Disneyland Hotel vs. Paradise Pier

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Why is Disneyland Hotel souch more expensive than Paradise Pier? I'm thinking of booking through Costco with their current incentives.
Is a view of CA Adventure worth getting the park view room?
Which room would you get at the Disneyland Hotel? The pool/resort view or the upper level pool/resort view?
This will probably be our only trip to Disneyland.
Thanks for any recommendations

 

[planningjollyholiday]

The DLH has more of a resort feel making it more expensive. It has better pools, better dining options, better theming, impressive grounds, and the occasional character roaming around. I actually prefer the lower level views. We got a higher level one time and we were able to see other parts of anaheim (power lines, other buildings rooftops etc), and it was a reminder that while we were on vacation, the "real world" was still out there.

 

[aristocat65]

The Disneyland Hotel is just WAY nicer than Paradise Pier I think. We stayed at PP once and the rooms were fine, but the entire hotel had a very sterile/non Disney feel. If I were not going to pay for DLH or GCH I would choose one of the off site hotels instead especially now that there are a couple of nice ones opening soon. PP is still not cheap, but didn't feel Disneyish at all to me, so why spend that money?
DLH is full Disney immersion and the grounds are great and the rooms are so pretty! I am still pretty cheap though and I have never booked anything better than a standard room at any Disney hotel. I have always been given better than I have booked, and always been happy. YMMV.

 

[Dallet66]

I wonder why they give room upgrades to people? I mean, I think it's cool they do it, but it doesn't seem like it's something they need to do. I'd expect they are pretty booked most of the time, so I wonder what advantage they have to upgrading people? I sure hope I get that tomorrow!

 

[momtohms]

We stayed at the Paradise Pier a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. We walked through the GCH many times (as a short cut to the parks) and also walked around the DLH grounds and got drinks at Trader Sam's there. PPH is definitely not AS fancy as those two, but I still felt like we were at a Disney hotel. My kids are young so the PPH's smaller pool area was perfect, we loved the beach/surf theming of the room, our room wasn't a CA view but you could go down our hallway a bit and see out over the park easily. I'd love to stay at the DLH and GCH someday but the PPH more than met our needs and we enjoyed all the perks of being a Disney hotel guest

ETA: missed your kids ages earlier, I'd probably lean towards the DLH in that case. Especially if it will be your only trip to Disneyland.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

We are WDW fans. My daughters are 16 and 19. They've been to WDW many times and we've always stayed onsite.
I think I will go with the Disneyland Hotel. So what other opinions are out there on pool/resort view or upper pool/resort view?

 

[4Siamese]

We stayed at PP once and the rooms were fine, but the entire hotel had a very sterile/non Disney feel

I would respectfully disagree with this statement. We thought that the hotel had a very nice Disney feel to it, certainly not over the top but a very nice mix. I Guess everything is a matter of perspective.

The walk to the park is shorter from PP. The rooms are bright and of a good size. The staff are great as well. The pool at DLH is much better though I would agree whole heartedly.

 

[thatgrljme]

My first trip back to DLR in I can't even remember how many years we stayed at PPH and it was fantastic. Super great people, rooms were very spacious for myself, my father and my then 2 year old. Stroller and all his stuff was never in the way. Our next trip in February of this year we went with the DLH as we went for Dapper Days. While I agree with the theming is much better at the DLH, I think both hotels are great in their own aspect.

I felt the bathroom and room itself was much larger at PPH. The theming is more beach/fun themed and my son had a ball watching cartoons in the little room off the lobby. We stayed at a premium view/concierge level there and had an amazing view of CA, but I didn't love hearing WOC every single night, as we were back in the rooms pretty early because of my son.

DLH room layout was nice. We stayed in the frontier tower and our bathroom, closet and desk area was totally seperate from the beds and tv area. It was like a little niche off the bedroom area. So it was nice to dump everything there at the end of the day and not be tripping over things. The bathroom was small for that particular layout but it worked. We had a pool view and could see the matterhorn and partial view of the fireworks at night.

I'd stay at either again. They were both fantastic!

 

[calilou]

I agree with the other observations - PPH is great and definitely has its own perks (closer walk than DLH for one). If has a fun California style theming. Overall though I think you would be happier at DLH considering the ages of your children. If it were me I would sacrifice a view room in order to stay at DLH over PPH if necessary.

 

[Sherry E]

The PPH's view of California Adventure is great, depending on where the room is situated -- there is no getting around that (I have been blessed with free room upgrades on several occasions and the view was amazing each time, but definitely better on some occasions) -- and it's great to take advantage of if you want to watch some of World of Color from the room, or just stare out at the people walking around in DCA. I also love the bright, sunny feeling of the PPH and the cute sea/beach/surf-themed décor. The onsite character meal -- Surf's Up with Mickey -- is the only meal where Mickey appears, and it is the favorite character meal of many people. But the hotel itself is very basic and just not as expansive and large as the other two Disney hotels. That's the main issue for the PPH -- the theme is fine, but it's just not a large hotel.

If this is truly going to be your only trip to Disneyland, I think you should go with the DLH. As it has already been mentioned in this thread, it has more of a resort feel and a lot of classic Disney touches, along with character topiaries, cute teacup chairs in the lobby, some retro memorabilia, all kinds of Mickey icons everywhere, a small "geyser" and waterfall, Goofy's Kitchen, special headboards in the room, etc. The DLH used to have even more shops and restaurants -- and a bigger waterfall, as well as a whole marina -- once upon a time, and I actually preferred that version to the current version. But I think the DLH is really the quintessential Disneyland Resort hotel for families who want that classic Disney feel. That is not to say that the other two hotels -- PPH and GCH -- are not Disney in their own way, but the vibe and theme is different at each one, and not necessarily classic Disney in the traditional sense.

 

[Disney Dory]

I agree with the PP in that the DLH is the quintessential Disneyland Resort Hotel for families that want the classic Disney feel. It is our favorite place to stay although we have stayed at PPH as well and like that hotel too, except for the long wait for the elevators. We just prefer the feel of the DLH much better and love being right there close to the monorail which was so nice the last time we were there with our grandbaby. Perfect for hopping on and riding back to the DLH when the baby needed a nap or when our feet were tired. We were lucky that the whole 5 days we were there the monorail was working the entire time. Loved the grounds of the DLH as well! Just beautiful! You really can't go wrong staying at any of the 3 Disney Hotels. They are all so very nice!! Have a wonderful time!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Ok Awesome. Thanks for all of the good info. Definitely staying at DLH. We like the traditional classic disney and to be in our disney bubble.
Do you recommend the pool/resort view or the upper level pool/resort view?

 

[calilou]

Ok Awesome. Thanks for all of the good info. Definitely staying at DLH. We like the traditional classic disney and to be in our disney bubble.
Do you recommend the pool/resort view or the upper level pool/resort view?

I would request the mid level pool/resort view - you feel more immersed in the resort and it's fun to watch the action at the pools.

 

[RKKUNK]

We've booked the standard room every time because we are AP holders and use that rate when they have them. Only once did we have a bad view. Every time we have gotten the pool view room except for one time that we got the parking lot view, which was the one we didn't like. One time we got the DTD view, which was fun, but I still prefer the pool view room. We have only stayed in the Fantasy tower (which is where we got the parking lot view) and the Adventure Tower. The Adventure Tower will only have pool or DTD views. Since we haven't stayed in the Frontier Tower, I can't comment on that. I am sure that some of the times we have gotten the pool view rooms we were upgraded somehow, even though they didn't tell us we were upgraded, because I knew we were up higher then we were supposed to be in the standard view rooms.

I guess maybe the best thing to do is to maybe request the Adventure Tower and ask for pool view or just pay for the pool view if it is that important to you. When you make a request it doesn't guarantee that you will get that. Also, make sure you tell them that you are celebrating something like a birthday or anniversary because sometimes that helps with upgrades. Have Fun!!

 

[Filipina]

PP was not built by Disney. It was purchased by them and converted and considered the value resort. I stayed there when it was still (I think) the Pan Pacific. Disneyland Hotel is my favorite. I like the pool the best out of all the resorts. I like the Adventure Tower facing DTD so I can watch the fireworks from my room.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Disneyland doesn't differentiate hotels like at WDW but DLH & GCH are top line Deluxe Hotels and the PPH is a Moderate, maybe even a Super Value like AoA.

 

[allsaintsatx]

This is the pool view from the Adventure Tower, we were one floor above the price upgrade! 7th floor I think? It was something like Deluxe to Premium, but don't quote me on that! It was worth being up higher, the lower you get the more you see of Tangaroa Terrace which is a rather large building.


This is the pool view from the Frontier Tower. We were up higher, maybe 10th or 11th floor and kinda behind a pine tree which actually made the view a little more homey for us. It did not obscure the view quite as bad as in this photo but this is the only photo I could find! I think I was trying to be "arty" putting more of the tree in the photo frame! Haha! The view from Frontier was less pool and more beautifully landscaped grounds. Those blue flowered trees in the lower left corner were all up in our view! Very pretty. This was also the more expensive view.

I'm not sure of the exact cut off, but it's somewhere around Floor 7 where the view pricing increases.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

Considering your circumstances (this possibly being a once in a lifetime trip to Disneyland)... I agree with what most are saying and definitely going with DLH. I have absolutely nothing wrong with the PPH, but DLH has much more going on. I think PPH is themed nicely...love the beach theme, love the location, love that you get the perks of staying on property, but it needs a little something extra. There is much more buzz at DLH..that is for sure. I have stayed at all three hotels and I think they are all extremely great hotels...rooms being pretty similar... but in terms of atmosphere ..hands down DLH. Get a pool/resort view....that's what we had when we stayed there and it was PERFECT!

 

[Iceman93]

Disneyland doesn't differentiate hotels like at WDW but DLH & GCH are top line Deluxe Hotels and the PPH is a Moderate, maybe even a Super Value like AoA.

Sorry, but I strongly disagree with this assessment. PPH is nothing like AoA. In fact, all three DLR hotels would qualify as Deluxe Resorts at WDW by design, theming, and amenities.

 

[azdisneylover]

I've had the pleasure of staying in both hotels and would stay in either one again without hesitation. I would choose the DLH over the PPH because I do not want to see the people in their cars staring at me while they wait for the light to change so they can hurry off to work. We see traffic all the time at home, so not seeing it on vacation is what we try to pick. Even though the walk itself is shorter from the PPH through the GCH to baggage check than from the DLH through DTD, I would take the DLH walk every time. A nice perk walking from the DLH through DTD, there are many places to pick up a quick breakfast and still make it for EE or MM and not feel rushed. No matter where you decide to stay, you are going to have a great time, because you are going to Disneyland!