As part of the Travel Affiliates Magical Week-end, we were given the opportunity to stay at two themed hotels located near the park. For our first night, we were accommodated at the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. Here’s how it went!
Much like the Disney Sequoia Lodge – whose report you can find here – the Disney New York Hotel was also one of the original accommodations inaugurated during the grand opening of Disneyland Paris, back in 1992. Initially inspired in the essence of New York City and its bold Art Deco heritage, Disney decided to do some big renovation works in 2017 and create an Avengers-inspired theme, reopening this iconic place in 2021 as Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel.
The hotel now has a total of 561 rooms, 471 of which classified as Superior Rooms, and the remaining 90 as Executive Rooms (including 25 suites).
Since we landed at Orly Airport, we decided to go for the most direct option and booked a ride on the Magic Shuttle. We hopped on at platform 7, right by terminals 1 and 2, and the journey took approximately an hour until we arrived in Disneyland, followed by 10 more minutes until we were dropped off in front of the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. The shuttle conveniently stops at all the themed hotels, so there’s no need to leave at the main bus terminal to walk or catch a different shuttle.
On the other hand, if you happen to be arriving from Charles de Gaulle Airport or from the city center, besides the Magic Shuttle you can also take the TGV (from Charles de Gaulle) or the RER (from central Paris). Once you reach the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station, just head to the adjacent bus terminal to catch the free shuttle to Disneyland. Each hotel (or group of hotels) has its own designated stop, and the information is clearly displayed on the bus’s electronic panels. These buses run quite frequently, so there’s usually no need to wait more than 10-15 minutes for the next one. Plus, if you don’t mind stretching your legs, walking is probably even quicker.
If you’re traveling with small children or a substantial amount of luggage, it’s a good idea to use the shuttle or rely on the Disney Express service. For €17,00/person, you can drop off your luggage at the Disney Express counter at the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station, check-in right there, receive your tickets and head straight to the parks, since your bags will be delivered at the hotel. On your check-out day you can have the process in reverse, leaving your luggage at the hotel’s baggage storage, enjoying the park, and then picking up your bags again at the station.
When it comes to how close the hotels are to the parks, and apart from the iconic Disneyland Hotel (which is set to reopen in January 2024) located right at the entrance of the main park, the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel is currently the one standing the closest to both parks – a 10/12-minute walk from the hotel to the entrance of the Disneyland Park and a little less to the Walt Disney Studios. It’s a pretty enjoyable stroll, since the first part of the walk takes you along the picturesque Lake Buena Vista, followed by a path through the charming Disney Village.
We arrived at the hotel at around 11h00, wishing to simply pick up our tickets and leave our luggage at the complimentary baggage storage. Fortunately, there was no line at the check-in counter, and we were warmly welcomed by a member of the hotel staff. After checking our documents and have us fill out a guest form, he handed us all the required documents for us to access and enjoy the parks.
We particularly liked the information brochure provided during check-in process, designed in the format of a “newspaper”. Very creative, with clear information, and completely in line with the theme.
When you stay at a Disney Hotel, we are also given a Magic Pass, a card with your name on it that you can use not only to access the parks but also to enter your room, use the hotel’s hot beverage machines (each pass comes with one free hot drink per day), access the pools and gym facilities, and, if you have a meal plan, to redeem your meals.
Since we arrived at the hotel way ahead of the check-in time, we left our backpacks at the designated area near the hotel entrance and headed straight to the parks.
This is particularly useful since a 1-night stay at one of the themed hotels includes a ticket for 2 full days in both parks (2-night stays include 3-day access, and so on), meaning you don’t have to wait until the official check-in time to collect your tickets and enjoy the day. You can easily arrive before 8h30, pick up your Magic Pass, drop off your bags, and make the most of the Extra Magic Time.
After a few hours of fun at the parks, we headed back to the hotel and our room was ready. We had booked a Superior Room (the standard option), and it turned out to be quite spacious, featuring two double beds that could accommodate up to four guests comfortably. The room had a modern decor, tastefully decorated with artwork related to several different Marvel Super-Heroes. Despite the recent renovation, the hotel still retained its NYC-inspired theme, which is why Iron Man and Spider Man (whose adventures take place in “The City That Never Sleeps”) take center stage.
The WiFi was good and surprisingly speedy. Even though we didn’t really use the television, we checked that it was working and offered a wide selection of cable and satellite channels. Inside the bedroom, one could also find two bottles of water and a pod coffee machine.
The bathroom was simple, yet practical, with decent quality amenities.
Much like our stay at the Sequoia Lodge, we didn’t spend much time exploring the hotel’s common areas. I mean, we had the Disneyland Paris parks right at our doorstep, so why should we?
Be that as it may, the hotel boasts both an indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a Health Club. The pools were practically brand-new, heated, and had separate areas for kids. Plus, they were never too crowded. As for the Health Club, it included a hydro-massage area, a sauna, Turkish baths and a gym that you could access using your room key.
Aside from the pool and the Health Club, there were a few other cool spots to check out, such as the Marvel Design Studio, a creative hub for kids and families; a Disney shop with exclusive Marvel-themed merchandise; and a Super Hero Station where you could meet your favorite Marvel Super Heroes (just make sure to book your spot through the app in the “My Stay” tab).
Finally, there were also two bars to choose from – the Skyline Bar and the Blecker Street Lounge – and two restaurants, the Manhattan Restaurant, serving Italian food, and the Downtown Restaurant, a buffet with a mix of Asian, American and Mediterranean flavors. We didn’t manage to make it to the Skyline or the Manhattan, but we did spend some working at the Blecker Street Lounge and having breakfast at the Downtown Restaurant (more on that coming up), and both were really nice.
As we had learned from our previous stay at the Disney Sequoia Lodge, breakfast just before the start of Extra Magic Time can get quite hectic. Unsurprisingly, since most guests who want to seize that extra hour at the parks tend to show up for breakfast between 7h00 and 7h30, eager to get to the entrance at 8h00 sharp. So, much like last year, we skipped the morning frenzy and headed straight to the park, calmly getting back to the hotel about 30 minutes before the end of breakfast time for a much nicer experience.
Regarding food, the breakfast was a real feast! There were hot dishes, fresh pancakes and crepes, a great assortment of bread, cold cuts, fruits, pastries, croissants, and more – all of high quality. In other words, I can assure you no one left the breakfast table feeling hungry.
Following our breakfast stop, we ventured back into the parks once again (yes, the Magic Pass allows for unlimited entries and exits).
First of all, the close proximity to both parks, since you just have to walk for 15 minutes and you’ll find yourself right at the entrance of Disneyland. Plus, the convenience of being able to get back to your room for a quick rest, to charge your phone, pick up any forgotten items, or any other reason is truly a bliss.
Furthermore, the concierge service is there to assist you in making restaurant reservations and offering advice regarding your stay at the hotel and your Disney visit.
Finally, another fantastic perk of staying in a themed hotel is being able to enjoy Extra Magic Time. While those with a “regular” ticket have to wait until 9h30 for the park to open, hotel guests get a head start with one full hour of exclusive park access before the general public, starting at 8h30. This can be particularly handy for avoiding long lines at the most popular attractions or for a delightful photo session with your beloved Disney characters.
Honestly, this really depends on context. If you only have one day to explore Disneyland, then staying at a themed hotel may not be worth the investment, since you won’t be able to use the second day included with your stay.
In this case, it might be better to consider Disney Premier Access. This add-on gives you access to a dedicated fast lane at 12 of the park’s most popular attractions. Through the Disney app, you can purchase Premier Access One for a specific attraction (with prices ranging from €5,00 to €15,00) or the Premier Access Ultimate, which grants you one-time access to each of those 12 attractions within the same day. The latter costs between €90,00 and €140,00 (depending on the day of the week and demand). Although it’s pricier than an adult ticket, the Premier Access Ultimate can make quite a difference in your experience, allowing you to skip long lines and likely visit both parks in a single day.
Well, it really depends on the number of days you have to visit the Park.
For example, the cheapest hotel for the January dates we’ve shared above costs £574,84 for that same family of 2 adults and 2 children. The hotel is located less than 15 minutes away from the parks, though a free shuttle service is provided.
We get it, the difference between £287 (the price of tickets for 2 adults + 2 children) and £574 is quite steep. However, keep in mind those £287 would only grant the family a 1-day admission. On the other hand, staying at one of Disneyland’s official places of accommodation, all guests are automatically granted a 2-day ticket for both parks (if staying for 2 nights, then they get a 3-day ticket, and so on).
Another big advantage when it comes to staying at a themed hotel is an access to the so-called Extra Magic Time. While those visiting on a regular ticket can only enter the park at 9h00, guests staying at one of Disneyland’s hotels will have the park all to themselves for at least an hour before the official opening times (exact times change depending on the season). This can come quite in handy for those wishing to skip lengthy waiting times on the most popular attractions or do a complete photo-op with all their favorite Disney characters.
That being said, if you only have 1 day to visit Disneyland then this isn’t likely to be a good deal for you, since you won’t be using the second day-ticket in the offer.
However, if you’re planning to stay for 2 days or more, this might be an option to consider. Especially during low-season (October-March), when prices for themed hotels can get quite the discount, staying at an “official” hotel may actually turn out to be the most interesting offer on the table.
Even for those not visiting as a family (such as couples, for example), this can still be the best option. You just need to do the math and make your own judgement. Maybe you’ll end up with a pleasant little surprise in hands!
On both times we visited Disneyland Paris, we stayed at themed hotels and we really enjoyed the experience, since these places are quite interesting and also located near the park’s entrance. If this is already super convenient for adults, it truly stands out as a game-changer for those traveling with kids. If our budget allows, this is definitely our top choice.
You can secure your ticket + hotel package directly through the official Disneyland Paris website. By using this link, you’ll be helping us keep this project sustainable, at no extra cost for your budget 🙂
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