Paradise Pier Rooms

[justkeepswimmin]

I tried to search this one but could not figure out the answer-do all PP standard rooms have the 2Q + pullout couch/ daybed configuration or do you need to request it like at the DL hotel?

We are considering a spur of the moment trip next week to enjoy the halloween theming and take advantage of the last 2 days of our annual passes. We have DVC points at the Grand Californian but of course nothing is available at this late date and there is also no rooms available for points at DL hotel, our other favorite. How is the Paradise Pier lately? It seems I read a report recently of it being a bit run down? Anyone stay recently? We are big resort pool people and the photos of the PP pool area do not seem as appealing as the other 2 properties though the slide looks fantastic! Is there a quick service restaurant, gift shop, etc?

 

[Sherry E]

I have not stayed at PPH since December 2008, but I have a lot of PPH stays under my belt up to that point. It wasn't run down when I was last there. I don't know what it looks like now. I had one crazy PPH room in October 2008 that I called the Haunted Room, because there was poo-smelling water coming from the faucets and a drawer that wouldn't stay shut (and so it was just asking to be banged into when we passed by). Prior to that - and also in December 2008 - my PPH rooms were always fine. Bright, cheery, cute sun/surf/nautical theme, a good amount of space to move around, etc.

People do say that the slide at PPH is great (I've never gone up to the pool when I've stayed there) but the pool is just a basic pool. It doesn't have the cool themes that the DLH or GCH pools have.

Yes, there is a counter service place called the Surfside Lounge, I believe. They sell yummy coffee drinks, sandwiches, fruit, pastries and that kind of thing. PCH Grill is the table service place and people say the lunch and dinner are quite good and that there is a good kids' menu.

There is a cute gift shop right off of the lobby, but it's nothing spectacular compared to the other shops in the parks or hotels.

Every room at PPH that I have stayed in has had the two beds and a daybed/pullout thing. There are rooms with King beds and a pullout, but I think there are more rooms with two beds than there are with King beds. I'm pretty sure that almost all the rooms have the daybed/pullouts.

 

[tallpkb]

We were there last December, and although it was decked out for Christmas, we thought it was FABULOUS! We didn't see any indications of being "run down". There is a nice gift shop/general store, the restaurant (can't recall the name at this moment), a kid's area that looked REALLY CUTE, and an arcade. The pool was fine, and the slide was a bonus for DD12. We REALLY enjoyed that you can watch the fireworks from the far end of the pool deck, and they pipe in the music, too. Plus there is a patio warmer if it's cold! (call the front desk to turn it on tho). We sat comfortably with a cup of cocoa and watched the fireworks all warm and toasty, and then casually walked back to our room! We were upgraded to a suite, so I'm not sure about standard rooms. I find it very helpful to find out about room options by calling Disney Travel (714-520-5038-ASK FOR TONI-SHE'S FABULOUS!!!). We just returned from the Grand Californian, and she told us about the 2Q + daybed option that I didn't know about. Some people complain about the elevators being slow (because there's only one major elevator, plus a glass elevator that only goes up 3 floors, I think), but since we didn't stay at the parks til closing, we never had an issue.

Bottom line, we loved PP and would stay there again in a heartbeat! Hope this helps!

 

[justkeepswimmin]

Thanks! This helps a lot. I think we are going to give it a try. Never stayed here before and 2 nights is a great way to check it out. My daughter is dying to try that slide so at the very least that will be a trip highlight for her. Since we are 5 people I assume there is no danger of getting the 1 king bed room. One more question:

The daybed in the room-is it a daybed or a traditional pullout sleeper sofa? We like having sleeping options for our 3 kiddos so could 2 sleep on the pullout or just 1?

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks! This helps a lot. I think we are going to give it a try. Never stayed here before and 2 nights is a great way to check it out. My daughter is dying to try that slide so at the very least that will be a trip highlight for her. Since we are 5 people I assume there is no danger of getting the 1 king bed room. One more question:

The daybed in the room-is it a daybed or a traditional pullout sleeper sofa? We like having sleeping options for our 3 kiddos so could 2 sleep on the pullout or just 1?

The daybed is a pull out. You could sleep on it as a regular daybed/couch if you didn't feel like pulling it out. Actual assembly of the bed when you pull it out is a bit convoluted and weird, but once it's set up you have yourself another bed!! I think you could sleep 2 kids on the pullout or one adult.

Sometimes you can catch a whiff of a suntan lotion aroma in the lobby or out by the pool area, I think. I believe it's piped in from somewhere. I haven't always smelled it, but sometimes it's there!!

 

[Sherry E]

I think I put a photo of the daybed in its regular form in this post:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29331933&postcount=103

But Bumbershoot has a great photo of what the daybed looks like in its folded-out/bed form in one of her trip reports. I must find it for you and post it here!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The couch/bed has a really weird mechanism. If you can't figure it out, call housekeeping or something to help. Took me 3 stays to get it to work (was only curiousity, we are a family of 3). It basically flips over, rather than a pulling mechanism.

Remember, the slide does not end in the pool. It ends in a thing of shallow water (which is why little ones are allowed to go on it if they are brave enough to climb up). And the pool is a pool, but ya know, when you're in a pool it's all good!

I haven't noticed it being run down (by the way, if you're reading tripadvisor, don't...they tend to be right for NON Disneyland area hotels, but for whatever reason, they are way off on the Disney hotels!).

Our first trip there wasn't the best, but I figured out later that that was because we were walking the WRONG way to the parks. Do NOT follow the signs in the hotel. That will take you the long way round, will take you ALL the way through DTD. Unnecessary. Go out the front door, go to the crosswalk, go in the main doors of the Grand...to get to DL, turn left down a hallway, follow it, go right out the automatic glass doors, follow that pathway until it plops you out into DTD next to Sephora. Turn right, get to bag check. Of course for DCA, just go the other way through the Grand's lobby and follow the signs to that. But definitely don't follow the signs inside the PPH for the theme parks. That move really hurt our first big trip and our first stay at PPH. Subsequent visits have been much better!

 

[Sherry E]

Here, I found the link to Bumbershoot/Molly's photographic, step-by-step instructions on how to assemble the PPH pull-out bed!! Great pictures and very helpful!!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32519324&postcount=280

 

[justkeepswimmin]

I haven't noticed it being run down (by the way, if you're reading tripadvisor, don't...they tend to be right for NON Disneyland area hotels, but for whatever reason, they are way off on the Disney hotels!).

Our first trip there wasn't the best, but I figured out later that that was because we were walking the WRONG way to the parks. Do NOT follow the signs in the hotel. That will take you the long way round, will take you ALL the way through DTD. Unnecessary. Go out the front door, go to the crosswalk, go in the main doors of the Grand...to get to DL, turn left down a hallway, follow it, go right out the automatic glass doors, follow that pathway until it plops you out into DTD next to Sephora. Turn right, get to bag check. Of course for DCA, just go the other way through the Grand's lobby and follow the signs to that. But definitely don't follow the signs inside the PPH for the theme parks. That move really hurt our first big trip and our first stay at PPH. Subsequent visits have been much better!

I did look at TripAdvisor and you are right, they seem pretty off about all the disney property hotels. GCH and DLH get beat up a lot on there and we LOVE both properties. Of course, we love staying on property and probably skew our evaluations of each of these hotels based on this preference and our willingness to pay extra for it so the truth is probably somewhere in the middle

Thanks for the walking shortcut tip. That is exactly what my husband said as he self parks when we stay at GCH and mentioned he thought the walk from PP looked about the same as DLH if you cut through GCH. We will see.

Sometimes you can catch a whiff of a suntan lotion aroma in the lobby or out by the pool area, I think. I believe it's piped in from somewhere. I haven't always smelled it, but sometimes it's there!!

That sounds nice. We love the beach. I am looking forward to it!

Here, I found the link to Bumbershoot/Molly's photographic, step-by-step instructions on how to assemble the PPH pull-out bed!! Great pictures and very helpful!!

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32519324&postcount=280

You are both great! This is just what I needed to see! Loved seeing your darling son actually on the daybed/ pullout as that gives me a good frame of reference. Can't wait to go now. I am a Disney fanatic and that extends to the resort hotels so this is a great chance to stay at the one we have never tried before. SO, are all standard views here created equal? We used DVC points for a std view but I am not above asking for the very best std room or upgrade possible I am also okay with getting exactly what we paid for to but it never hurts to ask. DL at halloweentime is enough to keep me happy for the entire 2 days we are there so anything else is just a bonus!

 

[Desert Dwellers]

I'm staying at the Paradise Pier for the first time in December. I have stayed at the other two resort hotels and have been very happy, so I assume this will be just as great of a stay.

I think the bad reviews of the resort hotels are a result of misplaced expectations. First, many are disappointed they weren't given free upgrades to better rooms at check-in. Yes, many people have been upgraded, but if you're checking in at peak season, it's not going to happen. Pay for the level of room you want.

Then others are disappointed with the level of amenities they are receiving. They go in thinking they're going to receive Four Seasons level of service. But you know, rooms there go for 500-800 a night. At Disneyland Resorts, you're paying for the Disneyland experience and convenience, not to be spritzed with Evian water poolside.

 

[bumbershoot]

Desert, I think that's probably very true.

Sherry, thanks for finding that. I've now saved it in my Bookmarks, where it should have been already, LOL. Though of course it's a lot more fun when someone else refers to it, just like it must be nice for Hydro when people refer to his epic essays!

swimmin, I've stayed 3 times. And honestly the worst view was the time that we were upgraded to a suite! (staying with cash, checked in at something like 6am, got chosen to be the Big Kahuna family of the day, which got us a suite and a picture and leis and balloons and pins) But even then, the view was partial pool and partial parking lot. Or maybe that was the last stay, hmm. If you get a park view, then you get to see DCA. If you get a standard, then it's just a mainly boring view, but that's OK, you're in the hotel with the biggest normal rooms on property, that's bright and airy and cheerful...and smells of old-fashioned Coppertone sun"tan" lotion back near the arcade.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

I think the bad reviews of the resort hotels are a result of misplaced expectations. First, many are disappointed they weren't given free upgrades to better rooms at check-in. Yes, many people have been upgraded, but if you're checking in at peak season, it's not going to happen. Pay for the level of room you want.

This is so right on. I think people hear about people who might have got free turndown service or some other perk and then expect it for their visit. The internet makes it to easy to ready about these magical moments but they are just that. If they happened for everybody they would not be so magical and rates would be even higher. We have gotten nice little perks and have had free room upgrades to views but I never expect it unless I pay for it.

Desert, I think that's probably very true.

swimmin, I've stayed 3 times. And honestly the worst view was the time that we were upgraded to a suite! (staying with cash, checked in at something like 6am, got chosen to be the Big Kahuna family of the day, which got us a suite and a picture and leis and balloons and pins) But even then, the view was partial pool and partial parking lot. Or maybe that was the last stay, hmm. If you get a park view, then you get to see DCA. If you get a standard, then it's just a mainly boring view, but that's OK, you're in the hotel with the biggest normal rooms on property, that's bright and airy and cheerful...and smells of old-fashioned Coppertone sun"tan" lotion back near the arcade.

Yup, this trip wasn't even supposed to happen so I will take what we get. Looking forward to trying something new. We have been spoiled staying at the Villas at the Grand the last few trips but I was pretty happy with all our DL hotel stays as well as most of our stays on Harbor Blvd over the years. We will be at Disneyland so it will be a blast. Thanks for all PP lowdown though. It really helps and I showed the family the sleeping arrangement via your picture and it will work great for our family of 5.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

One other question for the Paradise Pier experts-How's PCH grill? Someone above mentioned it was good. I have a dd who is approaching her 11th bday so I figure we will celebrate it a few days early and I saw that cool kitchen sink dessert thing when looking at their menu. Not to mention, their prices looked reasonable (using Disney math anyway). Any experience with the restaurant?

 

[BigCheese]

One other question for the Paradise Pier experts-How's PCH grill? Someone above mentioned it was good. I have a dd who is approaching her 11th bday so I figure we will celebrate it a few days early and I saw that cool kitchen sink dessert thing when looking at their menu. Not to mention, their prices looked reasonable (using Disney math anyway). Any experience with the restaurant?

We've stayed at PPH the last few trips to DLR, and we love going to the PCH Grill for a casual dinner after a day at the parks. In our experiences it has never been crowded, and the service there is fantastic! The menu isn't too extensive, but it has enough variety for us and our family with pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and burgers.

We're just wrapping up our latest Disney vacation and are at the PPH right now. We're celebrating our DS's 1st birthday, and the service has been excellent as always. On our first night, the staff brought up balloons and cookies, and surprisingly we've gotten chocloates during turndown service every night (we've actually never gotten this before, so it was a nice surprise). Earlier in the week, we wanted to do some laundry and the token dispenser in the laundry room was broken, but the hotel comp'd the tokens for doing laundry to guests during the time the token dispenser was down. I can't say enough about the excellent service we've received at PPH.

 

[lulubelle]

We've really enjoyed the food there. But we only eat there if we are staying there. The mushroom bisque is homemade and quite delicious. Well worth the $$. The club sandwich is good, too. Fish & Chips very tasty. I've heard the "kids make their own pizza" option is a big hit. You're right, for Disney standards, they are what I would call a bargain. Have a great trip.