Is Disney Newport Bay Club Worth Staying At?

Newport Bay feels more like a proper resort hotel than somewhere you simply sleep after a day in the parks.

The nautical theming runs throughout, but it never feels too childish or overdone. It is elegant, bright and very easy to relax in.

That matters to us because this is one of the Disney Hotels where we genuinely enjoy spending time.

It is not just somewhere we rush back to at the end of the night.

We know one of the most common criticisms of Newport Bay is that some of the rooms are starting to feel dated and could do with a refurbishment.

We understand that.

But we still really like them.

The nautical theming is lovely, the rooms are comfortable, and there is usually plenty of space.

A big reason we first chose Newport Bay was because we were travelling as a family of five, and it gave us room options that worked for all of us.

We liked it so much that we kept going back.

This is one of our favourite things about Newport Bay.

Rather than feeling like there is one fixed character opportunity that you either make or miss, we have seen different characters appear at different points during the day.

We have met Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto there, all in their brilliant Newport Bay outfits.

That makes the experience feel much more relaxed.

You can often fit a character meet around your day rather than building your whole schedule around it.

Newport Bay has one of the strongest sets of facilities of any Disney Hotel.

The swimming pool is excellent, with both indoor and outdoor sections.

The outdoor pool is advertised as heated, although in our experience it can still feel pretty cold.

There is also a very good gym, a lovely Disney shop, comfortable lounge areas and a bar that actually makes you want to stop for a drink rather than simply head straight back to your room.

The theming throughout the hotel is consistently strong.

It feels like somewhere designed to be enjoyed.

Newport Bay is a big hotel.

A very big hotel.

Depending on where your room is, you can end up with a decent walk just to get from the lobby to your door.

The lifts can also become frustrating at busy times.

And it is definitely not one of the cheapest options at Disneyland Paris.

Those things are worth knowing, because the experience can be very different depending on where your room is located.

If your budget stretches to Compass Club, it is worth serious consideration.

The rooms are generally more centrally located, which can remove one of the biggest frustrations of staying in such a large hotel.

You also get access to the Compass Club Lounge for breakfast and refreshments.

For us, that convenience can make a noticeable difference to the stay, particularly if you are there for several nights.

For us, absolutely.

It is not perfect, and we understand some of the criticism around room age, hotel size and price.

But the overall package is excellent.

The atmosphere, the facilities, the character meets, the spacious rooms and the fact that it genuinely feels like somewhere worth spending time all add up.

We have stayed here several times, and it remains one of our favourite Disneyland Paris hotels.

Our verdict: Newport Bay is one of the easiest Disney Hotels for us to recommend. If you want a hotel that feels special, has excellent facilities and works particularly well for families, it is absolutely worth considering.