Looking for someone to talk about the new Security Check in place

[Astylla]

I think Disney doesn't care about Whitewater Snacks, and with the Pool Construction next year, it will be a pain to get to and from it, especially in the early AM due to folks lining up to get into DCA.

Want a quick breakfast, find something at DtD.

I'm inclined to agree here. While whitewater snacks is a great stop I don't see many going out of their way for it. It's more popular for us midday to pop in for a break then back to the parks.

DTD has many more options imo.

 

[Niltiac]

So even after 11am, non-GCH hotel guests cannot enter through the front entrance? That is a shame. We loved walking over from PPH over to the Hearthstone lounge for an evening drink on our last trip.

It seems like it would be a pain for Disney to keep CM's stationed by the door to check keys even during slow times, so I would keep on eye on this. It could be that once the word is out and a good portion of the crowd knows not to depend on the GCH path, enforcement might vary (such as opening it back up after a certain time of day). I could be wrong, but I think they may still tweak things in the months to come.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm glad about restricting access at gch. As one who often pays the premium to stay there, I really don't feel that those at PPH have a valid complaint. While I understand that it's sad to lose a perk, I also recognize that it is really just losing something PPH and other non - GCH guests were never meant to have. It's like when they began enforcing the FP return times. I kicked about it because I took advantage of returning outside the window, but I have to admit that there are very valid reasons for strict enforcement.

I agree. The special entrance is one of the main perks for GCH, in my opinion.

 

[dvcdisney]

I'm inclined to agree here. While whitewater snacks is a great stop I don't see many going out of their way for it. It's more popular for us midday to pop in for a break then back to the parks.

DTD has many more options imo.

I agree as well. We visited Whitewater snacks several times when we stayed at VGC, but if I was staying elsewhere, I wouldn't bother. As mentioned before, there's plenty of places at DTD.

 

[Tinkerbel129]

I understand the need for security. However, if you're a guest who has chosen Premium Downtown Disney view at Disneyland Hotel, you now have all these tents to look at and a chain link fence with a banner stretched over it. They charge very high prices for those views. Wonder what the noise level will be if the lines get backed up on a busy day.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I understand the need for security. However, if you're a guest who has chosen Premium Downtown Disney view at Disneyland Hotel, you now have all these tents to look at and a chain link fence with a banner stretched over it. They charge very high prices for those views. Wonder what the noise level will be if the lines get backed up on a busy day.

Wow! I hadn't thought about the DLH view! I wonder if the tents are close enough to the Adventure building that you look right over the top of them. That would be terrible if it's the bulk of the view.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Well, since the new security check is where the old DtD Christmas tree and Ice Rink was, it has a pretty good viewing area in the past.

 

[Malcon10t]

I understand the need for security. However, if you're a guest who has chosen Premium Downtown Disney view at Disneyland Hotel, you now have all these tents to look at and a chain link fence with a banner stretched over it. They charge very high prices for those views. Wonder what the noise level will be if the lines get backed up on a busy day.

Don't really notice the tents as my line of view is out, not down. I doubt the noise will be worse than the amplified bands.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Don't really notice the tents as my line of view is out, not down. I doubt the noise will be worse than the amplified bands.

If there's any chance you can post a picture of the view from a DLH premium room that includes the new security tents, that would be really, really helpful for anyone trying to decide whether the splurge is worth the price.

 

[Malcon10t]

Here ya go....

Looking straight out the way I normally do.. View from chair by desk.

Looking down a little... This is at the window

Looking straight down to look for tents, Not going to see this from a chair or bed. This is at the window looking down.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Looking straight down to look for tents, Not going to see this from a chair or bed. This is at the window looking down.

Thank you so much for posting! The tents are pretty minor in the grand scheme of the view.

 

[Malcon10t]

I want to add the left 2 tents are for hotel guests, the right 3 are for everyone. Every time I have approached the tents, there has been less than 3 people in any line. Longest I waited was 2 min 38 secs because I chose the line with a stroller (I usually know better) and they had to pull everything out from under the stroller. (They only offered the womans purse.) Then they found something and the guests had to take it "back to your car". Looked like mini nunchukas. This was the non-hotel line.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I want to add the left 2 tents are for hotel guests, the right 3 are for everyone.

I'm really happy to hear this! I think it's important to give DLR hotel guests some small perks. It makes me remember when I visited as a kid, my family would drive over for day trips and I was always envious of the people who stayed at the Disneyland Hotel. The main reason for the envy wasn't so much staying at the hotel as much as the special line hotel guests could use for the Monorail.

 

[AustinTink]

I think they are going to have to change it for those wanting to get breakfast at White Water Snacks. If someone is staying at PPH and they want a quick breakfast at White Water Snacks, they really shouldn't have to walk around to ESPN Zone. I know that opens up everyone saying they are going there for breakfast, even if they aren't, bu it doesn't seem fair that those who want a quick breakfast would have to go walk around the long way and go through security.

I think they care more about people paying $600 a night than people paying $20 for breakfast. It's not fair.

 

[heybets30]

I'm confused. I thought I'd ask a stupid yet clarifying question ... are the security tents then GONE between DCA/DL and DtD - I turn right out of the DL turnstiles to go to La Brea, and I don't have to exit through the tents, it's wide open? So, we stay on Harbor ... we'll still walk through security after walking down by the bus drop-offs. Then - if we want to go straight to Downtown Disney, we no longer walk through any additional security check points? Meaning, when we want to leave downtown Disney, like Tortilla Jos, we will walk straight back into the park, there isn't any security between DtD and the parks?? Did I get that right??

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I'm confused. I thought I'd ask a stupid yet clarifying question ... are the security tents then GONE between DCA/DL and DtD - I turn right out of the DL turnstiles to go to La Brea, and I don't have to exit through the tents, it's wide open? So, we stay on Harbor ... we'll still walk through security after walking down by the bus drop-offs. Then - if we want to go straight to Downtown Disney, we no longer walk through any additional security check points? Meaning, when we want to leave downtown Disney, like Tortilla Jos, we will walk straight back into the park, there isn't any security between DtD and the parks?? Did I get that right??

Yes that is correct.

 

[heybets30]

Thanks! THAT'S AWESOME! It was always such a pain, and made no sense why they didn't do this sooner. During our non-park days, we enjoy walking to DtD from Harbor, and that security stop between the parks & DtD just never made sense to us.

 

[gardengirl2790]

Aha, gotcha. Thank you.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

Thanks for the pics. Tents aren't bad IMO and good they used a dark color instead of white. Happy to learn they did away with the other security spot, like heybets, going to dtd and staying on Harbor makes it easier

 

[danceanddisney2010]

For the last 3 or 4 years our visits to Disneyland have been with a stay at the GCH and our next trip we will be staying there as well, so the new changes won't really affect us as it is what we always do. I personally however feel that all on property guests should be able to use all of the same entrances. I personally don't care if someone from PPH wants to use the GCH entrance to DCA. I think it is perfectly okay to say that off property guests cannot use it, but to keep Disney Owned Hotel Guests away is WHACK. There are not a lot of on-property perks as it is... so don't take this away as well. Bummer!