Trams return February 23rd!

[pblack]

I know a lot of people have been anxiously awaiting their return.

https://fb.watch/b4-uoyT-ty/

 

[Wedgeout]

About time. After the profit report. No more excuses.

 

[4GEM]

Can anyone advise how long of a walk it is to the Tram station from the Ball St. hotels? And what kind of lines can be expected upon arriving at the Station? Additionally if there's an estimate of how many minutes the tram trip takes, and where it drops off in DTD? Thanks!

 

[DLgal]

Can anyone advise how long of a walk it is to the Tram station from the Ball St. hotels? And what kind of lines can be expected upon arriving at the Station? Additionally if there's an estimate of how many minutes the tram trip takes, and where it drops off in DTD? Thanks!

Honestly, from the Ball Hotels, you're better off just walking all the way in. The tram area isn't easily accessible from Disneyland Drive or Walnut anymore like it used to be. You'd be backtracking to reach the trams, then you'd have to wait in lines to get through security and then another line for the tram. It is far more efficient to just walk through Downtown Disney. You'd reach the park much faster. They have closed off the entrance to the parking structure area that used to be at the corner of Magic Way and Disneyland drive, so your only way in is via the pedestrian bridge and by the time you get to that, you're practically at Downtown Disney anyway.

But to answer your question, the trams drop off right in front of World of Disney, pretty much where the esplanade begins. The tram ride itself is about 5 minutes from the time you board to the time you get off.

 

[4GEM]

Thanks for that, extremely helpful! And so would you happen to have a rough estimate of many minutes it takes for two adults (pushing a stroller), but usually walk at a good clip? Is the route: Walnut to Magic Way and then over to Disneyland Dr? Or Ball all the way over to Disneyland Dr. and south?

 

[DLgal]

Thanks for that, extremely helpful! And so would you happen to have a rough estimate of many minutes it takes for two adults (pushing a stroller), but usually walk at a good clip? Is the route: Walnut to Magic Way and then over to Disneyland Dr? Or Ball all the way over to Disneyland Dr. and south?

Which hotel are you coming from?

You can't walk all the way to the parks via Disneyland Drive. They have blocked off the sidewalk entry point to cast members only.

You have to get yourself to Magic Way, then to Downtown Drive (the entrance to the Stitch cast member parking lot). You can do that via Walnut or Ball. Follow the sidewalk at Downtown Drive up towards the Disneyland Hotel to the security checkpoint at Downtown Disney. The entrance is just beyond the Sorcerer Hat that marks the entrance to DLH.

There was a rumor that the main security checkpoint (outside the former ESPN zone) was going to reopen when the trams returned, but not sure that is happening. When that opens, it SLIGHTLY shortens the walk. By like 2 minutes.

I would say at a brisk pace, the walk will take 20 minutes. Its comparable to walking from the furthest reaches of the M&F parking structure, which I have done numerous times.

 

[hhisc16]

About time. After the profit report. No more excuses.

What was the original excuse as to why they were not running?
I cannot remember since it was so long ago!

 

[StormyCA]

Well, hallelujah and about time!!!

 

[StormyCA]

What was the original excuse as to why they were not running?
I cannot remember since it was so long ago!

Covid precautions. I assume to do with social distancing and germs being blown around.

 

[Steven G]

i Don’t know if there was an official reason ever given. But there was talk that the trams needed repair, needing to hire drivers, Covid, etc.

 

[4GEM]

Thanks again! We haven't quite figured out yet where we'll stay. We've done the nice, shorter walk from Hilton Garden Inn, on the Harbor side. And I was hoping that maybe Holiday Inn, Springhill or Staybridge on Ball will be as pleasantly close. But now I'm not so sure...

Thanks again,

Which hotel are you coming from?

You can't walk all the way to the parks via Disneyland Drive. They have blocked off the sidewalk entry point to cast members only.

You have to get yourself to Magic Way, then to Downtown Drive (the entrance to the Stitch cast member parking lot). You can do that via Walnut or Ball. Follow the sidewalk at Downtown Drive up towards the Disneyland Hotel to the security checkpoint at Downtown Disney. The entrance is just beyond the Sorcerer Hat that marks the entrance to DLH.

There was a rumor that the main security checkpoint (outside the former ESPN zone) was going to reopen when the trams returned, but not sure that is happening. When that opens, it SLIGHTLY shortens the walk. By like 2 minutes.

I would say at a brisk pace, the walk will take 20 minutes. Its comparable to walking from the furthest reaches of the M&F parking structure, which I have done numerous times.

 

[longboard55]

What I heard from a tram driver is they just let them sit for a year and they had maintenance issues from non use, and the original supplier was no longer in business to fix them

 

[StormyCA]

What I heard from a tram driver is they just let them sit for a year and they had maintenance issues from non use, and the original supplier was no longer in business to fix them

That makes sense. You can't let any type of vehicle just sit for a year and not expect to have a few maintenance issues.

 

[njchris]

What I heard from a tram driver is they just let them sit for a year and they had maintenance issues from non use, and the original supplier was no longer in business to fix them

I'd rather see an official word on that, rather than a driver saying it. I'd guess it was more of a money issue/hiring/staff & maintenance until they were open longer and had steady money coming in again.