Disney Axes Years-Long Tradition, Will No Longer Allow Hotel Access to Non-Hotel Guests

In an unexpected policy shift, Disneyland Paris has quietly restricted access to one of its crown jewels — the Disneyland Hotel.

For decades, Disney’s hotels have been as integral to the experience as the theme parks themselves. They’re destinations where storytelling and design merge into living environments — from the retro-futuristic Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World, where the monorail glides through the atrium, to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, where the likes of giraffes and zebras roam just beyond guest balconies. Visitors and non-guests alike often stop in for the restaurants, the shops, or simply to soak in the atmosphere.

At other resorts, Disney has cultivated a similar appeal.

The Victorian-inspired Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel blends Edwardian architecture with lush gardens, while Shanghai Disneyland Hotel draws visitors with its Art Nouveau interiors and character-themed afternoon teas. Even without park tickets, fans often spend hours exploring these properties — a testament to how Disney has turned hospitality into its own form of entertainment.

At Disneyland Paris, that immersive storytelling reached new heights earlier this year. Following a multi-year transformation, the iconic Disneyland Hotel reopened in early 2024, reintroducing itself as a five-star “royal” retreat. Each space celebrates Disney royalty — from gilded corridors inspired by “Sleeping Beauty” to character encounters featuring beloved princesses.

The result was a hotel unlike any other in Europe, and one of Disney’s most luxurious to date. The Royal Banquet character dining experience and the haute-cuisine restaurant La Table de Lumière — where dinner costs €120 ($139) per person — quickly drew both acclaim and controversy for their price points. Suites, meanwhile, can exceed $1,000 per night, with panoramic views of Sleeping Beauty Castle.

For months after reopening, the hotel became a pilgrimage site for Disney fans eager to glimpse its regal décor. Visitors not staying at the property could still stop by the lobby, browse the boutique, or catch a glimpse of the princesses meeting guests inside. That access, however, is now officially over.

Disneyland Hotel Switches Up Access Rules

Disneyland Paris has updated its entry rules for the Disneyland Hotel, restricting access to paying guests and those with reservations.

Only guests staying at the property, or those with bookings at La Table de Lumière, Royal Banquet, or the My Royal Dream experience, can currently enter. The company has not announced when — or if — this rule will be lifted.

The decision has taken many fans by surprise. When the hotel reopened, it initially operated under a virtual queue system via the Lineberty app before opening freely to all park visitors. The reversal, many note, feels abrupt.

Online reactions have been swift and polarized. “If I’m spending that much cash on the experience of a ‘luxury’ hotel, then a hotel that is swarming with non guests ruins that experience,” one user wrote. “It’s a hotel, not an attraction.”

Others disagree, saying that Disney hotels have always been part of the public experience. “The lobby should be accessible as well as the shop any bar in my opinion,” another commenter said. “It wasn’t crowded at all when we went… But then again I can see especially around the Christmas holidays it being crowded.”

Disneyland Hotel, guests without booking no longer allowed enter
byu/liamo376573 indisneylandparis

Several regular visitors said the move was overdue. “I saw people putting their feet on the tables in the lobby, people cluttering in and making a ruckus while the princesses were in the lobby and shoving through people,” one post read. Another guest added, “If you’re spending that much money, it can feel disheartening to not be able to experience the benefits.”

Still, others feel the change is too restrictive. “Bit gutted as I loved going there for a glass of champagne and a chill on busy park days,” one wrote. Another speculated, “I wonder if this is something to do with the gangs that hang out trying to buy tickets, possibly now going into the hotel trying to steal from people.”

The Wider Hotel Landscape at Disneyland Paris

The policy stands in contrast to other Disneyland Paris properties, where guests and non-guests can still explore the theming freely.

Disney’s Newport Bay Club, styled after a New England yacht club, remains open to walk-ins looking for a lakeside meal. Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel continues to attract casual visitors with its lobby artwork and sleek Manhattan design. Even Sequoia Lodge, inspired by American national parks, welcomes guests who want to enjoy a quiet drink by the fire ahead of its upcoming refurbishment.

For now, though, the resort’s most prestigious address is off limits to those without a reservation. Whether this marks a temporary adjustment or a new long-term policy remains unclear.

Disneyland Paris has not issued an official statement beyond confirming the current entry requirements, leaving fans to speculate whether crowding, security, or exclusivity drove the change.