Layout of the three park hotels is tricky until you walk it a few times. There was nothing on the Internet that helped me understand this layout ahead of time.
Our one night stay at Paradise Pier was on par with SKgolf and meanestmom from June, 2008. We got a deal price for being annual passholders and booking right after school started, but only by calling and asking. Previously, price and crowds have kept us away from this hotel.
Notes from stay: Rooms have refridgerators. Unlike other reviews, all but one of the desk personnel (cast members) at check in/out were pretty apathetic; they only handle one thing at a time and intentionally avoid eye contact with anyone in line. My wife thought the room was dirty, I'd say it was more like average with things wrong such as the bottom of the entertainment center badly broken from a kick or a vacuum.
My suggestion is if you are from out-of-state (and can't afford the California Grand), go ahead and stay up to a couple of nights for the experience but only if you can confirm your room faces the park (our even numbered room did) and pay around $175/night or less. If you are from So. Cal and make repeated trips to Disneyland, either pay up for the California Grand or stay at one of the high rated hotels on the perimeter (but watch for parking fees). We had a much better overall experience at a Marriott to the south with the ONLY negative being outside the park.
The California Grand is basically across the street 1/2 block from the Paradise Pier. Reference another's comment about walking thru the California Grand to enter the theme parks, that's fine if your ticket or pass covers both Disneyland AND California Adventure; the Grand's theme park entrance is to California Adventure only. Tonight wife saw an ad for free birthday admission in 2009 but I don't know the details or if that is for both parks.










