What’s Special About This Resort
Disney fanatics will not pass up the chance to visit the Paris parks, even if they aren’t quite in Paris. But the small town of Marne-la-Vallée is close enough, as it’s just about 40 minutes east of the city.
If you’re spending more than a day at Disneyland, it’s usually better to stay over here, and Marriott’s Village d’Ile de France is our top choice. This is a Marriott Vacation Club property, meaning they are timeshare units rented as hotel rooms, which is great for families. Full kitchens, an on-site shoppette, and in-unit laundry are bonuses with this type of hotel.
There’s free parking and a free shuttle to Disneyland, which makes reaching the parks easy. The train station there can also take you to the sights of Paris in under an hour. The meticulously designed village-like layout of the hotel makes the whole experience Disney-esque, allowing you to bring the magic back at night.
Things we like:
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Cheaper than the actual Disney resorts, but just as convenient with free parking and free park shuttles
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Timeshare units have multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and laundry
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Awesome outdoor pool area for summertime and smaller indoor pool year-round
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The whole hotel is a very cute, manicured “village”
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Easy to reach the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy train station to get to Paris or the airport
Things we don't like:
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Just one restaurant that isn’t open very much
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No elite benefits at Marriott Vacation Club properties
➞ What to Do
Marriott’s Village d’Ile de France is the perfect place to enjoy Disneyland Paris. While Disney operates a number of resorts that are directly in the park complex, they are much more expensive and don’t offer the amenities and separation that Marriott does. Simply take the free shuttle to the parks or make the 5-minute drive to the parks instead.
There are two parks at Disneyland Paris. The first is just called Disneyland Park, which has the castle, main street, and many of the classic rides (like Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.). The other is Walt Disney Studios Park, which is a bit smaller but worth visiting – it has the new Ratatouille ride, which you, of course, have to do in France. It’s only a few steps to walk between the two parks.
Outside the park is Disney Village, a free-access shopping area similar to Downtown Disney in Florida. That’s also where you’ll find the train station for getting into and out of the area from Paris. There are also direct trains to the Charles de Gaulle Airport.
It’s not unreasonable to just stay in this area for your whole trip if you only planned for a day or two in central Paris anyway. The train will bring you to Châtelet-Les Halles, which is right next to the Louvre and walkable from the major Paris attractions. You can also drive into the city, but be warned, it isn’t the simplest place to navigate and park.
➞ What to Eat & Drink
There’s only one real restaurant at Marriott’s Village d’Ile de France, plus its café-market shop. The restaurant is Le Bistro Bar, and it serves breakfast during a short window in the morning. It reopens for a few hours at night for pizzas, sandwiches, and French entrées, with takeout and delivery service to your villa as well.
The Marketplace is open from early morning to late at night and offers both dry and refrigerated groceries to stock your villa. It also has paninis, pastries, desserts, and drinks to take out in its little café section. For me, this was a great solution for morning coffee and pastries; I also bought Nespresso pods from here for the machine in my room.
You can save money by shopping at a local grocery store in the town of Bailly-Romainvilliers if you do indeed plan to use your kitchen. There are a few restaurants there as well, but nothing to specifically call out. There’s plenty of dining and drinking at Disneyland, either with or without a ticket.
➞ Room Guide
Rooms at Marriott’s Village d’Ile de France are called “townhouses,” and that’s actually a fair description. Couples may only need a Studio, while families or groups can go with a spacious multi-bedroom duplex. The townhouses are carefully manicured to resemble a French village.
Studios: These are the simplest accommodations with a king-sized bed, kitchenette, and sitting area in one room. The sofa can transform into a bed, but only two adults can occupy these rooms, making them a good solution for couples.
Two and Three-Bedroom Townhouses: These are all duplex-style, making them extremely spacious. Downstairs, there is a large living room, dining room, full kitchen, and laundry closet. Bedrooms upstairs have various bedding configurations. Note that there is no one-bedroom option.
➞ Special Experiences
You can take a day away from the busy atmospheres of Disney and Paris and stay at the Marriott’s Village d’Ile de France to relax. During the summer, the large outdoor pool is the perfect place to relax on a sun lounger. A smaller indoor pool is open all winter, with access to a sauna and steam room. The little lake at the center of the resort is lovely to take a walk around.
Disney does magical experiences like no other, so be sure to carefully research what you can add to your visit to go above and beyond. For example, enjoy fine French dining with your favorite characters at the Auberge de Cendrillon or La Table de Lumière. You can also do it more casually at the buffets of the Royal Banquet and Plaza Gardens.
Things we like:
-
Cheaper than the actual Disney resorts, but just as convenient with free parking and free park shuttles
-
Timeshare units have multiple bedrooms, kitchens, and laundry
-
Awesome outdoor pool area for summertime and smaller indoor pool year-round
-
The whole hotel is a very cute, manicured “village”
-
Easy to reach the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy train station to get to Paris or the airport
Things we don't like:
-
Just one restaurant that isn’t open very much
-
No elite benefits at Marriott Vacation Club properties
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