Karin's Disneyland Hotel Review

[Karin1984]

I have just returned from a two-night stay at the Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris, and here are my first impressions.

I paid €550 per night for a room-only stay, which is about the lowest price you can get. Keep in mind that during peak seasons (such as Christmas Day), this same room can cost up to €2,000.

What does this price include (that you won’t get at other hotels)?

• Proximity (the closest hotel to the park)
• Princess Meet & Greets (Marvel has superhero M&Gs)
• A Kids' Club
• Access to booking La Table de Lumière
• Steam room and sauna (also at Marvel)

In your room:

• Bathrobes
• Slippers
• Cotton pads
• Cotton buds
• Nail polisher
• Shower cap
• A scale
• Shoe polisher
• Shoe horn
• Sewing kit
• Turn-down service with exclusive tea and a bedtime story for very young children
• Pillow menu
• Upgraded coffee & tea-making facilities (similar to the Marvel hotel)
• Huge TV (also at Marvel)
• Better hairdryer (also at Marvel)
• Dry cleaning (also at Marvel)
• Larger room (about the same size as Marvel)

The Good:

Unbeatable Proximity

This cannot be overstated. I counted—it’s only 75 steps from the park exit to the hotel entrance. If you or someone in your party has mobility issues or needs frequent breaks, this location is amazing. During my rainy visit, I forgot my umbrella, but it was easy to pop back to the room. If I had stayed at another hotel, I wouldn’t have bothered to go back and just bought a new umbrella for €30. One evening, I had a headache, so I went back to the room for an hour, then returned for the fireworks.

Plenty of Staff

The lobby is well-staffed, even during peak check-in times. There were about 10 check-in desks available, minimizing wait times. Baggage drop-off was also well-staffed.

At the Kids' Club and princess meet & greet area, at least five cast members were present when two would have sufficed. Because there’s so much staff, service feels more personal, which is a definite plus.

The hotel is also extremely clean, with staff constantly maintaining the lobby and lounge areas.

Entertainment (if you love princesses)

If you enjoy meeting princesses, this is a dream come true. You can meet them with minimal wait times (more on that later) and go as often as you like, as the princesses rotate throughout the day. There was a PhotoPass photographer available, and interactions with cast members and characters were fantastic.

The Royal Troupe, while not exclusive to hotel guests, provides great entertainment with a variety of performances. On a good day (when no one calls in sick), there are six different shows featuring at least four different princesses.

Steam Room & Sauna

A great bonus if you enjoy spa facilities. And I do

Turn-Down Service

Completely unnecessary—but delightful. Returning to a prepared room with curtains drawn, exclusive tea waiting (you make it yourself, but it's not available elsewhere in the room), and a cozy atmosphere was a nice touch.

The Room

The room itself is luxurious, with high-quality materials used for the bedding, blackout curtains, and furniture. There are thoughtful details like:

• Bright lighting options in the bathroom
• Plenty of power outlets (EU and UK, plus USB ports)
• Under-bench lighting

The Bad:

(Not really bad, but things that might make you question certain decisions.)

Not Exclusive

Since the hotel is now open for visitors, the lobby and lounge areas (where the bar and restaurant entrances are) have become extremely busy—especially on weekends, primarily with locals. I admit, I’m guilty of visiting as well.

Our Sunday stay was noticeably busier and less pleasant than Monday and Tuesday.

Longer Wait Times for Princess Meet & Greets on Weekends

On Sundays, we had to wait 15-30 minutes each time, which is still significantly better than the Princess Pavilion. It’s also included in the price, so there’s no need to pay extra for Auberge or La Table de Lumière. However, be aware that it’s not always an instant experience.

The waiting area is also quite small, so on weekends, people were lining up in the hallways—not exactly a luxurious experience.

Design Flaws?

Some design choices were questionable:

• Strange hotel layout: The hotel has two wings. The main entrance is in the east wing, but some facilities, like the pool, are in the west wing. To get from one side to the other, you must walk through the lounge. Many guests opted to walk through in their bathrobes (or even just swimsuits for kids), which felt awkward to me as there are people in the lounge area people-watching.
• Character traffic jam: Characters for both Royal Banquet and Table de Lumière must walk through the lounge, causing crowds to gather just to watch them. A backstage route would have been much better.
• Poor bathroom ventilation: The self-closing bathroom door is likely a safety feature, but without an exhaust fan, the bathroom stays humid and steamy. I had to block the door with a towel to keep it open.
• Odd lighting choices: Every light in the room is controlled by a switch—except the toilet, which has a motion sensor. I don’t understand why. The room is dark at night, and a normal switch wouldn’t have woken anyone.

Pool Not ‘Kid-Friendly’

The pool has a luxurious, spa-like feel, but there’s nothing entertaining for kids—no slides, no play areas, just a few floaties. The result? Kids end up splashing in and out of the hot tub.

If your kids want to swim, stay at Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay instead. Those pools are bigger and more fun.

Kids' Club is Underwhelming

I don’t have kids, but I spent time near the Kids' Club (since it shares a space with the princess meet & greet). It’s tiny (maybe 3x3 meters), with just a TV, a table for arts & crafts, and some board games. It seems unnecessary—Disneyland Paris doesn’t have many adult-only spaces, so most families stick together anyway. Compared to a Disney Cruise, where Kids' Clubs make sense, this one felt lackluster.

The Price

Yes, you get little extras, but are they necessary? Do I need a bathroom scale on vacation? Three cotton pads per night—what if two adults wear full-face makeup? A nail polisher, a sewing kit? These are all things that boost the hotel’s star rating, but they don’t add much value for guests.

The Ugly (or just surprising things at this price point):

• No text notification when our room was ready. The app only said "You can go to your room now," but didn’t display the room number. I had to go back to check-in.
• Bags weren’t in our room upon arrival. We wanted to go swimming but had to wait for our luggage. Tip: Handle your own bags or pack a swimsuit in your park bag.
• Missing room items. We were missing a pair of slippers, two bathrobes, and a glass. It took two trips to get everything, and we received two extra pillows we didn’t order.
• Pillowcase not replaced. I accidentally left mascara smudges on my pillowcase, and housekeeping didn’t replace it after turn-down service. Should it have been at this price point?
• Shampoo & conditioner felt cheap. The bottles look nicer, but they smell like dish soap and the same as at the other hotels.
• Rooms aren’t soundproof. We could hear our neighbors, though it wasn’t too disruptive.
• Disney+ requires your own login. Annoying if you don’t have an active account. It took me some times to get it.

Final Verdict?

A beautiful, luxurious hotel. If I can get a good price, I’d stay again—but many extras feel unnecessary. I felt obligated to do the princess meet & greets and use the spa to justify the cost. I did it gladly, but it was on the back of my mind to get my money’s worth.

For better value? Stay at the Marvel hotel.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Great to see an updated review

I got an upgrade to Disneyland Hotel in 2016, before the refurb. I was in balcony room in the east wing overlooking Fantasia Gardens.

I felt the same as you about the location of pool and having to walk through the lounges in a bath robe. Interesting that pool didnt get any additions or extras in the refurb, it sounds like your experience with the kids in the pool area was similar to me.

I loved the turn down service and the proximity to the park entrance is such a huge perk.

The lobby seemed crowded to me back in 2016 before the new Princess meets, so I cant imagine what its like now. I saw a lot of parents doing photo shoots with kids on the stairs.

 

[Karin1984]

Great to see an updated review

I got an upgrade to Disneyland Hotel in 2016, before the refurb. I was in balcony room in the east wing overlooking Fantasia Gardens.

I felt the same as you about the location of pool and having to walk through the lounges in a bath robe. Interesting that pool didnt get any additions or extras in the refurb, it sounds like your experience with the kids in the pool area was similar to me.

I loved the turn down service and the proximity to the park entrance is such a huge perk.

The lobby seemed crowded to me back in 2016 before the new Princess meets, so I cant imagine what its like now. I saw a lot of parents doing photo shoots with kids on the stairs.

We were in East as well, great location.

I think the pool is a downside for the hotel. It might have less rooms than Newport Bay, so a smaller pool might be justified, but it's not a fun place to be for a kid. 20 people in the pool will feel crowded. And that's including some toddlers in the kiddie part and adults in the jacuzzi.

Nowadays it's every woman with a social media presence taking pictures on the stairs ;-)

 

[zavandor]

Thank you for the review! It's the only hotel I've never stayed at at DLP, I never managed to stomach the price. To the point I've now stayed at the Grand Floridian in Orlando using my DVC points but still no Disneyland hotel (and to be honest, I would never pay GF cash prices either and I find probably there are better options to use for my DVC points as well, as it's the priciest point cost too). And I'm not rushing to go either. Your review confirmed what I thought: this hotel is for someone who wants the best and for whom the price is no worry, but if you try to look at "value" it's difficult to justify. I would define this hotel: "If you have to ask the price it is not for you". Well, it's not for me

 

[Teamubr]

Thanks Karin!

I really appreciate the review. I'm wanting to stay at the DLH. The proximity to the parks and Disney Village looks incredible. After 20,000+ steps in the parks, 75 more is easy compared to the hike back over to Sequoia or Newport Bay. Sure the price is a deal compared to the other hotels, but it is still cheaper than a deluxe at WDW.

j

 

[Karin1984]

Thank you for the review! It's the only hotel I've never stayed at at DLP, I never managed to stomach the price. To the point I've now stayed at the Grand Floridian in Orlando using my DVC points but still no Disneyland hotel (and to be honest, I would never pay GF cash prices either and I find probably there are better options to use for my DVC points as well, as it's the priciest point cost too). And I'm not rushing to go either. Your review confirmed what I thought: this hotel is for someone who wants the best and for whom the price is no worry, but if you try to look at "value" it's difficult to justify. I would define this hotel: "If you have to ask the price it is not for you". Well, it's not for me

We really only went to be able to say we have stayed at all hotels. We have been AP holders for over a decade. It was about time. (Only one missing is Davey Crockett, but I do not have a car)

We hardly went into the park during this visit, we went to make use of the hotel amenities. It's much easier to go back to the hotel for a swim if the hotel is around the corner. I do have to make an update, according to the website, Marvel also has a sauna/steam room.

The only way I can to justify part of the price trying is to convert the princess meet & greet into an equivalent of a princess meal. Auberge and Table du Lumière are around €100 for 4-6 characters, and this meet & greet at the hotel includes a photopass. All photographers were good, understanding to make pictures during the interaction as well and not just the posed pictures. It is a very relaxed meet & greet. You are definitely not rushed here. And you can go as often as you like.

We met 7 princesses, but could have met more, over the course of 3 days. So let's deduct €100 per night, then it's €450 per night ;-) #dsneymath

The cast members might not have been friendlier than at other resorts, but because there was so much staff available, they could be more personal and take time. We had very nice chats with the people managing the Kids Club / Princess Meet & Greet, but that's also because the Kids Club was constantly empty, and the Princess Meet & Greet really doesn't need 2 or 3 people at the desk. So they could chat as much as they want.

 

[Karin1984]

Thanks Karin!

I really appreciate the review. I'm wanting to stay the DLH. The proximity to the parks and Disney Village looks incredible. After 20,000+ steps in the parks, 75 more is easy compared to the hike back over to Sequoia or Newport Bay. Sure the price is a deal compared to the other hotels, but it is still cheaper than a deluxe at WDW.

j

If you come from the US / are used to the US parks, it's a different comparison, for sure.
I would recommend DLH for:
- People with mobility issues
- People who need breaks
- Those who want to do a hotel vacation, not necessarily a park vacation.
- Once in a lifetime trips
- Princess lovers
- People with too much money ;-)

If you want more value for money for sort of the same hotel amenities, go for Marvel.

 

[Teamubr]

If you come from the US / are used to the US parks, it's a different comparison, for sure.
I would recommend DLH for:
- People with mobility issues
- People who need breaks
- Those who want to do a hotel vacation, not necessarily a park vacation.
- Once in a lifetime trips
- Princess lovers
- People with too much money ;-)

If you want more value for money for sort of the same hotel amenities, go for Marvel.

Two years ago, we stayed at Sequoia Lodge on our only trip to DLP. It was after a 12 day, 7 country tour of Europe. My wife's luggage was lost the first 10 days and she had blisters on both feet before we got to DLP. We will be going back to DLP (from the US) next year, probably for 4-5 days and fit into at least a couple of your categories.

DLH it is!

j

 

[tennisfan]

Thanks for the review Karin. I was fortunate to stay at the DLH years ago as I got 50% through working for the NHS. It was nice but I don't think I would pay full price as i'm more of a parks person. However it suited us at the time as my niece was only 4 so handy to nip back to the hotel for breaks & swim etc. We were lucky as we had a ground floor room with a patio, so nice to sit outside in the evening/night when my niece went to bed.

If I could get a deal again, I would like to see how the refurb has changed the hotel

 

[Karin1984]

Thanks for the review Karin. I was fortunate to stay at the DLH years ago as I got 50% through working for the NHS. It was nice but I don't think I would pay full price as i'm more of a parks person. However it suited us at the time as my niece was only 4 so handy to nip back to the hotel for breaks & swim etc. We were lucky as we had a ground floor room with a patio, so nice to sit outside in the evening/night when my niece went to bed.

If I could get a deal again, I would like to see how the refurb has changed the hotel

Yeah, I am the same, it has to be a good deal, maybe a special occasion to go back.

 

[MsOnceUponATime]

Nice review Karin! I agree with all of your data points and am glad that you shared here.

We also stayed at DLH(Paris) last summer for two nights. I will say that we stayed there only because of the proximity to the parks, and the fact that we were flying from Houston and going directly to the parks for the day, and the following day.

We were dropped off, stored our luggage with bell services, and headed directly into the park until check in time. At check in time we returned to DLH, and went straight to our room to nap until dinner time. The following day I was SO jet lagged that I didn't make it to the parks. My family did though, and I was grateful that we were as close to the parks as we were that if I had been able to be awake (and fully functional) and thriving while they were at the parks that I could have joined them. As it was -- we really enjoyed the hotel. For us, it was quiet all hours of the day (this was mid-late June). We enjoyed the included breakfast and access to the Deluxe Lounge - although I was a little surprised that they wouldn't allow us into the Deluxe Lounge until the EXACT time for "tea" each day. Mostly I enjoyed the proximity to the parks. Everything else was just icing on the cake. We would definitely stay there again for proximity.

 

[Karin1984]

although I was a little surprised that they wouldn't allow us into the Deluxe Lounge until the EXACT time for "tea" each day.

I always find the French a bit unusual, sometimes they can be "this is what is agreed, and this is what we do" like with opening times. But sometimes they are also "whatever", and then it can go all ways.

 

[Garyjames220]

I have just returned from a two-night stay at the Disneyland Hotel in Disneyland Paris, and here are my first impressions.

I paid €550 per night for a room-only stay, which is about the lowest price you can get. Keep in mind that during peak seasons (such as Christmas Day), this same room can cost up to €2,000.

What does this price include (that you won’t get at other hotels)?

• Proximity (the closest hotel to the park)
• Princess Meet & Greets (Marvel has superhero M&Gs)
• A Kids' Club
• Access to booking La Table de Lumière
• Steam room and sauna (also at Marvel)

In your room:

• Bathrobes
• Slippers
• Cotton pads
• Cotton buds
• Nail polisher
• Shower cap
• A scale
• Shoe polisher
• Shoe horn
• Sewing kit
• Turn-down service with exclusive tea and a bedtime story for very young children
• Pillow menu
• Upgraded coffee & tea-making facilities (similar to the Marvel hotel)
• Huge TV (also at Marvel)
• Better hairdryer (also at Marvel)
• Dry cleaning (also at Marvel)
• Larger room (about the same size as Marvel)

The Good:

Unbeatable Proximity

This cannot be overstated. I counted—it’s only 75 steps from the park exit to the hotel entrance. If you or someone in your party has mobility issues or needs frequent breaks, this location is amazing. During my rainy visit, I forgot my umbrella, but it was easy to pop back to the room. If I had stayed at another hotel, I wouldn’t have bothered to go back and just bought a new umbrella for €30. One evening, I had a headache, so I went back to the room for an hour, then returned for the fireworks.

Plenty of Staff

The lobby is well-staffed, even during peak check-in times. There were about 10 check-in desks available, minimizing wait times. Baggage drop-off was also well-staffed.

At the Kids' Club and princess meet & greet area, at least five cast members were present when two would have sufficed. Because there’s so much staff, service feels more personal, which is a definite plus.

The hotel is also extremely clean, with staff constantly maintaining the lobby and lounge areas.

Entertainment (if you love princesses)

If you enjoy meeting princesses, this is a dream come true. You can meet them with minimal wait times (more on that later) and go as often as you like, as the princesses rotate throughout the day. There was a PhotoPass photographer available, and interactions with cast members and characters were fantastic.

The Royal Troupe, while not exclusive to hotel guests, provides great entertainment with a variety of performances. On a good day (when no one calls in sick), there are six different shows featuring at least four different princesses.

Steam Room & Sauna

A great bonus if you enjoy spa facilities. And I do

Turn-Down Service

Completely unnecessary—but delightful. Returning to a prepared room with curtains drawn, exclusive tea waiting (you make it yourself, but it's not available elsewhere in the room), and a cozy atmosphere was a nice touch.

The Room

The room itself is luxurious, with high-quality materials used for the bedding, blackout curtains, and furniture. There are thoughtful details like:

• Bright lighting options in the bathroom
• Plenty of power outlets (EU and UK, plus USB ports)
• Under-bench lighting

The Bad:

(Not really bad, but things that might make you question certain decisions.)

Not Exclusive

Since the hotel is now open for visitors, the lobby and lounge areas (where the bar and restaurant entrances are) have become extremely busy—especially on weekends, primarily with locals. I admit, I’m guilty of visiting as well.

Our Sunday stay was noticeably busier and less pleasant than Monday and Tuesday.

Longer Wait Times for Princess Meet & Greets on Weekends

On Sundays, we had to wait 15-30 minutes each time, which is still significantly better than the Princess Pavilion. It’s also included in the price, so there’s no need to pay extra for Auberge or La Table de Lumière. However, be aware that it’s not always an instant experience.

The waiting area is also quite small, so on weekends, people were lining up in the hallways—not exactly a luxurious experience.

Design Flaws?

Some design choices were questionable:

• Strange hotel layout: The hotel has two wings. The main entrance is in the east wing, but some facilities, like the pool, are in the west wing. To get from one side to the other, you must walk through the lounge. Many guests opted to walk through in their bathrobes (or even just swimsuits for kids), which felt awkward to me as there are people in the lounge area people-watching.
• Character traffic jam: Characters for both Royal Banquet and Table de Lumière must walk through the lounge, causing crowds to gather just to watch them. A backstage route would have been much better.
• Poor bathroom ventilation: The self-closing bathroom door is likely a safety feature, but without an exhaust fan, the bathroom stays humid and steamy. I had to block the door with a towel to keep it open.
• Odd lighting choices: Every light in the room is controlled by a switch—except the toilet, which has a motion sensor. I don’t understand why. The room is dark at night, and a normal switch wouldn’t have woken anyone.

Pool Not ‘Kid-Friendly’

The pool has a luxurious, spa-like feel, but there’s nothing entertaining for kids—no slides, no play areas, just a few floaties. The result? Kids end up splashing in and out of the hot tub.

If your kids want to swim, stay at Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay instead. Those pools are bigger and more fun.

Kids' Club is Underwhelming

I don’t have kids, but I spent time near the Kids' Club (since it shares a space with the princess meet & greet). It’s tiny (maybe 3x3 meters), with just a TV, a table for arts & crafts, and some board games. It seems unnecessary—Disneyland Paris doesn’t have many adult-only spaces, so most families stick together anyway. Compared to a Disney Cruise, where Kids' Clubs make sense, this one felt lackluster.

The Price

Yes, you get little extras, but are they necessary? Do I need a bathroom scale on vacation? Three cotton pads per night—what if two adults wear full-face makeup? A nail polisher, a sewing kit? These are all things that boost the hotel’s star rating, but they don’t add much value for guests.

The Ugly (or just surprising things at this price point):

• No text notification when our room was ready. The app only said "You can go to your room now," but didn’t display the room number. I had to go back to check-in.
• Bags weren’t in our room upon arrival. We wanted to go swimming but had to wait for our luggage. Tip: Handle your own bags or pack a swimsuit in your park bag.
• Missing room items. We were missing a pair of slippers, two bathrobes, and a glass. It took two trips to get everything, and we received two extra pillows we didn’t order.
• Pillowcase not replaced. I accidentally left mascara smudges on my pillowcase, and housekeeping didn’t replace it after turn-down service. Should it have been at this price point?
• Shampoo & conditioner felt cheap. The bottles look nicer, but they smell like dish soap and the same as at the other hotels.
• Rooms aren’t soundproof. We could hear our neighbors, though it wasn’t too disruptive.
• Disney+ requires your own login. Annoying if you don’t have an active account. It took me some times to get it.

Final Verdict?

A beautiful, luxurious hotel. If I can get a good price, I’d stay again—but many extras feel unnecessary. I felt obligated to do the princess meet & greets and use the spa to justify the cost. I did it gladly, but it was on the back of my mind to get my money’s worth.

For better value? Stay at the Marvel hotel.

Nice review

I think even though the kids club is very small I think it’s great to at least have it

Me and my wife will be putting our 4 year old twins in there while we do some of the rides they can’t go on, which I think is great

 

[ThBa]

Great review....Thanks Karin.

Is DLH woth it? I do not know because we did not stay there in the past years. But we are most of the days inside the park. From the beginning with Salon Mickey to the end with Dreams. We only need the rooms for a good sleep.

Over the last years we spend the extra money in food or souvenirs but perhaps in the future.....how knows.

 

[Karin1984]

Great review....Thanks Karin.

Is DLH woth it? I do not know because we did not stay there in the past years. But we are most of the days inside the park. From the beginning with Salon Mickey to the end with Dreams. We only need the rooms for a good sleep.

Over the last years we spend the extra money in food or souvenirs but perhaps in the future.....how knows.

Most things are a nice to have. Yes, it is nice to have a bigger room. Yes, I like getting a deluxe feeling in my hotel.

Do I need it for a good or even great trip? Absolutely not.

I honestly like the walk through the Village back to the hotels. Gives me a chance to wind down and literally leave the hustle and bustle of the park behind.

 

[ThBa]

I honestly like the walk through the Village back to the hotels. Gives me a chance to wind down and literally leave the hustle and bustle of the park behind.

Same here......

 

[Teamubr]

I honestly like the walk through the Village back to the hotels. Gives me a chance to wind down and literally leave the hustle and bustle of the park behind.

I like walking through the village, but after 20,000+ steps in the parks, my old feet appreciate the proximity of the DLH instead of walking around the lake to Sequoia.

j