Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne Disneyland Paris Review: Is It Worth It for Families?

Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne review: Is it worth it for families?

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We chose to stay in Hotel Cheyenne for our February 2024 trip. It was one of the most budget friendly, on-site Disney hotels, and my daughter was also obsessed with Jessie from Toy Story, and so the Woody from Toy Story Wild West theming was perfect.

When we arrived, we walked straight into reception without a queue, which was a good start. We sat in reception for a while waiting for our room keys and MagicPass, and the theming made it genuinely enjoyable, plus there was a little children’s station for our daughter to sit and colour in. The buildings have a frontier town layout, with Toy Story details woven throughout. Our daughter recognised it all immediately. For a nearly three year old who loves Toy Story, arriving at Hotel Cheyenne felt like walking into something she already knew.

We stayed for two nights with my partner and his mum, and this is our honest account of what it was actually like there. Everything from the rooms, the location, the walk to the parks, and whether it’s worth it for families visiting with young children.

One tip before we carry on. You can complete part of the check-in process online via the Disneyland Paris app before you arrive, which can speed things up at the desk. You’ll still need to queue to collect your room keys and MagicPass, but having the admin done in advance helps, and so it’s worth doing before you travel.

👉 Disneyland Paris with toddlers
👉 Disneyland Paris planning guide
👉 Check prices for Hotel Cheyenne on Booking.com

What is Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne like?

Hotel Cheyenne is designed like a Wild West frontier town, with 14 accommodation blocks each styled to look like a different building you’d find in a frontier village. They’re named after famous Wild West people, like Billy the Kid and Calamity Jane. You walk past the various blocks outside, and it feels like a small themed town.

The Toy Story theming runs throughout the room. The curtains have the same iconic shirt pattern as Woody’s. There’s a cowboy boot lamp by the bed, and there’s horseshoe details in the bathroom. Our daughter recognised the colours and the patterns immediately, which settled her in quickly.

Outside, there’s a Starbucks which is styled as the Wild West Bank, which makes you appreciate how much thought has gone into the theming across the whole site. It doesn’t feel like a budget hotel at all.

Our Room at Hotel Cheyenne

We shared a standard room between three adults and a toddler. Once the sofa bed was pulled out for my partner’s mum, it was definitely a squeeze in there. There wasn’t much floor space left, and we had to watch our step in the dark cause the suitcases were on what little floor space was left. Despite that, the room was comfortable. The beds were good, the room was clean and warm, and after a full day in the parks, collapsing into it felt exactly right, which is everything you need realistically.

The room was well equipped, with a kettle, coffee pod machine, and enough plug sockets to keep everyone charged. There were two EU sockets, one UK socket and two USB ports under the TV, plus additional sockets by the bed, which was great for charging all of our phones and battery packs.

One practical thing worth knowing is that there are no lifts in the room buildings, only stairs. With a pram and luggage, it’s worth factoring in when you book. If you think you’ll struggle, it might be worth requesting a ground floor room.

Location: How close is Hotel Cheyenne to the parks?

When booking, you’re asked whether you want a room closer to the hotel facilities or closer to the parks. We chose to be closer to the parks, which was definitely the right decision.

Our room was at the back of the hotel near the Rio Grande river, which meant we could walk to the parks in just 15 minutes by cutting along the canal path, right past the Marvel Hotel and Newport Bay Club. The route is flat and well-lit. It felt safe, and walking past the big hotels all felt part of the experience. In February, it was cold, but it was never unpleasant, and with a toddler in a pram all wrapped up, it was completely fine.

There is a free shuttle bus if you’d rather not walk, and it runs every 10-15 minutes. We found the canal walk quicker than waiting for the bus, particularly on the way back in the evening when everyone was tired, and the last thing you want is to stand at a bus stop. Being able to walk back to the hotel in 15 minutes when your toddler has hit a wall, or in our case, when she fell over and split her lip on the first afternoon, makes an enormous practical difference.

On the subject of prams, we did try to lock ours to a pole at the park using a security strap. A cast member watched us, laughed, and lifted the pole clean out of the ground to demonstrate why that wasn’t going to work. The poles aren’t fixed. Keep valuables with you and don’t rely on a lock. 👉 Disneyland Paris planning guide

Breakfast and food at Hotel Cheyenne

We only ate breakfast at the hotel once out of our two mornings there, since our other morning was covered by the character dining breakfast at Plaza Gardens. The hotel restaurant is called the Chuck Wagon Cafe and it runs a buffet for both breakfast and dinner.

The breakfast buffet was exactly what you’d expect, with continental options, pastries, cereals, fruit, and a full cooked selection. Our daughter made a beeline for the Mickey Mouse shaped pancakes, of course. For adults, it’s the cooked breakfast and continental items, and it was enough to set us up for the day.

One thing worth knowing is that Hotel Cheyenne has a Starbucks on site, styled as the Wild West Bank. We didn’t know until after our trip that hotel guests get a free hot drink from the vending machine using their MagicPass, and we bought a Starbucks each every morning. Check what’s included on your MagicPass before you start spending, and don’t make our mistake.

If you’re on a meal plan, Hotel Cheyenne works well as a base to eat elsewhere across the resort rather than relying on the hotel restaurant. 👉 Disneyland Paris meal plan review

Extra Magic Time: a genuine perk

One of the biggest advantages of staying at a Disney hotel is the Extra Magic Time. It means you get earlier access to both parks before the gates open to everyone else. We used it once during our stay, headed straight to Ratatouille in Disney Adventure World, and walked on with barely a wait. As one of the most popular rides, by the time the park opened to the public, it had a huge queue. 👉 Disneyland Paris toddler rides

With a toddler, the quieter parks during that hour make a huge difference. We were too tired to make use of it on the second morning, which is the honest reality of a toddler trip, but on the morning we did use it, it was worth getting up early for.

If you’re on the fence about staying on site, Extra Magic Time is one of the perks that tips it. You can’t get it when you’re staying off site, and for families with young children who are better in the morning before they tire, it’s really useful. 👉 Disneyland Paris with toddlers

Characters and facilities at Hotel Cheyenne

Apparently, Woody and Jessie do make appearances at Hotel Cheyenne. I have read that it’s typically at the entrance to the Red Garter Saloon, between 8.15 am and 11 am most mornings. We didn’t see any characters during our stay there. Whether that was luck or the February season, we can’t say, but it’s worth knowing that character meets at the hotel are not a guaranteed experience. I wouldn’t book Hotel Cheyenne specifically for hotel character meets, as you may be disappointed if they don’t happen.

One tip we didn’t know about until afterwards is that if you’re visiting for your child’s birthday, you can arrange a phone call from Mickey Mouse by speaking to reception. We went just before our daughter’s third birthday and had no idea this was a thing. She would have loved that.

There’s no swimming pool at Hotel Cheyenne, like there is at Newport Bay Club and Sequoia Lodge. For us, in February, it was completely irrelevant as we were too busy in the parks and too tired in the evenings to have used one. In summer, it might be more important, particularly if you’re planning some time away from the parks or a longer stay.

Beyond that, the facilities are straightforward, with the Chuck Wagon Cafe for breakfast and dinner, the Red Garter Saloon bar, a Starbucks, a General Store for gifts and some essentials. There’s also a laundry room and an outdoor play area for children. Pony rides are available in the warmer months. If you arrive before your room is ready, luggage storage is available just outside reception.

Is Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne worth it for families?

For us, it was, for sure. We weren’t looking for a luxury hotel, we just wanted somewhere practical, affordable and close to the parks. It was basic, but it was exactly what we needed, and the theming still felt immersive for a toddler. Plus, we got the added perks you get for staying in any Disney Hotel, like the ability to add a meal plan to our stay and Extra Magic Time. Plus, the short walk ended up being very useful after our little one had her fall.

The rooms were comfortable and clean, and the canal walk to the parks is quicker than most reviews suggest. I’d say having no lift was the only inconvenience. And we weren’t bothered about not having a pool.

If you’re going with young children and value being on site without paying mid-range hotel prices, Hotel Cheyenne is perfect. If a pool matters, or you want more facilities, it’s worth looking at Sequoia Lodge or Newport Bay Club, as both cost more but offer more in return. And if budget is the priority, but you’re more flexible about being off-site, Dream Castle just outside the resort is worth considering too.
👉 Disneyland Paris planning guide 👉 Disneyland Paris with toddlers 👉 Disneyland Paris in February 👉 Disneyland Paris meal plan review Disneyland Paris toddler rides

Final thoughts: Would we stay at Hotel Cheyenne again?

Hotel Cheyenne isn’t the most luxurious Disney hotel, and it’s not trying to be. It’s one of the budget on-site options, but it still gives you everything you need. It’s comfortable, close to the parks, has a theme that will excite your children, and gives you the perks that only staying at a Disney hotel can give you.

For our February 2024 trip, it was perfect. The canal walk, the Extra Magic Time, the meal plan access, and the 15-minute retreat when our daughter split her lip on the first afternoon all worked because we were on site. Would we stay again? Yes, while the children are young, being on site is the priority. When they’re older, and a pool starts to matter, we’d probably try Newport Bay Club or Dream Castle. But for a first trip with a toddler, Hotel Cheyenne is exactly what it needs to be.

👉 Read my full guide to visiting Disneyland Paris

FAQs – Disney Hotel Cheyenne

Yes. It’s one of the best value on-site hotels at Disneyland Paris and consistently surprises people who expect basic budget accommodation. The Wild West and Toy Story theming is immersive, the rooms are comfortable and clean, and the location gives you quick access to the parks via the canal path. For families with young children, it’s particularly good. Our verdict after staying in February 2024 with a nearly-three year old is that it delivers far more than the price suggests.

Both are budget-tier on-site Disney hotels and the decision comes down to a few key differences. Hotel Santa Fe is Cars themed rather than Wild West and Toy Story, is marginally cheaper than Cheyenne, and is slightly closer to the parks on foot. However Hotel Cheyenne is on the Plus meal plan tier while Santa Fe is on the Standard tier, meaning Cheyenne guests have access to a wider range of restaurants including table service options. If the meal plan is part of your booking, Cheyenne is the better option. If you’re not adding a meal plan and budget is the absolute priority, Santa Fe is worth considering. We stayed at Cheyenne and can only speak to that experience personally.

Yes, all Disney hotel guests including Hotel Cheyenne get Extra Magic Time, which gives you access to both parks before the official opening time. We used it once during our stay and walked straight onto Ratatouille in Disney Adventure World with barely a wait. It’s one of the most valuable perks of staying on site, particularly for families with young children who are better in the morning before they tire.

The last major renovation was between 2015 and 2017, when the hotel was upgraded from 2 to 3 stars and the Toy Story theming was added throughout. No major refurbishment has taken place since then, though the hotel is well maintained. Some guests note it shows its age in places, but rooms are consistently reported as clean and comfortable.

Around 10 to 15 minutes on foot via the canal path, which runs past the Marvel Hotel and Newport Bay Club. We found this walk quicker than waiting for the shuttle bus, particularly in the evening. If you choose a riverside room when booking, you’re closest to the canal path and furthest from the hotel facilities, so for families prioritising quick park access, riverside is the right choice. The free shuttle bus runs every 10 to 15 minutes if you’d rather not walk.

No. Hotel Cheyenne is one of the few on-site Disney hotels without a swimming pool. This wasn’t an issue for us in February but is worth factoring in if you’re visiting in summer or planning rest days away from the parks. Newport Bay Club and Sequoia Lodge both have pools if that’s a priority.

Yes, it does. All rooms now have a kettle and coffee pod machine. The hotel also has a Starbucks on site styled as the Wild West Bank, and hotel guests get a free hot drink from the vending machine using their MagicPass, something we didn’t know until after our trip and wish we’d known sooner.

No, the room buildings only have stairs, no lifts. This is worth knowing if you’re travelling with a pram, heavy luggage or have mobility concerns. We’d recommend requesting a ground floor room when booking if this applies to you.

Woody and Jessie make appearances at the hotel most mornings between 8.15 am and 11 am at the entrance to the Red Garter Saloon. However, it’s not a guaranteed or fully scheduled experience; we didn’t see any characters during our February stay. Don’t factor hotel character meets into your plans as a certainty. For guaranteed character interactions, book character dining at Plaza Gardens. 👉 Disneyland Paris meal plan review

Yes, it’s one of the best on-site options for families with young children. The Toy Story theming resonates immediately with toddlers who know the characters, the canal walk to the parks is manageable with a pram, and the on-site convenience of being able to retreat quickly when needed is genuinely valuable. The lack of a pool and lift are the only practical considerations for families with very young children. 👉 Disneyland Paris with toddlers