At park opening, short cut through Grand California?

[mjlum]

We have 2 young children & are considering staying at BW Plus Stovall's. We try to get there at park opening. Would we be able to cut through Grand California at park opening or do you have to be a hotel guest?

Hopping on the tram is not convenient with a double stroller packed for the day. Hence also the reason for trying to get there with the shortest walk - pushing a double stroller is some work!

We've cut through Grand California during the day without any problems, but not sure what it's like at park opening.

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

You have to show a room key (to one of the onsite locations) to use that entrance at park open.

 

[Indiana Scott]

You can cut through the GC no problem but you can't use the hotels special entrance into DCA. But they have no problem with people cutting through to get to DTD.

 

[bumbershoot]

You just mean to go through to the main entrance to the parks? That's absolutely fine. We just stayed at Anabella and did it each day.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Anyone can enter the GCH lobby and cut through to DTD then to the esplanade there are no restrictions going that route.

If you want to use the DCA entrance from GCH, that technically is reserved for resort guests and hotel restaurant patrons...but in reality it is only enforced until around 11am where they check for room keys. After 11am, anyone can typically use that entrance.

Exiting however you can exit direct from DCA to GCH any time...they do not check any time for resort guests when exiting.

 

[mjlum]

Ah, I didn't even think about cutting through to get through DTD... Trying to picture that. Anyone know how long it would take from BW Stovall's - or approximately?

 

[gottalovepluto]

You'll have to cut through DTD as stated above, every time we've used GCH entry over the last few years they've checked room keys in the morning but never after that. And FWIW it's not a "shortcut" in the mornings, the line gets really backed up right at opening time.

It takes us about 10-15mins from GCH DTD entrance to park gates, and we are slow walkers. You're wildcard time-wise is security but Disney seems to keep that running pretty efficiently.

 

[agamble]

Ah, I didn't even think about cutting through to get through DTD... Trying to picture that. Anyone know how long it would take from BW Stovall's - or approximately?

We've done this from a hotel in that area. It's not a long walk really. 10-15 minutes maybe? It's a nice walk too as Disney has landscaped the paths. I always feel like we're there once we hit the hotel. That area has a lot fewer guests/crowds than the sidewalks along Harbor. And there are signs in the hotel pointing towards the parks/DTD. Basically you walk in the hotel and take a left and then follow the signs to DTD. Once you're in DTD just turn right and head towards security.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The red arrows show exterior path, blue arrow interior path to get to either Disneyland or California Adventure from Stovalls.

 

[mjlum]

The red arrows show exterior path, blue arrow interior path to get to either Disneyland or California Adventure from Stovalls.


View attachment 147840

Wow! Thank you for the visual. That was very nice of you.

I appreciate all the posts. Thanks!