Walking From Ball Rd Hotel

[KLEllis]

If you are staying at a hotel near Ball Rd and Disneyland Dr, what's the easiest route to walk to the main entrance of Disneyland?

Thanks!

 

[Darkbeer1]

Just did it today, basically use the sidewalk at the south east corner of Ball and Disneyland Drive and head south to Magic Way, cross at the sidewalk to Magic Way to the next traffic light, head south next to the Downtown Disney parking Toll booths and the ESPN Zone. Go through the security check, and then head east through Downtown Disney to the Main Entrance Plaza. Once you get to Magic Way, lots of signage to help you out, including an option to use the Parking Lot Tram,though it doesn't save much in walking, and could take longer due to waiting for a tram (sometimes long lines in the morning)

Here is a marked map.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=7016464


There is an unofficial shortcut that some use, and that is one traffic light west of Disneyland on Ball, and the entrance to the Ball Road Cast Member Parking area. You walk to the Parking Structure and have to find the stairs that will take you to the second level,and then walk to the other side of the structure, go down the escalator, and then opt to take the tram, or follow the pathway to the ESPN Zone (follow the signs).

 

[KLEllis]

Thank you very much!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Great map.

We will be staying at the Springhill Suites on Ball Rd next month. We are planning to use the "shortcut" and will probably walk it the entire way as well.

 

[MIChessGuy]

I have a question about the West Place shortcut through the cast member lot. According to Google Maps street view, this does appear to be open to pedestrians. However, it is hard for me to judge how much of a walk this is. A person walks onto West Place from Ball Road, enters the cast member lot and proceeds to the parking structure. Is the advice about going to the 2nd floor still correct? I've heard that the tram route was changed recently. Last year I was at the then-Super 8 on Katella and I only know the Katella-Harbor walking route. This year I may end up somewhere on Ball Rd. and am interested to know whether all the effort to avoid parking fees is worth it.

 

[goooof1]

I would not stay on Ball Rd. Did it once and never again.....very isolated, not much around there. And since security was moved back, lots of paths have changed. I don't know how to get through there now. Star Wars construction has changed that area and the planned new hotel construction will probably change things even more. Stick with Harbor Blvd (walking distance).

 

[dina444444]

I have a question about the West Place shortcut through the cast member lot. According to Google Maps street view, this does appear to be open to pedestrians. However, it is hard for me to judge how much of a walk this is. A person walks onto West Place from Ball Road, enters the cast member lot and proceeds to the parking structure. Is the advice about going to the 2nd floor still correct? I've heard that the tram route was changed recently. Last year I was at the then-Super 8 on Katella and I only know the Katella-Harbor walking route. This year I may end up somewhere on Ball Rd. and am interested to know whether all the effort to avoid parking fees is worth it.

The cast member parking lot cut through is not doable anymore. They put a gate on the bottom of that stairwell that requires a CM ID swipe to open.

 

[MIChessGuy]

The cast member parking lot cut through is not doable anymore. They put a gate on the bottom of that stairwell that requires a CM ID swipe to open.

Ah, thanks for that update, evidently I was viewing an older photo of the area. I think I will re-focus my hotel search on the Katella area.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

It is still possible to walk to M&F from the Ball Rd. & Disneyland Dr. hotels, but not by cutting through the CM lot.
How to walk to Disneyland from Motels north of Mickey and Friends?
Note that there have been some very recent changes to the M&F area around what used to be the Pinocchio lot. Currently, I don't know if it is possible to walk from Magic Way to the M&F structure. This could change as CMs said last week that they are planning on creating a way to walk from the structure to DTD again. So keep checking for updates on this.

 

[dina444444]

It is still possible to walk to M&F from the Ball Rd. & Disneyland Dr. hotels, but not by cutting through the CM lot.
How to walk to Disneyland from Motels north of Mickey and Friends?
Note that there have been some very recent changes to the M&F area around what used to be the Pinocchio lot. Currently, I don't know if it is possible to walk from Magic Way to the M&F structure. This could change as CMs said last week that they are planning on creating a way to walk from the structure to DTD again. So keep checking for updates on this.

At that point I would just walk in through Downtown Disney. You can walk into the structure still but with the construction it's an out of the way maze that will take longer than walking in through Downtown Disney.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thanks for the update!

ETA: another board reports that it's now possible to walk from M&F to DTD, but the path is a little convoluted because of construction.

ETA2: As of 3/24/18, the walk from M&F to DTD takes you along a clearly marked path on the Disneyland Dr. side of the parking/tram lot (still within the fence and hedge). You then exit the fence and walk west on Magic Way until you get to the DTD intersection. You continue south toward DTD as usual toward bag check by ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe. All the changes are clearly marked with signs, and it is easy to follow the crowds.