Grand Californian and early morning entry

[Tinker1972]

We are staying at the GCH in October for the first time I've heard horror stories about the early morning entry into CA for Disney guests. Is it really that bad?? I assume everyone heads to Carsland first. Does Radiator Springs get really lined up even during the early morning? Also..tell me about the private enterance into CA. Is it worth using that enterance in the morning, or is it actually faster to use the main enterance? Any tips and info would be SO great!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

It's a great entrance mid-day but not at rope drop. Not even for early entry. There is typically only one line operating. Much better to go out in the esplanade and enter from there where there are multiple security lines and turnstiles.

 

[tlovesdis]

The line to get into the private entrance in the mornings is ridiculous! We stayed there last September and came down the elevator near the entrance at about 645 (EE was at 7) and the line was crazy! It was going all the way through the hotel into the lobby (which is quite a long way). We just walked out to DTD and went through the front entrance. Took us less than 10 minutes. I kept saying that those poor people wouldn't be in until noon! LOL It was crazy!

Yes, even with EE RSR is where most people head and unless you are one of the very first in, you could get there and have at least a 30 minute or more wait. Plus it seems to break down a lot in the early am!

With that, it's our favorite and we head there first during EE because 30 minutes is way better than 90-120 later in the day.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You can always walk to the GCH line & judge for yourself. If it looks too long turn around and go through DtD.

(I'm in the NO WAY use the GCH entry for early morning group BUT I had to wait through that ridiculous line a few times for myself before I realized everyone here was right. Use the main entrance.)

It's wonderful any other time of day.

 

[Jkpark]

We use the main entrance. We have done it both ways and the main entrances are much faster.

We use EE on Toy Story Midway Mania (twice) and then Screamin, and just get back to the RSR Fastpass line before the park officially opens. That has worked really well for us. We then hit Tower of Terror right at regular park opening.

 

[pbb322]

We just got back a few days ago. Our room was right near the private entrance so we would check it each morning when we got off the elevator about 30 minutes before park opening and it was always VERY long, so we did the walk to the main entrance each day, and there was almost no line over there on DCA early entrance days.

 

[ktlm]

We were at DLR last Month staying at DLH. The security lines for the park in the mornings are currently long with the addition of the metal detectors. If you plan to be at the front of the rope drop crowd, then I would go to the park front gates- but you will want to get there early before the security lines build. If you want to be there around rope drop, but not at the front- what we did every day was go to the GCH gate about 10 minutes after rope drop. We never had more than one or 2 families ahead of us. We had hoppers, so we used that gate even if we were going to DLH and then just park hopped across. We wound up coming in a day early and had to stay at one of the Harbor hotels as the DLH was full- it was around noon or one since it was our arrival day- but we were in line at security on that side for over 20 minutes. It did not seem like the DTD side was as bad, but if you try it and the security lines are long, I would backtrack and go to the GCH gate. Some people don't like to miss that first 10 minutes- but we did not mind it at all- the convenience of basically walking in the park with no line at all was worth it to us.

The line builds at RSR fast, but if you can use the single rider line, you can hit it multiple times a day without that much of a wait. We got several rides on it every day we spent time at GCH and I don't think we ever waited more than 10 minutes this year. We walked on it a couple of times. We waited about twice as long in the fast pass line as we were with single rider. Also, you can go get FPs for RSR instead of running there first thing if you aren't in the front of the rope drop line.

As far as the early morning as opposed to the regular morning- that GCH line can be really long. If you get there early enough to be towards the front you would be good-- if you miss part of the early morning and get there late enough to miss the main line, you are probably good (like our 10 minutes after rope drop)---- but if you are going to hit it when the crowd hits or right before or at the opening time, you are probably better off at the main gate.

 

[Jerryp49]

We also use the Main gate for EMH. A Brisk pace but not a run will get you to RSR soon enough. The ride loads very fast. We were able to ride once, then do Toy Story and Screaming before the park opened .We used to use the GCH entrance and head over to the food court and thru the Arch to RSR and always beat the main crowd. We would be held there while the crowd was still only half way down Route 66 being led by CMs. They don`t lead the crowd down Route 66 anymore and they won`t let you go thru the food court and Arch first thing in the morning.

 

[MikeRx]

We use the main entrance. We have done it both ways and the main entrances are much faster.

We use EE on Toy Story Midway Mania (twice) and then Screamin, and just get back to the RSR Fastpass line before the park officially opens. That has worked really well for us. We then hit Tower of Terror right at regular park opening.

This is our exact strategy as the FP machines are usually operational a few minutes before regular park hours start.

Instead of ToT (our son doesn't like it) we head over to Soarin' just before they release the non-EE crowd, you will need to show your room key card to gain access to Grizzly Peak airfield area as you walk around the crowd near Carthay Circle. Just be mindful of the clock as you want to scoot past the crowd 5 or so minutes before they are released to make sure you get to Soarin before they "soar" past you...We then hit Starbucks for a pick me up and then off to Paradise Pier for Goofy's Sky School and then to Monsters or Ariel before our RSR FP.. By the end of the morning we casually stroll over to DL and eat a relaxing breakfast on Main St. at the Carnation Cafe and listen to the Dapper Dans. A truly wonderful day and it's not even noon.

We always use the main esplanade entrance into DCA for EE and regular days unless its much later in the day (breaks or return for dinner/WOC). The security and ticket system at the esplanade is far better equiped to handle crowds and the heat/noise in the DGC tunnel can be maddening!
Mike

 

[losfp]

The GC entrance line is crazy long in the morning - but one morning I actually misread the opening hours and we were there 90 min before gates opened. So.... that's one way to get to the front of the line at that entrance Was a great, productive morning after all the waiting.

 

[tinkertastic]

This is our exact strategy as the FP machines are usually operational a few minutes before regular park hours start.

Instead of ToT (our son doesn't like it) we head over to Soarin' just before they release the non-EE crowd, you will need to show your room key card to gain access to Grizzly Peak airfield area as you walk around the crowd near Carthay Circle. Just be mindful of the clock as you want to scoot past the crowd 5 or so minutes before they are released to make sure you get to Soarin before they "soar" past you...We then hit Starbucks for a pick me up and then off to Paradise Pier for Goofy's Sky School and then to Monsters or Ariel before our RSR FP.. By the end of the morning we casually stroll over to DL and eat a relaxing breakfast on Main St. at the Carnation Cafe and listen to the Dapper Dans. A truly wonderful day and it's not even noon.

We always use the main esplanade entrance into DCA for EE and regular days unless its much later in the day (breaks or return for dinner/WOC). The security and ticket system at the esplanade is far better equiped to handle crowds and the heat/noise in the DGC tunnel can be maddening!
Mike

HI MikeRX, I'm a total DL newbie, everything I have read up until now says that we will not be able to get a FP to any ride before Park opening. I would like to try what you are suggesting but just want to be sure, so we should be over at the RSR FP machines how long before? Will 5-10 minutes work? Then as soon as we are able to get the FP's head over to soarin? Not sure what the Grizzly Peak airfield is, I'll have to look that up on a map. Any other suggestions to make this work would be greatly appreciated!