We Used the GCH Special Entrance

[HydroGuy]

We did a day trip on Wed August 5. I got some GRR FPs in the afternoon and exited to DTD through the GCH special entrance. On the way out I asked the CM there if we could re-enter there even though we were not Disney hotel guests. He said "no problem".

After lunch at the RFC we came back and were allowed to enter DCA through this entrance. No one bothered to question us.

I had heard previously that this entrance was reserved only for Disney hotel guests and you had to prove you were a guest. For us no such proof was required. Thought this might interest some of you.

Has anyone else tried this? Has there been a policy change or did we get some uninformed CMs? Or maybe the policy was never enforced?

 

[victorandbellasmom]

We've only been asked for keys or charge slips when they first open in the morning. We've also seen people allowed in that entrance withe Storyteller's breakfast receipts when they first open. I think they realize that people pop on in through that entrance to White Water Snacks for lunch.

I've never had any cms question me after 12 noon though.

 

[oc_tony]

We've only entered and exited this way at lunchtime or later (usually for Whitewater). We've never been questioned about being hotel guests. In fact, the CMs always seem very chatty and friendly at this entrance.

 

[ACDSNY]

We typically stay at the GC, but have only been asked for our resort card during the first few morning hours.

 

[lulubelle]

I believe you cannot enter using your pass/ticket for the first time that particular day using that entrance unless you are a guest of one of the three on-sites. If you've already activated your ticket for the day at the main turnstiles, then it's okay. Something to do with "activation" process. At least that's what we were told.

 

[Disney Anna]

I have entered through the GCH entrance at least 100 times - all times of day including first time in morning. I have never been asked to show a resort key or been stopped or questioned in any manner.

 

[kkbeaton2]

I have gone through this gate more times then I can count, and for us it has been a hit and miss sort of thing. There is one gentleman (an older guy), that ALWAYS asks for our key, but he seems to be the only one that does it every time. He is also one of those guys that checks your bags VERY THOUROGHLY! He makes you open every single area in every bag, and even once wanted to see what was in the little camera/glasses lens cleaner cover (it is only big enough for the lens cleaner, about 1" x 1 1/2"! So it just depends.

 

[fairycat]

I believe you cannot enter using your pass/ticket for the first time that particular day using that entrance unless you are a guest of one of the three on-sites. If you've already activated your ticket for the day at the main turnstiles, then it's okay. Something to do with "activation" process. At least that's what we were told.

We have entered here with our AP's without having been in the park earlier in the day many times. I think that you only have to prove where you are staying first thing in the morning like others have said. Otherwise yup it is open to use for all.

 

[boscoj]

The last time we stayed at the GCH I asked the CM's about this and they said the "rule" is that the entrance is only for hotel guests until 11:00am and then after that it is open to anyone......

Obviously from what previous posters are reporting, this is not a hard and fast rule.

 

[tinkerbelt]

We've never had problems using the GCH entrance, but we're rarely at the parks in the mornings, so we've never tried to get in before 11:00.

 

[alvernon90]

In my experience it is very rare that Disney will say no to the guests when it doesn't cost them anything. You can understand wanting to keep the lines at the special entrance short in the morning, but if you come by at 2:00 and the CMs are just standing there with nobody else around, it would be terrible for them to say, "Nope, you're going to have to go around."

I have had similar experiences with reserved viewing areas that were not being used by anyone (I just asked what the story was, and they invited me right in) and I've read plenty of similar stories on these boards (such as people being let in for magic morning even if they are offsite guests).

It's a nice thing, I think.

 

[Sherry E]

Yep. They only care about DLR hotel guests showing their Keys to the Magic first thing in the morning, primarily in that half hour before the park officially opens (because right when you enter GCH through that entrance, that is where the line forms for the head start over to TSMM), and for a short while after the park has opened. After the park has already been open for a bit, anyone can come and go through that entrance without showing the Key. So it is a benefit only for the sake of convenience to GCH guests, and also between 9:30 and 10:00 in the morning, for those DLR hotel guests who wish to get in the the short line by GRR to head over to TSMM before 10:00 a.m.

 

[Sherry E]

I have gone through this gate more times then I can count, and for us it has been a hit and miss sort of thing. There is one gentleman (an older guy), that ALWAYS asks for our key, but he seems to be the only one that does it every time. He is also one of those guys that checks your bags VERY THOUROGHLY! He makes you open every single area in every bag, and even once wanted to see what was in the little camera/glasses lens cleaner cover (it is only big enough for the lens cleaner, about 1" x 1 1/2"! So it just depends.

We also had one gentleman ask for our Key later in the day, too, only on one occasion, so at that time I thought you had to show the Key all day long if you entered through the gate, but later realized he was just a very by-the-book CM and maybe didn't realize that they don't care who comes through after the first couple of hours or so.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We did a day trip on Wed August 5. I got some GRR FPs in the afternoon and exited to DTD through the GCH special entrance. On the way out I asked the CM there if we could re-enter there even though we were not Disney hotel guests. He said "no problem".

After lunch at the RFC we came back and were allowed to enter DCA through this entrance. No one bothered to question us.

I had heard previously that this entrance was reserved only for Disney hotel guests and you had to prove you were a guest. For us no such proof was required. Thought this might interest some of you.

Has anyone else tried this? Has there been a policy change or did we get some uninformed CMs? Or maybe the policy was never enforced?

We were stopped in the AM but entered numerous times in the afternoon no problem. Seems to be an AM thing but I will ask this next Monday when we are there. Seems to be inconsistant.

Jack

 

[pixiewings71]

I've used the GCH entrance plenty of times, always in the afternoon tho. The only time we were asked for our keys was when we went in early and we were guests of the PPH or the GCH.

 

[KCSunshine60]

I came in on Saturday at about 11:00 and the bag check lady checked my purse and then said she just needed to see my hotel key. Well, I didn't have one but I had my little ticket holder open and just happened to have our DLand hotel key from our July visit showing. She noticed it and said Oh I see it there - go ahead. I was surprised because I'd never been asked to show a key inall the times we've gone through that enterance.