security checks and park hopping?

[incruzcontrol2]

Hello.

Can someone please explain how the security checks work? Are they located outside the entrances? Or at the entrances? Do you have to go through them again if you are park hopping from one park to another? Do they go pretty fast?

I heard to make sure to go through them before you go to entrances or else you'll end up waiting in line again, but last time we were there, the security was at the entrances. so I am confused? Thanks.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Hello.

Can someone please explain how the security checks work? Are they located outside the entrances? Or at the entrances? Do you have to go through them again if you are park hopping from one park to another? Do they go pretty fast?

I heard to make sure to go through them before you go to entrances or else you'll end up waiting in line again, but last time we were there, the security was at the entrances. so I am confused? Thanks.

They are on either side of the esplande, once thru, you can go between both parks.

Jack

 

[nunzia]

Here's another question..We're staying at the Grand, will go off site to get some alcohol, so we enter back in through the esplande and have to pass through security on our way to the hotel. Will that be a problem since they might think we are trying to take the alcohol into the parks?

 

[HydroGuy]

Here's another question..We're staying at the Grand, will go off site to get some alcohol, so we enter back in through the esplande and have to pass through security on our way to the hotel. Will that be a problem since they might think we are trying to take the alcohol into the parks?

I would expect that will cause a problem and you would need to go around. It's always possible you could ask a security person to walk your items with you to the other side of the esplanade so you can get to the GC. I would check with them once you are there.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hello.

Can someone please explain how the security checks work? Are they located outside the entrances? Or at the entrances? Do you have to go through them again if you are park hopping from one park to another? Do they go pretty fast?

I heard to make sure to go through them before you go to entrances or else you'll end up waiting in line again, but last time we were there, the security was at the entrances. so I am confused? Thanks.

There used to be separate security entrances for both parks. Now there is one to facilitate park hopping.

The issue of making sure you go thru security is for folks who show at the gates super early in the morning before security arrives. If they bypass security and go to the gates they will be asked to leave (and lose) their spot at the gates and go back thru security. Bottom line is if you arrive early in the morning, just wait at security if you want to be first in line. They normally open security about 30 minutes before the park opens (or MM begins), at which time you can go thru and get a spot at the gates and wait there for the final 30 minutes until the park opens.

You can see the current east and west security setup here: Interactive Map of DLR - http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.809...2&z=19&l=0&m=b

 

[S. S. Columbia]

I see that BlackJackDelta and HydroGuy already answered the OP's question, but since I already typed this, I might as well post it.

The following wikimap shows the 2 security check-points.
http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8090876&lon=-117.9189554&z=19&l=0&m=b

Guests coming from Harbor Blvd. use the 'East Security Guest Bag Check' (3 green tents).

Guests coming from DTD use the 'West Security Guest Bag Check' (4 green tents).

Like JackBlackDelta mentioned, you don't need to go through security when you park hop.

The security personnel usually arrive at the green security tents approximately 30 or 35 minutes before DL opens.

If you get to the main entrance before the security personnel arrive, then you should not wait at the turnstiles, and you should wait at the (unmanned) green security tents. When security arrives, any of the guests who waited at the turnstile-area will have to leave the turnstile-area and have to go to the back of the line at the green security tents.

Hope this helps.

 

[incruzcontrol2]

Wow! You all are so fast and so informative! Thanks so much. I'm so glad this forum is here.

 

[thornphoenix]

Hi!

We're staying at the Grand Californian. If we enter DCA via the Grand Californian guest entrance, is there a security check there?

If we want to go to Disneyland do guests of the Grand Californian have to walk down to the security check and then to the ticket gates?

Thanks for providing clarification for those staying at the Grand Californian.

Regards,
Tracey

 

[Littleprincess2010]

Just a quick question, if you are entering from the Harbour side can you access the DTD side Security tents? Is it faster to go on that side because they have 4 tents versus the 3 on Harbour side?

 

[CrazyDuck]

Hi!

We're staying at the Grand Californian. If we enter DCA via the Grand Californian guest entrance, is there a security check there?

If we want to go to Disneyland do guests of the Grand Californian have to walk down to the security check and then to the ticket gates?

Thanks for providing clarification for those staying at the Grand Californian.

Regards,
Tracey

The DCA entrance has it's own security table that you need to pass through. If you are going to DL then you would still need to pass through the security tables on the west side of the espalande since you need to go through Downtown Disney to get to DL from the GCH.

 

[HydroGuy]

Just a quick question, if you are entering from the Harbour side can you access the DTD side Security tents? Is it faster to go on that side because they have 4 tents versus the 3 on Harbour side?

I suppose you could walk all the way through in the morning before security arrives to wait on the DTD side. Whether that is faster I do not know. That is where the trams drop off folks from the M&F parking lot so there are a lot of people on that side too.

 

[Littleprincess2010]

I suppose you could walk all the way through in the morning before security arrives to wait on the DTD side. Whether that is faster I do not know. That is where the trams drop off folks from the M&F parking lot so there are a lot of people on that side too.

Thank you! I think we will try the security off Harbour when we go. I'll post back in my TR what our experiences were though

 

[bumbershoot]

I have always noticed that the Harbor side security is much much faster. Shorter lines, too. That's as long as you're getting there early...if you saunter in around 11 or noon, it's going to be longer.

If you go into DCA from the Grand, there are bag-checking CMs there. If you then hop to Disneyland from DCA, you don't go through a second bag-check.

If you think of the Esplanade as a big square...the Harbor and DTD bag-checks are two sides opposite each other. The other two sides are the DL and DCA entrances. Once you're inside of the square, going from park to park doesn't require going through the bag-checks again. But if you leave, then you do bag-check again.

Nunzia, if you're staying at the Grand, unless you're *walking*, you're not going to be coming back with your purchases through bag-check. You'd park, or be dropped off by the cab, back at the hotel. So you'd just come in the fancy-pants pretty sliding stained-glass door.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Here's another question..We're staying at the Grand, will go off site to get some alcohol, so we enter back in through the esplande and have to pass through security on our way to the hotel. Will that be a problem since they might think we are trying to take the alcohol into the parks?

Go to a store on the other side of the Park, off Katella so that you don't have to cross through the Esplande to get back to your hotel. Or - walk out the front of the hotel, walk down Katella to the 7/11 (or other stores) and get your alcohol there. No need to go through the Esplanade.

- Dreams

 

[nunzia]

I have always noticed that the Harbor side security is much much faster. Shorter lines, too. That's as long as you're getting there early...if you saunter in around 11 or noon, it's going to be longer.

If you go into DCA from the Grand, there are bag-checking CMs there. If you then hop to Disneyland from DCA, you don't go through a second bag-check.

If you think of the Esplanade as a big square...the Harbor and DTD bag-checks are two sides opposite each other. The other two sides are the DL and DCA entrances. Once you're inside of the square, going from park to park doesn't require going through the bag-checks again. But if you leave, then you do bag-check again.

Nunzia, if you're staying at the Grand, unless you're *walking*, you're not going to be coming back with your purchases through bag-check. You'd park, or be dropped off by the cab, back at the hotel. So you'd just come in the fancy-pants pretty sliding stained-glass door.

Well, We will be walking..when I stayed at the Jolly Roger for the Expo I saw an ABC store and thought my DH could go there to get his beer, but then of course we'd have to go through security to pass between the parks to get to the Grand.. How would one 'walk around'? I don't know how'd I'd do that...around how

 

[nunzia]

Go to a store on the other side of the Park, off Katella so that you don't have to cross through the Esplande to get back to your hotel. Or - walk out the front of the hotel, walk down Katella to the 7/11 (or other stores) and get your alcohol there. No need to go through the Esplanade.

- Dreams

I think I need a map..I am confused.....is there a 7-11 close by on Katella?

 

[HydroGuy]

I think I need a map..I am confused.....is there a 7-11 close by on Katella?

The 7-11 to which I have been is on the corner of Katella and Harbor.

See this link right in the middle:

http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=33.8036407&lon=-117.9156107&z=17&l=0&m=b