Disneyland Paris - to stay on site or not?

[Canttakeanymore88]

I don’t think the on site hotels are all that, they look quite dated and expensive for what they are, but they come with the extra hour of park time in the morning which I’m being told is essential.

Otherwise I was considering the dream hotel nearby with shuttle service, though I’m told these are heaving each morning and you often have to wait for several until one is free.

Thoughts? Will be with a 4 year old and 1 year old.

I would always stay on site because I like the convenience of walking rather than driving (and paying for parking) or faffing with buses/trains.
But each time we've been we've only managed magic hour once each trip because we prefer a leisurely breakfast, get to the park a bit later and stay until closing at 10/11.
So magic hour isn't the deciding factor for me I just like to be in the Disney fold the entire time.

What we did do is book a holiday inn nearby for our arrival day so that we could travel and rest and then get a full first day in the park which worked really well.

Stayed at sequoia lodge when they were that age and Newport bay a few years later - hotellook.tp.st/IQcIHgnl Both walking distance to the park

We’ve been to DLP three times and never stayed on site as we hate having four in a room. We always self cater in an apartment so we can spread out and saved money buying some meals at the supermarket. We’ve always done a day or two in Paris as part of the trip and staying off site means we don’t need to change accommodation. We’ve stayed near Val d’Europe shopping centre and got the free buses to DLP. Rides are usually quieter at the end of the day so we get up have a leisurely breakfast but stay late for when the ride queues calm down.