Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier

[dinotorrid]

We're going down as a family to celebrate my birthday and my parents anniversary. I got two questions:

1. How would you compare Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel? Which is better in your opinion?
2. Is the Daily Resort fee charged even if you book a package through Disney? (Ex: Dreams Unlimited or Disneyland.com).

 

[Disney_Villain]

In answer to your 1st question only:

We've stayed at PPH, and we do think it is very cute, but DLH has far better pools and more amenities.

Try buying a snack from PPH (the bar is the only place you'll get one, and the selection is very limited - and with one bartender tending drinkers, you're going to wait like we did). At least DLH has snack options and a real place to buy them from. There is also free coffee served in DLH's lobby.

 

[ballarinamom]

No comparison- DLH!! PP is the California beach vibe. DLH has the traditional Disney vibe. Characters mingle in the entry from time to time. Lots of food choices. We did not pay an additional resort fee at check in. All fees were included in our package.
Plus DLH is closer to everything

 

[mechurchlady]

WDW has various levels of hotels. There are the fancy one like the Grand Floridian, the moderates like Caribbean beach, Villas, and the All-Star super cheapo almost Motel 6 types.

Disneyland has three hotels. Paradise Pier would be slightly better than the All-Star resorts and more like Caribbean resort. Disneyland Hotel has more amenities and is more like Boardwalk and Port Orleans. Grand Cslifornian is most like the Grand Floridian marries the Wilderness Lodge, lol.

Paradise Pier is plain and simple but still a great hotel. Ideal for cheapskates and families. Nothing really fancy but it does the job fine.

Disneyland Hotel is Cinderella who has seen her new sisters come and try to steal the limelight. She was the centerpiece of the Disneyland Resort. She has lots of amenities for conventions as well as families and adults who want a touch of class. She is one fine lady.

Grand Californian has the wilderness Lodge feel with lots of Arts and Crafts type of decor. It is upscale and is meant to be expensive and worth the money. It was crammed into a small space and put not designed with guests in mind at times. To get to the resorts you have to go down to the main floor then to the lobby then down a hall then out to the courtyard then through a walkway and then on to the monorail or park entrance. I would have put a main entrance on Downtown Disney. Great amenity for guests is close to the parks. She is the regal super deluxe hotel.

No one hotel is better than the other in my book. Nope. Each is for a different clientele. I would gladly take the Paradise Pier room any day just like I would take the WDW cheapo rooms. I love luxury but I am at the parks for the parks.

 

[bumbershoot]

From my experience, the daily resort fee is worked into the package cost, so you shouldn't be billed separately.

What's interesting is that by mileage, going from PPH to the parks is actually closer than DLH, if you take the shortcut through GCH from PPH (and if the DLH person isn't taking the monorail). DTD is big and meandering, and adds footsteps to your walking "commute" to/from the parks.


We've stayed at PPH twice, and ultimately we enjoy it.

But we're planning a DLH stay b/c I fell hard for it while waiting in their lobby for Disneyland Express one night (I had a one day stay and parked my bags in a locker, and then just caught the DE from the DLH b/c that's the last place it stops before leaving for the airport). I'm sure I'll like the DLH, but I still like PPH!

 

[GRandPsMommy]

We stayed at the DLH an LOVED it...My parents were staying at the PPH at the same time and I really liked our room better it was bigger and the walk to PPH seemed so much longer than the walk to the DLH we were in the dream tower and there is an enterance into the tower right at the beginning of DTD. We had a 9th floor facing DTD room and it was great...My parents had a 13th floor facing DCA and it was a great view alos although you do kind of get lost in all the construction you see going on in DCA....If you want DLH pictures I have lots

 

[tracer]

If you want the most Disney like experience (mickey mouse decorations, character statues, real characters, etc) Disneyland Hotel is the one.

 

[GRandPsMommy]

If you want the most Disney like experience (mickey mouse decorations, character statues, real characters, etc) Disneyland Hotel is the one.

I did forget to add this it is more of a Disney feel at the DLH

 

[Lakewood]

I'd go with the dl hotel, its got way more history and is just "cooler".

 

[ScooterL]

I prefer the Paradise Pier to the Disneyland Hotel - but I'm not into cutesy theming, nor do I care about using the themed pool. I think the PP has a little more of an adult theme. The grounds are also much more extensive at the DLH, but if I just want to just take a walk around the grounds I can easily do that from the PP.

If you are paying for a view, I think you get more bang for your buck with the theme park view at the PP than you do with the Pool or Park view at the DLH. I LOVE the DCA view from the PP rooms on the upper floors.

I will say that the elevator situation at the PP is not very good - you can wait a long time if you're trying to use them at the busy times of day.

 

[Jennifer03]

I like PPH better since I prefer the beach theme. However, DLH is still a great place to stay and the pool is amazing.