Tell me about Paradise Pier Hotel

[jenbright]

We are looking at a Disney trip 12/15-12/19. We've never stayed on property (last stay was at Marriott Springhill Suites on Ball). I'd like to stay on property for the daily early entry option. Paradise Pier is nearly $1000 cheaper than DLH. From the posts I've been able to find it looks like walking from PPH to the park is about .5 miles which is about the same as the walk from Springhill Suites to the Tram. In Dec the pool is not a huge draw for us so not a factor in this equation. Aside from DLH being a shorter walk....I'd love to hear why you would choose DLH over PPH. Thanks Disney experts!

 

[MacMama0930]

I've stayed in all 3 onsite hotels. PPH has its pluses...one being larger rooms, which is great for families! It's also got a pretty neat vibe, with the whole beachy theme. The GCH is my favorite but mainly just for proximity purposes. I LOVE the DLH for the overall resort feeling you have while there. You're just not in the same Disney bubble being at PPH, IMO. The walk feels really long, too! The walk from DLH can feel long, too, but the monorail is a great option and depending on what tower you're in, you could be mere steps from DtD. Plus, the rooms are just special - with the light up head boards. I always saw some characters roaming around the grounds at DLH. If you can manage it, splurge on DLH.

By the way, I'll be there 12/16-19 yay!!

 

[BriannaRuth]

Mainly because the DLH just feels more "Disney." It's the original Disneyland hotel, whereas the PPH used to be another hotel chain and has a more generic feel to it. One of the biggest differences in "feel" is checking in. The DLH lobby looks a lot more Disney (like there are teacups for chairs) and just gives more of a "you've arrived" feeling. Characters are often present in the lobby. We've run into Goofy numerous times and this past month we were greeted by Chip (from Chip and Dale). There's a nice-sized Disney gift shop in the lobby as well.

The restaurants in the DLH are nicer than the restaurants at PPH. Both Steakhouse 55 and Goofy's Kitchen are on-site. Steakhouse 55 is also the location of the afternoon tea, if you're into that. And of course, there's Trader Sam's Tiki Bar, which is a must-do for us.

The walk is shorter, especially now that they moved security. Basically from the PPH you have to walk to the DLH to enter DTD and go through security. From the DLH, you're always in the Disney bubble, whereas from the PPH you're not.

Love the lights on the headboards.

The only thing the PPH does better in my view is the park view rooms. Views from the PPH into DCA are great if you pay for a park view. DLH only has pool views or DTD views for upgrades.

Also the DLH is just a more upscale hotel.

 

[Geemo]

We are looking at a Disney trip 12/15-12/19. We've never stayed on property (last stay was at Marriott Springhill Suites on Ball). I'd like to stay on property for the daily early entry option. Paradise Pier is nearly $1000 cheaper than DLH. From the posts I've been able to find it looks like walking from PPH to the park is about .5 miles which is about the same as the walk from Springhill Suites to the Tram. In Dec the pool is not a huge draw for us so not a factor in this equation. Aside from DLH being a shorter walk....I'd love to hear why you would choose DLH over PPH. Thanks Disney experts!

I have stayed at all three.
While each Disney hotel has it's +/- , the price difference is HUGE for you.
I really prefer the rooms at PPH. They seem brighter and larger than DLH.

I don't feel you'd be disappointed staying at PPH.

Geemo

 

[Mysteryincorp]

$1000 is a lot of money! There's nothing wrong with PPH, you have to walk a little farther than DLH but not much. It has Surf Up which is better than Goofys kitchen, in my opinion, it ALSO has a pretty large gift shop in the lobby and it has (or at least it did last year) a large Christmas tree right in the lobby that Santa visits through out the day.
If you are doing the on site hotel mainly for early entry , then save your $1000 and do PPH!

 

[jenbright]

Thanks everyone! Exactly the info I needed!

 

[Angrose]

I have stayed at DLH 3 times and PPH once. I was in your shoes last December. We had to get 2 rooms since there were 6 of us and there is just no way I could justify the added cost of DLH. Also, I figured that being in December we would not crave the cool DLH pools. I was right and PPH worked great for us. We were there before the security change so we were still able to walk thru GCH in the morning and back in the evenings. A few times we walked over by the DLH and grabbed the Monorail into the park. To be honest, the extra walk over to security by DLH is not a big deal. You can exit PPH out the back so it's a shorter walk. You will all be more energetic in the morning too, it's in the evenings when you will appreciate cutting through the Grand or even taking the monorail back.

Is DLH a nicer hotel? Yes. Will you enjoy PPH? You probably will, especially if you are using EMH. I do like DLH better, but I would stay at PPH again if I was in the same situation. I say go for it and save $1,000!!

 

[GeneralTso]

I think the upside is that it is officially a Disney property, so you get the perks of that.
It's still a long walk at the end of a long day, just like any hotel other than GC or DLH.

I think they've done as much with it as they can to inject some Disney "magic" but it still lacks.
The pool is really sad. Just, sad. Small and looks like a Holiday Inn pool.

If your family is on a tight budget but really wants a Disney property, this works. I think you get much more for your money at other hotels.

 

[Carey_B]

We stayed there in 2015 and had a great time, it was within budget and you get the Disney extras that staying onsite provide..
If we go back I'd like to stay at Grand Californian but the price difference is big so if Paradise Pier is more within your budget you won't regret staying there

 

[3monkeys4me]

We've also stayed at all 3 hotels and love them all for different reasons. When we go with the kids I like either PPH or DLH. The walk seems equally long from both locations for me. The monorail can be nice for the DLH but at times it is crowded and slow. Once during my stay at the DLH it was down for 2 of the days we were there so I don't consider the monorail to be a given, nice when available but not a big perk.

The last time we stayed at PPH we were upgraded to a theme park view room upon arrival. We watched WOC from our room a few times. No, it wasn't as good as in person, but still fun to view. The pool isn't as nice as the DLH either, but still very and fun for kids. For $1000 difference in price I would stay at the PPH no question.

 

[PatMcDuck]

i like PP very much, have stayed in all 3 DL properties. Like them ALL. I usually splurge on the PP premium view, I love looking at DCA especially after dark. Another option can be the PP club rooms. But PP is a nice hotel, I love it.

 

[Linkura]

Is the elevator situation at PPH as bad as I've sometimes heard, or is it exaggerated?

 

[CateinPhoenix]

Is the elevator situation at PPH as bad as I've sometimes heard, or is it exaggerated?

They installed new fancy-schmancy elevator controls and they are much better and we had no issues on our last visit.
If you want to stay Standard View, the Cabana rooms on the 3rd floor have patios. We like those as they seem to make the room even larger.

 

[StormyCA]

I've stayed at the DLH and DGC and have wanted to stay at PPH so I will have stayed at all three. But now that they've cut the shortcut through the Grand (inbound) I just don't know if it's worth it anymore just to say I've done it. I have an 'endurance-type' mobility challenge and even the additional steps to/from the DLH (vs the Grand) is noticeable for me, especially at night.

But BFF and I are actually considering using Uber or Lyft, at least for the morning! Pickup at the PPH Porte Cochere to drop off on Harbor would take probably less time than walking for us and would only be $5.15. Totally worth it.

 

[Linkura]

They installed new fancy-schmancy elevator controls and they are much better and we had no issues on our last visit.
If you want to stay Standard View, the Cabana rooms on the 3rd floor have patios. We like those as they seem to make the room even larger.

Ooooh, nice! Great news. Not staying there this trip but my husband likes the look of PPH the best of all the on-property hotels, so we may end up there in the future.

 

[l4dyj8]

We have stayed at all 3 but only once at DLH. We normally stay at PPH and only the others when there is a deal.

DLH grounds do have that resort and classic Disney feel. You are also next to the security entrance. This proximity may be the game changer since they closed the GCH front entrance to guests only. (If you have reservations to their restaurants, print and show to CM at the gate). I don't mind the walk, but going through PPH really was easy. It's not so much the distance but weaving through idle crowds.

But DLH rooms... I'm not sure if it was our room (inside near elevators). It was smaller and darker. The light up headboard is nice. The bathroom was small with the sink and closet located on the other side of the entrance hall. No counter space. Much of our luggage sat on the tile near the sink cause it didn't fit. The window was only at a smaller portion of the room. The room is wider than average but not as long. I believe this may be just our room location and I'm hoping our stay next month will be better. But it was just ok.

But I love DLH's grounds. A big plus if you are planning to not be at the parks for long periods and just want a break. We did this when we arrived on a block out day.

PPH is your standard size room and layout. But it's bright and cheery. My daughter loves it for it's beachside theme. If you don't get a view room, the other side isn't bad. You can watch a nice sunset. we've watched the fireworks and WOC from our room. The sound is played on the tv. The lobby isn't great but I'm not hanging out there. You can go to DLH for that

 

[jenbright]

Thanks for all the feedback! I pulled the trigger today and booked PPH.