More Details Revealed About the Disneyland Hotel Royal Transformation at Disneyland Paris

Hi everyone!

The 5-star Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris is undergoing a royal transformation, and more information has been revealed!  Set Designer Thomas Muller and Art Director Sylvie Massara from Walt Disney Imagineering Paris gave additional details about what to expect for the Disneyland Hotel during the Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary Grand Finale gala.

We were invited to the gala but we’d just returned home a few weeks ago from Disneyland Paris and couldn’t go back so quickly. Thank you to our friend Filip from DLRPFans for sharing video with us from the event. Check out his YouTube channel! Read our article below the video, with the concept art that has so far been released.

First, Disney says that when the Disneyland Hotel opens in 2024, it “will be the very first Disney hotel to take guests on a majestic journey celebrating Disney royalty.” The stories will include Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Princess and the Frog, to recent hits like Frozen, Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon”.

Disneyland Hotel from March 2023 by Denise Preskitt, Mousesteps

Muller started by talking about the exterior of the hotel. “From the outside, we are keeping the storytelling the same because it is deeply rooted in Main Street U.S.A storytelling. When it comes to this royal reinvention, everything is happening inside and the hotel is actually being completely rebuilt.” The first part of the hotel discussed was the lobby.

Muller talked about the stunning chandelier that can be seen in the concept art, and he called it “a work of art made of crystal”. He continued, “It really is the centerpiece of the lobby of the Disneyland Hotel. It’s going to come to life.” He is excited for everyone to see it.

Referring to the lobby concept art, Muller referenced the artwork above the fireplace. The original piece of art is being replaced. “Obviously, we’d like to keep it a little bit of a mystery and a surprise for when the hotel opens, but we are ever so mindful about the legacy we are building on. Rest assured that the gorgeous existing piece by the artist Frank Armitage (of Euro Disney’s Main Street U.S.A.) will actually find a new home somewhere at Disneyland Paris.” Muller said that for now it is a secret. “Rest assured that is going to find a new home to be enjoyed for future generations”.

Frank Armitage artwork of Euro Disney (to the left). Photo by Denise Preskitt, Mousesteps.

Muller continued, “Imagine that the inside of Disneyland Hotel is a castle. And so we decided to…every location could be associated with an actual location that would be in an existing castle, whether it is a grand ballroom, a reception hall, and to the lobbies. And the lobby would actually be transformed into a grand library with all those books on display celebrating a lot of Disney stories, because once again…our main goal for the Disneyland Hotel is to celebrate all those royal stories.”

Muller mentioned about the Walt Disney Company celebrating 100 Years of Magic, and 100 years of stories. “So when it comes up to the stories that we’ll be celebrating, we had the choice between such an array of stories, locations and characters. Yes, we’ll be celebrating the Disney princesses, but there’s a lot of other royal characters and stories for us to play with”. He likened picking the stories and characters to what they’ve done at Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel (which is a fantastic example of theme throughout the hotel). Muller says, “Absolutely the art will be represented literally everywhere in Disneyland Hotel”.

They looked for inspiration in real locations and real castles from all over the world. Muller said that technically, Disneyland Hotel won’t be a Renaissance hotel or a medieval hotel. He called it a “timeless space” that will honor iconic Disney stories.

Muller said that the Disneyland Hotel will “unveil an amazing range of services and bars and spas and experiences”. Massara took over from there will be new spaces. “And you’ll also have the experience to meet with people and characters”. Muller said, “Obviously since we are celebrating stories, you can imagine that these characters can actually step out of the storybooks and come and meet all the guests of Disneyland Hotel for the ultimate surprise encounters.”

Muller talked about the mirror in the concept art, which has Rapunzel theming. He said it gave him goosebumps when he saw it. “This mirror really represents and summarizes the direction that we are actually taking when it comes to incorporating all these iconic royal stories in the hotel. And we do this obviously in mirrors, we can do that in props, we can do that with statues. We can do that with pieces of art as well.”

 

Muller said about the guest rooms, “I’m happy to say to you that we will be celebrating up to 11 classic stories within those bedrooms. So depending on the bedroom that you’re going to stay, you’re going to have potentially the opportunity to have classic stories including ‘Cinderella’, ‘Beauty and the Beast’…” and then she showed Princess Tiana for the first time from “The Princess and the Frog”.

“Cinderella” guest room concept art

There was a lot of cheering in the room for the announcement for “The Princess and the Frog”. He continued, “We also will be representing ‘Moana’, and the artwork that we have for Moana is truly gorgeous. She’s sailing away to a new adventure with her friends Pua and Hei Hei.” Maui will be included as well.

More cheers went up for “Raya and the Last Dragon”. Muller said, “Raya and the Last Dragon” will also be represented in the hotel. And tonight we are so delighted to reveal to you the first artwork that has been exclusively created in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios”. The artwork will be in the guest rooms.  He says this is one of his favorite visuals, the two pieces of art that tell a story. “This is all about the power of friendship and the connection that these characters have between each other, and the power to be yourselves.”

Muller ended on, “We cannot wait for you to discover Disneyland Hotel upon its reopening”. He said if you had to summarize the Disneyland Hotel in a couple of words, “It is this amazing journey through time, through culture, and that celebrates Disney’s most iconic royal stories.”

“Frozen” guest room concept art

What do you think of the royal transformation at the Disneyland Hotel? Disneyland Paris did such a wonderful job with Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel that I’m looking forward to experiencing the Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris when it opens sometime in 2024. I hope a date will be announced soon!

Thank you again to Filip from DLRPFans for sharing the video.