Walk from PPH to entrances....and other misc Q&A :)

[Indiana Scott]

I enjoy Nemo and it's one of the few rides left in the park that Walt had a hand in. It won't be around forever so I suggest you ride it while you can.

 

[Aladora]

I enjoy Nemo and it's one of the few rides left in the park that Walt had a hand in. It won't be around forever so I suggest you ride it while you can.

There are a few attractions that were there when DL opened and are still there today.

Opening Day Attractions (July 17, 1955)

• Autopia
• Disneyland Band
• Disneyland Railroad Main Street Station
• Disneyland Railroad New Orleans Square Station
• Jungle Cruise
• King Arthur Carrousel
• Mad Tea Party
• Main Street Cinema
• Mark Twain Riverboat
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Snow White's Scary Adventures
• Storybook Land Canal Boats

 

[NiceOneSimba]

I just read that there is an Observation Room for the Nemo ride for people who have trouble getting in and out of the submarine. Has anyone done this? I am wondering if you have to wait in line for this as well, and if they will allow people who aren't physically challenged.

We did this on one of our trips with my mom, who uses an ECV in the parks. You just have to tell the CMs near the entrance that you want the "alternate experience." They led us to an air-conditioned room with a bench across the back and a large open floor space, with a huge video screen. They got us in, pressed a start button, and a high-resolution video of the experience started playing on the screen. It was perfect for our family--I'm pretty sure my DD thought it was a real submarine, and my mom didn't have to try to go up and down the staircase on the subs. (I will admit, I kind of love the claustrophobic little subs, and I didn't think it was quite as cool as the actual subs...but it was the right experience for that trip.)

I would think they'd let you do the alternate experience even if you didn't have a physical disability. How would they know if you were extremely claustrophobic just by looking at you? I'm sure they'd rather have people do the alternate experience than freak out on one of the subs!

That said--this was before the start of the DAS pass. I have no idea if this experience now requires a return time or not. I'd be prepared that you may have to get a return time. Then if you don't, it's a happy surprise.

 

[Sherry E]

I'm considering a split stay at PPH Theme Park View for 2 nights then moving to DLH for 5 nights ( already confirmed) - having never stayed at PPH but hearing great things on the boards - why do you like it ?
How is it at holiday time ?
We've done the walk from Frontier Tower to GCH many times which is similar to the PPH-GCH walkway and I too love that walk !

Sorry to hijack this is just our last Disney trip probably for a year or two and now I have questions lol.

The DCA view (from the PPH rooms that offer it) is fantastic. That adds a whole extra element of Disney magic to the trip.

I've stayed at all 3 of the hotels at DLR and I like all of them for different reasons, but I like the bright, cheery feel of the PPH, and I like that the rooms have some space to move around and set things down on the floor. I like the Mickey icons in the white bedding. The beds are pretty comfortable. There's a good bit of room in the closet. The mini-fridge holds quite a few water bottles. The daybed/pull-out bed comes in handy if you need it. I like the beachy/sun/surf touches around the rooms and hallways.

During the holidays, the tree in the PPH lobby is a gorgeous color -- a glowing blue-greenish shade. I could do without some of the clunky oceanic ornaments and knick knacks on it and around it, but the color is lovely. Carolers perform there and Santa visits as well (just like at the other 2 hotels), but it doesn't feel as Christmasy as the GCH does (the gingerbread creations at the GCH help!). The walk out the front of the PPH and across the street to the GCH is nice, as you can see the "reindeer" that are stationed at the drive-up/walk-up path to the GCH (only during the holidays, of course). I especially like that walk through DTD and back through the GCH and on to the PPH during the holidays, because I feel like I am getting a good dose of holiday cheer from many places -- music and lights in DTD, merriment in the GCH lobby and then the lovely sea-themed tree at the PPH.

The little snack bar downstairs -- Surfside Lounge -- is adequate. It's overpriced, as one would expect, but it has a decent array of beverages, snacks and sandwiches.

I tried PPH room service. While it is convenient, it was way too costly and the food was not great. However, the gentleman who brought the food up to my room was delightful and so friendly. Even the housekeeping/mousekeeping people I ran into in the hallway were cheerful and quick with a smile (maybe because I was tipping them, but still...).


Also, one of the parking guys at the PPH is so friendly and helpful. I think his name is Robert?? I know that I am not the only one who noticed that he was especially helpful -- I remember another DIS'er or two mentioning him as well.

Overall, I just get a good feeling from staying there. Its not that I dislike the other 2 hotels -- I love them too -- but the PPH has served me well and it is more than sufficient. It's not really worth the non-discounted rack rate, but I'm not sure that any of the 3 hotels at DLR are worth the rack rates.

Have you been following our Theme Week Countdown in the Christmas/Holiday Season Superthread? This week (from this past Monday through this upcoming Sunday night) is Hotels of the Disneyland Resort and Downtown Disney Week, so there have been some photos of the PPH posted so far.

 

[Astylla]

Thank you Sherry as ALWAYS for your valuable insight. I ended up booking PPH Club Level Theme Park view for our first 2 nights since we get in Saturday afternoon and probably will just want to sit and relax overall. I actually religiously checking for the rest of our stay with the AP rate now so we don't have to change hotels, however even if we do it's just to DLH

As this is our end of year, "this year can just die" trip, I figured why not . I've been fighting with workman's comp almost 2 years, had to sell our car back under lemon law and stress from both our jobs I I was just ready to do something new. I couldn't afford or justify GCH, that's saved for a Dapper Day rate LOL.

I try to keep up with the Holiday thread but I've been absolutely exhausted this week.