Paradise Pier?

[Jana0326]

I'm looking to plan a DL trip for my daughter's 4th birthday at the end of May and want to stay at a Disney hotel for 2 or 3 nights. We've stayed at both the Disneyland Hotel and the GC many times, but never at Paradise Pier. For those that have been, how does it compare to the other two resort hotels? What's the easiest way to get to the parks from the Paradise Pier? Do you have to walk all the way through Downtown Disney?

 

[bumbershoot]

We've stayed at all three, and PPH is definitely our favorite!

It has nice big rooms that are nice and bright, the colors are fun and happy, and parts of the lobby area smell like suntan lotion (they pump in the smell).

The pool is very basic and the slide isn't actually attached to the pool, but that would be a bonus for your daughter since she could go on it (while even wearing a life vest, unlike at the other hotels' big slides, if I recall correctly about PPH's) if she wanted to.

To get to the parks, you go out the FRONT door (don't follow the signs to the parks! I promise they will steer you into the path of consumerism, aka all the way through DTD), turn left, cross at the crosswalk. Go in through the Grand's big beautiful sliding doors!

If you're heading to Disneyland or just want to go in the front gates of DCA, turn left down the hallway (I think the sign here points you to DTD, and that sign is fine). Walk down the hall until you see sliding glass doors on your right, go outside, follow the path, and you'll find yourself halfway through DTD (across from Haagen Dasz, next to Sephora). Turn right and get to the esplanade!

If you're on your way to DCA, since you're an onsite resort guest and it's allowed for you, go through the Grand's lobby and follow the signs for DCA. That DCA entrance brings you out close to Grizzly River Run (which is where the FP machines for the World of Color are).

 

[Jana0326]

Thanks for the tips. I think we are going to try it out. The AP prices for Paradise Pier are about 1/2 of what they are the GC that weekend.

 

[Jigsaw]

I stayed at PP last year and enjoyed it. I haven't stayed at the other ones so I cant really compair them. The easiest way to get to the park is to go out the backdoor (near the parking area) but yes you have to go through down town

 

[bumbershoot]

We found the back door way to be incredibly inconvenient and much longer! When I got home and found out I hadn't gone the right way I nearly cried. Next time, we went through the Grand and it was SO much better for us.

 

[DahliaRW]

I walked from PPH to the World of Disney store in DTD when we stayed there (was doing laundry at PPH). It took exactly 10 minutes, using the cut through the grand. And that was speed walking without children with me. It'd be a bit over 10 to the gates for DL.