Lunch at California adventure ?

[FLCA026]

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of places open for lunch. Is it best to just go back to downtown Disney to have a meal?

 

[DLgal]

There doesn’t seem to be a lot of places open for lunch. Is it best to just go back to downtown Disney to have a meal?

Yes, it is. DCA is kind of a food desert these days.

 

[FLCA026]

Ok. We haven’t ever been there but I like the restaurants at downtown Disney

 

[Matrixleos]

GC hotel is connected to and has a separate entrance into DCA. We have a lunch reservation there at Craftsman Bar and Grill for our DCA day.

Been told that if we show our lunch reservation, they'll allow us to use that entrance to leave and return back to the park. If not, we're ready to cancel it, as we're not wasting time walking through Downtown Disney.

 

[FLCA026]

Good to know. I’ll check that out.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

GC hotel is connected to and has a separate entrance into DCA. We have a lunch reservation there at Craftsman Bar and Grill for our DCA day.

Been told that if we show our lunch reservation, they'll allow us to use that entrance to leave and return back to the park. If not, we're ready to cancel it, as we're not wasting time walking through Downtown Disney.

The walk from the Grand DTD exit to the main gates is short, only a couple of minutes. I wouldn’t cancel a lunch reservation over it, personally.

Although I also think they’ll let you use the entrance directly into DCA if you’re there with a food receipt.

 

[SeaDis]

GC hotel is connected to and has a separate entrance into DCA. We have a lunch reservation there at Craftsman Bar and Grill for our DCA day.

Been told that if we show our lunch reservation, they'll allow us to use that entrance to leave and return back to the park. If not, we're ready to cancel it, as we're not wasting time walking through Downtown Disney.

I think no doubt on this one-- they will let you right into Craftsman Grill and right back into DCA. It's like 75 feet between the exit and the restaurant. I love our CMs and I do whatever they tell me. But in this case if you are turned around, I would ask for a second opinion. And maybe a third. If you walk around DTD, you are going to pass by the exact same corridor.

 

[MikeRx]

The entire DLR is a TS/food desert especially after July 10th. I hope the changes coming June 15th open more times and dates for the currently available offerings and adds a few more venues to the mix to help absorb the ever growing summer crowd.

In my opinion, I'd take the 5-7 minute walk around through DTD it it means eating a relaxing lunch at Craftsman. The stroll through the meat locker cold lobby of the GCH is worth the diversion in the often tripled digit summer of SoCal.
Mike

 

[FLCA026]

Sounds like a plan. Hopefully we can go there to have lunch.

 

[Matrixleos]

I found this info from another site...

According to the signs, the entrance is for Grand Californian Guests only, but the only time this seems to be enforced is at park opening. Throughout the day any guests who might be dining at the Grand Californian’s restaurants, etc. have a legitimate reason to use the entrance to enter/exit the park. The private entrance opens at the same time the main entrance to DCA opens. You must pass through a security checkpoint with a bag check and metal detector.

Looks like the entrance for Hotel Only guest are mostly only enforced in the morning rush. The DCA park entrance should be open for dining guests and we'll schedule around that.

Also according to park maps, looks like the Grand Californian entrance is right in front of Grizzly River Run. If DLR opens up their lockers by the time we go (currently they're closed), I think we'll put all our backpacks and items in the Grizzly River Run lockers before lunch. Just to make getting through the entrance and security checkpoint easier. Those Grizzly River Run lockers are available at no charge for the first 2 hours, according to the Disneyland website.