Paradise Pier and Park Entrance

[Torgue]

We will be at DLR in Oct and staying at PP. Our first day in the parks is on a Wednesday and both parks open I am guessing at 10:00am . We will want want to go straight for Fantasy Land and not sure the best entrance. I have been reading about the side entrance at GC into CA but not sure if thats faster to DL or by going through DTD ? Thanks

 

[kari12177]

Do the monorail in DTD, or walk all the way down in DTD to DLS front entrance, but we tried to race my parents by walking, and they took the monorail with a huge line, and still they beat us.

 

[Torgue]

Do the monorail in DTD, or walk all the way down in DTD to DLS front entrance, but we tried to race my parents by walking, and they took the monorail with a huge line, and still they beat us.[/QUOTE

Does the monorail start running at park opening or earlier?

 

[kari12177]

when the park opens, the monorail opens

 

[bumbershoot]

If you're going to Fantasyland, honestly, I'd just walk in.

.44 miles from PPH's front entrance to the middle of the esplanade, going through GCH, out into DTD, and to the esplanade. Then right up Main Street to the castle.

We tried, one morning, using the monorail, and being put off at Nemo, then having to walk all the way around Matterhorn, was just a pain, and we *feel* (we didn't time it) that it would have been faster just walking.

 

[Amy&Dan]

If you're going to Fantasyland, honestly, I'd just walk in.

.44 miles from PPH's front entrance to the middle of the esplanade, going through GCH, out into DTD, and to the esplanade. Then right up Main Street to the castle.

We tried, one morning, using the monorail, and being put off at Nemo, then having to walk all the way around Matterhorn, was just a pain, and we *feel* (we didn't time it) that it would have been faster just walking.

I agree with everything you said! I have done about ten stays total between PPH and DLH. I have learned from this that the monorail is not your best bet if you want to get to DL at opening. The monorail as said above doesn't open until the park does and if the line is long, you may have to wait for another monorail. All the while standing there thinking "I could be in the park by now had I just walked". And as said above, if you want to do Fantasyland first, you are better to walk.

I love the monorail at night both when I return to the parks after my midday break or go back to the hotel. But for the early morning entry, I prefer to walk. I just like to enter through Main Street and see the castle first thing!

 

[DTDkettleCORNfan]

Do DL and DCA open at the same time? I thought DCA always opened an hour later or so.....but maybe that is just the times we have been there.

 

[Vala]

Do DL and DCA open at the same time? I thought DCA always opened an hour later or so.....but maybe that is just the times we have been there.

As far as I am aware DCA is always opening later, yes.

 

[wannabimagineer]

.44 miles from PPH's front entrance to the middle of the esplanade, going through GCH, out into DTD, and to the esplanade. Then right up Main Street to the castle.

Does going through GCH save you a lot of time and walking from PPH to the esplanade? We're going to stay there in Oct and my wife was a little concerned with the walk.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do DL and DCA open at the same time? I thought DCA always opened an hour later or so.....but maybe that is just the times we have been there.

Well, DCA actually opens their gates at 9:30. Only Soarin' is available to ride, but you can get a nice leg up on the line to go elsewhere (usually Toy Story, but many people want FPs to other things, too, like TOT).

So on a day that DL opens at 10, and doesn't have MM and doesn't open THEIR gates early so that people can shop, get snacks, and watch the castle from the rope on Main Street before the turning to Adventureland or Tomorrowland, then DCA would actually open earlier.

Just to be specific.

But DCA's official opening time is 10. I've just never heard of them NOT opening for Soarin' a bit early.

Does going through GCH save you a lot of time and walking from PPH to the esplanade? We're going to stay there in Oct and my wife was a little concerned with the walk.

YES. If you follow PPH's signs tot he park, you will go out the back/side, walk all the way towards the back of the theater and DLH, walk to the side of the theater alongside DLH, then ALL the way through DTD. That's how we went the first time we stayed there, and it was ridiculous. Not just physically more tiring, but emotionally more tiring b/c we just wanted to be "home" (or at the park). And I hate malls, which DTD is.

I haven't used mapmyrun.com for the long walk, but I will later, and it'll compare.

Just leave out the *front* doors of PPH, get to the crosswalk, cross over, walk up to GCH's main entrance, go in their front doors. Turn left as soon as you can, to go down an interior walkway, go down the few steps they have twice or there's a ramp to the side, when you see sliding glass doors to the outside on the right, go out there, follow the path to DTD. Turn right, go ther est of the way through DTD, bag check, esplanade.

If you want to go to DCA, my husband felt it was easier to go through the GCH entrance into DCA...I kinda felt like by distance it was shorter to just go to the main gates, but then, we were always heading for Grizzly or Toy Story, and the DCA/GCH entrance gets you to THOSE places faster.

 

[wannabimagineer]

I had heard there was a shortcut to get to DCA, I didn't know you could take one to esplanade area. Thanks for the tip and directions bumbershoot.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I had heard there was a shortcut to get to DCA, I didn't know you could take one to esplanade area. Thanks for the tip and directions bumbershoot.

I think a lot of people dont' realize how much that shortcut buys them getting into DL as well as DCA. But its a lot quicker. I am weird and actually prefer the other way because I enjoy DTD. But sometimes my feet want as much of a break as I will cut them so I do take the shortcut bumbershoot mentioned.

 

[Torgue]

Do DL and DCA open at the same time? I thought DCA always opened an hour later or so.....but maybe that is just the times we have been there.

They will opening at 10:00am. This could be a mistake but I am guessing the times for the end of September will be the same as our trip in Oct.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=9&year=2009

 

[Hound 109]

We will be at DLR in Oct and staying at PP. Our first day in the parks is on a Wednesday and both parks open I am guessing at 10:00am . We will want want to go straight for Fantasy Land and not sure the best entrance. I have been reading about the side entrance at GC into CA but not sure if thats faster to DL or by going through DTD ? Thanks

If going to Fantasyland & wanting to be one of the first in, then it's always best to walk to the DL front turnstiles. (Whether it's an MM day or a regular day). If off season, arrive at the security tent at ?:25 to be first in line....if peak season arrive at the security tent at ?:15 - ?:20.

Follow Bumber's advice (trail) to get thru the GCH....into DTD....& on down to the DL turnstile.


If staying at the Paradise Pier, I have found the logical way to come & go is to:

- Thru the GCH into DTD to DL in the morning (have 3-5 FPs collected).
- Hop to DCA (have 1-2 FPs collected)
- Mid day break (possibly following Griz River Run)
- Thru the GCH private entrance to the PP for your break.
- Back thru the GCH private entrance into DCA (use the FP from earlier)
- Hop to DL after an hour or two (or three).
- Finish your day at DL (using the 3-5 FPs you collected earlier).
- Walk back to PP thru DTD/GCH (or if early enough take the Monorail from TL into DTD & walk back from there).

Rinse & Repeat every day. Change up as needed for shows, parades or meals.

 

[CinderellaDreamer]

What about if you want to ride Nemo? Would it be best to take the monorail on those days, or still better to be waiting at the turnstile for the park to open?

And what about from DLH? Is it still quicker to go thru GC or thru DTD?

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

The problem with Nemo is that you need to be at the end of the line, which isn't necessarily going to be really close to the ride. The monorail station is over Nemo, and it lets you out sort of alongside the line. If the line is really short, that's fine. If the line is already snaking around, then it might be better to walk. Someone else who has done it both ways, and who understands the topography around Matterhorn/Nemo better should pop in for you. (speaking of that, i must go with someone who really understands that area!!! my family remains clueless around there, LOL)

DLH...if you're going to DL, don't go through GCH. Either walk in, or take the monorail in if you're starting in Tomorrowland.

If you're going to DCA, and want to hit Grizzly or beyond into Paradise Pier, you might walk through half of DTD, go in the gates before Sephora (after the place that used to be Libby Lu and is something else now), and follow the path inside, then go to the DCA/GCH entrance. My hsuband liked doing that. I don't know if it's a time-savings though.

But if you are interested in Soarin' or TOT, Monster's, etc...I would just walk through DTD to the esplanade and wait at the main gates. I do not know the measurements on all of that, but it's what I would do and what we have done.