Thanks for clearing up the bag check thing HydroGuy - it was the only reason I actually would have thought it being in place. At theme parks over here (Australia, which have nothing on DL), checks are usually random and only if you have a large backpack and even then they don't search properly, just a pat around to makesure there isn't anthing that may be dangerous or illict being brought in.
We took the long way down Katella then up West/
Disneyland Drive one day (via Paradise Pier Hotel) when we were heading to DTD for a look around and it was quicker than walking through DTD from the main park entry but then again we were staying closer to the Katella end of Harbor. We didn't even go through check to get to DTD because along the way a CM let us through a side gate along one of the paths...