January 25th, 2024 marked the reopening of the Disneyland Hotel Paris, which has undergone a complete retheme.
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The newly transformed Disneyland Hotel now offers guests a regal experience, immersing them in Disney stories complemented by 5 star hospitality, exquisite dining, and uniquely Disney entertainment.
This reopening marks a significant achievement in Disneyland Paris’s continuous commitment to investment and development, solidifying its position as the third largest hotel owner-operator in France. With a staggering 5,700 rooms and suites, Disneyland Paris stands as the largest theme park hotel operator in Europe.
The resort’s seven hotels, tailored to a European audience, enhance the immersive experience of the parks. Each hotel boasts a distinctive atmosphere, featuring exclusive offerings and thematic elements that seamlessly incorporate various Disney franchises.
According to a 2023 study conducted by Disneyland Paris in collaboration with IFOP, 83% of US consumers desire magical atmospheres and decor in five-star hotels, while 85% expect unique experiences for children.
Disneyland Hotel perfectly aligns with these expectations, positioned at the entrance of Disneyland Park and delivering unparalleled entertainment, dining, amenities, and services characteristic of a five-star establishment. The hotel is staffed by 800 Cast Members, each trained to uphold high standards of service.
The redesign of the Disneyland Hotel was a collaborative effort between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Over 200 renowned French and European companies, known for their expertise in various artistic skills, worked together to bring the vision to life.
The royal experience commences in the grand lobby, inspired by the architecture of famous French castles. The lobby, adorned in an ivory and gold color palette, features a magnificent chandelier made of Bohemian crystal, symbolizing Sleeping Beauty Castle.
This centerpiece extends its ribbon of light to the wood and marble mezzanine, which houses 15 multiplane camera dioramas paying homage to Walt Disney’s technique of adding depth to animated features. Crafted in the Czech Republic by a glassmaking expert, the chandelier combines high-quality Bohemian Crystal with 21st-century technologies.
The lobby’s redesign has not been without controversy in the Disney fan community. Most notably the iconic painting of Main Street U.S.A by artist Frank Armitage above the fireplace was replaced by a lower quality copy of his concept art for Sleeping Beauty Castle. Many fans consider the new artwork an aesthetic downgrade. The new artwork also severs the hotel’s connection to the adjacent Main Street U.S.A., which was an integral part of the original theme.
Welcoming guests into the hotel are Royal Greeters, and La Troupe Royale Disney, a duo of comedians, engages visitors with surprise sing-alongs or interactive royal tales throughout the day. These performances may also feature a Disney Princess such as Cinderella, Rapunzel, or Jasmine.
Check out the complete breakdown of all the rooms and suites inside the new Disneyland Hotel here.
Experiences for Kids
The Royal Kids Club
Children can step into the world of their favorite Disney royal stories at the Royal Kids Club. This magical library, curated by Cast Members, invites children to engage in interactive and augmented reality experiences. Moreover, families can reserve A Disney Royal Encounter, enabling young guests to pose alongside a Disney Princess like Snow White, Jasmine, or Ariel.
For children aged four to eleven, Disneyland Hotel offers a complimentary nursery service supervised by BAFA certified Cast Members for up to two hours.
Personalised Royal Styling
“My Royal Dream” transforms young guests into elegant princesses or princes through make-up, hair, nails, costumes, and accessories. This paid service offers various packages for both children and adults, with costumes exclusively available for those aged three to fourteen. The experience concludes with a professional portrait session, complete with a photo print and frame.
Food & Beverage for Young Palates
Disneyland Hotel has crafted a dining experience tailored for children. The Royal Banquet and La Table de Lumière restaurants feature curated menus, serving up reinterpretations of French traditional delicacies, such as beef and carrots Parmentier or a Comté cheese puff pastry, inspired by Disney characters.
Young guests can unwind at the Fleur de Lys Bar, where mixologists concoct mocktails, alongside a wide variety of juices, soft drinks, and snacks.
Clarins Spa and Wellness
Young guests can relax alongside their accompanying adults in the pool and spa. Genuine spa treatments are available for those aged 6 and above. Kid-friendly products are provided by Nougatine Paris at Disneyland Hotel Spa by Clarins.
Dining Options
Dining establishments, the bar, and lounges at Disneyland Hotel have been redesigned to showcase Disney Animation’s royal stories. These spaces aim to offer a gourmet dining experience, blending French savoir-faire with Disney.
The Royal Banquet Buffet Restaurant (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
Taking inspiration from the opulent reception rooms in castles, The Royal Banquet invites guests to partake in a feast amid a gallery adorned with paintings depicting various Disney royal families, including the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland, Prince John from Robin Hood, and Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove.
Some portrayals, like the family of Merida from the Pixar film Brave, have been woven into tapestries, drawing inspiration from the movie set in medieval Scotland. Imagineers and artists at Pixar Animation Studios collaborated with the craftsmen at Tissage des Flandres, a workshop with over 130 years of experience in creating tapestries.
Guests can choose from dishes inspired by the diverse cultures that influenced Disney stories, such as a Spicy Cajun Shrimp dish paying homage to Tiana’s native Louisiana. For those with hearty appetites, a oyster and seafood bar and a meat carving stand are available. Young guests can also indulge in a dedicated variety of products, including customisable desserts.
The Royal Banquet offers guests the opportunity to meet and dine with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and their friends during lunch and dinner, all adorned in exclusive regal outfits.
Fine Dining at La Table de Lumière Table Service Restaurant (dinner only)
La Table de Lumière provides guests with a table service dinner in a space paying homage to the Beauty and the Beast ballroom scene, inspired by the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles Castle. Elegant mirrors and crystal elements add sparkle to the atmosphere, complemented by tableware featuring rose-emblazoned china and thorn-themed napkin rings. Further interior design highlights include a rotating figure of Belle and the Beast dancing as well as a giant tiara shaped sofa.
The menu features French fine dining with local gourmet delicacies, including sole fished off the coast of France and European lobster with white cabbage remoulade. Guests seeking quality meat can select the open rotisserie, while those opting for plant-based options can explore a variety of choices, such as a mushroom velouté with peppered Isigny cream, sourdough bread croutons, and toasted hazelnut chips.
For dessert, guests can enjoy treats paying homage to royal Disney stories, while a celebration cake inspired by Belle’s rose is available for special occasions.
Royal Disney Couples including Belle and her Prince (Beauty and the Beast), Aurora and Philip (Sleeping Beauty), or Tiana and Naveen (The Princess and the Frog) interact with guests during dinner. La Table de Lumière is currently only available to Disneyland Hotel guests with a restaurant reservation.
Drinks and Snacks – Fleur de Lys Bar (all day long)
While Fleur de Lys Bar let’s guests enjoy drinks with a view of Fantasia Gardens, the redesign has met with mixed reviews from fans online. Several fans have criticised that the former Cafe Fantasia location, which featured many handcrafted elements specifically created for Disneyland Paris, now lacks soul and feels cold. With many mentioning it feels generic and could be at any hotel in Europe.
Imagineers were inspired by the fleur-de-lys (French royal symbol) and selected shades of blue and silver for the space. The menu offers flower-themed signature cocktails and a selection of wines. Guests can also enjoy an afternoon tea offer, snacks, and a Champagne experience, including the exclusive Disneyland Hotel Cuvée. Produced by Maison Pierre Mignon, a 5th-generation family champagne producer based close to Epernay (France).
Two Lounges (breakfast, afternoon snacking, and all-day drinks)
The Deluxe Lounge, welcoming guests staying in Deluxe Rooms, offers a view of Fantasia Gardens for buffet breakfasts, complimentary Tea Time, and savory snacks. Imagineers have also incorporated an engraved plaque which features an Art Nouveau inspired interpretation of Fantasia Gardens.
Exclusive to guests staying in Castle Club rooms and suites, the Castle Club Lounge offers a great view of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It features bright décor inspired by various Disney castle interiors and engravings designed by the Walt Disney Imagineering Paris teams.
The lounge offers a character breakfast buffet with an à-la-carte menu, complimentary tea time with hot and cold beverages, and sweet and savory snack options. All served in tableware specially created by Maison Haviland, a manufacturer specialising in Limoges porcelain founded in 1842. Disney Princess Characters such as Aurora, Rapunzel, Merida, Cinderella, or Moana also drop by to interact with guests.
Royal Room Service (24/7)
The royal experience at Disneyland Hotel extends to extensive premium and personalised Room Service options, allowing guests to enjoy a wide variety of premium dining and drinking options, as well as pastries and fresh fruits.
Hotel Stay
Disneyland Hotel guests can enjoy existing Disney Hotels benefits such as early access to the Disney Parks (Extra Magic Time). The team of trained Cast Members has been carefully selected from across the resort, to provide personalised service. For those seeking more insights about the hotel, Story Keepers are on hand to walk guests through all the details and hidden gems of the hotel.
The 800 Disneyland Hotel Cast Members represent 40 nationalities and exercise more than 100 different jobs for which 27,777 costume pieces have been created, some of them including work by Dutel, a Lyon-based company that specialises in making jacquard fabric.
Clarins and at the Crystal Pool & Health Club
Hotel guests can enjoy the Disneyland Hotel Spa by Clarins, a brand with French savoir-faire. Beauty Therapists, in 4 double treatment rooms, including one room specifically designed with additional accessibility in mind, provide classic and signature treatments, manicure and pedicure, blow-dry & flash make-up, to enjoy alone or as a couple.
The Crystal Pool features a main pool, a kids’ paddling pool, and a hot tub. Swimmers can enjoy a dip beneath the glass and metal roof echoing the Laeken Royal Greenhouses in Brussels before stretching out on the exterior sun deck.
For guests looking to stay active during their stay, the Health Club provide smart fitness equipment from the sports machine brand Technogym. Open 24/7, the space will also include a wellness program through a partnership with Three Sages. A digital entertainment system will also be available to give guests access to yoga and mindfulness practices.
Merchandise
In a setting inspired by the manuscripts and books on the shelves of famous castle libraries, the Royal Collection Boutique has been entirely redesigned in golden tones. References have been subtly concealed in crafted details such as Disney Princesses emblems painted on medallions.
The Disneyland Hotel offers exclusive merchandise, no annual pass discount is currently available. From items celebrating the hotel’s features such as the Mickey Mouse clock, the hotel’s famous façade, and a Rapunzel-inspired mirror, tableware, a Mickey plush toy in his royal attire or the Disneyland Hotel interior fragrance.
Disney collaborations as well as select core and Disneyland Paris lifestyle products are also available. Disneyland Paris teamed up with renowned French brands. High-end fashion house Julien Fournié is set to offer exclusive items, such as a silk scarf designed exclusively for Disneyland Hotel.
Also, Limoges porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud will be providing a tray and a lithophane. Since 1828, this esteemed manufacturer has been employing the traditional technique of lithophanie, which involves engraving on a thin, unglazed porcelain canvas. Through this time-honored method, they craft exquisite photophores featuring a diverse array of engraved motifs, akin to the offerings available at the Disneyland Hotel.
Moreover, Disneyland Paris is collaborating with designer brand Billieblush to create a mini collection, only available in the Disneyland Hotel, drawing inspiration from the world of Disneyland Paris.
Overall the redesign and refurbishment have been integrated into almost every aspect of the Disneyland Hotel. The new look has provided a much needed refresh while also integrating Disney’s intellectual property in a protuberant manner. Exclusivity and direct park access are still a major perk of the Disneyland Hotel. The former annual pass entrance has been converted to a Disneyland Hotel guest exclusive entrance and the Castle Club exclusive elevator is also still available.
Will you be staying at the Disneyland Hotel? Let us know in the comments below.
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