GCH Entrance Requirements

[V.I.N.CENT.]

What's the current status of entering the GCH from Paradise Pier Hotel? Do they still check to see if you have reservations (hotel or breakfast) before allowing you in? 24/7 or just in the morning? What about entering from DCA or Downtown? Hotel guest or dining reservation only?

Thanks in advance!

 

[monkeypat83]

When I was there in June (so who knows if anything has changed) they let us in from Downtown Disney or DCA without checking anything and to enter from Paradise Pier (where we were staying) we had to show our room keys.

 

[DLgal]

When we stayed in July, they were not allowing PPH guests through the security gate unless you had a reservation to dine. They were directing those guests to the DtD entrance near the Disneyland hotel.

 

[SherylLC]

When we stayed in July, they were not allowing PPH guests through the security gate unless you had a reservation to dine. They were directing those guests to the DtD entrance near the Disneyland hotel.

I think this was because of Covid. Even in early August we weren't allowed to enter GC from DCA.

We were there a week ago and they said as long as you have a PP room key you were good to go through.

 

[ttig34]

I think this was because of Covid. Even in early August we weren't allowed to enter GC from DCA.

We were there a week ago and they said as long as you have a PP room key you were good to go through.

Were you allowed any time of day, or only after opening? Also, do you know if you could use the DCA entrance from the GCH or did you have to go around if you are a PPH guest?

 

[DisneylandFan22]

In other threads people have said that non-hotel guests have been able to use the GC entrance to DCA at mix-in time for the OBB. Can anyone confirm this? I am attending this Sunday and trying to plan. I really don't want to try to enter, be turned away, and lose time. Lol

 

[DLgal]

We've been using the entrance from DCA into GCH since July with no issues. They stopped restricting that at the end of May. Anyone can walk into the GCH from DCA at any time.

 

[l4dyj8]

I think this was because of Covid. Even in early August we weren't allowed to enter GC from DCA.

We were there a week ago and they said as long as you have a PP room key you were good to go through.

Oh interesting! You can cross now from PPH to GCH?
We’ve stayed there often (last visit was preCovid Feb 2020) and they didn’t let pph guests through for a few years. More for security. But they had done so before.
But good to know it’s changed

 

[kappyfamily]

Oh interesting! You can cross now from PPH to GCH?
We’ve stayed there often (last visit was preCovid Feb 2020) and they didn’t let pph guests through for a few years. More for security. But they had done so before.
But good to know it’s changed

All I can say is when we were in our Uber checking in to GCH this last Tuesday the 7th, our car was stopped and the security bunker asked for our last name so they could check our reservation. The uber driver said the day before he had to turn around because someone didnt have a reservation and they wouldnt let them get out of the car there.

 

[twodogs]

When reading replies above, please note that there are often two different situations that people are asking about:
1. Trying to go INTO DCA from the GCH
2. Exiting FROM DCA into the GCH

From my recent trips, they are still restricting #1 to only GCH guests, but they are allowing #2, even if you are not staying at the GCH.

Read the above answers from others and make sure they are answering your specific question.

 

[ParkHopper1]

The ONLY restriction into the GCH is through the front door of the hotel off the street. That is simply to prevent non hotel guests from using the GHC lobby as a shortcut and backing up the security lines for the actually GCH guests. Anyone can come and go through the DTD entrance as well as the DCA entrance (although entering DCA is for only GCH guests, rarely if that actually enforced). Anyone can enter the GCH from DTD or DCA and EXIT out the front doors of the the GCH.

 

[ttig34]

The ONLY restriction into the GCH is through the front door of the hotel off the street. That is simply to prevent non hotel guests from using the GHC lobby as a shortcut and backing up the security lines for the actually GCH guests. Anyone can come and go through the DTD entrance as well as the DCA entrance (although entering DCA is for only GCH guests, rarely if that actually enforced). Anyone can enter the GCH from DTD or DCA and EXIT out the front doors of the the GCH.

But others above are saying that you can enter the GCH through the front door if staying at PPH, so am guessing it is restricted for only those staying at Non Disney hotels. But wondering if it is allowed for PPH guests early in morn when park is just opening or if only GCH guests are allowed to go through the GCH/DTD security at that time and it opens up to other Disney resort guests later.

 

[DLgal]

But others above are saying that you can enter the GCH through the front door if staying at PPH, so am guessing it is restricted for only those staying at Non Disney hotels. But wondering if it is allowed for PPH guests early in morn when park is just opening or if only GCH guests are allowed to go through the GCH/DTD security at that time and it opens up to other Disney resort guests later.

Okay, on July 5, after we vacated our room, we walked our bags to our car parked in the self parking lot across the street. When we came back in through the gate to spend the afternoon at the parks, we used our room key to open the gate and a family tried to walk in behind us. The guard asked them for their room keys and they showed him one from PPH and he said "this entrance is only for guests of this hotel. You need to go back across the street and follow the signs towards the entrance at Downtown Disney ." And he pointed on the general direction. They tried to argue, but the guard held firm with a "sorry, that's the rule."

There is an actual door on the sidewalk with a key reader. Only GCH keys will open the door and there is always a guard standing there as well. There is also a sign indicating that the entrance is only for registered guests of the Grand Californian.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

Okay, on July 5, after we vacated our room, we walked our bags to our car parked in the self parking lot across the street. When we came back in through the gate to spend the afternoon at the parks, we used our room key to open the gate and a family tried to walk in behind us. The guard asked them for their room keys and they showed him one from PPH and he said "this entrance is only for guests of this hotel. You need to go back across the street and follow the signs towards the entrance at Downtown Disney ." And he pointed on the general direction. They tried to argue, but the guard held firm with a "sorry, that's the rule."

There is an actual door on the sidewalk with a key reader. Only GCH keys will open the door and there is always a guard standing there as well. There is also a sign indicating that the entrance is only for registered guests of the Grand Californian.

This was our experience when we stayed at PPH back in 2019, so it’s not just a covid thing, either.

In fact, in 2017, I had to find my Napa Rose reservation email for them to let us in that way even pushing my mom in a wheelchair, toting an oxygen tank, all dressed up. If people are getting in on that side from PPH, that would be quite a switch.

Echoing others, though, getting into the Grand from DCA or Downtown Disney is totally fine.

 

[SherylLC]

All I can say is when we were in our Uber checking in to GCH this last Tuesday the 7th, our car was stopped and the security bunker asked for our last name so they could check our reservation. The uber driver said the day before he had to turn around because someone didnt have a reservation and they wouldnt let them get out of the car there.

That's correct, they don't let you through unless you have either GC or PP reservations or are dropping off someone who does. That's my understanding anyway.

We were not able to go to GC from DVC in July since we had no dining reservations nor hotel reservation. Previosu poster said they could. Maybe depends on cast member?

 

[ttig34]

Okay, on July 5, after we vacated our room, we walked our bags to our car parked in the self parking lot across the street. When we came back in through the gate to spend the afternoon at the parks, we used our room key to open the gate and a family tried to walk in behind us. The guard asked them for their room keys and they showed him one from PPH and he said "this entrance is only for guests of this hotel. You need to go back across the street and follow the signs towards the entrance at Downtown Disney ." And he pointed on the general direction. They tried to argue, but the guard held firm with a "sorry, that's the rule."

There is an actual door on the sidewalk with a key reader. Only GCH keys will open the door and there is always a guard standing there as well. There is also a sign indicating that the entrance is only for registered guests of the Grand Californian.

Gotcha, so you can go through GCH to get back to PPH, but cannot go through front doors to enter GCH if staying at PPH unless you have a dining reservation.

 

[monkeypat83]

It may have changed since July when I was there but when we checked in at Paradise Pier they made a point to tell us that yes we could go though the Grand Californian like you used to be able to in the way back years. I told the cast member I remember the way way back days when you could enter DCA from an entrance that let you out by the Maliboomer if you stayed at Paradise Pier! We went 2 days for rope drop and both days we walked showed, our key to the guard at the gate with the key reader (he made each party scan their key on the reader even though he was holding the gate open) and he let us right through. This may have gone back to the way it was pre-covid now but it was encouraged when I was there in July.

 

[DLgal]

Gotcha, so you can go through GCH to get back to PPH, but cannot go through front doors to enter GCH if staying at PPH unless you have a dining reservation.

That is my understanding, although the post above contradicts what we experienced in early July.

 

[AquaDame]

Seems it is all over the place... we stayed at PP 7/7-7/11 and used the GCH entrance every time. Our keys didn't even work on the gate, we were told there had been issues with that, so we just showed the guard the key and that was enough. They said if we needed to get in and no one was there we could hit the call button and get in that way but I never had to do it.

 

[Malcon10t]

Our trips in August and Sept, PPH (and DLH) guests were allowed thru the security gate with a valid key.