Sunday Oct. 12th plan

[kkendle]

Our last day is Sunday Oct. 12th which is CHOC walk day...I have read that it is crazy busy and just getting into the park is awful. Park opens at 10 am and I read last year it was madness from about 9am on. So...any advice? I originally has reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at 8:30am but cancelled since we will have a late Fantasmic dessert package the night before. The Plaza Inn has no reservations for breakfast early...wondering if we should book Storytellers. Can we get into the park early if we do that breakfast? Or maybe we should sleep in and arrive at the park after opening...maybe it won't be so crazy? Any advice?

It is just me and my 17 year old daughter. Thanks!!

 

[figment_jii]

Our last day is Sunday Oct. 12th which is CHOC walk day...I have read that it is crazy busy and just getting into the park is awful. Park opens at 10 am and I read last year it was madness from about 9am on. So...any advice? I originally has reservations at Goofy's Kitchen at 8:30am but cancelled since we will have a late Fantasmic dessert package the night before. The Plaza Inn has no reservations for breakfast early...wondering if we should book Storytellers. Can we get into the park early if we do that breakfast? Or maybe we should sleep in and arrive at the park after opening...maybe it won't be so crazy? Any advice?

Storytellers is not inside a park; it's at the Grand Californian. So having an ADR at Storytellers isn't going to help you get into the park early.

I found that the lines to get into the parks were long for several hours after opening. I recall seeing DL's entrance lines stretching halfway across the Esplanade at noon, so I think it's going to be busy no matter when you go.

 

[kkendle]

Storytellers is not inside a park; it's at the Grand Californian. So having an ADR at Storytellers isn't going to help you get into the park early.

I found that the lines to get into the parks were long for several hours after opening. I recall seeing DL's entrance lines stretching halfway across the Esplanade at noon, so I think it's going to be busy no matter when you go.

Ugh...I thought there was an entrance to DCA from the Grand Californian? That is why I thought it might be a good place for a breakfast....like 8:30 am and then we go into DCA when it opens from the GC? Do I have this wrong? I don't care which park we go to first....just want to get in somewhere...our plans are from Fri-Sun in parks and have everything else planned so can't really change.

 

[figment_jii]

Ugh...I thought there was an entrance to DCA from the Grand Californian? That is why I thought it might be a good place for a breakfast....like 8:30 am and then we go into DCA when it opens from the GC? Do I have this wrong? I don't care which park we go to first....just want to get in somewhere...our plans are from Fri-Sun in parks and have everything else planned so can't really change.

Ah, yes, there is an entrance in DCA from the GF. I haven't used it first thing in the morning, but I have read reports that it's only available to guests of the Disneyland Hotels initially (I don't know when they start allowing non-Hotel guests to use it).

 

[kkendle]

Ah, yes, there is an entrance in DCA from the GF. I haven't used it first thing in the morning, but I have read reports that it's only available to guests of the Disneyland Hotels initially (I don't know when they start allowing non-Hotel guests to use it).

Hmmm...maybe I should call the dining people and ask them. I thought if our reservation was at 8:30 or 9...then the park would be open and we could enter.

Does this sound like a better plan than trying to enter the park the regular way or is it just DL that is horribly crowded that day?

 

[figment_jii]

Hmmm...maybe I should call the dining people and ask them. I thought if our reservation was at 8:30 or 9...then the park would be open and we could enter.

Does this sound like a better plan than trying to enter the park the regular way or is it just DL that is horribly crowded that day?

This thread from August indicated that the GCH Entrance was available to all guests after 11:00 am.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3311466

I think both parks were very busy, but I didn't really pay much attention to DCA's line.

 

[kkendle]

This thread from August indicated that the GCH Entrance was available to all guests after 11:00 am.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3311466

I think both parks were very busy, but I didn't really pay much attention to DCA's line.

Thanks for the help...sounds like my plan will not work then. I am calling the dining people to ask but your thread answers it for me.

 

[kkendle]

This thread from August indicated that the GCH Entrance was available to all guests after 11:00 am.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3311466

I think both parks were very busy, but I didn't really pay much attention to DCA's line.

Ugh...you are right...dining people told me I would not be able to use that entrance until 11am that day. So..that plan doesn't work. Plaza Inn is booked up until like 10:25 so I guess we will have to fight the crowds.

Thanks for your quick help!

 

[bumbershoot]

The dining people aren't going to have a trustworthy answer.

Alas, it's all up to the CMs that day at the DCA entrance; many times they allow people who have dined there that morning to get in. Sometimes they don't. But if you have a character meal at 8:30, you'll just be finishing up at 10am anyway, and then you'll join the line. The line from the Grand to DCA is insanity anyway (especially on Sunday of Columbus Day weekend IMO) and you have to join it early to get in on time on a normal day. So enter the line once you're done and you might be approaching a time they let others in.

They keep the "Disney hotel guests only" sign up all day every day (in the breezeway from the Grand to DCA), FYI. Sometimes it's enforced. Sometimes not.

 

[kkendle]

The dining people aren't going to have a trustworthy answer.

Alas, it's all up to the CMs that day at the DCA entrance; many times they allow people who have dined there that morning to get in. Sometimes they don't. But if you have a character meal at 8:30, you'll just be finishing up at 10am anyway, and then you'll join the line. The line from the Grand to DCA is insanity anyway (especially on Sunday of Columbus Day weekend IMO) and you have to join it early to get in on time on a normal day. So enter the line once you're done and you might be approaching a time they let others in.

They keep the "Disney hotel guests only" sign up all day every day (in the breezeway from the Grand to DCA), FYI. Sometimes it's enforced. Sometimes not.

Thanks for the insight....OK Carnation Cafe has availability at 9:40 and is inside DL...will the line to get in early for breakfast be just as insane? I thought they have a line for early dining people different from the regular lines. Maybe this is a better plan?

The dining people said they didn't have the answer and called the GC for the info I was given...doesn't make it true but that is what they told me.

 

[figment_jii]

Thanks for the insight....OK Carnation Cafe has availability at 9:40 and is inside DL...will the line to get in early for breakfast be just as insane? I thought they have a line for early dining people different from the regular lines. Maybe this is a better plan?

The dining people said they didn't have the answer and called the GC for the info I was given...doesn't make it true but that is what they told me.

I've never seen a turnstile entrance especially for early morning dining reservations. My guess is that you'll have to wait with everyone else to get into the park. Remember, there is an EMH/MM at DL that morning (9-10 am), so folks will be lining up to get into the parks from before 9:00 am.

 

[kkendle]

I've never seen a turnstile entrance especially for early morning dining reservations. My guess is that you'll have to wait with everyone else to get into the park. Remember, there is an EMH/MM at DL that morning (9-10 am), so folks will be lining up to get into the parks from before 9:00 am.

Ugh...I forgot about the EMH that day. I thought I read that there was a turnstile to the far left for dining reservations. Maybe that was WDW...guess I will have to call back.

All my plans are being foiled...haha!

 

[SMD]

Where is your hotel? With a 10am opening and the walk happening that day, if you have to cross the esplanade to get to one of the hotels for breakfast, I'd probably just have breakfast in the room or on Harbor. Then go line up for DCA and enter from the main turnstile. Not only does the walk cross the esplanade when it goes between parks, it ends at DTD, which means people will be walking in DTD for the walk, then walking back to the parks or back to the tram or back to Mickey & Friends. Entering at the main DCA turnstiles always seems less chaotic. But if it's your last day, I would try to get all of your must-do attractions done in both parks before then.

 

[kkendle]

Where is your hotel? With a 10am opening and the walk happening that day, if you have to cross the esplanade to get to one of the hotels for breakfast, I'd probably just have breakfast in the room or on Harbor. Then go line up for DCA and enter from the main turnstile. Not only does the walk cross the esplanade when it goes between parks, it ends at DTD, which means people will be walking in DTD for the walk, then walking back to the parks or back to the tram or back to Mickey & Friends. Entering at the main DCA

turnstiles always seems less chaotic. But if it's your last day, I would try to get all of your must-do attractions done in both parks before then.

Our hotel is across the street...best western park place inn and suites. So does it make a difference which park you are going into? I mean entering either park will be over ran with walkers?

 

[MommyJKM]

Our relatives like to stay off-site and have breakfast at Storyteller Cafe and you show your receipt and they let you in the DCA entrance from GCH.

They've done it more than 4 times that I can think of. It may be different for a huge event but that's the standard. If you eat breakfast at SC you can show your receipt and go in GCH's DCA entrance

 

[SMD]

Our hotel is across the street...best western park place inn and suites. So does it make a difference which park you are going into? I mean entering either park will be over ran with walkers?

I didn't attempt DCA for CHOC, but I did after a half marathon and it wasn't as bad. I think that the EMH and holding everyone at the hub was part of he problem. I also think that more people head to DL and that the way DL filters the crowds vs. the way DCA does it leads to less chaos. It also depends what you try to do first. I'm guessing that if you head for Soarin or ToT first you're going to encounter a lot less pushing than going for RSR FP or TSMM.

 

[GPmice]

Our relatives like to stay off-site and have breakfast at Storyteller Cafe and you show your receipt and they let you in the DCA entrance from GCH.

They've done it more than 4 times that I can think of. It may be different for a huge event but that's the standard. If you eat breakfast at SC you can show your receipt and go in GCH's DCA entrance

I just made reservations to do this so I sure hope it works! I had no idea Sunday would be crazy so now I'm freaking out a bit.

 

[kkendle]

I just made reservations to do this so I sure hope it works! I had no idea Sunday would be crazy so now I'm freaking out a bit.

How do you get to Storyteller's is you are staying offsite? We are staying at Best Western Park Place Inn...do you just walk through like you are going to the turnstiles but keep waling or do you go through an entrance to DCA?

 

[figment_jii]

How do you get to Storyteller's is you are staying offsite? We are staying at Best Western Park Place Inn...do you just walk through like you are going to the turnstiles but keep waling or do you go through an entrance to DCA?

When is your Storytellers reservation?

Assuming it's sometime after the CHOC walk is over, you can get to Storytellers either via the DCA entrance to the GCH (you will need a park ticket) or through DTD. I would usually recommend the DTD route because you don't have to deal with getting into a park.

From the BWPPI, go to bag check (like normal) and then proceed directly across the Esplanade and out into DTD. Walk through DTD until you get to the walkway to the GCH (on the left, just before Studio 365/Anna & Elsa Boutique). Follow that walkway into the lobby of the GCH and head to the pool area. You'll see signs for Storytellers at that point.

You could also go through DCA (if it's open and you have a valid park ticket). Enter DCA and head towards Soarin'. Follow that path until you get to the GCH entrance. Exit DCA via that gate and you'll see the pool area in front of you. Follow the path to the right and you'll see signs for Storytellers.

 

[kkendle]

When if your Storytellers reservation?

Assuming it's sometime after the CHOC walk is over, you can get to Storytellers either via the DCA entrance to the GCH (you will need a park ticket) or through DTD. I would usually recommend the DTD route because you don't have to deal with getting into a park.

From the BWPPI, go to bag check (like normal) and then proceed directly across the Esplanade and out into DTD. Walk through DTD until you get to the walkway to the GCH (on the left, just before Studio 365/Anna & Elsa Boutique). Follow that walkway into the lobby of the GCH and head to the pool area. You'll see signs for Storytellers at that point.

You could also go through DCA (if it's open and you have a valid park ticket). Enter DCA and head towards Soarin'. Follow that path until you get to the GCH entrance. Exit DCA via that gate and you'll see the pool area in front of you. Follow the path to the right and you'll see signs for Storytellers.

Our reservation is at 9:30 and I am assuming they let us in the park a bit early so we can get to it. I am thinking maybe entering through DCA might be quicker but I am not very familiar with it all. Is there a special gate for early dining guests? I called and they said for DL the early entry gate is gate 1. I am assuming there is a special gate for DCA.

Thanks!