Originally Posted By susanmckay20 We have stayed at DL, PP, GCH and hotels on South Harbor. My kids spend a lot of time in DCA. I wanted to know if any of the hotels on Katella are a close walk to the entrance to DCA (through the Grand or any other alleyway, parking lots, etc). Looking for the week of spring break and can't afford the Disneyland resort hotels! We usally stay at BWPPI or Carousel on South Harbor, but would like a change if the walking distance is about the same to the other entrance.
Originally Posted By momofbuzzfan Looking at an aerial photograph of the main entrance turnstyles of DCA, they appear closest to Harbor. Therefore, the BWPPI, where you have stayed before, would be closest. I don't know about the walk from the West, but my sister stayed at The Anabella on Katella, and it was a MUCH longer walk for her than from the BWPPI. She had an infant at the time....and as much as she liked the hotel, she would never stay that far again because of the walk. But if your kids are older, they might not mind it and enjoy a change of scenery.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ If they are running the tram, you can enter the parking lot through the pedestrian gate across from the convention center (on Katella). The tram picks up there, but also makes a couple of stops in the parking lot.
Originally Posted By susanmckay20 SusieQ - do you know how often the tram goes by? I thought the tram ran all year long. I assume since it would be a busy hiliday the tram would be running, correct?
Originally Posted By Darkbeer If you are talking about the Timon Parking Lot and the Lion King Tram service. The tram only runs when the lot is open to the public. And most slow weekdays, the Timon Lot is not used. If you enter thru the Harbor Blvd entrance at Disney Way, they will collect your money, and then hand you directions to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure. Also, certain special events have the Timon Lot held in reserve for guests and/or Media only. And if they are entering thru the back gate into DCA, then also no tram service. But on most weekends and busy days, the Lion King Tram is running. But depending on how they are parking (they might send folks to Simba first), then the Tram does not stop operating until Timon officially opens, so if you are planning to use it to get to the park in the morning, there is a good chance you won't find the tram running, and you would have to walk. But really, there isn't too many hotels that can take advantage of the Lion King Tram, maybe Desert Palms, Alpine, Anabella, the Hilton and the Marriott. The rest really take you out of the way to access the Timon Lot Pedestrian entrance on Katella, basically across the street from the Convention Center. But don't forget, most every non-Disney hotel in the Anaheim Resort area is serviced by the ART, including the Anabella. <a href="http://www.rideart.org" target="_blank">http://www.rideart.org</a> These shuttles drop you off at the same area as the Lion King Tram.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Yep, that's the tram I was thinking of. I couldn't remember which name went with which lot/tram and didn't want to give the wrong names.
Originally Posted By susanmckay20 Thanks for the info everyone!Sounds like it is best to stay on South Harbor.
Originally Posted By MickeyMommy I didn't find the walk from the Anabella too bad at all. It is about a 10 minute walk from the entrance to the GCH. 15 minutes at the very most. But my kids were older when we stayed there - I think 8 and 5 at the time.
