If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, it’s probably because you want to create some magical memories with your family - after all, that’s what Disney does best, right? There are already a lot of different options to consider when it comes to curating your trip; getting there (ferry, Eurostar or plane?) what time of year do you want to travel (summer feels right but Christmas at Disney isn't to be missed either), how long do you want to stay for and - perhaps most crucially - where will you stay?
While there are plenty of great options in the area designed to make Disneyland access as easy as possible, If you choose to stay onsite there are seven different hotels to choose from and they are as up close and personal with the parks as you can get. They are all, but one, within walking distance to the main Disneyland Paris park, and Hollywood Studios, which takes travel and parking out of the equation - plus you get ‘Magic Time’ in the parks, with an extra early opening hour exclusive to Disney hotel guests. There are dining packages available to help keep costs down and relatively affordable street food options in the parks - and not to mention plenty of snacks on offer (an essential). They all have different environments, themes and niche extras which make life easier for parents - particularly those with small children.
This month, the five star Disneyland Hotel reopened after a major refurbishment, reimagined to become an immersive experience for both parents and children to live out their Disney Prince and Princess dreams - and it delivers on that in spades. You can journey into royal Disney stories with character meet and greets, there are rooms and suites which tell your favourite Royal tales - special mention goes to the Frozen suite (complete with Frozen stained glass window and Anna and Elsa’s dolls) or the Cinderella suite, with magical views of the castle. There is extremely family friendly dining and bursts of uniquely Disney entertainment around every corner. With a sparkling new kids club, where you can while away hours with Disney-themed colouring exercises, books and the odd Princess encounter or two, a swimming pool and even the opportunity to undergo the My Royal Dream makeover, to become a Disney prince or princess for the day, it is the ultimate destination for little ones to continue the Disney magic once you have left the park. And let’s face it, you will never run out of things to do and, perhaps most crucially, your kids will be so exhausted by the end of the day you won't get much of a fight at bedtime.
Here, we give you the lowdown on all seven of the Disneyland Paris hotels, to help you pick the right one for you and your family:
Disney Newport Bay Club
This four-star resort has the essence of a seaside Hamptons hotel: all white and blue wood, classic, preppy decor and sailboats, it is light, airy and vast. The 1920’s nautical details run through the property, and the hotel even has its own lighthouse on the lake. There are indoor and outdoor pools, a yacht-themed bar and the ‘Little Captain’s Corner’ play area for little ones to enjoy. A fifteen minute stroll around the lake takes you through Disney Village, full of shops and bars, to the gates of the park - alternatively there is a regular shuttle bus which takes 8 minutes.
Disney Sequoia Lodge
Inspired by the national parks of the US, this three-star wooden lodge style hotel feels like a comfortable woodland retreat, with exposed-stone style walls, wooden beams and cosy rustic bedroom decor. Watch cartoons or play video games at the Little Prairie Kids Corner, tuck into an all-you-can-eat buffet at the Beaver Creek Tavern or relax by the fire at the Redwood Bar and Lounge. Fun fact: the showers in every room have been fitted with French designed Hydrao shower heads which are not only eco-friendly, they give you a fun light show while you shower. A fifteen minute walk to the parks, or 8 minutes on the shuttle service.
Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel
For the Marvel lovers in your life, this place will be paradise. With a lobby filled with Marvel paraphernalia and the rooms each with their own Marvel artwork (from Black Panther to Captain America) you can fully immerse yourself in the comic book and movie worlds amidst the contemporary New York style of the hotel. Meet and greet your favourite superhero or immerse yourself in drawing with The Marvel Design Studio, or enjoy Italian food at the Manhattan restaurant. A ten minute walk to the park, or 8 minute shuttle.
Disneyland Hotel
With its candy pink colour and elaborate architecture, the Disneyland Hotel is pretty hard to miss - especially as you have to walk beneath it to even enter the main park. But its spectacular exterior is nothing, wait until you see inside. On entering the lobby your eyes are immediately drawn to a chandelier which is also a perfect rendering of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, just one of the subtle nods to various Disney tales within the hotel. The rooms have a royal theme, with each one dedicated to a different film featuring a prince or princess. Keep your eyes peeled for character meet and greets, particularly at the restaurants such as the all-you-can eat Royal Buffet, or the fine dining option La Table de Lumière. You couldn’t be closer to the park, it takes all of five minutes to get outside and to the gates - perfect for making the most of the Magic Time exclusive to hotel guests, and to beat the queues.
Disney Hotel Cheyenne
A Wild-West escape awaits you at Cheyenne with plenty of Woody and Jessie themed aspects to fully immerse yourself in Toy Story along the way. These rooms are Toy Story themed, there are indoor and outdoor play areas, with outdoor play forts, covered wagons and even pony riding (subject to availability). The food is also Western themed with the Chuck Wagon Cafe and the Red Garter Saloon offering suitably immersive mealtimes. Look out for Jessie and Woody meet and greets! A 20 minute walk from the park, or 8 minute shuttle.
Disney Hotel Santa Fe
If your little ones love Pixar's Cars, you’ll feel right at home at this warm, colourful homage to Route 66, the American Southwest and Cars. Although it is the most budget friendly option of all of them, this hotel definitely does not scrimp on ambiance and aesthetic, with neon lit areas, a cool play area, Tex Mex all you can eat buffet and Cars themed bedrooms so you can unleash your inner Lightning McQueen. 20 minutes walk to the park or an 8 minute shuttle.
Disney Davy Crockett Ranch
The only self-catering option, the Davy Crockett Ranch is a 15 minute drive by car to the park (there is no shuttle available). Here you can spread out more than in a traditional hotel room (dogs are also welcome which is a bonus) and lose yourself a bit in a forest cabin with its own outside space and barbecue. There are plenty of activities too such as indoor tennis and mini golf, and your own supermarket to pick up groceries which inevitably makes things a bit easier with young children who have, shall we say, slightly specific demands when it comes to tea time.
For more information please visit the Disneyland Paris website.