Random Questions a week before we leave!

[wendow]

I don't want to start a new thread for all my questions so I hope it's ok to just post stuff here as I think of it. I know there are several of us leaving soon so all are welcome to post here and add questions of your own. Most likely, I'm wondering too

Thank you to all the regular contributors! Y'all have been so helpful

Wondering about walking to DTD from the HOJO? Is that a doable walk (considering we will be pushing a wheelchair)? We will have our car. Should we drive instead, and how much is parking at DTD?

One of the things we love to do at WDW is check out each Disney resort and have a meal (usually CS). Are we allowed to do that at DLR? Read some chatter about GC not allowing non-guest in, so I wasn't sure what that was referring to. Are the resorts worth taking the time to go see? Are they heavily themed like at WDW?

When everyone says to be at the park 30 mins before opening, can you get through security at that point, and then just held at turnstiles?

Do either park do any kind of 'Welcome Show' at opening?

 

[DizneyMommy]

Ok so...

1 - HOJO. I would totally walk it, not sure if I would walk it with a wheelchair? Parking will not be faster or more convenient, just less physical effort. That would be up to how fit and energetic you all are really.

2- You can go check out and dine at the hotels, but they aren't really all that exciting TBH. Nothing like WDW. GCH is very pretty, you can enter from the DTD entrance and eat, shop, etc. You cannot go in the main entrance on Disneyland Drive because they don't allow people to cut through to the parks. I would check out GCH but skip the other two. Especially PP.

3 - You can get through security crazy early, like 5am ;-) And then wait at the turnstiles.

4 - No welcome show, just a voice telling you not to run and counting down. They will usually do rope drop in both parks, and hold you back at the Hub in DL, and a few points in DCA. If you want to be towards the front, I would be at the turnstile about 45 minutes early.

 

[smartlabelprint]

Agree.

Whitewater snacks may be the only cs in the hotels. I think everything else is ts.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

We walk all the time from Hojo to downtown Disney, never with a wheelchair, but I would still definitely walk. You will spend more time and effort and money dealing with driving and parking. Downtown Disney parking is not cheap, but they do offer parking validation. I don't recall current time limits and rates, but I think it would be very limiting especially when you are staying so close by already. Downtown Disney is just past the esplanade between the two parks. It's all quite walkable.

There are restaurants at each of the onsite hotels and you are welcome to enjoy them whether or not you are staying at that hotel. The difficulties with entering the GCH have to do with people entering through the main entrance and using the hotel as a pass through. The security checkpoints are choke points so they discourage this. You will have no difficulty entering the GCH from the DCA or DtD entrances. GCH has Storyteller's and Napa Rose for sit down. Storyteller's is a character meal for breakfast and brunch. White Water Snacks is counter service and fairly popular. I believe the Napa Rose lounge is also walk-up.

The Disneyland Hotel has Trader Sam's bar and Tangaroa Terrace counter service. There is also a coffee shop which serves Dole whip and pastries and drinks; I hear they close early in the day, sometime in the afternoon usually by 3 PM. Steakhouse 55 is a sit-down but has a bar/lounge that is non-reservation. Goofy's Kitchen is character dining.

Paradise Pier has the PCH Grill which is a character meal in the morning and sit-down dining in the evening. There is a coffee shop too I believe. I wouldn't bother going to Paradise Pier to eat unless I was interested in the PCH Grill.

 

[RunningPrince]

As previous posters stated, GCH has White Water Snacks for counter service and Hearthstone Lounge for drinks and food. Hotel is themed similarly to Wilderness Lodge at WDW with mission style furniture with a large fireplace and great room adjacent to the lobby area. From the Esplanade area between DLR and DCA, follow the red line on the map through Downtown Disney through the DTD GCH entrance and around the pool area to White Water Snacks at the red X.

DLH has Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar and Tangaroa Terrace. These counter service restaurants are Polynesian-themed and just like Grog Grotto at WDW Poly, Trader Sam’s has signature drinks, mugs and special effects unique to location (try the Shipwreck, Krakatoa or Uh-Oa). Hotel is themed to modern contemporary and there are many historic photos and Disneyana on display by elevators and between hotel and adjacent convention center. The pool slides are monorails. From the Esplanade area, follow the green line through Downtown Disney, exit through security just past the recently closed ESPN Zone and head under Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat and turn left to Trader’s Sams and Tangaroa Terrace at the green X.

PPH has the Surfside Lounge for counter service. The hotel is themed to surfing with a Goofy statue in surfing gear and surfboard in the lobby entrance. It is the only hotel that put Pixar Fest theming and banners throughout the lobby and rooms. From the Esplanade area, follow the blue line through Downtown Disney, exit through security just past ESPN zone and turn immediately left onto the walkway down to Paradise Pier. You can enter between the PPH parking garage and PPH following the blue line to Surfside Lounge at the blue X.

Each hotel has its own personality and ambiance. Enjoy checking each one out to get ideas for future trips!

 

[WonkaKid]

I don't want to start a new thread for all my questions so I hope it's ok to just post stuff here as I think of it. I know there are several of us leaving soon so all are welcome to post here and add questions of your own. Most likely, I'm wondering too

Thank you to all the regular contributors! Y'all have been so helpful

Wondering about walking to DTD from the HOJO? Is that a doable walk (considering we will be pushing a wheelchair)? We will have our car. Should we drive instead, and how much is parking at DTD?

It's actually pretty close. I suspect driving would take twice as long, what with the parking lot hassles. (not to mention the $20 you'll be charged). Definitely walk. I've only stayed there once but I believe it's less than ten minutes even at a leisurely pace.

 

[chickapin parterre]

Welcome show, a family is drawn from the front of the lines at the gates and introduced as the first visitors. Toontown has a welcome show also.....of course all of this depends on what you consider a show.....nothing like Farquaadland.

as for the entrance gates, it all depends how you want to spend that time waiting, the closer you are to finishing the Criminal photography, the sooner you can be herded into the magical rope drop. There are some folks who say that waiting for rope drop is a waste of time, that a void opens up about 10 mins to rope drop at the gates and fast entry. And if you are not a Peter Pan attraction fan, then rope drop is a waste of time and just enjoy the elements of Main street and then follow the crowd to whatever land you start the journey.

 

[Brancaneve]

Hi! I couldn´t tell if there are kids in your group. If you don´t have anyone under 21 traveling with you, I recommend Trader Sam´s Tiki Bar in the Disneyland hotel. The bar area is small but if you can snag a table it is a fun place to hang out. The bartenders and areas of the bar get very animated when certain drinks are ordered!

If you have children travelling with you, it is still possible to visit the Tiki bar but you will have to sit outside on the deck area which is still lovely. Sometimes they have live Hawaiian music.

 

[agamble]

They do choose a family each day to "open the gates". The opening at Toon Town is a bit better. If you have little kids get to Toon Town 5 mins early (opens an hour after regular park opening). Characters come out and greet kids. Then they walk little ones in by the hand. It's a fun experience. At rope drop time a message plays welcoming you tobthe park and asking you to walk to your next destination.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

It's actually pretty close. I suspect driving would take twice as long, what with the parking lot hassles. (not to mention the $20 you'll be charged). Definitely walk. I've only stayed there once but I believe it's less than ten minutes even at a leisurely pace.

Yup, it only takes about 8- 10 minutes to walk from our hotel to the Main Gates of Disney, then it depends on where you want to go in DTD. I normally tell our guest that from the Main Gates it takes about 10-15 minutes to walk to ESPN Zone or Earl of Sandwich, which it at the other end of DTD. Then from there about 2-3 minutes to walk to Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel. I've done this walk pushing a double stroller, backpack, and kids, so I say its pretty doable while pushing a wheelchair.

IF you have time, GCH is pretty nice to go see and I love listening to the pianist play Disney songs, and they have White Water Snacks for CS. Traders Sams is nice too! If you can, try to grab a seat inside and order one of their specialty drinks; fun stuff happen when you do

-Kriss

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I think Trader Sam’s allows kids inside until a certain time of day. Anyone know that info?

 

[azdisneylover]

While you are in DCA and by Grizzly Rapids, why not pop into the GCH to atleast eat at White Water Snacks? Perfect place to sneak away from the crowds and grab something to eat while planning the rest of the day. You can check out the hotel too, and then, head back into the parks. If you want to go back into DCA, it's right there, for DTD or DL, you follow the signs in the hotel. There are ramps for wheel chairs to avoid the stairs.

 

[Malcon10t]

I think Trader Sam’s allows kids inside until a certain time of day. Anyone know that info?

I believe it is 8pm, after that is over 21 only. But they have a nice outdoor patio with live music.

 

[RunningPrince]

I believe it is 8pm, after that is over 21 only. But they have a nice outdoor patio with live music.

Yep, kids allowed inside Trader Sams until 8pm at the side tables but can’t sit at the bar.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland-hotel/trader-sams/

 

[Malcon10t]

Yep, kids allowed inside Trader Sams until 8pm at the side tables but can’t sit at the bar.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland-hotel/trader-sams/

Right. Under 21 cannot sit at bars in CA.

 

[gottalovepluto]

The only hotel dining I think worth doing is Trader Sam’s for lunch IF it fits in your schedule. Lunch is pretty chill there and, unlike WDW, you can get a full meal. The Fantasy Tower at DL has a lot of neat old photos. Seeing the monorail pool slide is neat. If you have some extra time to kill or want a break from the parks it’s neat to poke around DLH but I would not give up any Park time to do so. The monorail stop in DtD is very close to DLH.

And definitely walk from HOJO. Parking can be miserable at DLR for the parks.

ETA: I see you mention pushing a wheelchair, just FYI there are ECV options out here similar to WDW that will deliver to your hotel.

 

[Malcon10t]

Adding to gottalovepluto, I also enjoy looking thru the Frontier Tower. The Lounge at Steakhouse 55 is also very good. It doesn't open until 430p though.

And in GCH, the Hearthstone Lounge is very good.

 

[wendow]

Hi! I couldn´t tell if there are kids in your group. If you don´t have anyone under 21 traveling with you, I recommend Trader Sam´s Tiki Bar in the Disneyland hotel. The bar area is small but if you can snag a table it is a fun place to hang out. The bartenders and areas of the bar get very animated when certain drinks are ordered!

If you have children travelling with you, it is still possible to visit the Tiki bar but you will have to sit outside on the deck area which is still lovely. Sometimes they have live Hawaiian music.

Sounds great! We will have 4 kiddos in tow but the outside deck would be fun. One of our fav resorts at WDW is the Poly so this sounds like our kind of thing

 

[wendow]

While you are in DCA and by Grizzly Rapids, why not pop into the GCH to atleast eat at White Water Snacks? Perfect place to sneak away from the crowds and grab something to eat while planning the rest of the day. You can check out the hotel too, and then, head back into the parks. If you want to go back into DCA, it's right there, for DTD or DL, you follow the signs in the hotel. There are ramps for wheel chairs to avoid the stairs.

I didn't even realize we could enter GCH from DCA until I asked about it here. That's perfect! So excited to grab a snack there and see the resort. It looks so beautiful from the pics!

 

[wendow]

ETA: I see you mention pushing a wheelchair, just FYI there are ECV options out here similar to WDW that will deliver to your hotel.

The wheelchair (we own one) is for my dd18. And while she is technically able to rent a ECV, I would be terrified she'd run over people For everyone's safety, we will stick to her chair