Is the GCH Secret Door Still Open?

[newoski]

Hi Guys,

I've got my first stay at the GCH coming up at the end of the month. I've read lots of older threads about the "secret exit" by LaBrea Bakery. However, when I spoke with GCH's Front Desk a few minutes ago, they said that door should be locked. I understand it's always locked from the outside. Can anyone confirm, from a recent trip, that the door is still unlocked as an "exit" from the hotel?

Thanks!

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Are you taking about the gate between Soarin and the Grand? I haven't seen that used for a long time! I think since Cars Land was under construction. They MIGHT use it at the end of the night to let people out quicker, but I think it would only be used if the park was REALLY busy.

There is another door between Sephora and Anna and Elsa's Boutique in DTD that is an exit from the Grand, that is still open.

HTH,

Kriss

 

[bumbershoot]

There has been an exit door in one wing of the Grand that pops you out at La Brea. It's only useful if you're in THAT wing, though. We were in the next wing over second room from the end of our wing, and it was a pain to get anywhere. It was almost as far to the esplanade's center as it would have been from the sidewalk outside HoJo!

OP, if no one can answer you (and I'm not sure if calling the Grand's "front desk" actually gets you to the front desk or not) I wouldn't request a room in that wing just in case it's open from the inside.

 

[Nonsuch]

...I've read lots of older threads about the "secret exit" by LaBrea Bakery.

The "secret" exit is still there, I used it a few months ago. This is a Fire Exit, so cannot be removed. Few guests use it, I have only encountered a few other guests -- and I have used the exit dozens of times (over many years).

Access is from floors 3-5:

 

[newoski]

The "secret" exit is still there, I used it a few months ago. This is a Fire Exit, so cannot be removed. Few guests use it, I have only encountered a few other guests -- and I have used the exit dozens of times (over many years).

Access is from floors 3-5:
View attachment 194618

Thanks! Could you clarify what you mean by "access is from 3-5"?

I would have thought any of the floors would have access, via the stairwell, no?

 

[Nonsuch]

...Could you clarify what you mean by "access is from 3-5"?

There are only guest rooms on floors 3-5 in that wing of the hotel.

 

[iheartcoasters]

How would you make a request for this wing?

We stayed in this wing last Halloween and I want to be here again this October.

We frequently used this exit during our Oct 2015 stay soooo convenient!

 

[Nonsuch]

How would you make a request for this wing?
We stayed in this wing last Halloween and I want to be here again this October.

Request a room located above World of Disney.
Rooms on the 5th floor (and perhaps 4th) will be DTD view or Park view, there are likely some Woods or Standard view in that area.

My usual request: Near the elevators adjacent to Napa Rose

 

[iheartcoasters]

Request a room located above World of Disney.
Rooms on the 5th floor (and perhaps 4th) will be DTD view or Park view, there are likely some Woods or Standard view in that area.

My usual request: Near the elevators adjacent to Napa Rose

Thank you!

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

Use it all the time as long as I am close by. Just wish I could enter back through. If you are near the exit your Bell hop may tell you about it. Ive had a bell hop tell us twice two different trips. Our last trip was last spring we used it.

 

[Jerryp49]

It is the emergency exit across from room x447 and x449 where x is the floor either 3 ,4 , or 5. we used it in May this year. You can exit to the La Brea Bakery near the security tents but it is locked from the outside at ground floor so you can`t use it to go back into the GCH. No 6th floor and the second floor is the roof of the World of Disney store. I made a video similar to this one ;

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The "secret" exit is still there, I used it a few months ago. This is a Fire Exit, so cannot be removed. Few guests use it, I have only encountered a few other guests -- and I have used the exit dozens of times (over many years).

Access is from floors 3-5:
View attachment 194618

Aerial view


(Note: I deleted the incorrect info I had to avoid confusion. Thanks, nonsuch.)

 

[iheartcoasters]

If I remember correctly, after you go down the stairs there is a long hallway that you are in before the door.

Wouldn't the door be where the blue circle is? I could be wrong, but it looks like the blue circle and arrow out would lead to Downtown Disney.

View attachment 194645 View attachment 194647

 

[Nonsuch]

...I made a video similar to this one ;

I shot that video

Wouldn't the door be where the blue circle is? I could be wrong, but it looks like the blue circle and arrow out would lead to Downtown Disney.

You are wrong
The exit stairs goes down to a 2nd floor landing, then a short corridor, then stairs to the ground floor and exit. The video shows the entire path, from the 5th floor.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We asked for a room near the Napa Rose elevators as well. Booked a premium view room and got a 5th floor (bunkbed) room overlooking DCA about 2 doors down from the exit. The exit is really convenient when you're going to DCA or DL -- BUT rooms in that area are a LONG walk when you're returning. I mean really long.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I shot that video

You are wrong
The exit stairs goes down to a 2nd floor landing, then a short corridor, then stairs to the ground floor and exit. The video shows the entire path, from the 5th floor.

Thank you! I'll delete the wrong info then. (I think I went out that door once a long time ago, so I'm not surprised I don't remember it correctly.)

 

[bumbershoot]

The exit is really convenient when you're going to DCA or DL -- BUT rooms in that area are a LONG walk when you're returning. I mean really long.

Did you feel the tradeoff was worth it?

going by the map above, we were in the x163 or x165 area and that was long coming and going!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Did you feel the tradeoff was worth it?

going by the map above, we were in the x163 or x165 area and that was long coming and going!

I did; mainly because we used the "secret entrance" every morning, whether going to DCA or to DL, which saved us valuable time when we wanted it the most. We always like to be among the very first in line at the gate, so having some extra time in the AM was really nice. That and we loved the view. We could see parts of GRR and to the left we could see down that walkway that leads to Soarin.