Disney's Paradise Pier050

Described by some as a more intimate choice than the Disneyland Hotel, the Paradise Pier is also a bit on the old and down-trodden side, despite recent renovations.

We found the experience of staying here to be hugely disappointing; the decor was dreary, the toilet flushed constantly and required frequent jiggling, breakfast from room service came, invariably, with things missing - salt and pepper in one instance, sugar in another. An order of eggs, for reasons best described, perhaps, as Mickey Mouse, came with danishes instead of toast!

The pool at Paradise is frankly pretty prosaic - a plain old rectangle with no slide, surprisingly lacking the expected Disney imagination. Pools at all three Disney hotels are surrounded by fencing and require room keys for entrance, but a key from any of the three hotels works in any of the three pool areas, and we recommend checking out the great pool at the Disneyland Hotel - perhaps while you're there waiting for your laundry...

Laundry must be trekked over to the Disneyland Hotel, which has a whopping total of two washers and four dryers to serve both hotels.

The other disappointment at the Paradise is its lack of phone lines - one per room means you cannot be online with your lap top and talking with Guest Services at the same time. And in our room there was no phone anywhere near the desk, so our laptop was literally lap top whenever we needed to use it.

Rooms at the Paradise are equipped with an empty mini-fridge, a coffee maker, hair dryer, iron, and TV with not many channels - and only the Disney Channel for kids. Room service is expensive, and does not include a children's menu.

It's a trek to Disneyland; the Pier is the furthest away of the three hotels, but if you're more interested in taking in the new California Adventure, Pier guests have a special entrance right across the street.

On the bright side, breakfast with Minnie and Friends is always a big child pleaser, even if not much eating gets done, and don't miss the Practically Perfect Tea hosted by everyone's favorite nanny (that's MISS Poppins to you).

Disney's PCH Grill offers inventive California cuisine, and you'll find traditional Japanese dining at Yamabuki.