PPH please tell me I'm gonna like it!

[michellelovesthemous]

Never stayed there before and looking for a close reasonable DH to stay at this Ocotber when we come for MHT. Is it close like the GCH and can you use their entrance or do they have one of their own to CA? Also is it clsoe to the monorail? Good experiences staying there? Any opinions will be much obliged!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We stayed there one night this past Dec. I preferred HoJo's, easier walk to the parks, easier on the wallet, nicer room. Next week our last night is at the DLH ~ I hope we like it better than PP.

 

[Sherry E]

You will get these when you stay at the PPH:

I have stayed there 4 or 5 times - 2 of the times were just last year. If you go to my Trip Report (link is in signature below), I have pictures of the room from the Dec. 2008 trip (good PPH experience) and if you read the October 2008 part of the TR, you will see that was NOT a good experience. Overall, I give it a Cute, beachy/surf/nautical theme with pastel colors and Surfer Goofy in the lobby.

It is not as close as GCH but it is close. You can cut directly across the street from PPH through the GCH lobby and into DTD. Yes, being a guest at the PPH allows you access to the special DCA entrance in the GCH, and you also get the Key to the Magic and the ability to send any purchases in the parks back to the hotel.

 

[bumbershoot]

The first time we stayed there, it was just "meh". But then, we were following the signs to the parks, and therefore went alllll the way around to the side, around the theater, past DLH, and then the whole way through DTD just to get to the bag check and then the parks.

NOTE: that's what you'll want to do if you want to take the monorail, b/c the monorail is close-ish to DLH. And you'll go reverse of that if you take the monorail back towards PPH. I would recommend taking the monorail back if you want to do some DTD stuff, lego store, Rainforest Cafe, etc, b/c it's not 100% convenient to get back to PPH.

Anyway, we had a split stay that first time...4 nights at PPH and 2 nights at HoJo, and we liked HoJo better. Shorter and more straight-forward walk, no DTD to deal with (we're not big shoppers except for our son, and he was only 3, LOL), and so much less expensive.


But then we had a trip last December, and due to a quirk of pricing, the AP rate for PPH was about the same as the prices HoJo had, so we stayed at PPH to take advantage of the Magic Mornings you can take advantage of during your on-site stay. And we liked it! That was partially b/c we had figured out where we erred in getting to the parks. Dont' follow their signs; go out the front door instead, and go to the crosswalk, through GCH, and out into DCA if you choose, or out into DTD (about halfway through it) and to bag check and to the gates of Disneyland. Much quicker that way.

But the other reason was b/c we were massively upgraded to a suite. And that'll make ya like just about any stay.


Look at some maps, write down the special shortcut through GCH, look at pictures online, be realistic about it, and I'm sure you'll have a nice stay.

 

[toocherie]

Personally, I like the PPH better than Hojos or the DLH--my fave is of course the GCH (except for the price!)

The only issue I have with PPH is the elevators--if you are on a lower floor it can awful to get a down elevator --or they are all full when they get to you. (Hint--go up to go down!)

In fact, I'm staying at PPH tomorrow and Saturday!

 

[bumbershoot]

Personally, I like the PPH better than Hojos or the DLH--my fave is of course the GCH (except for the price!)

The only issue I have with PPH is the elevators--if you are on a lower floor it can awful to get a down elevator --or they are all full when they get to you. (Hint--go up to go down!)

In fact, I'm staying at PPH tomorrow and Saturday!

Well gosh Cheryl, you shoulda said something...we could have been rebels and stayed with AP pricing at PPH for the girls trip!

My advice for the elevators is...take the glass one off by itself. I avoided it after one trip in it on our first stay (I would go in the normal elevators whlie hubby and son would take the "fun" one), but during our December trip the regular elevators were making me batty, so I just turned my back on the "view" and enjoyed the fast ride.

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh I loved the glass elevator Molly, it was neat. And yes, I like the PPH very much. I've only been able to stay onsite twice, once at the GCH, once at the PPH, loved them both. Walk the way Molly (Bumbershoot) describes above, thru the GCH and it's not a long walk at all.

 

[toocherie]

Well gosh Cheryl, you shoulda said something...we could have been rebels and stayed with AP pricing at PPH for the girls trip!

My advice for the elevators is...take the glass one off by itself. I avoided it after one trip in it on our first stay (I would go in the normal elevators whlie hubby and son would take the "fun" one), but during our December trip the regular elevators were making me batty, so I just turned my back on the "view" and enjoyed the fast ride.

Were it not for the fact that everyone else is staying at Hojos I would have been sorely tempted--but didn't want to be left out of the on-site fun!

However, I must say that I am sorely tempted NEXT year to stay in one of the new DVC villas on points--at least one night of the girls' trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Were it not for the fact that everyone else is staying at Hojos I would have been sorely tempted--but didn't want to be left out of the on-site fun!

However, I must say that I am sorely tempted NEXT year to stay in one of the new DVC villas on points--at least one night of the girls' trip!

Well...I call roommate on THAT trip, too!




By the way, the glass elevator...if you are *severely* afraid of heights you might not want to do it. I'm sort medium-extra afraid of *falling*, so once I figured out to just look the other way I was OK, but I'm sure there are others with worse fears than mine who wouldn't even be able to hand the thought of it. So if you're like that, ignore my suggestion for the glass elevator. I don't want a panic attack blamed on me!

 

[toocherie]

Well...I call roommate on THAT trip, too!




By the way, the glass elevator...if you are *severely* afraid of heights you might not want to do it. I'm sort medium-extra afraid of *falling*, so once I figured out to just look the other way I was OK, but I'm sure there are others with worse fears than mine who wouldn't even be able to hand the thought of it. So if you're like that, ignore my suggestion for the glass elevator. I don't want a panic attack blamed on me!

No, actually I'm good with the glass elevator--doesn't both me. (Maliboomer and TOT bothers me!)

My Mom, on the other hand, would probably not do well--but since we will most likely be on a low floor (because she is disabled) it would be ok
anyway.

and you get first dibs on my roomie next year!! LOL actually Grizzbuzz (who you haven't met yet) and I were talking about we should pool some points and get a Grand Villa for at least one night (it holds 12)--I figured the opening night party would be a blast in one of those--especially if we had a view over DCA!!!!

 

[dizneygirlz3]

Hi, we just stayed there in Jan. for my DD's birthday. The service was great, check in was quick, and our room was ready at 12:30. For my DD birthday, she received a plush Mickey with cake and hat. It was a quick walk through the GCH, and sometimes we rode the monorail. My kids loved the pool, with the slide. We have stayed at all three, and other hotels through priceline, but the PPH was great. Enjoy, and have fun.....

 

[Disney_Villain]

We stayed at Paradise Pier (first time) last Halloween - and we loved it, using the Grand Cali's entrance to DCA.

We've usually stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, which is much closer to the Monorail - and has better pools and more amenities. Given a choice for cash or DVC reservation points stays, we would opt for the Disneyland Hotel over Paradise Pier in the future.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well...I call roommate on THAT trip, too!




By the way, the glass elevator...if you are *severely* afraid of heights you might not want to do it. I'm sort medium-extra afraid of *falling*, so once I figured out to just look the other way I was OK, but I'm sure there are others with worse fears than mine who wouldn't even be able to hand the thought of it. So if you're like that, ignore my suggestion for the glass elevator. I don't want a panic attack blamed on me!

I'm very afraid of heights and falling but I wasn't afraid of the glass elevator at all....it was weird but I think it was just because I wasn't looking down, I was looking at the lights. When I did start to freak out (only once) I just turned around and didn't look back, it worked for me.

 

[McCall]

Just as a side note:
Do you realize that PPH is the only hotel in the United states with a 13th Floor? I know I was on it.
Hotel was originally build by Japanese who do not care about such superstitions.

 

[bumbershoot]

But what's WEIRD is that it has a 4th floor, and it probably didn't have one when it was the Pan Pacific (or whatever it was called).

 

[pycees312]

Just as a side note:
Do you realize that PPH is the only hotel in the United states with a 13th Floor? I know I was on it.
Hotel was originally build by Japanese who do not care about such superstitions.

HA i had never noticed this until last year's trip in December. My son noticed and i said aww manybe it's just there but it does not stop lol lol!
Anyway I like the Pier granted it's the furthest hotel from the park but for the price it's a good deal( at least on AP rates) id never pay full price for any Disney hotel witch is why i own with DVC. Have fun you will enjoy it either way!

 

[pixiewings71]

Just as a side note:
Do you realize that PPH is the only hotel in the United states with a 13th Floor? I know I was on it.
Hotel was originally build by Japanese who do not care about such superstitions.

I did know this, we noticed it when we stayed there. We thought it was pretty cool and were bummed we weren't on the 13th floor.