walk or drive

[marymary1]

I have a chance to get Townplace Inn at a very reasonable price but would need to drive (about 1.4 miles from DL). We will have a car and breakfast and even some dinners are included. We would be able to stay there for our entire trip for 6 days without changing hotels.
However I thought walking to the park would be much nicer, we have reservation at Hoho for 3 nights but can't afford other nights due to no ET rate availability and would have to change hotels.
How much is parking at DL? Will the drive be a pain? We have two kids ages 6,8. It sure would be nice to not have to switch hotels in the middle of our vacation. We were going to do Disney for 3 days and Universal for 2 days. TIA.

 

[specialks]

Last year we stayed off site and drove to DLR each day. The drive was not bad and there are clear markings where to go. You pull in a pay to park ($12 this year) and then follow the road around into the M&F parking garage. There are people there directing you and other cars so you kind of just go with the flow. Then you get your spot (remember your floor (disney character) & spot #) and take the escalator (elevator for those of us unlucky stroller bearers) down to a central area to get on a tram. The tram drops you right by DTD and the DLR security tables. You go through security and on to the park of your choice. There is sometimes a wait to get on a tram but they move quickly and there is always a new tram waiting to pull up after the other departs. It is a well organized system and we prefer having a free hot deluxe breakfast and full bellies before we get to the park. We booked thru AAA and received free parking this year. I have seen the AAA parking passes on ebay occasionally. I prefer to save the money on food and hotel. Also, you can walk from the parking garage to the park if you don't want to use the trams but without strollers, the trams would be the way to go.

Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We have always driven. I'd love to try walking sometime but so far we've always stayed too far away. We have also used the AAA park hoppers to get free parking and that was great. This past trip we added parking to our APs.

We stayed at Embassy Suites South on Harbor so we drove up Disneyland Drive and turned left onto Magic Way to get into Pinocchio lot outside the M&F parking garage first thing in the morning. It was a very easy lot to get in and out of. They fill up that lot first before they have you park in the garage.

 

[marymary1]

Thanks for all the info. I think we will drive too. Another question, if we go back to our hotel and come back later do we have to pay for parking again or do they give you a reusable pass? Do you have to book hotel and park tickets thru AAA to get free parking? I went to our local AAA in Pennsylvania and they don't sell Disneyland tickets. They sell Disney world tickets though.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Once you pay to park at DL you can come and go. Just save your parking ticket.

Since we are in CA we can buy DL tickets at our AAA and get free parking without going through them to book a hotel. I guess yours wouldn't get much demand for them out there. You could ask them about that. Can they order them for you and still get free parking? That would be crummy not to get the free parking just because you are in the east. I would ask.

 

[Gisele]

You may wish to consider ART, it stands for Anaheim Resort Transit.
Route 15 stops at Townplace Suites and discounted passes are available too.

Here is more information:

ART
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[pixiewings71]

I would drive over ART any day personally. ART shuttles get very crowded, they take a 2 hr lunch break and that's not fun. lol We drive when we stay too far away and it's very easy. Just follow the signs and you'll be fine.