Grizzly River Run

[ValpoCory]

Yikes, Thanks Cory I've never seen that gate locked. That would change things. It was open a week after your stay.

You know, now that I think about, that gate might have been open. The Emergency Exit signage is only on one side of the pool gate by the VGC. Since we first entered the pool area from that gate, we didn't see the signage that time, and later on, when we say the emergency exit signage on the other side, we ignored it since we knew we'd be ok.

However, when walking from the VGC to White Water Snacks on our arrival night, we noticed the Emergency Exit signage on the White Water Snacks gate, the first such signage we had seen, and went around to the Storytellers pool gate, never attempting the White Water Snacks pool gate again.

Possibly a rookie mistake by me. I never saw anyone using that gate in the 6 days I was there.

 

[SeaDis]

No worries, SeaDis. Did you have a chance to put together a trip report?

Hey Cory, hmmm it didn't really occur to me... I've never done a trip report. I'm not sure I can do it justice. And, no real surprises for us this trip (other than the crowds!). Actually you reminded me we don't have many pics for our trip yet. I relied on Photopass+ for almost everything. I ordered my download last week and nothing yet. I need to follow up on that.

I hope to help on a few things (like this one), only to be told I'm crazy...which is probably true. Maybe it's all the "happy air" they pump into the Grand Cal & Parks?

That gate never works for me.

WOW! This from you and Cory is a shock. I have never "not" had that gate work in three February trips. That would really bum me out. Was it Winter for you also?
Thanks for the tip. (And thanks for the maps!!)

 

[SeaDis]

You know, now that I think about, that gate might have been open. The Emergency Exit signage is only on one side of the pool gate by the VGC. Since we first entered the pool area from that gate, we didn't see the signage that time, and later on, when we say the emergency exit signage on the other side, we ignored it since we knew we'd be ok.

However, when walking from the VGC to White Water Snacks on our arrival night, we noticed the Emergency Exit signage on the White Water Snacks gate, the first such signage we had seen, and went around to the Storytellers pool gate, never attempting the White Water Snacks pool gate again.

Possibly a rookie mistake by me. I never saw anyone using that gate in the 6 days I was there.

Yes on the VGC side-- there is "Emergency Exit" on the inside (pool) side of the single gate. Again, I've seen no reason not to use it. There is a keycard on the other side to enter. I've used it with Lifeguards and CMs without a word. They hold the gate for you.

On the Whitewater Snack side, there are three gates: A double door with Emergency Exit-- this one also does not trigger an alarm (ask my kids). And there is a third gate next to the double with a button "Push to Exit". That gate is not marked Emergency, and also has the keycard on the other side to enter the pool. I'm assuming this is the one Nonsuch said didn't work? Maybe seasonal-- I've just never had a problem with either gate.

Using these gates, you cut straight through the pools. It just seems like such a straight/short walk to me. I have mentally walked it 5 times this morning. To me, it's like walking from Grizzly to Little Mermaid. Maybe less. I really think maybe the elevators & hallways are the difference here.

Now off to try and get some work done!
Oops... planning a quick May return trip. Now my day is shot-- Oh well!

 

[ValpoCory]

Actually you reminded me we don't have many pics for our trip yet. I relied on Photopass+ for almost everything. I ordered my download last week and nothing yet. I need to follow up on that.

That's so true. That is one of the unintended negative consequences for the PhotoPass program. When many people get home from a Disney trip, they want to share photos, immediately posting a set of photos on Facebook or a photo sharing website. When getting the PhotoPass PhotoCD, you find that you can't do that, since you tend to rely on that for a good chunk of your best pictures. And once back home from your vacation, you get busy and doing the boundaries and cropping can take weeks if you have hundreds of pictures.

So what I've learned is to always have the PhotoPass Photographer use my camera too for key background pictures.

 

[ValpoCory]

Yes on the VGC side-- there is "Emergency Exit" on the inside (pool) side of the single gate. Again, I've seen no reason not to use it. There is a keycard on the other side to enter. I've used it with Lifeguards and CMs without a word. They hold the gate for you.

On the Whitewater Snack side, there are three gates: A double door with Emergency Exit-- this one also does not trigger an alarm (ask my kids). And there is a third gate next to the double with a button "Push to Exit". That gate is not marked Emergency, and also has the keycard on the other side to enter the pool. I'm assuming this is the one Nonsuch said didn't work? Maybe seasonal-- I've just never had a problem with either gate.

Using these gates, you cut straight through the pools. It just seems like such a straight/short walk to me. I have mentally walked it 5 times this morning. To me, it's like walking from Grizzly to Little Mermaid. Maybe less. I really think maybe the elevators & hallways are the difference here.

Now off to try and get some work done!
Oops... planning a quick May return trip. Now my day is shot-- Oh well!

Aah. I'm now convinced this was a rookie mistake by me. Thanks for letting me know this for my next trip.

 

[Mousequake]

I just want to add my data point into the 'locked gate' discussion-- we stayed at VGC in mid-January and used that gate many times when picking up stuff from WWS to take to our room.

 

[SeaDis]

I just want to add my data point into the 'locked gate' discussion-- we stayed at VGC in mid-January and used that gate many times when picking up stuff from WWS to take to our room.

That is great news. I would be crushed if it were not open/working. Between pool time/kids restrooms, Whitewater, and round-trip to DCA, I think I use it 10 times a day.

How long, do you think, from Whitewater door to the DVC wing elevators? I really think it's 35 seconds for me. It's just a walk past 2 pools, there's no waiting along the way.

No rubber-necking allowed please...

 

[blackjackdelta]

It was down most of last week finally running at 130pm Sat.

Jack

 

[Nonsuch]

WOW! This from you and Cory is a shock. I have never "not" had that gate work in three February trips. That would really bum me out. Was it Winter for you also?

That gate has failed to work enough times that I don't take that route back to the villas. When I have posted about the problem in other threads, it seems to be a common issue.

 

[SeaDis]

Oh no-- you pros are making me feel both lucky and bummed-out at the same time. Thanks/good to know it must break down often.

I know one time I was having trouble getting my key to work in 3 or 4 tries. A lifeguard opened the door from the pool side and tried my key. "Beep" on the first try (of course). I thought it was just me with my hands full. He must have been testing to see if it had gone down (to report it).

Giving this back to Tchrrx:
Try the gate by Whitewater Snacks. If not working, switch to the main pool gate directly in front of Storytellers Cafe. A little longer, but not bad.

 

[tchrrx]

Using this map:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/maps/#/m=hotels
Is the wooden walkway to the left of Soarin' the entrance/exit? Where is the DVC area? Thanks!

 

[SeaDis]

Using this map:
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/maps/#/m=hotels
Is the wooden walkway to the left of Soarin' the entrance/exit? Where is the DVC area? Thanks!

Yes, that's the entrance/exit. And the DVC wing is the "T" shaped wing right next to the blue coaster (Goofy's Sky School) on the map.

Keep in mind that map is general. The actual layout is a little different. But it will all make sense once you get there.

So if the Whitewater Snacks pool gate is functioning (fingers crossed for you), cut right through the pools. It's really easy, you just need to do it once and you will fly through after that.

 

[hjgaus]

The pool gate by White Water Snacks is seasonal. It was not open in January. When closed, your two options to get to the VGC are to go through the lobby or cut through the pool by entering near Storytellers Cafe. Both routes are at least 5 minutes.

We were there 1st week of January & used that gate with no problems. at one point there was a CM that opened it for us while getting back in. Maybe it was a fluke at that time but they didn't have any issues with us entering or exiting this way either.