Paradise pier walkway is open!

[katyringo]

WDW prep
School has a Facebook post stating that the walkway from DCA to paradise pier hotel is now open!

 

[dieumeye]

I wonder: can anyone use this as an EXIT from the park? Or is that also restricted to hotel guests only.

 

[sweethannah]

I wonder: can anyone use this as an EXIT from the park? Or is that also restricted to hotel guests only.

It looks like from the wording it's for hotel guests only, and specifically PP guests. It doesn't appear to include guests of all Disney properties, at least on the surface. I can't see it being open to the regular public for exit, defeats the purpose of it being marketed as something exclusive to PP guests.

 

[Pluto468]

Cool! I wonder if their prices will go up.

 

[Lesley Wake]

Cool! I wonder if their prices will go up.

Probably after the retheme is completed and walkway becomes more permanent. Can't imagine them increasing prices during the construction, but then again, it is Disney.

 

[Pluto468]

That's going to really make the value of paradise Pier go up. I've booked it a few times when DLH was unavailable but ultimately cancelled because there didn't seem to be much benefit to it. I might stay there now, though. It would be a good hotel for 1-2 nights before going to DLH, rather than staying on Harbor. Their usual rates start at $444 which is similar to Courtyard Marriott and other hotels.

 

[katyringo]

That's going to really make the value of paradise Pier go up. I've booked it a few times when DLH was unavailable but ultimately cancelled because there didn't seem to be much benefit to it. I might stay there now, though. It would be a good hotel for 1-2 nights before going to DLH, rather than staying on Harbor. Their usual rates start at $444 which is similar to Courtyard Marriott and other hotels.

I agree. Especially if they get all the food options up and going.

 

[dieumeye]

It looks like from the wording it's for hotel guests only, and specifically PP guests. It doesn't appear to include guests of all Disney properties, at least on the surface. I can't see it being open to the regular public for exit, defeats the purpose of it being marketed as something exclusive to PP guests.

The Grand Californian gate to DCA is open to anyone to enter or exit the park. Why not this one?

I would doubt the Paradise Pier gate to DCA would ever be open to the public, since they wouldn’t want people walking in off the street. But as an EXIT, I can see it being open to anyone, as the GCH gate is.

 

[Aulani2011]

Very exciting. Should be a much closer exit for those staying off Katella.

 

[sweethannah]

The Grand Californian gate to DCA is open to anyone to enter or exit the park. Why not this one?

I would doubt the Paradise Pier gate to DCA would ever be open to the public, since they wouldn’t want people walking in off the street. But as an EXIT, I can see it being open to anyone, as the GCH gate is.

You could be right, it does say entrance is open to PP guests, not exit.

 

[DontSpamMe]

I wonder if this has more to do with reducing traffic through the Grand Californian.

 

[katyringo]

I'm hopeful that with this open they will announce early entry very soon.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

This is so interesting- makes me think about considering PP for our October stay! Does anyone know if the pool is open? Last I remember hearing on here people were being golf carted to GCH and Disneyland Hotel to use their pools? Which would be just fine lol... any recent experiences on it?

 

[shosh1530]

No experience, but I've seen reports that the PP pool is open!

And agree, this makes me think about PP as an option for the future. I stayed their one time in the 1990s long before Disney took the hotel over (I think it was called the Emerald or something). It would be fun to try it again as long as the prices don't climb too much..

 

[katyringo]

I think with early entry returning and now this entrance it will move up on people's list. The price is comparable to many of the non motel like places around like the Courtyard..

 

[gelatoni fan]

Next to the gate where you scan your Disney hotel key card to enter the Grand Californian pedestrian entrance, there's a sign that points to the other gate which says Paradise Pier Hotel Guests Only. I stopped and thought "that's new!" but didn't even think to check if I could leave that way yesterday. Now I'm blocked out so I can't even go in to the park today to find out...

The Grand Californian entrance says Disney hotel guests only so I'm pretty sure this is a PP only entrance.

 

[Kit Jackson]

My last trip was pre-Covid. We could not use the GCH hotel entrance because we were not staying there. We could use the GCH hotel exit.

 

[LeiaOfAlderaan]

We’re staying at PP next month and I was thinking of upgrading to GCH if a summer discount comes out. Now I’m thinking we might stick with PP to check out this new entrance/exit (and save money lol). I really don’t blame them for making this an exclusive for PP guests in both directions. PP gets so much hate both on these boards and on TripAdvisor. They are probably trying to make it seem more attractive to potential guests, especially since there is no food there and probably won’t be for the foreseeable future while they change to Pixar Pier.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

Since VGC wing is so close to this entrance and so far away from the Grand Cal entrance to DCA this bums me out. Hopefully we can at least use it as an exit.

 

[twodogs]

I think with early entry returning and now this entrance it will move up on people's list. The price is comparable to many of the non motel like places around like the Courtyard..

With this perk, I doubt the price stays as is… I expect price increases are upcoming.