We are staying at the Grand Californian Hotel for 3 nights next weekend. We heard that resort guests get early entry privlidges. Does this work if we are annual pass holders, or only if we use a park hopper as part of a hotel package?
You can get EE any day that it is offered if you are currently a guest of any of the 3 Disney hotels and hold any valid pass, including an annual pass. For your admission to EE, you will need to show the hotel charge slip that you are issued at registration along with your AP. The hotel charge slip shows the dates of your stay.