We’re all ears
locks hung on the wall. Look down and nods to Disney’s royal adventures can be spotted woven into the carpets, from Aladdin’s lamp to Cinderella’s slipper.
Simply pick your perfect pillow from a menu of seven options to ensure you too could sleep for 100 years.
Fred’s favourite feature was the “bedtime ritual”. With the flick of a switch, lights dimmed and an illuminated canopy above our heads bathed the room in relaxing hues of blue and pink, while LED lights hidden in the artwork on our walls made them twinkle like the night sky.
There are plenty of reasons to choose this hotel over other options at Disneyland Paris, from an exclusive entrance to the park to ensure speedy access, to the chance to pose alongside a plethora of princesses in the Royal Kids Club.
Need a moment without your little darlings? Parents can deposit them in the club for two hours, freeing themselves up to ride the bigger roller coasters, or ease theme park-weary limbs with a visit to the Clarins spa.
Dining delights
You don’t have to be dolled up like Prince Charming to receive a royal welcome at the Royal Banquet, the Disneyland Hotel buffet restaurant.
BEAUTY AND THE FEAST Meals fit for a king
Diners are greeted by Mickey, Minnie and friends, dressed in new, majestic costumes you won’t spot them wearing elsewhere.
If you’re wondering if a buffet really can be regal, wait till you set eyes on the platters of lobsters, langoustine, smoked salmon, crab claws and oysters piled high on the seafood bar.
The dessert table groans under the weight of classics such as tarte tatin, macarons and tarte au citron, but the stars of the show are the exclusive Disney creations, which included an Excalibur chocolate-caramel mousse, a Bippidi-bobbidi pumpkin, and Enchanted Rose, a strawberry and rhubarb mousse and compote combo with Breton biscuit, which won our vote as the best of the bunch.
At first, Freddie was a little unsure of how to interact with Mickey and his entourage, whispering, “Why do they keep interrupting our dinner?” as Minnie blew her fourth kiss of the evening at him.
But he got into the swing of things once Goofy had sealed their friendship by enveloping him in a hug that squeezed all the air out of him. Pluto had him in stitches throughout the night, revisiting our table time and time again to wiggle his bottom as Fred worked his way through a plate of Mickey Mouse-shaped croquettes and chicken nuggets.
If you’d rather not serve yourself, book to dine at La Table de Lumière, reserved for guests of the Disneyland Hotel. Inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles and with more than just a nod to the Beauty And The Beast
Disneyland Paris offers a one-night stay from £449pp, including accommodation at Disneyland Hotel with access to the Disney Parks for two days and return Eurostar travel via Lille. Based on two adults and two children (aged 3-9) sharing a Superior Room and travelling on November 3.
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ballroom scene, it’s all silver service and the finest French cuisine. Even the children’s menu is fairly refined (think potato veloute, confit prawns and roasted sea bass in carrot and orange sauce), though Fred was in his element once a Cogsworth Swiss Roll came out for dessert.
I had wondered whether my football-mad, gaming-obsessed boy might think himself too cool for the prince and princesses experience, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
He was rather pink-of-cheek as a trio of beauties – Belle, Ariel and Aurora – visited our table to say hello.
Fred declared our stay “incredible, magical, extraordinary” and awarded it “four and three-quarters out of five”, only docking the quarter point as he hadn’t managed to bump into Donald Duck at the breakfast bar.
Goofy had sealed their friendship by enveloping Freddie in a massive hug