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

[engo]

We were there during WoC opening weekend (June 9-June 14). They checked our room keys at every entry during our entire stay. Very different from our stay last August, when they only checked first thing in the morning.

 

[Funball]

yep, but that's becuase last year was not WOC opening, this year it is.

but it was asked if the receipt thing is for ALL the Hotel resteraunts ..yeah i don't know, i doubt it..i think that if you stay at DLH or PPH that a room key is sufficient enough--but if your just a plain old AP holder and have a reciept from let's say white water snacks you can use that to get into DCA.that was what i was told as i did post abov, and i did use my reciept and it did work.

 

[GoinAgainSoon]

Sorry if I wasn't clearer in my OP (it was late when I posted)

Ways I KNOW you can get into DCA through GC:

1) Be a DL resort guest at any of the three hotels (GC, PPH, DH). You WILL be asked to show your room key any time throughout the day, not just in the mornings anymore.

2) Dine at any of the GC restaurants including White Water Snacks (we did that twice, LOVE the chicken sandwich too PinkBudgie). You will have to show your receipt.

Way I am unsure about being allowed to use the DCA through GC entrance throughout the day:

1) Dining at PPH or DL (non DL hotel guests)

Hopefully someone can ask soon as it didn't dawn on me to ask about the other hotel restaurants.

You can use that as an exit at any time, it's re-entering the park that the above references.

This information was correct as of Tuesday, June 22nd. As with all things Disney, it is subject to change of course.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Glad to know receipt from WWS will still work. We've eaten there many times and haven't had to show one yet but I assume with WOC we will now. I will have it ready to show.

 

[mhalpern]

Goofy's Kitchen is in the Disneyland Hotel.

I know it's not in the Grand but the first post said the entrance was for people who were staying at any on-site hotel or eating in the restaurant. So I wasn't sure if that meant those eating at any resort restaurant could use the entrance or not. Anyone? Thanks.

Oops - just read all the other posts. Sounds like it's still not clear whether receipts from other resort restaurants will work or not.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thank you Goin and Funball! Good to know we can still zip in and out of our favorite place. The funny thing is, that is the only way I know! If I had to find the main entrance out to DTD from the Grand, I'm not sure I could.

 

[Funball]

no problem budgie! i think that it's only the places to eat at GCH like i dont think if you bought a key chain at the gift shop that would even work. oh it's not hard to find the entrance to dtd from th grand. that is easy. plus that hotel is soo gorgeous that just walking through it is a dream!! lol lol plus not just that but guys we found a loop how on access into DCA from GCH!!

hey off topic budgie i got a bird also i have a parrotlet! her name is STAR, she is green and very light teal!

 

[pycees312]

about flipping time! super happy they are finally doing something about this! those that pay to stay there pay a nice premium for something others could very well do in the past.. also i think it sucks the other hotel is using the grand cali lobby as a marketing selling point!!!

 

[sacteach]

We will be checking in to the GCH hopefully before 10am on our arrival day. If our room is not ready and we don't have a room key, is there any way we'd be able to use the entrance to DCA without stopping to eat - we want to get in right away and don't want to waste time eating

 

[RweTHEREyet]

You are given your room key as soon as you check in. They just don't tell you the room number, via text message, until the room is ready. So, you will have a room key from the moment you visit the check in desk.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

So tell me more about this chicken sandwich? I am intrigued.

 

[nunzia]

about flipping time! super happy they are finally doing something about this! those that pay to stay there pay a nice premium for something others could very well do in the past.. also i think it sucks the other hotel is using the grand cali lobby as a marketing selling point!!!

Huh? I'm confused..what other hotel? Do you mean the Villas? They are part of the Grand Californian compound, VGC check in is in the lobby, all services are pretty much mingled. Only a very small part of the new wing is actually DVC.

 

[Califgirl]

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>?

Huh? I'm confused..what other hotel? Do you mean the Villas? They are part of the Grand Californian compound, VGC check in is in the lobby, all services are pretty much mingled. Only a very small part of the new wing is actually DVC.

I think the poster was referring to the Best Western Stovall's, as stated above.

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

Yeah, we had to show our room key each time we went through that entrance.

 

[Funball]

Yeah, we had to show our room key each time we went through that entrance.

yes u will , but if you have a receipt from either story tellers or WWS or napa rose then they will accept that and let you through..(loop hole)

 

[bumbershoot]

also i think it sucks the other hotel is using the grand cali lobby as a marketing selling point!!!

The previous poster didn't say that Stovalls said it.

And the lobby is open to ALL. Anyone can go in and hang out, anyone can shop at the stores at the Grand, can eat at the restaurants. And as I replied earlier, I would bet money that the pp was referring to being told about the shortcut into DTD to get to DL, since the pp did indeed mention going into DTD from the Grand.

Going into DTD to get to DCA from the Grand is likely only helpful if you want to get to the Hollywood section of the park quickly (we actually did it one time while staying at our room in the Grand that was as far away from the esplanade as the HoJo parking lot (mapped it out)), so I really do believe the pp was talking about the route through the front door of the lobby, then turning right and going down the long hallway which ultimately (after going outdoors) leads to DTD between Sephora and the hair/makeup place (and across from haagen dasz).



I think that many of us know that what happens on one day at DLR doesn't generally mean much of anything for the future. What one CM says doesn't mean that much either. We'll just all have to see what happens and changes in the future!

 

[Funball]

EXACTLY BUMBERSHOOT!! just because one day they let people use the DCA entrance with a reciept at GCH doesn't mean the next day it will be like that. disney changes there minds every milisecond!! lol lol, it's all about experience, you have to experience it for yourself to get the info you want!! lol

 

[camouseketeer]

Does each person need to show a room key or is one per family enough? Just trying to figure out how many room keys I need to ask for!

 

[94bruin]

Does each person need to show a room key or is one per family enough? Just trying to figure out how many room keys I need to ask for!

They (meaning GCH) automatically give every paying person a room key, printed with their names. Last time we went, the two adults & 4 yo got a key; the 15 mo old did not.

 

[pycees312]

I think the poster was referring to the Best Western Stovall's, as stated above.

thanks that was my reference...

and yes the lobby is open to anyone but what I got out of that comment bumbershoot was that it was mentioned as a selling point and this is why the poster booked there. This i think sucks on thier part in my opinion.