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Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris at Disneyland - Reviews, Discounts + Facilities 2024

Center Parcs ​Villages Nature Paris Top tip: CenterParcs.fr is nearly always cheaper than CenterParcs.eu for exactly the same holiday. The saving can be more than €100 for a week's summer holiday. Your browser will translate CenterParcs.fr to English if you don't speak French! 
**Center Parcs Europe 2024 Offer: 25% off your first stay + free activities**
Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris is a tantalising prospect - a Center Parcs resort which is only 10 minutes from Disneyland Paris. You can combine the wholesome outdoorsy fun of Center Parcs with a few days of parades, theme park rides and Mickey Mouse.

But is Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris any good? Is it a better option than staying in one of the seven themed Disneyland Paris official hotels?

Here's the summary, for those who don't want to read the whole guide:
Read on for the full guide, which includes advice on travel times, types of accommodation at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris and ways to save money on your holiday.
Swimming pool at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris
The 'Aqua Mundo' at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris gets excellent reviews from customers...
Castle at Disneyland Paris
...and Disneyland Paris is only 10 minutes away by car

Where is Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris?

Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris's location is probably its greatest strength for UK visitors.

Travellers from the UK can drive to Folkestone and then take their car on the 35 minute Eurotunnel (a giant train which connects with Calais). There are less appealing options - such as catching an eight hour ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre and then driving for 3 hours 15 minutes.

Getting to Folkestone by car will take you roughly:
  • 2 hours from central London
  • 3 hours 30 minutes from Bristol
  • 3 hours 40 minutes from Birmingham
  • 5 hours from Manchester
  • 8 hours from Glasgow

It is then about 3 hours 20 minutes in the car from Calais to Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris. 

So, that makes the door to door journey to Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris approximately:
  • 7 hours from London
  • 8 hours 30 minutes from Bristol
  • 8 hours 30 minutes from Birmingham
  • 10 hours from Manchester
  • 13 hours from Glasgow

(We've assumed you will turn up one hour before your Eurotunnel train departs, which is the minimum recommended time. We've rounded the times up and down a bit to make it easier to read).

Once you get to Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris, it is a 10 minute drive to Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park which are the two theme parks at Disneyland Paris. 

Does Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris get good reviews?

Reviews of Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris are OK, but not spectacular. 

On TripAdvisor the resort scores 3/5 from more than 4000 visitors. Scores on Google reviews are slightly higher at 3.5/5 from 7000 visitors.

For comparison, we added together the two scores and compared them to the other Center Parcs in France:

  1. Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims = 8.1/10
  2. Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts = 7.4/10
  3. Center Parcs Les Landes de Gascogne = 7.3/10
  4. Center Parcs Les Hauts Des Bruyeres  = 7.3/10 
  5. Center Parcs Le Lac d'Ailette = 6.8/10 
  6. Center Parcs Les Villages Nature Paris = 6.6/10
  7. Center Parcs Les Bois-Francs = 6.4/10

As you can see, Les Villages Nature Paris is near to the bottom of our league table of customer reviews. 

It's worth mentioning that many customers have a very positive experience at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris. On TripAdvisor, you will find hundreds of positive reviews including about 2000 reviews which are either 4/5 or 5/5.

According to Google's summary of the reviews, guests liked the location (as mentioned) and the 'large rooms' but said that 'cleanliness & maintenance could be improved'. Several reviewers also comment on the lack of air conditioning within the accommodation which is a particular issue during July and August.
Center Parcs Les Trois Forets swimming pool
Center Parcs Les Trois Forêts is a more popular choice with reviewers (although it's nowhere near Disneyland Paris!)
Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims swimming pool
Similarly, Center Parcs Le Bois Aux Daims is a highly rated resort on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews

What facilities and activities are available at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris ​?

​​As you would expect from Center Parcs, there are plenty of activities at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris. But is there enough to fill a week without spending too much money?

The official website lists 84 activities, including 24 that are included in the price of your booking and a further 60 that you pay extra for.

There are lots of similar activities amongst this 84 so the actual figure is a little lower. For example, activities in the pool are listed multiple times as 'aqua slide' 'aquatic garden' 'slides' 'lagoon pool' and the 'water playhouse'. Even so, the range of things to do is pretty decent.

For comparison, the other Center Parcs in France have 80-115 activities using the same methodology. Again, the actual number is lower but it does give you a rough indication that Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris is somewhere towards the bottom of that range.

The swimming pool - or 'Aqua Mundo' - is a big part of the Center Parcs appeal. The Aqua Mundo at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris is reviewed separately and scores 4.3/5 from thousands of reviews on Google reviews. That's a much higher score than the resort overall.

The pool has six waterslides as well as outdoor swimming pools, which are known as 'lagoons'.
Swimming pools at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris
There are several outdoor 'lagoons' as well as indoor swimming pools at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris
Here's our summary of the other activities you can expect to find at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris:
  • Craft classes including chocolate making, bread making and stuffed animal making
  • Outdoor activities and sports including a tree top trail, segways, laser battles, pony riding, pedal boats, mini golf, archery and beach games
  • Indoor sports including bowling, climbing, an escape room and indoor play 
  • Shows including a forest show, live music, a farm show, quiz nights and a kids' disco
  • Spa facilities including a 'relaxation area' and massages

Center Parcs gives an indication of the cost of activities at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris - but it's not a guaranteed price. The guidance prices suggests you'll pay 5 Euros for a pony ride, 16 Euros for a segway ride and 14 Euros for breadmaking classes.

(This list changes regularly, so please check it for yourself if there is an activity which your children keep going on about...)
Playground at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris
There are playgrounds and other activities included at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris

Can you get day passes for Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris?

I'm glad you asked! Yes, you can.

Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris offers day passes so you can just come and try out the swimming pool (Aqua Mundo). 

The price varies throughout the year but we searched for a family of four visiting for a day in August 2023 and found it would cost £155. 

How can I get the lowest prices at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris?

Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris is a joint venture between Center Parcs and Disneyland - which means you can either book it via the Center Parcs website or via the Disneyland Paris website.

We did a couple of searches to figure out which is the cheapest option.

We searched for a family holiday for four people including two adults and two children, staying in the cheapest accommodation available at Les Village Nature Paris for a week. We added on the cost of visiting Disneyland Paris for two days, as that is included as standard if you book via Disneyland Paris. 

Prices for August 2024:
  • Booked via Disneyland Paris - £3235 for two adults and two children staying in a VIP Apartment for a week including two days at Disneyland Paris
  • Booked via Center Parcs - £2786 including £2023 for two adults and two children in a Comfort Cottage for a week plus £763 for two days at Disneyland Paris for four people

The more observant of you will have noticed that the grade of accommodation is different in these two. Disneyland Paris only offered us the VIP apartment whereas Center Parcs offered us several grades of accommodation including the much cheaper Comfort Cottages. For the same grade of accommodation, the Center Parcs price came to £2786 - about £450 cheaper than the Disneyland Paris package.

We then looked at prices for mid September 2024, outside of school holidays:
  • Booked via Disneyland Paris - £1826 for two adults and two children staying in a Premium Apartment. Includes two days at Disneyland Paris.
  • Booked via Center Parcs - £1174 for two adults and two children in a Comfort Cottage, including £604 for the accommodation and £570 for two days at Disneyland Paris (purchased separately).

Again, the grade of accommodation is different but there were more options at Disneyland Paris this time. For the same level of accommodation booked via Center Parcs, the total was £1239. In this case, it was about £650 cheaper to book via Center Parcs and buy Disneyland Paris tickets separately.

Part of the reason for this saving is thanks to the trick of booking Center Parcs via the French version of the Center Parcs website (centerparcs.fr) rather than the Europe wide website (centerparcs.eu). The booking is with the same company, but for some reason you get different prices offered depending on which version of the website you use (read more about this).

Is Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris similar to a UK Center Parcs resort?

The short answer is yes and no.

​I appreciate that's not helpful but bear with me.

Center Parcs in Europe is run by a different company to Center Parcs in the UK. In the various comparisons we have done over the years, we've found that Center Parcs UK is a lot more consistent than Center Parcs in Europe. Customer ratings, scale, prices and facilities at places like Whinfell Forest and Elveden Forest are admirably consistent. 

Center Parcs Europe is a whole different kettle of fish. Some have been purpose built as Center Parcs whilst others have been rebranded from other resorts. Some get review scores which are on a par with the UK Center Parcs, whereas others are some way behind. You might like to read our guide to the best value Center Parcs in Europe.

The good news (potentially) is that Center Parcs in Europe operates a very different pricing structure. Unlike the UK company, there are regular sales, discounts and special offers as well as considerable difference in prices between resorts. Center Parcs UK rarely offers discounts.

To test this out, we did a comparison of prices for an August holiday at the best UK and European Center Parcs resorts. We found that there was a range of about £300 between the cheapest and most expensive UK sites but a difference of about £1000 between the cheapest and most expensive European Center Parcs.

One other comparison which may be of interest is scale.

Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris covers about 120 hectares. Meanwhile, Center Parcs Whinfell Forest in the UK is about 160 hectares. The other Center Parcs in France range from 110 acres (Les Hauts Des Bruyeres) to more than 400 hectares (Les Trois Forêts).
Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris cottage terrace
Center Parcs in France will look familiar to UK visitors - but it's run by a separate company

Which is the best accommodation at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris

There are 14 different types of accommodation at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris but it's not as complex as it first seems.

The first thing to decide is whether you want a cottage (for 4-12 people) or an apartment (for 2-4 people). The cottages are similar to the woodland lodges at Center Parcs UK. Meanwhile, the apartments are part of a larger hotel style building which overlooks the lake.

 If you go for a cottage, your choice is then narrowed down to three:
  1. Comfort cottages are the cheapest accommodation at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris. You get a 'fully equipped' kitchen and a private terrace.
  2. Premium cottages are mid priced with upgrades including beds made on arrival and a second TV. 
  3. VIP cottages are the most expensive and offer a bit more space. Upgrades include a 'whirlpool' bath and a larger bed in the main bedroom.

Meanwhile, if you go for an apartment then you have two choices:
  1. Despite the name, Premium apartments are the cheapest apartments at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris.
  2. VIP apartments are more expensive and are a bit more spacious than the 'premium' option. Upgrades include a 'whirlpool' bath rather than a normal bath. The bed in the main bedroom is also bigger.

Generally speaking, a Premium Apartment is the cheapest of the five types of accommodation but it depends on which dates you search.
Cottage at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris
Cottages at Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris come in 'Comfort' (£) 'Premium' (££) and 'VIP' (£££)
Picture
There are two grades of apartments at Center Parcs Village Nature Paris including 'Premium' (£) and 'VIP' (££).

Is Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris cheaper or more expensive than other Center Parcs in France? 

In most of the comparisons we have done, we have found that Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris is the most expensive Center Parcs in France. You can see the full set of figures in our guide to Center Parcs in France, but to give you a general idea:
  • We searched in November 2023 and found that a week for four people in August 2024 started at £2037. Meanwhile, Les Bois-Francs was the cheapest at £1301 and highly rated Le Bois Aux Daims was £1556 which is about £500 cheaper.
  • It was a similar story for Easter 2024, with Le Lac d'Ailette starting at £831, Le Bois Aux Daims at £985 and Les Villages Nature Paris at £1366. That means that the cheapest option was about £500 cheaper than Les Villages Nature Paris.
  • For off peak dates, the difference was less significant. The cheapest deal we found for a week in early October 2024 was £576 at Les Hauts Des Bruyeres. Les Villages Nature Paris was the most expensive option at £930 - or roughly £350 more than the cheapest Center Parcs in France.
Center Parcs Le Lac d'ailette
Center Parcs Le Lac d'Ailette is usually much cheaper than Villages Nature Paris

How does Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris compare to the Disneyland Paris hotels?

There are several 'official' Disneyland Paris hotels which are also competing for your attention. We've done a detailed comparison of these and found that they all get better customer reviews than Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris. For example, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel scores 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor whilst Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris scores 3/5.

However, the Disney hotels offer a much more immersive Disneyland Paris experience. Typically, you get tickets to the Disneyland Paris theme parks for every day you are staying at a hotel. Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris offers more of a hybrid holiday so you won't be spending every minute experiencing Disneyland. This may be more appealing to some parents...

Comparing prices is a little tricky, as the Disneyland Paris hotels also include entry to the theme parks. 

However, to give you an idea we searched for the price of a four night holiday in September 2024. The Disneyland Paris hotels include an extra two days at the theme parks, so we added on the cost of buying them separately.

  1. Les Villages Nature Paris - ​£1375 via Center Parcs (£435 for accommodation + £940 for four days of tickets at Disneyland Paris)
  2. Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch - £1712
  3. Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe - £1791
  4. Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne - £2023 
  5. Disney’s Sequoia Lodge - £2023
  6. Disney’s Newport Bay Club - £2243
  7. Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel - £2715
  8. Disneyland Hotel - £4201

As you can see, Les Villages Nature Paris is quite a bit cheaper than the official Disneyland Paris hotels. Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch is a series of lodges rather than a hotel, so that puts Les Villages Nature Paris as quite a bit cheaper than the cheapest hotel.

Conclusion

Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris has a lot going for it, particularly if you want more of a hybrid experience than one of the official hotels. You may feel that a Disney hotel and several days in the Disneyland park is a bit overwhelming.

With Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris you get more choice over how many days you spend at Disneyland Paris, as well as dozens of activities onsite. The standout activity is the outstanding swimming pool with its waterslides, lazy river and outdoor lagoons. Most other activities will cost you, but the prices are not exorbitant in my opinion.

Regarding price, Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris sits somewhere in the middle in our comparisons. It is cheaper than the official Disneyland Paris hotels but more expensive than the other Center Parcs in France. 

The range of accommodation is good and the larger lodges are particularly appealing if you are travelling with a couple of other families. There are five different types of cottage and apartment to choose from, and upgrading isn't ludicrously overpriced.

The main thing which will put a lot of people off are the disappointing review scores. Most other Center Parcs score better and all the Disneyland Paris hotels get better ratings from customers. I've read a lot of the reviews and have generally found that people like the layout and size of the rooms but comment on the lack of air conditioning and cleanliness as negatives. Some of this may be down to a relatively new resort finding its feet. 
Images are from Center Parcs and Disneyland Paris.

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Holiday-Park-Guru-Don't-Blame-Us-Disclaimer: All the information on this page is accurate, as far as we know. However, facilities at holiday parks change so please check with the park before booking.