Arrive in 3 days for stay at DL Hotel! ? About security and where we go

[4fordisneyworld]

I know it has all changed since we were there in August. I just want to plan ahead so I know where we are headed. Is the security set up right outside of hotel? From reading on here, already can see to allow some extra time. No worries there as I am all for security.
Thanks!

 

[lalasmama]

Can't help you with where it is at this point, as I haven't been since October. But, be sure you have your patience with you, and plan some extra time. When I was there in October, a 10-15 minute wait in security wasn't abnormal.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I do not know when that will open. It was still being set up on this past Monday. Security lines were still at the esplanade and at the monorail. Since you are staying at DLH, you can just take the monorail into DL. If you are headed for DCA, then you'll still have the regular security lines at the esplanade. On Monday, there were many people in line, making it look like all lines were very long, but there were some shorter lines. You have to go around people to get to the shorter lines, but they are there. The metal detectors were only on the lines on the sides. All the middle lines were going faster because they didn't have metal detectors. Just keep in mind that people gather and wait in long lines, even when there are shorter lines open. Don't follow the crowds.

Same goes for the women's restrooms. Every time I went to the restroom on Monday, there was a long going out the door, but there were several empty stalls inside each time. People follow crowds and lines and don't pay attention.

 

[4fordisneyworld]

I do not know when that will open. It was still being set up on this past Monday. Security lines were still at the esplanade and at the monorail. Since you are staying at DLH, you can just take the monorail into DL. If you are headed for DCA, then you'll still have the regular security lines at the esplanade. On Monday, there were many people in line, making it look like all lines were very long, but there were some shorter lines. You have to go around people to get to the shorter lines, but they are there. The metal detectors were only on the lines on the sides. All the middle lines were going faster because they didn't have metal detectors. Just keep in mind that people gather and wait in long lines, even when there are shorter lines open. Don't follow the crowds.

Same goes for the women's restrooms. Every time I went to the restroom on Monday, there was a long going out the door, but there were several empty stalls inside each time. People follow crowds and lines and don't pay attention.

Oh, we are so not crowd followers. We are WDW vets and have to laugh sometimes at the herd of sheep following each other aimlessly!I have had to get creative as my oldest deals with anxiety in crowds and my youngest has sensory and OCD issues. We have successfully stayed at WDW over Christmas and loved every minute of the trip. I think the big thing is expectations....we set ours low and just take it slow.
Thank you for the info! I was wondering if we would have to go through security twice when heading to DCA so that answered my question!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

When are your trip dates? The new security check points (one between EOS and ESPN Zone, one by ESPN Zone and Rainforest Cafe, and one at M&F) are scheduled to open by the end of next week. This will mean the usual growing pains and adjustment period, especially since many guests have no idea that this is happening. If you will be staying at the DLH or PPH, you will enter DtD through the check point by EOS. When the new check points open, the old ones at the monorail and by La Brea Bakery will disappear.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I'm securely not staying at the pph anymore if I have to enter through dtd. I really hope we can still enter through the gch and the sephora entrance.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I'm securely not staying at the pph anymore if I have to enter through dtd. I really hope we can still enter through the gch and the sephora entrance.

Alas, it looks like you might need to find a new place to stay.

Looks like the morning GCH entrance next to Sephora will be limited to GCH guests.

So you can always use that route to return to the PPH, and in the afternoon, after the morning rush, you also should be able to enter. But due to the size of the hall, which can't be changed. Disney has to come up with a way to limit the length of the line, so limiting access, and shifting folks to larger areas with lots more security stations will make the waits shorter for everyone.

 

[gottalovepluto]

...I have had to get creative as my oldest deals with anxiety in crowds and my youngest has sensory and OCD issues. We have successfully stayed at WDW over Christmas and loved every minute of the trip...

I don't want to go into details but I wanted to say this little bit about going to WDW at Christmas and still loving it while traveling with kids dealing with anxiety, sensory and OCD issues is very inspiring. It brought some hope to me, so thank you for mentioning it, even though I know it wasn't the point here

 

[Malcon10t]

Alas, it looks like you might need to find a new place to stay.

Looks like the morning GCH entrance next to Sephora will be limited to GCH guests.

Can you point me in the direction of that info? Thank you!