At a glance
The Disney Hotel Santa Fe is a 2-star Disney hotel that opened in April 1992, when Disneyland Paris launched. It has 1000 rooms in cube-shaped buildings in ochre and terracotta shades, inspired by New Mexico architecture and the desert landscapes of the American Southwest.
Since 2012, the hotel has been themed on the Disney-Pixar film Cars: the upper facades feature murals lit up at night with the outlines of the film’s heroes, and the screen above the entrance shows Lightning McQueen and Sally, American drive-in style. The rooms pick up on Route 66 and car culture: Lightning McQueen bedspreads, traffic-cone lamps, borders of retro number plates, a mirror topped with a light-up arrow and a picture of Mater the tow truck.
The hotel has no swimming pool and no air conditioning in the rooms (only a ceiling fan). On the other hand, it offers several free activities for families: a kids’ play area, a games arcade and outdoor spaces dotted with things to spot, such as a dormant volcano or a saguaro cactus under glass, which recall the history of New Mexico. For food, one restaurant, La Cantina, serves breakfast and dinner as an all-you-can-eat Tex-Mex buffet, backed up by the Rio Grande Bar for drinks and a Starbucks Coffee near reception.
With prices among the lowest of the Disney hotels, a Cars theme that kids love and a daily meet and greet with a Disney character dressed as a racing driver or mechanic, the Santa Fe remains the ideal choice for families on a tight budget. Guests also get Extra Magic Time to enter both parks before official opening.
Lowest price. This is the cheapest official place to stay at the resort, yet it keeps the main perks such as early entry to the Disney parks. The decor pays tribute to Route 66 and the Pixar film Cars. The free shuttle bus drops you outside the stations in just eight minutes.
History
Opened on 12 April 1992, the Disney Hotel Santa Fe was designed by architect Antoine Predock in a pueblo style that recalls New Mexico and Route 66.
From 2011, the hotel gradually took on the world of the film Cars: the original sign, which showed Clint Eastwood, gave way to Lightning McQueen and Sally, followed by a full facade makeover in 2012 and 2013.
- Rooms
- 1000
- Floors
- 4
- Opened
- 1992
- Refurbishment
- 2013
Theme & story
Rooms & suites
The hotel offers 2 room categories over 4 floors, from the Standard room to the accessible version of the standard layout. All of them can be booked room only or with park tickets included.
The price of a night at Hotel Santa Fe changes with the date: for the same room, the price can vary a lot from one period to another. To see the real price day by day, open my price calendar and set up an alert to get an email as soon as a stay drops below your budget.
Standard Room
2 double beds OR 1 double bed and 1 bunk bed
Accessible rooms
2 double beds OR 1 double bed and 1 bunk bed
- Accessible showers
- guide and assistance dogs welcome
Food and drink
Hotel Santa Fe has 2 places to eat and drink, plus 1 Starbucks.
Afternoon snack
Starbucks Coffee near reception, open all day for hot and cold drinks
Dinner
All-you-can-eat Tex-Mex buffet at La Cantina, in a large dining room with immersive American decor
Participating restaurants
Services & facilities
- Shuttle bus Free to the parks
- Car park Hotel and resort car parks
- Luggage storage Free at the hotel entrance
- Extra Magic Time
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free parking
- Concierge open 24/7
- Shopping Service
- Trading Post shop
- Starbucks Coffee
- Laundry (extra cost)
- Games arcade
- Kids’ play area
- Babysitting service
- Extra Magic Time included
- Ceiling fan (no air conditioning)
- Air conditioning Ceiling fan
The services brochure (PDF)
The venue’s official document. Prices and services change regularly: treat this brochure as an overview of what’s available on site. File size: 2.5 MB.
Disney perks
Access to the 2 parks 1 hour before public opening, on selected headline rides. Included.
You’re staying inside the resort. The parks are reachable by shuttle or on foot.
The holiday package includes unlimited 2-park tickets for your whole stay.
Park purchases delivered free of charge to your hotel shop. An exclusive Disney service.
Character meet and greets
Hotel guests can enjoy a daily meet and greet with a Disney character every morning between 8:15 and 11:00 in the reception area. The character is chosen at random from Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto, who appear dressed as racing drivers or mechanics to fit the Cars theme.
Random meet and greet with a Disney character once a day (you can go several times during your stay) in the hotel lobby.
Who it’s for
Pros and cons
Strong points
- Lowest prices of all the Disney hotels
- Cars decor that kids love
- A change of scene inspired by Route 66 and New Mexico
- Quiet outdoor areas and a good room size
- Handy storage space under the bed
Weak points
- The furthest Disney hotel from the park that you can still walk from
- No swimming pool on site
- No air conditioning in the rooms (only a ceiling fan)
- Soundproofing in the rooms sometimes not good enough
- Limited 4G/5G signal inside the buildings
My verdict
The Santa Fe is the cheapest official option at Disneyland Paris, ideal if you just want a bed for the night. Its decor, inspired by Route 66 motels and the film Cars, is a huge hit with kids despite the basic facilities.
I stayed there once in 2026 to try out the budget option. Comfort is basic, the rooms have no air conditioning (only a ceiling fan) and I find the soundproofing falls short when the hotel is busy. Still, keeping the perks of Extra Magic Time at this price is a strong argument compared with the partner hotels outside the resort. La Cantina serves a decent Mexican-inspired buffet, handy after a long day.
Perfect for families with Lightning McQueen fans who are watching their spending. Avoid it in high summer if you struggle with warm nights without air conditioning.
Julie’s tip
Extra services
Hotel Santa Fe offers several extra services to make your stay even better.
For example, you can ask for flowers or champagne in your room, gifts from the shop, a birthday cake or a personalised message.
To use these services, you need to have already booked and then contact the hotel concierge.
Prices and services may be changed by Disneyland Paris and also depend on availability.
To see all the services available, feel free to download the services catalogue.
Map & getting there
The Disney Hotel Santa Fe is beyond the Disney Village lake, opposite Hotel Cheyenne. It is the furthest Disney hotel from the park that you can still reach on foot: allow around 20 minutes’ walk along Lake Disney to reach the entrance to the Disneyland Paris parks, or 8 minutes on the free shuttle bus from the stop outside Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station.
- Check-in time
- 15:00
- Check-out time
- 11:00
- Concierge
- 24/7
Your questions about this hotel
01 What is the cheapest Disney hotel?
The cheapest official Disney hotel is Hotel Santa Fe, themed on Cars and Route 66. It’s the resort’s entry-level hotel, about 20 minutes’ walk from the parks. If you’re on an even tighter budget, Davy Crockett Ranch (bungalows in the forest, reachable by car only) can work out cheaper for families, but you’ll need a vehicle. For exact prices, which vary by date, I check the official Disneyland Paris website directly.
02 Can you meet Disney characters at the hotel?
Yes, several Disney hotels offer character meet and greets, usually in dedicated areas of the lobby. At the Disneyland Hotel, Castle Club rooms include a royal breakfast with Disney princesses in the private lounge. Other hotels hold occasional character appearances, and the programme varies with the season. I check the programme with the concierge as soon as I arrive.
03 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.
04 Is breakfast included at the Disney hotels?
It depends on the package you book: some "breakfast included" or "half board" stays include breakfast, while others charge it as an extra. At the Disneyland Hotel’s Castle Club, however, the royal breakfast with princesses in the private lounge is always included. I always check the package when I book, to avoid any surprises.
05 What are the themes of the Disney hotels?
Each Disney hotel has its own world: the Disneyland Hotel has a princess and royal theme, Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel celebrates the Marvel superheroes through works of art, the Newport Bay Club recalls nautical New England, the Sequoia Lodge takes you into the forest in the style of Bambi, Disney Hotel Cheyenne recreates a Wild West town with its saloon, Disney Hotel Santa Fe draws on Cars and Route 66, and the Davy Crockett Ranch offers mobile homes deep in the woods.
