Disneyland's Paradise Pier Hotel Review
I have always been a big supporter on staying at on-site hotels when I visit Walt Disney World. I love the convenience of being close to the parks and not having to worry about driving a car or parking. So when I was planning our vacation to Disneyland in California, my thought process was the same.
We flew into Los Angeles International Airport and took a Karmel Shuttle Van (booked before the trip started) to the Paradise Pier Hotel. Disneyland does operate the Disneyland Resort Express but it only leaves the airport once every hour and the times didn’t match up with our flights. We took the shuttle van returning to the airport as well, as we had an early morning flight and the Disneyland Resort Express didn’t start running early enough to get us to the airport. The ride from LAX to our hotel took roughly 45 minutes.
Disneyland’s Paradise Pier Hotel is an on site resort with a fun, beach vibe. Out of the three Disneyland Resort Hotels (Paradise Pier, Disneyland Hotel, and Grand Californian) it is the most budget friendly choice. Each hotel has its own unique vibe, with the differences between the three being resort décor/amenities and distance to the Disneyland parks. The biggest difference that was the most apparent to me being on site is the distance to the parks, which I did not mind. Coming from the Walt Disney World point of view being able to walk to and from the parks from your hotel is a nice perk and the grounds seem small and easy to get around.
Walking into the resort lobby, you immediately see is a Goofy statue in surf wear, holding a surfboard; that sets the vibe for the hotel. One classic Disney touch, which you receive upon check in, is you get a room key for each person in your party and each one is personalized with the person’s name on it. Ours featured a background of Tinker Bell flying through the night sky. Our room featured two queen beds, and a pull out couch along with beach décor. The bathroom was basic but clean and featured Disney’s H2O bath products, which I love. They also included a hamper under the sink, which I thought was a nice touch for families that planned to do laundry while they were there or were looking to keep dirty clothes separate.
We had a theme park view room and for a true Disney fan like me, that was so fun! I woke up everyone morning to a view of Paradise Pier at Disney’s California Adventure Park and went to bed each night looking at the park lights. We could even watch the park’s nighttime show, World of Color, from our room. Our TV had a channel that played the World of Color music in sync with the live show. So cool! Talking about the TV in our, is there anything better than Disney programed television? Along with the regular television channels, there was a channel that provided a schedule for the parks, a schedule and daily activities for our hotel, and even a channel that featured Disney princesses telling bedtime stories. That’s a nice touch for kids (and big kids) alike. The hotel also provided turn down service in the evenings. Housekeeping would come in, close the blinds, and put chocolates on the pillows.
The pool area at Paradise Pier was located on the third floor, on the roof. It was a nice area. There was a large pool, a water slide with a kiddie pool, and a whirlpool. My favorite part was the cushy lounge chairs and umbrellas. The towel bins were located by the pool, which made for easy access. There was also a pool bar there but it was not open during our stay (I’m guessing because we were there in January which is considered off season for Disneyland).
The hotel features multiple dining options. There is the PCH grill, which features a daily character breakfast. There is also the Surfside Lounge, if you’re looking for a quicker option. As we wanted to get to the parks each morning when they opened, we ordered room service. You could fill out a card in your room, making your dining selections, and picking a time for delivery. You did this the night before and you would hang it from your door before 11:00pm for pick up. There were tons of good options. I had the mickey waffle each morning and it was delicious! As the hotel is so close to the Downtown Disney District and the parks, we ate the rest of our meals in those locations. The resort also has a nice gift shop were you can pick up some Disney swag or snacks. There is also an arcade area and a room showing Disney movies and shows for kids.
In terms of the time it takes to get from the Paradise Pier Hotel to the Disneyland Parks, it’s not a long walk. After leaving the back of the hotel, you walk roughly 3-5 minutes to the Downtown Disney District. You go through security there. Once in Downtown Disney, it’s about a 5-10 minute walk to the park entrances. Halfway through Downtown Disney you will come across the Monorail, which you can take to Tomorrowland in Disneyland Park. Compared to the other two hotels, Paradise Pier is the furthest away. The back of Disneyland Hotel backs onto the security entrance of Downtown Disney. The Grand Californian was one entrance that puts you in the center of Downtown Disney and another one that puts you in California Adventure.
For the price of Paradise Pier compared to the other hotels, I was very happy with it. We were only there for 3 nights, so we didn’t spend a lot of time at the hotel. Maybe if we had of been there for longer, I would have gone with a hotel with better amenities as I would have had more time to enjoy them. But I loved the fun, beach atmosphere of Paradise Pier and I think it’s a great hotel for families and couples alike.
