Disney Paradise Pier Hotel~ Pro/Cons??

[TwingleMum]

I'm researching our trip and the PPH is $500 less than DLH. Why such a big difference??? Have you stayed at PPH?? Whats the Pro/Con??? How is the pool?? Rooms?? Food choices??? Would you stay again or go to DHL??? A big TIA.

 

[OKW Lover]

I've stayed in both and the DLH is the nicer hotel. I don't have the actual dimensions, but I think the rooms are bigger at DLH. They were certainly themed better there. The new pool at DLH (wasn't quite open my last trip) certainly looks nicer.

In the end, only you can decide if the price difference is worth it.

 

[TwingleMum]

How close is PPH to the parks?? Is it just as convenient as the other hotels?? Is pool hopping allowed??

 

[OKW Lover]

Both hotels are about equidistant. Perhaps PP is a little further away, but not significantly. The usual route from PP to the parks is to cross the street and cut through the GC.

Don't know about the pool hopping question, but I doubt it.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Pool hopping is only allowed if the pool at the hotel you are staying at is closed for refurbishment during your stay.

Our family has stayed one time at each of these hotels. The PPH was nice enough. We stayed there several years ago. The rooms were clean and bright and large enough for our family of four. We had a room with 2 queen beds and a daybed. There were a few Disney touches in the room. We did not use the pool as we were there in December with iffy weather. The walk is longer than from some of the Harbor hotels, but since we can pass through DtD and the Grand, the experience is different, more pleasant. The main advantage to us in staying at the PPH was to get a bit more Disney experience and the magic morning perks at the cheapest price that was available. Also, when we did this several years ago, the price was really good. Haven't seen prices like that since.

We stayed at the DLH as they were doing the remodeling, before they even started on the pool. We got one of the refurbished rooms with a view of DtD. For some reason, that trip really did feel more magical. The room was really attractive and clean, the view was excellent. We really enjoyed the walk each morning through DtD.

PPH and DLH used to be much closer in price. I think with the complete refurb of DLH, those days are over. I've been seeing DLH prices that are closer to GCH prices and then the PPH as the bargain hotel. Only you can decide how much money you are comfortable spending. We usually stay offsite, so choosing to stay onsite is a rare and tough choice for us. I'm always thinking about the other ways we can spend the money. Even so though, if we were to choose onsite again, I'd probably pick the DLH. We enjoyed the experience more, and since it's not an experience we're going to have frequently, we may as well go all the way and make it good.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thanks I appreciate the info. We enjoy trying all the different resort hotels so I will be taking a hard look at PPH.

 

[Hound 109]

Both hotels are about equidistant. Perhaps PP is a little further away, but not significantly. The usual route from PP to the parks is to cross the street and cut through the GC.

Don't know about the pool hopping question, but I doubt it.

If one Hops & takes a break each mid day, the PP is VERY convenient. A quick 3-4 min. walk from Griz Rapids in DCA. thru the GCH & to the PP.

Oh.....& smart Dis'ers usually HOP & take a mid day break each day.


OP.....$500 over how many days?

 

[suzib]

Stayed at PP in September and planning on it again this month. I love it. Its close. You can see fireworks with piped in soundtrack from pool. With the $500 savings you can easily get concierge level park view room. Food at concierge was great for breakfast and afternoon snack. Was a quick 10 minute walk to parks. Ask for scavenger hunts. Pool is ok, nothing spectacular but I am not there for the food.

 

[BlueBayou]

We have stayed at a myriad of off sight hotels and all three Disneyland hotels. We are a family that was disappointed with the DLH. Of course if money was not object we would stay at the GCH again - but if choosing between the PPH and DLH we would stay PPH.

Here are our pros:
1) walk back to the hotel (particularly from DCA) can be through GCH. You can stop and hang out in the lobby by the fireplace before going back to the room.
2) Bypass downtown Disney unless you want to go in it. Sometimes I just want to be able to walk without my kids being attracted to things for sale (I know, then why do I go to Disneyland
3) The pool was not crowded. At one point my kids (ages 8 and 11) had the slide completely to themselves. 3 lifeguards on duty to 2 kids for a while. At the DHL - we had a great time in the pool - but it was very crowded.
4) Staff seemed very friendly and helpful
5) Room service was quick

Cons:
1) Small lobby area (so it does not feel like a grand entrance)
2) Sometimes lines for the elevators (But I experienced that same problem at the DHL but not the frequently)

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed at both and liked both. The 2 times I stayed at PP, I had a park view, it was awesome. This was before WoC, so it is even better now.

This was December 2008, I was on the top floor:

 

[helenb]

We love PPH! We've stayed at the Contemporary Hotel in WDW (which is a 'deluxe' resort) and PPH is just as nice inside the rooms, and MUCH closer to the parks. So if you compare PPH to the deluxe hotels at WDW, it ranks with them, IMHO.

That being said, PPH is a little light on Disney theming in the rooms. However down in the lobby and restaurants it is very nicely themed. One thing we love about the PPH is the 'beach' viewing room where kids can just plop down in some beach chairs and watch classic Disney cartoons. This is a lifesaver if you have cranky kids when you arrive and have to wait to check in. I also love the close parking, right behind the hotel. If you are staying at the GCH and self-parking, the lot is next to PPH... so PPH has an advantage there!

The rooms are reasonably sized, as are the bathrooms. They are clean, nicely decorated and in good condition (at least, the ones we have stayed in have been).

IMHO, PPH is CLOSER to the parks than DLH. If you go through GCH, the GCH hotel entrance to DCA is very close. Even to the DL park, going through GCH it is very close. And while you can't pool hop, if you're walking through the GCH lobby (which is the nicest part of GCH, IMHO - we've stayed there too) you are free to stop and sit by the fireplace and enjoy whatever activities are going on there. The only thing DLH is closer to is the monorail.

Frankly, I would never consider staying at DLH. If I want to go lower budget, I'll stay at PPH in a heartbeat. If I want to splurge, I'll go to GCH. No need to go 'halfway' for the location that's furthest away. JMHO.

 

[llump41]

Never done the GCH and haven't done the DLH in ten years. We did do PPH concierge in Aug and loved it. Room was spacious although lightly themed. Pool would have been OK but we didn't go to the resort to swim. The walk was never a problem. Very quick and if going to DCA much quicker, IMHO, than the DLH.

The only thing I wish they would do is a theming from the DLH to PPH. If your walking from ESPN to the PPH it's boring. I will do the PPH in a heartbeat again.

 

[Peace.love.mickey]

The pool at PPH was closed last weekend, so you might want to check what the dealio is!

I MUCH prefer DLH to PPH, BUT I think if I had never done DLH, I would never have known what I was missing!!! 500 bucks is 500 bucks!

 

[gokdog]

We love PPH! We've stayed at the Contemporary Hotel in WDW (which is a 'deluxe' resort) and PPH is just as nice inside the rooms, and MUCH closer to the parks. So if you compare PPH to the deluxe hotels at WDW, it ranks with them, IMHO.

That being said, PPH is a little light on Disney theming in the rooms. However down in the lobby and restaurants it is very nicely themed. One thing we love about the PPH is the 'beach' viewing room where kids can just plop down in some beach chairs and watch classic Disney cartoons. This is a lifesaver if you have cranky kids when you arrive and have to wait to check in. I also love the close parking, right behind the hotel. If you are staying at the GCH and self-parking, the lot is next to PPH... so PPH has an advantage there!

The rooms are reasonably sized, as are the bathrooms. They are clean, nicely decorated and in good condition (at least, the ones we have stayed in have been).

IMHO, PPH is CLOSER to the parks than DLH. If you go through GCH, the GCH hotel entrance to DCA is very close. Even to the DL park, going through GCH it is very close. And while you can't pool hop, if you're walking through the GCH lobby (which is the nicest part of GCH, IMHO - we've stayed there too) you are free to stop and sit by the fireplace and enjoy whatever activities are going on there. The only thing DLH is closer to is the monorail.

Frankly, I would never consider staying at DLH. If I want to go lower budget, I'll stay at PPH in a heartbeat. If I want to splurge, I'll go to GCH. No need to go 'halfway' for the location that's furthest away. JMHO.

I would completely agree with this post, we stayed at PPH in September, had a great room, great view and was just 2minutes to the GCH lobby.

We also went on our first trip to WDW this past December, staying in a moderate (Port Orleans French Quarter) and although we liked the resort, it was not nearly as nice as PPH.

We still love GCH and will stay there when the rooms are affordable, but when you are looking to save and still enjoy the Disney Resort experience, PPH is a great option.

 

[ashnjam]

We love PPH! We've stayed at the Contemporary Hotel in WDW (which is a 'deluxe' resort) and PPH is just as nice inside the rooms, and MUCH closer to the parks. So if you compare PPH to the deluxe hotels at WDW, it ranks with them, IMHO.

That being said, PPH is a little light on Disney theming in the rooms. However down in the lobby and restaurants it is very nicely themed. One thing we love about the PPH is the 'beach' viewing room where kids can just plop down in some beach chairs and watch classic Disney cartoons. This is a lifesaver if you have cranky kids when you arrive and have to wait to check in. I also love the close parking, right behind the hotel. If you are staying at the GCH and self-parking, the lot is next to PPH... so PPH has an advantage there!

The rooms are reasonably sized, as are the bathrooms. They are clean, nicely decorated and in good condition (at least, the ones we have stayed in have been).

IMHO, PPH is CLOSER to the parks than DLH. If you go through GCH, the GCH hotel entrance to DCA is very close. Even to the DL park, going through GCH it is very close. And while you can't pool hop, if you're walking through the GCH lobby (which is the nicest part of GCH, IMHO - we've stayed there too) you are free to stop and sit by the fireplace and enjoy whatever activities are going on there. The only thing DLH is closer to is the monorail.

Frankly, I would never consider staying at DLH. If I want to go lower budget, I'll stay at PPH in a heartbeat. If I want to splurge, I'll go to GCH. No need to go 'halfway' for the location that's furthest away. JMHO.

Now when you say enjoy whatever activities are going on at the GCH does this include the Storytelling?

 

[helenb]

I haven't attended the storytelling at GCH, so I can't say. But I have seen small 'events' going on in the lobby as I passed through. Anyone is free to stop and watch if they are there.

 

[Tarijeno]

IMHO, the Paradise Pier lost it's appeal when they 86'd the private entrance near California Screamin'. Now, it's just what it is: an old, non-Disney hotel that DLR bought out and spruced up with some Disney wallpaper. There's little incentive, in my opinion, to get a room at the PP. You can find a nicer (and probably closer) hotel room off-site.

 

[TwingleMum]

Thnaks for all the replies. We are WDW vets and have stayed at almost all the WDW resorts from concierge to All Stars and have enjoyed them all. We live in NY so getting to Mecca (DL) is not a common occurrance for us. We were last at DL in 2007. We split stayed at DLH and GC. I'd like to try PPH because its $500/night cheaper than DLH and its always nice to save a few dollars when you can. And its more money for souvenirs.

 

[Hound 109]

$500 per night cheaper??!!!

I'd stay at the PP, if it was $20 per night cheaper than the DLH.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thnaks for all the replies. We are WDW vets and have stayed at almost all the WDW resorts from concierge to All Stars and have enjoyed them all. We live in NY so getting to Mecca (DL) is not a common occurrance for us. We were last at DL in 2007. We split stayed at DLH and GC. I'd like to try PPH because its $500/night cheaper than DLH and its always nice to save a few dollars when you can. And its more money for souvenirs.

$500 per night?! I thought you meant $500 total difference for your stay. What kind of rooms are you looking at? I know the DLH has gotten expensive, but even when I've been checking the rates sometimes I haven't been seeing higher than $400 something per night for the DLH (which frankly I won't pay, but nor would I pay the current going rate for PP).