At a glance
With 390 rooms and suites, the 3-star Explorers Hotel is one of Disneyland Paris’s partner hotels. It opened in 2002, got a renovation in 2015, and passed from the Thomas Cook group to the Fabulous Hotels Group. Among Disney’s partner hotels, it’s one of the most focused on families with children.
Picture a hideout for adventurers and pirates, drawing on the great voyages of discovery of the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries. Mermaids, buccaneers, sea captains, and treasure seekers populate the rooms and shared spaces. That decor follows you into the Aquapark, an indoor water park built around a real pirate ship, as well as into themed suites (SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, Pirate, Candy, Knight and Princess).
The Explorers Hotel’s biggest edge is how much there is to do on site, more than at most Disney partner hotels: the indoor Aquapark and its water slides, an XD movie theater, play areas inside and out (a pirate island and a full-size pirate ship), a kids’ gym for ages 4 to 12, and a video game arcade. Its connecting family rooms sleep up to 10 people on one reservation, with two bathrooms, which makes life easier for big families and groups.
On the dining side, you’ll find 3 restaurants, 2 snack bars, and a bar. Captain’s Library offers table service at dinner, La Plantation is an all-you-can-eat buffet, Marco’s Pizza Parlour handles pizza, Point Gourmand covers afternoon snacks, and Galion’s Pub is the bar. Every booking comes with the breakfast buffet, something you rarely see at a partner hotel. Book directly on the official website and both parking and Wi-Fi are free. A free shuttle also gets you from the Explorers Hotel to the Disneyland Paris parks in less than 10 minutes.
A family water paradise. Kids get a huge indoor pool with a big pirate ship, water slides, and interactive water games. The hotel has flexible rooms that can fit up to ten people from the same crew. A five-dimensional movie theater and play structures round out what’s on offer.
History
The Explorers Hotel opened its doors in 2003 in Magny-le-Hongre’s Val de France district. Themed on pirates and legendary explorers, it ranks among the family-friendly themed partner hotels of Disneyland Paris.
The Fabulous Hotels Group now operates the 390-room property, best known for connecting rooms where up to ten people can stay together and for its many play spaces, an indoor water park among them.
- Rooms
- 390
Theme & world
Rooms & suites
Choose from 9 room categories, starting with the double room for 2 and going up to themed suites for 6, including Pirate, Knight, SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, and Candy. The suites are themed with families in mind. Book on the Disneyland Paris website and your park tickets come included.
Double room
1 double bed
Family room for 4
1 double bed AND 2 twin beds
Family room for 6
1 double bed AND 4 twin beds
Family room for 10
2 double beds and 6 twin beds
SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe Suite
1 double bed AND 1 sofa bed AND 2 twin beds
- Ocean decor
Candy Suite
1 double bed AND 1 sofa bed AND 2 twin beds
- Candy decor
Pirate Suite
1 double bed AND 1 sofa bed AND 2 twin beds
- Pirate decor
Knight and Princess Suite
1 double bed AND 1 sofa bed AND 2 twin beds
- Medieval decor
Accessible room
1 double bed AND 1 sofa bed
- Accessible shower
Dining
The Explorers Fabulous Hotels Group has 1 themed restaurant and 1 bar.
Breakfast
All-you-can-eat continental buffet
Lunch
Open 12:30 to 23:00, Marco’s Pizza Parlour serves pizza. Afternoon snack: head to the Point Gourmand snack bar for crêpes, cookies, muffins, and other sweet treats.
Dinner
Captain’s Library, a table-service restaurant open from 18:00 to 22:00, and La Plantation, an all-you-can-eat buffet restaurant open from 18:00 to 22:30.
Bar
Galion’s Pub, serving cocktails.
Services & amenities
- Shuttle bus Free
- Pool Indoor and outdoor
- Air conditioning
- Parking Hotel parking lot only (not the Disney parks lot)
- Free Wi-Fi
- 24/7 concierge desk
- 10D movie theater (extra charge)
- Indoor play areas
Who it’s made for
Pros and cons
The highlights
- The Aquapark, an indoor water park complete with a pirate ship
- Connecting family rooms that sleep up to 10, with two bathrooms
- Plenty to do without leaving the hotel
- Shuttle to the parks at no cost
The downsides
- Guests often complain the family rooms are worn and not very clean
- Family rooms have no AC
- Thin walls, and rooms near the Aquapark can hear the noise
My verdict
The Explorers Hotel is pure paradise for kids outside the parks, with leisure facilities that no other three-star comes close to. The pirates-and-buccaneers theme spills into every space, creating a high-energy atmosphere made entirely for families.
I haven’t stayed here and haven’t tried it out myself. My take is based only on the hotel’s website, feedback from people I know, online reviews, and a visit to the lobby. What stands out right away is that the indoor water park with 3 slides is the centerpiece for keeping kids busy, and the breakfast buffet is included as standard. Feedback mentions flexible layouts for up to 10 people, while pointing out recurring problems with soundproofing and cleanliness.
If you have a big family with lively kids who care most about splashing around and having things to do once the parks close, this is my top pick. Couples hoping for peace, quiet, and calm comfort should steer well clear.
Julie’s tip
Extra services
The Explorers Hotel also offers several extra services to make your stay even more enjoyable.
Among the extras: VI’Kids packages that make the trip more festive for children, themed events and entertainment all year long (themed buffets, shows, in-house character meet-and-greets), and access to themed suites (SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe, Pirate, Candy, Knight and Princess).
All of these services may change and depend on availability.
For à la carte extras (cake, room decorations, special entertainment), it’s best to contact the front desk before your trip.
Map & getting there
From Magny-le-Hongre, where the hotel is located, the free hotel shuttle gets you to the parks in roughly 10 minutes.
- Check-out time
- 11:00
Your questions about this hotel
01 Which Disney hotel should you pick with kids?
For a trip with kids, I recommend 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 big pool with areas for children. Sequoia Lodge appeals to families who like Disney’s forest-style setting. Skip Davy Crockett Ranch if you don’t have a car, since getting to the parks from there is more of a hassle.
02 Official Disney hotel vs. partner hotel: what’s the difference?
An official Disney hotel is run by Disneyland Paris and comes with exclusive perks: Extra Magic Time in the morning before official opening, free delivery of your store purchases to the hotel, and a fully themed atmosphere. A partner hotel (Explorers, Adagio, B&B, and others) is a privately run hotel near the resort, usually cheaper, but without Extra Magic Time or the Disney theming. For me, staying at a Disney hotel really changes how immersed you feel, but if money is tight, partner hotels are still a decent option.
03 Disney hotel or partner hotel: which one should you pick?
It all depends on your budget and your game plan. Disney hotel: you get Extra Magic Time (entry to the parks up to 1 hour before official opening, on a selection of headline rides), delivery of your purchases to the hotel, the official shuttle service, and a themed atmosphere. Partner hotel (Explorers, Adagio, B&B, and others): prices are often lower, a free shuttle is usually offered but it isn’t an official Disney one, and breakfast isn’t always included in the rate (check when you book). For a first trip, I’d lean toward a Disney hotel. To make the most of your budget, go with a partner hotel.
04 Are there shuttles between the Disney hotels and the parks?
Yes, free shuttles 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, so you really need a car there (its guests get free parking at the parks). You’ll find the schedule at the hotel front desk or in the Disneyland Paris app.
05 How much does a Disneyland Paris vacation cost?
The price of a stay varies a lot depending on the hotel you pick. For a 2-day, 1-night stay for 2 adults and 2 kids with park tickets included, expect about €600 at the cheapest official Disney hotel and up to €1,100 at the most upscale one. On top of that, you need to add meals: the amount depends on the type of restaurant, but I recommend budgeting at least €300 for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner over the 2 days. All in all, plan on €900 to €1,400 for this kind of trip. For a single day only, the 1-day 1-park ticket starts at €49 per adult with a Bon Plan ticket: in that case, plan a budget of at least about €400 for a one-day visit for 2 adults and 2 kids, meals included.
