Better to go in main entrance or Grand Californian?

Alixandria

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jun 18, 2015
Messages
12
We'll be in Disneyland September 2-4 and trying to figure out if it's best to enter DCA through the Grand Californian or the main entrance. We'll be going in for the Magic Morning, right now predicted to be 9 am (park is supposed to open at 10 am that day).

We plan to head straight to the Radiator Springs racers park. We'll be a group of 7-8 with kids but we can walk fast!

What's the better way to go?
 
If your staying at any Disney hotel (PP, GCH or DLH), I would say teh Grand Californian entrance. If you are staying offsite, then the regular entrance.
 
Yes, I am staying at the Disneyland Hotel. I've just heard conflicting things about which entrance gets more crowded. I thought maybe since all the hotel guests would have access to early entrance, the hotel entrance might be crazy.
 

I've generally read that the main entrance is the better option because there are more turnstiles so it goes more quickly. In terms of distances, I think it's pretty similar (500 yards from the Main Entrance or 600 yards from the GCH entrance).
 
The main entrance is faster at park opening. The GCH entrance is slow, primarily due to limited space for the bag check. The line often extends around the side of Whitewater Snacks, and sometimes doubles back (even extending beyond Storytellers toward the lobby).
 
If your staying at any Disney hotel (PP, GCH or DLH), I would say teh Grand Californian entrance. If you are staying offsite, then the regular entrance.

Only for a casual entrance, when you're going back further into the park. Or you are willing to be in line at least an HOUR before opening.

If you're going for EMH and heading to RSR, absolutely avoid the GC entrance.

Absolutely.
 
Ditto the others, the GCH entrance line was very long for the EMH (we made the mistake of going to it our first morning!) but all of the other times of day, esp. afternoon and evenings, there was little to absolutely no wait at all.
 
If you're going for EMH and heading to RSR, absolutely avoid the GC entrance. They only have one turnstile, and the line gets very, very long. You'll get through the main gate much more quickly and have a better chance to be in a good position to get on RSR quickly.
This is exactly what the CM manning the GC entrance told us. And we were first in line that particular morning.
 
I agree with PPs the entrance is great during the day but to enter first thing in the morning you have to be one of the first in line or it takes a long time to get in and then your further from the ropes if you want to ride RSR first thing so the guests coming in at the front gate get to the ropes before you and crowd up.
 
We entered the main entrance at rope drop. The RSR line was already clearly established by the time people using the GC entrance made it to our location.
 
The main entrance is faster at park opening. The GCH entrance is slow, primarily due to limited space for the bag check. The line often extends around the side of Whitewater Snacks, and sometimes doubles back (even extending beyond Storytellers toward the lobby).

This was our experience last year at the GCH entrance. We lost three-quarters of our EMH because of the slow lines. From now on, first thing in the morning I will be at the front gate.
 
Good to know! We will be staying at the GCH in Sept too (13-19). We now plan to use the front gate for EMH entry. Just for planning purposes, how early should be arrive at the front gate? For a 9 am EMH? How long is the walk from GCH to the front gate? I'm assuming we will have to go through bag check first. I just want to give ourselves plenty of time. Still debating if we'll do RSR or TSMM first...
 
Just an FYI, they were checking for room keys at the GC when we stayed there last month. We were told they were only letting GC guests through the entrance until 11am. We used the main entrance during emh hour, but came back to the room and re-entered the park around 10am and they needed to see our room key.
 
Hi,

When I was there in the week before the half marathon , the sign said only guests of the disneyland resort hotels were allowed ( and you had to show your room key) not sure about Labor day as I was then at the marriott and used the main entrance
 


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