New Security Entrance

[Porsche4]

Just saw that the new security entrance to Downtown Disney is open. Does anyone know if this is now the entrance that the Disneyland Hotel Guests will use or are those staying at that hotel going to get their own dedicated entrance closer to the monorail station.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

From what we saw today, it looks like the old DLH security area is completely fenced off. Everyone was being directed to the new security area.

 

[Porsche4]

From what we saw today, it looks like the old DLH security area is completely fenced off. Everyone was being directed to the new security area.

I read somewhere that they were going to make that old entrance a private entrance for DLH guests. I really hope they do, there needs to be some perks to staying at such an expensive hotel and not having to line up with the hoards of people coming in from the car park would be a bonus. Staying in December, so hopefully they might get that happening before then.

 

[LKing]

Yes, I was there today. Some of the gates were not open so there was a long line. It moved very quickly. I think it took us less than 15 min to get into DTD from the back of this line.

Some of the gates were closed. This was around 10 am. I think there were four or five security lines open.



Line stretched back over half way to the DLH entrance.



Onto the important things.



Not a very large restroom and there were no hooks on the door or walls for bags. Hand dryers are over the sink so that the floor doesn't get wet. It does mean that people stand at the sink for longer as they dry their hands.

 

[kes601]

I read somewhere that they were going to make that old entrance a private entrance for DLH guests. I really hope they do, there needs to be some perks to staying at such an expensive hotel and not having to line up with the hoards of people coming in from the car park would be a bonus. Staying in December, so hopefully they might get that happening before then.

Scott Gustin posted on Twitter (I'm not sure who it was) that the "old" entrance was going down for a refurb but would re-open.

 

[GrimGrinningGuy]

How do you get to this entrance from the Disneyland hotel?

 

[LKing]

How do you get to this entrance from the Disneyland hotel?

If you exit by the sorcerer's hat, you turn right. It is half a block down on the left side. Normally, you would walk straight and Din Tai Fung, the new band stand and children's play area would be on your right. The new entrance is just on the other side of Din Tai Fung. When you enter, the restaurant and children's play area will be on your left side. You walk straight and turn left along the path aside the play area to get to the section of DTD that you are used to (near Star Wars Trading). Eventually, that entire section will be filled with stores and restaurants so it will be a hub in and of itself.

They could form a designated entrance for the DLH, but I can't see why. What would be the intent of this entrance? Would it only be used for Pixar Place hotel guests?

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

What time does this new security entrance open in the morning? I might be staying at the BW Stovall's which is on Katella so I assume this would be the security entrance I would be using. I normally stay on Harbor so this area and time security opens on this end is new to me.

 

[MonocularVision]

If you exit by the sorcerer's hat, you turn right. It is half a block down on the left side. Normally, you would walk straight and Din Tai Fung, the new band stand and children's play area would be on your right. The new entrance is just on the other side of Din Tai Fung. When you enter, the restaurant and children's play area will be on your left side. You walk straight and turn right along the path aside the play area to get to the section of DTD that you are used to (near Star Wars Trading). Eventually, that entire section will be filled with stores and restaurants so it will be a hub in and of itself.

They could form a designated entrance for the DLH, but I can't see why. What would be the intent of this entrance? Would it only be used for Pixar Place hotel guests?

So does this mean that the walk will be longer for some folks at the DLH, specifically those in the Fantasy tower? Seems they would need to head more South than they currently do only to head back North into DTD.

 

[hhisc16]

Staying at VDH this June and going to DL, what is the best route to the park?
monorail? DTD?

 

[LKing]

So does this mean that the walk will be longer for some folks at the DLH, specifically those in the Fantasy tower? Seems they would need to head more South than they currently do only to head back North into DTD.

It really isn't that far away. I don't know the different towers and didn't pay attention to what was behind me, but it is only the length of a restaurant (Din Tai Fung).

 

[LKing]

Staying at VDH this June and going to DL, what is the best route to the park?
monorail? DTD?

You would pick up the monorail within DTD. You leave your hotel, pass through DTD security, walk a half block, and board on the monorail. It will take you to Tomorrowland.

While taking the monorail might save time compared to entering via the main gate, you miss entering Disneyland by walking down Main Street. My personal recommendation would be to walk into the park through the main gates, and take the monorail from Tomorrowland back to the DTD stop when you are returning to your hotel.

You can take the train from ToonTown station to Tomorrowland and the the monorail is just a short distance from the train station. New Orleans Square train station is currently closed.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

Its insane to me they built this and did not upgrade the Security....no idea why Disneyland is one of the only parks where people have to go through your stuff when we have the tech to detect items and only go though bags that are flagged

 

[LKing]

Its insane to me they built this and did not upgrade the Security....no idea why Disneyland is one of the only parks where people have to go through your stuff when we have the tech to detect items and only go though bags that are flagged

I mentioned this in the other thread. I believe they are looking for things that cannot be detected by the WDW detectors. Marijuana and vaping may be more of a problem at DL than WDW.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I mentioned this in the other thread. I believe they are looking for things that cannot be detected by the WDW detectors. Marijuana and vaping may be more of a problem at DL than WDW.

But Six Flags, Knotts and Universal all have devices that seem to do that

Like at Six Flags you can walk in with things in your pockets and they pull you aside if anything is trying to be smuggled in

 

[Porsche4]

If you exit by the sorcerer's hat, you turn right. It is half a block down on the left side. Normally, you would walk straight and Din Tai Fung, the new band stand and children's play area would be on your right. The new entrance is just on the other side of Din Tai Fung. When you enter, the restaurant and children's play area will be on your left side. You walk straight and turn right along the path aside the play area to get to the section of DTD that you are used to (near Star Wars Trading). Eventually, that entire section will be filled with stores and restaurants so it will be a hub in and of itself.

They could form a designated entrance for the DLH, but I can't see why. What would be the intent of this entrance? Would it only be used for Pixar Place hotel guests?

I think eventually they are going to make the old security gates near the Sorcerers Hat into a dedicated entrance for DH guests only just like they have created a private entrance into DCA for Pixar Hotel guests. They won't have a specific line at the new entrance for hotel guests right now but hopefully they will upgrade the old one so DL Hotel guest have the same perks as guest at both GCH and Pixar Place. The price per night certainly warrants it.

 

[Porsche4]

Staying at VDH this June and going to DL, what is the best route to the park?
monorail? DTD?

A vlogger did a comparison of using the monorail versus walking to the main entrance for rope drop strategy and the main entrance beat the monorail by quite a bit of time. They actually don't open the monorail until really close to the time that they would be dropping the ropes within the park so with the time it takes to actually travel to the monorail station within the park you are significantly behind the rope drop crowd when you get off. Having said that if you plan on having a slower start morning and don't care about being right at rope drop then the monorail would be a fun way to start the day.

 

[hhisc16]

A vlogger did a comparison of using the monorail versus walking to the main entrance for rope drop strategy and the main entrance beat the monorail by quite a bit of time. They actually don't open the monorail until really close to the time that they would be dropping the ropes within the park so with the time it takes to actually travel to the monorail station within the park you are significantly behind the rope drop crowd when you get off. Having said that if you plan on having a slower start morning and don't care about being right at rope drop then the monorail would be a fun way to start the day.

Thanks!
We plan on rope dropping DL one day while at VDH and rope dropping DCA one day while at VGC.

 

[LKing]

Like at Six Flags you can walk in with things in your pockets and they pull you aside if anything is trying to be smuggled in

I don't know which Six Flags you are referring to. Both Knotts and Magic Mountain allow smoking in designated areas. Disney does not.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I don't know which Six Flags you are referring to. Both Knotts and Magic Mountain allow smoking in designated areas. Disney does not.

Magic Mountain

Thats cool but they for sure with tech have a way to see these items via scans, like vaping is a device and would show up in a scan so should be good

Also just checked at WDW they use scanners....so its only Disneyland for some reason that is behind the times...and with this it would have been EASY to just build them into the area