Paradise Pier it is!!!!

[narsel]

Hello again,

We have our reservations, and have begun our countdown. We decided on PP wanting to avoid construction at DLH. A bit of a snag, after making our reservations, my husbands boss overheard him talking about our plans with a coworker, thought is was a good idea, cancelled his vacation and took the time off herself to go to Disneyland with her grandkid. ARRGGG. Other than wishing a pox upon her, there's not much else we can do other than carrying on without Dad.

We have done day trips without him before but never stayed overnight alone - me and my 3 girls. Also we have always stayed at the DLH so I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to the PP. Please, I have a million questions.

First off, where is the parking for PP? It looks like you enter off of west st?? Is there a parking lot like DLH or a parking structure?? Also I worry about returning to the car late at night when our stay is over, is there security? Would it be better to move our car to the mickey parking structure after we put our suitcases back in?(These are things I never paid attention to when my husband is with us.)

Same question about returning to the hotel late at night. We plan on taking the shortcut thru the GCH, it seems like it will be OK????

Does the PP have a workout room? My daughter runs cross country and needs to do her 6-8 miles in the morning. I'd rather have her in a workout room than running around the streets by herself.

Can we check in early? we plan on trying to be at the park when it opens the first day. Will we be able to get our room and put our stuff in it or do they have a place for suitcases like DLH?

Our last day will be a MM for us so the reverse question, can we get a late checkout so we dont have to deal with wrangling suitcases and trying to hit the park for MM.

I understand we receive 2 fastpasses for staying at the hotel. These can be used for star tours, I hope? Can they be used at any time?

Is there a coffee place at the hotel? Seeing as it will be me venturing out in search of coffee, I hope there's someplace close.

Well, thats all I can think of now, I'm sure there'll be more. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[DahliaRW]

I haven't stayed at PP, but I do know the answers to some of your questions.

The parking is a small garage right behind the hotel. Super easy to get to.

There is a workout room. I don't know about coffee, but it's not far at all to the bookshop in DTD that sells coffee. Or maybe over to White Water Snacks in the GCH. Or just bring your own coffee and use the provided coffee maker in your room (they coffee they provide is nasty!)

Yes, you can check in early and they will hold your suitcases. Same with checkout. I doubt they will give you late checkout, however, without paying. At least at DLH, and I'd assume all the on resort properties are similar/same in this regard, you can call the bell desk, they will come up with a cart, take your luggage, and hold it. So you don't have to wrangle much with suitcases (just make sure to tip - it's a lot of work for the bell hop!) We just packed as much as possible the day before, threw the last few things in in the morning and it wasn't an issue.

I wouldn't worry about the walk back via GCH. All the walking in that area seemed fine when I was there, even at night. Everything is well lit and there are always people around.

And yes, FP is good for STs. I also think you can use them for a special resort guest only FP line at Little Mermaid.

 

[TeddiBarra]

A bit of a snag, after making our reservations, my husbands boss overheard him talking about our plans with a coworker, thought is was a good idea, cancelled his vacation and took the time off herself to go to Disneyland with her grandkid. ARRGGG. Other than wishing a pox upon her, there's not much else we can do other than carrying on without Dad.

OMG. x 1000
That is a wretched thing. I hope they ... well not her grandchild... but really, i wish anti pixie dust on her.

Is there a parking lot like DLH or a parking structure??

Yes, you enter on West. The driveway is smaller than the DLH, but same basic thing, you can pull up to the front and check in, bell services will help you with your luggage. They can hold your bags for you if you get there before room assignment is done. You park by going forward out of the driveway and turn to the right immediately. There is a 3 story or so parking structure immediately behind the hotel. There IS NO elevator in the parking structure, so get your bags out in the front, if you end up on the 2nd/3rd level that leaves you to negotiate stairs. It's a very small parking structure in Disney terms, but on the upside, it's hard to get lost at the PP as it's is much smaller than the DLH (think about one towers worth of space)



Also I worry about returning to the car late at night when our stay is over, is there security? Would it be better to move our car to the mickey parking structure after we put our suitcases back in?(These are things I never paid attention to when my husband is with us.)

I would feel safe. There is security all around the DLR, and the PPH is no different. You will save $15 by not parking in the structure since you will have already paid $15, plus tax, for the day to park at PPH. I'd leave my car there.

Same question about returning to the hotel late at night. We plan on taking the shortcut thru the GCH, it seems like it will be OK????

Yep, that's the way to do it.

Does the PP have a workout room? My daughter runs cross country and needs to do her 6-8 miles in the morning. I'd rather have her in a workout room than running around the streets by herself.

Yes, they have a gym there.

Can we check in early? we plan on trying to be at the park when it opens the first day. Will we be able to get our room and put our stuff in it or do they have a place for suitcases like DLH?

You can check in whenever you want. Rooms are promised until 3 PM, but last month when we check in around 12:30 everyone else in front of me had their rooms already ... we got the unlucky call at 2:30. However yes you can leave your stuff with bell services and they'll hold it til whenever you are ready (we didn't get back until 9 pm)

Our last day will be a MM for us so the reverse question, can we get a late checkout so we dont have to deal with wrangling suitcases and trying to hit the park for MM.

Probably, but call and ask. I wouldn't recommend that route, I'd recommend calling for them to hold your bags- again they will hold your baggage until 12 pm on your checkout date.

I understand we receive 2 fastpasses for staying at the hotel. These can be used for star tours, I hope? Can they be used at any time?

Yes, anytime at any attraction (excluding WOC) that has a fast pass. OR you can also use them at Ariel's but this, I agree, is a wasteful use of them. Take advantage of the DAILY early entry into DCA- if you get in at 9:30 The Little Mermaid ride will be walk on- show your room key to the CM and you can do it several times before 10 a.m. park opening.

Is there a coffee place at the hotel? Seeing as it will be me venturing out in search of coffee, I hope there's someplace close.

Coffee makers in the rooms. Also, you can get coffee in the Lounge, in the lobby, I believe. Most of the stuff is very centrally located off the lobby area- the gift shop, Mickey's, the Lounge, restrooms, the arcade, the kids TV room.

 

[jenpace]

Your husband's boss sounds incredibly rude and selfish. I sure hope there aren't any expectations that you and your daughters will have to spend any of your precious time at Disneyland with the boss and her grandchild!

We have done day trips without him before but never stayed overnight alone - me and my 3 girls. Also we have always stayed at the DLH so I have no idea what I'm doing in regards to the PP.

You should feel very safe and well taken care of at PPH. I have taken solo trips with my youngest two who are my only girls, 8 and 12 years old now. While it's a lot of fun for the whole family to travel together, there's something very special about a girls only trip. We would always choose to have my husband and my three grown sons along too but we also enjoy the mom/daughter time

Have a super fun time!

 

[enchantedny]

I am sorry about the situation with your husband.

You will be fine at PPH. We just stayed there last month and enjoyed it. Drop your suitcases at the door with bell services before you park. They will also hold your things if your room is not ready. Ours wasn't. The parking area seems very secure. Your car and things will be fine there. The walk to and from the parks is quick and safe.

There is a gym. You do have to sign a release to be able to use it. I am not sure if there is an age limit.

I am not sure about the cofee as I do not drink it and we stayed concierge so my husband just got his in the lounge. I think there is some kind of quick service food area in the lobby.

Have a magical trip!

 

[enchantedny]

Oh, I forgot about the late check out....

Our last day was also a MM at 7:00 am. We stayed in the park until about 10:30 then went back to the room to rest just a bit and had bell services come and get our luggage. We then went back to the park until we were ready to leave. I think late check out is pretty hard to get, even if you pay for it. You can call the morning you are checking out to see if it is available that day.

We used all of our special fast passes on Star Tours.

 

[TeddiBarra]

More on the safety, when I stayed in June, it was just me and my kids (6,6 and 11) and my SIL and her 3 yr old. She walked too and from at night by herself twice and felt just fine, and so did I.

 

[narsel]

Thank you to everyone who replied. The girls and I are super excited and can't wait for our trip. I'm feeling much more confident about going without DH. We have 25 days in our countdown and have begun playing our favorite game, Disneyland 20 questions. While at the parks the kids are always looking for that obscure little object or image to stump everyone when we play 20 questions.