GCH entrances and exits

[007mickey]

Okay, is there more than one exit to get to DL? I've read about the one next to Napa Rose that puts you in DCA but is there another one that puts you out at the end of DTD at la Brea Bakery? I ask this because what about MM or EMH days to DL when you can't go through DCA to access DL. As always, thanks for the help.

 

[Californian Elitist]

You should be able to exit DCA and enter DL like you usually do.

 

[007mickey]

Raven,
So you can access DL through DCA even if DCA isn't officially open yet (I was wondering how this works on DL Magic Mornings)?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Raven,
So you can access DL through DCA even if DCA isn't officially open yet (I was wondering how this works on DL Magic Mornings)?

I'm officially confused now. There's no way to get to Disneyland through California Adventure. There's no secret exit or entrance. DL and DCA aren't connected like that.

 

[007mickey]

Let me start over. If I'm staying at GCH (or PP) and I'm taking advantage of a DL magic morning (I'm assuming DCA won't be open yet), what is the best way to get to DL?

 

[Californian Elitist]

Let me start over. If I'm staying at GCH (or PP) and I'm taking advantage of a DL magic morning (I'm assuming DCA won't be open yet), what is the best way to get to DL?

Ok, NOW I understand what you're asking. If DCA isn't open, the only way to get to DL from your hotel is the regular way, through Downtown Disney. It's not a far walk.

 

[007mickey]

Okay found the article that prompted my initial post, here's the information given about the GCH "exit only" door by La Brea Bakery. This was written in '06 on Mouseplanet so it may not be correct anymore or it may be more widely known than it was back in '06.

"The shortest walking distance between a room in the Grand Californian Hotel and the middle of the Esplanade is about 600 feet. Most guests are unaware of this, however, and since it is a locked door (that you can use to exit but not re-enter the hotel), you can't use it to return to your room."

Thanks for all the insight to DLR, I've haven't been since about 3 years old but we are planning our first family trip this summer.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Okay found the article that prompted my initial post, here's the information given about the GCH "exit only" door by La Brea Bakery. This was written in '06 on Mouseplanet so it may not be correct anymore or it may be more widely known than it was back in '06.

"The shortest walking distance between a room in the Grand Californian Hotel and the middle of the Esplanade is about 600 feet. Most guests are unaware of this, however, and since it is a locked door (that you can use to exit but not re-enter the hotel), you can't use it to return to your room."

Thanks for all the insight to DLR, I've haven't been since about 3 years old but we are planning our first family trip this summer.

I think this is correct. LaBrea Bakery is not far at all away from the parks. Do you know exactly where your room is?

 

[007mickey]

No, we are still debating which hotel we can afford (alot different than WDW). If we end up at PP, I was just wondering about routes to DL. Either go through GCH and exit by LaBrea (if that's still available) or just walk through parking lot and go between the AMC and Lego store to DTD. Either way, it's alot closer than what you get at WDW. We just got back from a trip to Uni Orlando in November and loved how close it all was to our hotel (Hard Rock). I'm really looking forward to the same thing at DLR.

 

[Californian Elitist]

No, we are still debating which hotel we can afford (alot different than WDW). If we end up at PP, I was just wondering about routes to DL. Either go through GCH and exit by LaBrea (if that's still available) or just walk through parking lot and go between the AMC and Lego store to DTD. Either way, it's alot closer than what you get at WDW. We just got back from a trip to Uni Orlando in November and loved how close it all was to our hotel (Hard Rock). I'm really looking forward to the same thing at DLR.

I can tell you from experience, Paradise Pier is a really nice hotel. I've stayed there and I had a great time. It's not too far away from the parks. Either route you take should be fine.

 

[007mickey]

Thanks for the personal endorsement of Paradise Pier, that is helpful. I know based on the posts I've read, you are quite knowledgeable about all things Disneyland.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Thanks for the personal endorsement of Paradise Pier, that is helpful. I know based on the posts I've read, you are quite knowledgeable about all things Disneyland.

Happy to help. Yes, I know quite a bit about the Disneyland Resort. I like helping the WDW vets.

 

[devoy1701]

No, we are still debating which hotel we can afford (alot different than WDW). If we end up at PP, I was just wondering about routes to DL. Either go through GCH and exit by LaBrea (if that's still available) or just walk through parking lot and go between the AMC and Lego store to DTD. Either way, it's alot closer than what you get at WDW. We just got back from a trip to Uni Orlando in November and loved how close it all was to our hotel (Hard Rock). I'm really looking forward to the same thing at DLR.

when we stayed at Paradise Pier, we walked up the street, crossed at the Grand Californian driveway, went in through the lobby, and cut through the back out to DtD, then hung a right and continued down to Disneyland.

 

[devoy1701]

I can tell you from experience, Paradise Pier is a really nice hotel. I've stayed there and I had a great time. It's not too far away from the parks. Either route you take should be fine.

No it's not. Stayed there...absolutely no Disney feel to it. Not worth paying Disney money of $200/night or whatever it is to stay at that hotel. We're opting for a Good Neighbor hotel that is closer and half the price if they don't release any other specials that make Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian a bit more affordable. Even if you're used to staying on property at WDW...I think you'll be disappointed by what you get at PP for the money you pay.

 

[Californian Elitist]

No it's not. Stayed there...absolutely no Disney feel to it. Not worth paying Disney money of $200/night or whatever it is to stay at that hotel. We're opting for a Good Neighbor hotel that is closer and half the price if they don't release any other specials that make Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian a bit more affordable. Even if you're used to staying on property at WDW...I think you'll be disappointed by what you get at PP for the money you pay.

I'm sorry you didn't like it. I loved it.

 

[devoy1701]

I'm sorry you didn't like it. I loved it.

The fact that you can get more bang for your buck, free breakfast, and be half the distance from the parks is what I didn't like. As a hotel in general it was OK, nothing to write home about. It felt like a Hyatt Place or something similar. Clean, small rooms, no balconies, very discreet/almost absent Disney Themeing. I just wouldn't stay there again if the price wasn't right. If we wanted to stay on property, I think it's best to just pay the extra 25% premium and stay at the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[007mickey]

No it's not. Stayed there...absolutely no Disney feel to it. Not worth paying Disney money of $200/night or whatever it is to stay at that hotel. We're opting for a Good Neighbor hotel that is closer and half the price if they don't release any other specials that make Disneyland Hotel or Grand Californian a bit more affordable. Even if you're used to staying on property at WDW...I think you'll be disappointed by what you get at PP for the money you pay.

We have stayed at multiple properties at WDW, never been disapointed but have recently become very fond of the moderate and deluxe resorts for various reasons. I have looked at photos of Paradise Pier and don't see anything to make me think we will be disappointed. We are a family of four and like a little space. I keep random information on the resorts and room size is one of them. We have stayed at all of the following and think PP stacks up pretty well:

1. Pop Century - 260 sf
2. Port Orleans FQ - 314 sf
3. Wilderness Lodge - 340 sf
4. Paradise Pier - 364 sf
5. Contemporary - 422 sf

What in particular did you not like about it? Always looking for opinions.

 

[Californian Elitist]

The fact that you can get more bang for your buck, free breakfast, and be half the distance from the parks is what I didn't like. As a hotel in general it was OK, nothing to write home about. It felt like a Hyatt Place or something similar. Clean, small rooms, no balconies, very discreet/almost absent Disney Themeing. I just wouldn't stay there again if the price wasn't right. If we wanted to stay on property, I think it's best to just pay the extra 25% premium and stay at the Disneyland Hotel.

I feel you. I'd most definitely rather get an offsite hotel room before an onsite one. My uncle has been working for Disney for years now, and he was able to save a whole bunch of money on the Paradise Pier Hotel, which is why we booked it. If it wasn't for that, we would have stayed offsite.

 

[devoy1701]

We have stayed at multiple properties at WDW, never been disapointed but have recently become very fond of the moderate and deluxe resorts for various reasons. I have looked at photos of Paradise Pier and don't see anything to make me think we will be disappointed. We are a family of four and like a little space. I keep random information on the resorts and room size is one of them. We have stayed at all of the following and think PP stacks up pretty well:

1. Pop Century - 260 sf
2. Port Orleans FQ - 314 sf
3. Wilderness Lodge - 340 sf
4. Paradise Pier - 364 sf
5. Contemporary - 422 sf

What in particular did you not like about it? Always looking for opinions.

I guess I should restate my opinion. It's not that I did not like Paradise Pier. It is a fine hotel in of itself. But it's not what I have come to expect from a Disney hotel when paying $200+ a night. To put it in perspective, our favorite hotel on WDW property is the Wilderness Lodge, which we've paid anywhere between $185-$245/night for depending on what specials are running and what time of year we've stayed. At that price point, you get overrun with themeing, amenities, etc. Staying at Paradise Pier for the higher end of that WL price point, I felt like we got much less "Disney", I know that lodging in SoCal is more expensive in general, but our room was smaller (King room so only one bed and small pullout couch), no balcony, very modestly themed, no themed pool, etc. I just know that I we could have paid half the price for a much closer hotel that included more amenities. Sure it might not have been a "Disney" hotel, but PP just didn't feel like one either. If we were willing to spend the extra 25% on top of the PP pricing, we would just stay at the Disneyland Hotel this time around, but this was a last minute trip that we booked in the beginning of December and we weren't looking to go overboard with it.

 

[007mickey]

I guess I should restate my opinion. It's not that I did not like Paradise Pier. It is a fine hotel in of itself. But it's not what I have come to expect from a Disney hotel when paying $200+ a night. To put it in perspective, our favorite hotel on WDW property is the Wilderness Lodge, which we've paid anywhere between $185-$245/night for depending on what specials are running and what time of year we've stayed. At that price point, you get overrun with themeing, amenities, etc. Staying at Paradise Pier for the higher end of that WL price point, I felt like we got much less "Disney", I know that lodging in SoCal is more expensive in general, but our room was smaller (King room so only one bed and small pullout couch), no balcony, very modestly themed, no themed pool, etc. I just know that I we could have paid half the price for a much closer hotel that included more amenities. Sure it might not have been a "Disney" hotel, but PP just didn't feel like one either. If we were willing to spend the extra 25% on top of the PP pricing, we would just stay at the Disneyland Hotel this time around, but this was a last minute trip that we booked in the beginning of December and we weren't looking to go overboard with it.

I'd agree the themeing associated with the cost at PP doesn't match up with say the Wilderness or Animal Kingdom Lodge. It's actually seems to be more on par (at least from pictures) with say the All Star resorts, but the room size and location to the parks is as good as The Contemporary. I would agree off-site could offer more amenities but when you only get to DLR once every 40 years, staying on-site becomes something speical...even if it is at Paradise Pier.