Our Comprehensive Disneyland Hotel Paris Review in a Deluxe Room with Terrace

Hi everyone!

We have posted quite a few articles and videos about our Disneyland Hotel Paris stay, including the Deluxe Lounge for Breakfast and Deluxe Lounge for Tea Time, as well as La Table de Lumière and Royal Banquet buffet reviews.

Today I want to talk about the overall Deluxe experience. The Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris reopened on January 25th, 2024 after a royal reimagining. I am seeing in online reviews that not much has changed since our opening night stay over a month ago. Our stay was a very mixed experience, with the room being a major issue but not the only one.

We arrived at the Disneyland Hotel Paris at 8:00 a.m. for our Deluxe overnight stay, although the doors didn’t open until after 8:30 a.m. on opening day. There was some fanfare, including Disneyland Paris CEO Natacha Rafalski and the Disneyland Hotel Ambassadors in the lobby. Mickey Mouse was in his Royal Banquet costume in the lobby for the early morning. The lobby is a bit darker than I expected but the chandelier from the Czech Republic is absolutely stunning.

We checked in after saying hello to some friends and taking a photo with Natacha Rafalski. We were told by Cast Members that most guests arrived at once in the morning instead of over the course of a day, so it was busy in the lobby. I was really looking forward to this stay. The Disneyland Hotel for the one night for us cost $1530 US, which is 5x more than we have ever spent for a hotel night and 10x more than our average hotel spend per night (the rest of our two-week trip was on the less expensive side as usual, staying at Hotel Relais Spa). This cost included tickets to the parks, which is a huge benefit for those who need them (we are Passholders and did not, but the price was the same).

Even though the Disneyland Hotel Paris lobby was full, we only waited a short bit for a Deluxe concierge to help us. Enrica was wonderful! She showed us the paperwork and talked about the Deluxe offerings. I was hoping there would be a traditional opening day gift like a lithograph, but there was nothing (and in the end, we didn’t receive what we were supposed to in the room either).

We were told our room should be ready in about an hour, so we went first to the Royal Collection Boutique and picked up a few items (some items were gone already, the resellers shopped early). I do hope the Disneyland Hotel will expand their merchandise to include items like a Minnie royal plush, a regular mug, ear headband, etc. We then went to A Royal Encounter to meet Ariel. This is a great space for guests to meet princesses in their Disneyland Hotel exclusive outfits. We were able to book this exclusive experience a week prior to arrival, and also we booked it several more times over the two days. The space was very well run.

Our room was not yet ready by the time we finished, so we went to the Deluxe Lounge. The Cast Members seemed a bit surprised to see us, but eventually a host showed us to a table. The podium was sometimes staffed, sometimes not while we were there.

We liked the Deluxe Lounge. It took a while to get used to being served in a table service atmosphere instead of having a way to grab and go for drinks and such (which I wish was offered). We did learn a few days later that we were supposed to have a starter set of waters, a nectar and snacks in our refrigerator that were not there. These do not get replenished if you do receive them.

I have been told that the Deluxe Lounge is more strict on hours than it was for us. We were able to use it from the time we arrived (except not breakfast the first morning) until the time we left the next evening. You may find this different for your stay, possibly depending on how crowded the Deluxe Lounge is. For the very expensive price, it seems that the Deluxe Lounge should have access anytime during a stay, certainly to have drinks to go.

Our room was not yet ready by 11:30 a.m., and it was time for our Royal Banquet buffet reservation (100 € each with one cold drink).

The Royal Banquet was another experience we enjoyed, although I don’t eat seafood. The big draw here is the characters, not the food – although if you like seafood (and Jeff does), there are quite a few options, including an overflowing tray of langoustines. I had not even heard of langoustines before, and now we seem to see them everywhere. Honestly, the food itself for me wasn’t as good as say… a Downtown or Pym Kitchen in terms of buffet. The desserts were made with a lot of jams and such, so the flavor combinations didn’t work for me there either. We did go back a second time when our friends invited us, and had an amazing character experience.

We went back and forth to reception to find out about our room. There was supposed to be a text to let us know the room was ready, but that never happened. We were told by a Cast Member that there was a maintenance issue at the room we were originally supposed to have. At just after 4:00 p.m., we were told a room was ready.

The West Wing is where the Deluxe rooms are, and it is far to reception. It took us about 8 minutes each way (including up and down two sets of elevators) and then down the hallway each time we needed to fix something or talk to reception. There is supposed to be a Concierge Cast Member in the West Wing, but that location was not staffed and it appears that is still the case.

Also, there is a door to the outside from the West Wing that would have been convenient IF it was open to come and go. Security does man it. The first day, we were allowed to leave that way but not return. After the first day, it was no longer allowed either coming or going. It would have saved us a ton of time to be able to use it, including when we went to see the wonderful Electrical Sky Parade in Disneyland Park. It took us 12+ minutes to leave the park and go around to the lobby, up the elevators or stairs, down the hallway and then down the elevators and then walk to our room. It would have taken us about 2-3 minutes if that other door was available to us. I really don’t understand why that is not open.

The elevators in the West Wing also were touch-and-go. At one point, they were making loud noises and someone from the hotel or maintenance then said only four people per elevator. The West Wing has not only the Deluxe rooms, but the pool, A Royal Encounter and such, so being limited can’t work with the elevators.

When we walked to our room, there was quite a bit of work going on in the hallways. I hope that is not the case anymore. We passed a roll of carpet, as well as workers painting. I sat next to contractors on the communal couch. It didn’t feel like an area that was nearly ready for guests.

Our ‘Frozen’ theme room that was ready had a broken “magic” portrait and a muddy, unlandscaped view outside. We paid extra for a terrace, which I know was a bit odd for January. There were some other issues too, but the biggest thing for us was the Elsa portrait not working. The extra “magic” is one of the things that sets the Deluxe category apart from the Superior (a name that still baffles me, since Superior should be the highest).

I wasn’t really happy with our experience telling a Cast Member about the issues. But we did eventually get moved – at about 8:00 p.m. I did mention we spent a lot of time in the Deluxe Lounge. I was grateful for it, and having Tea Time and then drinks while waiting for the room. The staff of the Deluxe Lounge was overall pretty great. I didn’t find Breakfast and Tea Time as abundant in food items as the Golden Forest in Disney’s Sequoia Lodge a year and a half ago, but there was plenty of choice at breakfast.

We went to Disneyland Park only for the Electrical Sky Parade (which is amazing, we watched it five times during our trip). When we came back, we moved to a new room after 8:00 p.m. The room was a ‘Sleeping Beauty’ themed room and looked fine, except maybe for a foot imprint that seemed permanent in a seat. The Disneyland Hotel rooms are large and the magic portraits were working in our second room. We learned a couple of days later that we were supposed to receive a starter set of drinks and snacks. Our friends in Superior two days later received several waters, a nectar and three snack containers (our friends added us to their room, and I was very surprised to see they received more perks than we did). The television also should have had our names, but did not.

Also, we received two visits from hotel Cast Members without knocking on the door.

Our rooms did include Lavazza coffees, Betjeman and Barton teas and Monbana hot chocolate with cups. It was a nice setup. From reviews I’ve read, these may not get replenished either (but everything really should be, like in any other hotel).

We also did not receive turndown service, which is supposed to be a benefit. Learning later about this was one of many disappointments considering the cost of the room and that we made our trip in January from the United States specifically because of the Disneyland Hotel. We visit often but this was a first for us in January. That said – there were many January highlights – Snow! Brasserie Rosalie at Disney Village! Disney Electrical Sky Parade! It was a great trip with a lot of friends to see.

Back to the hotel…something I look forward to in nice hotels are bath amenities. And of course, the Disneyland Hotel being considered a 5-star hotel, I expected quite nice products. That didn’t happen. Superior and Deluxe receive the same items – nothing that seemed of name, and the lotion has an odd consistency. Our soap box was a bit tattered.

In the Crystal Pool locker rooms, there were Clarins products that were wonderful. That is the level I expect for the rooms. For example, Hotel Relais Spa (our favorite hotel in the area) has a Nuxe spa and offers some Nuxe cleanser in the room shower. And I purchase it now, because I like it. If the Disneyland Hotel can’t have luxury products in the guest room bathrooms, then maybe bring back the H20+ items, which Disney does own. They are very good products.

When we woke up, we did use the Crystal Pool (it can get very busy later in the day, so I recommend morning). My favorite experience there was the Clarins products in the locker rooms.

For dinner, we ate at La Table de Lumière (120 € each, not including drinks) and enjoyed the experience with our friends. The desserts were especially good. I know that La Table de Lumière has very mixed reviews right now, but the restaurant was not full for us and the food was decent, though not to the level of Brasserie Rosalie at Disney Village (IMHO). But we had great character interactions, so the experience as a whole was very positive.

There are no reasonably priced food options in the Disneyland Hotel. You can order expensive snacks (including caviar) in the Fleur de Lys bar or room service items, but our friends decided to order Uber Eats during the Superior stay. I think we ended up with Vapiano food. It would be nice to have a quick-serve option in the Disneyland Hotel.

When we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, non-guests were not allowed in except for a few reasons. That has changed and currently there is a Lineberty reservation system. Some of the good experiences from when we stayed – like characters just walking around or meeting in the rotunda – don’t seem to happen anymore.

One thing I want to mention is that we brought a very small amount of alcohol to the Disneyland Hotel. That is allowed, but it was a very odd system. We brought four mini-bottles of wine (enough for one drink each) for us and two friends. Our friends brought our two carry-on bags into the hotel and were stopped for it. Each suitcase was only allowed two bottles, no matter the size. We had four miniature bottles in one bag, so they had to move two bottles to the other bag to be allowed to enter the hotel. When our other friends came to the Disneyland Hotel a few days later, we made sure they knew this rule. So instead of a 6-pack of beer, they brought two huge bottles. I don’t know if you could bring 5 suitcases and then have 10 bottles, or if a backpack counts. I just was really surprised.

Also…and I will write about this in a different article…when our friends arrived a few days later, we finally tried the Fleur de Lys bar – the one with the 28 € cocktails.

What a massive disappointment. After seeing what Disneyland Paris can do with the Skyline Bar and their creative cocktails, the atmosphere and drinks were not great. My 28 € cocktail was just average. Our friend asked for “something sweet” and received the least attractive cocktail I have maybe ever seen in my life. You are paying for location only. The drink I had was fine, but would be probably be about 14 € elsewhere.

I am hopeful that the Disneyland Hotel will eventually be a 5-Star experience, at least in terms of Disneyland Paris (and not comparing the hotel to somewhere like the Four Seasons). We didn’t find it as such when we visited and I watch reviews very closely to see if things have changed. It is really disheartening to see guests having the same problems we did (and some many more) at this time, after spending so much money to have a royal experience. I know that check-in times and luggage delivery remain a big issue, plus whether guests receive robes/slippers/drinks and snacks/turndown service, etc.

We are huge fans of Disneyland Paris, spending more time in the parks there than some of the ones in Florida (where we live) in any given year. After Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel opened with a gorgeous, sleek design after being closed, I expected the same “wow” factor. Our friend who just visited Castle Club did rave about it and our friends in Superior did have a better experience than ours. But overall, the price for the Disneyland Hotel didn’t come close to reflecting the experience we received. Some guests will have a fabulous time, but it isn’t a given. The hotel is in a great location, but our walk time to the parks wasn’t completely different to staying offsite because of the Deluxe wing door being closed off.

I had really been looking forward to our Disneyland Hotel stay – not just for writing about and photographing, but for my own enjoyment as well. And the hotel unfortunately didn’t deliver. If you have the Disneyland Hotel booked, I would encourage watching recent reviews and tempering expectations.

Check out our growing list of articles and videos about the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris.