How to Get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Explorers Hotel: Every Transfer Option Compared (2026 Guide)

You have just arrived at Terminal 2E, the children are half asleep on the luggage trolley, and somewhere on your phone is a reservation for a pirate-themed room in a place called Magny-le-Hongre. So what now?

Explorers Hotel is located about 45 km east of Charles de Gaulle, on the side of Paris opposite the airport, in the Marne-la-Vallée area surrounding Disneyland Paris. Travel time depends on the mode of transport you choose and your arrival time, ranging from 40 minutes by road to more than an hour and a half by public transport.

The guide is aimed at people who are flying into CDG and are going on a Disney trip — whether it's families who have to look after car seats and stroller bags, couples who simply want to leave their suitcases behind and head straight for the pool, or first-time visitors who don't know that "there's no direct train" is in fact the case. While booking a private transfer in advance removes all the uncertainty, it isn't the only way to make the journey work.

Quick Answer: The Best Way from CDG to Explorers Hotel

For most travellers, a private transfer is the quickest and least stressful way to get from CDG to the Explorers Hotel—a door-to-door journey that takes about 40 to 60 minutes via the A104 and A4, without changing trains. Although it costs less, budget travellers with only a few pieces of luggage can take the RER B plus RER A route, even though it takes almost twice as long.

Route Snapshot

Distance	Fastest option	Cheapest option	Most comfortable
~45 km (28 miles)	TGV (10 min, when timed right)	RER B + RER A	Private transfer

Understanding the CDG → Explorers Hotel Route

CDG is located to the north of Paris; the Explorers Hotel is east of the city, in Magny-le-Hongre, directly adjacent to the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy rail station and a short shuttle ride away from the Disney parks. There is no alignment between the two points which would make a detour through central Paris sensible.

Drivers will avoid the city altogether. The usual route goes south from the airport on the A1 and then takes the A104 — known locally as La Francilienne — heading east, before joining the A4 (Autoroute de l'Est) at exit 14, the one marked for Disneyland Paris. The road passes alongside the northern end of the Stade de France area before opening up into the flatter, greener part of the Seine-et-Marne countryside near Val d'Europe.

There is no direct rail connection either, and this proves to be the source of difficulty for more travellers than any other aspect of the route. The TGV which takes you from CDG2 to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy in a real 10 minutes only leaves about once an hour, and in order to get to the TGV platform in Terminal 2 you have to take the CDGVal shuttle train. All the rest of them take the RER B into central Paris, change at Châtelet–Les Halles and then catch the RER A heading in the opposite direction towards Chessy.

Traffic on the A104 follows a regular pattern: it is heaviest on Mondays and Fridays, lightest mid-week, and much heavier during the transitions of the French Zone C school holidays, when half of Île-de-France seems to be driving either towards or away from Disneyland at the same time.

Your Transfer Options, One by One

Price and comfort are basically in opposite directions in this case – the lowest-priced choice requires you to do the most in terms of climbing the stairs, making changes, and waiting. The following is what each option really entails.

Private Transfer

Verdict: Going from door to door with no need to think about it, and that's the nearest you'll get to having a fixed schedule on this route.

A driver will meet you at the arrivals hall—typically carrying a name board by the CDG2E or CDG2F exit—and will take you straight from there via the A104 and A4 roads to the hotel's entrance in Magny-le-Hongre. There's no need to use the CDGVal, no need for the RER, and you won't have to walk from Chessy station with your suitcases up an escalator that isn't working.

The journey takes between 40 and 60 minutes, depending on traffic conditions, and the price is rated as €€€ per vehicle, not per person, which makes a big difference when there are three or four of you.

Pros:

• No changes, no stations, no timetables to catch
• Fixed price agreed before you land
• Room for car seats, strollers, and full-size luggage

Cons:

• Costs more than public transport for a solo traveller
• Needs booking ahead — walk-up availability isn't guaranteed

RER B + RER A

Verdict: It's truly suitable for a single traveller carrying a backpack — but it's genuinely harsh when you have two children and four suitcases.

Get on the RER B at the airport station, travel it to Châtelet–Les Halles, then locate the RER A platforms (this may require a rather long walk) and go out to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy; from there you can either walk a short distance or wait for the free hotel shuttle which stops at Platform N.

The total travel time is about one hour fifteen to one hour forty, including the change, and the fares are in euros, making it by far the cheapest option on this route.

Pros:

• By far the least expensive way to make the trip
• Trains run frequently, so missing one costs minutes, not hours
• No booking required — just buy a ticket and go

Cons:

• One change in central Paris with all your luggage
• Stairs at Châtelet–Les Halles are unavoidable in places
• Not ideal after a red-eye flight with tired kids

TGV (CDG2 to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy)

The quickest number to achieve on paper, provided the timing is right.

The TGV express takes you directly from the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station in Terminal 2 to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy — right next to the hotel — in just 10 minutes. The problem is that the service isn't very frequent: trains leave about once an hour, or sometimes even less often, and in order to get to the TGV station you first have to take the CDGVal automated shuttle, after which you must locate your platform and carriage before the doors close.

The time it takes to get from when the plane lands is about 45 to 75 minutes, including the shuttle and the wait for your assigned slot. The price is in the €€ range, and you should book it in advance to get the best rate.

Pros:

• The onboard journey itself is genuinely 10 minutes
• Air-conditioned, comfortable, easy with light luggage
• Arrives essentially on top of the hotel

Cons:

• Hourly-ish schedule means a missed train costs real time
• Fixed seat reservations — no flexibility if your flight is delayed
• Only useful if you're arriving into Terminal 2, not Terminal 1 or 3

You can check official train schedules and connections on the SNCF timetable page

Taxi

Verdict: Handy if you can get one fast. Pricey if you arrive during rush hour.

Outside each terminal, official taxis wait at the designated queues and take the same A104/A4 route as a private transfer. Unlike a pre-booked transfer, the charge is determined by a meter, so slow progress through Monday morning traffic near the Francilienne junction adds to what you pay.

The time is similar to a private transfer, ranging from 40 to 60 minutes. The price is €€€, and it can end up more expensive than a pre-booked transfer when tolls and rush-hour surcharges are taken into account.

Pros:

• No advance booking needed
• Direct route, no changes
• Available around the clock

Cons:

• Metered fare means no price certainty
• Queue length at the rank varies wildly by time of day
• Some drivers are unfamiliar with the exact hotel entrance in Magny-le-Hongre

Shared Shuttle

Verdict: It is possible, though you will obtain the savings.

A minibus picks up a number of passengers at the airport and takes each of them to a different hotel in the Disney area, one of which is the Explorers Hotel. While this option is less expensive than a private transfer, it is rarely a direct journey—you should expect to wait at the airport for the minibus to fill up, as well as make a few extra stops before it reaches your destination.

The journey can take 90 minutes or longer when you factor in each stop. The price is €€ per person.

Pros:

• Cheaper than a private car for a solo or two-person trip
• Still door-to-door, unlike the train
• No luggage stairs

Cons:

• Waiting time at the airport before departure is unpredictable
• Multiple hotel stops before you reach Explorers Hotel
• Little flexibility if your flight lands late

Ride-Hailing Apps

Verdict: It will do for emergency use, but is not usually designed for family luggage.

Both Uber and Bolt operate at CDG, picking up passengers from a designated area rather than the taxi rank; their routes are the same as a taxi's, but prices vary with surge demand, especially during peak arrival times.

The trip takes 40 to 60 minutes, and prices range from €€ to €€€ depending on demand.

Pros:

• Easy to book from your phone the moment you land
• No queue if surge pricing hasn't kicked in
• Route and driver visible in real time

Cons:

• Standard cars rarely fit two large suitcases plus a stroller
• Surge pricing during peak hours can beat a taxi fare
• Pickup point isn't always obvious inside a busy terminal

Side-by-Side Comparison

Option	Door-to-door time	Price level	Luggage	Transfers needed	Best for
Private transfer	40–60 min	€€€	Excellent	None	Families, groups, tired travellers
RER B + RER A	1h15–1h40	€	Difficult	1 change	Solo budget travellers
TGV	45–75 min	€€	Good	1 shuttle + train	Light packers with flexible timing
Taxi	40–60 min	€€€	Good	None	Last-minute arrivals
Shared shuttle	Up to 90+ min	€€	Good	None (multiple stops)	Budget-conscious pairs
Ride-hailing	40–60 min	€€–€€€	Limited	None	Solo or light-luggage travellers

Which of the options is right for you?

For families having young children: the stairs and the change of platform at Châtelet–Les Halles on the RER are a real problem when using a stroller and a private transfer with an appropriate child seat deals with this issue before it arises.

When travelling in groups of four or more, the total cost per person for train tickets adds up quickly; however, in the case of a private vehicle that charges on a per-car basis, the overall cost usually ends up being the same or even cheaper when all the people are taken into account.

For solo travellers on a budget: if you're carrying a backpack and are willing to make one change, the RER combination is truly a sensible and low-stress option.

For the first time in Paris, finding an interchange station directly after a long flight is confusing; having a driver with a name plate takes away all that stress.

For arrivals happening late at night or early in the morning: the frequency of RER services drops sharply outside normal hours and the shared shuttles might stop running altogether. In this case, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the best option.

People who have a lot of luggage: getting around by public transport—using the CDGVal shuttle, then the TGV platform, and finally walking from Chessy station to Platform N of the hotel—is a real strain if you have four suitcases.

The Case for Booking a Private Transfer with Top Paris Transfer

When you work out the costs for a family of four, the price charged for a private transfer on a per-vehicle basis begins to seem less like a luxury and more like a sensible choice — a €€€ car is usually about equal to, or in fact cheaper than, four separate RER or TGV tickets when all the figures are taken into account, and no one has to drag a suitcase up an escalator at the station.

Since your driver keeps track of your flight, you won't miss the pickup if there's a delay at passport control—they'll be waiting for you when you come out of customs, with the name board displaying your name in the arrivals hall of your terminal. The price is final once you have landed, not a charge that builds up as you move slowly along the A104 on a Monday morning, nor will there be a surge charge because three flights landed at the same time.

A foldable stroller, child seats, and room for a full set of suitcases from a Disney trip are included as standard, and someone will be on hand to collect you no matter the time.

Imagine a family arriving at 9.40 PM after their flight from Dublin was delayed: the two children were tired, there was a car seat, and they had no desire to change trains in central Paris. The driver had been monitoring the flight, waited the additional forty minutes without complaining, and had them at the reception of the Explorers Hotel by 11 PM.

👉 Book a private transfer from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Explorers Hotel with Top Paris Transfer at a fixed price, with the driver waiting for you at the arrivals hall.

When to Travel: Traffic & Timing on This Route

Between 7:30 and 9:30 in the morning on weekdays, the A104 reaches a near standstill near the Roissy junction, since airport traffic mixes with normal commuter traffic; similarly, in the evenings between 5 and 7:30 PM, the same situation occurs in reverse.

Wednesdays are generally the most peaceful day on this section of road, whereas both Mondays and Fridays are always the worst. Rain can reduce speeds by as much as 20 to 30 per cent, and this is more significant here than it may appear because of the A104's exposed position.

Keep an eye on the calendar as well; during the school holidays in French Zone C, many families travel to Disneyland on the A4, and the Halloween season at the parks drives a steady rise in weekend visitors right up to the end of October. If your flight arrives during any of these periods, allow extra time or ask a driver who monitors current traffic conditions to handle route planning.

What This Route Really Costs (Including the Costs Nobody Mentions)

The € option is the RER combination, and this applies even when travelling with a family, since tickets are priced per person, not per journey. The TGV is in the €€ category but gets closer to the prices of private transfers when bookings are made close to departure, as fares increase the nearer the departure date. Both private transfers and taxis cost €€€, although the transfer price is fixed while the taxi's meter responds to whatever the A104 sets that day.

The extra costs build up in ways that seldom appear in the headline comparisons: the charge for luggage storage at Chessy station when you arrive before check-in, the tolls on the A4 which the taxi meter includes in the fare, and the straightforward cost of your own time while you wait for a shared shuttle to fill up. For a typical family of four, after all the ticket and toll expenses have been taken into account, a pre-booked private transfer usually costs roughly the same as using public transport — with the advantage of avoiding the stairs.

Mistakes to Avoid on the CDG → Explorers Hotel Journey

On the assumption that there is a direct train. There actually isn't. If you skip carrying out this research, you'll end up getting lost wandering around Châtelet–Les Halles with your suitcases.

If you go to the wrong terminal for the TGV, then the CDG2 TGV station only handles arrivals for Terminal 2 — if your arrival is at Terminal 1 or 3, you'll have to take the CDGVal shuttle first, and that will reduce the time you have before your departure.

If you don't book TGV tickets in advance, since reservations are fixed and the trains leave roughly once every hour, missing a train will cost you almost an hour rather than just five minutes.

This occurs when there is a changeover during a Zone C school holiday. Traffic on the A4 towards Disneyland can suddenly increase to twice the normal level during these times.

Forgetting about the hotel shuttle timetable: the free shuttle service which goes from Chessy station to the Explorers Hotel departs every 20 minutes during peak hours and every 40 minutes off-peak, from Platform N — you should arrive just after a train has left, otherwise you'll have to wait a long time.

When selecting a metered taxi during the evening rush hour, the charge increases with each minute spent near the Francilienne interchange, frequently exceeding the amount that a fixed-price transfer would have cost.

FAQ

Is there a direct train available from CDG to the Explorers Hotel?

There is no direct fast rail service; the only option is the hourly TGV from CDG2 to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. All the other routes require a connection by means of the RER B into Paris, followed by the RER A to get out — there is no single journey from the airport.

What is the fare for a taxi from CDG to the Explorers Hotel?

On this route, taxis use meters, and fares are in the €€€ category. The exact amount varies a lot with traffic conditions, so the same journey can be much more expensive during the weekday rush hour than at midday.

How long does the RER trip really take when you're carrying luggage?

The total travel time is just under 1 hour and 40 minutes when you take into account the change at Châtelet–Les Halles; the stairs and platform distances there are the main reasons for delays if you are travelling with more than a carry-on.

What terminal does the train going to Disneyland depart from?

The TGV station at Terminal 2, that is the Aéroport Charles de Gaulle 2 TGV station. If you arrive at Terminal 1 or 3, allow time for the CDGVal shuttle to get there.

Does the Explorers Hotel have a shuttle service that goes from the train station?

Yes, a shuttle service goes from the Marne-la-Vallée Chessy station to the hotel about every 20 minutes during peak hours, leaving from platform N, and there is also a bus which stops five minutes' walk from the hotel.

Is a private transfer worth it for a solo traveller?

Not always. A solo traveller with light luggage and no time pressure can manage the RER combination just fine and save money doing it — the value of a private transfer grows with group size and luggage.

What's the fastest way to get from CDG to Explorers Hotel?

The TGV is fastest on paper at 10 minutes onboard, but only when the hourly schedule lines up. For guaranteed timing regardless of departures, a private transfer via the A104 and A4 is the more reliable fast option.

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