GCH - DCA Entrance ?

[karin6996]

Hi All! I will be staying at the DLH in 17 days and am curious to know if all Disney Resort Guests are allowed to use the DCA entrance at the GCH or only the Guests of that hotel?

I have also read that you can sometimes get on Soarin pre-park opening by using this entrance. Any one have any experience with this they can share?

 

[hookem81]

I have the same question and was wondering if you were dining at a restaurant in the hotel like Napa Rose if they let you enter through the DCA exit/entrance?

 

[Pirate-Emery]

You present your Disney Room Key to use the GCH-DCA Entrance. As long as it is a Disney Room Key (PP or DLH, included), then you should be fine.

And if you stayed at a Disney Resort within the past several months, and you still have your room key, then it also works.


But I didn't tell you that...

 

[RugMuppets]

We just got back. We wanted to look at GCH so we exited the GCH entrance/exit from DCA and also re-entered the park through that entrance/exit to DCA with no problem. We were not guests and did not have a room key.

 

[karin6996]

Thanks for the information so far! So now that I know I can use the GCH entrance to DCA, what I am curious to know now is how early you can enter the Park through those turnstiles at Park Opening and how to get on Soaring prior to Park Opening. I have heard this can be done??????

 

[GailT]

I was there last December at Christmas time and we had to use the room key to have entrance in CA, not sure if they were just doing it for the holiday or if it is like that most of the tim eor depending who is on gaurd there.

 

[noladave]

when we were there in February, we went down 30 minutes early, as that is when you are supposed to be able to get in. However, each day is slightly different, as they coordinate (with I assume the front gate), and let everyone in at a similar time.

It still gets you in early - in our case, it was about 17 minutes early, and we where in the front row (a must) of the 2nd group at Soarin.

We went straight from Soarin, to the rope drop, and that was an interesting event. You are supposed to walk (fast, if you can), but some of the idiots were pushing and running over others to get to Screamin. We walked quickly, and had practically NO wait.

Good way to get through 2 of the big rides early Soarin and Screamin..

 

[tinkerbelt]

We use the DCA/GCH entrance all the time and have never stayed at the resort. We've never even been asked if we were a guest.

 

[CalGal]

The only time I have been asked to show my key at this entrance was in the morning. That is the time that the lines for security and the main entrance are likely to be longer.

It used to be advertised as an exclusive entry into DCA for guests of the GCH, but now it is advertised as an exclusive entry for guests who stay at the hotels of the Disneyland Resort. This entrance is quite convenient for guests at PPH since they closed the other "PPH" entrance.

 

[DangerMouse]

I did the "prior to opening Condor Flats tour" in 2005 with my dd. We arrived at the DCA entrance at about 8:50 am and asked the CM at the turnstiles if the tour was being offered that morning. There was another family there for the same thing. He radioed another CM (in management) and we were picked up from the turnstiles at about 9:10 and after a short walk through Condor Flats an a brief explanation about the history, we were let on Soarin as the first group. There were a total of 7 of us on the ride and were all front row, center.

I have no idea if this is still being offered, but it would hurt to ask either a concierge at the GCH or the CM at the turnstiles about arranging it.

Good luck!

 

[NVDisMom]

We were only asked for our key in the morning. The rest of the time was free reign. Soarin' is available to ride about 30 minutes prior to park opening.

 

[suzannen]

We just got back and they did stop us and ask for our keys when trying to enter DCA several times during our stay. (We were never stopped when leaving DCA). So, I agree with the poster that it may depend on the guard on duty or crowds, perhaps?

Also on the morning we went there, we were allowed to line up at Soarin' 30 minutes earlier than park opening, but they did not actually start the ride until after the official opening time.

 

[boscoj]

When we were there last March, only guests of the 3 Disney properties were able to use this entrance until 11:00am, then it was open to the public.

 

[farmfresh]

We used this entrance several times in June. You definitely needed a room key/charge slip for the 9.30 am entrance, variable the rest of the time: once you have the hand stamp, you're set. Any DR hotel will have access.

 

[bumbershoot]

I don't experience yet, but on the website it lists the GC entrance and the monorail entrance, and states "Guests staying at any of the Hotels of the Disneyland® Resort may use either entrance.."