Welcome to the Paradise Pier! Disneylands First Hotel and Last Priority!

We arrived at the Pier Hotel at approximately 1pm, hangry, tired and shell-shocked.  From the moment I stepped into the overpriced, poorly maintained hotel, I knew i was getting the shaft.  We were given a room "facing the city" (read: cheap seats), with the only other option being a room facing California Adventure's Grand Adventure for an additional $45.  I mumbled something about "cheap seats" grabbed our Keys to the Magic (pictured below) and sent the boys up to the room.

When i finally arrived with all of our baggage, i was greeted with "Mom - where are you staying?"

So OK.  There were some expectations that both tre and me had been holding onto about this year's trip.  We had been to the Disneyland before, on two prior occasions, under very different circumstances.  This year, I really had to pare down the cost of the trip, while trying to maintain the essence of the DL experience at the same time.  In years past, we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, the mid-range hotel of the three connected to the park.  The first year, Tre even got his own separate room, complete with Disneyland wallpaper, a Disney character bedspread and his own TV!

When i did some research online, i found that the Paradise Pier was the oldest of the three hotels, and was marketed as the nostalgically charming, hip and sunniest of the three.  A hotel reminiscent of the 1970's "Pool Party" scene, minus the drugs and the call girls.  When we arrived, it was as if all the color had been stricken from the photos online and what was left was a sad, dingy deserted shell of what once was...over-the-top opulent for the times.  Now, with its fading beach-themed awnings and great-wide swaths of empty space, the only redeeming quality of the hotel remaining was its proximity to Disneyland.  Or so we thought. 

the bar area...one lone customer for miiiiiiles

As it turns out, the route that the front desk likes to sell is the long route that cuts through the newest (and most opulently maintained) hotel, The Grand California Hotel.  And when i say "cuts through" i should add "like a labyrinth" or an Ikea.  Best i can say about these digs is that you get the feeling like you are truly living inside a lego-for-adults-like hotel.  All of the plastic pieces fit together nicely and the lights are dim, seductive and masking.  This is the hotel that is sucking maintenance dollars from the Paradise Pier.  And it is no mistake that they lead you through this hotel on they way to the theme parks, as it is another chance to spend way too much money.  They wont even give you the prices on the spa services offered at Mandara Spa.  its that serious, y'all.

I changed quickly and we set out to get some lunch.  It was now close to two and neither boy had had anything to eat for several hours.  I sooooo felt a melt-down coming.  30 minutes later and at the edge of an anxiety attack, I came across the "Corn Dog King."  I made a calculated choice.  Nuff said.

And now...let the magic of Disneyland begin!  (didnt i say that earlier?)