Paradise Piers or Disneyland Hotel???

[soozaay]

Ok, the points for a standard view at either hotel (Paradise Piers or Disneyland Hotel) is only a difference of 1 point....in your honest opinion, which would you choose to stay at for 2 nights (there will be 4 adults and a 2 yr old...walking not an issue for any of us). :sherlock:

Thanks!

[mickeycrazy]

My personal preference would be for the DL Hotel. I haven't stayed at PP, but the DLH just has a nostalgia factor and is very Disney. It also has a super cool pool! Good luck with your decision, I'm sure either way it will be a great trip!

[soozaay]

thanks!!! very disney is very good!!:yes:

[AFMom]

We loved PP - but the pool at DLH is amazing - and it's more kid oriented/more classic Disney. You'll feel like you're staying in the park there.
Have fun!

[carolina_yankee]

We've staye at DLH twice and really enjoyed it. Just wandered through the lobby of Paradise Pier once. I think you'll enjoy DLH more, and certainly your 2 y.o would, for all of the reasons listed above.

When you book and when you check in, request Sierra Tower. I think the views are considered resort (looking into the grounds) or Downtown Disney. These are listed as higher poins on the DVC charts, but we've been put their twice, both with Downtown Disney (and thus glimpses of California Adventure and the DL mountains) even though we booked standard view. I think they try to take good care of DVC members.

Dirk

[ghost1000]

When you book and when you check in, request Sierra Tower. I think the views are considered resort (looking into the grounds) or Downtown Disney. These are listed as higher poins on the DVC charts, but we've been put their twice, both with Downtown Disney (and thus glimpses of California Adventure and the DL mountains) even though we booked standard view. I think they try to take good care of DVC members.


The towers have been renamed. Two of the new towers are Magic and Dreams. I don't know the name of the third tower.

Personally I don't like the lack of themeing at the Disneyland Hotel. I would prefer to stay at Paradise Pier, but that's just me.

[ghost1000]

I just found this on All Ears Net (http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/acc/faq_dlh.htm):

The Dreams Tower (formerly the Sierra Tower) is closest to Downtown Disney and the theme parks. Most of the rooms are considered "view" rooms, with a view of either the pool area or Downtown Disney and the parks. All of the 79 concierge rooms are located in the Dreams Tower, as are the Mickey Penthouse and the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite.

The Magic Tower (formerly the Marina Tower) is the "main" tower, with the lobby and gift shops located on its first floor. Standard view rooms look over the hotel entrance towards the convention center and parking lot, while view rooms look over the Never Land Pool area.

The Wonder Tower (formerly the Bonita Tower) is the furthest away from the Never Land Pool and the parks. Standard view rooms overlook the parking lot, while view rooms overlook the waterfall/grotto area.

[soozaay]

thanks dirk & rita! i spoke with my sister, and we're probably going to share a room at dlh. i've heard that we would be able to stay comfortably there and it's only for 2 nights.

thanks again for all of the great info!

[Pumpkinboy]

OK, so this is just my bias, but between the two, I'd go for the one with the Peter Pan Pool (DLH). Sure DLH may lack theming in the rooms, but you just can't argue with the Peter Pan Pool! PPH does have the awesome Japanese restaurant in the lobby (American customers go there for Sushi, but the Japanese customers all order the Beef!). But PPH's pool cannot compare in the theming department.

Of course, I'd take GCH over either DLH or PPH, any day, but the points are higher, I believe. But since GCH is of the table, all we need to remember is the three words: Peter Pan Pool!:Peterpan:

[Colorado Belle]

I was just there last month, and because it was a weekend night couldn't justify the points.
But location wise, I'd take the DLH anyday, even if not only for the nostalgia.
Didn't check out the pool area, but it sounds really nice. Maybe next time I visit, it won't be on a weekend!!!! (We stayed on Harbor at about $80 for a Friday night motel room and found it was closer to walk to the main entrance plaza, esp than from PP)

[ghost1000]

We're not pool people, but I do admit that the Neverland Pool is the best. I wonder if you can pool hop at Disneyland Resort if you're staying in one of the Disney hotels. I know you can reuse your refillable mugs, and get them filled at any of the hotels.

[soozaay]

I was just there last month, and because it was a weekend night couldn't justify the points.
But location wise, I'd take the DLH anyday, even if not only for the nostalgia.
Didn't check out the pool area, but it sounds really nice. Maybe next time I visit, it won't be on a weekend!!!! (We stayed on Harbor at about $80 for a Friday night motel room and found it was closer to walk to the main entrance plaza, esp than from PP)

Thanks CB! I wouldn't spend the points to stay at DLH on a weekend either. At least during the week it's a little more on the normal range. The hotel price normally is $260 per night, which I couldn't see paying when I have points to use.

[carolina_yankee]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][SIZE="3"][COLOR="OrangeRed"]OK, so this is just my bias, but between the two, I'd go for the one with the Peter Pan Pool (DLH). Sure DLH may lack theming in the rooms, but you just can't argue with the Peter Pan Pool!
I think the DLH rooms do have theming but they are accents to a general hotel-style room. The Herb Ryman drawings of Disneyland on the armoires are nice, as are the bedspreads with scenes from various attractions screened on, plus the whimsical Mickey hands holding the light fixtures on the bathrooms. Retro-fitting - sure - but fun. (I didn't talk about the Pixie Dust wallpaper border that's supposed to glow because, well, it didn't)

http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/85047575_AvAHi-S.jpg

http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/85047697_x4Pvs-S.jpg

http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/85047725_YyCZB-S.jpg

And Downtown Disney view from our room
http://carolinayankee.smugmug.com/photos/85048450_YnYga-S.jpg

Dirk

[soozaay]

Dirk
I love love love the wall sconces!!!! And that view! NNIIIICCCEEE!!!

[scy3000]

We recently stayed at Paradise Pier. It was very nice, comfortable, and quiet. The gift store is decent. The character breakfast was ok. The rooms were very nice. All in all, nothing spectacular, but nothing wrong at all.

We don't mind the walks, they are fairly easy.

I will say, next time I want to try the DLH. Mainly because the rest of the family loves to play in the pool.

[BWV Dreamin]

I'm planning to visit Disneyland Sept. 2010. Any difference in concierge between the two? I know GCV should be open, but I doubt I'll get a ressie at 7 mos. I assume DLH and PP don't have balconies either?

[carolina_yankee]

Most DLH rooms have sorta balconies - full length glass doors and a balcony railing, but no real balcony space.

Dirk

[JimP]

It has been a while since we stayed there... We have been to the Sierra Tower twice... and the Bonita Tower once. I liked the Sierra the best.

/Jim

[wwwdrich]

Personally, I like PP. The park view rooms look right down into DCA, you can watch the Electrical Parade from your room (they simulcast the parade music on the TV). While the restaurants cannot compare with Goofy's Kitchen and Steakhouse 55, they are both very nice.

I don't think the walk to the park is any longer, you can get to DCA by cutting through the Grand Californian and using the hotel entrance, or just make a left in the lobby and go out into Downtown Disney. It was even better when they had the back gate into DCA, but that is long gone. :(

[ghost1000]

I don't think the walk to the park is any longer, you can get to DCA by cutting through the Grand Californian and using the hotel entrance, or just make a left in the lobby and go out into Downtown Disney. It was even better when they had the back gate into DCA, but that is long gone. :(

And here I thought that we were the only people who did that.

I miss the personal entrance to DCA too. I guess they closed it because it was too hard to enforce it for Paradise Pier guests only.

[carolina_yankee]

Is the Grand Californian entrance exclusively for Grand Californian guests, or can anyone use it? I know exiting the park there is not an issue because I've done that, but what about entry?

Dirk

[wwwdrich]

Is the Grand Californian entrance exclusively for Grand Californian guests, or can anyone use it? I know exiting the park there is not an issue because I've done that, but what about entry?

Dirk

Officially it is for Grand Californian guests only, and they even have signs that say so. However, the only time I have seen them stopping people is right at park opening.

[BWV Dreamin]

Does anyone know if there are any differences in concierge between DLH and PP?

[JimP]

Does anyone know if there are any differences in concierge between DLH and PP?

We only went through once... mid afternoon. I never even realized it was for GCH only... and nobody asked.

/Jim

[diva452]

Officially it is for Grand Californian guests only, and they even have signs that say so. However, the only time I have seen them stopping people is right at park opening.

We do it all the time. It beats waiting in line outside the gate. :cheerlead