Disneyland Hotel Paris Review: Princesses, Pyjama Parties And Pixie Dust

Sitting directly above the entrance to Disneyland Park, Disneyland Hotel isn’t only the closest hotel to the parks — it’s the flagship 5-star hotel at Disneyland Paris.

There are nods to Disney royalty everywhere you turn, from hidden details in the carpets to enormous chandeliers, princess encounters and bedrooms fit for a fairytale. Even the biggest and most cynical grown-up will struggle not to feel a little bit royal.

Of course, all that pixie dust comes with a suitably royal price tag. So — is it worth it?? Our Disneyland Hotel Paris review covers what our stay was really like, from check-in to the empty-lobby pyjama photos, so you can decide for yourself.

A Fairytale At The Park Gates

There cannot be many hotels in the world with a location quite like this one. Sitting directly above the entrance to Disneyland Park means you can leave your room and be strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. within minutes. Hotel guests also have their own dedicated entrance into the park, so when somebody needs a nap, a change of clothes or an emergency snack, you’re not facing a long trek around Lake Disney.

You’re practically already home.

Pyjamas At The Palace

One of our favourite things about the location happened after the park had closed. Once almost everyone else had disappeared for the night, we headed outside in our matching pyjamas and took photos in front of the hotel and park entrance with nobody else around.

Not another soul in sight — just us, our pyjamas, and a Disneyland Park entrance that felt like it belonged entirely to us for five minutes.

It felt ridiculous! And absolutely worth staying up past bedtime for.

Stepping Into The Lobby

From the second you walk through the doors, you’re welcomed into the most majestic royal lobby.

It felt to us a little like stepping into a regal fever dream — the kind of lobby where you need to stop, look up and take everything in.

The lobby has been designed to resemble the grand library of a French castle, and it certainly delivers on the grandeur. Above the sweeping staircase hangs an enormous Bohemian crystal chandelier inspired by Sleeping Beauty Castle, while 15 miniature Disney dioramas can be found around the mezzanine.

Extra ‘Pixie Dust’ From The Staff

I’ll admit that the little voice in the back of my head was shouting about imposter syndrome while we were checking in. Did we really belong somewhere this fancy? That feeling quickly disappeared thanks to the incredible service from the Cast Members.

Every member of staff we encountered made us feel welcome, including the maintenance team we passed in the corridors. They even gave us little take-home goodies, including pens and notepads — or, as we prefer to call it, extra pixie dust.

Sometimes it’s those small and completely unexpected interactions that create the most memorable Disney memories.

Our Room

We stayed in a Superior Room and, for us, it was perfect. It felt special enough without needing to upgrade. The room felt elegant and luxurious while still being unmistakably Disney — it wasn’t simply covered in pictures of princesses. Instead, the royal stories were woven into the design through smaller, more thoughtful details.

There are several room categories to choose from, each with its own extras — we’ll have a full breakdown of what’s included in each one soon.

Disneyland Hotel Princess Meets

If there is one Disneyland Hotel perk that made me feel like we had unlocked a Disney cheat code, it was A Disney Royal Encounter.

Rather than joining the virtual queue Hunger Games inside Disneyland Park and then hoping your plans line up with whatever return time you are given, we were able to book a private Princess meet and greet in a beautifully themed room inside the hotel.

The whole experience felt easier and more personal than a typical park meet, with plenty of time for hugs, photos and interaction without feeling like you’re being rushed out of the door.

We booked the earliest slot that fitted within our plans, and once we’d met Princess Aurora we booked again and just an hour later we were meeting Ariel; you would struggle to meet 2 princesses in 1 day within the parks without doing character dining, let alone in less than 90 minutes.

Considering how difficult Princess meets can sometimes be inside the park, this was one of our favourite perks of staying at Disneyland Hotel, and one we will absolutely do again.

Dining And Everything Else On Site

Disneyland Hotel is also home to some of the most elaborate dining experiences at Disneyland Paris, from character breakfasts to a cocktail bar for a quieter break from the parks — you’ll find our full reviews linked below. There’s even a princess and prince makeover experience, My Royal Dream, which we’ve also covered in full separately.

And, a complete guide to everything else Disneyland Hotel offers — the kids’ club, the spa, the treasure hunt, the boutique that will absolutely relieve you of your euros — is coming soon.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is paying to stay at Disneyland Hotel and then spending every waking minute inside the parks. Which is why for my next stay I’ve booked to go when the parks close earlier so I’ve got extra time to enjoy the facilities without missing out on the park.

A large part of the value comes from the experiences and facilities within the hotel itself.

A Few Things We’d Do Again

• Stay up later than usual. Once the crowds have disappeared, that empty-lobby, empty-entrance photo moment is worth the late night.
• Plan an afternoon inside the hotel. You’ve paid enough to stay here, so make sure you actually enjoy it rather than treating it as just somewhere to sleep.
• Buy matching pyjamas. There’s no practical reason for this. It just makes everything feel more special, and makes the late-night photographs considerably better.
• Take the complimentary pen from your room. It writes surprisingly well. Don’t you love that the most useful souvenir is the one already sitting beside the hotel notepad?

Is Disneyland Hotel Paris Worth It?

Disneyland Hotel Paris is unashamedly expensive, but it offers something no other Disneyland Paris hotel can fully replicate. The location is unbeatable, the lobby is stunning, and the combination of royal character experiences, restaurants, lounges and leisure facilities makes the hotel feel like part of the holiday rather than somewhere you simply return to at night.

However, you need to make time to enjoy it.

✔️ Who It’s Actually Worth It For

For repeat visitors who aren’t rushing to experience every attraction, show and character meet, it can absolutely be worth the money.

You can slow down, spend time exploring the hotel, return for afternoon breaks and appreciate all the extra experiences included with your stay. Even then, one night didn’t feel like enough for us.

❌ Why We Wouldn’t Recommend It First Time Round

I’m not fully convinced Disneyland Hotel is the best choice for most first-time visitors. On your first Disneyland Paris trip, you’ll probably want to spend as much time as possible inside the parks, experiencing the attractions, meeting characters and watching the shows. Finding the right balance between park time and hotel time can be difficult, making it harder to get value from such an expensive stay.

For a first trip, we’d probably recommend choosing a less expensive Disney Hotel and booking one or two Disneyland Hotel experiences separately, such as My Royal Dream or character dining at Royal Banquet. That gives you a little taste of the pink palace without spending most of the holiday worrying that you’re not making the most of the room rate.

The Bug You Can’t Un-Catch

However, once you’ve stayed at Disneyland Hotel, you may not want to stay anywhere else. Trust me, it’s like a bug. Before staying here, I always had a countdown to my next Disneyland Paris trip. Now I have a countdown to my next stay at Disneyland Hotel.

I’ll stay in this hotel in every lifetime.

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