Location: it’s a draw
When it comes to where they sit, these two Disney hotels are genuinely hard to separate. Both sit just east of the Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, and both are a 20-minute walk from the Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios parks. Either way, you simply follow the Rio Grande river to reach the Hotel New York and then Disney Village.
Each one is also served by a free shuttle bus, so you can get to the parks without wearing yourself out. One thing to know if the view from your room matters to you: at the Cheyenne, a fair chunk of the rooms look out onto the road that separates the hotel from the big park car park. A little less charming than the countryside-facing view over at the Santa Fe.
Price: point to the Cars hotel
To be fair, anything else would have been a surprise. The Cheyenne is a 3-star hotel, while the Santa Fe only carries 2. That said, it’s not really the stars that set the price — it’s mostly good old supply and demand. The more popular a hotel is, the pricier its rooms.
To settle the debate with actual numbers, we recorded prices for both hotels across 274 dates over a full year (May 2026 to March 2027), based on a 2-day/1-night package for 2 adults + 1 child with 2-park tickets included. Here’s what we found:
The data at a glance
- Santa Fe is cheaper in 84% of cases (230 out of 274 dates)
- Average price gap: + £33 per stay in favour of the Santa Fe (≈ £11/person)
- But floor prices are virtually identical — about £114/person in January for both hotels
- Cheyenne is cheaper in 16% of cases (mostly on scattered low-demand dates)
Head-to-head: floor, average and peak prices
| Santa Fe ★★ | Cheyenne ★★★ | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor price (low season) | £345 (£115/pers) | £342 (£114/pers) |
| Average price (full year) | £532 (£177/pers) | £574 (£191/pers) |
| Peak price (high season) | £804 | £846 |
| Weekend effect | +7% | +7% |
Prices recorded by TousChezMickey.com on 26 April 2026 from disneylandparis.com. 2-day/1-night package, 2 adults + 1 child, standard room, 2-park tickets included. Converted at €1 = £0.87. Subject to dynamic pricing.
The takeaway is more nuanced than “Santa Fe is always cheaper”:
- In January and February, the floor prices are almost identical (£342 vs £345). At that point, the choice is purely about theming — Wild West or Cars — not money.
- From May to October, the gap widens to £28–50 per stay. That’s noticeable but not enormous — roughly the price of a meal for two.
- The Santa Fe wins on average, but the Cheyenne is never far behind. The real question is whether the extra £33 on average buys you a meaningfully better experience (spoiler: we think it does — see below).
If you also compare restaurant prices, the Santa Fe edges ahead again: the Cantina’s all-you-can-eat buffet is £30 versus £35 at the Chuck Wagon Café.
Check prices for both hotels
Theming: point to the Cheyenne
A Disney hotel means Disney magic! Parents and kids alike expect a certain something in terms of the Disney experience when they stay in one of the official hotels. On this front, we’ve got Woody’s hotel with its Disney Pixar Toy Story theme on one side, and Lightning McQueen’s hotel with its Cars Route 66 theme on the other.
Maybe that’s just my take, but I find the Cars universe a touch more childish than Toy Story. On top of that, I reckon the Cheyenne’s old Wild West village architecture is far more of an escape from everyday life.
The rooms: point to Woody
First things first — there really aren’t many differences between the two. Same size (21 m²), same fittings. It mostly comes down to taste!
Even though I’m not especially keen on the Cars room decor, I have to admit that little fans of the red racer absolutely fall head over heels for it. It really depends on personal taste — and the Santa Fe rooms certainly don’t lack character either!
In any case, let’s say the Cheyenne’s room style probably suits the broadest crowd. The Cars rooms, on the other hand, really speak to families with young children and/or fans of the Pixar film.
Room capacity: a crucial difference
This is the one detail that most comparisons miss — and it could be the deciding factor for your family:
| Santa Fe ★★ | Cheyenne ★★★ | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum capacity | 6 guests | 4 guests |
| Bedding | 1 double + 1 trundle bed (or 2 doubles) | 1 double + 1 trundle bed (or 2 doubles) |
| Room size | 21 m² | 21 m² |
If you’re a family of 5 or 6, the Santa Fe is the only budget Disney hotel that can fit everyone in a single room. At the Cheyenne, you’d need to book two rooms — which immediately doubles the price and wipes out any comparison.
If you’re 4 or fewer, both hotels offer identical room layouts. The choice comes down to theming, dining and activities.
Dining: a point for the Cheyenne
Once again it’s Woody’s favourite hangout that comes out on top. If we were judging these two restaurants purely on the food, based on the reviews left by their guests, the Cheyenne would take it once more. For reference, here are the average ratings posted on Tripadvisor and Google:
- La Cantina: 3.5/5 on Google – 3.5/5 on Tripadvisor
- Chuck Wagon Café: 3.9/5 on Google – 3.5/5 on Tripadvisor
The setting at the Chuck Wagon is genuinely one of a kind! Eating perched on a horse saddle at the bar, or tucked into a Wild West wagon — those are two dining experiences you really have to try at this hotel. Food-wise, there’s no huge difference: barbecue and grills on one side, Tex-Mex on the other.
That said, the Cantina’s buffet is the cheaper of the two restaurants — and indeed the cheapest in all of Disneyland Paris.
Activities: a crushing Cheyenne win!
It’s barely a contest! The fact is, the Hotel Santa Fe doesn’t offer many services or activities compared to its rival across the way. While both have a selfie spot with Disney characters, the Cheyenne stands out with a much bigger line-up: pony rides, an indoor play area for the little ones, tepees, Fort Apache, and a vegetable garden.
Verdict: we’re leaning Cheyenne
On paper, the differences between these two Disney hotels aren’t huge. But look a little closer and the Disney Hotel Cheyenne pulls ahead on quite a few fronts. Overall, the experience it offers is a touch more immersive than the Santa Fe’s.
Granted, the Santa Fe will save you a bit of money — both on the room-and-tickets package and on meals on site. And one last point: if you’ve got a Cars fanatic at home, it’s no contest at all — go for the Santa Fe!
But the Cheyenne comes out ahead on a lot of things. Then again, that’s just our two cents.
Check prices
FAQ — Cheyenne vs Santa Fe
Which is cheaper, the Cheyenne or the Santa Fe?
The Santa Fe is cheaper in 84% of cases, based on our analysis of 274 dates. The average gap is about £33 per stay for a family of three. However, in January and February, the floor prices are virtually identical (around £114/person/night).
Can the Santa Fe fit a family of 5 or 6?
Yes — the Santa Fe is the only budget Disney hotel that accommodates up to 6 guests in a single room. The Cheyenne maxes out at 4.
Which hotel has better food?
The Chuck Wagon Café (Cheyenne) scores higher on Google reviews (3.9/5 vs 3.5/5) and offers a more immersive dining setting. However, the Cantina (Santa Fe) is cheaper — £30 vs £35 for the all-you-can-eat buffet.
Which hotel is more immersive?
The Cheyenne. Its Wild West village architecture, Fort Apache playground, pony rides and daily Woody/Jessie meet-and-greets create a more layered experience. The Santa Fe’s Cars/Route 66 theming is charming but more targeted at younger children.
Do both hotels have a shuttle to the parks?
Yes. Both are served by a free shuttle bus (approximately every 10–15 minutes, journey time around 5 minutes). Both are also about 20 minutes on foot from the parks.
Affiliate disclosure
About the links on this page: some booking links on this article are affiliate links. If you book through them, TousChezMickey receives a commission at no extra cost to you. Our reviews remain independent and we test hotels at our own expense. No hotel or brand can buy a positive review or have a negative review removed.
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