Ballast Point *****

[smartlabelprint]

Ballast point has great food. I highly recommend this DTD location. I had to make the reservation on open table. When I reserved they had brunch menu online and on Disneyland. They didn’t have brunch when we got there. Food was still great. Love their checkout process. Servers didn’t check in often enough and we had to ask for drink refills, but all of their staff was friendly. There was a snafu with our meal too. One of our tables got 2 burgers and sent one back. That was supposed to go to the other table.

It’s asinine you can’t cut through grand cal to get into DTD. I understand not going through the DCA gate, that seems like a hotel perk. The security guard was a total butt about it too, that’s what peeved me.

 

[DizMe]

Ballast point has great food. I highly recommend this DTD location. I had to make the reservation on open table. When I reserved they had brunch menu online and on Disneyland. They didn’t have brunch when we got there. Food was still great. Love their checkout process. Servers didn’t check in often enough and we had to ask for drink refills, but all of their staff was friendly. There was a snafu with our meal too. One of our tables got 2 burgers and sent one back. That was supposed to go to the other table.

It’s asinine you can’t cut through grand cal to get into DTD. I understand not going through the DCA gate, that seems like a hotel perk. The security guard was a total butt about it too, that’s what peeved me.

I love Ballast Point. It's one of my favorites--very easy process, but I agree with you about the servers not coming around often enough. I was there in November and Dec and thought it was due to labor shortages but apparently it's still happening. I like that I can easily order what I want from my phone (I generally use the kid's menu and also get a beer ).

I will give you my opinion on people cutting through GCH to get to DTD. I usually stay at GCH and am so glad they implemented that policy. There were streams of people creating long lines and taking away one of the main advantages of staying there. When you're paying that much to be in an on site hotel, it's irksome to have non-guests take away the privileges you're paying for. I can see how much nicer it would be for those people, but then again, you're not paying for it.

 

[DharmaLou]

Their food and beer is all great. We always sit outside and enjoy it.

 

[Wesley815]

It’s asinine you can’t cut through grand cal to get into DTD. I understand not going through the DCA gate, that seems like a hotel perk. The security guard was a total butt about it too, that’s what peeved me.

Pay for a room at Grand and you can cut through all you want. Security is only doing their job and rightfully so for guests spending $700+ a night.

If you're talking about walking north up Disneyland Drive from Katella, it's really not that much further to walk through parking next to Paradise Pier into DtD. I know going through hotel is nice but I'm glad they started that policy as there used to be huge streams of guests cutting through from motels/hotels south of Katella (and this is coming from someone who used to cut through Grand!)

It also makes Grand a safer property to stay at as homeless and other random characters roaming streets around Disneyland especially after sunset.

 

[DLgal]

At what point were you not allowed to cut through GCH to get to DtD? The front door? Because we ALWAYS enter GCH from DCA and cut through to DtD on our way out of DCA. It's never been a problem. The entrance from DCA is not restricted, just the other way around in the mornings. And the GCH to DtD entrance is also open to anyone.

 

[Wesley815]

At what point were you not allowed to cut through GCH to get to DtD? The front door? Because we ALWAYS enter GCH from DCA and cut through to DtD on our way out of DCA. It's never been a problem. The entrance from DCA is not restricted, just the other way around in the mornings. And the GCH to DtD entrance is also open to anyone.

The front door- if you're crossing the street from Paradise Pier hotel area and trying to enter Grand, or coming up from Westin hotel area on Katella.

They put a "one way" gate on path, but not sure if security keeps eye on it (sounds like they do from original post) You can still exit GCH, just not supposed to enter unless GCH guest. However, now it's just a temp walkway since they're building/re-building the new Paradise Pier hotel entry way into DCA too.

 

[DLgal]

The front door- if you're crossing the street from Paradise Pier hotel area and trying to enter Grand, or coming up from Westin hotel area on Katella.

They put a "one way" gate on path, but not sure if security keeps eye on it (sounds like they do from original post) You can still exit GCH, just not supposed to enter unless GCH guest. However, now it's just a temp walkway since they're building/re-building the new Paradise Pier hotel entry way into DCA too.

Yeah, that's been the case for awhile. Sorry you weren't aware.

 

[Wesley815]

Yeah, that's been the case for awhile. Sorry you weren't aware.

I was aware doesn't sound like OP was though unless I totally misunderstood their issue with security.

 

[smartlabelprint]

At what point were you not allowed to cut through GCH to get to DtD? The front door? Because we ALWAYS enter GCH from DCA and cut through to DtD on our way out of DCA. It's never been a problem. The entrance from DCA is not restricted, just the other way around in the mornings. And the GCH to DtD entrance is also open to anyone.

It was on the street heading onto GCH property Saturday at 11 am. Across the street from paradise pier hotel. We entered that way at least twice this week without any guards stopping to ask if we had reservations. (We did those times).

It wasn’t so much that he wouldn’t let me go through. He was an *** about it.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

It was on the street heading onto GCH property Saturday at 11 am. Across the street from paradise pier hotel. We entered that way at least twice this week without any guards stopping to ask if we had reservations. (We did those times).

It wasn’t so much that he wouldn’t let me go through. He was an *** about it.

I think I get what you mean. There are polite ways of saying 'oh, you can't do this thing here, but try going this other place' versus 'get lost'... And honestly I think we all expect all the folks associated with Disney to be on the polite side, right? Hopefully it didn't put too much of a damper on your day

 

[SpringBreak]

Just to clarify. If I eat lunch at GCH, I can use the hotel's DCA entrance to re-enter the park after eating, right?

 

[DizMe]

Just to clarify. If I eat lunch at GCH, I can use the hotel's DCA entrance to re-enter the park after eating, right?

Yes. You can always enter or leave the hotel from DTD or DCA when those areas are open, with the exception of the first hour or so of entry into DCA if you're not a registered hotel guest (this isn't always enforced though). The only restriction for entering GCH is through the main arrivals doors. This is where cars can drive in to unload guests and luggage, where the taxis etc drop you off, and where people cross over from PPH. They are trying to discourage people who aren't staying there from using the GCH as a shortcut because it was getting too clogged with people because so many would simply cut through the hotel to get to DCA or use the hotel security checkpoint into DTD. Sometimes this restriction is enforced, sometimes not.

 

[Becca1007]

The front door- if you're crossing the street from Paradise Pier hotel area and trying to enter Grand, or coming up from Westin hotel area on Katella.

They put a "one way" gate on path, but not sure if security keeps eye on it (sounds like they do from original post) You can still exit GCH, just not supposed to enter unless GCH guest. However, now it's just a temp walkway since they're building/re-building the new Paradise Pier hotel entry way into DCA too.

I walked through that from that direction 5 times this weekend and no one EVER stopped me. So I get that inconsistency is annoying.
We were staying at DL Hotel and the security actually advised me to walk that way in the morning to pick up breakfast, since DTD security didn't open till 7am.

 

[DLgal]

I walked through that from that direction 5 times this weekend and no one EVER stopped me. So I get that inconsistency is annoying.
We were staying at DL Hotel and the security actually advised me to walk that way in the morning to pick up breakfast, since DTD security didn't open till 7am.

To clarify, it seems Disneys official position on this is ALL Disney resort hotel guests can enter GCH this way. It is simply not allowed for non hotel guests.

 

[Becca1007]

To clarify, it seems Disneys official position on this is ALL Disney resort hotel guests can enter GCH this way. It is simply not allowed for non hotel guests.

Fair point ... but the security at GC never once asked if I was a resort guest. So I think it probably just depends on who is working?