Walking on Disneyland Drive?

[GrandBob]

In searching for a place to stay, I've noticed that there are several motels on Katella west of Disneyland Drive. They seem to be considered unwalkable, or at least, a long walk. It appears that the reason is that people are walking all the way to the Harbor pedestrian entrance.

Hence my question. Are there sidewalks along Disneyland Drive? Can you not just walk up Disneyland Drive to DTD, and into the parks from there? It's been many years since I've been to DLR, so I don't know the configuration. Thanks.

-Bob

 

[darph nader]

You might check the thread at the top of the page abt maps hotels FAQs and such.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Yes there are sidewalks. You have to cut through the Grand Californian Hotel and then out onto DTD (like actually cut through the lobby, but it is not a problem). You cannot use the California Adventure entrance that is in the hotel in the morning because that is reserved only for Disney "on property" guests. We have stayed at the Anabella multiple times and the walk was fine. It is farther than if you stayed somewhere like the Park Vue Inn, which is directly across the street on Harbor blvd., but it is not really much farther than walking from Paradise Pier or the Disneyland Hotel. For real little tykes I would have a stroller ready or stay really close on Harbor Blvd, for anyone else the walk is fine and they have ART stops on Katella too.

 

[daannzzz]

I stayed at the Travelodge over there once and walked over each day. It is a but of a walk but if you are in decent shape it isn't bad. Probably 15 minutes...10 if you walk fast and hit the stop light right. There are sidewalks on DL drive and if you notice at one spot it makes a hidden Mickey in combination with the sidewalk across the street.

 

[GrandBob]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Darph, there are about a zillion links with maps, FAQs, etc. In about 1/2 hour of trying, I didn't find one that answered my question. If you have one in mind, I'd really appreciate a link. Thanks.

-Bob

 

[bumbershoot]

http://www.geocities.com/ashpsyche/DisneylandLinkMap.html

It's an old one, not totally up to date with exact hotel names (some hotels have changed names), but it's not like Anaheim's changing streets on us...

And yep, you just walk up Disneyland Drive! The crossing of Katella is long and unpleasant if you're walking with littles who aren't in a stroller, but after that it's lovely as you approached PPH on one side and GCH on the other. In fact, if you googlemap it, and use the hybrid street and terrain/satellite view, you can see that it's a giant hidden Mickey pattern. When you're walking, though, it's all palms and birds of paradise.

It IS longer than, say, staying at the Tropicana, but it's not bad IMO. Just different.


Now...some people staying on Katella closer to Harbor than Disneyland Drive will take a chance and walk over to the Disney lot on the lower right corner of the big rectangle that is DLR on the map. Then they hop on a tram. But that lot isn't always open, so then they get to walk it.

 

[darph nader]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Darph, there are about a zillion links with maps, FAQs, etc. In about 1/2 hour of trying, I didn't find one that answered my question. If you have one in mind, I'd really appreciate a link. Thanks.

-Bob

Sorry about that. Try the 7th link down titled "Please read.DLR FAQs-INFO, MAPS,HOTELS'HYDROGUYS TIPS,DINING REVIEWS"
Go down to AERIAL SHOTS,click on shots of DTD.

(if you do this often enough,it becomes second nature)

 

[DangerMouse]

I like this map:

www.accommodationsneardisney.com

 

[bumbershoot]

That's a good map, but helps the myth of some of the hotels in question NOT being walking distance.

 

[iheartdisney]

That's a good map, but helps the myth of some of the hotels in question NOT being walking distance.

ITA...it depends on what your definition of walking distance is. We stayed at the La Quinta last time, and couldn't belive that all the online reviews considered it not within walking distance. With 3 kids, we walked it in about 10-15 minutes. It would have taken 3 times that long to get everyone loaded, drive, park, unload, catch a tram...
Of course, at the end of a long day, I'll walk back to Mickey & Friends rather than fight for a tram!

 

[GrandBob]

Thanks again for all the pointers. It's not that I hadn't found about a zillion maps of the area. It's that a number of reviews made it sound like you couldn't walk up Disney drive; and none of the maps answered that question. But you my fellow DISers answered it, and I thank you.

-Bob

 

[LuLusApple]

We are at DL currently staying at Best Western Stovall Inn. While I would stay at this property again. The walk is a little concerning to me. For two days we have walked the "back way" Disneyland Drive and thru the GCH lobby to DTD. While the walk itself isn't horrible, 15 minutes and scenic. There is no one else walking it. It's a little creepy. It's just me and DD12 this trip.

 

[byookert]

We are at DL currently staying at Best Western Stovall Inn. While I would stay at this property again. The walk is a little concerning to me. For two days we have walked the "back way" Disneyland Drive and thru the GCH lobby to DTD. While the walk itself isn't horrible, 15 minutes and scenic. There is no one else walking it. It's a little creepy. It's just me and DD12 this trip.

I was looking for this exact information for a few weeks as well. If you zoom in on the intersection of disneyland drive and dtd you will see disneyland drive is actually an underpass going under dtd and there is no way on except to climb the wall. My wife and I actually went around in front of disneyland hotel, and looking on google earth, this was a considerable extra distance. But now knowing we can cut through gch it should help. BTW, can you exit through gch?

 

[LuLusApple]

I was looking for this exact information for a few weeks as well. If you zoom in on the intersection of disneyland drive and dtd you will see disneyland drive is actually an underpass going under dtd and there is no way on except to climb the wall. My wife and I actually went around in front of disneyland hotel, and looking on google earth, this was a considerable extra distance. But now knowing we can cut through gch it should help. BTW, can you exit through gch?

Oh yes that's what we do come in thru GCH and DTD and out thru DTD and GCH. It's all good just the walk back at night is a little creepy. No one around till you get on Katella.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't think you guys are talking about the same Best Western.

LuLu, you're talking about the one on Katella, south of the parks. And I think byookert is talking about the one that DangerMouse's map called Courtesy Inn, up north of the parks?

byookert, for questions like you have, remember the "street view" aspect of googlemaps. I was trying to figure out of disneyland drive continued north, b/c I never look that way LOL, and saw the street view, and it was very helpful!

LuLu, there's no one walking that way? That seems so odd...when we stayed at Anabella there were always plenty of people from various hotels crossing Katella both ways. Stovalls is just a little bit down the Drive from Anabella/Tiffys/Cocos, yes?

 

[byookert]

I don't think you guys are talking about the same Best Western.

LuLu, you're talking about the one on Katella, south of the parks. And I think byookert is talking about the one that DangerMouse's map called Courtesy Inn, up north of the parks?

byookert, for questions like you have, remember the "street view" aspect of googlemaps. I was trying to figure out of disneyland drive continued north, b/c I never look that way LOL, and saw the street view, and it was very helpful!

LuLu, there's no one walking that way? That seems so odd...when we stayed at Anabella there were always plenty of people from various hotels crossing Katella both ways. Stovalls is just a little bit down the Drive from Anabella/Tiffys/Cocos, yes?

No I was talking about katella. We stayed at the Alamo. When we got back I looked at google maps and saw the way we took to the park and the only thing on google streetview i can see that stops you from going straight up disneyland dr is that it actually goes under dtd. just thought I would clear that up.

 

[LuLusApple]

I don't think you guys are talking about the same Best Western.

LuLu, you're talking about the one on Katella, south of the parks. And I think byookert is talking about the one that DangerMouse's map called Courtesy Inn, up north of the parks?

byookert, for questions like you have, remember the "street view" aspect of googlemaps. I was trying to figure out of disneyland drive continued north, b/c I never look that way LOL, and saw the street view, and it was very helpful!

LuLu, there's no one walking that way? That seems so odd...when we stayed at Anabella there were always plenty of people from various hotels crossing Katella both ways. Stovalls is just a little bit down the Drive from Anabella/Tiffys/Cocos, yes?

Maybe not the same hotel but we are talking about katella, cutting across and walking up Disneyland Drive North as opposed to walking up Katella and taking a left on Harbour to the main entrance.
While I was there last week yes people walk up and down Katella for sure and cross. But I was specifically saying the walk back at night along Disneyland
Drive is pretty much empty, 2 nights Thursday and Friday between 10 and 12pm it was Empty. Other families were commenting on "why" everyone was walking the long way( up Katella and left on Harbour) and the conclusion was at night Disneyland Drive is Empty, not well lit, quiet, and a ton of shrubbery that makes it look unsafe.
Anywho...... We walked in thru GCH and DTD each day and took ART back each night. Worked out great

 

[bumbershoot]

No I was talking about katella. We stayed at the Alamo. When we got back I looked at google maps and saw the way we took to the park and the only thing on google streetview i can see that stops you from going straight up disneyland dr is that it actually goes under dtd. just thought I would clear that up.

But it doesn't stop you from going up D Drive, the street just goes under DTD. But why were you looking at that? That's what got me thinking you were at the one north of the parks, b/c that wouldln't come into play in the walk from Katella (or to Katella) at all, if you use the GCH path.

Maybe not the same hotel but we are talking about katella, cutting across and walking up Disneyland Drive North as opposed to walking up Katella and taking a left on Harbour to the main entrance.
While I was there last week yes people walk up and down Katella for sure and cross. But I was specifically saying the walk back at night along Disneyland
Drive is pretty much empty, 2 nights Thursday and Friday between 10 and 12pm it was Empty. Other families were commenting on "why" everyone was walking the long way( up Katella and left on Harbour) and the conclusion was at night Disneyland Drive is Empty, not well lit, quiet, and a ton of shrubbery that makes it look unsafe.
Anywho...... We walked in thru GCH and DTD each day and took ART back each night. Worked out great

Oh yeah I knew you were on Katella and walking on the Drive. I've just had such a difference experience walking along there...stayed at PPH on the night of the 25th, and there were always scads of people walking along with me...Cast Members and construction workers, along with early rising tourists the mornign of the 26th, tourists whenever we came back...now we were just going to PPH, but when we stayed at Anabella early Dec '07 there were always joggers out in the early morning along with tourists, and tourists on the way home...and since I can't see in low light (stupid Lasik) I am extra sensitive to dark conditions, but I didn't have problems walking back in the night, so maybe some lights were out during your stay? Freaky, no matter what, to have a walkway so quiet. Just not my experience which is why I was confuzzled.