The Disneyland Hotel Superthread

[wallawallakids]

We are planning a pool day on Labor Day - would also like to know about crowd levels - how early do you suggest we get to the pool? Can one of us go down and hold two chairs and have the rest of the family join later in the day?

You can rent a cabana. That’s what I would do. It would guarantee you space and it’s worth it if you are planning to spend the day. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable saving chairs. There are many chairs at the pool. Esp now that there are two pools.

 

[mcm574]

You can rent a cabana. That’s what I would do. It would guarantee you space and it’s worth it if you are planning to spend the day. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable saving chairs. There are many chairs at the pool. Esp now that there are two pools.

Sorry, should have clarified, I wouldn't hold an extra chair if it was crazy crowded, nor would I do so for especially long. That said, I'd still value advice anyone might have about how early in the day we might want to get to the pool if we do want to find a space but don't plan to rent a cabana?

 

[soniam]

Does anyone have a current general range for drink prices at Trader Sams? Are they pretty similar to drink prices at the WDW location? I found a reddit post from two years ago that had them around 15$ a drink, but they must be close to 20$ now? Just trying to budget!

Weird. The prices aren’t in the app. I guess because you can order drinks without buying the mug. The Palm Breeze Bar menu prices are in the app. TS will probably be more expensive.

 

[wallawallakids]

Sorry, should have clarified, I wouldn't hold an extra chair if it was crazy crowded, nor would I do so for especially long. That said, I'd still value advice anyone might have about how early in the day we might want to get to the pool if we do want to find a space but don't plan to rent a cabana?

Oh ok. Sorry! I would get there between 8-9am. The pool opens at 8.

 

[AustinTink]

We have stayed at GCH before but this will be our first time at DLH. Is it better to cut through the Grand entrance for California Adventure or walk around to the front?

 

[MartyParty]

We have stayed at GCH before but this will be our first time at DLH. Is it better to cut through the Grand entrance for California Adventure or walk around to the front?

Maybe. There is also the Pixar Pier side entrance that opened in 2022. It's for all Disney property staying guests. You'll need your room card to access the gate.

Thread with video.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...las-at-disneyland-hotel.3932874/post-65212916

Map to entrance

 

[LKing]

Depending on what part of the park you want to see, I would either use Pixar Place or go to the front gates. If you are doing EE, the PP entrance is much faster. The downside is that you enter the park near Golden Zephyr which is still a long walk from Avengers Campus, CarsLand, etc.

 

[AustinTink]

Maybe. There is also the Pixar Pier side entrance that opened in 2022. It's for all Disney property staying guests. You'll need your room card to access the gate.

Thread with video.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...las-at-disneyland-hotel.3932874/post-65212916

Map to entrance
View attachment 889536

Thanks. I thought it was exclusive to Pixar Place hotel guests. This should be a good option for us on our Oogie Boogie night.

Does it work with Magic Bands or room card only?

 

[LKing]

Thanks. I thought it was exclusive to Pixar Place hotel guests. This should be a good option for us on our Oogie Boogie night.

Does it work with Magic Bands or room card only?

Edit to correct: It looks like you can use the PP entrance for OBB: https://www.disboards.com/threads/o...ween-party-2024.3946274/page-49#post-65690846

All theme park entrances have a CM with a portable device that can scan your ticket or your MB+. If you are talking about how to prove you are a hotel guest for EE, some have mentioned that their keys were not checked at the PP entrance. That might be because a key is needed to enter the gate to access that area. For non EE times, no one checks to see if you are a hotel guest or not. Once you use your key to get in the gate, you don't need it anymore.

 

[AustinTink]

Edit to correct: It looks like you can use the PP entrance for OBB: https://www.disboards.com/threads/oogie-boogie-bash-–-a-disney-halloween-party-2024.3946274/page-49#post-65690846

All theme park entrances have a CM with a portable device that can scan your ticket or your MB+. If you are talking about how to prove you are a hotel guest for EE, some have mentioned that their keys were not checked at the PP entrance. That might be because a key is needed to enter the gate to access that area. For non EE times, no one checks to see if you are a hotel guest or not. Once you use your key to get in the gate, you don't need it anymore.

All good info, thanks. And I’m assuming my magic band+ works at all the checkpoints including the initial gate for entry.

 

[soniam]

All good info, thanks. And I’m assuming my magic band+ works at all the checkpoints including the initial gate for entry.

It works at the tapstiles into the parks and LL readers. It won’t work for charging or as a room key.

 

[AustinTink]

It works at the tapstiles into the parks and LL readers. It won’t work for charging or as a room key.

Ok thanks! Wasn’t sure about the room keys.

 

[AndrewC]

A word of caution before you get set on the Pixar Place entrance for OBB, I would keep checking to make sure people verify that it’s open for OBB and especially for entry right at the start of the party. I’m pretty sure it was last year, but when I went fairly deep in the season (somewhere around Oct 12th) staff were very much “Ummm I think it’s open for OBB… yeah, it probably is.”

Ultimately the Grand Californian line looked like it would take 10 minutes or less, so I opted for that line (and it did go very fast.)

 

[bfrosty]

Anyone do Trader Sam's Mixology Seminar lately? Is it cool? Worth it? Does your whole family go? or just DAD!!!! LOL. Thanks for any advice.

 

[AndrewC]

The only information I could find is they had a number of sessions back during the food and wine festival in spring.

 

[DizMe]

Anyone do Trader Sam's Mixology Seminar lately? Is it cool? Worth it? Does your whole family go? or just DAD!!!! LOL. Thanks for any advice.

I didn't know/remember they had this! I am guessing it's a special event and not offered regularly. I went to one on the passholder terrace in DCA once and it was fantastic. It was something you could sign up for through Dapper Day, but I've not heard of it being done since then.

 

[wench]

Is the lounge that opened in the former Steakhouse 55 area still open? If so, does anyone know its name?

 

[Philsfan77]

Maybe. There is also the Pixar Pier side entrance that opened in 2022. It's for all Disney property staying guests. You'll need your room card to access the gate.

Thread with video.
https://www.disboards.com/threads/f...las-at-disneyland-hotel.3932874/post-65212916

Map to entrance
View attachment 889536

I would do the front entrance for DCA...leaving the park we typically made sure we finished our day in Pixar Pier and came back from the Pixar Pier entrance/exit next to the corn dog stand.

Sorry I meant to respond to AustinTink and clicked the wrong person to respond to

 

[cruisehopeful]

Is the lounge that opened in the former Steakhouse 55 area still open? If so, does anyone know its name?

I saw a sign a couple days ago that said they have live music and food/drinks from 5:00-10:00pm. I think it's just called the lounge at the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[LarsoftheJungle]

Checking in tomorrow! Yay! I understand you can go early and use the pool before check in...how does that work exactly? Is there a place to ditch luggage or do you drag it to the pool? How do you access the pool? Is there a changing room to use there?

I've seen people saying the lines to check in are really long and it's best to just check in through the app and use and electronic key, but what if we have more another adult who needs a key (and don't want to download the app)? Can I share the electronic key somehow or do you have to have the app? Is there anywhere I need a physical key for? I thought I read someone say that somewhere but now can't find where.

Thanks!