Disneyland Paris hotel activities: what to do outside the parks

At the Disneyland Paris hotels, you can enjoy a pool, meet the characters, do the Discovery Quest treasure hunt, relax in the spa or sauna, browse the shops and eat in a themed restaurant, all without going into the parks. Some activities are shared by almost every hotel, others are found at just one (the Clarins spa, the Marvel workshops, the pony rides).

It’s handy for a breather in the afternoon, keeping the kids busy on a rainy morning, or simply enjoying the setting before or after a day in the parks. If you’re still deciding, take a look at all the hotels compared.

In this article, you’ll first find a summary table showing at a glance which hotel offers what. Then I go through the activities they share, followed by the extras specific to each hotel.

Here are the main activities, hotel by hotel. The very specific extras (Mon Rêve Royal, Super Hero Station, pony rides...) aren’t in this table to keep it readable: I cover them further down, in each hotel’s section.

Discovering your room. Each hotel has its own theme, right down to the rooms: Marvel superheroes at the New York, the Wild West at the Cheyenne, the world of Cars at the Santa Fe... For children, walking into the room is already part of the adventure. If you can’t decide between hotels, take a look at all the hotels compared.

The shop. All 7 hotels have a shop selling souvenirs and Disney merchandise. Handy for picking up a souvenir without queuing again in the park. At the Disneyland Hotel, the shop offers more exclusive items, in keeping with the hotel’s premium feel.

The Discovery Quest treasure hunt. It’s a family treasure hunt built on riddles: you pick up a map at reception, follow the clues around the hotel and scan QR codes. All 7 hotels offer it and it’s free. Ideal for keeping the kids busy during a quiet moment. I explain everything in my article on the Discovery Quest.

The pool. Five of the seven hotels have a pool: the Disneyland Hotel (indoor), the New York, the Newport Bay, the Sequoia Lodge and the Davy Crockett Ranch (indoor). There’s no pool at the Cheyenne or the Santa Fe. The Davy Crockett Ranch has a heated indoor pool with slides and water games, which children love. To compare the pools and see which ones are worth it, see the Disney hotel pools.

Character meet and greets. Six of the seven hotels welcome Disney characters, usually in the morning: the Disneyland Hotel, the New York, the Newport Bay, the Sequoia Lodge, the Cheyenne and the Santa Fe. There are no scheduled meet and greets at the Davy Crockett Ranch. Which characters appear depends on the hotel’s theme (Woody and Jessie from Toy Story at the Cheyenne, for example).

Themed restaurants and bars. All 7 hotels have at least one restaurant and one bar that match the hotel’s theme. A few highlights worth knowing: at the Disneyland Hotel, you can enjoy a meal with the characters. At the Sequoia Lodge, raclette comes back in winter. At the Davy Crockett Ranch, there’s a barbecue in summer. Eating at your hotel is an activity in itself when you want to avoid the crowds in the park restaurants.

Wellness (gym, sauna, hammam, spa). What’s on offer depends on the hotel’s category. There’s a gym at the Disneyland Hotel, the New York, the Newport Bay and the Sequoia Lodge. The sauna and hammam are at the Disneyland Hotel, the New York, the Newport Bay and the Sequoia Lodge: see the details in my guide to the sauna and hammam. Finally, the Clarins spa (paid) is only at the Disneyland Hotel, the 5-star hotel: it’s all explained in my guide to the Clarins spa.

The most upmarket hotel in the Resort, rated 5 stars, offers the widest range of family activities, on top of the Clarins spa and the character meals. You’ll find all the details on the Disneyland Hotel page.

Not staying at the hotel but would love to see it? Some areas are open to non-residents. I explain everything in my guide to visiting the Disneyland Hotel without staying there.

This is the hotel for superhero fans, rated 4 stars. As well as the pool, the gym and the sauna/hammam, it offers Marvel activities you won’t find at any other hotel. You’ll find all the details on the Hotel New York page.

The Newport Bay, a 4-star hotel, has a nautical New England theme, on the shores of Lake Disney. For activities, it has a pool, a gym, a sauna and a hammam (see the sauna and hammam), as well as character meet and greets. It’s a good hotel for enjoying the waterside setting between two days in the parks.

The Sequoia Lodge, a 4-star hotel, recreates the feel of America’s great national parks, with a forest and mountain theme. You’ll find a pool, a gym, a sauna and hammam, plus character meet and greets. The highlight: the raclette served in the restaurant in winter, a real bonus when it’s cold. The woodland setting and the big fireplace in the lobby make it a pleasant hotel to unwind in.

The Cheyenne, a 2-star hotel, recreates a Wild West town, with a touch of Toy Story. Be aware that there’s no pool at this hotel. On the other hand, this is the place (and the only place) for pony rides.

The Santa Fe, a 2-star hotel, has a Cars theme, with decor inspired by Route 66 and Radiator Springs. It’s a good choice for children who love the cars from the film. As at the Cheyenne, there’s no pool here. You will, however, find the shop, the Discovery Quest treasure hunt, a themed restaurant and character meet and greets.

The Davy Crockett Ranch is in a class of its own: it’s a little way from the Resort, deep in the forest, with cabins that each have a kitchen, a terrace and a barbecue. It’s the hotel most geared towards outdoor activities and sport.

On the flip side, there are no character meet and greets and no indoor gym. Its heated indoor pool, with slides and water games, is a big hit with children.