New Back Entrance to DCA?

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Deleted because I posted in the wrong thread and was completely off-topic! Blame my fuzzy morning brain after a full day in the parks yesterday.

 

[Pluto468]

Breakfast at the Veranda

- No lox today, but there was avocado toast and the doughnut bar

This looks wonderful! Your day is off to a good start

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

This looks wonderful! Your day is off to a good start

Ugh! I posted in the wrong thread!

 

[corgi_monster]

So they were just checking keys to see that you were 'onsite' guests? Sounds as if it's not restricted to PPH guests then.

Wonder if that's because DGC is (from what I could see from the video) 'connected' to the pathway or if they'll let DLH guests use it too.

Correct, they just wanted to see the key card. When he saw it was a GC Chip and Dale card he even gave us directions on how to get to our room.

 

[LilyJC]

We just finished a stay at the DLH in a 2 bedroom suite which was situated in the Frontier Tower. My youngest and I decided to try the new PPH DCA entrance this morning to see if it would work for DLH guests. It was so fast and easy! We went out the doors near the elevator in our tower and exited the perimeter gate to head to the crosslight. I scanned in at the entrance gate to the right of the GCH gate with my digital key, and it worked! No wait for security or to scan our passes. They were handing out these buttons at all the entrances including the PPH entrance.

​

We walked out to a super empty corner of DCA and walked onto all the smaller rides in that area up to Little Mermaid.

Disclaimers: we didn’t rope drop - we headed over between 8:20-8:30am. No clue what it would be like earlier. We also didn’t walk back that way. As with all things Disney, YMMV, but I wanted to share our experience

 

[Pluto468]

Thanks for the report! I'm glad the entrance worked for you. The button is so cute!

Around how long was your walk from DLH? We are staying there in June and will be excited to use that entrance on our DCA days if possible.

 

[DizMe]

We just finished a stay at the DLH in a 2 bedroom suite which was situated in the Frontier Tower. My youngest and I decided to try the new PPH DCA entrance this morning to see if it would work for DLH guests. It was so fast and easy! We went out the doors near the elevator in our tower and exited the perimeter gate to head to the crosslight. I scanned in at the entrance gate to the right of the GCH gate with my digital key, and it worked! No wait for security or to scan our passes.

Wait a minute...they're letting people in without having to go through security, or do you mean the security at the gate was quick? Did they do a bag check? This is making me uneasy...

 

[LilyJC]

Thanks for the report! I'm glad the entrance worked for you. The button is so cute!

Around how long was your walk from DLH? We are staying there in June and will be excited to use that entrance on our DCA days if possible.

So we commented that we should have timed it, but maybe 5 minutes including waiting at the light. Granted we were in the Frontier Tower which is crazy close anyway. And yes, we collect buttons so we were excited!

This is making me uneasy...

No need to be uneasy. They of course have security at all entrances. Poor wording I suppose, but there was no line to get through the security at that particular entrance. Bag check, metal scan, the whole 9 is back there… My youngest even commented that they looked bored.

 

[CeCe0906]

After the World of Color Dessert Party/Show, my group needs to meet our driver at the front of the Grand Californian. Would this exit be the fastest, less people, or should we use the exit by Grizzly River, and cut through the hotel?

Edited to say we are staying at DLH. Part of our party dropped there while I get my bag and move on to Universal Hotel stay.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Wait a minute...they're letting people in without having to go through security, or do you mean the security at the gate was quick? Did they do a bag check? This is making me uneasy...

There’s no one at the first gate, you just scan your room key. At the actual entrance gate next the Goofy’s Sky School, there is security and a main gate cast member to scan your ticket/pass, but there’s no line like at the main entrances.

There’s zero chance they’re letting anyone in without passing through security. They are super tight at Grand Cal lately. In fact, in the evening they won’t even let you in to the quick serve without a room key or reservation to the adjacent table service at Craftsman’s.

 

[cinder-ellah]

We just finished a stay at the DLH in a 2 bedroom suite which was situated in the Frontier Tower. My youngest and I decided to try the new PPH DCA entrance this morning to see if it would work for DLH guests. It was so fast and easy! We went out the doors near the elevator in our tower and exited the perimeter gate to head to the crosslight. I scanned in at the entrance gate to the right of the GCH gate with my digital key, and it worked! No wait for security or to scan our passes. They were handing out these buttons at all the entrances including the PPH entrance.

View attachment 676712​

We walked out to a super empty corner of DCA and walked onto all the smaller rides in that area up to Little Mermaid.

Disclaimers: we didn’t rope drop - we headed over between 8:20-8:30am. No clue what it would be like earlier. We also didn’t walk back that way. As with all things Disney, YMMV, but I wanted to share our experience

Wow! Thank you for your report on your experience with this.

 

[DLgal]

They are super tight at Grand Cal lately. In fact, in the evening they won’t even let you in to the quick serve without a room key or reservation to the adjacent table service at Craftsman’s.

What??? Since when is that restricted to hotel guests? It has never been before.

 

[DonnerB]

What??? Since when is that restricted to hotel guests? It has never been before.

Can confirm I had the same experience on 6/1 around 7:30 pm. We wanted to grab a blondie and were told Craftsman “was at capacity.”

 

[DLgal]

Can confirm I had the same experience on 6/1 around 7:30 pm. We wanted to grab a blondie and were told Craftsman “was at capacity.”

Wow. That's ridiculous.

 

[stagemomto3]

I had a talk with one of the managers of the Grand Californian a couple of weeks ago, and she said that the main complaint from guests is that the hotel is often overrun by non-guests. Given the proximity to the parks, lots of people use it as a cool-off zone, etc. They were apparently looking into instituting some restrictions on access, so maybe this is a start. I agree that those who pay the high price to stay there probably should get some extra perks. She did say that was one of the reasons for the new entrance to DCA, so that guests from other hotels would avoid walking through the lobby.

 

[StormyCA]

What??? Since when is that restricted to hotel guests? It has never been before.

It was that way years ago...GCH guests only without an ADR or a receipt from Storytellers. Then they went to GCH guests only during the morning 'rush' but eased off after (IIRC) 11 am. Then it went to 'whoever, whenever'. I think the policy has been swinging back and forth ever since then. We were 'carded' once entering the last time we stayed there in 2018 and a couple of years before that (I think it was our stay in 2015) one of our party forgot to take their key card so another of us had to run up to the room to get it for them. They were able to enter DCA with no problem that morning, but they wouldn't let them back into the hotel with our group later that same day! They really need a consistent policy. Maybe with the new gate being available and/or once MB+ comes they will be. MB+ would know if you are a resort hotel guest or not.

 

[DizMe]

No need to be uneasy. They of course have security at all entrances. Poor wording I suppose, but there was no line to get through the security at that particular entrance. Bag check, metal scan, the whole 9 is back there… My youngest even commented that they looked bored.

There’s no one at the first gate, you just scan your room key. At the actual entrance gate next the Goofy’s Sky School, there is security and a main gate cast member to scan your ticket/pass, but there’s no line like at the main entrances.

There’s zero chance they’re letting anyone in without passing through security. They are super tight at Grand Cal lately. In fact, in the evening they won’t even let you in to the quick serve without a room key or reservation to the adjacent table service at Craftsman’s.

Thank you!! I feel much better. I mean, Disney has always been great about security so I was hoping I just overreacted.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Can confirm I had the same experience on 6/1 around 7:30 pm. We wanted to grab a blondie and were told Craftsman “was at capacity.”

It’s definitely a recent change. I am in the habit of running over to the Craftsman QS to grab the nachos (one of several items identical to items on the menu with table service at the bar) for a reservation-free quick lunch, and had done so as recently as last month.

I also can appreciate how stupid busy it can get in the GCH lobby. You have unrestricted access from DTD, and while only hotel guests can ENTER DCA through GCH, anyone can EXIT the park through the lobby. It’s a main reason I’d never own points at a Monorail Hotel (and I’m guilty of clogging up the Poly lobby with the rest of the hoi polloi waiting for my Ohana breakfast).

To be clear, you can still access the main lobby, the DVC wing, Storytellers and Napa Rose, and Hearthstone Lounge, you just can’t go past the DCA entrance towards Craftsman Grill or the spa without a key card or Craftsman ressie.

 

[DLgal]

It was that way years ago...GCH guests only without an ADR or a receipt from Storytellers. Then they went to GCH guests only during the morning 'rush' but eased off after (IIRC) 11 am. Then it went to 'whoever, whenever'. I think the policy has been swinging back and forth ever since then. We were 'carded' once entering the last time we stayed there in 2018 and a couple of years before that (I think it was our stay in 2015) one of our party forgot to take their key card so another of us had to run up to the room to get it for them. They were able to enter DCA with no problem that morning, but they wouldn't let them back into the hotel with our group later that same day! They really need a consistent policy. Maybe with the new gate being available and/or once MB+ comes they will be. MB+ would know if you are a resort hotel guest or not.

I think you misunderstood. The access to Craftsman Grill is what is being restricted to resort guests, not the DCA entrance to the parks.

 

[DLgal]

It’s definitely a recent change. I am in the habit of running over to the Craftsman QS to grab the nachos (one of several items identical to items on the menu with table service at the bar) for a reservation-free quick lunch, and had done so as recently as last month.

I also can appreciate how stupid busy it can get in the GCH lobby. You have unrestricted access from DTD, and while only hotel guests can ENTER DCA through GCH, anyone can EXIT the park through the lobby. It’s a main reason I’d never own points at a Monorail Hotel (and I’m guilty of clogging up the Poly lobby with the rest of the hoi polloi waiting for my Ohana breakfast).

To be clear, you can still access the main lobby, the DVC wing, Storytellers and Napa Rose, and Hearthstone Lounge, you just can’t go past the DCA entrance towards Craftsman Grill or the spa without a key card or Craftsman ressie.

Well, I guess it's a good thing we chose GCH for our 4th of July weekend stay.