Not staying at Grand Californian- can I still use DCA entrance to get to restaurants?

[dolewhipdreams]

After doing an intense search of all the options for Mickey waffles at DLR, it seems like White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian is going to be the cheapest and most convenient option- provided that we can get in through the DCA entrance to the hotel near Grizzly Peak.

We aren't staying at the GC, though, and I've heard this entrance is for hotel guests only. Does anyone have experience using this entrance to get to and from restaurants in the GC even though they weren't staying there?

 

[cutedisneygirly]

You can exit DCA through the entrance to go to the restaurants. You used to be able to use the entrance to get into DCA if you showed a restaurant receipt, but I'm not sure that's the case now.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I've never had a problem entering the GC from DCA to eat at the restaurants there. I don't believe you will be able to enter DCA from the GC though.

 

[Westcoastwild]

I've gone in and out that way. I like the GC lobby.

The entrance is kind of sporadically manned. I think if you run into any problem, it would be in the morning when it is definitely patrolled- if you were trying to enter the parks for the first time that day, I doubt you could do it there. But I've never had an issue in the afternoon.

 

[Indiana Scott]

Yes, have done it many times.
Great for grabbing a cool cocktail at the Hearth Lounge too.

 

[ashley0139]

Anyone can enter from the parks to the GC, it's a problem going from GC to the parks. I've done it plenty of times, even recently, in the afternoon when there is no line, but since you mention Mickey waffles you are probably talking about the morning and will have a more difficult time. You may have to go around to the main entrance to enter back into CA after your meal. You can always try though since it's right on the way and if they say no just continue around.

 

[hootey]

WhiteWater Snacks is one of the least expensive and best places to eat something quickly in the parks. It has your basic breakfast and lunch type menu. All the HOT items like waffles or burgers are made to order when you order them. The Hearth Stone Lounge is a great place to start the day with coffee(made to order) and a bagel. Also a great place for an afternoon or evening break from the parks with an adult beverage or a coke. The other places to eat are great as well, just depending on what you want and how much you are wanting to spend.

 

[dolewhipdreams]

Thanks for the input, everyone! It looks like we'll just have to see who is at the entrance. We'll try our luck and can always just go around.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Haven't they stopped checking room keys for the DCA entrance in the AM since they cut off lobby access to through guests?...I though they did.

Either way...have your Whitewater receipt in hand when returning to the park. In addition to hotel guests they would let ya through before 11am if you dined at one of the GCH restaurants but started cracking down when folks would go WWS and just buy a coffee to get DCA entrance access.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

We've had lunch at Whitewater a few times and never had a problem getting back into DCA through the GCH entrance. We tend to have lunch on the later side (around 2:00 p.m.), and the entrance has never had a line when we want to get back in. Last time I had the receipt out, but I wasn't asked to show it. The other thing I like about taking a Whitewater break is the restrooms. We usually hit them before going back into the park. They're always very clean, quiet and not at all crowded. It's a nice little retreat before going back to the park.

 

[ParkHopper1]

We tend to have lunch on the later side (around 2:00 p.m.).

While that entrance to DCA is technically only for resort guests (now only GCH guests), in practice it was only ever enforced up until 11am at which point anyone could unofficially use it.

 

[Malcon10t]

You can enter the Grand from DTD or from DCA. No problem accessing restaurants. You can exit form the hotel into the parks via the DCA entrance after 11am. Otherwise you the DTD exit and enter main gates.