Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier?

[anne930]

The Grand Californian hotel is booked for part of our stay in October and I really didn't want to spend that much money anyway. Would your next choice be the Disneyland Hotel or Paradise Pier? We "do" want to stay on property. If you think the Disneyland Hotel is better, which building and view would you choose? We are a family of 2 adults, but would like to use the jacuzzi if it is decent. Probably the niceness of the room and distance to the parks would be our primary concerns, though.

Thanks,

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would vote for the Disneyland Hotel, its our favorite. Although we have stayed at PP and enjoyed that too, I didn't think the rooms were quite as attractive (just my taste I guess) and the pool area isn't as nice. Both hotels have nice, oversized rooms. The DLH pool is very pretty with some nice landscaping. It has a large hot tub that at times can be overun with kids. However in the evenings it is usually deserted. I know my husband and I took a solo trip to DL last August and enjoyed having the hot tub to ourselves one evening. Paradise Pier has only one tower and the theme park views cost considerably more. The pool is a square, basic pool with a neat slide but that's about it. No nice landscaping around the PP pool. At the DLH there are three towers to choose from. Again, if you wanted an upper floor DTD view you would pay for it but there are other nice views that are standard. The Sierra Tower, DTD or pool view are the most requested. I personally love the Bonita Tower because we love walking through the waterfalls and exloring the koi ponds. It is maybe a one minute further walk to the pool and parks but we still like it. The Marina Tower is where the lobby and shops are. Both the Marina and Bonita Towers can have park views or parking lot views. It just depends on how crowded they are and if you are willing to pay for a premium view as to what you get. You can certainly make a request for something but you may not get it. I would make any room requests when you make your reservation and then call the hotel directly a day or two before you check in to make sure they have that on the reservation. Also, the earlier you check in the better chance you have of getting a nicer view but sometimes that isn't possible! Good luck and enjoy your planning!

 

[CindyT]

I cast my vote for the Disneyland Hotel too. We just got back, and loved it. I am a Disney fan from way back (hint, I am older than Disneyland) so the Disneyland Hotel holds a special allure for me. We had a parking lot view in the Marina tower, but were pleasantly surprised to find that we had an excellent view of the fireworks!! There are good restaurants in the hotel and we loved the walk through Downtown Disney at night, listened to lots of good music. Taking the monorail from DD to Tomorrowland is fun too. I don't think you can go wrong with the Disneyland Hotel.

 

[munchkinsmom]

Another vote for the Disneyland Hotel. Definitely the better of the two.

 

[Tamickey]

We've stayed at both and like them both. However, I think we prefer Disneyland Hotel. Last month we stayed 4 nites there and then 2 nites at GC. I think we actually prefer DH. This time we requested DTD view and it was great. Pretty sure the only building for DTD view is Sierra. In the past, we have had the view of the water falls which was also really nice. I enjoy hearing the falls from the balconey. DTD view was fun and we could see some of the activity down there. When the sliders were closed there really wasn't very much sound from DTD at all.

 

[boosmom96]

We've stayed at both and like them both. However, I think we prefer Disneyland Hotel. Last month we stayed 4 nites there and then 2 nites at GC. I think we actually prefer DH. This time we requested DTD view and it was great. Pretty sure the only building for DTD view is Sierra. In the past, we have had the view of the water falls which was also really nice. I enjoy hearing the falls from the balconey. DTD view was fun and we could see some of the activity down there. When the sliders were closed there really wasn't very much sound from DTD at all.

We just got back from the GC (theme park view) and, except for the incredible view, my DH and I both agreed we prefer the DLH. I think each tower has it's own good & bad points. The Bonita Tower are the furthest from the monorail, but the rooms (at least the ones we have had) are larger. The Marina Tower rooms seemed smaller, but it is convenient to the shops. The Sierra Tower has great views from both sides and is closest to the monorail (though not by much over the Marina).
I've never stayed at the PP, but it seems pretty much like any regular hotel.
It's a fairly long walk to the monorail, and despite what you might hear, they do not have an entrance into DCA. It was closed because of cast member cutbacks.

 

[hbg4]

We're booked to stay at DLH for August.
We're DVC members and the DVC is offering a special reduction on points: 29 per night for a standard room at DLH compared to 35 at Paradise pier. The DLH is considred a better quality resort and the rooms have also just recently been renovated. Hope this helps anyone including DVC members interested in going to Disneyland this year.

 

[anne930]

Thanks to everyone for the input. I made our reservation for the Disneyland Hotel - Sierra Tower - DTD view. I hope I made the right decision. Still working on better rates, though. Now I am trying to figure out how we will be able to see fantasmic and the fireworks at DL and see ELP at California Adventure and now "do the Halloween" party without any of it being available during the week. Wish us luck!!!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

We're booked to stay at DLH for August.
We're DVC members and the DVC is offering a special reduction on points: 29 per night for a standard room at DLH compared to 35 at Paradise pier. The DLH is considred a better quality resort and the rooms have also just recently been renovated. Hope this helps anyone including DVC members interested in going to Disneyland this year.

Thanks for the DVC input. I am thinking of booking DLH for next summer to take advantage of the reduced points. Did you go for standard or preferred view? I am torn as to which to pick.... we don't stay in the hotel room enough for view to matter, but I don't know if that will be different for us in Ca, where there are fewer parks to go to.

 

[hbg4]

I've never been to DL.
But I've booked the standard view to save on some points since we'll only be in the room for changing, sleeping and resting. I chose DLH for the atmosphere and pool area for my DD.