New Back Entrance to DCA?

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Thought I'd share this speculation from Micechat.com:

New Back Entrance into Disney California Adventure​

When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, there was a special entrance into the Paradise Pier area of the park for Paradise Pier Hotel guests. However, budget cuts and the eventual expansion of the Grand Californian Hotel caused the closure and removal of the gate.



A new back entrance is now under construction for guests of the Paradise Pier Hotel near the driveway into the Grand Californian Hotel. The hotel was slated for a minor retheme when Paradise Pier became Pixar Pier, that project will finally begin soon, and guests of the hotel will have the perk of easier access to the section of the park it is named after.



Currently, guests entering the Grand Californian Hotel from Disneyland Drive will note the right hand lane is blocked with construction gates and barricades. This is the approximate area where the new entry pathway will begin for the DCA alternate gate.

 

[ScubaCat]

It'll be used for a box truck with toy story theming inside.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Currently, they have 6 or 8-seater golf carts that run guests back and forth from PP to GCH to allow for park entry. This will make a huge difference.

 

[dieumeye]

I hope PPH get refurbished, and they add a DCA gate for PPH guests, and the reconfiguration of DTD allows for a more convenient entrance for PPH guests.

It would really help the PPH not seem like such an outcast compared to DLH and GCH.

I just hope it would also come with a reworking of the terrible elevator system.

 

[DLRExpert]

Wondering where rope drop would be.

Now make a entrance gate or at least an exit gate from Galaxy's Edge to the Mickey and Friends Parking Structure.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Again thanks to MiceChat.com - here’s where the entrance will likely be on the park side:

 

[StormyCA]

Currently, they have 6 or 8-seater golf carts that run guests back and forth from PP to GCH to allow for park entry. This will make a huge difference.

They do? How does that work?

 

[AquaDame]

They do? How does that work?

My guess is secret handshake... we had no clue this existed either. My mother could have really used it last July... she had a heck of a time with the walk over.

 

[lizzytizzy]

Currently, they have 6 or 8-seater golf carts that run guests back and forth from PP to GCH to allow for park entry. This will make a huge difference.

I didn't know that they ran guests over to GCH. I thought those carts were for people using the pool at another hotel because PP's pool was under renovation. At least, that's what I was told when I was there last month. That would've been nice to know because my daughter is T1D and was running low from hanging in the parks all day.

 

[StormyCA]

My guess is secret handshake... we had no clue this existed either. My mother could have really used it last July... she had a heck of a time with the walk over.

I didn't know that they ran guests over to GCH. I thought those carts were for people using the pool at another hotel because PP's pool was under renovation. At least, that's what I was told when I was there last month. That would've been nice to know because my daughter is T1D and was running low from hanging in the parks all day.

I'm also curious because you can't enter the Grand through the front door unless you're a registered guest. One of the reasons they did this was because the DCA gate was getting inundated with PPH/DLH guests causing long lines. People staying at the Grand were NOT happy since they pay a 'premium' rate for that entrance. Kind of defeats the purpose if they're actively shuttling people over to use the DCA gate. And if they'd do it for PPH, wouldn't they do it for DLH too?

Using it to shuttle people over to the pool makes sense.

 

[lizzytizzy]

I'm also curious because you can't enter the Grand through the front door unless you're a registered guest. One of the reasons they did this was because the DCA gate was getting inundated with PPH/DLH guests causing long lines. People staying at the Grand were NOT happy since they pay a 'premium' rate for that entrance. Kind of defeats the purpose if they're actively shuttling people over to use the DCA gate. And if they'd do it for PPH, wouldn't they do it for DLH too?

Using it to shuttle people over to the pool makes sense.

When we were there last month, we were able to go to GCH to use the DCA gate. The security guard at the driveway asks to see your room key before he lets you go on. I was surprised that they started that up again because a couple of years ago, they stopped that practice and we had to go through DD.

 

[StormyCA]

When we were there last month, we were able to go to GCH to use the DCA gate. The security guard at the driveway asks to see your room key before he lets you go on. I was surprised that they started that up again because a couple of years ago, they stopped that practice and we had to go through DD.

I'm surprised, too! It was a big deal when they stopped letting non-guests in. I wonder if it's one of those 'pixie dust' things. Nice when it happens, but not to be counted on.

 

[DLgal]

I didn't know that they ran guests over to GCH. I thought those carts were for people using the pool at another hotel because PP's pool was under renovation. At least, that's what I was told when I was there last month. That would've been nice to know because my daughter is T1D and was running low from hanging in the parks all day.

You are correct. They do not shuttle people to the GCH in carts, and never have.

 

[bumbershoot]

One of the reasons they did this was because the DCA gate was getting inundated with PPH/DLH guests causing long lines. People staying at the Grand were NOT happy since they pay a 'premium' rate for that entrance.

I mean...no. It was a perk for ALL onsite guests. It was not a Grand perk. (source: I went many times and stayed onsite starting in 2007 and know perfectly well what the stated perks were for onsite guests)

I've stayed at the Grand and since I knew it was an onsite perk I as a guest never once cared that a line was long to get in. It wasn't a big deal.

It stopped after Vegas from what I recall, and really screeched to a halt in 2020.

 

[lizzytizzy]

I'm surprised, too! It was a big deal when they stopped letting non-guests in. I wonder if it's one of those 'pixie dust' things. Nice when it happens, but not to be counted on.

Not a pixie dust anymore. They let you through. That's what the front desk told me.

 

[808blessing]

About 10 years ago I was shuttled 2-3 times from PP to Disney Springs via golf cart. I don't know who asked but it was a thing for us.

 

[gelatoni fan]

Nothing is really absolute with this. Sometimes they'll check for Grand Californian room keys to allow you into the hotel but usually they won't. Sometimes they'll ask for a room key to allow you to enter California Adventure from there (especially in the morning) but they often won't. Even though it is a published perk that all Disney hotel guests can use that entrance, I have seen other Disney hotel guests denied access to entering the Grand Californian and using the Grand Californian DCA entrance.

On the other hand, I've also walked into the Grand Californian without being a guest there and a CM just handed me free bottled water and an energy bar.

 

[DLgal]

Nothing is really absolute with this. Sometimes they'll check for Grand Californian room keys to allow you into the hotel but usually they won't. Sometimes they'll ask for a room key to allow you to enter California Adventure from there (especially in the morning) but they often won't. Even though it is a published perk that all Disney hotel guests can use that entrance, I have seen other Disney hotel guests denied access to entering the Grand Californian and using the Grand Californian DCA entrance.

On the other hand, I've also walked into the Grand Californian without being a guest there and a CM just handed me free bottled water and an energy bar.

Agree. Last July 4th, they were ABSOLUTELY not letting PPH guests walk through the sidewalk gate to get to GCH. I know this because we were staying there and had to evacuate the pool area due to a fire alarm, so we went to wait at the PPH lobby rather than stand in the sun in the guest parking lot (where everyone was sent to). It ended up being an hour. When we were finally allowed back, we ALL had to show hotel key cards to get through the gate. There was a family from PPH behind us. They were told to go through the DtD entrance.

 

[Kender]

About 10 years ago I was shuttled 2-3 times from PP to Disney Springs via golf cart. I don't know who asked but it was a thing for us.

That would have been a really long golf cart ride

 

[AndrewC]

DLH better be able to use that entrance too otherwise it’s seriously getting the short stick. Grand has its fancy entry for its stupid high price. PP gets it’s own for its “rock bottom” (as Disneyland properties go) but mid priced DLH gets nothing?