Paradise Pier Fans Please help me feel better

[mhalpern]

We (me, DH, DD11, DS9) are going to DLR for the first time in July. We have been to WDW several times but this may be our only trip out west. We are staying the first 5 nights at Best Western Park Place Inn. I wanted the full Disney experience so I booked the last 3 nights at the Grand Californian. I haven't paid the deposit yet. I keep looking at the invoice and I just can't justify what it would cost to sleep at GC. If we switch to PPH we will save over $500. PLEASE tell me I won't be sorry by staying at PPH. I'm not even sure what we will be doing on the days we will be staying at a Disney hotel. We only have a 3 day park-hopper so we may be in the park or we may just be wondering around DTD or we may be away on an excursion day. (In other words location to the park is not a deciding factor). I need some positive PPH vibes!!

OR I could switch to DH for 2 nights instead of 3 and save over $600.

What should I do?!?!?!?

Thanks!

BTW - does anyone have a picture of the waterslide at PPH?

 

[pycees312]

I happen to love the PPH. It's colorful, bright, and the slide at the pool is awesome. and if you have a park view room the DCA park is beautiful. Is there anyway to just book the pier all the way through?? You may enjoy that much better.

 

[toocherie]

I won't lie--I love the ambiance and closeness of the Grand. But my second favorite on-site hotel is the PPH! And the rooms are bigger and brighter at the PPH. Be sure and use the walk through the Grand to get to DCA and Disneyland--it's much quicker and shorter than walking through Downtown Disney.

Be sure and take a pic with Goofy and his surfboard in the lobby!

 

[Joan S.]

Hi, Can 5 sleep in the room at PPH?? Thanks, Joan

 

[samkj]

Hi, Can 5 sleep in the room at PPH?? Thanks, Joan

Easily. The rooms are very good size and there is a daybed in the room for a 5th person.

 

[bumbershoot]

PPH is really nice! The rooms are big and bright and cheery, the daybed is weird to figure out (it ends up just sort of flipping over rather than pulling it *out*) but basically somewhere between a twin and a full sized bed, the lobby smells like suntan lotion...

I don't have a pic of the slide, but in case you didn't know, it does *not* empty into the pool. It empties into its own little area, which is why smaller kids can go on it than at the Grand or DLH, where there are stricter regulations governing slide use.

PCH Grill has some good food (at least what we've had) for dinner, and you can't beat the convenience of having it right there after a long day at the parks. Each trip to PPH we've gotten so hungry, and just go back to the hotel, walk right in, and get our food. Only problem with that dining room is that it's on the chilly side in the evenings!

 

[mhalpern]

I'm starting to feel better keep it coming!!

And I forgot to ask...I know there is no food court but is there any quick service food at PPH?

 

[disney-super-mom]

We LOVE the Paradise Pier Hotel. The rooms are big and cheerful and bright, and the slide is fun and the longest out of all three Disneyland hotels.

Here is a photo of the slide.

I have photos of the rooms as well, but I'm sure those are found in abundance on the web. Also, the upper themepark view rooms really do have incredible views. I highly recommend one.

The last time we stayed there, they didn't have any quick service food option at the PPH, and I'm pretty sure they still don't. However, Whitewater snacks at the Grand Californian is only a 5 minute walk, so not really a big deal. Or you could also go to the Disneyland Hotel or DTD to get something to eat, both of which are also about a 5 minute walk from the back doors of the Paradise Pier.

 

[pixiewings71]

We've stayed at both....we really like them both. I have no issues staying at the PPH, it's a really fun hotel with great decor and great CMs!

 

[heatherleigh]

That's the only hotel we have ever stayed at, and there is a likelihood we may even go back again this yr. I am almost sure we will do the DLH, but my oldest son (who has fond memories of the PPH) really wants to go back. Both boys loved the slide there, and I did like the spacious rooms. I never knew the DLH slides went into a regular pool rather than it's own separate place. Maybe we will go back to the PPH too, after all.

 

[bumbershoot]

I never knew the DLH slides went into a regular pool rather than it's own separate place. Maybe we will go back to the PPH too, after all.

The slide at DLH goes into a sort of offshoot of the pool. It's roped off with lane buoys. No one can be in there while someone is coming down the slide, and the slider has to be a strong enough swimmer to immediately swim (or climb) OUT of the area so that they aren't hit by the next slider. So...no adults waiting for kids coming down, and no splashy fun as siblings come down the slide one right after another. And there's a lifeguard *right there* to monitor it.

 

[samkj]

Are you really going to be in the area for 8 nights and only have 3 day passes? That sounds like torture to me!! Gosh I tear up when we drive to my in-laws and pass within 10 miles of Disneyland and know we can't stop!! Staying that close would just about kill me, not to mention the kids!

That said we loved the PPH! We did not try out the pool (see the first part of my post.....we couldn't tear ourselves away from the parks) but it looked like lots of fun. Honestly I would love to stay at the GCH, but really couldn't justify that huge of a price difference. Have a great trip!

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We stayed at PP for our list visit in December of 09. We had a very pleasant experience. It was clean and comfortable and I loved having the Disney touches everywhere. The walk to the park was not bad at all either.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

I've spent at least 1 night at each of the 3 DLR hotels ~ the Grand is my least favorite, I very much prefer DLH & PP over the Grand, definitley check out the Grand during your visit, I like the rooms at PP & DLH much better.

 

[Sherry E]

As far as I know, the quick service/coffee-sandwich-pastry-fruit type of place in PPH (called the Surfside Lounge) is still there. I didn't check in 2009, but it was there in 2008. It is located right off the lobby area - there are all kinds of tables and chairs around, and a bar area too. Of course, Surfside Lounge sells overpriced water and juice as well as the items mentioned above, but they did make a delicious blended mocha drink that I enjoyed!

Of course, when you go into your PPH bathroom, you will be greeted by these little guys:

Those Mickey-head bath products are one of the best things about staying at the PPH that the GCH will not have. While many enjoy the H20 Spa products offered in the GCH rooms, I prefer the Mickey bottles myself!!

Like others on this thread, I, too, have stayed at all 3 of the DLR hotels, and, the more I think about it, just as far as the rooms alone and not counting anything else, I really like the PPH rooms best, I think. I like the pastel coloring; I like the surf/sand/sun/beach/nautical theme that is pervasive. I like the spaciousness of the rooms. To me, the GCH rooms (at least the standard rooms I stayed in) were small and on the dark side, whereas PPH seems much brighter. Don't get me wrong - I loooove the GCH lobby/lounge/hearth area, and I could sit in those comfy chairs for hours (and then not be able to pry myself out of them after a while). It is a great place to rest, relax, chat with friends, people watch, listen to piano music (or during the holidays, you can listen to carolers and a guitarist as well). But anyone can enjoy those aspects of the GCH without having to be a guest there. Anyone can enjoy the onsite GCH restaurants too.

I have done what you did - I made a reservation for GCH a couple of years ago, and I had to switch it over to the PPH. After the AP discount and by changing the reservation to one week earlier, I ended up saving about $700 - and I got the Mickey head bath products in the process!

The only thing that the PPH suffers from is a lack of land/space upon which to expand and build. PPH does not have the acreage that DLH or GCH have - PPH is basically just a main building with all the rooms, the restaurant, the gift shop and a parking lot. So it doesn't seem as resort-ish as the other two DLR hotels may seem. But it is a great way to stay onsite, get the perks of being a hotel guest (like the MM, Key to the Magic, package/purchase delivery sent back to the hotel for you, for free, etc.) at a cheaper price!

 

[mhalpern]

Are you really going to be in the area for 8 nights and only have 3 day passes? That sounds like torture to me!! Gosh I tear up when we drive to my in-laws and pass within 10 miles of Disneyland and know we can't stop!! Staying that close would just about kill me, not to mention the kids!QUOTE]

Well we lose 2 days to traveling so that leaves 6 days. We may not get back to California any time soon and my DS wants to see Legoland. My DD wants to go to either Seaworld or the Wild Animal park and DH wants at least one day with no plans to relax. That leaves us with just 3 days for MIckey. If I were going alone I would spend every second exploring every nook and crany at DLR exclusively! Maybe if I can get the family to do GADGAD we can squeeze in another half day at the parks on our "free" day.

 

[pycees312]

Are you really going to be in the area for 8 nights and only have 3 day passes? That sounds like torture to me!! Gosh I tear up when we drive to my in-laws and pass within 10 miles of Disneyland and know we can't stop!! Staying that close would just about kill me, not to mention the kids!QUOTE]

Well we lose 2 days to traveling so that leaves 6 days. We may not get back to California any time soon and my DS wants to see Legoland. My DD wants to go to either Seaworld or the Wild Animal park and DH wants at least one day with no plans to relax. That leaves us with just 3 days for MIckey. If I were going alone I would spend every second exploring every nook and crany at DLR exclusively! Maybe if I can get the family to do GADGAD we can squeeze in another half day at the parks on our "free" day.

Your little one will enjoy lego land. Have fun!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow I didn't catch the 8 vs 3 thing...

Since LL and SW/WAP are down in the San Diego area, and since that can be a bit of a drive, I personally would rather stay in a Carlsbad/San Diego area hotel for that portion of the trip. Otherwise you're looking at probably 3 hours (or more) per day of fast-speed driving (and if you're not used to southern CA driving you're in for a "treat"...I learned to drive in CA and have driven in Miami and Atlanta, but so cal scares the pants offa me!) for those places. We've done the day trip UP from San Diego to Disney, and that's exhausting enough, let alone *leaving* Disney to go to those places.

 

[mhalpern]

Wow I didn't catch the 8 vs 3 thing...

Since LL and SW/WAP are down in the San Diego area, and since that can be a bit of a drive, I personally would rather stay in a Carlsbad/San Diego area hotel for that portion of the trip. Otherwise you're looking at probably 3 hours (or more) per day of fast-speed driving (and if you're not used to southern CA driving you're in for a "treat"...I learned to drive in CA and have driven in Miami and Atlanta, but so cal scares the pants offa me!) for those places. We've done the day trip UP from San Diego to Disney, and that's exhausting enough, let alone *leaving* Disney to go to those places.

Bumbershoot - Thank you for the advice. I'm SURE you are right but we decided to stay put in Anaheim. If we go to Legoland we might rent a car but if we go to Seaworld or the zoo we will get the ticket that includes transportation. I'm sure it doesn't make sense but it just seems easier to do this way. Thanks again.

 

[mhalpern]

I just wanted to thank everyone who responded to this post. I feel MUCH better. At first I felt like we were settling if we chose PPH but now I feel like we are just choosing another option. I really appreciated the feedback!!