PP or DH

[jmcalister]

We are planning a future DLR trip and would like to stay at the Grand Californian. If those plans don't work out, which is better, Paradise Pier of the Disneyland Hotel?

Thanks for any info,
jmcalister

 

[lisadoll93]

I would choose DLH over PP.

 

[PrincessSitka]

Dlh

 

[Amy&Dan]

I prefer the DLH. Not that we didn't enjoy our two stays at PP, but to me, the DLH has an edge over PP in location, dining options, grounds, Disney feel and pool area. PP has a great slide for their pool, but the pool itself is pretty lackluster. The rooms are very nice and pretty spacious however. And if you prefer a beach theme over a Disney theme, than PP would be a better fit.

When I stay at PP its because I am saving money. So if you can get a great rate, and save substantially over DLH that is good. Also, if you go with PP, upgrade to a theme park view. That is very much worth it and makes staying there all the more special. They have two levels of theme park views I believe and the lower floor view rooms don't add that much to your nightly bill but add a lot to your overall stay.

You can't go wrong with either in the end.

Here are some photos of each.

Disneyland Hotel:
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/acc/g_dlh.htm

Paradise Pier:
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/acc/g_pier.htm

 

[CalGal]

As usual, I completely agree with Amy&Dan. PPH is a perfectly nice hotel, and I am delighted to stay there if I can get a really good deal. The theme park view is really nice and makes you feel like you are staying at Disney, but otherwise, PPH is almost out of the Disney magic. DLH is more of a resort. It has nice grounds, several dining choices, more shops, a great pool area for the kids, and is just very festive. Being adjacent to DTD makes you feel almost in the park even though it is further from the front gates than GCH and even a few of the Harbor properties.

(Still, my first choice is GCH when I'm feeling wealthy so I hope that works out for you)

 

[ploeb]

I have always been a BIG fan of the PPH! However, my last 2 stays were horrible Most of the staff we encountered were rude and unhappy to be there. It started with the front desk and trickled on down to the bartender at the pool the staff at the PCH Grill. I will not be going back to this hotel until the management gets it together! If you can, stay at the Grand... it is, well... Grand!

 

[disney-super-mom]

We love both hotels. Right now, because our kids aren't the stongest of swimmers, we prefer the PPH. It's pool/slide set up is better for smaller kids/non swimmers/inexperienced swimmers because the slide empties riders into a shallow catch trough. No swimming required! Also, the children's wading pool is right next to the slide - a perfect location! Our kids will go from the wading pool to the slide and back again for hours, and DH and I can sit in the comfy lounge chairs set up around the wading pool, put our feet up and relax, and at the same time we're able to keep a close eye on our kids because we're only a few feet away.

I found of picture of it here.
http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/acc/pier35.jpg

When our kids are a little older and better swimmers, we most likely will stay at the DLH more often just because it is more of a resort property, whereas PPH is a hotel (if you know what I mean).

Also, the DLH is so close to the DTD monorail station. We LOVED that when we stayed there. It was so convenient for us to walk the 2 minutes to the monorail station and zip on into the park and then back again when we were done for the day or when we wanted to take a break.

Both have nice rooms and decor, and our rooms at both properties have been spacious. We've had excellent service at both and have never experienced a problem with anything or anyone. Hopefully that trend will continue.

 

[heatherplus3]

I also like both DLH and PP. To be honest, for us it depends on what the rates are. We do usually stay at DLH but for our trip in Oct we are going to stay at PPH ($169/nt theme park view, concierge) I will say my kids love both hotels for different reasons. DLH has more to do at the hotel, but everyone at PPH always makes a fuss over the kids. I think every time we've checked in there they have given the kids balloons, signed pics, buttons, etc. So the kids (5 and 2) get excited about that.

 

[dancindisneyLuver]

I've never been to Paradise Pier, but everytime I have stayed at the DLH i have had a great time and have not experienced any problems.

 

[bumbershoot]

but everyone at PPH always makes a fuss over the kids. I think every time we've checked in there they have given the kids balloons, signed pics, buttons, etc. So the kids (5 and 2) get excited about that.

Have you requested that ahead of time, or do they just see the kids coming and pull out the balloons?

 

[4bugzinarug]

While we have not yet stayed at either property, we did walk around inside the DLH .... and while it was beautiful, my sister felt that the common areas were very busy/crowded inside (walkways, front desk, restaurants, pool area, etc). Hopefully it has more of a "relaxing" type of feel when you are actually a guest there.

That said, DH and I are contemplating ditching our HOJO reservation in favor of the 4th night free promo for DLH. Two reasons. Early entry & easy access to the monorail. The idea of pushing strollers onto the monorail and straight up to the room after a long hard day has a tremendous appeal!! DH wears out easily, so this could be a very good thing. Might be worth the $300 difference for us.

 

[disney-super-mom]

The idea of pushing strollers onto the monorail and straight up to the room after a long hard day has a tremendous appeal!! DH wears out easily, so this could be a very good thing. Might be worth the $300 difference for us.

Unfortunately, you have to fold up the strollers before boarding the monorail at Disneyland. It can actually be a big pain because you have to take everything out of the stroller first to fold it, then hold all your stuff and your kids while riding the monorail. Then once you get off, you have to set everything up again (unfold stroller, buckle in child, and put all of your stuff back in the stroller). Of course you'll still have a great time regardless!

 

[4bugzinarug]

Unfortunately, you have to fold up the strollers before boarding the monorail at Disneyland. It can actually be a big pain because you have to take everything out of the stroller first to fold it, then hold all your stuff and your kids while riding the monorail. Then once you get off, you have to set everything up again (unfold stroller, buckle in child, and put all of your stuff back in the stroller). Of course you'll still have a great time regardless!

Oh my goodness. I am SOOO glad you told me this! Thank you! If that is the case then there is no real benefit to us beyond the early entry (and heck, we're on vacation, let's sleep in!). We have to fold the strollers to get on the shuttle ... and I believe HOJO is the same distance to walk as DLH. So thanks again for saving us $300!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh my goodness. I am SOOO glad you told me this! Thank you! If that is the case then there is no real benefit to us beyond the early entry (and heck, we're on vacation, let's sleep in!). We have to fold the strollers to get on the shuttle ... and I believe HOJO is the same distance to walk as DLH. So thanks again for saving us $300!!

Well you know, if you need to add a night on anyway...you wouldn't be alone in adding $300 to go from offsite to a DLR.

And you'll be there right before we get there...DL doesn't open until 10 anyway, so it's not like EE is insanely early...

Anyway, for us adding that $300 (and the abilities to charge to the room, send things to the room, get more EE days, and being in the same hotel as our character b'fast) was worth it to lose the lower cost and conveniences of offsite (and we were at Carousel, so hardly ANY walk!).

 

[heatherplus3]

Have you requested that ahead of time, or do they just see the kids coming and pull out the balloons?

Nope they just saw the kids coming and/or started talking to them during check-in and pulled out balloons and stuff from the back room.

 

[bumbershoot]

Nope they just saw the kids coming and/or started talking to them during check-in and pulled out balloons and stuff from the back room.

Very cool.

 

[lisadoll93]

Have you requested that ahead of time, or do they just see the kids coming and pull out the balloons?

Vacation Planning can arrange this for you too.

 

[joeysmommy]

bumbershoot-
We stayed at DLH last year and I did request birthday balloons, birthday buttons and autographed pictures for my sons' birthdays(they're free).
They didn't give it to them at the front desk and it wasn't in the room as I requested. I had to call and ask about it and they kindly brought it right up.
I set it up with Vacation Planning ahead of time, maybe this year I'll call ahead to the front desk and ask them directly the day before.

 

[joeysmommy]

Forgot to mention we liked the ambience of DLH, the lobby is beautiful, the grounds are great, the pool area is fun. My sons loved the remote control boats at the pool and we loved the Lost Bar.

Altho, I didn't feel the CM's were very happy to be there. I received attitude from the CM at check-in and it wasn't very busy at all. We checked-in on a Monday at 10am.
I realize they don't get paid very much but when working the front desk that is the first "Disney" experience guests are having..it should be a positive experience. This was my first time staying at DLH and I had always wanted to stay there and was disappointed with the staff. I can be ignored and mistreated across the street at a motel for $99 per night, I don't want to pay $210 for that treatment.
We're staying at PPH this year and hopefully it will be a good experience. I've read positive reviews about the PPH and it's CM's so I hope it will be a happy stay.

Does anyone know if each hotel has it's own manager? Maybe that's why there is a difference in service at DLH and PPH?

 

[ploeb]

Forgot to mention we liked the ambience of DLH, the lobby is beautiful, the grounds are great, the pool area is fun. My sons loved the remote control boats at the pool and we loved the Lost Bar.

Altho, I didn't feel the CM's were very happy to be there. I received attitude from the CM at check-in and it wasn't very busy at all. We checked-in on a Monday at 10am.
I realize they don't get paid very much but when working the front desk that is the first "Disney" experience guests are having..it should be a positive experience. This was my first time staying at DLH and I had always wanted to stay there and was disappointed with the staff. I can be ignored and mistreated across the street at a motel for $99 per night, I don't want to pay $210 for that treatment.
We're staying at PPH this year and hopefully it will be a good experience. I've read positive reviews about the PPH and it's CM's so I hope it will be a happy stay.

Does anyone know if each hotel has it's own manager? Maybe that's why there is a difference in service at DLH and PPH?

Oh yes, each hotel has their own Management team, this is why PPH has in MHO become "just a hotel", I am hopeful though! Maybe next year these "new" managers will have it together! I actually thought about sending them the book,"The Disney Way".