Villas at the Grand Californian booked? Stay at Disney's Paradise Pier!

[SpaceMountain77]

Have you struggled to book a deluxe studio at VGC 7-months out? Have you waited for a VGC waitlist that never came through? Did you know that during select weeks you can visit the Disneyland Resort and stay at a deluxe hotel for less points? It's true!

Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is available through the Disney Collection and is 1 point less per night than a deluxe studio at VGC during select weeks. Moreover, there are no booking fees!

Looking forward to taking advantage of this offering in August!

 

[lchute1158]

Have you struggled to book a deluxe studio at VGC 7-months out? Have you waited for a VGC waitlist that never came through? Did you know that during select weeks you can visit the Disneyland Resort and stay at a deluxe hotel for less points? It's true!

Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel is available through the Disney Collection and is 1 point less per night than a deluxe studio at VGC during select weeks. Moreover, there are no booking fees!

Looking forward to taking advantage of this offering in August!

Good to know! I used points for a stay at Disney land hotel as vgc was book and the wait list didn't pan out

 

[DebbieB]

I've stayed at PPH on points, it's nice. When my VGC waitlist for an extra night did not come through last September, we moved there for the last night.

One thing to remember is if you book PPH on points, the points become reservation points so they cannot be used for VGC if the waitlist comes through. They also cannot be banked if cancelled.

 

[tjkraz]

Costs are cheaper for Paradise Pier because it's more on par with WDW's "Moderate" class hotels. Definitely a step down from the Grand Californian.

Building was originally constructed by developers outside of TWDC. Disney bought it in the mid-90s. It's a nice hotel with some newer Disney touches. It has a character meal and you do get Early Entry at the parks. But cosmetically it's nothing like the hotels Disney has custom designed over the last several decades. It's more of a standard 80s-style hotel with a few hidden mickeys.

But it's certainly better than having to cancel a trip.

 

[Greysword]

Just to reiterate, the PPH is part of the Disney Collection, so resale point owners need to determine if they are able to trade in. One of two main reasons to buy direct.

 

[bumbershoot]

Costs are cheaper for Paradise Pier because it's more on par with WDW's "Moderate" class hotels. Definitely a step down from the Grand Californian.

Steps down and up are in the eyes of the beholder. We adore PPH, and wouldn't stay at the Grand again if we have any say in the matter (which we do). the rooms are BIG and bright and cheery, vs the Grand's dark, small, gloomy rooms. I've had great interactions with the PPH staff, while the Grand's staff left a fork on the floor for an entire day during our stay, and then later I thought it was moved but it was only put on a hallway table. For another day.

For my family, the only good part of the Grand is the lobby, and that's open to everyone. It doesn't feel deluxe, it feels huge and dark and almost sad to us (except it does have a place in our hearts because DH got the "you got the job" call while in the lobby there, after spending half our pre-planned vacation there having phone interviews in any quiet place he could find). If you get the wrong room, your son will have blue lips and be shivering like crazy by the time he goes from Grizzly River Run alllllll the way to your room. It was literally as far from the esplanade to our room as it would have been from the esplanade to the HoJo on Harbor. That's NOT deluxe to me.


But others have had great luck with rooms, don't like a bright room, and don't mind the Grand! To them it feels great. Not to us. But my blanket statement is that there aren't blanket statements when it comes to hotels, because everyone has different tastes.

 

[Breyean]

We used points a couple of years ago to stay at PPH. We had just bought our VGC points but by the time our name came up on the wait list there were no rooms there.

The PPH rooms are surprisingly big and bright.

Two things to watch for:

1. The elevator. SLOW and crowded. We took the stairs most mornings because being on the 4th floor, by the time the down elevator got to us, it was full.

2. Watch where your room is. As I said, we were on the 4th floor, overlooking the pool. I think there might have been cabanas or something on the landing below us. It was VERY noisy well into the early morning hours. Since the pool is on, I think, the 3rd floor, we could literally look out and see the people out there. So during the day we had to have the curtains shut; during the night it was very loud. But that was only an issue because of the room location. If we had been just about anywhere else we would have liked it a lot better.

 

[tjkraz]

Steps down and up are in the eyes of the beholder. We adore PPH, and wouldn't stay at the Grand again if we have any say in the matter (which we do).

That's certainly your prerogative and I didn't mean to suggest that the Grand Californian was a better option for all. Individuals will certainly apply their own subjective standards.

But objectively, PP is a "moderate" to the Grand Cal's "deluxe." In terms of resort amenities (pool area, selection of restaurants, private entrance to DCA, World of Color viewing deck) and in-room amenities (balconies in all rooms, bath robes, dedicated kitchenette in DVC Studios), VGC has many tangible advantages over PP.

 

[cseca]

Yeah I remember the elevators were pretty bad at PPH but the room was fine.

 

[DebbieB]

I agree that it is a small "step down" from GCH but I don't think all the way down to a moderate. A Disney World moderate has outside doors, window AC (except CSR). PPH has inside corridors, central air, decent size rooms.

I don't think a moderate has this view:

 

[tjkraz]

I agree that it is a small "step down" from GCH but I don't think all the way down to a moderate. A Disney World moderate has outside doors, window AC (except CSR). PPH has inside corridors, central air, decent size rooms.

True, it isn't an exact comparison. For instance, even WDW Moderates have more impressive pools than this:

I don't think a moderate has this view:

No, but OP isn't paying for a theme park view for one point less than a VGF Studio.

In fact, it appears OP was able to benefit from some seasonal variances between the DVC and Disney Collection charts. On the DVC charts, the entire month of August is in pricey Magic Season. On the Reservation Point charts for PP, DLH and GC, Value Season begins on Aug 25.

Prior to Aug 25, the Paradise Pier room would cost up to 33 points per weeknight for a Standard View or 42 for a Theme Park View. The VGC Studio is 26 pts per weeknight on those same dates.

 

[dmunsil]

It's worth noting that the reservation points charts for DL hotels is tied to rack rates, at about $9.50 per point for most rooms most of the time (which is more like $11 with the room taxes applied). So if the point cost is low, the cash price will also be low at that time. And if you can get a discount on the room, such as the Orbitz or CheapTickets rate specials currently on MouseSavers, then you can get the rooms even cheaper.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Yes, it is true that I booked a standard view room for the last week of August, beginning on the 25th.

Honestly, I never thought my post would spark so much debate. It was my intent to share our recent discovery and possibly help other members with DLR booking.

I lived in Los Angeles for several years and made numerous trips to the Disneyland Resort as a premium annual passholder. All of my on-property hotel stays have been at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel and I am thrilled to be returning in August.

Regarding the view, a standard view could be a theme park view. The rooms on the north side of the hotel face DCA and, specifically, Paradise Pier whereas the rooms on the south side face the pool and city. Like BLT, the higher level floors are considered theme park while the lower level are standard. My standard view rooms have always faced California Screamin' and Goofy's Sky School (previously Mulholland Madness). While BLT guests have Cinderella's Castle as a nightlight, Mickey's Fun Wheel has always been our night light at Paradise Pier. If given the choice, I would would pick regular stays at Paradise Pier over the Grand Californian.

Although I am partial to Paradise Pier, locals know the true flagship DLR resort is the Disneyland Hotel. A monorail station pool side. Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. Tangaroa Terrace. Buildings themed to Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Frontierland. A scale model of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the lobby of Frontier Tower. And, finally, a fiber-optic fireworks display in the headboard that plays a A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'm in a similar situation and am trying to get a studio for July 12-15. Of course, everything is booked even at seven months out. What are my odds of it coming through?

 

[msabol01]

Just to reiterate, the PPH is part of the Disney Collection, so resale point owners need to determine if they are able to trade in. One of two main reasons to buy direct.

Just curious, what's main reason number 2?

 

[vek239]

Do the rooms at PP or DLH work for a family of 5 (2 adults; 3 kids)?

 

[SpaceMountain77]

Do the rooms at PP or DLH work for a family of 5 (2 adults; 3 kids)?

Although I cannot speak to the Disneyland Hotel, I know that Paradise Pier has 2 queen beds and 1 day bed. Personally, I would recommend Paradise Pier for a family of five.

Also, I am thrilled to see my post resurrected!

 

[vek239]

We just returned from a stay at VGC and enjoyed it so much we'd like to take all the "kids" and grandkids. I know that getting two 2-bdrms at 7 months can get tough so I'm trying to work out a back-up plan. Thanks for the info!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Isn't there a fee we have to pay for doing this?