New Security Entrance

[AndrewC]

Gosh I hope this new DLH security entrance is open before the first week of December which is when we are staying at the villas. It will make getting into DTD and the parks so much easier and quicker.

That’s not going to work…. It needs to be open before October 19th, which is when I’ll be at the DLH, lol

And honestly, based on the looks of it, I could see construction being done in the next few weeks… just wonder when they’ll have staffing in place and if there is any DTD construction behind it that they might wait to be complete…

 

[Porsche4]

That’s not going to work…. It needs to be open before October 19th, which is when I’ll be at the DLH, lol

And honestly, based on the looks of it, I could see construction being done in the next few weeks… just wonder when they’ll have staffing in place and if there is any DTD construction behind it that they might wait to be complete…

Sure hope its open by then for you too. I mean its not exactly a complicated structure, it doesn't need walls etc so hopefully it will be open sooner than later. I would guess they are trying to get it finished before the Halloween season hots up too much as the hotels will probably be busy and the last thing they need is bad publicity from hotel guests. People already opt to stay in the cheaper hotels so they really need some perks to add some incentive for guests.

 

[LKing]

It probably won’t need much shade if it’s hotel guests only, that would likely move REALLY fast almost all the time, other than maybe the initial morning surge to get early entry or something.

It can be miserable for employees to work in that environment. My understanding is that is part of the reason that they only have a portion of lanes open at the new security is because it gets extremely hot for employees. That is probably why they keep switching up which lanes are open.

 

[AndrewC]

It can be miserable for employees to work in that environment. My understanding is that is part of the reason that they only have a portion of lanes open at the new security is because it gets extremely hot for employees. That is probably why they keep switching up which lanes are open.

Oh I was thinking there would be enough for them under the shades but not much to fit a line under there

 

[soniam]

Oh I was thinking there would be enough for them under the shades but not much to fit a line under there

Maybe at the new new one, but the current one doesn't have much shade once the sun is really up, even for security.

 

[Kapri18]

Can anyone who has been there in the past couple days confirm if they are still allowing DLH guests to enter earlier than others, at 6:45?

 

[LKing]

Can anyone who has been there in the past couple days confirm if they are still allowing DLH guests to enter earlier than others, at 6:45?

I can't speak for 6:45 vs 7:00, but I believe both DLH and PP can enter at the same time.

 

[LKeith2016]

We were there last week and entered aug 17, 18 and 19th. We were staying at DLH and were at security by 6:30 each morning. Two of the three days they asked to see a room key when they opened ~6:50 but on Sunday they didn’t. We were within the first handful of families at the turnstiles each morning and that was with casually brisk walking.

 

[AustinTink]

Any progress on the DLH security entrance? I’m starting to second guess our October reservation.

 

[LKing]

I’m starting to second guess our October reservation.

Because of security?

I was at the parks last weekend but didn't walk by the security construction. I can check this weekend.

 

[AustinTink]

Because of security?

I was at the parks last weekend but didn't walk by the security construction. I can check this weekend.

Because of the potential for a long wait at security with folks coming in from the parking garage and other places. When I booked DLH I should have done my homework. I just assumed it had its own security line.

Thanks for checking this weekend.

 

[soniam]

Because of the potential for a long wait at security with folks coming in from the parking garage and other places. When I booked DLH I should have done my homework. I just assumed it had its own security line.

Thanks for checking this weekend.

If you are doing early entry, it shouldn’t be an issue.

 

[LKing]

Because of the potential for a long wait at security with folks coming in from the parking garage and other places. When I booked DLH I should have done my homework. I just assumed it had its own security line.

Thanks for checking this weekend.

The parking garage isn't really a factor. There is a very large security entrance with trams at the Mickey & Friends and Pixar Pals Parking structures. If someone is going to the parks, there really isn't a reason for them to walk all the way to the hotel and then through DTD to get to the park entrance.

There was a very short period of time when security was transitioning to a new system and lines everywhere were longer than normal. That was when some guests tried walking from the structure to the Downtown Disney security. Very few walked around the corner to the new security because it is really out of the way if one is going to the parks.

Throughout the day, occasionally non-hotel guests will go to the hotels to for dinner. Far fewer non-hotel guests go to DLH than GCH.

 

[AustinTink]

If you are doing early entry, it shouldn’t be an issue.

I’d like to hope we would make it to early entry, but we move slowly in the mornings.

 

[AustinTink]

There was a very short period of time when security was transitioning to a new system and lines everywhere were longer than normal. That was when some guests tried walking from the structure to the Downtown Disney security.

Oh, gotcha. That is what i was thinking was the norm. Glad to know it was for a brief time.

 

[LKing]

Any progress on the DLH security entrance? I’m starting to second guess our October reservation.

As promised, I checked on the status of the new security today. These photos were taken around 9:30 am.

First, here is the line from Stitch parking into DTD. Normally they have more security lines open. There are two additional tents on the other side of the planter that are not being used because of construction.



DLH security being built by the sorcerer's hat (near Fantasy & Adventure towers). Building to the left is the old ESPN building. Two story building behind the trees on the right is the new Parkside Market building.



Close up



View from inside DTD. The old ESPN building is to the right. Din Tai Fung is to the left. Notice the white Baymax pumpkin on DTF's roof.



Line leading to the new DTD security. This was Labor Day weekend at 9:30 am.



Line to go through security (near Adventure and Frontier towers).

 

[AndrewC]

Man, that entrance looks basically done! I’m seriously hoping by the time I visit mid October that it’s open!

Is there any construction “behind it,” like on the inside DTD side? It doesn’t appear so from your photo, but I could see if it was really bottle necked or something because of barricades from surrounding construction that maybe they would hold off on opening this entrance…

 

[LKing]

Man, that entrance looks basically done! I’m seriously hoping by the time I visit mid October that it’s open!

Is there any construction “behind it,” like on the inside DTD side? It doesn’t appear so from your photo, but I could see if it was really bottle necked or something because of barricades from surrounding construction that maybe they would hold off on opening this entrance…

I couldn't see over the barrier from the DTD side. However in the close up shot above, you can see wood in the background. That is the back of the colorful barriers. The only thing I can see when I zoom in is a stack of 3-4 sandbags behind the barrier.

 

[AndrewC]

I couldn't see over the barrier from the DTD side. However in the close up shot above, you can see wood in the background. That is the back of the colorful barriers. The only thing I can see when I zoom in is a stack of 3-4 sandbags behind the barrier.

Ahhh, I was wondering if that wood was the temporary fencing or if that was construction from something else jutting way out into the walk way…

 

[AustinTink]

As promised, I checked on the status of the new security today. These photos were taken around 9:30 am.

First, here is the line from Stitch parking into DTD. Normally they have more security lines open. There are two additional tents on the other side of the planter that are not being used because of construction.

View attachment 890797

DLH security being built by the sorcerer's hat (near Fantasy & Adventure towers). Building to the left is the old ESPN building. Two story building behind the trees on the right is the new Parkside Market building.

View attachment 890793

Close up

View attachment 890798

View from inside DTD. The old ESPN building is to the right. Din Tai Fung is to the left. Notice the white Baymax pumpkin on DTF's roof.

View attachment 890799

Line leading to the new DTD security. This was Labor Day weekend at 9:30 am.

View attachment 890795

Line to go through security (near Adventure and Frontier towers).

View attachment 890796

It really does look almost done.. I can’t imagine it would take more than a couple more weeks.

Thanks for the great pictures!