Editor’s note: TPG was provided with travel to Disneyland Paris from London and a two-night stay with access to the park. All opinions expressed are the author’s and were not subject to review by Disney.
After closing for renovations in 2020, the five-star Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris is finally set to reopen its doors on Jan. 25, 2024.
While the doors were shut, it underwent a major new royal transformation. TPG just got a special first look inside in advance of the reopening next month.
The Disneyland Hotel sits at the entrance to Disneyland Paris. The hotel originally opened in 1992 for the resort’s grand opening. As the park’s only five-star hotel, it has long been the crown jewel of Disneyland Paris’ seven hotels thanks to its breathtaking views of Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Fantasia Gardens, easy park access and fully immersive Disney experience.
Over the last few years, the Walt Disney Imagineering team has been working solidly on the hotel’s new royal reinvention — meticulously redesigning and refurbishing every inch of the hotel, from its grand lobby to its luxury rooms and suites.
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“This marks a new chapter for Disneyland Paris, as we continue to be one of the leaders of the European tourism industry with our unique blend of immersive storytelling and world-class hospitality,” said Natacha Rafalski, president of Disneyland Paris. “We are thrilled to unveil the newly reimagined Disneyland Hotel, a one-of-a-kind five-star property celebrating Disney’s beloved royalty and storytelling. Our commitment to innovation and unparalleled guest experiences remains unwavering, and we look forward to welcoming guests to one of the most immersive hotels in Europe.”
Here’s everything you need to know about the coming reopening of the Disneyland Hotel.
When does the Disneyland Hotel in Paris open, and how much will it cost to stay?
The Disneyland Hotel will officially reopen on Jan. 25, 2024, and is the closest hotel to the two parks (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park) at Disneyland Paris.
Guests staying at the hotel receive early access to the Disney parks each day, as well as a fully immersive royal Disney experience within the hotel itself.
The good news is the hotel is close to reopening, but the bad news is it is quite expensive. Room rates start around $1,450 per night for a superior room (two guests), $1,750 for a superior family room, $1,920 for deluxe rooms, $2,400 for a Castle Club room with a view of the park and $3,700 for a signature suite.
It’s a Disney first
It may come as a surprise, but this is the first five-star Disney hotel to go all-in on Disney royalty as its theme to offer a singular, immersive experience. It pays homage to both Disney royal stories and iconic European landmarks such as Le Chateau de Versailles and Neuschwanstein Castle.
From “Cinderella,” “Frozen” and “The Sword in the Stone” to “The Princess and the Frog” and “Moana,” references to Disney princes and princesses are on display from the moment you step inside the hotel’s Victorian facade.
The magic begins as you walk into the lobby
Stepping inside the hotel’s new regal-themed lobby, your eyes are immediately drawn to the huge chandelier. Composed of bohemia crystal, the chandelier is almost 20 feet tall, 13 feet wide and 136 feet long; it’s decorated with crystal cut into the shape of stars and snowdrops around its centerpiece, which depicts the iconic castle from “Sleeping Beauty.”
The chandelier punctuates a backdrop of ivory and gold tones around a wood and marble mezzanine. It’s flanked by 15 display cases showcasing books and parchments depicting royal Disney stories.
Upon entering the lobby, guests will receive their very own fairy-tale welcome from a designated Disney Royal Greeter; the welcome will be accompanied by surprise singalongs and storytelling from the comedic duo La Troupe Royale Disney and other iconic characters such as Cinderella and Rapunzel.
Your immersion in Disney lore doesn’t end at the lobby. Carefully trained Disney cast members selected from across the resort and further afield will be scattered throughout the hotel. In addition to your Royal Greeter, you’ll encounter storykeepers who will walk guests through hidden gems of the hotel and spur on group singalongs, story sessions and interactive scenes that take place daily throughout the hotel.
It’s smaller than other Disneyland Paris hotels but still sprawling
Adding to its feeling of exclusivity, the hotel is smaller than some of the other properties at the park. Don’t let that fool you — it’s still a sprawling labyrinth of a hotel composed of 487 rooms and suites. (There are 346 superior rooms, 82 deluxe rooms, 41 Castle Club rooms, 16 signature suites, one Princely Suite and one Royal Suite.)
Alongside the expected luxury amenities, each room contains artwork and Disney references, ranging from the subtle — signature Disney items like Aladdin’s lamp hidden in the carpet — to the overt and deliciously in-your-face — such as a full-size Madame de Garderobe used as the door to your bathroom in the Beauty and the Beast Signature Suite. Each room has been designed by the Disney Imagineering team alongside local and historical Disney supplier Atelier Bournillat.
One of the rooms’ most notable touches is the effort to hide modern technology. This avoids breaking the illusion of being inside a real-life Disney castle. TVs are hidden behind functioning mirrors, and Disney artwork and coffee machines are obscured inside oversized jewelry boxes, giving each room an antiquated (in a good way) but magically royal vibe.
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You can book suites inspired by your favorite Disney princess
The most premium rooms available are the hotel’s 16 signature suites, plus a Princely Suite and a Royal Suite. The suites are within the Castle Club area of the hotel on the top two floors. This area is billed by Disney as a “hotel within the hotel,” providing a personalized and more elevated luxury offering.
Each suite offers a highly immersive experience with unique design elements inspired by Disney royal classics, plus deluxe products and amenities such as walk-in closets and huge spa bathtubs. Perhaps most exciting, each suite is inspired by a particular Disney princess.
Alongside each room’s luxury amenities, guests staying in these suites have access to a private elevator, a dedicated check-in area and the Castle Club Lounge, which includes daily breakfast with Disney Princess characters.
The styling of the suites breaks down as follows:
Cinderella Signature Suites
Spanning up to 295 square feet, these suites have a cute powdered color palette (think: soft pinks, blue and ivory). Scattered throughout the room, you’ll find various references to the original animation, including Cinderella’s ballgown and her iconic glass slipper, which lights up beside the bed.
Rapunzel Signature Suites
These suites measure up to about 200 square feet and have a warm color palette and wooden elements accentuated by subtle hints of purple. The room has been meticulously crafted to match the design of “Tangled.” Key features include stunning wall illustrations and various references to the sundrop flower.
Beauty and the Beast Signature Suites
Covering up to 295 square feet, these suites place you within the Beast’s castle and are littered with various references to the famed animation; references include light fittings that nod to Lumiere and a bathroom door carefully disguised as the wardrobe. Flanking the bed, you’ll also find oversized depictions of the Beast’s Enchanted Rose, which double as bedroom lighting.
Frozen Signature Suites
Inspired by “Frozen,” one of the most popular modern Disney films, this is a pretty great representation of Arendelle.
Spread across 295 square feet, the suites come with unique triangular stained-glass windows featuring an iconic “Frozen” snowflake. A TV is hidden behind a portrait of Anna and Elsa, allowing you to separate and rejoin the two characters at your whim. Other elements reference the crocus flower.
Sleeping Beauty Signature Suites
In keeping with the original animation, these 295-square-foot suites carry a medieval theme with stone walls, columns, arches and wooden finishes across elegant, royal reds and blues. Standout references include Aurora’s dressing table and her dress, which is on display beside the bed and changes color of its own volition.
Princely Suite
Another “Beauty and the Beast”-inspired suite, this time directly inspired by the live-action depiction starring Emma Watson, this sprawling suite is 3,661 square feet and features lavish baroque-style decor. Its lounge references the ballroom and features chandeliers and a grand fireplace.
Royal Suite
The largest suite on offer — measuring about 3,960 square feet — is another nod to “Frozen” and Queen Elsa’s ice palace. Billed as the grandest and most immersive suite in the entire hotel, it comprises a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room with a shimmering ice chandelier and a balcony with views of Sleeping Beauty Castle within the park.
Your kids can become actual royalty
An offering at the Disneyland Hotel is its personalized royal styling service. This paid-for activity sees seasoned cast members acting as personal stylists to transform young girls and boys into Disney princesses and princes. It features makeup, hair, nails and costume styling services.
The costuming element of the service is suitable for kids ages 3 to 14 years old, but if you’re an adult seeking your own Disney pampering session, it’s possible to also book grown-up makeup and hair sessions. The unique service climaxes with a photoshoot in a special room adorned with a royal throne.
Other standout kids services on offer include the Royal Kids Club, styled as a magic library where kids use iPads to relive Disney stories through the power of augmented reality.
It’s possible to book your own Disney Royal Encounter to meet Disney princesses such as Snow White, Jasmine or Ariel. The hotel also offers a free nursery service for kids between the ages of 4 and 11, where cast members with required childcare certifications will cater to their every need for up to two hours.
But the high-end kids services don’t stop there. Children can also accompany adults at the Disneyland Hotel Spa by Clarins to enjoy kid-friendly spa treatments and products by Nougatine Paris. Families can also take advantage of the pool.
A royal dining experience
A royal Disney hotel is nothing without its high-end dining experiences, and the Disneyland Hotel will offer two inspiring restaurants when it reopens.
The first is the Royal Portraits Gallery at The Royal Banquet Buffet Restaurant. As the name suggests, this is a buffet-style venue, perfect for families looking for more options without the fuss of a set menu. The buffet area is adorned with new, original portraits of Disney royal families, such as King Triton and his mermaid brood, Prince John from “Robin Hood” and Kronk from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” Each piece of artwork was created especially for the hotel.
Dishes on offer are inspired by various Disney stories and take influence from cultures around the globe, offering items such as spicy cajun shrimp in tribute to Louisiana native Tiana from “The Princess and The Frog.”
As you’d expect from an immersive Disney eatery, guests also have the chance to meet and dine with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, among other characters, decked out in regal attire.
On the finer side of things, guests can eat dinner at Lat Table de Lumiere. It pays homage to the ballroom scene from “Beauty and the Beast” and was partially inspired by the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.
Mirrors surround the room with a chandelier centered as a focal point, and unique tableware includes rose-emblazoned china and thorn-themed napkin rings. The menu itself will incorporate French fine dining and draw upon local gourmet delicacies such as roses from Provins, sole from the coast of France and European lobster.
Those intent on going big can enjoy their food in the company of a royal Disney couple like Belle and her prince.
Elsewhere, you’ll be able to enjoy flower-themed cocktails and light snacks at Fleur de Lys Bar. Or, you can enjoy breakfast, snacks and drinks at the Deuxe Lounge overlooking Fantasia Gardens.
Meanwhile, Castle Club guests can take advantage of the Castle Club Lounge and its views of Sleeping Beauty Castle set within the park.
Patrons can also enjoy daily breakfasts featuring encounters with Disney princesses like Aurora, Rapunzel and Cinderella.
The hotel has its own Champagne
In keeping with its royal themes, the hotel has the privilege of its own exclusive Champagne, created by the Maison Pierre Mignon family (a five-generation Champagne producer based in Epernay, France). The Disneyland Hotel Cuvee — made from the very first press of the grapes — is exclusive to the hotel. Good luck finding anything like that at Walt Disney World in Florida.
Furniture is directly inspired by Disney movies
True Disney buffs will be delighted to spot some of the more subtle references throughout the hotel.
The Princely Suite features a footstool that perfectly represents Sultan, the cute dog-turned-furnishing from “Beauty and the Beast.” And in the Royal Kids Club, wooden tables are lifted directly from the original artwork from the same movie. The attention to detail across the property is impressive.
The Rotunda is the epicenter of the hotel
One of the most eye-catching areas of the hotel is the central rotunda, which provides access to all the different wings and restaurants at the hotel.
Situated outside the Fleur de Lys Bar, the area is straight out of a Disney animation with blue decor rising into a dramatic cathedral. It really does feel like you’re stepping inside your own Disney palace.
This particular part of the hotel was designed in collaboration with Cemad, a French family-owned business specializing in fittings and joinery since 1877.
Bottom line
After some time away, Disneyland Paris’ luxury Disneyland Hotel is set to reopen next month following an extensive renovation.
The hotel has been completely reimagined, with every facet updated in line with its new royal Disney theme. It promises to be the grandest and most immersive hotel at the Paris park and will open on Jan. 25, 2024. Reservations are now open for those looking to make a trip next year.
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