New Back Entrance to DCA?

[DonMacGregor]

a few folks in a facebook group Im in that are staying at the PPH RIGHT NOW have said that they are using golf carts to carry folks to the DLH pool

That makes total sense. If they are running a shuttle back and forth, they're likely not asking people at the GCH end why they need a ride back to PPH, and are simply asking if they are headed back there. They have to head back anyway, empty or full at some point, otherwise you run the risk of ending up with all the carts at one end or the other. They may even be offering to take anyone over to GCH as well for the same reason. Still primarily for the pool, but also serving other guests out of convenience. I have seen the carts entering into DLH through the back gate behind the Frontier Tower too.

If they really are reopening the back entrance to DCA, then it's a need they feel needed to be addressed. I also think that's a big reason for the realignment of the west end of DTD. Rather than running straight east and west and just replacing the theater building, the far end will now turn south towards PPH. I'd imagine an extension of some sort of at least landscaped promenade to tie PPH to the west end of DTD.

 

[DLgal]

That makes total sense. If they are running a shuttle back and forth, they're likely not asking people at the GCH end why they need a ride back to PPH, and are simply asking if they are headed back there. They have to head back anyway, empty or full at some point, otherwise you run the risk of ending up with all the carts at one end or the other. They may even be offering to take anyone over to GCH as well for the same reason. Still primarily for the pool, but also serving other guests out of convenience. I have seen the carts entering into DLH through the back gate behind the Frontier Tower too.

If they really are reopening the back entrance to DCA, then it's a need they feel needed to be addressed. I also think that's a big reason for the realignment of the west end of DTD. Rather than running straight east and west and just replacing the theater building, the far end will now turn south towards PPH. I'd imagine an extension of some sort of at least landscaped promenade to tie PPH to the west end of DTD.

That's a good point. There is already a pathway that goes out to the parking lot back there. They could extend that walkway directly to PPH, but that would also mean opening up another security checkpoint, which they may not want to do.

 

[DonMacGregor]

That's a good point. There is already a pathway that goes out to the parking lot back there. They could extend that walkway directly to PPH, but that would also mean opening up another security checkpoint, which they may not want to do.

It could follow the existing route you take from Simba to the existing DTD checkpoint at DLH. Right now, DLH is outside the checkpoint too, so you wouldn't even need to reconfigure it, just keep it outside the checkpoint and both DLH and PPH guests would enter through security at the same location.

 

[StormyCA]

Since there isn't anything 'official' from Disney (that I know of), I'm starting to wonder if the 'back entrance' is going to be temporary. With all the construction going on at the west end of DTD maybe they're going to do a temp entrance to keep people away from the construction area and/or avoid congested areas due to construction barriers.

Would the 'new' entrance be 'worthwhile' for people staying in the Frontier Tower? I've only stayed at the Grand and in the Fantasy Tower at DLH. If they're letting all hotel guests use the Grand's DCA entrance now (as some have said), I'd think that from Fantasy and possibly Adventure it's closer to walk through DTD & through the Grand to that entrance.

 

[jordan13402]

Since there isn't anything 'official' from Disney (that I know of), I'm starting to wonder if the 'back entrance' is going to be temporary. With all the construction going on at the west end of DTD maybe they're going to do a temp entrance to keep people away from the construction area and/or avoid congested areas due to construction barriers.

Would the 'new' entrance be 'worthwhile' for people staying in the Frontier Tower? I've only stayed at the Grand and in the Fantasy Tower at DLH. If they're letting all hotel guests use the Grand's DCA entrance now (as some have said), I'd think that from Fantasy and possibly Adventure it's closer to walk through DTD & through the Grand to that entrance.

this is actually a great point...maybe its only temporary

 

[DonMacGregor]

Would the 'new' entrance be 'worthwhile' for people staying in the Frontier Tower? I've only stayed at the Grand and in the Fantasy Tower at DLH. If they're letting all hotel guests use the Grand's DCA entrance now (as some have said), I'd think that from Fantasy and possibly Adventure it's closer to walk through DTD & through the Grand to that entrance.

If you’re talking access to DCA specifically, I’d say that this “new” entrance (if that’s what it is), would be closer for anyone staying in any of the three towers.

 

[808blessing]

My family is super friendly and my grandma was in her 80s so they probably gave us a break by doing the shuttle for us. Not exactly sure where they dropped us off but it was probably only a 5-10 min walk. For reals, it was short walk now that I think back but we weren't bit by the Disney bug yet and didn't know anything! They probably didn't want us to get lost lol

 

[upritbass]

Again thanks to MiceChat.com - here’s where the entrance will likely be on the park side:

View attachment 661887

Lots of speculation from MiceChat, but dumping people into an extremely crowded area doesn't make sense.

 

[blabbermouth]

Lots of speculation from MiceChat, but dumping people into an extremely crowded area doesn't make sense.

I kind of think of it like the second entrance at Epcot. Much less busy so it's ok to be right into a busy area.

 

[DonMacGregor]

Lots of speculation from MiceChat, but dumping people into an extremely crowded area doesn't make sense.

There was an entrance there originally.

https://www.yesterland.com/hotelgate.html


It disappeared sometime around the DCA re-theme/Grand Cal DVC expansion. I believe Disney has confirmed it’s a new entrance tied in with the re-theming of PPH.

 

[DLgal]

That's not an extremely crowded area, ever.

 

[StormyCA]

There was an entrance there originally.

https://www.yesterland.com/hotelgate.htm

It disappeared sometime around the DCA re-theme/Grand Cal DVC expansion. I believe Disney has confirmed it’s a new entrance tied in with the re-theming of PPH.

They have confirmed it. It was on the Disney Parks Blog a few days ago.

 

[DonMacGregor]

They have confirmed it. It was on the Disney Parks Blog a few days ago.

Yeah, I was over there the other day and it’s obvious exactly what it is, but around here if there’s no “official” link, and I haven’t been reading the blogs lately to grab one.

 

[UrsulaWantsYourSoul]

There was an entrance there originally.

https://www.yesterland.com/hotelgate.htm

It disappeared sometime around the DCA re-theme/Grand Cal DVC expansion. I believe Disney has confirmed it’s a new entrance tied in with the re-theming of PPH.

Oo thanks for the link! It was missing an l at the end:

https://www.yesterland.com/hotelgate.html

 

[DonMacGregor]

Oo thanks for the link! It was missing an l at the end:

https://www.yesterland.com/hotelgate.html

I fixed my original post too.

 

[PirateBrigade]

So I’m staying at VGC and took that park exit earlier today, it literally dumps you onto the back pathway that runs along the VGC side of the property. I was back at my room in about two minutes.

For path entrance, I need to look at other blogs or YouTube, but because the PPH entrance from the street would just dump you onto GCH property, you’re pretty much uncontrolled at that point and you can either a) roam GCH, b) enter through DtD, c) enter through the original GCH “tunnel” by Napa Rose, or d) enter as planned behind Corn Dog Castle.

 

[PirateBrigade]

okay found the video, was just uploaded:

Key control happens at the street, once on GCH property, it is only a bag check & ticket check coming into the parks.

 

[Pluto468]

okay found the video, was just uploaded:

Key control happens at the street, once on GCH property, it is only a bag check & ticket check coming into the parks.

That looks great! I wonder how much time it takes off your walk to DCA vs going through Downtown Disney. 10...? I've never walked from Paradise Pier before, only Disneyland Hotel.

 

[CeCe0906]

okay found the video, was just uploaded:

Key control happens at the street, once on GCH property, it is only a bag check & ticket check coming into the parks.

That key control isn't going to work well when it's busy. People aren't going to slam the gate behind them, to prevent tailgating.

 

[katyringo]

What is VGC?