Disneyland Paris On site or Off Site? Which is Best?

Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris involves many decisions- one of the biggest is choosing where to stay. Is it better to stay at Disneyland Paris or off-site? Here, we’ll break down your options to help you decide.

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On-Site vs Off-Site Disneyland Paris: The Key Differences

Choosing between on-site and off-site hotels at Disneyland Paris depends on your budget, priorities, and trip style.

On-site hotels at Disneyland Paris are typically more expensive, however they are closer to the action, offer themed rooms and typically include park tickets and 'Extra Magic Time' (early entrance to the Disney Parks).

Off-Site hotels often include breakfast, have free shuttles to the parks and are cheaper. Quite often booking an off-site hotel and Disneyland Paris park tickets separately, works out cheaper.

So let's run through the options available.

On-site Hotels at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris Hotel

Theme: Victorian elegance with Disney magic. Recently refurbished and re-opened in Jan 2024 with a princess theme.

Distance: Located literally at the entrance of Disneyland Park—perfect for maximum convenience.

Perks: Early park access, character breakfasts (additional cost), and premium service.

Price: The most expensive option, ideal for luxury seekers.

Extra amenities include an indoor pool, free childcare centre, free WiFi and free parking.

You can even meet Disney characters in this property!

Best for princess fans with a big budget!

Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

Theme: Sleek New York City style with Marvel artwork and experiences.

Distance: A 10-minute walk or free shuttle to the parks.

Perks: Meet Marvel characters, early park access, and stylish rooms.

Price: Premium, but slightly cheaper than Disneyland Hotel.

This four-star hotel combines Art Deco and contemporary urban design and offers a heated indoor pool, a hammam and a business centre. Free WiFi and free parking are also available.

Best for Marvel fans who love luxury!

Disney’s Newport Bay Club

Theme: Nautical charm inspired by 1920s seaside mansions.

Distance: A 15-minute walk or free shuttle to the parks.

Perks: Indoor/outdoor pools, character dining, and early park access.

Price: Typically the 3rd most expensive of the on-site hotels, and the most expensive of the mod-range options.

Disney's Newport Bay Club offers rooms themed with Mickey Mouse from Steamboat Willie featuring a flat-screen TV with international and Disney channels. Some rooms feature a balcony, a view on Lake Disney or the pool.

Best for those who love classic Mickey Mouse!

Disney’s Sequoia Lodge

Theme: Cosy, nature-inspired retreat with rustic décor featuring a Bambi theme .

Distance: A 15-minute walk or shuttle ride to the parks.

Perks: Early access, family-friendly amenities, and budget-friendly luxury.

Price: Affordable for on-site options with great facilities.

The cheapest Disneyland Paris on site hotel with a pool, this Bambi themed hotel offers good value for money, with a walkable distance of the parks.

Best for those looking for a short walk to the parks with a pool!

Hotel Cheyenne

Theme: Wild West charm with Toy Story influences.

Distance: A 20-minute walk or shuttle to the parks.

Perks: Unique theming, cowboy-style rooms, and early park access.

Price: Lower-mid range, great for young families.

Guests can meet Disney characters in this hotel. The Toy Story-themed rooms feature air-conditioning, UK and USB sockets, and a flat-screen TV with Disney channels.

Best for Woody & Jessie fans!

Hotel Santa Fe

Theme: Cars movie-inspired desert oasis.

Distance: A 20-minute walk or free shuttle to the parks.

Perks: Budget-friendly with early access and family-centric design.

Price: One of the most affordable Disney hotels. It is the cheapest on-site hotel within a walkable distance of Disneyland Paris.

Best for those on a budget and cars fans!

Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch

Theme: Forest cabins offering a tranquil, self-catering experience.

Distance: A 15-minute drive to the parks.

Perks: Ideal for large families, parking included, and pool access.

Price: Affordable, especially for longer stays.

Best for large families, those on a tight budget and people travelling by car.

Note there is no shuttle bus from this hotel to the parks- a car is essential.

Off-Site Hotels Near Disneyland Paris

Staying off-site can save money without sacrificing comfort or convenience. We've personally stayed in three off-site hotels and have had a positive experience at each one.

As a travel agent, I've also sent many clients to off-site hotels and all have received glowing reports.

Most the time, off-site hotels at Disneyland Paris provide a free breakfast, something that is a payable extra on-site.

Many partner hotels offer free shuttles and family-friendly amenities such as swimming pools- something only the more expensive on-site hotels have.

There are a selection of hotels that have the classification as 'Disneyland Paris Partner Hotels'. These are off-site hotels that have reached a certain standard, and Disneyland Paris actively promote as an accommodation option.

So let's break down some of our favourites off-site Disneyland Paris partner hotels.

Explorers Hotel

Theme: Pirate and adventure-themed fun for kids.

Distance: 10 minutes away with a free shuttle to the parks.

Perks: Indoor water park, play areas, free breakfast and themed rooms.

Price: Great for families on a mid-range budget.

This hotel is fantastic for children. We have stayed here 4 times over the years. In the winter, when the parks close earlier, the hotel allows you to continue the fun in the pool which is open until 10pm.

Hotel l’Elysée Val d’Europe

Theme: Modern Parisian elegance.

Distance: 5 minutes by shuttle or train to Disneyland Paris.

Perks: Next to Val d’Europe shopping mall and restaurants.

A few minutes walk to Val D' Europe train station. Direct access to Paris itself and the free shuttle from outside the train station to Disneyland Paris.

Price: Affordable with convenient amenities and location.

Adagio Marne-la-Vallée Val d’Europe

Theme: Self-catering apartments for budget-conscious travellers.

Distance: 5 minutes by free shuttle from outside the hotel.

Perks: Kitchenettes in each apartment so it's perfect for making your own breakfast and sandwiches to take in to Disneyland Paris- saving you money. Ideal for longer stays or larger families, indoor swimming pool. Right next to the shopping centre with large supermarket and food court. Separate living space and bedrooms.

Price: Budget-friendly with flexible accommodations.

From memory we have stayed here around 5 times and it's a fantastic value option for larger families of up to 7 people.

Villages Nature

Classified as an on-site hotel by Disneyland Paris, this jointly owned accommodation between Disneyland Paris and Center Parcs provides a huge variety of activities.

Theme: Eco-friendly resort with a focus on nature and relaxation.

Distance: 15 minutes by car or public bus to Disneyland Paris. Note: There is no free shuttle as yet.

Perks: Massive water park, on-site farm, nature trails, and spacious self-catering cottages.

Price: Mid-range to premium, ideal for families seeking a unique experience.

Hotel B&B Disneyland Paris

Theme: Minimalist, family-friendly design with Disneyland touches.

Distance: 10 minutes by free shuttle.

Perks: Free parking, complimentary breakfast, and budget-friendly- usually the cheapest in this guide.

Price: Perfect for those seeking cheap off-site options.

Now, these two hotels are not 'Disney Partner' hotels, but they are very conveniently located, with free shuttle to the parks and are very popular with Disneyland Paris Park visitors.

Dream Castle Hotel

Theme: Fairy-tale-inspired castle with elegant interiors.

Distance: 10 minutes away with free shuttle service.

Perks: Spa, indoor pool, breakfast included, free shuttle and spacious rooms.

Price: Mid-range with luxury touches.

Grand Magic Hotel

Theme: Enchanting hotel with a magic and fantasy-inspired design.

Distance: 10 minutes by free shuttle to Disneyland Paris.

Perks: Family-friendly rooms, indoor and outdoor play areas, and themed décor throughout.

Price: Mid-range, offering good value for families and groups.

Which is better at Disneyland Paris On-Site vs Off-Site?

Is It Better to Stay in Disneyland Paris or Outside? In my personal opinion, neither choice is better than the other. Your choice depends on your priorities.

We choose to stay off-site as that fits our priorities of being nearer to good quality restaurants of on evening, and saving money for more trips! We also prefer to have a swimming pool - you won't find these at the more budget on-site hotels. We are a large family of six, and Disneyland Paris on site hotels don't cater for our family size. We'd need to book two rooms, increasing our overall holiday cost.

Choose On-Site if you want convenience of being in a walkable distance to the parks, extra perks such as character meets in the lobby and extra time in the parks.

Choose Off-Site if you need to save money, prefer varied accommodation styles, or want nearby dining options.

Both options have pros and cons. Consider your group size, budget, and how much Disney magic you want.

Where to Stay at EuroDisney: Final Thoughts

Whether you stay at Disneyland Paris or off-site, there’s a perfect hotel for you.

For Luxury: Choose Disneyland Hotel or Dream Castle.

For Families: Explorers or Sequoia Lodge.

For Budget Travel: Santa Fe or B&B Hotel.

Plan your trip carefully to make the most of your magical adventure!

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How to do One Day at Disneyland Paris this Christmas

We decided to treat my daughter, Violet, to a special day at Disneyland Paris for her 9^th birthday. I’d previously taken my older daughter on a similar day trip in January, and what you do for one, you have to do for all! Come with us and see our one day itinerary for Disneyland Paris.

In January, we took the first flight out of Manchester and the last flight back. It was a wonderful experience, but since we live two hours away from Manchester Airport, we had to stay the night before in Manchester.

This time, we opted for a different approach. We took a late afternoon flight on Friday, planning to spend the night near Disneyland Paris instead.

It was working out the same cost as 1 night in a Travelodge in Manchester, so made no difference to the overall cost.

This way, we could start our day fresh and early and avoid the risk of losing time in the parks, in the eventuality of a flight delay.

getting to Disneyland Paris

We found great flights out of Manchester for just £33 each return. From landing in Paris, to arriving at the park gates, it took only 2 hours and 10 minutes! Security at Charles De Gaulle was quick, the flight lasted just over an hour, and we managed to catch the TGV train with minimal waiting.

The high-speed train took us directly from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Marne-la-Vallée station in only 9 minutes. We booked the train tickets on our way to the station using the Trainline app, paying £28.91 for one adult and one child.

I'd recommend only purchasing your ticket when you are nearly at the train station. It's quite a walk from some terminals and of course, you don't know exactly when you will land and be through security. TGV tickets can only be used on that specific train and are non-refundable.

Taxi's are around €60 and private transfers from €75- both taking around 1 hour to reach Disneyland Paris.

The TGV therefore, was both much faster and cheaper.

Marne-la-Vallée station is located right next to Disneyland Paris park gates.

Our flight left Manchester at 3 pm, and by 6:10 pm (adjusting for the 1 hour time difference), we were at the Disneyland Paris gates. If we had known we’d arrive that early, we might have bought a 2-day park pass. But since the parks closed at 8 pm that night, we decided against it as we would have been cutting it fine.

Hotel at Disneyland Paris

Instead, we explored Disney Village and used the time we had to visit some of the shops. We had a meal at Five Guys, which cost €23.25 for the two of us. I always recommend Five Guys as it's a very similar price point to quick service restaurants inside the parks, however, it feels much better quality.

After dinner, we took a taxi to our hotel, the Best Western, just a 12-minute ride from the parks.

Now a word of warning. You will struggle to get a taxi from outside the parks 1 hour, either side of the parks closing time. We tried numerous times to get an Uber but they kept cancelling the bookings as they couldn't meet demand.

There are taxi's outside Disney, however, they all wanted €35 for journeys which should cost around €8-€12 and would only accept cash- that tells you everything you need to know! Disneyland Paris and the train station really should be clamping down as I think 80% weren't even real taxis.

We usually stay at the Adagio in Val d’Europe or the Explorers Hotel, but these were both £150 for the night we wanted. The Best Western was only £66 and as we'd barely be there, it seemed a better option.

It turned out to be an excellent choice, with a spacious room featuring a double bed and bunk beds. The rooms were clean and hotel looked like it has recently been refurbished or was new.

We had a very comfortable nights stay and would highly recommend this option. Although, it may be better suited to those visiting with a car, as there is no shuttle bus to the parks.

Disneyland Paris Park Tickets

For disclosure, we were gifted the park tickets by Get Your Guide, which made our Christmas day trip to Disneyland Paris truly special.

After booking we received the tickets instantly and were able to add them to our Disneyland Paris app, allowing us to easily scan in and out of the parks and monitor ride wait times all at once. Alternatively, you can keep just scan the tickets from your Get Your Guide account.

if you're considering doing Disneyland Paris in a day or even Disneyland Paris in one day at Christmas, Get Your Guide offers a wide range of ticket options, from 1-day, 1-park passes to multi-day tickets- as well as the Magic Shuttle bus tickets, private transfers, and various other activities in Paris.

The tickets for a 1 day/2 park entry for 1 adult and 1 child on the date we visited would have cost £185.08. Prices vary depending on the date booked, but start at £46pp.

Getting to Disneyland Paris

The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel for €25. We would have normally just ate at the parks, but my daughter was so excited for the day ahead, that we were up at 4am and therefore really hungry by around 7am.

The buffet had plenty to offer, including pastries, pancakes, toast, cereals, cheese, meats, and even hot options like sausage, bacon, and scrambled eggs. It was more than enough to fuel us for the day and meant we could hit the ground running once we got to parks.

We checked out and ordered an Uber from the hotel lobby, which arrived immediately, taking us back to Disneyland Paris in 12 minutes for €15.35.

We went through bag check at 8:55 am and were at the Disneyland Park entrance for 9am.

The park opening was at 9.30am, so we had a little wait, but they opened the park for normal ticket holders at 9.20am which was great.

The park opens for Disneyland hotel guests and annual pass holders at 8.30am, so whilst we were waiting I was able to check some of the ride times for the ones that were already operating.

Park Opening

We headed straight to Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, which had only a 10-minute wait. This was Violet's one must-do ride, and frequently the wait for it, is around 1 hour so we wanted to get it completed whilst it was quiet.

Tip: Make sure to download the Disneyland Paris app before your visit—it’s a lifesaver for checking wait times and planning your route.

After Buzz, we then headed up to Fantasyland where all the ride times were currently showing as 5-10 minutes.

We managed to do Dumbo The Flying Elephant, It's a Small World, Mad Hatter's Tea Cups and Le Carrousel de Lancelot all by 10.40am. After a quick stop at the toilets and to refill our water bottles, we hopped on Casey Junior, the last ride we wanted to do in Fantasyland, which opened at 11am.

We then spent some time at the castle, visiting the dragon beneath it (a hidden gem!) and snapping photos. Violet wanted to shop for Star Wars merchandise, so we made our way to Discoveryland to the Star Traders shop to find her some Grogu goodies using her birthday money.

Lunch and Studio Park Adventures

By 11:40 am, we decided to switch over to Walt Disney Studios Park. The food stalls outside the Ratatouille ride looked tempting and we were peckish by then, so we grabbed two Nutella crepes for €10. The Ratatouille ride had a long wait time, so we chose to do the single rider option, getting on in just 10 minutes.

The Studios Park felt much more crowded than the main park, probably due to construction work going on and many areas being unavailable.

We still managed to enjoy several rides with short wait times. We went on Cars Road Trip, Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, and the Parachute Drop, which we lucky to walk straight onto just as it reopened after a technical issue.

After ticking off everything we wanted to do in the Studios Park, we decided to head back to Disneyland Park around 2 pm. We skipped the shows this time in the Studios, as we’ve seen them before and they’re better suited for younger kids or Marvel fans (which Violet isn’t).

Afternoon Magic and Parade

With the sun shining, we took more photo of all the beautiful Christmas decorations lining Main Street and the incredible huge Christmas tree.

We treated ourselves to ice cream and a Mickey beignet for €9- we weren't hungry but who can resist the snacks at Disneyland Paris though?!

We then decided we needed actually eat something savoury, so we stopped at Casa de Coco in Frontierland- a Mexican style restaurant based on the 'Coco' movie. Violet just wanted some of the zig zag fries, while I enjoyed a delicious beef burrito, one of the best things I’ve ever eaten at Disneyland Paris. The total bill with a large soft drink came to €16.89.

We decided to try the Premier Access service for Big Thunder Mountain (basically the new fast pass system at Disneyland Paris). It cost €16 each, but it was totally worth it-especially as it was Violet’s first roller coaster! We were on the ride in under 5 minutes.

By 4:30 pm, we made our way back to Main Street to secure a spot for the parade. Even 40 minutes early, Main Street was packed with guests. The parade started at 5:20 pm and reached where we stood by 5:40 pm.

Watching the magical floats with snow falling was a truly enchanting experience and one I'll never forget- just so magical.

Heading Home

After a bit of last-minute shopping on Main Street, we slowly made our way to the train station around 6:20 pm. We had pre-booked our TGV tickets back to the airport for 6:50 pm. The flight departed on time and we were tucked up in bed at 12.30am.

The whole day was filled with magical moments, and it was the perfect way to celebrate Violet’s birthday. With a bit of careful planning, we made the most out of our short but sweet trip to Disneyland Paris.

Our aim with the day trips is never to do it all. There was a couple of Christmas shows we would have liked to have seen, but with it being a Saturday, crowd numbers were high and seats for shows were gone 1 hour before. We didn't feel the wait was worth it, with only having a day in the parks. We chose to include our favourite rides, see the parade and eat some Disney snacks and we completed everything we set out to do.

Of course, we also didn't get to see the fireworks but in all our trips, we seen them around 20 times at least, so it wasn't a great forfeit.

Is it worth going to Disneyland Paris for one day?

If you're thinking of planning a Disneyland Paris day trip from the UK and wondering, “Is it worth going to Disneyland Paris for one day?”, the answer is definitely yes!

You won't get everything done in a day and to be honest this is our 16th visit and each time we tick off a new ride or attraction that we haven't done before. Pick out your favourite rides and make a plan to visit those first before the park gets busy. After 5pm ride wait times also decrease. We managed to include both Disneyland Park and Disney Studio's, but you could choose to just focus on the one. Make full use of the Disneyland Paris app to see ride times before making your next move and be flexible.

How much does it cost to go to Disneyland Paris for one day?

For those curious, we spent £33pp for the flights, £34pp for the hotel, then £30pp for the TGV high-speed train to/from CDG airport. Tickets for the date we visited would have been £92 each so a total of £189pp- this would have been cheaper if we'd opted for just a 1 park ticket instead of 2 and not visited on a weekend.

Disneyland Paris tickets are usually cheapest between January to March and you'll often find fewer visitors in the parks then too.

If you live near an airport, you can also eliminate the cost of the hotel too and go there and back in a day like we did in January.

How much can you do at Disneyland Paris in one day?

Despite it being a weekend and Christmas season we were really pleased in what we managed to do in just one day at Disneyland Paris.

We rode 12 rides- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Small World, Mad Hatters Tea Cups, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Casey Junior, The Carousel, Ratoutille, Parachute Drop, Slinky Dog, Cars Road Trip, Cars Quatre Rallye and Thunder Mountain.

We also did a few walk through attractions, stopped for food three times, visited a few shops and took time out to enjoy the decorations then the main parade. If we'd have skipped the parade, we probably could have managed at least another 5 rides.

On-Site vs Off-Site Disneyland Paris: The Key Differences

On-site Hotels at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris Hotel

Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

Disney’s Newport Bay Club

Disney’s Sequoia Lodge

Hotel Cheyenne

Hotel Santa Fe

Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch

Off-Site Hotels Near Disneyland Paris

Explorers Hotel

Hotel l’Elysée Val d’Europe

Adagio Marne-la-Vallée Val d’Europe

Villages Nature

Hotel B&B Disneyland Paris

Dream Castle Hotel

Grand Magic Hotel

Which is better at Disneyland Paris On-Site vs Off-Site?

Where to Stay at EuroDisney: Final Thoughts

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getting to Disneyland Paris

Hotel at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris Park Tickets

Getting to Disneyland Paris

Park Opening

Lunch and Studio Park Adventures

Afternoon Magic and Parade

Heading Home

Is it worth going to Disneyland Paris for one day?

How much does it cost to go to Disneyland Paris for one day?

How much can you do at Disneyland Paris in one day?

Ryanair & EasyJet Compatible Backpacks

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