“There are only five of these in the world. The Disney watch represents the special time you will share with us, and the fleur-de-lys represents royalty,” Cristina said, caressing the Victorian-inspired gold medallion pinned to the lapel of her suit.
Cristina was one of five “royal greeters” in stylish top hats and tails working the lobby of Disneyland Paris’ newly opened five-star flagship hotel. The go-to since 1992 for visitors looking to wake up practically at the theme park, this much-loved hotel with its candy-pink Victorian façade and mansard roof closed in 2021 for a much-needed renovation.
Disney royalty (mostly princesses) is the new theme, with a high level of five-star luxury to match. The hotel’s general manager, Majbritt Iaconis, previously worked at the Plaza Athénée, Ritz and Mandarin Oriental hotels in Paris.
Decorative features like chandeliers—not to mention 18 themed suites and elegant Castle Club rooms that offer private check-in, a personal concierge, and an elevator that takes guests directly to the Disneyland Park entrance—feel like an inspired nod to the Palace hotels in the French capital. Category better than five stars). There’s even a stylish Clarins spa offering pampering treatments for adults and children.
Fun interaction with Disney princesses is a big draw of the redesigned hotel and an integral part of the new USP: immersive storytelling. Albert and Camille from the Royal Troupe, two new characters created specifically for the hotel, are also on hand to greet guests with song, dance and theatre in the lobby, accompanied by a Disney princess.
Belle invites her guests to portray the Beast and before you know it you’re singing along A brand new world Consider yourself warned while you’re at karaoke with Princess Jasmine.
Each of the sixteen “story keepers” is trained by Laurent Cayuela, who has been the official show writer at Disneyland Paris since 2001. From the Central Rotunda, whose royal blue, 70-foot-high domed ceiling is hand-painted with 632 fleurs-de-lys, he must have seen a dozen princesses circling the elegant, chateau-style galleries on the upper floors.
Then, of course, there’s food. Mickey and Minnie parade around the Royal Banquet restaurant, which serves particularly luxurious seafood and desserts; Disney princesses are the darlings of the ball at the fine-dining La Table de Lumière, inspired by the mirrored ballroom of the Palace of Versailles. Eating at these restaurants doesn’t come cheap: the Royal Banquet will set you back €100 (£86) per person (€50 for children aged 3 to 11); Being a guest at La Table de Lumière will cost you €120/€60.
It is difficult to drag yourself away from the magnificent lobby, designed like a castle library with a fireplace, shelves full of faux leather-bound books and a crystal chandelier with 12,000 hypnotic sparkling glass pearls, prism droplets raining down from 20 feet from the ceiling. octagons and twinkling stars.
Ahead of the highly anticipated reopening, Disneyland Paris has invited more than 200 French and European companies to join them. skilland the workmanship and attention to detail are excellent.
The 2,600 lb chandelier was blown by a master glass blower in the Czech Republic. The fabric of the 27,777 costumes worn by the 800 hotel staff was woven by third-generation jacquard specialist Dutel in Lyon, the silk weaving capital of France. Every evening at 18:00, the sharp floral scent that hits you when you arrive at the lobby transforms into a warmer, velvety night scent of rose and musky sandalwood.
The Royal Collection Boutique, which, unlike other Disney hotel stores, is open only to hotel guests, sells both scents, as well as a Sleeping Beauty Castle model woven from two million glass rings by Parisian glassmaker Miguel Arribas, along with yours for €150,000. (£128,000).
The themed suites, which include 16 Signatures as well as Princely and Royal variations, were designed by Sylvie Massara, the creative talent behind the park’s themed hotels since 1996, including Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel.
The canopy over the bed in my Deluxe Room—which glowed and changed color when a bedside button was pressed—looked rather tame compared to the full-length suit of armor and Princess Aurora’s dress, which alternated between pink and blue. The Sleeping Beauty Signature Suite or the Frozen-themed Royal Suite feature a snow-white grand piano and unparalleled park views (there’s also a Frozen-themed Signature Suite). Entry-level Superior rooms start from a relatively affordable £250, while a night in the Royal Suite, which sleeps two adults and a baby, is priced at £9,375 (including parking tickets) for the next available date in February.
The morning after my stay, thanks to the hotel’s location next to the park gates, I battled evil on Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and saved the world from the intergalactic threat several times with the Avengers by 10 a.m. I was then able to easily retire to the hotel for lunch, again for afternoon tea and a dip in the pool.
That evening, as I passed the boutique on my way to pre-dinner cocktails at the Fleur de Lys bar, a golden path leading to the Royal Tailor Salon caught my eye. A mini Cinderella emerged, entranced by her own magical transformation. “Disney adults” will love this hotel – and even the most skeptical will struggle not to be wowed – but for kids, it’s a whole other level of magic.
Disneyland Hotel offers Superior rooms from £250.