PPH or DLH for busy weekend, 1 parent

[Lilly Belle 84]

I found out yesterday my DH won't be able to join us for our DLR trip for the 60th anniversary, bummed but we're going anyway! I changed my ressie to a CL park view room at PPH so my 10 year old and I can see WoC while my 4 yr old sleeps at night, but wondering if it is worth it to switch to a standard view room at DLH to take advantage of the pool (I wish GCH was an option but it is not, way too much $$). I don't see myself going commando with both kids and know the crowd level will be high since we're going specifically to be in the park on the 60th. I've only ever gone as an AP or when I was a CM so I have no experience actually staying in one of the hotels. One night I think we will take advantage of the kids program @ GC so my daughter can have a couple hours w/o her brother. Any opinions would be appreciated

 

[KalamityJane]

I think the kid's club at the GC is 5+? Will he be 5 when you go?

 

[Lilly Belle 84]

I think the kid's club at the GC is 5+? Will he be 5 when you go?

Thank you, good looking out! He will turn 5 before we go.

 

[thatgrljme]

I stayed CL at PPH with my father and my son last year and we loved it. We haven't stayed at DLH yet, we will be there in Feb, and we didn't use the pool at PPH because he was 2 and won't be using them in Feb either.

I really loved the CL so we could wake up early (we were on Texas time lol) go grab some breakfast, go back to the room and get ready for the day. My dad utilized CL when my son would nap and go get snacks, it was really nice to have.

I think we watched WOC once, and I wasn't aware they played it every single night of our stay, so it did get a little loud and a tad annoying towards the end of our stay, but we were also there for five days.

I think either choice would be good for you. One thing I will say about DLH you don't have to cross the street so it might be safer for you to walk through DTD with both kids instead of having to cross the street. Just a thought.

 

[Lilly Belle 84]

I stayed CL at PPH with my father and my son last year and we loved it. We haven't stayed at DLH yet, we will be there in Feb, and we didn't use the pool at PPH because he was 2 and won't be using them in Feb either.

I really loved the CL so we could wake up early (we were on Texas time lol) go grab some breakfast, go back to the room and get ready for the day. My dad utilized CL when my son would nap and go get snacks, it was really nice to have.

I think we watched WOC once, and I wasn't aware they played it every single night of our stay, so it did get a little loud and a tad annoying towards the end of our stay, but we were also there for five days.

I think either choice would be good for you. One thing I will say about DLH you don't have to cross the street so it might be safer for you to walk through DTD with both kids instead of having to cross the street. Just a thought.

Hey Neighbor I hope you're staying warm today!

I think the main thing I'm considering is the overall convience of the PPH lounge vs. the bigger/better DLH pool that we'd use for down time, I'm glad to hear about your experience, that's exactly what I'm looking to hear about. Being able to grab that early breakfast, water, snacks etc. seems like a pretty nice option when I won't have a 2nd pair of adult hands around. I didn't realize you could actually hear the WoC from the rooms, yikes! I think the DLH is great, I worked there years ago, I'm very emotionally attached to it even though I haven't technically spent a night there since DCA was under construction.

Have fun next month

 

[KalamityJane]

I haven't stayed at the PPH yet... but if your kids are like mine, as long as there is water, they will love it. We did stay at the DLH after the update. I actually really want to stay PPH CL and if I had to choose between PPH CL and DLH, I'd probably choose PPH for the ease of getting to the parks and walking through the GCH. You might look into if you can rent a cabana at the DLH if you are a guest of the PPH and then you could swim at the DLH AND have the PPH CL? I don't know if that is possible or urban legend.

 

[rivey]

My kids have done both pools and honestly they are 100% happy with Paradise Pier. We've done a CL stay at PP and it was nice to have and should make both pool time and mornings easier. I find the walk to PP shorter (ESP from DCA you can cut through the Grand hotel). The view rooms are great at PP- some of the best views of any of the DLR rooms. Keep in mind- there IS breakthrough park noise in those rooms (even very high up). There is likely to be a second WOC show when you are there. If any of you are light sleepers you may want to think about that. I am a light sleeper (stayed at PP when they did 2 am firework WOC testing) and yes those woke me up but went right back to sleep lol. I think PP would work best.

 

[Speechphi]

We just got back from our 2nd stay in PPH with a view room (not CL tho). We were on the 12th & 14th floors. We could see a back view of WOC & tuned into the TV for the full audio.

That being said...you can hear a muffled (but loud enough) version of WOC from those rooms. We were also able to hear the Green Army Men drum corps clear as a bell. Ds was able to sleep thru GAM in the afternoon (he's 9 & wasn't feeling well), and all three kids (ds9, dd8, & dd6) slept thru WOC in June because they were exhausted! I however, was not, and the show kept me up. Which was no big deal at all

I would totally stay in those rooms again.

But if I had a choice between CL at PPH or "regular" at DLH...DLH hands down for the pool. However, we are rope drop/afternoon break kinda people. So we bring breakfast bars or cereal bags (that I pack at home) & stop at Starbucks on the walk thru DD.

 

[thatgrljme]

Hey Neighbor I hope you're staying warm today! I think the main thing I'm considering is the overall convience of the PPH lounge vs. the bigger/better DLH pool that we'd use for down time, I'm glad to hear about your experience, that's exactly what I'm looking to hear about. Being able to grab that early breakfast, water, snacks etc. seems like a pretty nice option when I won't have a 2nd pair of adult hands around. I didn't realize you could actually hear the WoC from the rooms, yikes! I think the DLH is great, I worked there years ago, I'm very emotionally attached to it even though I haven't technically spent a night there since DCA was under construction. Have fun next month

I think either choice would work for you it just depends what would be more helpful. Concierge and the food/not having to wrangle kids and trays at places in the park or the pool at DLH.

One poster mentioned renting a cabana which is a great idea but PPH pool seems to be a real big hit with guests that stay there as well.

Good luck either way! I hope you have an awesome trip

 

[Lilly Belle 84]

I talked to my DD10 today and told her the options and she voted PPH. She likes the lounge and view rooms. I thought she would be more into the DLH pool, but we usually stay in concierge rooms when we travel outside Disney and I think she really likes the lounge LOL. She looked up pics and is most excited about the cinnamon rolls for breakfast LOL!

 

[KalamityJane]

I think the convenience of CL for you going as a single parent will be totally worth it. If I go with my kids by myself, I would go PPH CL. Mainly because I can't afford GCH CL and DLH is a further walk Plus, the pool area at PPH would be easier to keep track of the kids in by myself. And the views!