Which hotel is best for us?

[ahill004]

First time to DL! We are trying to decide which hotel works best for us. We are only going for a few days and then heading down to San Diego so we want to stay in one of the three Disney hotels. The GC looks great and my husband and I are a bit picky about hotel rooms... but I read that the pools are better at one of the other hotels?! We have two little girls (4 and 6) who definitely want to spend some time at the pools but most of the time in the parks. Please let me know which hotel you would choose!!!!

 

[nana50]

The pool at Paradise Pier is great. They have a big waterslide. PP is a nice hotel but a bit of a walk and not a lot of Disney "magic". However with little ones I like the regular Disney hotel.Their pool is fabulous. A nice shallow end and a real little slide for little kids. I can't afford the GCH so I can't comment.

 

[rentayenta]

PPH. My kids LOVE it there. If we didn't own DVC, we'd stay at the PPH. I love the Disney/beach theme. The rooms are spacious and clean too.

 

[VallCopen]

The Grand is nice and has 3 pools, the rooms are dark but that is the decor and I personally like it, but it is pricey, and if you want a Park view you will pay for it too. It is very close to Downtown Disney which is great to walk around at in the evening. I love this Hotel the most if I have the $$$$.

The Pier is bright and clean, coast type theme, and there is one pool with a water slide that is seperate from the pool, one of those like the big water parks have that just ends and you climb out. The rooms are much more reasonable and for not much more you can get a Paradise Pier view room. The walk is a bit further but honestly it is just across the street and about a half a block to the Grand Hotel entrance and you can still use the special entrance to California Adventure at the Grand Hotel if you stay at the Pier. This is my second favorite and the cheapest of the 3 on site-hotels.

Disneyland Hotel is the best Disney themed Hotel by far. It has one pool, if I remember right, but its theme is great too. Some of the rooms have been refurb and I have heard they are great but I believe the ones done now are only the Park View rooms, but I am not positive. The Hotel really isn't, in my opinion, any closer to the parks than the Pier but it is right on the end of Downtown Disney. The prices are just a little more than the Pier, although the Park View is a bit more of a difference but still it is not to expensive compared to the Grand. Certainly the best Disney theme....

You can't go wrong, usually, with Disney Hotels, although some people have had some strong opinions or experiences that swayed them on future stays. For me we have enjoyed all our stays, but Disneyland Hotel was prob. my least favorite because I couldn't afford a view room and got a really bad location, but if I could afford to do the new refurbished Park View rooms this might be my choice with two young ones.

 

[bumbershoot]

Are the kids strong swimmers?

If the kids are not, will seeing Really Cool Slides without being able to use them mess up their fun?

If it will, of the Disney hotels, go with PPH. PPH's slide doesn't empty into the pool, so there's more leeway in who can go on it. The other pool slides empty into the pools, and you canNOT have someone waiting at the bottom, canNOT wear a flotation device, and the sliders must be able to swim away from the slide *immediately*.

For DS's 5th b'day we stayed at DLH, and the pool was a bit of a disappointment. Can't climb on the pirate ship (or even touch it), can't slide on the big slide...no fun! He did get over it and have fun on the tiny slide, but that's a bit crazy for the *parents* waiting at the bottom, jockeying into position as your own kid comes down, etc etc.

By far our best hotel experiences onsite at Disneyland have been at PPH. Bigger rooms, basic pool that works for a littler kid, etc. Plus, they pump the smell of suntan lotion into the lobby area.

Coolest part of DLH was the grounds, and the remote control jungle cruise boats...but you can (pay to) drive those without staying there!

 

[ahill004]

Thanks for all the information! My girls are both good swimmers but bumbershoot - you made a great point. My girls and I saw pictures of the pirate ship and we were excited because we thought they could play on/in it.

Does anyone know how big of a difference it makes that the Grand has the separate entrance to one of the parks?
Also, are all three hotels CRAZY crowded in July? I'm guessing that is a dumb question bc I'm sure it is prime season for DLR but I had to ask!

 

[leazel]

I've stayed at the PPH & DLH, and I prefer the PPH. The rooms are slightly larger and my kids loved the glass elevator. We had issue's with the pool over at DLH, I wasn't able to let my son go down the slide by himself. It was just he & I and I couldn't be in two places at once. On top of the stair w/him or at the bottom of the slide. Also, DLH has some crazy low shower heads.
As to how busy the hotels are in the summer, I don't know. I'll find out myself in July. We, usually go in the Spring and it's not too bad.

 

[daneenm]

We love the GCH, mostly because we feel the rooms are nicer across the board than DLH. Having said that, we have not stayed in one of the refurbished rooms at DLH, which we have heard are quite nice.

We were disappointed in the pool at the DLH because it was so very crowded EVERY time we tried to use it. No chairs could be found unless you spent time stalking people who were leaving. The hot tub was cold (we understand because a parent complained about it being too hot for their small children) and children were using it as a playground, despite the signs prohibiting that. I have children and am all for them having fun, but I do expect them to follow the posted rules, but it seems I am in the minority at least at the DLH pool.

My children have always had fun in the pool at the GCH. No fake pirate ships around but they do have a big slide and a small slide depending on swimming ability. We have almost always been able to find seating and the hot tub has truly been hot when we have used it.

Our new favorite room at the GCH is a DTD view, where you can watch the fireworks and listen to the music piped in to your room!

We have not stayed at the PPH so I cannot compare that one.

 

[disney-super-mom]

Thanks for all the information! My girls are both good swimmers but bumbershoot - you made a great point. My girls and I saw pictures of the pirate ship and we were excited because we thought they could play on/in it.

Does anyone know how big of a difference it makes that the Grand has the separate entrance to one of the parks?
Also, are all three hotels CRAZY crowded in July? I'm guessing that is a dumb question bc I'm sure it is prime season for DLR but I had to ask!

Guests at any of the Disney owned hotels can use the private entrance to California Adventure (located in the Grand Californian hotel) during the morning hours. All you need to do is show them your Disney hotel room key card and themepark tickets to gain entrance. If you have a bag, they will do a bag search as well.

After the busy morning hours, just about anyone is allowed to use the private entrance, whether they are a guest at one of the Disney hotels or not.

In July, the Disney hotels will be busy. Not Christmas/New Years or Spring Break crazy crowded busy.....but they will be busy.

 

[krash2501]

The Separate entrance can be used by anyone staying at any of the 3 Disneyland hotels. All you need is your room key card. Using this gate you can get to the back part of DCA and most people run right to TSMM and it gets you there faster then the people at the main entrance, but the rope drop is at the same time. Some times they let people on Soring earlyer then rope drop but it never happend durring my stay.

Also not mentioned is that PPH has a kids area down by the lobby where kids can play games and watch disney movies. My 2 girls 4 and 2 loved it.