Disney is preparing to give one of its most criticized hotels a long-overdue upgrade.
While has long treated its hotels as extensions of the storytelling found in its theme parks – weaving immersive design and themed experiences into every stay – some properties do it better than others.
Disneyland Paris has long been singled out for a lower standard of quality across its hotels, of which Disney admittedly built too many upon the resort's opening in 1992. It's sought to remedy this in recent years, working on a series of upgrades for each property.
Following the reopening of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel in 2021 and the grand transformation of the Disneyland Hotel in 2024, Disney has today confirmed that Sequoia Lodge will be the next property to receive a full-scale refurbishment.
Situated on the tranquil shore of Lake Disney, Disney Sequoia Lodge has been welcoming guests since 1992. Designed to evoke the rustic beauty of lodges in the American National Parks, the hotel is surrounded by towering sequoias and pine trees. Its aesthetic has long centered around cozy, timber-filled interiors and a warm, woodsy ambiance.
A New Look for Disney Sequoia Lodge
Starting in 2026, the hotel will undergo major renovation work that reimagines its 1,010 rooms and public spaces from the ground up. Disney says the goal is to preserve the cherished wooden décor while enhancing the experience with “greater brightness and a touch of modernity.” The hotel will remain open during this process, with construction carried out in phases.
The redesign promises to be an elevated tribute to nature, extending its themes beyond Bambi to include a broader array of Disney’s forest-dwelling characters, both classic and modern. These familiar faces will appear throughout the hotel in subtle, imaginative ways—from the guest rooms to the dining areas—inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a world of woodland storytelling.
Environmental sustainability will also play a key role in the refurbishment. According to Disney, construction materials have been carefully selected to reduce environmental impact, with the revamped hotel reflecting a deeper respect for nature in both design and execution.
A Response to Longstanding Fan Criticism
The announcement comes after years of growing frustration among Disneyland Paris regulars, many of whom have voiced dissatisfaction with the current state of Sequoia Lodge. Across Reddit and other platforms, Disney guests have shared concerns about the hotel’s aging infrastructure and lack of maintenance.
One Reddit user wrote, “It would always have been my preference in the past but has a history of smelly dirty rooms, not just my experience but lots of people on trip advisor too!” Another said, “My mum gagged when she opened my suitcase after I had stayed there as my room was so bad my clothes picked up the smell.” Others have echoed similar complaints about the furniture, cleanliness, and overall dated condition of the property.
Reviews like these have led to the hotel earning a 2.9 rating on Yelp, ultimately making it the lowest-rated Disney hotel worldwide. While the setting and original theming still hold nostalgic charm, many have argued that Sequoia Lodge hasn’t kept pace with the rest of the resort—and certainly not with recent hotel upgrades.
Still, there's cautious optimism about the future. Disney’s hotel overhauls in recent years have been widely praised for blending immersive theming with elevated comfort and amenities. If Sequoia Lodge follows the same path, it could reemerge as one of the crown jewels of Disneyland Paris.
For now, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see those first changes begin. But for a hotel that many felt was left behind, this refurbishment signals a renewed investment—and a long-awaited step forward.
Have you ever stayed at Disney Sequoia Lodge?
Everyone has their own opinion of Sequoia Lodge. Ours doesn’t match that written here. We always stay at this hotel and will again in December. We love the rustic decor and get the concept. We have never had a bad stay and on multiple social media groups I’ve not seen complaints.