Leaving in a Week~Last Minute Questions

[poodledogs55]

Hi Everyone!

My parents and I will be leaving in just over a week for our first ever trip to Disneyland and California. I have a few last minute questions that I haven't been able to find the answers to. Any help is much appreciated.

1. Are non-Disney hotel guests ever able to use the entrance to GCH from DCA? I don't want to break any rules and would be more interested in visiting the hotel for a break during our DCA day, rather than using this entrance during peak times.

2. We have a Disney gift card that we were going to use it to pay for our meals in the parks. I assumed you could pay tips with the gift card, like you can at Disney World, but I read on here where someone was not able to do that. Does anyone know if you can use gift cards for tips?



Thank you in advance for your help!

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

you can use the DCA entrance, but usually not first thing in the morning.

On the gift cards, I don't think the food carts are set up to take them, but I may be wrong. As far as using them for tips, I don't know. We usually always tip in cash.

 

[Malcon10t]

1. Are non-Disney hotel guests ever able to use the entrance to GCH from DCA? I don't want to break any rules and would be more interested in visiting the hotel for a break during our DCA day, rather than using this entrance during peak times.

1. Prior to 11am, it is hotel guests only. After 11am, they take the sign down and let everyone use it.

ETA - You can EXIT DCA through the GCH anytime, you cannot enter DCA through the GCH entrance until after 11am.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We entered Thanksgiving week first thing in the morning with our receipt from Storyteller's breakfast.

 

[Cal-Pie]

We were able to use gift cards to pay gratuity on our trip last month, but it was a big pain and took a lot of extra time as they had to run it as an extra transaction on a separate receipt. I won't do it again.

All the food carts we visited accepted gift cards, the only thing that I found that was cash only was balloons, and of course, pressed pennies.

 

[poodledogs55]

Thank you everyone! It's good to know we can use the GCH entrance after 11. We probably won't be using it before then if we do. I'll also make sure we have some cash for tips and other items, just in case!