Disneyland Paris unveils immersive flagship hotel

Disneyland Paris has reopened the doors of its landmark hotel following a ‘complete reimagination’, dazzling guests with new levels of luxury, princess makeovers and spontaneous performances. Jenny Southan reports

After two years of closure, Disneyland Paris has completed the renovations of it’s most opulent hotel, combining in situ Disney character performances from the likes of Princess Elsa and Mickey Mouse, with lavishly attired interiors styled and crafted by experts from more than 200 European suppliers.

The lobby has been designed to resemble a chateau library with a fireplace and glittering chandeliers made by a master glass-blower in the Czech Republic. Almost 30,000 costumes for 800 staff have been sewn by third-generation jacquard specialist Dutel, in the French silk-weaving heartland of Lyon. Signature scents pumped into the air vary on the time of day.Entry-level rooms start from about £250 per night but at the top end of the scale there is a Frozen-themed Royal suite costing £9,000 a night featuring a white grand piano, palatial interiors and prime views of the theme park.

Rooms in the Castle Club – an exclusive hotel within the hotel – feature upscale extras such as private check-in, dedicated concierges and lifts taking guests straight to the Disneyland Park entrance. Guests staying here can also have breakfast with Disney Princess Characters in the Castle Club Lounge.The hotel’s general manager, Majbritt Iaconis, previously worked at elite hotels in Paris – the Plaza Athénée, the Ritz and Mandarin Oriental – so the service is top class. Fine-dining restaurant La Table de Lumière has been inspired by the Palace of Versailles’s mirrored ballroom.

Promising an “immersive” experience for Disney fans both young and old, there are 16 “story keepers” who have each been trained by Laurent Cayuela, a long-standing show writer at Disneyland Paris. Royal greeters wearing burgundy suits and top hats welcome guests in the lobby, while Mickey and Minnie waltz around the Royal Banquet restaurant hugging diners.

The Telegraph reports: “Playful interaction with Disney princesses is a huge attraction of the redesigned hotel and an intrinsic part of its new USP: immersive storytelling. Albert and Camille of the Royal Troupe – two new characters created especially for the hotel – are also on hand to greet arrivals in the lobby with song, dance and theatre in the company of a Disney princess. Belle invites guests to act the Beast and before you know it, you could be singing A Whole New World in karaoke with Princess Jasmine.” There is also a dream-come-true kids’ club offering “exciting interactive and augmented reality experiences”, and a Clarins spa for families (treatments are available for children aged six and above).

You can also book a “Disney Royal Encounter” to pose alongside a Disney Princess such as Snow White. Then there is the “My Royal Dream” makeover service that gives kids the opportunity to be transformed into a prince or princess. At the end they can have a professional portrait taken.

The Disneyland Hotel additionally provides a free nursery service for children aged four to 11 supervised by certified Cast Members (BAFA certificate holders) for up to two hours.

For a brand as big as Disney and an audience as persuasive as children, it’s no surprise that the retail offering is also audacious. The hotel’s Royal Collection Boutique sells models of the Sleeping Beauty Castle by Paris glassmaker Miguel Arribas for €150,000.

Natacha Rafalski, presidente of Disneyland Paris, says: “We are thrilled to unveil this a one-of-a-kind five-star property celebrating beloved Disney royalty, which represents one of the most immersive hotels in Europe today.”

Disneyland Paris first opened its doors in April 1992 and has grown with its guests to become Europe’s number one tourist destination with over 375 million visits since its opening. Today, it is a multi-day resort offering two world-class theme parks, seven themed Disney hotels, the Disney Village entertainment complex.