GCH, EE, Hot Weather Trip

[tink89]

We stayed for the first time at GCH last week. We loved it, but if not for its proximity to the parks we would probably still choose DLH. To us, the GCH feels like just a very nice lodge and not a Disney hotel. I do think it is a bit more magical to stay maybe during the Holidays as we have walked through there before and not only does it smell great but it is more decorated than the other hotels.

We had a courtyard view which was very nice and quiet. It was very hot so the monorail only passed by in the very morning and at night. DD did love the pool and it was much better than we expected. We liked being so close to the shops but i do like the small shops at DLH much better than the ones at GCH. We do like eating at Craftsman Grill so it was nice to have it right there. The weather was very hot and the best perk is having the hotel so close that we could walk back as soon as we needed a break.

We did Early Entry into DL the first day and noticed they did not have designated lines. Did not like that and I do think they needed designated lines for hotel guests or give us back the hour instead of 30 min. The next day we went to do DCA Early entry and the line into DCA was all the way into the lobby of the hotel this was at about 7:10 (our fault for being late). I'm not sure if they are not checking bags and moving the line until they open at 7:30, but we just walked over through DTD instead and walked in through the main DCA entrance.

Our park days were hot. Most days at over 95. We still managed to get on over 30 rides some more than once, saw WoC, and Electrical Parade, did Animation Academy more than once. We ate breakfast in the parks which I will say felt like fewer breakfast options than there used to be. We did notice that the wait times were most of the time much shorter than what was posted. BTMR always said 35 min and we got on it twice when it said that and it was only 15 min max. RSR had a 55 min wait but ended up being only about 30 min.

Overall we did like the hotel and would stay there again if going for the holidays or if the weather will not be cooperating, or if the price is right. We do still love the feel of the DLH a whole lot more.
EE needs some fine-tuning. We were a bit worried for this trip because of the weather and reading everyone's negative reviews. We had a great time and did not even use Genie/LL at all.

ETA we also had the quesabirria tacos everyone talks about and it was a no for us.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

Thank you, this information is helpful. We will
be there next weekend and staying at DLH. What would be your tips for EE since it sounds like it is a little difficult to navigate?
What time do you suggest we arrive at the front entrance of the parks for EE? Where exactly in the parks do they determine you have EE and let you through?

Thanks!

 

[whoever]

Esplanade is always quicker for EMHH (Extra Magic Half Hour) than the hotel entry into the park.

 

[tink89]

Thank you, this information is helpful. We will
be there next weekend and staying at DLH. What would be your tips for EE since it sounds like it is a little difficult to navigate?
What time do you suggest we arrive at the front entrance of the parks for EE? Where exactly in the parks do they determine you have EE and let you through?

Thanks!

We got there at 7:00 am on two days and it was already a line. I would say be there before 7 am maybe 6:50 am. They let everyone in at the same time. There is no designated entrance for hotel guests. Once you walk in you walk to the right side by Plazza at DL and to the left side by CC at DCA. We were just 3 and they are asking to see hotel key or reservation confirmation. they let us through with me just showing one key. Other ppl i did see they stopped but not sure what they showed or what they were missing.

 

[tink89]

Esplanade is always quicker for EMHH (Extra Magic Half Hour) than the hotel entry into the park.

Yea we realized that the hard way. We were already running a bit late so thought it was due to that and in part it was but yes going through DtD and esplanade seemed much quicker.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Thank you, this information is helpful. We will
be there next weekend and staying at DLH. What would be your tips for EE since it sounds like it is a little difficult to navigate?
What time do you suggest we arrive at the front entrance of the parks for EE? Where exactly in the parks do they determine you have EE and let you through?

Thanks!

My family stayed at DLH last weekend and the best tip I can give you is to get in line for security right away. Treat EE just like a guest who wants to RD without EE. As the OP noted, there is no designated entry gates for EE and I felt that Disney did a good job funneling and announcing the EE guests to the designated areas for CMs to check the reservation for EE. However, I think this whole process could be done better at the gates. In fact, I sort of wished that they let EE guests into the park at 7:15 a.m. and held them inside the park for 15 minutes so that hotel guests can maximize that 30 minutes. If you are late through security and late to the gates you could queueing for quite a long time before entering the park.

For those who stay at DLH, my dream would be to allow DLH guests to access DL with the monorail before the 7:30 EE and hold DLH folks at the monorail station inside Tomorrowland and then release them at 7:30. That would be an unbelievable perk. Unlikely to happen. Just one man's dream.

So, in short, show up early to the security gates for DTD. Then go straight to the tapstiles and line up. If you are near the front of the gates you will have no problem maximizing your time in the parks early. I would also share for those folks staying at DLH, the guests at GCH will be able to get to the DL tapstiles quicker than you. It's just a simple fact of geography. My family did this strategy and we were on the first (or almost the first) "flight" for PP and Soarin in each park respectively. Those were the attractions my family wanted to do first in the morning.

 

[tink89]

My family stayed at DLH last weekend and the best tip I can give you is to get in line for security right away. Treat EE just like a guest who wants to RD without EE. As the OP noted, there is no designated entry gates for EE and I felt that Disney did a good job funneling and announcing the EE guests to the designated areas for CMs to check the reservation for EE. However, I think this whole process could be done better at the gates. In fact, I sort of wished that they let EE guests into the park at 7:15 a.m. and held them inside the park for 15 minutes so that hotel guests can maximize that 30 minutes. If you are late through security and late to the gates you could queueing for quite a long time before entering the park.

For those who stay at DLH, my dream would be to allow DLH guests to access DL with the monorail before the 7:30 EE and hold DLH folks at the monorail station inside Tomorrowland and then release them at 7:30. That would be an unbelievable perk. Unlikely to happen. Just one man's dream.

So, in short, show up early to the security gates for DTD. Then go straight to the tapstiles and line up. If you are near the front of the gates you will have no problem maximizing your time in the parks early. I would also share for those folks staying at DLH, the guests at GCH will be able to get to the DL tapstiles quicker than you. It's just a simple fact of geography. My family did this strategy and we were on the first (or almost the first) "flight" for PP and Soarin in each park respectively. Those were the attractions my family wanted to do first in the morning.

I agree. It was my mistake to assume they would have a designated gate. That is what they have done before. They had EMH/MM gates. That made it easier to get in quicker. Either designated gate or make the time 1 hour again. Overall it was fairly easy to navigate EE.

 

[DisneyMommy77]

My family stayed at DLH last weekend and the best tip I can give you is to get in line for security right away. Treat EE just like a guest who wants to RD without EE. As the OP noted, there is no designated entry gates for EE and I felt that Disney did a good job funneling and announcing the EE guests to the designated areas for CMs to check the reservation for EE. However, I think this whole process could be done better at the gates. In fact, I sort of wished that they let EE guests into the park at 7:15 a.m. and held them inside the park for 15 minutes so that hotel guests can maximize that 30 minutes. If you are late through security and late to the gates you could queueing for quite a long time before entering the park.

For those who stay at DLH, my dream would be to allow DLH guests to access DL with the monorail before the 7:30 EE and hold DLH folks at the monorail station inside Tomorrowland and then release them at 7:30. That would be an unbelievable perk. Unlikely to happen. Just one man's dream.

So, in short, show up early to the security gates for DTD. Then go straight to the tapstiles and line up. If you are near the front of the gates you will have no problem maximizing your time in the parks early. I would also share for those folks staying at DLH, the guests at GCH will be able to get to the DL tapstiles quicker than you. It's just a simple fact of geography. My family did this strategy and we were on the first (or almost the first) "flight" for PP and Soarin in each park respectively. Those were the attractions my family wanted to do first in the morning.

Thanks! Is the Security/bag check still right at the entrance of Downtown Disney when walking from DLH? Is that line already getting long before 7AM?

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

Thanks! Is the Security/bag check still right at the entrance of Downtown Disney when walking from DLH? Is that line already getting long before 7AM?

Yes. And, not super long before 7 a.m. But, there are people in line waiting.

 

[camille4750]

Yes. And, not super long before 7 a.m. But, there are people in line waiting.

So if we are staying at GCH (first-timers), where do we go to get through security if we want to use the esplanade and main gate to save time for EE? (I hope this makes sense).

 

[RunnerMom71]

For GCH your security is at the hotel entrance for DTD - short walk through the hotel to the right of the lobby (if facing the check in desks). Walk towards the conference / courtyard area and follow the foot traffic - easy peasy!

 

[OneThree]

We stayed for the first time at GCH last week. We loved it, but if not for its proximity to the parks we would probably still choose DLH. To us, the GCH feels like just a very nice lodge and not a Disney hotel.

Agreed. Staying at GCH 8/15-8/19 and my wife and I had the same thought. If it wasn’t for the location, there is really nothing Disney about the hotel when compared to the DLH.

Don’t get me wrong. The GCH is beautiful and being so close to the parks has been amazing. Especially during the hot weather this week.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

So if we are staying at GCH (first-timers), where do we go to get through security if we want to use the esplanade and main gate to save time for EE? (I hope this makes sense).

Another Poster has indicated where security is located for GCH from inside the lodge. However, if you are looking at Google Maps to identify the approximate location from the DTD area, the pathway from GCH to DTD (and the Esplanade) is located by the Disney Dress Shop. Also, I would note that on one day I thought I saw a security area from GCH to DTD that was adjacent to the Starbucks and was closer to the Esplanade. I don't think this secondary pathway was open all the time and I'm wondering if it was open as a result of a business conference or some similar reason. I would recommend to use the Dress Shop entryway for GCH guests.

 

[tink89]

So if we are staying at GCH (first-timers), where do we go to get through security if we want to use the esplanade and main gate to save time for EE? (I hope this makes sense).

You go out from the lobby. Just follow the sign for DtD or ask a cast member. If you are walking towards the pool or Storytellers you are going towards the GCH DCA entrance. Walk towards the conference room, DtD. We were there a week and DH could not figure it out and would always walk the wrong way lol.

Another Poster has indicated where security is located for GCH from inside the lodge. However, if you are looking at Google Maps to identify the approximate location from the DTD area, the pathway from GCH to DTD (and the Esplanade) is located by the Disney Dress Shop. Also, I would note that on one day I thought I saw a security area from GCH to DTD that was adjacent to the Starbucks and was closer to the Esplanade. I don't think this secondary pathway was open all the time and I'm wondering if it was open as a result of a business conference or some similar reason. I would recommend to use the Dress Shop entryway for GCH guests.

when we were there the entrance to DtD by Starbucks and World of Disney was only open on Friday. We were there Sunday -Friday. I think it opened on Friday because it was getting more packed. It did not seem busy to us until Thursday afternoon.