Staying onsite at a Disneyland Resort Hotel includes many benefits like Early Entry, first access to hotel dining reservations, and access to private entrances to Disney California Adventure.
The Disneyland on-site hotels are the best way to feel immersed in the Disney bubble which is a big part of the appeal especially considering these hotels are far more expensive than local Disneyland area hotel options.
We just received news that the entrance to Disney California Adventure through one of Disney’s most popular on-site hotels is going to be closed for an extended period time, keep reading for all the details.
Disney’s Grand Californian Theme Park Entrance Closing
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The Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa has its own private entrance to Disney California Adventure just off the lobby of the hotel next to the Napa Rose. During Early Entry and rope drop hours, this access can be restricted guests of the Disneyland Resort Hotels but anyone else can use the entrance outside of that time frame.
According to Disney, the entrance from Disney’s Grand Californian to Disney California Adventure is currently closed due to construction on the entry gates that is expected to last until mid-May. We would guess that this work is being done to update the gate turnstiles. This is the same work that is being completed for all Disneyland entrance gates.
Walls are now up on both sides of this entrance. We anticipate that one side effect of this closure will be a big reduction in the amount of people eating at our favorite secret Disneyland restaurant.
While this is an inconvenience for those staying at the hotel, there are alternate options to use in the meantime. Guests at Disney’s Grand Californian can enter Disney California Adventure through the Pixar Place Hotel entrance which is not too far from the main entrance of the hotel. Staffing at this gate will also be adjusted to run for the entire day. In recent months, this gate has had reduced staffing and only allowed exiting and not entry in the afternoon.
To access that gate, guests make a right-hand turn when walking into the hotel from the main entrance doors and walk through the hotel building doors and then make a left turn. When walking from the front of the hotel, there is also a separate gate to walk through to access the path that leads to this private entrance.
Guests can also still enter the park through the front entrance which is just a short walk through Downtown Disney. Disney’s Grand Californian is the hotel within the shortest walking distance to the front gates out of all the other Disney on-site hotels with its own entrance into the middle of Downtown Disney.
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Disappointing news, but thanks for information and directions to the Pixar Place entrance. We this hotel and justified the expense primarily for the rope drop convenience.
Generally we actually recommend using the main entrance for Early Entry and rope drop into Disney California Adventure. The hotel private entrance gets clogged up in the morning.
I agree that it’s a disappointment that it’s closed, but not from an early morning perspective.