Early magic hour - Grand Californian

[AndreAggie]

If we’re staying on property for 5 nights, do we get 5 days of early magic hour? I feel like the answer is yes and I wondered if I should even ask, but now I’m second guessing!

 

[DizneyMommy]

Yup! Here is the schedule

• Disneyland Park: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, one hour prior to park open
• Disney California Adventure Park: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, one hour prior to park open

 

[Disney_Alli]

If we’re staying on property for 5 nights, do we get 5 days of early magic hour? I feel like the answer is yes and I wondered if I should even ask, but now I’m second guessing!

Actually you could have 6 by checking in before EMH on the first day but yes you can have at least 5

 

[goooof1]

Yes, including check-in day and check-out day!!

 

[azdisneylover]

These early morning entries really do make a difference when the early morning is at 7am. You can do a lot ! Have lots of fun.

 

[Sith]

Magic Morning/ Extra Magic Hour really do make a huge difference, so definitely take advantage. But...

Do not use the Grand Californian entrance to DCA for Extra Magic Hour or even rope drop. Guests assume the line will be shorter, so they all go there. The security line can be huge. Just go through the much shorter security line into Downtown Disney, and enter DCA through the main entrance. You will most likely get in much quicker.

 

[AndreAggie]

Magic Morning/ Extra Magic Hour really do make a huge difference, so definitely take advantage. But...

Do not use the Grand Californian entrance to DCA for Extra Magic Hour or even rope drop. Guests assume the line will be shorter, so they all go there. The security line can be huge. Just go through the much shorter security line into Downtown Disney, and enter DCA through the main entrance. You will most likely get in much quicker.

Yes! I've heard about this. We'll go around to the main entrance where there are many more gates. We will utilize this entrance if we go back to the room mid-day.

 

[AndreAggie]

Actually you could have 6 by checking in before EMH on the first day but yes you can have at least 5

That would be lovely, but we're checking in Monday evening and will start in the parks on Tuesday morning. But....we don't check out until Saturday morning.

 

[sweethannah]

YMMV but we never had a big problem with long lines for EMH at DCA. Depending on your location in the hotel it might be faster to use the main gates but when we stay we used the DCA entrance most mornings. We did stay very close to the Napa Rose elevators mind you so we'd zip down and basically be at bag check.

 

[AndreAggie]

We'll be over in the DVC area, so from what I can gather, it's a hike either way.

 

[Sith]

YMMV but we never had a big problem with long lines for EMH at DCA. Depending on your location in the hotel it might be faster to use the main gates but when we stay we used the DCA entrance most mornings. We did stay very close to the Napa Rose elevators mind you so we'd zip down and basically be at bag check.

The GC entrance is great throughout the rest of the day. But, my experience has always been that it is a bad idea at EMH/ rope drop. I've seen that line stretch all the way to White Water Snacks before opening.

 

[funatdisney]

We'll be over in the DVC area, so from what I can gather, it's a hike either way.

Yes a is a bit of a hike since you have to go through the lobby, past Storytellers and Napa Rose to get to the GCH gate. I agree, if you are going to take advange of the Magic Morning/Extra Magic Hour, go to the main gate entrance.

After the first hour of opening, the GCH gate is a short line and a good choice.

 

[MonocularVision]

Is the GCH entrance only for people staying there? I have wondered if we were to go into Whitewater Snacks, would we be able to return through that entrance or would we have to go around to the main entrance? The only time we have ever used that entrance was when we stayed there.

 

[ashley0139]

Is the GCH entrance only for people staying there? I have wondered if we were to go into Whitewater Snacks, would we be able to return through that entrance or would we have to go around to the main entrance? The only time we have ever used that entrance was when we stayed there.

Usually in the morning they check room cards and then when it gets quieter anyone can use it. I'll often go to White Water Snacks for lunch and then use that entrance to go back in when I'm done, but you couldn't do that with breakfast.

 

[LilyJC]

As mentioned above YMMV, but we also had no issue using the hotel entrance to DCA. Sometimes the line looks intimidating but we found it to move quickly.

Is the GCH entrance only for people staying there?

They allow only hotel guests through until 11am each day. After that they stop checking keys and anyone can utilize the entrance. Just keep in mind that only GCH guests (or those with ADRs) can enter the actual GCH lobby/front of the property.