Reassure me the Dobies won't be disappointed by the Paradise Pier!

[Dobie]

Ok, so the Dobies weren't going to get to take our annual trip to Disneyland this summer (tears) because we are sending Dobie Daughter to Japan for summer school and it is costing a WAD of money! But, just out of curiosity, I checked on the DL website and the Paradise Pier is listed for 4 nights for 1800 ish, with tickets, which the Dobies can just swing. We have enough miles to fly free on Alaska.

Dobie Husband says Book! Book! Book! but I am afraid that after staying at the Grand, we might be a bit disappointed with the PP.

Please reassure me that it will be lovely and magical! It would be our first daughterless Disney trip since the 80's.

 

[nana50]

Well, PP is no Grand but I've always enjoyed my stay there. The pool slide is fun and it's not nearly as crowded as the Grand. The rooms are nice and big and if you have Grand withdrawls, just hop over and enjoy the lobby, then return to your nice roomy room at PP.

 

[Dobie]

Thanks Nana! I love spending an afternoon at the Grand by the pool, but not for a thousand bucks!

 

[lapdwife]

A year ago, I'd have said yeah, you'll be disappointed. Since last fall, they've been doing a floor by floor minor renovation. There's fresh carpet and no more 80's bedspreads. It's not quite "classy" but close! I'm trying to remember which rooms to request--- I'll try to look through things and see if I can find it. We're staying a few nights this summer there so I'll need to remember anyhow. My only gripe with it now is the elevators. And yes- still spend time at Hearthstone and enjoy the Grand. We spend time in there all year long, regardless of if we're staying on property or not. Book! Book! Book!

 

[gardengirl2790]

Like others said above, it is not the GCH, but you are still at Disneyland. We really enjoyed our stay at PPH. My daughter loved the slide a lot, and watching the fireworks from the pool deck/roof. I would recommend earplugs if you get a room with a theme park view because these all face the road, and road noise did bother us a bit when we stayed there. Plus, we walked through the GCH every morning on our way to the Park, so we still were able to enjoy the ambiance of it. I would not hesitate to stay there again, and we also usually stay at the GCH now.

 

[Dobie]

Thanks everyone! I am starting to get a bit excited!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I love staying at the PPH......its bright & cheery.....to me the GCH is too dark. I have pics in my TR (down in my signature~~the Diva & 27th Anniversary).....go to the first post & look thru the index for the PPH picture pages.

We had a park view room that had been recently renovated. It was a big room, beds super comfy, great view of PP & we were able to watch the WoC from our room. (they have the music on the tv to enjoy the show)

California beach motif with cute lamps!

The staff here is very friendly. We didn't walk past one CM & not have someone say at least hello. We walked thru the Grand 2-4 times a day, stopping in the shops & looking around the hotel & very rarely had anyone say hello.

We're a more laid back family, so the PPH is a perfect fit for us.

 

[Dobie]

It sounds perfect!

 

[HydroGuy]

Ok, so the Dobies weren't going to get to take our annual trip to Disneyland this summer (tears) because we are sending Dobie Daughter to Japan for summer school and it is costing a WAD of money! But, just out of curiosity, I checked on the DL website and the Paradise Pier is listed for 4 nights for 1800 ish, with tickets, which the Dobies can just swing. We have enough miles to fly free on Alaska.

Dobie Husband says Book! Book! Book! but I am afraid that after staying at the Grand, we might be a bit disappointed with the PP.

Please reassure me that it will be lovely and magical! It would be our first daughterless Disney trip since the 80's.

OK, so I read your title and said "Wait! I thought there was no Disney this year for you!". Glad to hear it is back in the realm of the possible.

Not sure I can help you. We did PPH about 10 years ago when it was under construction and of course before the GCH was open. I guess philosophically I would just be glad to be going to DLR even if it was Best Western!

I hope it all works out and you get your dose of pixie dust this summer.

 

[jenpace]

PPH is actually my family's favorite of the 3 DLR hotels. For the longest time we (okay, I...) resisted the PPH thinking it would be a let-down after the DLH and especially the CGH but it turned out to be wonderful. As previously mentioned, the CMs at PPH seem to be even more friendly than the other two properties and the rooms are very comfortable. As for the walk, just walk out the front door of the hotel, cross the street and cut through the GCH lobby

 

[pixiewings71]

We've stayed at both, we loved both. I really liked the PPH for the view (we had a park view room) and the size, the staff was great and the hotel itself was fun. We didn't mind the walk (we just crossed and went thru the GCH) and altho the elevators were slow they were still fun. We had elevator races with our friends who went with us, those cracked us up...to watch the guys fly down the hallway after we got off the elevators (different elevators and they only ran during the day) was just too funny...anyway, we really enjoyed the PPH, we would absolutely stay there again!!

 

[bumbershoot]

PPH is our favorite DLR hotel as well! Big rooms, bright and cheery, with the smell of suntan lotion in the lobby.

Go out the FRONT doors (don't follow their signage!), go to the crosswalk and walk through the Grand to get to the parks...much shorter than following their signs (which take you alongside Disneyland Hotel and alllll the way through DTD). For me the lobby is the best part of the Grand, and I'm happy to pay PPH prices and then hang out in the Grand's lobby for a little bit.


And we always enjoy a late "oh the time flew and we're starving!" dinner at PCH Grill...

 

[marcemc]

The Dobies will love it

Our last stay there was august last year & we really enjoy it.

Don't forget to watch the fireworks from the rooftop pool , they play the music, just grab a chair, sip on your favorite drink & enjoy

 

[Sherry E]

I'm another PPH fan (and I've always had the rooms with the old bedspreads - I haven't had a refurbished room yet!). I like the actual PPH rooms much better than the GCH rooms, both in size and overall brightness. The thing that I love most about the GCH is the lobby/hearth area - and I enjoy that every time I go to DLR, even when I'm staying at the PPH.

The only thing is - the PPH is small. It does not have expansive grounds like the DLH or big, comfy places to sit like the GCH has. So once you wrap your mind around that (since you are accustomed to the GCH) and realize that the PPH is just not that big, I think you will enjoy it for what it is - a pleasant hotel with a cute sun/surf/beach theme (that sun is ever-present around the PPH) and bright, sunny rooms - and happy little bath products with Mickey ears in the bathrooms!

I was already a fan of the PPH before my trip last year, but in December I got a free upgrade to a DCA park view room and I couldn't get enough of it! I was riveted to the view. I watched the sunrise from the room. I watched all the people milling about in the Paradise Pier area. I could see the DCA Christmas tree and Ariel's Grotto. I had a great view of the GCH as well. I stood there at the window, grinning diabolically as the screams of terror from Mickey's Wheel of Death and California Screamin' traveled my way...It was great!! And at night, I could watch the backside of World of Color from the room.

I guess I have an occasional long wait for an elevator or two, but I don't think I encounter the same elevator situation that other people seem to encounter on a regular basis. Or if I have had that problem repeatedly, I guess I just didn't notice.

 

[Dobie]

Thanks everybody! I am reassured and starting to get VERY EXCITED!!!!

 

[thunderbird1]

In the last year we've stayed at DLH once and GCH twice and thought we'd be disappointed in the PPH, but were willing to give it a chance for the huge savings, and ended up loving it. In fact, we like it even more than the DLH, especially with the construction mess over there now.

PPH is closer to the parks than the DLH and, like others have said, if you want to spend some time hanging out at the GCH, just walk across the street. Rooms were big and bright and even though they don't have balconies, there are little balconies at the ends of the hallways where you can step outside and snap a photo or just take in the view of CA or the "mountains" of DL. The pool is small but was never crowded, and both my kids enjoyed the water slide.

The only caveat is they have a serious lack of food availability in the afternoons, so keep that in mind if you want to do the afternoon break. When we were there, the pool snack bar was not yet open for the season and none of the restaurants (including room service) were open until dinner. There was a limited menu available in the lounge, but if you plan ahead it would be better to either walk to DTD or even over to the GCH to Storyteller's or Whitewater Snacks.

Enjoy your trip!