Staying off site and walking to parks?

[Danauk]

DH and I are planning a visit to DL but are planning to stay off site (already splashing out on 5 nights at the Bellagio in Vegas on the same trip so can't justify on site!) I have looked at the Hotel Annabella and quite like the look of it. I looked on the FAQ's for this board but couldn't see it mentioned or marked on the maps.
So here's my questions:
1) DH and I liked to have a nice evening meal out so would be easy to walk to DTD or one of the onsite hotels to have an evening meal and then walk back?
2) Are there sidewalks along the main roads going up to the parks?
3) Anyone any idea how long it would take to walk from the hotel Annabella to the parks and DTD?

Thanks for your help

 

[MATTERHORN]

Well being from Vegas, the Bellagio is a great pick! Now onto DL, we like to stay a bit closer than the Annabella. It gets pretty good reviews but we like to be right at the crosswalk. However, if we had no kids and things to cart on the shuttle, I would expand more.

It's not that the hotel is super far, but further than we like to walk. I would say atleast 15 minute walk, or I believe you can cut through the parking lot and hop on a tram also! It would be about the same distance to DTD or the DL hotels to eat. Here is a map to show you where it is. There are sidewalks all the way so that is not a problem at all.

http://www.beachcalifornia.com/dlmp.html

This does not list the Annabella, but it is near the big dome of the convention center across from Paradise Pier section of DCA. We stay over on Harbor near Tropicana and Desert Inn and Suites so we are right at the entrance to give you an idea where the crosswalk entrance is! But I have heard very nice things about that hotel and if you can get a good rate, there is always the shuttle!


Andra

 

[Danauk]

Thanks for that. We don't have kids so don't have tonnes to cart around with us! I don't mind a 15 minute walk, actully a walk after a meal is probably a good idea! When we go to WDW we stay at the Beach Club and usually walk to MGM rather than catching the boat which is about a 15 minute walk so that it OK.

Another question: Where does the shuttle run to/from? Does it call in at all the hotels? Also approximately how much is it?

 

[HydroGuy]

FYI, here is a map so you can see the hotel location relative to DLR: www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

This link will show you pretty exact distances, and mentions Annabella explicitly www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=mm060329as

 

[got2travel]

I've stayed at the Anabella, and it is a nice hotel. But I do prefer to stay a little closer to the parks. Carousel Inn, Best Western Park Place Inn, Camelot Inn, Howard Johnsons are a few that come to mind. I have stayed at all of these and have been really pleased.

The walk from the Anabella would be very similar to your WDW walk from the Beach Club to MGM. As someone else mentioned, you have 2 routes you can take. Either head down Katella towards the Convention Center, cross at the pedestrian signal in the middle of the block. Enter the parking lot behind California Adventure, follow the path towards the parking lot tram and ride the tram to the front. Beware though, this lot is not always used, so you may get stuck taking a long walk to the front.

The other route would be to head cross Katella at the corner of Disney Way (Paradise Pier hotel will be on your left). You can either head straight, past the Grand Californian and you'll reach Downtown Disney. This would be best if you are planning on going to dinner. The other option would be to cut through the Grand Californian then into Downtown Disney, head right and you'll reach the main gates.

As for the shuttle, I've never taken it from the Anabella so I'm not sure if it stops at other hotels or not. It is $3 per day per person and will drop you off at the pedestrian entrance just off Harbor Blvd. This is the opposite side of the parks than Downtown Disney.