Disneyland Hotel or Paradise pier?

[FourM's]

Okay I need everyones opinion! Just got back from a Anniversary trip to DL with DH. We stayed at the GCH, it was fabulous!!!! Of course we had to upgrade our park hoppers to AP's. So now we are planning a trip with our DDs ages 10 and 12. We are thinking in February or very early March sometime. We have only every stayed offsite with the kids and would like to stay onsite this time. Can't afford GCH again, so it PP ar DLH.
I can't make up my mind. Which would you choose and why?

 

[CrazyDuck]

DLH... Better pool! But since you are coming in Feb that may not matter!

 

[disneystick]

More of a Disney Theme at the DLH and the pool area also have great theming. Plus, it is closer to the theme parks and downtown Disney, especially after a long day at the parks. Staying at DLH also gives you the option of more places to eat. My family also enjoys DLH hotel because of the history. There is a wall at DLH that shows you the history of DLH and DL.

However, both is lovely, but our vote would be for DLH!

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

Disneyland Hotel by a mile! We stayed at PP a few years ago and unless it's been majorly referb'd, it's .... um... in need of some serious TLC. Two SLOW moving elevators in the whole place, old carpet (really old). Disneyland Hotel has great theming in their rooms, the property is nice to walk around in/on, closer to DTD (as mentioned), access to the monorail to both DTD and into the park is a lifesaver when you are tired.

 

[DizMe]

I vote for DLH, too! It's my favorite!!

 

[Sherry E]

I don't think you will find many (or any) folks here who say "Paradise Pier is better than DLH!" In fact, I stayed at GCH for the first time back in 2001, which I was excited about, and the friend I was with was actually disappointed because she wanted to stay at the DLH! People have a real love for the DLH because it is the original and because it is 'more Disney' than the other two hotels. Plus, it has a better pool than PPH, and the great waterfalls and the koi fish pond. However, I have seen a couple of threads here where people stated that the DLH - not the PPH - is in serious need of repair, and that it is looking very old and worn. I have to agree - the last time we stayed at PPH (last year), it didn't seem old to me at all. The elevators were slow but the carpet and overall upkeep seemed newer and fresher than what I saw in the DLH. And also, there are some who would argue that the PPH is actually closer to the entrance of the parks than DLH is, depending on which DLH tower you end up in and assuming you take the shortcut from the PPH through the GCH lobby.

But all that aside, the PPH is basically just where to stay if you want to be in a DLR hotel and get the benefits of that, but at a lower price. It has a beach/surf/ocean type of theme, but it is just not big enough to really expand on that theme, so instead offers just mild touches of it here and there - a lifeguard Mickey lamp in the rooms, a surfboard soapdish in the bathroom, a surfer Goofy statue in the lobby, that sort of thing. It is very basic. The DLH has more Mickey-fication around the property, but it is old and dated a little bit. Compared to the stunning elegance of the GCH, both the DLH and the PPH look like they need help, but I think the PPH has actually had some refurbishments more recently than the DLH.