Fastest way to get to the esplanade

[Big Thunderin’ mountain]

This summer (late may/early June) I’m staying at the Disneyland hotel for the first time (after previously staying at the paradise pier/pixar place hotel) and I was wondering what time I should be at the security gate in the morning and if it’s worth it (or even possible) to get into the grand Californian security gate next to world of Disney.

Also dumb, somewhat related question but if I’m staying at DLH I can’t get into the paradise gardens entrance, correct?

Thanks in advance

 

[Heppenheimer]

Unless someone lets you in, you would need a Grand Californian keycard to enter the grounds from anywhere but Downtown Disney.

Technically, I think you could use the Paradise Gardens entrance to California Adventure, but (once again, unless someone lets you in the front gate of the Grand Californian), you would need to enter security at Downtown Disney, go through the Grand Californian, then go through security again before you could use the hotel entrance to the park. It's probably just easier to go through the main entrance at the Esplande...

... wait, I'm not quite sure. Was the Paradise Gardens entrance previously exclusively for Pixar Place? If so, I have no idea if Disneyland Hotel guests can use this entrance with their keycard. The Grand Californian's private entrance to California Adventure near Soarin' is currently under construction, so it now shares the Paradise Gardens entrance with Pixar Place.

EDIT: Also... because foot traffic tends to go only in one direction early in the morning through the Grand Californian's entrance to Downtown Disney, even though you don't need a keycard to enter the hotel here, a security guard may ask you why you're going back through the hotel at this hour if you aren't a guest.

 

[Big Thunderin’ mountain]

Unless someone lets you in, you would need a Grand Californian keycard to enter the grounds from anywhere but Downtown Disney.

Technically, I think you could use the Paradise Gardens entrance to California Adventure, but (once again, unless someone lets you in the front gate of the Grand Californian), you would need to enter security at Downtown Disney, go through the Grand Californian, then go through security again before you could use the hotel entrance to the park. It's probably just easier to go through the main entrance at the Esplande...

... wait, I'm not quite sure. Was the Paradise Gardens entrance previously exclusively for Pixar Place? If so, I have no idea if Disneyland Hotel guests can use this entrance with their keycard. The Grand Californian's private entrance to California Adventure near Soarin' is currently under construction, so it now shares the Paradise Gardens entrance with Pixar Place.

Paradise gardens was exclusive to paradise pier last time but people from grand Californian did use the entrance so I have no idea if Disneyland can also use it

Thanks, I just didn’t know if the grand Californian main entrance was accessible for everyone since it’s a much shorter walk than going straight from DLH

 

[Touchdown]

This summer (late may/early June) I’m staying at the Disneyland hotel for the first time (after previously staying at the paradise pier/pixar place hotel) and I was wondering what time I should be at the security gate in the morning and if it’s worth it (or even possible) to get into the grand Californian security gate next to world of Disney.

Also dumb, somewhat related question but if I’m staying at DLH I can’t get into the paradise gardens entrance, correct?

Thanks in advance

You’re going to have to use Downtown Disney, it’s an exclusive enterance for hotel guests when it first opens. You’ll be let in about 7am. You then can line up at the DL or DCA entrance.