Would DLH Hold Our Bags When Not Staying There?

[Elias1901]

Hello all,

Just curious on something. It seems we may be in a bit of a predicament in terms of getting to/from our hotel on West Ball Road (behind Disneyland proper, extremely close to the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure. We're taking the Disneyland Resort Express bus service from LAX to DLR and have requested to be dropped off at the Disneyland Hotel (as that is pretty much the closest stop to the back road behind the park where our hotel resides).

Basically, I am wondering if the bell services booth at the front of the hotel will hold our bags when we arrive so that we can immediately jump into the fun at the parks... or do they require reservation details to take advantage of this? I'd prefer if we could cut down on time wasted once we arrive as it seems like a decent trek and trial and error to get back to the hotel on Ball Road... I'd like to cut out having to walk our luggage to the hotel on Ball first to check-in and drop our bags only to turn around and walk right back. Any advice on this?

The other (and probably most important part) of my questions is how to get to the parks each day. I remember staying at this same hotel back during Disneyland's 60th in 2015 and loved the fact that they allowed guests to utilize the crosswalk in the CM parking area behind the parking structure to gain access into the garage and walk to the the tram loading zone to hop aboard to be taken to the main entrance plaza. However, from feedback I've read online and from using Google Street View, it seems that Disney has elected to close up this (very handy) entrance to the public. I am a Disney CM here in Canada so I'm not sure if I could show my ID and talk nicely to the CM at the guard station and request if we could use the crosswalk... but I am not holding my breath... even though that is/was the most convenient point of entry.

So if we can't get in that way... how the heck do we get to the tram loading zone?? I've tried my darnedest to trace paths using Google Street View but half the roads I'm looking at (Disneyland Drive, primarily) don't have sidewalks or crosswalks that can be used to get into the garage, and more importantly, the lower area that is the tram loading zone. I'd hate to try jaywalking our way in but I really don't see an easy point of access there. Surely Disney doesn't expect people to walk all the way around the property to the point of entry on Harbor Blvd, do they?? I mean. I guess you could walk to the Disneyland Hotel first and then all the way through Downtown Disney... but that doesn't sound very quick or pleasant either.

Guys, I'm at a bit of a loss here... could anybody more familiar with the passageways back there and such try and shed some light on this part of my question? Thanks in advance!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I can’t imagine they’d be fine holding luggage of people who aren’t hotel guests so I would absolutely make other plans for that- ie change your drop off to your actual hotel. That morning has the potential to be a long journey for you as you opted to take the DLRE (if you miss the bus it’s like an hour before you get the next one I think, if speed was of importance to you taxi/ride share would have been the better option) so be ready for a laid back and slow journey into the parks that morning anyway.

I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about parking lot/tram wise but others here might be able to help if you tell us what your hotel is.

IMHO.... Security has been tightened with the incorporation of DtD into the Security bubble so attempting to sweet talk your way somewhere with a Canadian CM badge sounds like a great way to get yourself into trouble with Disney Security.

 

[Elias1901]

I can’t imagine they’d be fine holding luggage of people who aren’t hotel guests so I would absolutely make other plans for that- ie change your drop off to your actual hotel. That morning has the potential to be a long journey for you as you opted to take the DLRE (if you miss the bus it’s like an hour before you get the next one I think, if speed was of importance to you taxi/ride share would have been the better option) so be ready for a laid back and slow journey into the parks that morning anyway.

I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about parking lot/tram wise but others here might be able to help if you tell us what your hotel is.

IMHO.... Security has been tightened with the incorporation of DtD into the Security bubble so sweet talking your way somewhere with a Canadian CM badge sounds like a great way to get yourself into trouble with Disney Security.

The Disneyland Hotel was selected due to the fact that the DLRE does not service any of the hotels along West Ball Road. I could certainly ask our driver if he or she would be willing to drop us off directly at our hotel... but I wouldn't hold my breath for that happening either. If the Disneyland Hotel bell services says no to holding our bags... we're gonna have to hoof it with our cases either way. Or... Uber or something, I guess... even though I think I speak for everyone in my travel party in saying that not doling out tons of money on Uber rides each day would be preferred. But, that said, if there's no other choice, there's no other choice...

 

[Indiana Scott]

Not only would I suspect they wont want anything to do with them, I personally would not ask.
Why not have your own hotel hold them? Every hotel in the area is used to doing this and the minimal effort involved addresses your issue.

 

[Elias1901]

Not only would I suspect they wont want anything to do with them, I personally would not ask.
Why not have your own hotel hold them? Every hotel in the area is used to doing this.

We certainly would do that... but we aren't being dropped off at our hotel upon arrival in the Anaheim Resort Area, as mentioned above, DLRE does not service our hotel. Disneyland Hotel was the closest drop-off point to our hotel. So, if they do not hold our bags there, we will require walking to our hotel with the bags first to check-in and drop them off, before trekking back to where we came from to make our way through Downtown Disney and (eventually) into the parks...

 

[dieumeye]

What hotel are you staying at? There's probably someone here with experience at that property who could weigh in with some specifics on the best walking route.

In general, if you are not being dropped off at the hotel you are actually staying at, it seems like your only option is to walk or ride from the dropoff point to your actual hotel.

 

[Castillo Mom]

Bell services is an amenity for guests staying at that hotel. It’s one of the perks of staying on site.

As previously posted, security in the DLR area is very tight. The only entrances for off site guests on foot that I’m aware of is via Harbor Blvd. or Downtown Disney. Does your hotel not have a shuttle to DLR? If not, ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation system) may be an option if Uber or Lyft aren’t in the budget.

 

[Elias1901]

What hotel are you staying at? There's probably someone here with experience at that property who could weigh in with some specifics on the best walking route.

In general, if you are not being dropped off at the hotel you are actually staying at, it seems like your only option is to walk or ride from the dropoff point to your actual hotel.

Anaheim Maingate Inn, just behind the parking structure. Definitely not for a luxurious choice... simply for a place to sleep at the lowest price we could find to allow for more park spending, opposed to hotel spending.

Bell services is an amenity for guests staying at that hotel. It’s one of the perks of staying on site.

As previously posted, security in the DLR area is very tight. The only entrances for off site guests on foot that I’m aware of is via Harbor Blvd. or Downtown Disney. Does your hotel not have a shuttle to DLR? If not, ART (Anaheim Resort Transportation system) may be an option if Uber or Lyft aren’t in the budget.

I'd definitely consider the ART as I've done that before... however... does the ART even service West Ball Road either?

 

[BadPinkTink]

why are you taking Disneyland Resort Express? Have you pre paid?

www.supershuttle.com would be a far better option, as they will drop you at your hotel.

 

[Elias1901]

why are you taking Disneyland Resort Express? Have you pre paid?

www.supershuttle.com would be a far better option, as they will drop you at your hotel.

We have prepaid. Didn't think about SuperShuttle. I think it was because we initially planned to stay at the Disneyland Hotel at the time of booking but decided against going ahead with staying on property in order to save a fair bit and allocate some of the funds to the pricier experiences at Galaxy's Edge.

I just checked the DLRE website and it appears they don't allow for cancellations or refunds either... so we'll just have to deal with this... :/

 

[Elias1901]

Still curious about walking routes to and from the parks for West Ball Road, though... is the only likely route to walk Disneyland Drive to the Disneyland Hotel and enter Downtown Disney from that end and walk to the parks from there? Is there no way for guest to board the tram at the parking structure if they don't drive into the garage and park there?

If that's the case, that's really quite a bummer seeing how convenient it used to be to walk straight into the structure through the CM entrance that Disneyland used to allow guests staying behind the park to use...

 

[Castillo Mom]

Anaheim Maingate Inn, just behind the parking structure. Definitely not for a luxurious choice... simply for a place to sleep at the lowest price we could find to allow for more park spending, opposed to hotel spending.



I'd definitely consider the ART as I've done that before... however... does the ART even service West Ball Road either?

Google is you friend. Here’s a link to the ART Ball Rd. route. https://rideart.org/routes-and-schedules/ball-road-line/

Edited to add: The Disneyland parking structure is closed to pedestrians unless you actually parked in the structure.

 

[Elias1901]

Google is you friend. Here’s a link to the ART Ball Rd. route. https://rideart.org/routes-and-schedules/ball-road-line/

Edited to add: The Disneyland parking structure is closed to pedestrians unless you actually parked in the structure.

Thanks! This may be a decent solution for getting to and from the parks at least. Providing nobody is able to chime in with details on a walking path to get to the tram loading zone...

 

[Malcon10t]

Anaheim Maingate Inn, just behind the parking structure. Definitely not for a luxurious choice... simply for a place to sleep at the lowest price we could find to allow for more park spending, opposed to hotel spending.

Due to security, there is no more walking in to catch the tram. To get to your motel, you will need to walk out from the DLH to Magic Way, turn left, walk down to Walnut, turn right, go to Ball, turn right, and go to the hotel. It is just about .8 mile.

To get to the park, you can either use the same path, or take ART.

 

[interstate70s]

I had never heard of this motel so I looked it up...its ranked 116th out of 120 on TripAdvisor. There has got to be a cheap option that isn't that bad.

 

[Elias1901]

I had never heard of this motel so I looked it up...its ranked 116th out of 120 on TripAdvisor. There has got to be a cheap option that isn't that bad.

It's pretty crummy... but I stayed there during the 60th without any issues on my end... but then again, my expectations for that hotel were set WAY low. So. Only time will tell if it has gotten any better, worse or stagnated.

 

[interstate70s]

It's pretty crummy... but I stayed there during the 60th without any issues on my end... but then again, my expectations for that hotel were set WAY low. So. Only time will tell if it has gotten any better, worse or stagnated.

Sounds like you're well aware then.

 

[HenDuck]

If you have to, get Lyft/Uber to your hotel. Drop off bags at the hotel, and you're on your way to DL!

 

[jenbright]

On our last trip we stayed at the Holiday Inn on Walnut (around corner form Maingate). We (me with 8 and 10 y/old boys) walked Walnut to Magic Way then Downtown Drive. It's a bit of a hike, but my kids did fine. In fact they asked to stay there for our trip next month. Sometimes we take a break in Downtown Disney to eat or play at the Lego store. But we did 5 days on the last trip with no issue. Walking through DD on the way in is such a nice way to start the day. I order Starbucks via mobile order near security and it's ready for pick up when we walk by.

 

[mfleeting]

Honestly they’ve never asked us for anything more than our last name when asking DLH to hold our bags. Doesn’t mean they don’t check it out at some point though....

Also, I know some people mentioned using the ART. We were going to use the ART this last week and it was only $4 a person but a lyft/Uber was like $7 from our hotel; we have 4 people so it was much cheaper to just do a lyft each way. I would price both of them each day if you go that route and see which one is cheaper in the end if you can’t walk it.