WDW vs DL - Transportation

[betterlatethannever]

If I have ever complained about transportation between the resorts and the parks at WDW, I will never again.

We went to DL last week and the DLR resorts have NO TRANSPORTATION SERVICE AT ALL.

In 1997, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. It had monorail and tram service taking you to DL. Very nice and convenient.

Since the building of DCA and DTD, the resorts are “Pedestrian” ( words in the response from DL to my e mail).

The monorail stops in DTD and Tomorrowland only. And there is no tram service.

So, if you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel and want to go to DCA, you would walk almost a mile (more than the distance between BWI and MGM). There is no choice - you have to walk. Paridise Pier Hotel has to be more than a mile from the DL front gate.

The offsite hotel guests get better service. The shuttles drop you off less than 100 yards from either entrance (DL or DCA). Even day guests that drive and park in the parking lots/decks get tram service to the parks. That is absurd. At WDW, this would be equivelent to the offsite shuttles being able to drop off right at MK and the Disney busses droppping off at the TTC.

Anyway, just wanted to include this transportation fact (that I was never aware of) into the DL vs. WDW debate.

Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

You know, it's funny... those used to DLR, who then come to WDW for the first time react the exact opposite way.

"What?? You mean I can't WALK there???"


I agree, though... the walk does get annoying. I stayed at Paradise Pier, and I had to use the main turnstiles to get in, due to my cast ID. I think what annoyed me more than the walk was the lack of a no bag line. Oh well.

 

[momsgoofy]

Well, I'm heading to DL for the first time on Saturday and hoping that it really isn't an issue. We're staying at the GC, so we'll be closer and I don't think it will be. I did think it was strange though that the resort hotels didn't offer something for their guests. Heck, they don't even offer anything comparable to ME at DL and what other services are available aren't cheap by WDW standards...towncars and busses are much higher. I just hope all goes well at the airport...managed to get decent price on flights into SNA...we opted to just grab a taxi after reading info here at the DL forum. I'm hoping it goes well...lol...I am almost 40 and didn't ride in a taxi till this past Christmas at WDW.

 

[mikey13v]

The walk from DL hotel lobby to DL or DCA front gate: .50 miles = 10 min
The walk from Paradise Pier lobby to DL or DCA gate: .60 miles = 12min

Walk from WDW hotel lobby to bus stop: .05 to .10 miles = 1 to 2min
Don't forget that most WDW resorts have much more walking from your room to the lobby.
Walk from bus stop to entrance of Epcot or MK: .25 miles = 5 min
Time spent waiting for bus, and riding on bus: minimum of 30 min

One could walk from the DL hotel for a few minutes, stop in DTD and stand for 10 minutes, sit down on a bench for another 15 to 20 minutes, then get up and walk toward the theme parks, and only have about 350 yards of walking left to mimic what you would have at WDW.

By the way, the only thing that has changed about the monorail is that the stop has moved from the DL hotel to the hotel side of DTD, about 200 yards.

This is all coming from someone who really dislikes using th WDW transportation buses. A little tounge and cheek, with a grain of salt.

 

[betterlatethannever]

The DLH USED to have tram service. It just seems unusual now that there is no other option but to walk.

The Candy Cane Inn is closer to the front gate of DL than Paradise Pier Hotel and it has its own shuttle.

It just seems that one of the advantages of staying "on site" is the convenience. And it just isn't there.

BTW, I am not sure I believe those distances. If we go out there next year for the F&W festival, I will bring a meter. It may be 0.6 miles from PP walking in a straight L shaped route, but in reality I have to believe it is farther (you can't walk a straight line through DTD).

Ed

 

[betterlatethannever]

...towncars and busses are much higher. I just hope all goes well at the airport...managed to get decent price on flights into SNA...we opted to just grab a taxi after reading info here at the DL forum. ...

You many want to checkcar rentals. We flew into LAX and rented from National. Thursday to Monday, free day Entertainment coupon (EC member), total out the door cost $46.

Ed

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

I didn't think that there were enough advantages to a Disney resort out there. The resort charging was spotty at best, and mostly inconvenient. No extra magic hours. The only benefit I saw was package delivery. That was it

 

[Hedy]

We walked to the parks when we were at DLR (we stayed at Royal Stovall's, we could see Paradise Pier from our room). I said to my mom that you can really tell why Walt wanted WDW to be so big. (I kind of liked being able to park-hop within 20 minutes, though).

 

[momsgoofy]

You many want to checkcar rentals. We flew into LAX and rented from National. Thursday to Monday, free day Entertainment coupon (EC member), total out the door cost $46.

Ed

Ed...thanks for the info! I had considered a rental, but it means I would do the driving because DH just does not like to drive on vacation and really doesn't want to drive in So. Cal. He's not much of a city driver at all since he's lived in southern Illinois his whole life...the biggest "city" we have only gets really bad traffic when the university's semester begins and all the parents of incoming freshmen can't read "one way only" signs and drive down them anyway.

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[jimmiej]

So, if you are staying at the Disneyland Hotel and want to go to DCA, you would walk almost a mile (more than the distance between BWI and MGM). There is no choice - you have to walk. Paridise Pier Hotel has to be more than a mile from the DL front gate.

Not true. We stayed at PP & the walk through DD was very pleasant. Not near as far as you say. We actually enjoyed being able to walk everywhere. If you stay at any of the DL hotels, everything is very close.