Unlocking the magic of Disneyland

It is a little-known fact that Disneyland Paris welcomes more visitors annually, than Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum put together. The resort is home to more than 50 attractions between its two theme parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios – and offers a choice of varied accommodation with seven hotels. The recently refurbished, luxury, five-star Disneyland Hotel, is the crown jewel of the resort and the ideal base for Middle Eastern families for a Disney adventure.

Guests at the Disneyland Hotel are welcomed by the Royal Greeter into the reception lobby, which is reimagined to create the library settings of world-famous French castles. The ambiance is at once relaxed and intimate, yet larger than life and magical, with the captivating performances of La Troupe Royale Disney. These talented actors seamlessly blend into the crowd, staying true to their characters as they engage in delightful sing-alongs, and before you are even checked in, Disney magic is already at work.

SUITE MAGIC

Disneyland Hotel offers a wide array of accommodations, including 346 Superior rooms, 82 Deluxe rooms, 41 Castle Club rooms, 16 Signature Suites, the opulent Princely Suite and the majestic Royal Suite.

No matter what the selection, a royal setting is guaranteed. Every room and suite resonates with the enchantment of iconic stories taking inspiration from Sleeping Beauty, Sword in the Stone, Moana, Frozen, Raya and the Last Dragon.

Having reopened just a year after a complete refurbishment, Disneyland Hotel rooms and amenities feel fresh and new, equipped with the latest cutting-edge technology. The décor is lavish, leaving no detail behind to evoke a sense of royalty in every nook, especially for children, with child-sized bathrobes and themed toys, amenities and keepsakes.

The legendary magical mirror, a staple in every room, transforms into an Ultra HD TV at the touch of a button. The content lineup was impressive, featuring a wide selection of Disney stories and rare documentaries with archival footage from the 1950s and 1960s, showcasing the making of Disneyland.

The plush beds come with the added comfort of premium linen, perfect for putting your feet up and unwinding after a day at the parks. A peek under the stylish jewellery case reveals refreshments and a coffee machine. Themed after the Little Mermaid or Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, even the bathrooms are decked with luxury linen and accessories.

FEAST FOR THE SENSES

The Royal Banquet and La Table de Lumière restaurants dazzle taste buds with curated menus inspired by Disney characters. The ingredients are fresh and sourced from and inspired by various regions of France.

The Royal Banquet ushers guests into a gallery of royal stories and characters. The choice of dishes links back to the regions they represent, providing guests with an international array of tastes to savour.

The lineup of royal treats includes a sumptuous oyster and seafood bar, a meat carving stand, and a superb selection of personalised desserts for the young at heart.

La Table de Lumière is a table service restaurant that thrusts guests into a realm of magic. Inspired by the Beauty and the Beast ballroom scene, the setting is reminiscent of the Hall of Mirrors in Palace of Versailles. Entrance is exclusive to Disneyland Hotel guests only and prior booking is recommended.

Guests enjoy their regal meal in the company of Royal Disney Couples, including Belle and her Prince (Beauty and the Beast), Aurora and Philip (Sleeping Beauty), or Tiana and Naveen (Princess and the Frog), all dressed in opulent costumes for an unforgettable interactive experience. We found the service quality to be of especially high standards.

Adding to the royal dining experiences at Disneyland Hotel will be a third restaurant called La Forêt Secrète par Jean Imbert, opening on March 7, 2025. Led by famous Michelin-starred chef Jean Imbert, a passionate Disney enthusiast and lifelong lover of Disneyland Paris, the new outlet will be taking guests on a culinary experience inspired by the greatest Disney Animation movies, all set in a magical atmosphere.

This restaurant will be open to everyone, not just Disneyland Hotel guests.

MY ROYAL DREAM

Little ones get a fairytale makeover to the highest standards with My Royal Dream. This must-do, add-on experience starts at the Royal Boutique shop in Disneyland Hotel and quickly zooms into a personalised fairytale. 

The royal treatment begins with Cast Members welcoming their ‘prince’ or ‘princess’ into the royal salon, where she is given the choice to try whichever character costume she wishes, be it Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Jasmine from Aladdin, Elsa from Frozen, Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella. For boys, there is a dashing knight costume complete with a sword and shield. These costumes and accessories are keepsakes.

The costume makeover is brought to life with intricate hairstyling and meticulously applied makeup to go with the aesthetics unique to each character. At no point does the guest feel rushed despite this being a very popular experience with many queuing up for it.

The Royal Dream experience finishes with a flourish of sparkling fairy dust being sprinkled over the child by their hairdresser or Fairy Godmother. The child and their parents are taken to an adjoining chamber for a photoshoot with props, a variety of royal backdrops and a complimentary printed image in a Disney frame. Guests are given a unique Disneyland Paris Disney PhotoPass code to keep collecting memories at the hotel and the parks.

VIP GUIDE 

The VIP Guide service includes priority access to all rides and shows at Disneyland Paris and is an essential add-on for first-time visitors with families, ensuring a stress-free time at Disneyland Paris. The friendly VIP guide, apart from being a narrator of behind-the-scene stories, listens to guest needs and paces the tour to make it most comfortable.

The tour starts from Disneyland Hotel where the VIP Guide meets guests for a half-day walk around the parks. Given the crowds in Disneyland on most days, the guide’s encyclopaedic knowledge – of shortcuts, parade timings and character meet-ups – helps save invaluable time and makes every moment rewarding. What’s more, she helps unlock high scoring hacks on competitive games like Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, something that kids in the travelling party will certainly appreciate.

Just ahead of the Disney Stars on Parade, the VIP Guide deftly moves her VIP guests to the front row, where characters from the parade are close enough to smile and wave at you. This is a truly stunning experience that can only be provided by the VIP Guide – timing is everything.

Every night, the sky above Disneyland Paris turns into an iconic theatre with a breathtaking combination of fireworks, music, drones and projections against the Sleeping Beauty castle. Ushered by the VIP Guide, select guests have an enviable up-close view of the sky parade from a cordoned-off and spacious VIP area.

Thanks to the VIP Guide, even the walk back to the Disneyland Paris Hotel is an adventure, through back alleys and restricted zones, with barriers being lifted with a welcoming smile.   

Here are some smart tips to optimise and plan efficiently to make the most of the magical experience.

HOW TO ARRIVE

A Disney-branded Magical Shuttle service transports Disneyland Paris visitors from Paris's two main airports, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly. It also serves the shopping destination Val d’Europe and the resort town Villages Nature Paris, in addition to Disney’s Partner Hotels.

For those flying through CDG who just can't wait to start their magical journey, the high-speed TGV train reaches Disneyland in under 10 minutes, and the station (Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy station) is a walking distance from the entrance to the parks and hotel.

Private taxis from CDG take much longer – in our experience, 45 minutes and likely more, depending on traffic.

DROP YOUR BAGS

With the Disney Express Luggage Service, hotel guests can drop off and pick up bags at Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy station, the closest rail station to Disneyland Paris and where the TGV (or local trains) would drop guests off. Drop off timings are between 7:45 am and 9 pm for transfer to their hotel, while pick up any time between 1 pm and 9 pm on the way out of Disneyland Paris. This allows for seamless entry/exit from the parks. The service is for all Disney hotel guests irrespective of their choice of transportation.

STAY SMART

Although we stayed at the very top-of-the-line, five-star luxury Disneyland Hotel Paris, there are other Partner Hotels in the vicinity of Disneyland Paris. Unrushed, we could walk into the parks from the Disneyland Hotel in just a few steps, making the experience very relaxing. Conversely, after a long day at the park, there’s nothing more pleasing than walking back into your hotel room, a 2-minute walk from the park’s exit. While it’s not the same as waking up to a view of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, Disney’s Partner Hotels are a ten-minute complimentary shuttle ride away. With amenities such as free Wi-Fi, parking and family-friendly services, these hotels provide an economical alternative.

EXTRA MAGIC TIME

One of the biggest perks of staying in Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Partner Hotels, is Extra Magic Time: guests have exclusive access to the park ahead of official opening hours. It is a magical experience to saunter into the park and witness the Sleeping Beauty castle without anyone around, or having the characters to yourself without being rushed, and enjoying the attractions without having to wait.

MAGICPASS

The MagicPass at Disneyland Hotel Paris consolidates park tickets, room key, meal and event vouchers, and parking access into one convenient touchpoint. It takes the hassle away from keeping track of tickets and vouchers as this all-in-one pass keeps things tidy, offers additional features like early park access and can be accessed through the mobile app, ensuring a seamless journey for families and groups.

DISNEY PHOTO PASS

Be sure to sign up for Disney Photo Pass and collect as many special moments as you can throughout the hotel stay and the parks experience, pose and have the official Disney photographers capture your moments in different points at the hotel and the parks. The images keep collecting on an online gallery and makes for everlasting memories long after the trip. Using Pack Digital offer, one can have access to all the photos and videos and download them in customised formats. Or get framed prints in parks before you leave.

TAKE HOME MEMORIES

One of the more popular sections of the Disneyland Hotel is the Royal Boutique, which is where fans can own and grow their collection of iconic Disney Princess products and souvenirs from unique collaborations, found nowhere else. It's no surprise that both children and adults browse the boutique's shelves with equal enthusiasm, each seeking to collect mementos of their favourite Disney stories and characters. What can you find here? Exclusive products, from the Mickey Mouse clock that adorns the hotel's façade to Rapunzel-inspired mirrors, elegant tableware, and the signature Disneyland Hotel interior fragrance, there's something for everyone to take home and cherish. Plan for ample time on hand when you walk into the Royal Boutique.

STORY KEEPERS TOUR

If staying at the Disneyland Hotel Paris, the free-of-charge Story Keepers tour is a must-do for serious Disney fans. Always attired in character, the Story Keepers are at hand to reveal hidden details of the enchanting setup – one may just ask them or sign up for the Story Keepers tour, ideally in advance. The tour includes a walkaround of the hotel stopping at strategic locations to understand the design and its connection to Disney characters, stories and settings.