This comes down to 2 things: The less access points to the secure area make it both easier, safer, and less expensive to patrol. Disney is definitely concerned about the cost. Each entry point has to have someone to check bags, someone to run the x-ray machine, at least 1 x-ray machine not to mention the additional cost of building the facilities. This is not a one time cost. It will become a point of contention for area hotels and guests. I am sure that if the organization wants to foot the bill for the additional facilities and staffing it then Disney would be more likely and inclined to do it. Disney has indirectly found away to make the distance the Harbor Blvd hotels and restaurants are from the resort entrance further then they where before. This adds value to Disney's own hotels. As a walk from the Disney properties will not seem like such a big deal. The Harbor Hotels and restaurants have long enjoyed the fact that they can leach off of Disney park guests. In the press release there is no mention of the fact that all the resort area restaurants have the option of having a ART stop at their location, most Harbor establishments do not offer a stop. I am sure the money has nothing to do with it. As the new security area will have a drop off for the Art. This is Disney keeping its captive audience. Frankly the majority of the people on this board would benefit if Disney was able to purchase the properties along Harbor. It has always been an understood goal that Disney would love to purchase the land surrounding Disneyland Resort. If they could, Disney would likely add new facilities to the resort. We could see new hotels and possibly park expansion (I.E. a new park, maybe even an expansion of the present park boundaries. Harbor Blvd could be redirected closer to the 5 fwy, honestly the opportunities are countless.
Until and unless Disney does buy that land, they want to retain a good relationship with their "Good Neighbor" hotels. It's a symbiotic relationship more than a "leach" one. Unless Disney really wants to build many hotels along Harbor, they benefit from having the current ones there with all those rooms that park-goers can use. And remember that Disney passed on the opportunity to buy GardenWalk when it was available for a bargain basement price (as far as urban land goes). Many people (including me) thought they should have jumped at the opportunity, built one or two "boutique" (smaller but expensive) properties there, and had them pre-positioned for a third park on the strawberry field. They didn't, which tells you something.
I agree that it would behoove Disney to stay on the good side of the Harbor hotel operators. Unlike WDW, DLR just isn't in the hotel business; sure they're adding a 4th hotel soon, but even with that they'll have fewer rooms than the Port Orleans complex in WDW. I'm also surprised for a variety of reasons that Disney didn't buy GardenWalk when they had the chance DLR is sitting pretty with ultra-high occupancy at 3-star hotels charging 5-star prices. They know that they can't compete on the same pricepoint as the Harbor hotels, and if those become too expensive and/or unwieldy they'll just lose their customers. And contrary to what some people might think, DLR still makes far more money on out-of-town visitors than on local APs. No, they don't want to make the alternatives too attractive (especially with the coming high-end hotels that will compete with Disney on price but outshine their service), but they also can't afford to shut them out entirely