Nightmares. On a trip to Disneyland Resort Paris, they’re few and far between, to say the least. One of the only bad dreams people might face is about the amount of spending they find themselves doing — be it on a plush hotel, must-have souvenirs or simply enjoying the experience. Since 2003, there has, however, been one — or rather, four — ways to offset a little of your Disney cash-splashing: the Val de France Hotels.
Four reasonably elegant, reasonably affordable, reasonably close ‘Selected Hotels’ owned and operated by four outside companies — Thomas Cook, Vienna International, Holiday Inn and Kyriad. A great option for money-savers, frequent visitors or anyone who isn’t quite ready for 24/7 Disney.
The hotels offer a total of 1,480 rooms, ranging from 2 to 4-star rated.
Thomas Cook’s Explorers Hotel / Vienna International Dream Castle / Holiday Inn / Hotel Kyriad
So, after a long day of magic in one of the Disney parks, you slowly head back to your ‘Selected’ hotel for some well-earned sleep and sweet dreams. However, there’s something these four hotels have in common. Something that can frequently be a little bit of a nightmare.
A nightmare… in pink.
No.5 - Look out! Pink Elephants on parade!
The hotels are just 15 minutes away by free shuttle bus, promise the brochures. Said buses serve the four hotels in one circular journey, meaning you do usually have three stops before or after your hotel. That’s fine, no problem! Yes, on a good day the pink, route 54 “bendy-buses” operated by local firm “Pep’s” are a quick and pleasant ride to the heart of the European magic kingdom.
On a bad day, almost any time during school holidays and high season, they can be a painful start and nightmare end to your day.
A quiet day, a good service.
Most of the hotels now offer a printed timetable for the bus route when you first arrive, which certainly helps you not to waste any time in the mornings, just missing a service. You see, despite serving four hotels, these buses don’t seem to operate like the yellow Disney Hotels shuttles, sticking to a timetable set months in advance regardless of the number of guests needing to get to and from the parks.
So, timetable in hand, pink bus arriving over the horizon, you can then be left waiting another 10-20 minutes outside your hotel because the bus is already full. Precious lost time, if you’re wanting to be at the parks early.
Pink bus on the horizon!
But whilst morning “traffic” is spread over several hours between the early-risers and noon, park closing time is the real problem. Arriving back at the resort’s bus station on a high attendance day, the stop for #54 will often already be busy and crowded as stressed parents, children and other visitors gaze toward the gate for sign of a pink bus.
Once it arrives, the entire mass of people will inevitably crush toward the shuttle’s three doorways. There’s always the panic of a mother thinking her child will be left behind, or someone who can’t fit their pushchair on amongst all the people. And on almost every occasion, a few people who couldn’t quite squeeze on will be left to wait for the next bus.
Pink #54 heading to resort, full at 3:30pm.
Add in the sore feet from a day’s walking around the parks, tired children and the unpredictable Marne-la-Vallée weather, and you certainly don’t have a magical end to your day.
There are probably many people who take the option of a Disney Hotel, rather than one of the four in the Val de France corner, to avoid this unpredictable shuttle bus service. Great for Disney, you think! Not entirely — because, just like a bad meal at Planet Hollywood or a bad experience on the RER train, it all impacts on a guests’ overall view on their time in the magic kingdom. They see the entire enterprise as “Disneyland Paris” or “Euro Disney” regardless, and a packed shuttle bus will not provide the kind of good word-of-mouth Disney should be getting, particularly when these are their own ‘Selected’ hotels.
So, what to do? Spend money on more buses for the route? No, we’ll start off with an easy first wish in this entry on our Wish List — a queue line. Just a metal railing or even a temporary rope at the resort’s bus station, something to make sure no-one gets pushed out of the way or loses their place. Then, let everyone load by one set of doors. Maybe even employ someone to properly oversee the hectic bus station.
Aerial view showing bus stop and uncovered waiting area for crowd.
If they’d like to be extra kind, why not cover it with a proper bus shelter, like the rest of the stops? Currently, #54 is perched on the end of the shelters — stand undercover during a rainstorm and you’ll miss your place on the next bus as crowds gather.
Either full-time or only during busy periods, it would also be more than welcome for buses to serve just two of the hotels. Say one service for Explorers and Dream Castle, the other for Holiday Inn and Kyriad. One bus to serve four such large and relentlessly busy hotels is often, quite simply, a disaster.
As the Disney Hotels begin to hit record room occupancy once again, it’s important the Selected Hotels are kept attractive to guests — both new and returning. Staying here means they’ll be on property, closer to the resort. They’ll probably visit Disney Village in the evening, spend more on meals and merchandise, rather than venturing further afield and taking their Euros with them.
‘Fate is kind’ - Does our wish have a chance?
Probably not, no. With the bus service run by ‘Pep’s’ presumably via an agreement between the four hotels and Disney (it’s impossible to trace where exactly the plans and funding come from), it would take considerable effort on the part of one hotel, or joint effort between all the hotels, for something to change with the service. Stay the night, and most seem to see it as a bus which helpfully just happens to stop at their hotel, rather than a vital link to the resort for what must be 99% of their guests.
Whilst recent signs of one-bus-per-hotel operation at busy times have been a step forward, the unhelpful design of the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy bus station itself remains the key problem at busy times and will likely continue to do so. Just a primitive queue system and small cover from bad weather would make a huge difference. In the mean time, guests at these four hotels experiencing bad service from the shuttle will have their view of the entire resort tainted.
Maybe they’ll return, to discover one of the Disney Hotels with their swifter shuttles and walking-distance locations. Maybe they won’t.
– Click here to check reviews and ratings for the the hotels on our partner website, DLRP Review.
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