk? Thanks

 

[carebee21]

We will be staying at the Hilton next week, and I noticed that their bus to the parks also goes to the garden walk, where the restaurants are. Has anyone used the shuttle purely to get to garden walk? We may want to go there in the evening for something to eat. Just trying to keep the walking down because DD has knee problems. Also wondering how the route works ie does it go Hilton then Disneyland then Garden Walk? Thanks

Hello,
The Hilton ART shuttle does not take you directly to Garden Walk. The stop is about two blocks down from garden walk, so you still have to walk a little bit, but it's not bad. I'm not sure if any of the other routes take you directly there (it looks like Route 16 does according to the map, but I've never done it and don't want to give out false info). But the shuttle goes from Disney, to Hilton and then the Garden Walk Stop and back to Disney. Be sure to tell the driver you want Garden Walk because it doesn't always stop there.

 

[Mazzy]

Hello,
The Hilton ART shuttle does not take you directly to Garden Walk. The stop is about two blocks down from garden walk, so you still have to walk a little bit, but it's not bad. I'm not sure if any of the other routes take you directly there, or even get you closer, but the Hilton shuttle ART route doesn't take you directly there. But the shuttle goes from Disney, to Hilton and then the Garden Walk Stop and back to Disney. Be sure to tell the driver you want Garden Walk because it doesn't always stop there.

Ah, I see, thanks for the info, might not be worth bothering with then, how long would you say it would take to walk to garden walk without using the ART bus? Thanks

 

[Brenner965]

Shows you how much things change in 3 years! Glad I didn't pick the Hilton for my trip next month!

BUT the Hilton rooms have been beautifully renovated since your last visit 3 years ago.

As others have posted, this hotel offers unparalleled views of Disneyland and is a wonderful full service resort.

I don't think I would NOT stay here because I have to pay $4 for an all day shuttle pass to and from the resort!