Help me pick a hotel: Disneyland Hotel vs New York/Marvel

[Raya]

We are considering a short, last minute trip. One half of the family wants the Disneyland Hotel, as we'll be right by the entrance to the park if anyone needs a quick nap due to jet lag. The other half is arguing for New York, as they're huge Avengers fans. New York is cheaper, but if we were picking based on cost we'd end up at Newport. Other than theming and location is there anything else we should take into account? How do you choose???

Some things to consider:

• We are very light sleepers.
• We would want to feel 'taken care of' and 'pampered' on this trip.
• No one in our family can drink, so bars don't matter.
• We are big into food, so good food does matter.
• We usually stay deluxe at WDW, and prefer Grand Californian at DL.
• Our favorite WDW hotel is Grand Floridian (for the tea room, music in the lobby, and elegance) or Yacth club (for the amazing pool and great food)

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Taking cost out of the question, this is my thoughts

We are very light sleepers.

Disneyland Hotel will have more potential outside noise issues as one side of the hotel has rooms facing Fantasia Gardens and one side facing the park. I have stayed in Fantasia Garden facing room and I did hear outside noise from guests entering and leaving the park.

• We would want to feel 'taken care of' and 'pampered' on this trip.

Both hotels will have the same level of service. However it is European style customer service and there are cultural differences which American visitors may find are different to what they are used to.

• No one in our family can drink, so bars don't matter.

You should not discount the bars just because you can not drink. Bars in Europe are different to America and are viewed as family friendly places where people socialize. Being in a bar does not equate to mandatory drinking alcohol. The bars in both hotels are themed.

• We are big into food, so good food does matter.

Where you eat has no relation to which hotel you book. On my last trip we stayed at Santa Fe Hotel and had evening meals at Sequoia Lodge and Hotel New York. The only meal which you eat at the hotel you sleep in is breakfast, if you have paid for breakfast.

• We usually stay deluxe at WDW, and prefer Grand Californian at DL.

Grand California at Disneyland is comparable to Sequoia Lodge at Disneyland Paris. However, the public areas at Sequoia Lodge are a lot smaller and the pool is very different. There is no poolside food, and the pool is located in a separate building and mainly inside. The restaurants at Sequoia Lodge are European mid price food buffet. Very nice food but not fine dining.

• Our favorite WDW hotel is Grand Floridian (for the tea room, music in the lobby, and elegance) or Yacth club (for the amazing pool and great food)

Grand Floridian at WDW is comparable to Disneyland Hotel Paris. However, the public areas at Disneyland Hotel Paris. are a lot smaller and the pool is very different. Disneyland Hotel Paris does not have a restaurant that is like The Tea Room. The pool at Disneyland Hotel Paris is very small and indoors and does not have any poolside food options.

 

[Karin1984]

We are considering a short, last minute trip. One half of the family wants the Disneyland Hotel, as we'll be right by the entrance to the park if anyone needs a quick nap due to jet lag. The other half is arguing for New York, as they're huge Avengers fans. New York is cheaper, but if we were picking based on cost we'd end up at Newport. Other than theming and location is there anything else we should take into account? How do you choose???

Some things to consider:

• We are very light sleepers.

Doesn't make a real difference, with the Disneyland Hotel it can make a huge difference which side of the hotel you are on. The walls are "thin" everywhere.

• We would want to feel 'taken care of' and 'pampered' on this trip.

Then I would go for a club level at any of the hotel with club level. You will get a private check in (also easier with baggage drop off), lounge with drinks and snacks, breakfast included, better located room. I am quite sure that the club level rooms at Sequoia and New Port Bay are just as large as standard room as Marvel and the Disneyland Hotel.

This is very subjective topic, because you would think it's the most expensive hotel.
Example: When we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel this January, we left our bags at baggage service to be brought to our room. Nice and fancy. However, 3pm check in came and went and our bags weren't there till 4:30 (with some encouragement) , as a result we had very little pool time that day.

If everything goes according to plan, then you can feel pampered everywhere. It can depend largely on the CM going the extra Mile and having time to do this. But if things do not go according to plan, which can happen, then the more expensive the hotel, the more annoying mishaps are.

Again during my last stay in the Disneyland Hotel, a glass, bathrobes and slippers were missing when we entered the room the first time. If I had paid half the price, I would have been only half as annoyed.

• No one in our family can drink, so bars don't matter.

Disneyland Paris does some good mocktails. My favourite bars are Redwood in Sequoia Lodge (best price/quality) and the two bars at Marvel. Disneyland Hotel's bar is overpriced (the same mocktail at Redwood was €5,50 more expensive at Disneyland Hotel) and often overcrowded.

• We are big into food, so good food does matter.

As mentioned, this doesn't really matter, as the hotels are all very close together
Manhattan is the best restaurant on site, in my opinion. Still have to try Downtown. But heard very good things. Also a fan of Hunters Grill in Sequoia Lodge, and Royal Banquet in the Disneyland Hotel.

Thing with the Disneyland Hotel is that their 2 main restaurants are both character meals, not everyone is a fan of that. Last week they did open The Secret Forest, run by a Michelin Chef, but it is small. It only has 40 seats, reservations only over the phone €50 downpayment. €140 for 3 courses, €200 for 5.

I am going to give you a very fair warning: Yes, Disneyland Paris has some good restaurants. HOWEVER, Disneyland Paris never was, never will be a dining destination. If you go to WDW for food, bring your expectations down. Most restaurants (and especially the ones I mentioned) are perfectly fine, but a lot goes wrong with expectations when people used to the US parks come to Paris.

• We usually stay deluxe at WDW, and prefer Grand Californian at DL.

Again, bring your expectations down. Disneyland Paris has hotels, not resorts. Rooms are smaller than you are used to, less or decreased amenities and less decor. The hotels are really meant to sleep in. There is not much space to lounge, except the bars.

• Our favorite WDW hotel is Grand Floridian (for the tea room, music in the lobby, and elegance) or Yacth club (for the amazing pool and great food)

The Disneyland Hotel has a piano near the bar, but I haven't seen anyone play on it since the refurb. If a pool is important best to go to New Port Bay or Sequoia. Disneyland Hotel has a small pool, which is not suitable for children. Therefore the children end up in the hot tub.


I would recommend either Marvel, as you have a lot of the same (room) amenities as the Disneyland Hotel, just a 5-8 minute walk away from the entrance. I haven't been to the pool yet, but I believe it is bigger than at Disneyland Hotel.

Or I would go for Club Level at Sequoia Lodge or New Port Bay.

 

[samsp99]

DLP trips tend to be shorter than WDW, and you will spend more time in the parks than the hotels. The resorts are much less important than at WDW.

Disneyland Hotel has the best location, and fanciest rooms, but is a big price premium over the others. You don't have to be staying there to use the bar or gift shop (they are worth popping in for).

Marvel is recently refurbished, but the marvel theming is a bit lite - its not worth staying at the hotel for it. You can just as easily pop in and take a few photos and be done.

When I stayed in sept 2024, Sequoia was in desperate need of a refurb, and I don't think its happened yet.

Newport Bay club has been refurbed, and along with Sequoia is probably the best bang for the buck in terms of location, ameneties and feel. I think its the better choice given how tired sequoia feels right now.