Advice from anyone who has stayed in a hotel in the Disneyland Paris resort

[AlisonD1]

Hello
We are planning on being in Paris this summer and our 5yo ds desperately wants to go to Disneyland Paris. For various reasons this is going to be our last holiday for a very long time so we want to make it something special. Several friends have said if we can afford it we should stay in the Disneyland Hotel as it is 'amazing' (their words) and our ds would be 'in heaven', particularly as he could have brekkie with Mickey Mouse. Had just about talked the dh into this when he spoke to a dour travel agent who told him it was all just one big rip off and we would be better off staying in the cheapest hotel possible....... Yes, I am aware that it probably is all totally overpriced but I suspect this really is going to be a once in a lifetime thing. Florida is definitely out so this is our one chance. Does anyone have any advice on a good hotel in the resort or anything else that could addd a bit of magic for the ds (and possibly his parents too!!)???
Many thanks.

We stayed at the big pink 'castle' place at Disneyland Paris and it was wonderful...

The characters come down at various times and pose for photos / autographs and there is more than enough time for all the kids to get a photo etc., if they want to (as opposed to in the park, where the louder kids will tend to get in first)

The food is ok... Good, when you compare it to the rest of the place (we DID NOT like Planet Hollywood)

We took DSDs and they had a wonderful time. I would add that they went to Disneyland Paris with their mum too and stayed in some caravan / holiday park and the hotel DEF made the holiday a BRILLIANT trip for them (Obviously, they enjoyed the other time too, but they did get a lot out of the hotel)

SO, I'd say it's worth it, and you do get certain discounts to the park too... we got tickets to jump queues for the rides...

A bit of a tangent, but...we're just back from Disney in California.

I agonised over the 3 Disney resort hotels, as cost was astronomical for even the cheapest. After lots of research on various Disney discussion boards, Trip Advisor, etc, I chose a lovely hotel 10 minutes walk from the main entrance that was 1/3 of the cost.

We booked a dinner with Disney princesses at one of the restaurants, and dd got autographs and photos with Ariel, Cinderella, Pocahontas, etc. We were able to do everything we wanted as we had more disposable income to allocate.

IMO, the only advantage to staying 'on site' is that, on certain days, hotel residents are allowed into the park an hour earlier than the general public which give a headstart on popular rides.

No idea if all of what I've said above holds true for Disney Paris, but suggest you start researching to see what you can find out. Also check archives here, as there have been many Disney Paris threads in past that I'm sure are full of useful advice.

Have fun!

Also, bear in mind travelling time to and from some of the cheaper hotels. I am not sure where DSDs stayed when they went with thier mum, but they had to get a bus there and back and it was a bit of a drag...

Staying in the hotel, you are just THERE, so you can stay for the parade (which my DSDs LOVED!) and then be back in the hotel in time for supper...

Disneyland Hotel is lovely

We stayed there 2 y ago, and I would stay there again if I could afford it! Yes it is expensive, but all Disneyland is expensive, but you do get a better "experience" I think.

Our room was great-we had 2 queen sized beds, 1 for dd, 1 for us. A huge tv. A lovely bathroom with Disney touches, and free Disney toiletries (though I was a tad disappointed that the shower cap didn't have Mickey Mouse on it!). Bathrobes supplied, chocolate on your pillow at bedtime...

The hotel has a kids club if parents want some time on their own. The swimming pool is a little disappointing- rather small, and no shallow end, so you'd have to watch your 5 yr old like a hawk.

There are characters at Breakfast every morning. Of course there is a photographer, but they don't mind if you take your own photos. Aside from breakfast every time you have a meal in the hotel there is a little gift for the child.

The hotel is literally at the entrance to the park, so you can get in really easily, and everyone is really nice to you (they have to be!).

I would go back again (but I'm a sucker for that sort of thing!).

We went years ago and stayed in the Newport Bay Club. It was quite smart and very busy. The Disney characters were often seen wandering around the place. It was quite a nice hotel, but the hordes of people staying there was the only thing about it that I didn't like. It had a lovely pool complex, we had a large (very clean) room and you could walk from the hotel into the park, past the lake via the Disney Village area.

You will get much better food and value for money (re food) if you stay elsewhere, but it is lovely being on site. The rooms are nice and themed so that's always nice for the little ones, the beds are fabulously comfy and you can walk to the park from most of them.

We have stayed at Newport Bay hotel and sante Fe, both within walking distance. Newport was spacious and felt like a nice big hotel, Sante Fe was had much much smaller rooms, ie no floor space at all, just 2 double beds and a desk with mass dining hall breakfast, barrels of cereal and croissants. Further walk from park too.

We booked a Disney breakfast at the Disney Cafe which is between the hotels and the park entrance (think its called Festival disney) it was early but worth it, as the boys saw so many characters and got photos and autographs. We felt less stressed as we felt we didn't have to race round the park that day looking for characters!!

I would stay at Newport Bay again if I went, I think the Disney hotel is just soooo expensive. And you're in the park most of the time anyway.

I've stayed at Cheyenne hotel in disneyland paris, but that was before kids . It was fabulous and felt all part of the experience. You don't feel like you have left the park really!
Thia year we are going to disneyland paris with our two little ones and staying at santa fe hotel (the cheapest). The kids stay free and its a family room with two double beds. The hotels are all of very good standard and you get the extras like breakfast with some large oversized stuffed moving animal...And they have baby listening service...Not sure about that though. ANyone got experience of baby listening services???
Anyway I didn't think it was expensive for £588 for four of us for three nights and four days in the park....cheaper than most places without the park!!
Also you can book food vouchers in advance and save 15% on a load of park restaurants.

We've been twice and both times stayed at Hotel Cheyenne - its within walking distance of park, charactors visit etc etc and about £500 cheaper than the Disneyland Hotel!

Sorry to hi-jack but EARLYBIRD - what was California like. We've booked to go next April staying 10 mins away from Disney. What is it like compared to Eurodisney? Did you do any other excursions?

We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel - at the time DD1 was nearly 4 and DD2 was 22 months. I was pg with DS, so it was great to be able to go back, have a little afternoon nap and then go back to the park!

It was expensive but we really enjoyed it and it worked well for us at that time. If we were to go again, we would have to stay further out as most family rooms seem to be for 4 people.

Have been twice and both times stayed at the Santa Fe. The breakfast hall is a bit busy but we found the rooms to be jsut as one of the above posters who stayed in Newport Bay with queen sized beds, Micky toiletries etc and plenty of room.

Second time I remembered to take my travel kettle (sad but I wanted hots drinks as we went both times in November)

It was an approx 15 min walk which was alongside the river and very pleasant and I say this being at the time seven and a half months preg (it was my last week allowed to fly) though there was a very frequent shuttle service as well.

We are planning to go again this winter and it will be Santa Fee for us again.

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Thanks all of you. Perhaps I should find a job that would allow me to 'test drive' all the different hotels - just to make sure they were all ok of course .
Haven't a clue what we will do but you have all made some valuable points which I really appreciate.
Many thanks from the grown up who is a complete sucker for anything cuddly