Disneyland Hotel vs. Paradise Pier

[thatgrljme]

This was our view from the Frontier Tower, 9th floor pool view. We booked a standard room as we booked through the Dapper Day site and that was our only option.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Thanks for all of the great comments and beautiful pictures.
thatgrljme, is the bottom picture the upper pool/resort view?
Does anyone have pictures of just the pool/resort view (I guess that would be on the lower levels) or a view from the fantasy tower?
Danceanddisney2010, did you stay at the lower or upper level?

 

[GoBears 1980]

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.

And I'll strongly disagree with your disagreement. Paradise Pier is at best a Moderate in terms of amenities and the AoA has very similar amenities. No way is PPH a Deluxe. I've stayed in everyone at WDW and PPH doesn't come close to any of them in amenities or themeing.

 

[thatgrljme]

thatgrljme, is the bottom picture the upper pool/resort view?

It's actually a standard view room in the Frontier Tower. We were on floor 8 or 9 I think towards the end of the hallway and that is what we got. I'm not sure if we got lucky because we checked in pretty close to 3pm, maybe a bit earlier, and they had a room ready, or if we got upgraded. I know we booked a standard view room though because it was through the Dapper Day site and there weren't options for upgraded rooms.

 

[PatMcDuck]

View at night from upper level PP view room. What I like here, is that you can book this view, and not have to hope for an upgrade. I consider PP a moderate ++, because no WDW moderate has a park view available like this.

 

[thatgrljme]

This was our concierge level upper view room at PPH in 2013. Loved it, loved the concierge level too.

This was our fireworks view at DLH Frontier Tower floor 8 or 9. Again, not high enough to get the full view of them, but high enough to see them halfway at least. With my son, there was no way we were gonna make it all night in the park to watch the fireworks.

 

[GoBears 1980]

I consider PP a moderate ++, because no WDW moderate has a park view available like this.

No Deluxe hotel at WDW has a park view like that.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Wow!!! Amazing pictures. I've never had views like these at WDW. Of course I haven't stayed at the Grand Floridian or the Contemporary Villas. I am in love with the view of World of Color. However, I guess I'll stay at DLH. It seems more our style of classic disney.
I'm booking through Costco. Can I request a tower?

 

[carisa81]

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.

I completely agree with this answer. We stayed at the DLR last week and it was really really great. We paid for a standard view room and got the 9th floor and were able to see the fireworks from our room.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Can you request a particular tower? I'm booking through Costco.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

I'm confused. Is the standard view floors 1-7 and then the pool view starts and goes to a certain floor and then the upper view starts?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

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.

I think it's just the pool view and upper level???? I didn't see anything about a mid level.

 

[Iceman93]

And I'll strongly disagree with your disagreement. Paradise Pier is at best a Moderate in terms of amenities and the AoA has very similar amenities. No way is PPH a Deluxe. I've stayed in everyone at WDW and PPH doesn't come close to any of them in amenities or themeing.

Then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. We have both stayed at every deluxe resort at WDW so should have the same basis of comparison. You're saying AoA has a tower construction, concierge lounge, on-site sit-down restaurant, theme park view rooms, and valet parking? Because those are all amenities PPH offers, and it's things like the concierge level and full-service restaurant that make the WDW deluxes, deluxes. What amenities do you feel the WDW deluxes offer that PPH "doesn't come close" to?

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I'm confused. Is the standard view floors 1-7 and then the pool view starts and goes to a certain floor and then the upper view starts?

This is my understanding:
Standard view is parking lot view. These rooms are located on one side of the frontier tower and one side of the fantasy tower. I also think that the first couple floors of each tower that faces the pool are also in this category because the view of the pools are somewhat blocked by trees/restaurant buildings. The next step up is deluxe view. These rooms are in all towers facing the pool up to a certain height. The final category is premium. These rooms are the heighest floors in each tower facing the pools, as well as the other side of the adventure tower that faces downtown disney. I also believe some corner rooms in the frontier and fantasy tower closest to downtown disney might also be in this category.
just so there is no confusion, the pp's who posted that they booked standard rooms yet had views of the pools were definitely upgraded.

 

[calilou]

This is my understanding:
Standard view is parking lot view. These rooms are located on one side of the frontier tower and one side of the fantasy tower. I also think that the first couple floors of each tower that faces the pool are also in this category because the view of the pools are somewhat blocked by trees/restaurant buildings. The next step up is deluxe view. These rooms are in all towers facing the pool up to a certain height. The final category is premium. These rooms are the heighest floors in each tower facing the pools, as well as the other side of the adventure tower that faces downtown disney. I also believe some corner rooms in the frontier and fantasy tower closest to downtown disney might also be in this category.
just so there is no confusion, the pp's who posted that they booked standard rooms yet had views of the pools were definitely upgraded.

Yes this. I should have qualified that requesting a mid-level floor would be done at the front desk when you check in or you can call the DLH about a week out and make the request. We usually book a standard room and most of the time are upgraded to a better view. Our trip in May we booked a deluxe view because the price difference was minimal and we were on the 5th floor which I really liked. Up higher is good too but we like to be able to clearly see all the action. Honestly we've always just left the view assignment up to chance and haven't been disappointed. Our favorite tower is the Adventure Tower (it's closest to Downtown Disney), second choice is Fantasy. You are not able to request a specific tower while booking but you can call in and make a request or request one at check in.

 

[GoBears 1980]

Then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. We have both stayed at every deluxe resort at WDW so should have the same basis of comparison. You're saying AoA has a tower construction, concierge lounge, on-site sit-down restaurant, theme park view rooms, and valet parking? Because those are all amenities PPH offers, and it's things like the concierge level and full-service restaurant that make the WDW deluxes, deluxes. What amenities do you feel the WDW deluxes offer that PPH "doesn't come close" to?

I don't consider "tower construction" an amenity or a positive, I prefer low rise like the GCH. AoA has the family suites in abundance, which PPH does not. PPH does have some room that accommodate 5 people, but still in the 364 sq ft room vs the 564 sq ft family suites at AoA. AoA has an amazing pool area, which PPH does not, and has three pools, which PPH does not.

PPH does have a sit down restaurant, but it is not as needed in Anaheim since there are much better restaurants close by than the PCH Grill. I actually like the food court at AoA better because of their Mongolian Grill, tandoori oven and other choices.

For the Moderates, every Moderate has better pools than PPH, the CSR has a spa and I think all the Mods have a sit down restaurant, except for POFQ, but walking over to POR or riding the boat is simple enough.

The most important consideration though for me that makes PPH nothing like a Deluxe is the service, or lack thereof, at the PPH. Other than the Club Level I find the PPH very ordinary.

But as you said, we'll agree to disagree