Disneyland Newbie, leaving Sunday with two questions

[skiptomypooh]

Hi All,

I've been lurking on this board for months now, planning my first trip to DL in 30 years. I'm bringing DH, DS, 6, DS, 3, Dfriend, and Dfriend's DS, 8. Thanks to all your great advice, I'm know we're going to have a great trip. I just have two more questions that I'm still not clear on:

We're staying at DLH. Can we go through GCH's entrance to DCA and get in a half hour early? Will any rides be open or can we just get in line for Monster's Inc. Just getting in line early will be great, plus we might have a few minutes to take pictures in the park when it's quiet.

We're planning to do a beach on Tuesday. We may just go when we get up (early, we're coming from Boston area and it's my DS's, 3, first time zone change) and stay until a little after lunch. Where would be the best place to just go hang out on the beach. Someplace with decent restrooms would be really nice, if available. I've got the thread marked with directions for most of the beaches, so I think we're pretty good there.

Thanks again for all the help!

Regards,
Skip

 

[CalGal]

I believe the the GCH-DCA entrance is supposed to be guests of GCH. The main time they check room keys is in the morning. There's a good chance that they'll also let in guests of DLH or PPH, but I don't really know for sure. Last I checked (Dec.), anyone could can get into DCA 1/2 hour early through the main entrance. Only Soaring is open at this time. The other portions of the park were roped off.

Personally, I rarely go to DCA in the morning. I spend this time in DL. I was there a week ago and Monsters was walk-on in the middle of the afternoon, and the FP waits weren't very long even for Soarin'.

 

[kc10family]

Hi All,

I've been lurking on this board for months now, planning my first trip to DL in 30 years. I'm bringing DH, DS, 6, DS, 3, Dfriend, and Dfriend's DS, 8. Thanks to all your great advice, I'm know we're going to have a great trip. I just have two more questions that I'm still not clear on:

We're staying at DLH. Can we go through GCH's entrance to DCA and get in a half hour early? Will any rides be open or can we just get in line for Monster's Inc. Just getting in line early will be great, plus we might have a few minutes to take pictures in the park when it's quiet.

We're planning to do a beach on Tuesday. We may just go when we get up (early, we're coming from Boston area and it's my DS's, 3, first time zone change) and stay until a little after lunch. Where would be the best place to just go hang out on the beach. Someplace with decent restrooms would be really nice, if available. I've got the thread marked with directions for most of the beaches, so I think we're pretty good there.

Thanks again for all the help!

Regards,
Skip

We stayed at the DLH in Jan and used the CGH entrance all the time, they just ask for a room key for your group. Things change all the time, but give it a try all they can say is no. The only open area will be the "center" waterfall area. They have everything else roped off. You should find charaters wondering around the "center" area.
Have a great trip.

 

[Judy from Boise]

It may be pretty chilly at the beach in the early am. No matter how hot it is during the day, the beach really cools down in the morning and evening.

 

[StrwLady]

We were there in March. There is a sign at the entrance saying that its for DGC hotel guest until 11am (I think that was the time). We stayed at DGC but never entered DCA before 11am so our room keys were never checked.

Take Care
Jamie

 

[SILLYANDI]

Hi All,

We're planning to do a beach on Tuesday. We may just go when we get up (early, we're coming from Boston area and it's my DS's, 3, first time zone change) and stay until a little after lunch. Where would be the best place to just go hang out on the beach. Someplace with decent restrooms would be really nice, if available. I've got the thread marked with directions for most of the beaches, so I think we're pretty good there.

Thanks again for all the help!

Regards,
Skip

You got lots of answers about the park-as far as the beach-I would recommend Bolsa Chica or Huntington. Good public facilities and it's pretty close to DL. Andrea

 

[undertheradar]

A warning about the beach: we are experiencing high tides and rip tides these days, so be very cautious! Beach patrols have been very busy as of late.