Walk from PPH to entrances....and other misc Q&A :)

[bellazachmom]

Thanks for this post-we are also taking our first trip to DL this fall but are frequent WDW visitors-and I love planners as crazy as myself so I can get some answers without driving the Disnyland pros out of their mind with questions!! lol
We will be staying at PPH hotel also and I have read that the elevators are so slow that they can take 15 minutes or more-is this an exaggeration? Stairs are usually not an issue without luggage for us but I have requested a high floor for the view and my family might disown me if we try stairs during at Disney trip!!

We are DVC members so usually stay at The Grand in the DVC rooms BUT we got APs last year and have made many trips down this past year and have stayed at PP each time ~ we really like it.

The room sizes are great and they are bright and light. We had heard stories about slow elevators but never really had an issue except when I was there in July for the 60th and then it was only minor. We were on the 14th floor and had a little trouble getting an elevator one morning so we tried the "up to go down" trick I had read about on here and it worked great.

We pressed the "up" button, had and elevator in about 30 seconds, rode it up one floor, let the doors open, pressed the Lobby button and we were on our way down

 

[4Siamese]

Question #5....The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland makes Finding Nemo sound like a horrible, time-sucking nightmare. Is that really a 35-70 minute time commitment to ride? If so, when do we plan to try to experience it?

Going to play devils advocate somewhat on this one.... If you have never ridden the ride I would consider doing it.

Now having said that yes it is a whole lot of a nightmare, the load times make it a L O N G wait, If you have any issues regarding enclosed spaces its a nightmare and as the day progresses the interior of the sub can take on a rather unappealing odor, not to mention the very close quarters that your fellow submarainers will be in relation to you (if you think they cram you in on the boats for the Jungle Cruise just wait).

Some people enjoy it, so for that reason I would say give it ago to see for yourself but be prepared for it to not live up to any expectations.

 

[grnflash]

Question #5....The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland makes Finding Nemo sound like a horrible, time-sucking nightmare. Is that really a 35-70 minute time commitment to ride? If so, when do we plan to try to experience it?

Does it use those words? I would. It is a horrible, time-sucking nightmare. We rode it on our last trip a couple years ago, and decided to avoid it like the plague this time. It's absolutely not worth it. If it had an indoor queue and the wait was 5 minutes... I'd consider it, but would still probably skip it.

Too funny! I feel the exact same way.

Though if the OP has never been to DL AND has the time, then yeah ya gotta do everything once. Just once though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Is there any advantage or disadvantage to using either route in the mornings for early entry?

No, because for early hours you want to use the MAIN entrance to DCA anyway, and so for either park you're going through the esplanade.

The walk through the Grand involves going into DTD. You come out of the Grand to find Sephora on your right, the hair boutique on your left, and Haagen Dazs in front of you (across the walkway). Turn right and you join the people heading to DTD-side bag check. Then choose your park.

As a PPH guest you *can* enter DCA through the Grand, but don't do it for opening-time. Do that later when there won't be lines, and when you know you want to hit Grizzly immediately, or go deeper into the park.

 

[RKKUNK]

BTW, we did use the "go up to go down" trick and it worked. We never waited long at all. Use this especially in the a.m.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

May pixie dust rain down on all of you! I am feeling better already. That's 7 questions taken care of....I'm sure I'll have more!

We leave for California on October 10th and arrive at DLR on Monday the 12th (Columbus Day). That's our evening to ride the monorail, train, and check out the ambiance at Cars Land. Getting our feet wet and building the excitement....like we'll need that!!! I'm hoping that our three full days at the parks will be only moderately crowded and that we can see and do most everything on our lists. We'll have the Halloween Party to look forward to that Friday as well.

A couple more quick questions.....

#1 I understand that riding in the cab of the monorail is still a possibility at DLR. Can anyone provide more info on that? We'll have three boys (10, 8, and 4) with us that would all love that.

#2 You can also request to ride with the train conductor, right? My nephew (the 4 year old) is a train FREAK and would be in absolute heaven to get to do that. I realize asking for these perks will slow down the process, but it would be sooooooo worth it.

 

[bellazachmom]

May pixie dust rain down on all of you! I am feeling better already. That's 7 questions taken care of....I'm sure I'll have more!

We leave for California on October 10th and arrive at DLR on Monday the 12th (Columbus Day). That's our evening to ride the monorail, train, and check out the ambiance at Cars Land. Getting our feet wet and building the excitement....like we'll need that!!! I'm hoping that our three full days at the parks will be only moderately crowded and that we can see and do most everything on our lists. We'll have the Halloween Party to look forward to that Friday as well.

A couple more quick questions.....

#1 I understand that riding in the cab of the monorail is still a possibility at DLR. Can anyone provide more info on that? We'll have three boys (10, 8, and 4) with us that would all love that.

#2 You can also request to ride with the train conductor, right? My nephew (the 4 year old) is a train FREAK and would be in absolute heaven to get to do that. I realize asking for these perks will slow down the process, but it would be sooooooo worth it.

You absolutely CAN ride in the monorail cab with the pilot and it's a lot of fun. When entering the loading area at either location just find a CM and ask what you need to do / where to wait. There is usually a group or two waiting, and the cab can be full when it pulls in so you might have to wait for a few trains but they come along pretty quickly so it's not that big of a deal. There is also a limit of 4 guests in the cab so keep that in mind.

You can also ride with the train engineer, not the conductor, in the engine cab of the train but it's a bit harder to coordinate for a couple of reasons. It is only available on a few engines, #1 & #2, I believe, and only when they will not be needing to fill the engine reservoirs with water or the coal. Also, it is limited to 2 people so not everyone in the group can do this. You can only do it when boarding / exiting at the Main Street Station. So, if you are lucky enough to hit it just right, or to be able to wait for the right train, know that 2 people riding will be gone for at least 30 minutes while the train makes a full loop. To try and make this happen, find one of the conductors at the Main Street station and ask if it would be available and he will coordinate it with the engine crew for you if it is.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Thank you, bellazachmom! My nephew's whole life will be made if he gets to ride with the engineer so we'll make sure we get this done. All the details are very much appreciated! And, while I usually defer to others for fun opportunities, I'm pulling rank on the monorail thing! I never got to do it in all my trips to WDW so I'll be the grown-up with the three boys in the monorail cab!

 

[bellazachmom]

Thank you, bellazachmom! My nephew's whole life will be made if he gets to ride with the engineer so we'll make sure we get this done. All the details are very much appreciated! And, while I usually defer to others for fun opportunities, I'm pulling rank on the monorail thing! I never got to do it in all my trips to WDW so I'll be the grown-up with the three boys in the monorail cab!

It's a really neat experience and the pilots can be a lot of fun to talk to.

They LOVE talking to WDW visitors because of the differences with the monorails at both parks. They have all seemed amazed that the monorails at WDW fall under "transportation" while at DL they are an "attraction". I was fortunate enough to ride in the cab of the WDW monorails many times before they stopped the practice for safety reasons so I love that I can do it once again.

 

[Geemo]

I put the Nemo Sub ride on the same level as Mickey's Fun Wheel in DCA.
Both are time sucking rides.
If you're going to spend the time to ride the fun wheel do it at night when the view is nicer.

Geemo

 

[bellazachmom]

Also, the conductors on the trains LOVE to visit with guests, at the stations and while on board if you are able to sit near they stand on the train.

We've learned all kinds of neat trivia and had some wonderful pixie dust sprinkled on us by these conductors just by being friendly and interested in their job and the railroad.

I highly recommend chatting with all CMs whenever you get a chance, but especially the conductors with your nephew and let them see how much he loves trains -- you just never know what might happen

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Can I just say how wonderful everyone on the Disneyland board has been? I nearly left the DIS altogether when I first joined years ago and was seeking WDW info, thanks to more than a few snarky answers and rudeness. None of that here! All of you have been absolutely fantastic and I appreciate it so so much! Thank you all for helping me make our DL excursion a success!

 

[Sherry E]

I just wanted to add about the PPH walk... Having stayed there many times, the first time I attempted the "short cut" -- which is the route taking you out the front of the PPH, across the street and through the GCH lobby -- I took a wrong turn and didn't end up where I needed to be. I was overthinking where I was supposed to go, when really it was quite simple. I figured out that it is literally as easy as walking out the front of the PPH, veering to the left, crossing the street (Disneyland Drive) at the light at the corner, and marching up the foot path to the GCH lobby. From the GCH lobby you follow the signs to wherever you want to go -- Downtown Disney, DCA, the restaurants at the GCH, etc.

After I knew where I was going, then the walk became faster and more pleasant each time. I grew to look forward to that walk, especially in the crisp morning air and at night, as I enjoy going through Downtown Disney when it is bustling with activity. Sometimes I walk at a more leisurely pace and it takes a bit longer (especially if I get distracted by the gorgeous GCH lobby), but other times I can get to the parks' entrance in well under 10 minutes if I walk fast and don't stop, and if I don't hit a long line at the bag check area.

Over the years I have often read complaints about the elevators at the PPH. People always say they are slow (meaning slow to arrive, not slow when you're in them). I suppose there has been a time or two when the elevator was slower to arrive than usual, but it did not leave a lasting impression on me. In other words, it has not happened often enough to keep me away from the PPH. On a couple of occasions I have gotten in the elevator going up when I was trying to get down to the lobby, but usually I don't have to do that. It probably has a lot to do with the time of day or night.

 

[Malcon10t]

I am one who has had major issues with the elevators. It is the only reason we don't stay there. I've stayed twice and it won't work for us. We travel with service dogs and trying to get them in and down in the morning is just too much for me to deal with. I use an ECV. Trying to get in during busy periods is almost impossible. I've been in the lobby trying to go up first thing in the morning, only to have everyone coming out, and by the time the last person is out, the doors are closing to go back up for next load. I missed 5 elevators one morning. I *love* the rooms. Love the concierge room. HATE the elevators.

 

[bellazachmom]

I am one who has had major issues with the elevators. It is the only reason we don't stay there. I've stayed twice and it won't work for us. We travel with service dogs and trying to get them in and down in the morning is just too much for me to deal with. I use an ECV. Trying to get in during busy periods is almost impossible. I've been in the lobby trying to go up first thing in the morning, only to have everyone coming out, and by the time the last person is out, the doors are closing to go back up for next load. I missed 5 elevators one morning. I *love* the rooms. Love the concierge room. HATE the elevators.

I'm so sorry to hear this! And I can absolutely understand your situation and why you don't stay there.

When we were visiting last month we saw a family with a child in a wheelchair and a service dog staying on the same floor as us. The next day we noticed that they were at Bell Services and then escorted over to one of the elevators and put right on.

When we saw them later in the trip and asked about it they told me that they had had issues with the elevators and getting on as you described due to the amount of time it took guest to exit and them to enter so had asked the front desk if there was a solution. They were told to go to bell services for assistance and that the bell hops were able to "assist" them with getting a car every single time! When they needed to leave the room they called down to bell services about 5 minutes prior and waited for a bell hop at the elevators on the 14th floor. The dad joked that "they were getting treated like luggage but that they didn't mind a bit"

Might be worth looking into if the room size is something you enjoy

 

[bumbershoot]

I've been in the lobby trying to go up first thing in the morning, only to have everyone coming out, and by the time the last person is out, the doors are closing to go back up for next load. I missed 5 elevators one morning. I *love* the rooms. Love the concierge room. HATE the elevators.

It's been awhile since I stayed there so maybe this isnt possible anymore, but when going UP, at least in the past, you could use the "glass" elevator out more towards the lobby.

Going down, you can only use it from the concierge floors, because the other floors don't have buttons to call it. But going up, there are buttons to every floor.

So if you or your service dogs can deal with that elevator, and if it's still allowed, you could try that one.

 

[CapnJacksGirl]

Are we sure that Buzz FPs are disconnected? I just ran across a thread from last month that says no ride FPs are disconnected, only shows and M&Gs, unless you get a surprise Buzz FP when pulling a FP for another attraction (not sure which one). Can anyone confirm? Obviously, I realize things could change before I get there in one month.

 

[grnflash]

Are we sure that Buzz FPs are disconnected? .

Hi. Yes Buzz is not connected. At least as of Thursday

 

[MinMou]

I am about to suggest something that many Disneyland aficianados would consider terrible. I know that many would think this is WRONG, but I think that it is something that first time visitors should really consider.

=>If you are planning to be in the Disneyland park more than one day, consider skipping Peter Pan and Finding Nemo the first day. OK, everyone yell, and I'll explain next.

Your first day in the park is a chance to look at EVERYTHING, and to get a feel for how the park is laid out, to decide what looks good, etc. If you are spending your first 30-50 in line for one ride, and another 30-50 minutes for another ride, you could end up feeling cheated. Your kids will get bored and antsy, and you haven't even seen half the park. That's why I think seeing as much of the park on the first day is a better use of time, and then when you are at dinner or at your hotel, you can decide what rides to go back to and strategize how to get to these rides that you missed on purpose.

Now everyone can go ahead and yell at me again.

 

[Sherry E]

I am about to suggest something that many Disneyland aficianados would consider terrible. I know that many would think this is WRONG, but I think that it is something that first time visitors should really consider.

=>If you are planning to be in the Disneyland park more than one day, consider skipping Peter Pan and Finding Nemo the first day. OK, everyone yell, and I'll explain next.

Your first day in the park is a chance to look at EVERYTHING, and to get a feel for how the park is laid out, to decide what looks good, etc. If you are spending your first 30-50 in line for one ride, and another 30-50 minutes for another ride, you could end up feeling cheated. Your kids will get bored and antsy, and you haven't even seen half the park. That's why I think seeing as much of the park on the first day is a better use of time, and then when you are at dinner or at your hotel, you can decide what rides to go back to and strategize how to get to these rides that you missed on purpose.

Now everyone can go ahead and yell at me again.

I don't see anyone yelling and I don't know why they would.