Mixed reviews for the Paradise Pier Hotel

[SFMommy]

We just got back from a 3-night stay at the Paradise Pier Hotel. Our first on-site stay booked through a Costco Travel package.

CONS:

We were definitely disappointed with the service. Not what I expected from Disney. Very luke-warm encounters with CM's at the hotel. Could have been at any standard hotel in the USA. Not friendly or warm...just down to business and that was all.

I had made note in our reservation for a higher floor (we got 3rd) and a special note that we were celebrating my husband's 40th birthday (not one mention of his birthday from anyone at the hotel and no special note or a cookie...nothing at all).

I thought the standard room was just OK. Nothing special. It was large enough for our family of 3, but I would imagine feeling really cramped if we had more kids and more luggage. No mickey bath products.

PROS:

I loved being on that side of the resort as compared to the Harbor Blvd. side. We love Hojo's and will probably stay there again. But I loved walking to DTD in the evening after a rest in the hotel. So easy to walk to DLH for Goofy's Kitchen, or through the GCH to many wonderful restaurants. We always felt like we were in Disneyland the entire time, since we never left the property area...if that makes sense.

No problems with elevators, as has been mentioned here before. Maybe we got lucky.

Beautiful tree in lobby and the carolers were there every day too.

The special entrance into DCA for Disney hotel guests was a great perk. (Thanks for the tip from this board!) We hopped over at 9:00 on Saturday morning, waited in line until about 9:15 and were Soarin' Over California at 9:25. Fantastic!

Having Magic Mornings on both Saturday and Sunday was amazing, and we wouldn't have had been able to do both days if we stayed off-site.


Overall we had a wonderful trip! I will post a detailed trip report later. I'm not sure if we will stay at the PPH again. I guess it depends on the rates, time of year and what we are in the mood for.

Thanks to everyone on this board for all of the advice and tips!

 

[sonnyjane]

I stayed at PPH and also had mixed reviews!

Funny enough, when I made my reservation, the only thing I specifically requested was the rice krispie treats, and we did get those at check-in and they were yummy.

The CM's were nice enough, and we ordered room service for breakfast one day and it was really delicious.

Other than that, I wasn't really impressed with the room! Our beach ball pillow was FILTHY! I mean, black with dirt! I kept taking it off the bed and each day after they cleaned the room they kept placing it back on the bed...bleck! Also there was nail polish spilled on our desk from a previous guest that hadn't been cleaned up. I got a really good rate ($160 ish a night I think), but I wouldn't pay more than that. I'll save up the big bucks and try GCH next I think.

 

[starry_solo]

We only stayed once for my DS birthday and a Club 33 dinner. When I booked the reservation, I mentioned it was for my sis' b-day. We got signed photos from Mickey, an upgraded theme park view (booked standard) and rice krispie treats were waiting for us when we came back from the park to change into our clothes for dinner.

This was back in May 2011, though.

 

[larina]

We had a great stay in May also. Rice krispie treats two out of our three days there, and the staff was incredible to us (we had a rough trip, even brought my sick daughter a care package (crayons, balloons, Tink coloring book, markers, etc). I can't say enough good things about our experience there. I'm sorry your stay wasn't as magical as it could have been.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll save up the big bucks and try GCH next I think.

Ah, the place where (Oct '09) a fork sat in the middle of the hallway floor half the day, and then when I picked it up and put it on a table to the side of the hallway, it sat there the rest of the day and overnight.

 

[sonnyjane]

Ah, the place where (Oct '09) a fork sat in the middle of the hallway floor half the day, and then when I picked it up and put it on a table to the side of the hallway, it sat there the rest of the day and overnight.

Bahahahah. Okay so nobody is perfect lol. I recently wrote a complaint letter to the manager at The Mirage in Las Vegas because my husband and I dished out big bucks (about $500 a night) to get a penthouse suite for a special occasion, and while we were there, one of our neighbor's cheese plate from room service sat in the hall for nearly 40 hours. I took pictures as the trip progressed. At first it was just unpleasant to see the room service tray sitting there on the floor each time we walked to our room, but when it eventually started sprouting green and brown mold all over the plate, it really ruined the mood! Never did hear back...

 

[Bambi&Thumper]

wow yuk.... I would have complained too... hehe put it on youtube see how many hits it gets! thats just gross. I stayed at PPH beg of June last year for 2 nights- hated to leave.... had the rice krispies on a tray oh man that was sooo good the best ever! Had room service at night- and ugh took way too long wasn't even hungry by the time the arrived but oh well. A dirty beach ball? I would have a volley tornament with it in the lobby with the check in cms and future quests-- eww.!!!yuk. Over all nice views- clean room nice mattress but still prefer the Grand!! But ohhh so pricey!!!!

 

[sonnyjane]

had the rice krispies on a tray oh man that was sooo good the best ever!

They were the best rice krispies treats I've ever had in my entire life, absolutely bar none. I tried to see if I could *hint* to the housekeeper that I would LOVE some more by leaving a $5 cleaning tip ON the plate where they left the treats, but no such luck

 

[emacat]

Hmmm..we're staying here in a few weeks, our first experience with on-site hotels. I'm hoping we didn't make a mistake by going with PP instead of Hojo's..

 

[sonnyjane]

Hmmm..we're staying here in a few weeks, our first experience with on-site hotels. I'm hoping we didn't make a mistake by going with PP instead of Hojo's..

No no please don't worry. I would not call staying on-site a mistake! Just understand that just because it's a Disneyland hotel doesn't mean that it is absolutely magical and perfect in all aspects all the time. I've read posts from people that had negative reviews about HoJo's on these boards too, so no hotel is immune. One thing I'm learning more and more as I get older is that if you're not satisfied with something anywhere, be it a hotel, a restaurant, or even your dry-cleaners, just speak up and let them know. They won't be able to improve your visit if you don't let them know that something went wrong.

For example, if you don't have rice krispie treats in your room at check-in, I'd literally ask the front desk next time you were around "Hey, I heard a neighbor of ours talking about some delicious treats in their room - any chance we could get some in our room?". I'm almost positive you'd have them once you got back! If your room is not up to snuff, just let them know and see if there's anything they can do. In my case, I didn't think a dirty beach-ball pillow warranted a complaint, it's just something I made note of. I'm sure you'll have a great trip!

 

[QueenDoOver]

We have had many wonderful stays at PPH. None of them were perfect but all of them had a magical aspect. We do enjoy HOJO's too, but PPH is sooo much closer ( I know not really, but it feels closer!)
Try the mushroom soup either from room service or in the restraunt. It is to die for! If you get the recipe, please PM it to me

 

[larina]

...In my case, I didn't think a dirty beach-ball pillow warranted a complaint, it's just something I made note of...

The dirty beach ball would have had me on the phone immediately, the treats, not so much. When things are dirty or broken, I report it right away. In my experience, they WANT to know about these things. As said, they can't fix it if they don't know about it.

 

[blackjackdelta]

There are always good and bad reviews for every hotel. I have not stayed at PP but have friends who have and they enjoyed their stay. Everytime I have mentioned a celebration when I checked in it has always followed with pics, buttons, balloons etc even to the point when I switched rooms the cms brought gifts for just the inconvienence I guess, who knows.
Glad to hear that most of your trip went well.

Jack

 

[scion5220]

Are these rice krispie treats a PP thing only? Or do the other Disney hotels do this?

Did I mention I LOVE rice krispie treats?

 

[sonnyjane]

Are these rice krispie treats a PP thing only? Or do the other Disney hotels do this?

Did I mention I LOVE rice krispie treats?

I'm not sure! I had heard about them on the boards so asked about them on my trip and was delighted to get them. The thing that makes them so good is the fact that they COMPLETELY DUNK THEM IN FROSTING lol.

 

[scion5220]

I'm not sure! I had heard about them on the boards so asked about them on my trip and was delighted to get them. The thing that makes them so good is the fact that they COMPLETELY DUNK THEM IN FROSTING lol.

OMG! I had a snowman rice krispie treat at WDW a few wks back that was coated on one entire side...yummy!

I guess I will ask and see what happens...staying at the GC in January.

 

[taaren]

Are these rice krispie treats a PP thing only? Or do the other Disney hotels do this?

Did I mention I LOVE rice krispie treats?

I haven't gotten them at DLH or VGC, haven't heard of other people getting them there either ... think maybe its just a PPH thing?
Friends of ours got some from the manager of DLH as an apology for a booking mix-up on the part of their travel agent, but it wasn't magically in their room, just a nice bit of magic from a supervisor.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

I haven't gotten them at DLH or VGC, haven't heard of other people getting them there either ... think maybe its just a PPH thing?
Friends of ours got some from the manager of DLH as an apology for a booking mix-up on the part of their travel agent, but it wasn't magically in their room, just a nice bit of magic from a supervisor.

you are right--we have stayed at all three hotels several times, and for us this is only a PP thing. I wouldn't know how they taste, as I gave them to my kids.

 

[larina]

They gave us enough for everyone (and then some) in our party.

 

[Eeee-va]

We did a split-stay this trip...I actually found the rooms at the Red Lion to be about as nice as the PPH. (My mom thinks they were bigger; I'm not sure.) The air conditioner/heater was much nicer at the Paradise Pier (and I loved the toiletries!) but I think the Red Lion had a nicer TV...the Red Lion just felt extremely modern, aside from the AC unit near the window (and even that was digital). Service was fairly similar, but the check-in clerk was a bit colder at the PPH. The Red Lion volunteered to store Mom's ECV downstairs while the PPH absolutely could and would not. (I assume that's because Disney has deep pockets?)

I did not have a problem with the elevators at the PPH, but we were on the 8th floor and I went to the parks before my mom...it's pretty easy to squeeze in to an elevator if you're just one person. On my Magic Morning day I went down and those of us in the elevator had to turn away people on floors 4 and 3 (I did tell them to go up to go down). I think my mom had to use that trick to get down with her ECV. She found the beds to be too high and way too soft; I'm not picky/don't have fibromyalgia, so I was fine.

I used package check at the PPH and they (probably World of Disney) LOST the package I was most excited about! My mom called the PPH as soon as we discovered it (we were already home; we left in a hurry and got in really late). They called me today to say they'll be mailing it so we'll see how that goes. I don't think I'd use package check again unless I had a longer stay.

The Red Lion is a bit of a walk--it's about a block away from what most maps call "walking distance" (but most people can probably make the walk OK). Anyway, the PPH's shorter walk was EXCELLENT, and it was nice to stay on Disney property through said walk. But with a PIN code it was still substantially more than twice the price of the Red Lion. Maybe if we had had kids in our party we would have been treated differently, but I didn't see it as being worth the difference.