Hi there, Trisha, and thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I’m so glad you’re hEAR!
I recently had the chance to stay at
Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, so I’d be happy to pass along all the information you’ll need! First off, let me start by saying the view from my room was stunning, especially at night! I was fortunate to have a
Premium View -- Club Level room, which meant I looked directly at
Disney California Adventure Park. Watching
World of Color from my room was an amazing experience!
Luckily, all three
Disneyland Resort Hotels are within walking distance of both
Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Paradise Pier Hotel is the farthest of the three, but it’s only a couple minutes past Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa and the Disneyland Hotel. So, to get from Paradise Pier Hotel to The Esplanade (the area between the theme parks), it will take you about ten minutes, depending on how long you have to wait in the security line. You’ll follow the path from Paradise Pier Hotel to the Disneyland Hotel, then turn right to go through a security checkpoint. From there, you’ll have two options – to continue walking through
Downtown Disney District to get to the theme parks, or to hop on the
Disneyland Monorail to head into Disneyland Park. The Monorail has two stations – one in Downtown Disney District, and one in Tomorrowland. So, if you plan on spending your day in Disney California Adventure Park, you’ll need to walk through Downtown Disney District in order to enter the park. If you choose to take the Monorail into Disneyland Park, you’ll find yourself in Tomorrowland, right above Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. The Monorail runs about every 10 minutes, but does close occasionally for fireworks performances.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa actually has an entrance directly into Disney California Adventure Park, but it’s exclusive to Guests of the Grand Californian. However, you can use this exit when leaving Disney California Adventure Park, for a bit of a shorter walk back to Paradise Pier Hotel.
Have you heard about
Extra Magic Hour? It’s one of my favorite perks for staying at a Disneyland Resort Hotel! Extra Magic Hour allows registered Resort Hotel Guests early access one full hour before park opening into either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park, depending on the day of the week. Currently, Hotel Guests can access Disneyland Park early on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and Disney California Adventure Park on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This is a great way to check off all your must-do attractions before the general public even enters the parks!
Please stop by with any additional questions, Trisha… I’m all EARs!
Kristin