DLH or Paradise Pier??

[RadioNate]

Which hotel to choose? We are going to DL in November for a wedding. Both have acceptable rates but DLH is $16 more per night which would add about $100 to the length of our stay.

I'd love to do Grand Californian but it is out of the budget at $80 more per night.

They also have rates at the Best Western Stovalls, Portofino inn and Anahiem Maingate.

It has been 10 years since we've been to DL so any insight on where (or where NOT) to book will be appreciated.

thanks

 

[heatherleigh]

DLH. That isn't that much more. That's what we're doing this year for a change. Maybe next year we'll be able to do the GCH.

 

[DL4my2kids]

I haven't stayed at PP but have at DLH and we love it there. GCH would definately be our first choice but just can't swing it at those prices.

 

[Sherry E]

You know, if saving every penny is not an issue, then, as Heatherleigh indicated, DLH is not much more money than PPH. Prior to 2000, I used to always stay at DLH because there were no other options as far as Disney hotels. I loved it. I probably stayed there 10 times or so. I only ended up at PPH because I think I was trying to cut costs a bit in 2000 and, if I recall, the package price for DLH was a bit more money than the PPH one. I have now stayed at PPH two times, with a third stay coming up in October. I like it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with PPH. It is just very basic. It does not have the scenic grounds that DLH has, nor the beautiful elegance that GCH has (and I have stayed there too). PPH is a good place to stay if you want a touch of the Disney resort hotel magic but at the most economical price. BUT, I am kicking myself now, because I used my PIN# discount to get the PPH hotel room for October, and I didn't pay attention the the fact that the DLH discount price was ONLY $10 more per night. For some reason, I think I glanced at the offer and thought it was more than that. NOW I wish I had gotten a room at the DLH, just because I haven't been there in so long. but the DLH rooms (and the PPH rooms) are all booked up at the discount rates for October. So back to the PPH I go!

 

[RadioNate]

When we went in 98 we stayed at DLH. Being FL residents and living close to WDW we have the ingrained Disney Hotels are better mentality. The wedding is actually at the Disneyland Hotel so that will be the most convenient too.

I'm not worried about totally penny pinching even though this trip was unexpected. We are skipping a planned vacation this week to save for this trip (wedding was announced last week as the groom is being deployed to Iraq in Dec) and DH has some additional money coming in so the extra $100 won't make a huge dent. We'll just likely cut a full service meal and spend a little less on souvenirs we don't need.

 

[TravelingJen24]

You are going to love the wedding. We got married at the DLH in 2000 and it was fabulous. We love the DLH and will be staying there this weekend. I am hoping to renew our vows in two years there again, but from what I understand the prices have gone up, up, up.

 

[abby]

We have stayed at both PP and DLH. I liked them both but will always prefer DLH. The grounds are so much nicer as is the pool. Rooms about the same size, but much more disney at DLH.

 

[techno]

For the price, we like PPH over DLH. The rooms are about the same and the atmosphere is a little more upbeat and playful. The Lilo and Stitch breakfast is good too at PCH Grill.

 

[toocherie]

I also prefer the PPH. I just feel like the DLH is outdated and worn. The only complaint I have about PPH is that if you are on one of the lower floors getting an elevator to go down to the lobby can be a wait. (Hint: press "up" and take a ride!) I also think it's closer to the parks than the DLH if you use the shortcut through the Grand Californian.

 

[EnnEss]

Usually PP is available for less than only 16 dollars cheaper than DLH. With that difference I'd take DLH I think, even though Ive stayed at PP a few times and enjoyed it. If you haven't done either and both are within range its probably worth doing DLH, the pool is a lot nicer and yes the hotel itself is quite a bit older, it feels very disney.

As you're a WDW vet I'll put it this way. To me, DLH feels like a really themed disney hotel, and the theme is Disney. There really isn't one like this at WDW but it'd be like an old deluxe with a disney theme. The rooms at PP are very comparable comfort and size wise, and they are newer, but the theme feels like a moderate theme to me. There are splashes of Disney here and there which are very enjoyable, mostly with a beach/california theme, but its not as immersive. The grounds at DLH are better as well, although that doesn't really matter considering they are so close to each other.

If you were in a different position, say having done both already, I'd suggest Paradise Pier, but being the first time at either I vote for PP.

A final note I really notice as a DLR vet but one who recently went to WDW a bunch of times over the past few years, there are no food options at the hotels like there are in Florida Disney hotels. Its quite annoying, there is no food court basically, just restaurants. The location of the Hotels, opposite side of Disney from all the other stores and hotels, means its a long walk to get food from a place like Denny's, Ihop or Mcdonalds at reasonable prices that are readily available at every hotel in Florida. Theres not much you can do but its something to be prepared for. Food courts aren't obviously the norm at hotels but they are in Flordia ones and I really dislike the lack of them after being exposed to it there.

 

[Sherry E]

I also prefer the PPH. I just feel like the DLH is outdated and worn. The only complaint I have about PPH is that if you are on one of the lower floors getting an elevator to go down to the lobby can be a wait. (Hint: press "up" and take a ride!) I also think it's closer to the parks than the DLH if you use the shortcut through the Grand Californian.

That is a good point, about using the short cut through GCH. When we stayed at PPH in 2000, GCH was still being finished up so short cuts were not an option, if I recall. We had to take the longer route. When we stayed at PPH last September, so much time had passed since we had been to DLR that we had sort of forgotten the layout of everything, and ended up taking some roundabout, circuitous route from the PPH to get into DL, which bypassed the GCH entirely and seemed to go through the backwoods of Anaheim! I don't even think we went through Downtown Disney! I think we went some whole other way, because my friend was in the lead! Then, later, when we went back to the hotel for the night, we went through DTD and took that whole path on the hotel property. It was only when we stayed at the GCH last December that I realized people staying at the PPH could just cut across the street and go through GCH to DTD to DL, which would shave off a little bit of time. It seems a little less daunting that way. Otherwise, it can seem like quite the walk when you have been walking all day and your feet are hurting and tired.

 

[Mskanga]

I just came back two days ago and stayed at PP. I would personally chose DLH over PP anyday , much more to do and nicer pool.
To go to the parks I cut across the GCH. DLH is just behind PP so the walk was not that long.

 

[PinkBudgie]

How is parking at either of these hotels? Did one have a better or easier parking situation?

 

[Sherry E]

For PPH, we parked way up in the hinterlands in the parking structure there. It seems like other posters here have said that the DLH parking is right there outside of the hotel. I know the DLH parking lot USED to be right outside, in the open, years ago, but I assumed it had changed when they remodeled everything. Maybe not?

 

[SANDIEGOFAN]

^^^ Parking is easy at either hotel. If you haven't stayed at DLH or PPH before I would go with DLH. We love both and the kids decide where we stay (we stay on-site 4-6 times a year depending on AP rates). With them it's 50-50 with PPH the choice for winter and DLH for summer. We get the view room at PPH and it's fun to watch DCA at night on the weekend when the days are shorter and the park stays open a little later (than the weekdays).

 

[heatherleigh]

We always park in the parking garage while staying at Paradise Pier. On our last trip we got lucky, and had a spot very close to the exit of the structure. You could see our vehicle from the back exit of the hotel.