Paradise Pier Hotel or Courtyard Theme Park Entrance (waterpark hotel)

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I keep flip flopping! We have a reservation with Marriott points at the Springhill Suites...and it's pretty much free for our 6 nights. I think we will pay $200 total. But, something a little closer, and with a little more entertainment on site would be great since it's a graduation trip. I can book the last 3 nights of our stay at the Courtyard Theme Park waterpark hotel on points (free) and then pay for the first three nights. OR we can stay at PPH for the first 3 nights, then switch to the Courtyard for the last 3 (free). The price is pretty much the same for PPH and Courtyard for the first three nights. Which would you pick?

 

[DisTXMom]

A pretty big part of my decision would be based on whether we would do the extra hour every day. If not, I would not do PPH. It's rather expensive for what you get and the pool is average. If you would do the EMH every morning, then I'd seriously consider PPH because that hour is worth a lot to us.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

A pretty big part of my decision would be based on whether we would do the extra hour every day. If not, I would not do PPH. It's rather expensive for what you get and the pool is average. If you would do the EMH every morning, then I'd seriously consider PPH because that hour is worth a lot to us.

I think we *might* do EMH only because we are typically early risers, but...I can't say 100%. Especially without knowing the actual park hours for our time period, and they aren't posted yet. I should add that my son has special needs, so we usually get him a DAS at Disney World when we go, so I'm not THAT concerned about long lines, fast passes, etc.

The pool does look kind of boring compared to the Courtyard!

 

[Whistlebee]

How old are your kid(s)? The Courtyard is great for younger kids but not older ones IMO. The actual pool there is very small. The Splashzone stuff and the slides are great tho.

We've stayed at both (but not Springhill Suites). The Courtyard is much nicer than Paradise Pier all around but you won't have EMH. If you don't think you'll use EMH I'd skip PP too.

The pool at PP isn't exciting but it is large enough that it can handle a lot of kids that are actually playing in the water.

Which Springhill Suites? The one on Katella and Harbor looks pretty nice.

 

[Whistlebee]

I should add, this question gets asked a lot. If you use the search function you'll find more posts about it.

 

[azdisneylover]

Since the price would be the same I would take the PPH. The extra hour in the morning does help especially when you are early risers. The walk back to PPH is shorter when you cut through the GCH.

 

[StormyCA]

If you do decide on a split stay, do your onsite stay last if you can. Moving from onsite to offsite somehow feels like a let down.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

If you do decide on a split stay, do your onsite stay last if you can. Moving from onsite to offsite somehow feels like a let down.

I can't, because there are no rooms available on points the first part of our state at the Courtyard. Otherwise, I would just book the entire stay on points and not worry about PPH. But, since I would have to pay cash for the 3 nights at the Courtyard, and the PPH was coming up the same...that is why I am considering it.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

How old are your kid(s)? The Courtyard is great for younger kids but not older ones IMO. The actual pool there is very small. The Splashzone stuff and the slides are great tho.

We've stayed at both (but not Springhill Suites). The Courtyard is much nicer than Paradise Pier all around but you won't have EMH. If you don't think you'll use EMH I'd skip PP too.

The pool at PP isn't exciting but it is large enough that it can handle a lot of kids that are actually playing in the water.

Which Springhill Suites? The one on Katella and Harbor looks pretty nice.

My son is 18, but has autism and is young for his age, and likes splash type stuff along with my younger daughter.

Springhill Suites on Harbor and Katella is the one we are booked it as of right now.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I would definitely do the split stay and use the emh. I think the two hotels are pretty interchangeable but the emh at dca will make a big difference to your son. Its empty during emh. The hotels are very comparable in terms of comfort and luxury. But the pool at pph will be better for your son. The courtyard is really like 5 and under for the pool stuff despite what it looks like in photos. The walk to the parks feels the same. Really. If the cost is the same, there is no reason to stay off site in your situation.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Okay so we did a complete change! I booked the Disneyland hotel for our first 4 nights, and the Courtyard our last 2 (free). Woohoo! He is going to be so excited! Heck, I'm super excited about the DLR!

 

[StormyCA]

Oh, have a lovely time!!! The DLH is lovely. Your son will love the light-up headboards.

 

[Whistlebee]

The DLH is our favorite! Have a great trip!

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

Thanks everyone!