Hello there Jennifer,
Welcome to planDisney and thank you for your question!
You absolutely can utilize your
Early Entry benefit on your check-in day as a
Disneyland Hotel Guest! This is a fun tip that I find people can often forget about and gives you a huge head start to get an extra attraction or two in before everyone else enters the park.
The way I recommend to do this is to park at the Disneyland Hotel, drop your bags off at the Bell Desk, and then check in at the front desk or through the
Disneyland Resort mobile app. When you
enter the park offering Early Entry that morning, you typically scan a hotel keycard, but in your case, a Cast Member will want to see your reservation details to confirm you're waiting on your room.
Keep in mind that you will need to have a
theme park reservation set to the park that offers Early Entry on the morning of your arrival. Additionally, I'd strongly encourage you to give yourself at least an hour or so to complete all the check-in steps at the Disneyland Hotel, and get through the security line and the park entry gate.
If you can squeeze in a few extra minutes, I love to stop by
The Coffee House on my way into the parks for a quick pick-me-up! You can utilize Mobile Food & Beverage Ordering at this location, so you can place your order so it's ready for you to pick up on your way into the park.
Thanks again for your question, Jennifer! I hope you have an amazing time at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg