Cutting through GCH ?

[eeyoresmom]

Hi everyone. We are relatively first time visitors to DL and will be staying at Best Western Stovall's Inn next week. here is the advice I got for walking to the parks from here: "If you're unclear on the walk to and from the parks, from Stovall's you'll walk down Disneyland Dr, past the Paradise Pier hotel, then cut through a parking area to Downtown Disney. We liked walking through there because we would stop at Starbucks in DTD in the morning and it's on the way." I have been reading reviews of this hotel and some say to walk through the GCH to get into the parks?? Is this still an option? I don't want to do anything I'm not supposed to but I have read it several times. And thanks again to the poster who gave me the directions above, I really appreciate it

 

[mom2rtk]

No longer allowed. Only GCH guests with room keys and guests with confirmed ADRs can enter the front doors.

 

[whoever]

No longer allowed. Only GCH guests with room keys and guests with confirmed ADRs can enter the front doors.

Since when? Paradise Pier has their own cut through even over by the taxi queue

 

[mom2rtk]

Since when? Paradise Pier has their own cut through even over by the taxi queue

Not sure where the taxi queue is. But there's no special PP cut through. Those guests have to go over to the DTD security entrance by Earl of Sandwich to enter the parks now.

 

[Nonsuch]

No longer allowed. Only GCH guests with room keys and guests with confirmed ADRs can enter the front doors.

Since when? Paradise Pier has their own cut through even over by the taxi queue

The restrictions at the front entrance of GCH started late last year, when security checkpoints were moved to put DTD inside the security perimeter.

Security checks for GCH room keys (or ADR for Storytellers or Napa Rose) at the sidewalk entrance (next to Disneyland Drive).

 

[whoever]

Not sure where the taxi queue is. But there's no special PP cut through.

Over by the now defunct Pinocchio's workshop there was a cut through which was used by PP guests to cut through the Grand. Have they gated it now?

Those guests have to go over to the DTD security entrance by Earl of Sandwich to enter the parks now.

Have to, or are instructed to?

 

[mom2rtk]

Over by the now defunct Pinocchio's workshop there was a cut through which was used by PP guests to cut through the Grand. Have they gated it now?



Have to, or are instructed to?

PP guests cannot enter the front doors of the Grand without a confirmed ADR. No way around it.

CMs are out on the front sidewalk checking room keys and ADRs.

 

[whoever]

PP guests cannot enter the front doors of the Grand without a confirmed ADR. No way around it.

I've never been questioned (despite being a guest). Cannot is a strong stance.

 

[Shanti]

No longer allowed. Only GCH guests with room keys and guests with confirmed ADRs can enter the front doors.

We have a 7am Storyteller's ADR. Will we be allowed to stay at GCH & use its entrance to DCA for the Extra Magic Hour? We'll be staying at Disneyland Hotel, btw.

 

[Nonsuch]

Over by the now defunct Pinocchio's workshop there was a cut through which was used by PP guests to cut through the Grand. Have they gated it now?

That walkway is not gated (or changed). Security just checks on the sidewalk near the street, there are no new barriers. It's likely possible to sneak into the front of GCH (over by the convention center), but it would be faster to just enter near DLH.

...Have to, or are instructed to?

The security screening near DLH is the closest route to the parks.

 

[Geemo]

I've never been questioned (despite being a guest). Cannot is a strong stance.

When I went after the security change, NO ONE is allowed to enter the front entrance of the GCH....

Unless You had a valid GCH room key, arriving for check in at the GCH and your name was on a list or going to a dining reservation and your name was on the list.

While this is a Strong Stance, it's the way it is now.

 

[MacMama0930]

I've never been questioned (despite being a guest). Cannot is a strong stance.

I'm pretty sure it's been "cannot" since the security change. Have you been able to enter the GCH without being guest since then?

 

[Nonsuch]

We have a 7am Storyteller's ADR. Will we be allowed to stay at GCH & use its entrance to DCA for the Extra Magic Hour? We'll be staying at Disneyland Hotel, btw.

You should be fine. Any DLR room key will allow access to EMH from the GCH entrance to DCA, but it's generally better to use the main entrance during EMH.

 

[mom2rtk]

We have a 7am Storyteller's ADR. Will we be allowed to stay at GCH & use its entrance to DCA for the Extra Magic Hour? We'll be staying at Disneyland Hotel, btw.

I think you can. But I still wouldn't. I would use the exit into DTD near Sephora and enter through to the main gates. That GCH entrance is really slow.

 

[whoever]

I'm pretty sure it's been "cannot" since the security change. Have you been able to enter the GCH without being guest since then?

I haven't been a non-guest of the Grand since the change in security. I have however not ever been questioned on it even after the security change.

 

[mom2rtk]

I haven't been a non-guest of the Grand since the change in security. I have however not ever been questioned on it even after the security change.

Not sure how late in the day they consistently staff the checkpoint on the sidewalk, but am pretty sure they are quite firm about it early in the day. Maybe you've been through there later in the day and caught it without someone out there?

Or maybe it's like Cheers and everyone just knows who you are?

 

[whoever]

Or maybe it's like Cheers and everyone just knows who you are?

For how much I stay at the Grand, they should know me by now.

We are staying at the DLH this coming trip, and I will likely be heading over to the Grand at 0-dark-thirty to do some tripod work of the lobby, so hopefully I don't encounter any issues even if trying to go through DTD

 

[mom2rtk]

For how much I stay at the Grand, they should know me by now.

We are staying at the DLH this coming trip, and I will likely be heading over to the Grand at 0-dark-thirty to do some tripod work of the lobby, so hopefully I don't encounter any issues even if trying to go through DTD

You can go through DTD and enter the GCH from there with no problem. Just not the front door.

 

[Aladora]

For how much I stay at the Grand, they should know me by now.

We are staying at the DLH this coming trip, and I will likely be heading over to the Grand at 0-dark-thirty to do some tripod work of the lobby, so hopefully I don't encounter any issues even if trying to go through DTD

Going through DTD will not be a problem, that entrance is open to everyone. The only one that is restricted is the front entrance to GCH, that is limited to GCH guests and people with reservations for either Napa Rose or Storyteller's.

 

[PHXscuba]

Not sure how late in the day they consistently staff the checkpoint on the sidewalk, but am pretty sure they are quite firm about it early in the day. Maybe you've been through there later in the day and caught it without someone out there?

Or maybe it's like Cheers and everyone just knows who you are?

I know they were still stopping people after the crosswalk from PPH last month, even late in the day. We arrived for check-in about 5:00 p.m. and the CM directed DH to park in the self-parking lot. When we walked up (complete with luggage), they asked to see proof we were staying there. Obviously no room keys yet but I was able to pull up our reservation on my phone to avoid them having to call the front desk to see if we were really staying there.

So yes, the sidewalk from PPH or other southwest hotels is manned, even later in the day.

PHXscuba