FYI for people that use Grand Californian as a "cut through" into DCA

[GoinAgainSoon]

The entrance to DCA via the Grand Californian is now ALWAYS available only to those staying on site (including PPH or DL) or for people that have dined in the restaurants at those hotels (I know that GC qualifies for entrance if you dine there, but not positive about DL or PPH for the dining part).

They are enforcing their morning entry rules ALL DAY now due to WOC (and the FP machines being right there when you enter). We saw them turn many people away and made them walk around to the front gates to enter if they could not produce a room key or receipt to a restaurant. (this was about 1:30 in the afternoon).

Just wanted to let everyone who enjoys going into DTD to shop that you will no longer be able to use the "cut through" to get back into the parks; same with people that would use that entrance to get back after taking a break in the afternoons at off site hotels on that side of the parks.

You can exit that way at any time, but to reenter, you need a room key or a restaurant receipt throughout the day.

 

[peridot62]

So, if you're staying at the Best Western Stovall's and were told you could get into Disneyland by going this shortcut, you are now out of luck?

That is one of the reasons I booked this hotel, I was told you could get to Downtown Disney, and one of the gates to enter DL this way>?

 

[Peri]

You can still get to downtown Disney through the hotel but you CANNOT enter DCA through the hotel anymore.

This means there is only one entrance to DCA for everyone except hotel guests.

 

[blackjackdelta]

You can still get to downtown Disney through the hotel but you CANNOT enter DCA through the hotel anymore.

This means there is only one entrance to DCA for everyone except hotel guests.

They were pretty strict last August up until the afternoon. Only fair it should be a perk.

Jack

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I agree. The Disney hotels come at a premium and having entrance is one of perks of paying said price.

 

[Reddog1134]

When we stayed at the GC last month we used the DCA entrance many times and were never asked to show our room keys.

 

[rentayenta]

We saw them turn a lot of people away last week.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I agree that it should be a perk for those that pay to stay at the Grand and those that go to the Grand for a meal.

 

[DSNY4ever]

We went 3 1/2 years ago and they were already doing this. You had to have your room key out and show it as you entered and my DH and I didn't know and had to leave the line and go around to DTD. Back then, they let this slide in the late afternoon because no one was there, but not in the morning. I guess with WOC, evenings are more crowded now too though.

Yes as others said you can still cut through the GC out to DTD. The walk from Stovalls won't be a big deal.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

Good news..I have always wondered why the sign says only hotels guests, but they let everyone go through...

 

[mfortis]

Hopefully this cut down on the amount of traffic throught the hotel. I would not be opposed to restricting it both ways.

 

[mhalpern]

So if we are having lunch at Goofy's Kitchen do you think we will be okay or do we have to show a room key?

 

[msteddom]

I have often used this gate as a non-guest in the afternoon. I don't mind them enforcing the restriction at all!


Melissa

 

[mfortis]

Goofy's Kitchen is in the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Goofy's Kitchen is in the Disneyland Hotel.

Yes, not in the Grand.

Jack

 

[PinkBudgie]

We love eating at Whitewater Snacks. We just love their chicken sandwhiches. Will they accept a reciept from there or does it have to be a fancy place?

 

[Funball]

We love eating at Whitewater Snacks. We just love their chicken sandwhiches. Will they accept a reciept from there or does it have to be a fancy place?

Oh yes!! They will!!! Oh .. oh snap I just remembered that! I was at GVH with friend who was staying there, and in order for me to get back into the park he said I could use my receipt from WWS to get back in , cause we had lunch there. Technically because you ate at white water snacks it’ in the hotel you can get back into DCA with showing the reciept and I am sure that goes for eating at Story tellers also! and this was over the WOC opening weekend

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peri
You can still get to downtown Disney through the hotel but you CANNOT enter DCA through the hotel anymore.

This means there is only one entrance to DCA for everyone except hotel guests.

”You can exit that way at any time, but to reenter, you need a room key or a restaurant receipt throughout the day.””

This is a true statement from the OP! Yes if you have a receipt from anyone of the dining places at GCH, they will let you enter DCA at that entrance point! But I don’t suggest you just go eat at White water snack just so you can get through that entrance! LOL

 

[Funball]

..sorry i changed my top post...

 

[bumbershoot]

So, if you're staying at the Best Western Stovall's and were told you could get into Disneyland by going this shortcut, you are now out of luck?

That is one of the reasons I booked this hotel, I was told you could get to Downtown Disney, and one of the gates to enter DL this way>?

Different thing. If you're actually going to Disneyland this does not affect you at all. What they are talking about is getting into DCA, which is a completely different direction from the lobby as the pathway you want to take to get to DTD and to DL. No worries at all for taking the shortcut through the hotel to get to DTD.

I agree that it should be a perk for those that pay to stay at the Grand and those that go to the Grand for a meal.

It has always been a perk for resort guests. NOT just the Grand. And last I checked the website, it's still listed for DLH and PPH as well as the Grand.

As for dining, the OP said that s/he doesn't know if it's going to be for all hotel restaurants...I actually didn't realize it was for those with receipts from the PPH and DLH restaurants myself, but I don't really see the problem with letting people who eat at those restaurants use it as a courtesy.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Yep they have a table set up to check everyone's room keys before letting you up to the gates. And every time we exited we were told to reenter at this gate we had to show room keys.