Standard View at GCH or Premium View at PP?

[herb102211]

DH and I are taking out first trip to DL at the end of May for 3 nights. I had originally booked a standard view room at the GCH. With the new discounts DL released for the premium view rooms, I can get a premium view room at PP for $160 less per night than my standard room at GCH. We will be in the parks for a majority of the day, so I’m wondering if we should switch resorts and save the extra $$ for things in the parks. Thanks!

 

[whoever]

Up to you if the extra distance to walk, increased room size, less cost, and the bummer of not staying at the Grand is worth the difference. I think for you based upon your statements that PP is probably the better choice.

 

[disneyfirsttimer18]

I would switch in a second.

We stayed at DLH on our first trip and started planning our second trip while still on property. We said we would stay at GCH then. After looking at prices, we are staying at PPH. Guaranteed good view in a room that will work for us at PPH for significantly less than a crap-shoot at GCH.

You will get a ton of different opinions on this, but that is mine.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

PPH gets a bum rap from a lot of people. It is not any longer of a walk from the DLH (as long as you cut thru the Grand), and the premium views are the most awesome of any of the hotels. I would switch to the PPH in a heartbeat! Plus the character breakfast is my favorite in all of Disneyland (and Disneyworld actually!)

 

[Xenorye]

I haven't stayed at the Grand, but I am staying at PP for the second time in a premium view room this September. The view is really stunning. And $160 less per night is going to add up quick!

 

[DisneyJewel]

Premium view at PPH for sure! We just got back from a wonderful stay at the PPH in the Premium View rooms. The view is fabulous. Really lovely when you are in the room, day or night. You can also watch World of Color (music is simulcast on the TV).

I have stayed in the Grand standard view rooms, and I would pick the PPH over them in a minute, even without that savings. The PPH rooms are roomy -- we found the Grand rooms small and dark. We just crossed the street and went through the Grand to enter the parks (either coming out in DTD by Sephora, or taking the entrance near Grizzly River Run, which all onsite hotel guests can use).

Have fun!

DH and I are taking out first trip to DL at the end of May for 3 nights. I had originally booked a standard view room at the GCH. With the new discounts DL released for the premium view rooms, I can get a premium view room at PP for $160 less per night than my standard room at GCH. We will be in the parks for a majority of the day, so I’m wondering if we should switch resorts and save the extra $$ for things in the parks. Thanks!

 

[lorijohnhill]

I was not a fan of the PPH, but that being said, the view was AWESOME! In my experience, you get a higher level of service at GCH, but if you are more just using it as a place to sleep with a great view, the PPH would be fine.

 

[aceskyjump]

Premium view at PPH for sure! We just got back from a wonderful stay at the PPH in the Premium View rooms. The view is fabulous. Really lovely when you are in the room, day or night. You can also watch World of Color (music is simulcast on the TV).

Yep!

Stayed concierge last fall at PP. Love all the DLR Hotels, but this was our fav. Staying standard or non-view at PP is not quite as great... but seeing WOC from the upper level view room is pretty spectacular. BTW, I think the concierge service at PP is the best kept secret of the DL properties.

 

[ParkHopper1]

PPH premium rooms have the best views of all the three resort hotels in my opinion. You look right over Paradise Bay into DCA and Carsland.

Would I switch? That all depends on what is important to you. For me, my priority is proximity. I prefer being close to the parks over a view which is why I love the Grand. The ability to hop back in the room at a whim and change clothes or take a quick break is what makes the Grand so valuable to me. If looking out your window and having a great view helps to keep you feeling like you are on vacation...then the PPH may be the way to go.

Also...how much of an impact is that $160 a night to your bottom line. If the money is not an issue, the Grand is an experience upon itself. The rooms are smaller but from someone that stays in hotels literally weekly I am completely relaxed in the rooms with the atmosphere at the Grand. The PPH is my second go to hotel, even over the DLH (again, proximity) and it is nice but it does feel like just another hotel room to me. If that $160 a day is something that you have to think twice about, the PPH may be the way to go and spend that money on character meals, nicer table service restaurants and tours...things that will make you trip that much better.

Prioritize this list of what is important to YOU in a hotel stay and we can help ya make that decision:

Room Price
Being close to the parks
Service
Atmosphere
Pools
View
Room Size
Remaining in the Disney "bubble"
Concierge lounge
Restaurant access
DTD access
Noise
Balcony
Fresh Air/Openable Windows

 

[Malcon10t]

Me? I would go with PPH. I keep laughing at myself because I keep trying to like the Grand! I prefer the DLH, but PPH is a good back up. I LOVE the view. Next weekend, I am staying at the Grand (got a killer deal) We will see. BUT, the PPH.. For $160 a night, is it worth a 5 min further walk? Will you prefer the larger room? There is less atmosphere, but if you like the ambience of the lobby, hang out there on your way back for a while. Stop at Hearthstone for a drink. Enjoy it at the cheaper price, and then head to your room and watch WOC or just watch the park!

Negative of PPH? The elevators. They really are the worst.

 

[ParkHopper1]

Negative of PPH? The elevators. They really are the worst.

Agreed!

Tip: When the PPH lobby is jammed with people trying to get up to their rooms, take the staircase to the second floor and catch an elevator there...MUCH quicker!

 

[JillShari]

We just stayed at PPH for our trip in March. We did like our hotel and the view of the WOC from our premium view room was really great since we had kids who barely made it awake for the show. We walked through the GCH everytime we went to the parks... and both my kids kept asking why we didn't stay there instead! I think the atmosphere of the PPH is more in line with a regular hotel and the GCH seems more like a Disney World resort hotel. The convenience of being so close would make me choose it if we ever went again. I know they were booked back in March when I was looking, hence our choice of the PPH with a premium view because of the discount on the room, we splurged a tiny bit on having the view. We did enjoy it!

 

[beachdreamr1229]

PPH premium rooms have amazing views. I would pick that, for sure. I've never stayed at GCH because my family needs larger rooms, but from what I gather, the standard view at GCH just isn't anything special. I know PPH gets a bad wrap, but it's actually a very nice hotel and starting to become my favorite.

 

[Xenorye]

Are the rooms at the Grand really that much smaller? I'm surprised that nearly everyone mentions this who has stayed at both.

 

[ldarcy]

DH and I are taking out first trip to DL at the end of May for 3 nights. I had originally booked a standard view room at the GCH. With the new discounts DL released for the premium view rooms, I can get a premium view room at PP for $160 less per night than my standard room at GCH. We will be in the parks for a majority of the day, so I’m wondering if we should switch resorts and save the extra $$ for things in the parks. Thanks!

When I was a travel agent, I used to get what were supposed to be fabulous upgrades to premium rooms at Disney & I always thought, "I'm really glad I'm not paying for this because I'd be cheesed off." I find that the premium room-with-a-view rooms are never worth the extra money. The view is rarely what it's billed to be & you don't spend enough time in the room to make it worth your while, anyway. I even had a castle view room in WDW & my mom & I laughed our rears off. The a/c fogged the windows so badly you couldn't see out & when we wiped them the castle was so small we felt obligated to take one of those photos where it looks like you're balancing a thimble on your hand. That all said, value really is a personal decision.

 

[Malcon10t]

Yes, but according to Disney's site, the Paradise Pier and GCH are the same size, with DLH rooms being about 60sf larger. I don't believe this, so once again, will be packing my tape measure.

Idarcy, the premium view rooms are great at the PPH.

Premium View at PPH

Premium view at GCH

 

[Xenorye]

This is a view from our PPH Premium View room with no zoom or enhancements. I think it was taken with my Nokia Lumia 920.

 

[wench]

For me, I would stick with GCH. Proximity to the parks is way more important to me. And I'm in the room so little, the views don't mean much.

 

[TLPL]

Can someone tell me what the PPH standard room view look like? Are they all on the other side of the building? Any pool view or anything else? Thanks.

 

[ldarcy]

[QUOTE="Malcon10t, post: 53476274, member: 107904"
Idarcy, the premium view rooms are great at the PPH.

[/QUOTE]

Those pics are awesome! I would have to agree that paying a premium for that room view just might be worth it! Thank you for sharing those.