At a glance
The Explorers Hotel is a 3-star Disneyland Paris partner hotel with 390 rooms and suites. Built in 2002 and renovated in 2015, it was taken over by the Fabulous Hotels Group after belonging to the Thomas Cook group. It is one of the Disney partner hotels most geared towards families with kids.
The theme is a hotel for adventurers and pirates, inspired by the great expeditions of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Mermaids, buccaneers, ship captains and treasure hunters fill the public areas and the rooms. The theming carries on into the Aquapark, the indoor water park with its own pirate ship, and into immersive themed suites (SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, Pirate, Candy, Knight and Princess).
What really sets the Explorers Hotel apart is its wide range of on-site activities, more complete than at most Disney partner hotels: an indoor Aquapark with slides, an XD cinema, indoor and outdoor play areas (pirate island, life-size pirate ship), a gym for kids aged 4 to 12 and a video games room. The connecting family room format lets up to 10 people stay on a single booking with two bathrooms, which is handy for large families or groups.
There are 3 restaurants, 2 snack bars and a bar: the Captain’s Library with table service in the evening, La Plantation as an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant, the Marco’s Pizza Parlour pizzeria, the Point Gourmand snack bar for afternoon treats and the Galion’s Pub bar. The buffet breakfast is included in every booking, which is rare for a partner hotel. Parking and Wi-Fi are free for stays booked directly on the official website, and a free shuttle bus links the Explorers Hotel to the Disneyland Paris parks in under 10 minutes.
A family water paradise. Kids love the huge indoor pool with its big pirate ship, slides and interactive water games. The hotel offers flexible rooms that sleep up to ten people from the same family group. A 5D cinema and play structures round off what’s on offer.
History
Opened in 2003 in the Val de France area of Magny-le-Hongre, Explorers Hotel is one of the themed family partner hotels of Disneyland Paris, built around the world of pirates and great explorers.
Run by Fabulous Hotels Group, the 390-room hotel stands out for its interconnecting rooms that sleep up to ten people and its many play areas, including an indoor water park.
- Rooms
- 390
Theme & story
Rooms & suites
The hotel offers 9 room categories, from the double room for 2 people to themed suites for 6 people such as Pirate, Knight, SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe or Candy. The suites are themed for families. Park tickets are included when you book on the Disneyland Paris website.
Double room
1 double bed
Family room for 4 people
1 double bed and 2 single beds
Family room for 6 people
1 double bed and 4 single beds
Family room for 10 people
2 double beds and 6 single beds
SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe suite
1 double bed, 1 sofa bed and 2 single beds
- Sea-themed decor
Candy suite
1 double bed, 1 sofa bed and 2 single beds
- Sweets-themed decor
Pirate suite
1 double bed, 1 sofa bed and 2 single beds
- Pirate decor
Knight and Princess suite
1 double bed, 1 sofa bed and 2 single beds
- Medieval decor
Accessible room
1 double bed and 1 sofa bed
- Accessible shower
Food and drink
Explorers Fabulous Hotels Group has 1 themed restaurant and 1 bar.
Breakfast
All-you-can-eat continental buffet
Lunch
Marco’s Pizza Parlour pizzeria, open from 12:30 to 23:00. Afternoon snack: Point Gourmand snack bar for crêpes, cookies, muffins and sweet treats.
Dinner
Captain’s Library table-service restaurant from 18:00 to 22:00, and La Plantation all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant from 18:00 to 22:30.
Bar
Galion’s Pub, serving cocktails.
Services & facilities
- Shuttle bus Free
- Swimming pool Indoor and outdoor
- Air conditioning
- Car park Hotel car park only (not the Disney parks’ car park)
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24/7 concierge
- 10D cinema (extra charge)
- Indoor play areas
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- Aquapark indoor water park with a pirate ship
- Interconnecting family rooms for up to 10 people with two bathrooms
- Plenty of on-site activities
- Free shuttle bus to the parks
Weak points
- Family rooms often criticised for wear and tear and cleanliness
- No air conditioning in the family rooms
- Poor soundproofing, with noise from the Aquapark noticeable in nearby rooms
My verdict
Explorers Hotel is an absolute paradise for kids outside the parks, with leisure facilities that no other three-star hotel can match. The pirate and buccaneer theme runs through every space, creating a lively atmosphere entirely geared to families.
I haven’t stayed there or tried it myself. My opinion is based only on the hotel’s website, feedback from people I know, online reviews and a visit to the hotel lobby. What stands out straight away is the indoor water park with 3 slides, the centrepiece for keeping kids busy, with the buffet breakfast included as standard. Guests mention flexible layouts for up to 10 people, but also point to recurring weaknesses in soundproofing and cleanliness.
It’s the number one choice for large families with lively kids who want water play and entertainment after the parks close. Definitely avoid it if you’re a couple looking for peace and quiet or calm comfort.
Julie’s tip
Extra services
Explorers Hotel also offers several extras to make your stay even more enjoyable.
The options include VI’Kids packages designed to make the stay more fun for kids, themed events and entertainment throughout the year (themed buffets, shows, in-house character meets) and access to immersive suites (SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, Pirate, Candy, Knight and Princess).
All these extras may change and depend on availability.
For à la carte options (cake, room decoration, special entertainment), it’s best to contact reception before your stay.
Map & getting there
The hotel is in Magny-le-Hongre, about 10 minutes from the parks on the hotel’s free shuttle bus.
- Check-out time
- 11:00
Your questions about this hotel
01 Which Disney hotel should you choose with kids?
For a stay with kids, I recommend the Hotel Cheyenne: a very immersive Wild West atmosphere (saloon, Western streets, ponies) at an affordable price, and little ones love it. The Newport Bay Club is also an excellent choice thanks to its large pool with children’s areas. The Sequoia Lodge appeals to families who like a Disney-style forest atmosphere. Avoid the Davy Crockett Ranch if you don’t have a car, as getting to the parks from there is more of a hassle.
02 What’s the difference between an official Disney hotel and a partner hotel?
An official Disney hotel is run by Disneyland Paris and gives you exclusive perks: Extra Magic Time in the morning before the parks officially open, free delivery of your shop purchases to the hotel and a fully themed setting. A partner hotel (such as Explorers, Adagio or B&B) is a privately run hotel near the resort, usually cheaper, but without Extra Magic Time or Disney theming. For me, staying in a Disney hotel really makes a difference to the immersion, but if your budget is tight, the partner hotels are a decent option.
03 Is it better to stay in a Disney hotel or a partner hotel?
It all depends on your budget and your strategy. Disney hotel: you get Extra Magic Time (access to the parks up to 1 hour before official opening on some headline rides), delivery of your shopping to the hotel, the official shuttle bus and a themed atmosphere. Partner hotel (Explorers, Adagio or B&B, among others): prices are often lower, a free shuttle is usually provided but it isn’t an official Disney one, and breakfast isn’t always included in the price (check when you book). For a first stay, I’d tend to recommend a Disney hotel. To keep the budget down, a partner hotel.
04 Are there shuttle buses between the Disney hotels and the parks?
Yes, free shuttle buses serve most of the official Disney hotels. Some hotels are also within walking distance (Disneyland Hotel, Hotel New York, Newport Bay Club, Sequoia Lodge). The Davy Crockett Ranch has no shuttle: you really need a car (parking at the parks is free for its guests). The timetables are available at hotel reception or in the Disneyland Paris app.
05 How much does a trip to Disneyland Paris cost?
The cost of a trip varies a lot depending on the hotel you choose. For a 2-day, 1-night stay for 2 adults and 2 children with park tickets included, expect around €600 at the cheapest official Disney hotel and up to €1,100 at the most upmarket one. On top of that, you need to add meals: the amount depends on the type of restaurant, but I suggest allowing at least €300 for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner over the 2 days. In total, budget between €900 and €1,400 for this kind of trip. For a day visit only, the 1-day 1-park ticket starts at €49 per adult with a Bon Plan ticket: allow a budget of at least around €400 for a one-day visit for 2 adults and 2 children, meals included.
