Paradise Pier Club Level

[2wordsforyou]

Hey everybody!

Me and my fiancé are going to Disneyland December 11-15 and we are staying at Paradise Pier in a theme park view club room. What should we expect? We are long time WDW visitors and we’ve been to Disneyland once before (we actually met there) but it’s our first time staying on property. Thanks!!

 

[ParkHopper1]

Expect by far the best park view of all there report hotels IMO.

 

[MATTERHORN]

Theme park view is great!!

As far as the club, it does have shorter hours than the other hotels. We did breakfast there if early entry was later, but most times we never made it back before 8pm to take advantage of much else!

VIew from our room last time!

 

[cruisehopeful]

You'll have a great view. The only down side to Club level at that hotel is that it closes early. The other 2 hotels have the concierge snack room open later. Personally, I am always on the go in the parks and wouldn't take advantage of the snacks and drinks anyway.

 

[Tiggerish]

Have done the club level twice, once with standard view and once with premium view. The premium theme park was amazing and we could watch the backside of World of Color from the room.

We did have park hopper tickets and tended to go back to the room for late afternoon/early evening. We did breakfast every morning, stocked up on drinks and snacks to take back to the room and did the evening appetizer and dessert before returning to the parks. So we did well with the snackage they provided. There was a different hot appetizer every night as well as the cheese, crackers and veggies, beer and wine choices, canned Coke products and sweets.

 

[Reepicheep]

I'll be staying in a club room at the Paradise Pier for 3 days in early August. I'll do a detailed post in this thread in a couple of weeks. As a Canadian, the most important fact to me is the brands of free beer they offer during the supper hour.

 

[Reepicheep]

I just completed check in, for a three day stay in a standard (non-park view) club room. Some background:

A couple of weeks ago in this forum, I read about a free 6am "power walk" through a Disney Park for hotel guests. I went to the Paradise Pier last week to see if I could register for a walk. I learned the following:

(1) the walk is through California Adventure and not Disneyland
(2) it is limited to 20 guests per day (from all three hotels, not 20 guests per hotel)
(3) guests are not allowed to register for the walk until they have checked in at their hotel.

I was also told that the event is very popular, and that all slots are always taken.

Yesterday, I dropped by the front desk at the Disneyland hotel, to see if slots were still available for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday morning. Surprisingly, the employee told me that, as of yesterday afternoon, all 20 slots were available for each day.

I got up early today, and was at the Paradise Pier by 6:10am. I completed check-in, and was able to reserve 4 slots on tomorrow's (Monday) power walk. I'll do a post on the power walk tomorrow.

I already have the room keys, and I arranged for a text message to be sent to my daughter's cell phone with our room number, once the room is ready. There is no need for us to return to the front desk, we can head straight to our room once we receive the text message.

An advantage of checking in early is that we already have access to all club services. I went into the club lounge at 6:30am (opening time) and had breakfast, so I'm getting a total of 4 breakfasts over a three day stay. We could also have taken part in today's "Extra Magic Morning", if we had wanted (this would have given us 4 "Extra Magic Mornings" over the three day stay).

I'm now back in my hotel room at a Best Western, where my wife and daughters are still asleep. I'll be heading back to the Paradise Pier around 9am or so, for a second breakfast there. Breakfast hours are 6:30am - 10:30am, the food quality is good/very good, but there are no exceptional food items. I'll do a post with a detailed list of breakfast items later today.

 

[Reepicheep]

OK, I just finished my second breakfast. Actually, my third breakfast, since between my two Paradise Pier breakfasts I fit in an additional breakfast at the Best Western Courtesy Inn.

Breakfast served from 6:30am to 10:30am.

HOT BEVERAGES
There is a fancy coffee machine which takes thin, round pods, and which produces expresso. I tried it out, using the maximum amount of water, and the coffee was still very strong. The machine also produces steamed milk. I'm not an expresso person, but I'll probably start out each morning with a double shot, with steamed milk on top. I talked to a coffee connoisseur who was using the machine, and he said the quality was very good.

There is also coffee in large metal decanters (regular and decaf), with bottles of caramel and vanilla flavoring available. Also hot water for making hot chocolate and tea (twinning tea: English Breakfast, peppermint, camomile, green, earl grey, and pomegranate black tea; out of curiosity, I tried the pomegranate black tea, it was quite good; Nestle hot chocolate packs). Cinnamon, cocoa, nutmeg, honey, half/half, fat free milk, individual coffee mate creamers, and cute mickey shaped sugar cubes available to add to coffee or tea.

CEREAL AND FRUIT
Whole bananas and apples. Individual packages of Kellogg cereal (raisin bran, fruit loops, frosted flakes, rice krispies). Fat free milk available, plus unlabeled milk which (based upon the taste) appears to be whole milk. Bulk oatmeal, with brown sugar, diced apple, raisins, almonds, and raisins mixed with dried fruit available as toppings.

BAKED GOODS
Two types of "donut holes" (aka "Tim Bits", for my fellow Canadians) out at a time; I saw at least three different types, the best tasting ones were filled with chocolate. Croissants and two types of mini-muffins (blueberry and double chocolate). Three sauces, apparently for the croissants: something resembling custard but which tastes like lemon, chocolate sauce, and strawberry. All three "sauces" were excellent. Plain bagels. I don't recall seeing any bread, but it could have been there. Individual butter, strawberry jam, grape jelly, peanut butter, and Philadelphia cream cheese.

OTHER ITEMS
Devilled eggs, which were excellent. Little quiches, some with primarily tomato on top and others with primarily spinach (I think) on top. Small cups with granola on the bottom, and yogurt with blue berries and strawberries on top.

CONCLUSION
Breakfast was very good/excellent, all in all. I thought the best items were the devilled eggs, chocolate filled donut holes, and yogurt cups. Honorable mention to quiches.

EDIT: During my first trip to the club room, there was a fruit tray with all the usual (melon, watermelon, cantaloupe, etc.). When I returned a couple of hours later, there was only whole fruit available.

EDIT 2: in addition to whole and fat free milk, there is also chocolate milk, orange juice, and cranberry juice,

 

[Reepicheep]

I haven't eaten for an hour, so figured I'd try out the snacks.

SNACKS AVAILABLE 11AM to 4:30PM

SANDWICHES - peanut butter and jelly; Rueben (corned beef and sauerkraut, with pickle on top); bacon/lettuce/tomato wraps

VEGETABLE TRAY - squash, jicama, tomato, radish, cauliflower, zucchini, cucumber, ranch dressing

SALSA AND CHIPS - tortilla chips with two types of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, hot peppers, and melted cheese

BULK SNACKS - goldfish; chex mix; "chex mix" variation based on peanuts

DRINKS - cold water, lemonade, iced tea; cans of coke, diet coke, and sprite; fruit punch juice boxes

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (very good)

APPLES

COFFEE, TEA, AND HOT CHOCOLATE (identical to breakfast offering)

All the food is good; I especially enjoyed the Rueben sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies, salsa and chips, and fruit punch juice boxes. Honorable mention to bacon/lettuce/tomato wraps.

(ASIDE: I'm not sure if Canadians are crazy for adding sugar to our iced tea, or Americans are crazy for NOT adding sugar to their iced tea)

 

[Malcon10t]

The machine also produces steamed milk. I'm not an expresso person, but I'll probably start out each morning with a double shot, with steamed milk on top. I talked to a coffee connoisseur who was using the machine, and he said the quality was very good.

My granddaughter (8) loves this machine. She makes herself a steamed milk with vanilla flavoring. One of the servers in the DLH E-ticket taught her so she could do it herself!

 

[Reepicheep]

My granddaughter (8) loves this machine. She makes herself a steamed milk with vanilla flavoring. One of the servers in the DLH E-ticket taught her so she could do it herself!

That's an excellent idea. When we used to stay at the Sheraton Park (Anaheim), my two daughters used to make hot chocolate using steamed milk instead of hot water. The fancy machine at the Sheraton Park was hooked up to a 1 gallon container of whole milk. Unfortunately, the milk capacity of the machine at the Paradise Pier is much smaller. If each of my daughters made a hot chocolate here using steamed milk, it would probably use up around half or more of the milk reservoir.

 

[Skjhjb]

I just completed check in, for a three day stay in a standard (non-park view) club room. Some background:

A couple of weeks ago in this forum, I read about a free 6am "power walk" through a Disney Park for hotel guests. I went to the Paradise Pier last week to see if I could register for a walk. I learned the following:

(1) the walk is through California Adventure and not Disneyland
(2) it is limited to 20 guests per day (from all three hotels, not 20 guests per hotel)
(3) guests are not allowed to register for the walk until they have checked in at their hotel.

I was also told that the event is very popular, and that all slots are always taken.

Yesterday, I dropped by the front desk at the Disneyland hotel, to see if slots were still available for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday morning. Surprisingly, the employee told me that, as of yesterday afternoon, all 20 slots were available for each day.

I got up early today, and was at the Paradise Pier by 6:10am. I completed check-in, and was able to reserve 4 slots on tomorrow's (Monday) power walk. I'll do a post on the power walk tomorrow.

I already have the room keys, and I arranged for a text message to be sent to my daughter's cell phone with our room number, once the room is ready. There is no need for us to return to the front desk, we can head straight to our room once we receive the text message.

A

Thanks for the update on the Power Walk!! I've decided I'm definitely doing this on the Thursday morning we are there. We check in on the Tuesday afternoon, so I'll be sure to register as soon as we check in. A fellow DISer staying also at DLH said she's game to go with me - so we will walk over to GCH together. I'm super looking forward to it!

Any other tips? Is it it really a light jog? Or a really quick walk? And I know no photos.....super strict with that also?

Thanks!

 

[2wordsforyou]

I haven't eaten for an hour, so figured I'd try out the snacks.

SNACKS AVAILABLE 11AM to 4:30PM

SANDWICHES - peanut butter and jelly; Rueben (corned beef and sauerkraut, with pickle on top); bacon/lettuce/tomato wraps

VEGETABLE TRAY - squash, jicama, tomato, radish, cauliflower, zucchini, cucumber, ranch dressing

SALSA AND CHIPS - tortilla chips with two types of salsa, sour cream, guacamole, hot peppers, and melted cheese

BULK SNACKS - goldfish; chex mix; "chex mix" variation based on peanuts

DRINKS - cold water, lemonade, iced tea; cans of coke, diet coke, and sprite; fruit punch juice boxes

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES (very good)

APPLES

COFFEE, TEA, AND HOT CHOCOLATE (identical to breakfast offering)

All the food is good; I especially enjoyed the Rueben sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies, salsa and chips, and fruit punch juice boxes. Honorable mention to bacon/lettuce/tomato wraps.

(ASIDE: I'm not sure if Canadians are crazy for adding sugar to our iced tea, or Americans are crazy for NOT adding sugar to their iced tea)

I’m southern. I bleed sweet tea

 

[CateinPhoenix]

It's been a few years since we stayed Concierge at PPH, glad to hear they have increased the offerings. The times we stayed there the lunch 11-4 offerings were very minimal...definitely no sandwiches or veggies! Can you check tonight and see if they have brought back the chocolate covered strawberries? They previously had them out every night and it was a must for us! In fact, when they discontinued offering the chocolate strawberries, we stopped staying there!

 

[Reepicheep]

Is it really a light jog? Or a really quick walk? And I know no photos.....super strict with that also?

We will be doing the walk tomorrow morning for the first time. We have to be in Downtown Disney at the entrance to the Grand Californian hotel by 5:45am. The employees I talked to said the walking pace is 15 minutes/mile. By coincidence, the distance from my old hotel to Paradise Pier is 1 mile. I timed myself when I did that walk this morning, and even though I thought I was walking at a brisk pace, it still took me 20 minutes. I might be in for a rough 1 hour tomorrow. They seem to be very strict about the "no photo/video" rule. All three employees I talked to made special mention of that.

EDIT: I think I was given incorrect information when I registered for the walk. According to what I have read on the web, we have to be at the California Adventure entrance inside the Grand California hotel at 5:45am.

 

[Reepicheep]

RE: where to go for the power walk, I just talked to two more employees at the front desk of the Paradise Pier, and the definitive answer seems to be:

(1) guests have to be at the "California Adventure Park Entrance Gate", which is located inside the Grand California Hotel, at 5:45am.

(2) it is not uncommon for Disney employees to erroneously tell guests to go to the Downtown Disney entrance of the Grand California Hotel.

(3) It has definitely happened that guests have missed out on the walk, by being at the wrong place at the right time.

I also learned that we can "take the shortcut" to the Grand California hotel, instead of taking the polar route and going through downtown Disney. We just have to tell the parking attendant that we are there for the power walk.

I'm going to allow extra time tomorrow to stop by the front desk at the Grand California Hotel and ask them where to go. I'm sure they will have the definitive answer.

 

[Malcon10t]

You meet at the DCA entrance. They do a quick bag check before you enter. They do maintain a 15 min mile, which is a fast walk/jog pace. They will have people to help with stragglers to escort back to the Grand. It is fun to see the park before opening.

 

[Reepicheep]

"A MOMENT IN PARADISE" - select appetizers, complimentary wine and beer

5:00PM to 7:00PM

- vegetable tray identical to the "snacks" vegetable tray

- ham and cheese sandwiches, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a few Reuben sandwiches (left over from "snacks", but which weren't refreshed when they ran out)

- whole oranges and apples

- chocolate chip cookies

- cheese tray with crackers

- the hot appetizer was "pork shu mai" (basically, pork dumplings) with peanut sauce

- the usual coffee/tea/hot chocolate and bulk snacks (gold fish/two types of chex mix)

There is a decent selection of cheese, but too much blue cheese, in my opinion. The blue cheese is not a popular item, which is why, I suspect, that so much of it is put out.

The pork dumplings were excellent, in my opinion. Very similar to items I've had at Chinese "dim sum" meals. I suspect guests would either love or hate this item. Most of the other guests (but not all) seemed to love them. Fortunately, there appeared to be a never ending supply of the dumplings, which were constantly being replaced.

WINE - two types of red, three types of white; I'm not a wine drinker, so I didn't partake

BEER - Corona, Bud Light, Blue Moon Belgian White, and "Karl Strauss Tower 10 IPA"

The Karl Strauss India Pale Ale beer is made in San Diego, and contains 7% alcohol. I tried one, but it was too strong for me (I suspect because I've had too much caffeine today, and my stomach is acting up). I think, under different circumstances, I would really like this beer.

CIDER - "Angry Orchard Hard Cider" (5% alcohol, I didn't try this, but will tomorrow night).

 

[Reepicheep]

Can you check tonight and see if they have brought back the chocolate covered strawberries?

Stay tuned for my 8pm report for details...

Your comment reminded me of something. The last time we stayed at the Paradise Pier (at least five years ago), I was in an elevator and returning to my room with a plate full of chocolate covered strawberries. The elevator stopped at another floor, where a 7 year old (or so) girl and her grandmother entered the elevator. The girl's eyes went wide at the sight of the strawberries, and after briefly consulting with the grandmother I let the girl pick out two strawberries to take with her (she had a younger sister). It was nice to pass on some "Disney magic" to other guests.

********

I'm in our room now, and hotel employees have dropped by twice in the past ten minutes.

The first employee gave us two large Mickey and Minnie shaped sugar cookies on a stick, decorated with icing.

The second employee gave us 4 Ghirardelli milk chocolates.

I suspect the cookies are given out only on the first night, the 4 chocolates will probably be a nightly occurrence.

Beer can either be consumed in the lounge (in a bottle), or taken back to the room in a plastic cup. I have a couple of beer in the fridge right now, and am about to head back to the lounge for "Sweet Ending", and get two more "take out" beer before the 7pm last call.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

The first employee gave us two large Mickey and Minnie shaped sugar cookies on a stick, decorated with icing.

The second employee gave us 4 Ghirardelli milk chocolates.

I suspect the cookies are given out only on the first night, the 4 chocolates will probably be a nightly occurrence.

Beer can either be consumed in the lounge (in a bottle), or taken back to the room in a plastic cup. I have a couple of beer in the fridge right now, and am about to head back to the lounge for "Sweet Ending", and get two more "take out" beer before the 7pm last call.

Thank you for the report! Yes, the visits when we have stayed Club/Concierge level typically included Mickey rice krispie treats in our room upon return to our room from dinner/parks. Interesting they have switched to sugar cookies, how did you like them? My sons love the turn down service which includes the chocolates and a special arrangement of whichever stuffies we had brought along or picked up as souvenirs. Alas, the boys are teenagers now, so the days of stuffies are over, hopefully they will still get a tad bit excited at the chocolates still.