DL Hotel VS Paradise Pier- Which One?

[Luvmy2Js]

I prefer the DLH. We have stayed at all three onsite hotels and DLH wins for me. The GCH rooms were small and dark. They were gorgeous and the hotel is gorgeous but the rooms at DLH seem so much larger. I love the stores in the DLH and the restraunts. PP had one store that I wasn't very impressed with and the whole beach theme just really didn't do it for me in terms of Disneyland spirit. It wasn't bad and I would stay there again but if I had my way it would be DLH for sure. We are scheduled to stay there the second week of January and I can't wait. I always ask for the Dreams tower because pretty much any room you get will have a view of either the pool or Downtown Disney.

 

[keishashadow]

I prefer the DLH. We have stayed at all three onsite hotels and DLH wins for me. The GCH rooms were small and dark. They were gorgeous and the hotel is gorgeous but the rooms at DLH seem so much larger. I love the stores in the DLH and the restraunts. PP had one store that I wasn't very impressed with and the whole beach theme just really didn't do it for me in terms of Disneyland spirit. It wasn't bad and I would stay there again but if I had my way it would be DLH for sure. We are scheduled to stay there the second week of January and I can't wait. I always ask for the Dreams tower because pretty much any room you get will have a view of either the pool or Downtown Disney.

lucky you!!
The room pics i've seen of PP & furnishings remind me of BWV/BC @ WDW; same type/light wood, etc.

Was thinking the rooms were larger @ PP for some reason, can't find my notes; will have to pull out UG or Passporter later.

Thanks - have noted the Dreams Tower as a request. So the standard rooms in that bldg. would have some sort of view too?

Do all DL rooms have the mini balcony that you can step out on?

 

[disney-super-mom]

OT - Saw a pic today in newsletter, Disney Files (?); showed where the DVC is going. A cleared spot slightly to the right (looking from theme parks) & across the street from PP. It appears to be wedged between the park area & GC (i can see a poolscape). Not that large; assume they're going to make good use of the space.

Wonder if construction will be an issue this summer as to access from PP & DL thru the GC walkway into park? Would think they'd keep it as non-distruptive as possible.

Luckily the construction is in an area that won't interfere with access. If you were looking at the front entrance of the GCH, the new wing is being built on the far right, which is out of the way of any walkways, shortcuts, or foot traffic.

If you look at this picture of the construction area, in the lower left corner you can see the GCH guard tower and the entrance/exit driveways, and just to the right of that, if you look closely you can see a bit of the sidewalk. So, from the PPH, you cross the road at the crosswalk and follow that sidewalk in the picture. The sidewalk curves to the left and leads you to the front entrance doors of the GCH. From there (the lobby of the GCH), you can go left to access DTD and the entrance gates to DL. Or, you can go straight through the lobby and out the back doors to access the private entrance to CA.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

You can book an AP rate room and have the AP added to your reservation; that way you get your AP voucher at check-in (no forgetting it at home and/or running around trying to get it before check-in). The newest special AP rate for Jan thru March 6th 2008 does not include discount concierge rates. The old AP4 rates (Aug-Dec 15th-ish 2007) were just about $30 (if I remember correctly) over the nonconcierge rates and were a major bargain.

I wonder if anyone would care to guess if concierge will be discounted in future???

ok kool as long as i dont have to pay till get there like i was planing.
Also what do each of the hotles have for there concearge things?
and how much would a park view 169-189for ap rates. concearge atpp?

 

[keishashadow]

Luckily the construction is in an area that won't interfere with access. If you were looking at the front entrance of the GCH, the new wing is being built on the far right, which is out of the way of any walkways, shortcuts, or foot traffic.

If you look at this picture of the construction area, in the lower left corner you can see the GCH guard tower and the entrance/exit driveways, and just to the right of that, if you look closely you can see a bit of the sidewalk. So, from the PPH, you cross the road at the crosswalk and follow that sidewalk in the picture. The sidewalk curves to the left and leads you to the front entrance doors of the GCH. From there (the lobby of the GCH), you can go left to access DTD and the entrance gates to DL. Or, you can go straight through the lobby and out the back doors to access the private entrance to CA.

thanks so much, this pic is much better than the 1 i saw finally "get it" on the directions lol.

that is a very small parcel even for the # of planned units ; evidently, DL has squeezing all the oomph out of what space they have down to a science.

 

[CoolPool]

ok kool as long as i dont have to pay till get there like i was planing.
Also what do each of the hotles have for there concearge things?
and how much would a park view 169-189for ap rates. concearge atpp?

No, you don't pay for the AP until you show up - at least they didn't charge me til I was at check-in in August 2007.

Concierge lounge food consists of some basic breakfast stuff like danishes, bagels, fruit, and cereal. That kind of thing. Then there are some snacky stuff like candies, pretzels, chips, etc. as the day progresses. At 5 to 7pm they have a wine/cheese thingee with some hot snacks. Nothing spectacular but nice. Chips and dip. For drinks you get coffee, apple juice, milk, sodas, and such. There is a computer you can use to check your email if you didn't bring one with you. There is a TV with DVD and you can borrow DVDs to take back to your room. The "extra help" you get could just as easily be accomplished from your room by hitting the appropriate button on your Mousephone. You know, its okay but I wouldn't pay $100 over room prices for it, maybe the $30 charge was more reasonable for what you get. I don't think me and the kids ate/drank enough to even justify the $30 over.

The $169 concierge rate at PP is over. It ended mid December. Its not known if it will be brought back later next year. I enjoyed it but my kids preferred the pool at DLH and GCH so I know we won't likely be back there unless we get desperate and the other hotels are sold out.

 

[bumbershoot]

It's frustrating when you can spout off the rates for WDW by route (including most of the discounts & possible pincodes); yet are clueless as to whether you're getting a good rate or not @ DL .

wish there was an onsite date & rate thread here ; nice to be able to check the prior year before you commit.

DL seems to def. have a better vibe, just worried as to getting stuck in the more far flung building(s). Thinking the odds of getting upgraded to park view @ PP are better; assume 1/2 rooms face one way & the rest the other?

I think the problem with that sort of thing woudl be that the prices for the DLR hotels change from one moment to the next. It's very flexible pricing, it seems. And sometimes they'll add a better rate when none existed for that date before.

Honestly, even a far flung building isn't going to be THAT far away from things. DLR just isn't that big.

 

[keishashadow]

I think the problem with that sort of thing woudl be that the prices for the DLR hotels change from one moment to the next. It's very flexible pricing, it seems. And sometimes they'll add a better rate when none existed for that date before.

Honestly, even a far flung building isn't going to be THAT far away from things. DLR just isn't that big.

ahh, being clearer now...was positive that the rates had shifted for our time frame this summer over the past few months when i checked rates (perhaps i'm not crazy after all ).

i'm beginning to think that onsite rate discounts/promos during summer, including AAA, are not that frequent...shall grab the 1st I can find.

 

[Tink208]

Thanks - have noted the Dreams Tower as a request. So the standard rooms in that bldg. would have some sort of view too?

Do all DL rooms have the mini balcony that you can step out on?

We were in a standard room in the Dreams Tower last month and it was a) the tiniest room I had ever had at the DLH (kind of ironic since this was the first trip with my whole family of four and not just my older son and myself), and b) on the second floor, with a pool view...which turned out to mean that we could hear everything going on on the walkway between our building and the pool area (tons of fun when a bunch of young adults were being very obnoxious sometime after midnight on our first full day there); and if we were standing anywhere near the window, people on that walkway could see us. Given how small the room was, that meant we had to keep the sheers pulled most of the time just to have some sense of privacy. And, no, I don't think any of the rooms we have been in at the DLH have mini balconies.

All of that said, I still have to say that I love the DLH and it continues to be my preferred choice for staying on property, at least until I win the lottery and can afford the splurge to try the GCH!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

so at the pp, where would you ask to be to see views of the fire works any one have idea? or how much more views are usely

 

[boiseflyfisher]

so at the pp, where would you ask to be to see views of the fire works any one have idea? or how much more views are usely

At PP you can watch the fireworks from the pool area.

 

[keishashadow]

We were in a standard room in the Dreams Tower last month and it was a) the tiniest room I had ever had at the DLH (kind of ironic since this was the first trip with my whole family of four and not just my older son and myself), and b) on the second floor, with a pool view...which turned out to mean that we could hear everything going on on the walkway between our building and the pool area (tons of fun when a bunch of young adults were being very obnoxious sometime after midnight on our first full day there); and if we were standing anywhere near the window, people on that walkway could see us. Given how small the room was, that meant we had to keep the sheers pulled most of the time just to have some sense of privacy. And, no, I don't think any of the rooms we have been in at the DLH have mini balconies.

All of that said, I still have to say that I love the DLH and it continues to be my preferred choice for staying on property, at least until I win the lottery and can afford the splurge to try the GCH!

thanks for the info, i've got to def. pull out my guidebooks now to see if they specify which towers/rooms have the balconies. I'm somewhat claustraphobic, the thought of being cooped up in a hotel room where I'm unable to pull the draperies for sunlight due to other guests walking by gives me the willies...i'll go even madder than i am now.

fyi, the rack rate per night for GC during our time frame currently is:

standard $405+
PV $505+

 

[Sunobo]

lucky you!!
Thanks - have noted the Dreams Tower as a request. So the standard rooms in that bldg. would have some sort of view too?

Do all DL rooms have the mini balcony that you can step out on?

I've only been to DL once so I can't offer much help but we stayed in the DLH in the Magic Tower and our standard room overlooked the hotel entrance and Parking lot. It wasn't a great view but we weren't in the room much. We were on the 5th floor and had a very small balcony we could stand on. There was also a sticker stating that the birds were very friendly and to please be sure and close the window.

To us, we felt the room was average sized for a hotel. We didn't feel like we were tripping over each other but it wasn't a huge room. The bathroom area was a decent size.

 

[trodrigue]

We stayed at the PP two weeks ago. My kids like the slide! We were celebrating my son's 5th b-day and we were just chatting with the gal checking us in about our 18 hour drive, the LA traffic, our previous trip 2 years ago etc. She checked us in, and then I said, oh, are we close to the pool? I forgot to request that, but the boys love to swim. She immedietly took the keys back, looked again, and gave me new keys and told me she had upgraded us to a park view room, and we were fairly close to the pool (just 3 floors above it). The room and the view were great.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

thats cool, dose any one know what floors you want to make sure you'll on to see the fireworks from the rooms

 

[z28wiz]

Im curious too on that too??