Dobie
<font color=darkorchid>We had a fabulous time<br><
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2005
- Messages
- 1,184
The Dobies returned yesterday from five nights at the Paradise Pier. Here are some random observations...
The Paradise Pier is fabulous. To start off with, the location is perfect. I am a relatively slow walker, but I timed myself one night when I was returning from the parks and it took me exactly four minutes to walk from the lobby of the Grand Californian to the lobby of the Paradise Pier. The room was huge...two queen size beds, and room for a sofa sleeper. We didn't fold it out, so I don't know how comfy the sofa bed was, but it could not possibly be as comfy as the regular beds, which were amazing. The room had huge windows, which opened a few inches on each side. We had a standard view room with a view of the pool. The only thing we didn't like about the room was the bathroom...although big, the sink was inside the bathroom, there was no fan, and the shower head was about neck level. But the fittings were nice and it was sparkling clean. We had turn down service offered every nite.
The pool is relatively small, and the water was too warm for us. Actually, the pool is the only thing we didn't like about the hotel...we like to spend about ninety minutes or so by the pool each afternoon, but by mid afternoon families had camped out by the pool and there were no chairs available. They also allow smoking fairly close to the pool area, and you have to walk through the smoking section to get to the snack shop/bar, blech. So if poolie afternoons are important to you, you might want to stay at the DLH or Grand. The slide was really fun, and the water was colder than the pool.
Check in was efficient and friendly, and because we were celebrating our anniversary (a very big number, might I say) the hotel decorated one of the beds with rose petals. They also sent up a plate with two enormouse mickey mouse crispie treats.
We had room service dinner the day we arrived because we were too pooped to go out. The menu was short, but the burgers were good. They bring it up on a tray and there is a table that they slide from under the desk and set for you.
The parks, of course, were busy. We saved our resort hotel fastpasses for Star Tours but didn't care for the ride..too bumpy for us old geezers. Soarin' is lookin' kinda ragged...maybe they are waiting to refurbish the film until they replace it in 2013, but it could really use a clean up. Plus the right side was down frequently.
WOC was lovely. Since the Dobies are tall, we were able to stroll into the blue section 15 minutes before showtime and get a great viewing spot...just behind some short people at a railing.
As usual, the Fantasmic Dessert Seating was a highlight of our trip. We lined up 30 minutes before the kiosk opened and scored second row seats in the middle. We had a perfect view of the fireworks afterward, and even saw Tinkerbell fly!
Speaking of a perfect view of the fireworks, watching them from the roof of the PP was amazing. We showed up two minutes before they started, grabbed a chair from the pool area, and had an amazing view. They piped the music in.
I agree with all the other posters that the Celebration parade is wonderful. I loved the Mary Poppins bit... one of my earliest memories is of my mom taking me to that movie when I was 3...we watched it twice. We also watched Alladin twice.
The new Paradise Gardens dining area is fantastic. We had skewers there twice...I strongly recommend the steak ones, and unless you like your meat swimming in sauce, order it on the side. The portions are huge, and if you are not starving, two people can easily share. There was a great Irish band called Sligo Rags playing...a great place to sit in the shade with a couple of beers and relax.
Because we didn't like Star Tours and Mr. Dobie doesn't do coasters, we avoided Tomorrowland except for Buzz. Friday morning, before we left, we hit Buzz at opening, rode six times as walk ons while everyone else was doing their Space/Star Tours things, then ran ahead of the crowds to NOS, walked on Pirates and Mansion, rode the train to TT for one last walk on visit to Small World, rode a bus down Mainstreet, used our last resort FP on Soarin', and were sippin' mimosas at La Brea Bakery at 11:00 before we had to leave for the airport.
All in all, a fantastic trip!
The Paradise Pier is fabulous. To start off with, the location is perfect. I am a relatively slow walker, but I timed myself one night when I was returning from the parks and it took me exactly four minutes to walk from the lobby of the Grand Californian to the lobby of the Paradise Pier. The room was huge...two queen size beds, and room for a sofa sleeper. We didn't fold it out, so I don't know how comfy the sofa bed was, but it could not possibly be as comfy as the regular beds, which were amazing. The room had huge windows, which opened a few inches on each side. We had a standard view room with a view of the pool. The only thing we didn't like about the room was the bathroom...although big, the sink was inside the bathroom, there was no fan, and the shower head was about neck level. But the fittings were nice and it was sparkling clean. We had turn down service offered every nite.
The pool is relatively small, and the water was too warm for us. Actually, the pool is the only thing we didn't like about the hotel...we like to spend about ninety minutes or so by the pool each afternoon, but by mid afternoon families had camped out by the pool and there were no chairs available. They also allow smoking fairly close to the pool area, and you have to walk through the smoking section to get to the snack shop/bar, blech. So if poolie afternoons are important to you, you might want to stay at the DLH or Grand. The slide was really fun, and the water was colder than the pool.
Check in was efficient and friendly, and because we were celebrating our anniversary (a very big number, might I say) the hotel decorated one of the beds with rose petals. They also sent up a plate with two enormouse mickey mouse crispie treats.
We had room service dinner the day we arrived because we were too pooped to go out. The menu was short, but the burgers were good. They bring it up on a tray and there is a table that they slide from under the desk and set for you.
The parks, of course, were busy. We saved our resort hotel fastpasses for Star Tours but didn't care for the ride..too bumpy for us old geezers. Soarin' is lookin' kinda ragged...maybe they are waiting to refurbish the film until they replace it in 2013, but it could really use a clean up. Plus the right side was down frequently.
WOC was lovely. Since the Dobies are tall, we were able to stroll into the blue section 15 minutes before showtime and get a great viewing spot...just behind some short people at a railing.
As usual, the Fantasmic Dessert Seating was a highlight of our trip. We lined up 30 minutes before the kiosk opened and scored second row seats in the middle. We had a perfect view of the fireworks afterward, and even saw Tinkerbell fly!
Speaking of a perfect view of the fireworks, watching them from the roof of the PP was amazing. We showed up two minutes before they started, grabbed a chair from the pool area, and had an amazing view. They piped the music in.
I agree with all the other posters that the Celebration parade is wonderful. I loved the Mary Poppins bit... one of my earliest memories is of my mom taking me to that movie when I was 3...we watched it twice. We also watched Alladin twice.
The new Paradise Gardens dining area is fantastic. We had skewers there twice...I strongly recommend the steak ones, and unless you like your meat swimming in sauce, order it on the side. The portions are huge, and if you are not starving, two people can easily share. There was a great Irish band called Sligo Rags playing...a great place to sit in the shade with a couple of beers and relax.
Because we didn't like Star Tours and Mr. Dobie doesn't do coasters, we avoided Tomorrowland except for Buzz. Friday morning, before we left, we hit Buzz at opening, rode six times as walk ons while everyone else was doing their Space/Star Tours things, then ran ahead of the crowds to NOS, walked on Pirates and Mansion, rode the train to TT for one last walk on visit to Small World, rode a bus down Mainstreet, used our last resort FP on Soarin', and were sippin' mimosas at La Brea Bakery at 11:00 before we had to leave for the airport.
All in all, a fantastic trip!
It was thin and dry (and way too expensive!). The guy who brought my food was delightful (was his name Louie? Can't recall) - and the Kilauea Molten Apple Pie was delicious!
But my burger could have been better. I am holding out hope that the next time I order room service, the burger will be better - and I will order again, because I want that Kilauea Molten pie thingy!; and 
