Greetings, Alicia! Having stayed at all three Disneyland Resort Hotels myself, I would love to give you a comparison!
First, I would classify
all three hotels as Deluxe hotels when compared to those at the Walt Disney World Resort. This is because they are all within close proximity of the parks and the price points are similar to what I have paid for Deluxe hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort in the past.
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is closest to the parks and even has its own entrance into Disney California Adventure Park. The theming and architecture are similar to what you will find at Disney's Wilderness Lodge. This hotel is stunning, but it is currently undergoing refurbishments through the fall of 2017.
Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel has a fun beach theme and is the furthest from the parks, but not by much. The decor is simple, but charming and this hotel is usually the least expensive of the three. It only has one main dining option located within while the other two hotels have several.
The Disneyland Hotel is my absolute favorite hotel of the three and there isn't much that compares at the Walt Disney World Resort. In terms of decor, I would say the closest comparison would be Disney's Contemporary Resort in that it's sleek and modern, but the Disneyland Hotel rooms are a bit more fun. They have a lot of Mickey touches and awesome light-up head boards! This hotel is also full of history. There are wonderful nostalgic displays in each building and you really feel the Disneyland Resort in every inch of this hotel.
You can't go wrong with any of these hotels and your stay would entitle you to my favorite perk,
Extra Magic Hour. Please stop by the Disney Parks Moms Panel again with any future questions!
-Linda M.