Paradise Pier Hotel question

[DISfanboy]

Just wondering how the Paradise Pier Hotel is compared to the other two Disney resorts. thinking about a 2010 or 2011 trip and deciding between Paradise Pier and the DisneyLand Hotel. Any info on the resorts is greatly apperciated thank you.

 

[DisneyloverinWA]

We stayed at PP two years ago. It was the cheapest Disney property and our room was nice and clean, but I didn't get the same feeling that I get when I stay at the Disneyland Hotel. If you want atmostphere I would say stay at the Disneyland Hotel. If you want a nice room and that's all, then PP is great. We actually had a view of the theme park (CA), although we were not expecting it.

Good luck.

 

[Sherry E]

Just wondering how the Paradise Pier Hotel is compared to the other two Disney resorts. thinking about a 2010 or 2011 trip and deciding between Paradise Pier and the DisneyLand Hotel. Any info on the resorts is greatly apperciated thank you.

I have pictures of the Paradise Pier hotel room that we stayed in this past December in my Trip Report (link to the TR is in my signature below), as well as a report on the not-so-great PPH experience I had in October 2008, so check it out if you have time.

Anyway, I have stayed at PPH 4 or 5 times since 2000. I used to stay at Disneyland Hotel all the time between maybe 1988 and 1995. I have also stayed at the Grand Californian twice. Here is what I would say - if you want a taste of the FULL Disneyland experience, from top to bottom, through and through, from the hotel to the parks, and you are on a limited budget, then stay at the PPH because it is the cheapest. Now, don't mistake "cheapest" for being run-down or shabby or anything like that. It's not. In fact, in many ways the PPH is shinier and newer looking than the original Disneyland Hotel. PPH really is a cute hotel, with a beach/surf type of theme, and there are nautical/marine touches all over the hotel and in the rooms. It also hosts the Lilo and Stitch character breakfast as well as the more upscale Yamabuki restaurant. It is a perfectly fine hotel. The only 'problem' with it, if I could identify a problem, is that it lacks the lush, sprawling grounds that the Disneyland Hotel has, and the rustic, upscale elegance that the Grand Californian Hotel has. PPH is a fairly basic hotel with cute Disney accents, but is just doesn't have too much else. Again, it's the best one to stay in if you want the Disney hotel experience for the most economical price.

However, for your first stay in a Disneyland resort hotel, I would suggest that you stay at the Disneyland Hotel. That one is the original and it is the most 'Disney-fied' of all three. It has beautiful waterfalls, a lovely koi fish pond, miniature, remote-controlled Jungle Cruise boats, a nice pool area, Goofy's Kitchen and Steakhouse 55, etc. It is generally more expensive than PPH but not by leaps and bounds. Just a little bit costlier.

The Grand Californian is the hotel of the three that has the fewest Disney touches. It resembles a sort of elegant mountain chalet and has a huge, spacious, dimly lit lobby with a fireplace and a piano player and a cozy lounge. It also has the lovely Storytellers Cafe restaurant. And the GCH costs a pretty penny to stay in! But when you stay at the GCH and take advantage of its convenient proximity to the two parks, it comes in handy!! With the DLH or PPH, you have to walk a little farther, but to save money it is worth it.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

Of all 3 it is my least favorite. If it's choosing between PP and DLH go for the DLH. You just dont get that same feeling as you do when you stay at the other 2 hotels on property. The pier is across the street and kind of off on it's own. But the DLH is a walk through DTD on your way to your room and you feel like you never leave the magic. Plus the rooms are super cute, the Neverland pool area is really neat, and the waterfalls there are gorgeous! Choose DLH and you will not be disappointed!

 

[pixiewings71]

I've stayed at the PPH and really liked it. I thought it was cute! But I've never stayed at the DLH so I can't compare and the GCH is so different that it's not fair to compare them. lol I thought the PPH was a nice place, the rooms were large and spacious, the hotel itself was clean and nice, the staff was great. I'd stay there again.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I have to say that my family are big Paradise Pier hotel fans! It's a nice hotel with large rooms and great room service (the best mushroom soup ever). In my opinion, the themepark view rooms on the higher floors have some of the best views out of all three onsite Disney hotels.

We love the water slide there because it's easier to keep an eye on the kids without having to worry about them drowning. Plus it's the longest water slide on property. Also, it's the only water slide that non-swimmers are allowed to use (since there's no swimming involved while using it).

We enjoyed our stay at the DLH as well, but for as much time as we spent in our room, we now opt to save a few bucks and stay at the Paradise Pier (when we stay onsite).

If we were going to splurge, we'd stay at the Grand Californina.