Disneyland Paris is a magical stop on your trip through France. From the fireworks and animation show over the Sleeping Beauty Castle to the Wild West of Frontierland, there is plenty to keep you going for the day. Here’s my ultimate guide for your visit to Euro Disney!
Where to stay?
I would recommend staying in Paris if you are on a budget and take a day trip to Disneyland. It is very doable in a day. If you have kids or you want to splurge on a little luxury then you can stay at any of the themed resorts attached to the park or within close walking and shuttle distance. More information can be found HERE.
Getting there from Paris
There are a few options with this…
RER train
This is the regional express train that comes from central Paris. It is Line A (coloured RED on the transport map). This leaves from a number of stations including Charles De Gaulle Etoille, Chatelet Les Halles and Gare de Lyon. The journey takes about 45 minutes to reach D’land. You will need to purchase a ticket to Marne-la-Valee – Chessy station. The station is two minutes walk (not even) from the Park entrance, which is amazing 🙂
These trains are fairly regular and are still running late at night to allow you to watch the fireworks show over the castle, and still make it back to your accommodation in Paris afterwards.
A return ticket should set you back around 14 EUROS.
Bus
I did see a bus carpark with coaches but this looked way too busy and I couldn’t find any straightforward information online as to where in Paris you could catch a bus from. The only set bus route I found was a direct journey from Charles De Gaulle Airport to Disneyland Paris.
Getting there from CDG Airport
If you are going straight from the airport to your accommodation at the Disneyland Resorts then you have a few options also:
Magical Shuttle
This leaves from the airport and goes direct to the Disney Resorts. Click HERE to find out more. This can also be used from Orly Airport.
TGV
This is a high speed train that also goes Direct to Disney. It takes about 12 minutes and one journey on this will cost roughly 17.50 Euros. For more information about these trains click HERE.
Car Transfer or Taxi
This would be quite pricey but could work for those looking for a little extra convenience and luxury.
What’s on offer? Different parks, sections, events?
The complex is made up of two separate parks: ‘Disneyland’ and ‘Walt Disney Studios’.
Disneyland
The main park is split into 5 different areas:
1.Main Street USA
This is so quaint and gives you all the feels as soon as you walk in. Done up like a turn of the 20th century ol’ American town , it has funky gas lamps, vintage store fronts and lots of carnival-like tunes pumping all day. Here you will find game arcades, American style burger and hot dog joints and lots of souvenir stores with merchandise that will send you into a whirlwind of temptation. Seriously..I just wanted to buy ErryTHANG!!
Also, this is the location of the Character Parade every afternoon. Make sure you stake out your spot early so you can get a clear view of your faves as they come dancing down the street.
2. Discoveryland
This is ‘galaxy’ themed and the spot where you’ll find thrill rides.
3. Adventureland
Buckle up- this is the land of explorers and yep– you guessed it– adventurers. Here you will find the Indiana Jones and Pirates of the Caribbean rides.
4. Frontierland
This is super cool. The land of cowboys, saloons and gold rushes, you’ll love the 19th century old western vibes here.
5. Fantasyland
This is the BEST area in my opinion!! I love that you can go back in time and channel your inner 5 year old. You can see Sleeping Beauty’s castle, read the story of Snow White and meet the Princesses, if they are around (they’re busy independent women these days, ya feel me?!)
Walt Disney Studios
This park is smaller and is comprised of 4 ‘themed’ sections:
1. Front Lot
This is where you will find a lot of the souvenir shops and places to grab a bite to eat.
2. Back Lot
This is the ‘action zone’ with special effects and a stunt show. ‘
3. Toon Studio
It is here that you will find Crush’s Coaster (ride inspired by Finding Nemo) and rides inspired by Ratatouille, Toy Story and Cars. This was my favourite part of this park.
4. Production Courtyard
This is where you you will find the theatres for stage shows and the Tower of Terror (which I recommend if you like a bit of a thrill and don’t mind heights).
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I honestly did not find this park anywhere near as exciting or special. If you have been to Disney in LA I definitely think that California Adventure Park is much more enticing. Despite this, it is fun to pop over and check it out but I wouldn’t give this park an entire day. It can be done in a couple of hours in the afternoon before heading back to the Main Park for the Character parade. They do actually offer entertainment stage shows as they have a few theatres there, and I would have liked to catch one. Unfortunately it was full just before the start time and we didn’t want to wait for the next one.
Cost and Ticket options
Buy Online in advance
You only need to do this the day before for it to be valid the next day (NOTE: you cannot buy online for the SAME DAY). You can choose to buy a ticket for One or Two parks. I would suggest getting a ticket that gets you in to both so you can come and go between both as much as you please. There is obviously a slight price different with this. Prices below are for Adults:
1 Day (1 Park) ranges from 80-87 EUROS
1 day (2 parks) ranges from 100-107 EUROS
You can of course choose more days. To purchase tickets click HERE.
When looking to book online you will also see different options depending on whether you purchase for a specific date or buy a ticket that allows you to use it on any day within a specific window of dates. Just be sure to read the fine print on the option that you select.
Things to note: An adult is classified as aged Twelve and above and if you are travelling with children under 3 they do not require a ticket.
Buy on the day at the entrance
This was SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive that purchasing online beforehand and would involve lining up for a while before making it to the window. With our online tickets we proceeded straight to the entrance gate upon arrival #winning.
Opening times
Disneyland Park is open daily from 10am to 11pm (The Fireworks over the Castle start at 10pm).
Walt Disney Studios Park is open daily from 10am to 6pm (Winter) and 9 Pm (Summer). Current daily opening times can be found on Disneyland Paris’ website by hovering over the ‘Parks and Tickets’ tab.
Seasons/weather
Off Season
If you are looking to avoid crowds and want to take advantage of cheaper accommodation then January-March/April would be ideal. Just remember this is Winter in France and can get quite cold. I went in April (which in theory is spring) but it was freezing and I vividly remember standing in a crowd at 10pm waiting for the fireworks and it was 4 degrees celsius! As a Sydney girl I am really not built for this! But it was still magical and during the day you will be moving around a lot and will be occupied.
Peak Season
If you are looking for warmer temperatures and don’t mind mixing it up with more people and longer wait times for attractions then June to September is ideal. July and August will be the warmest and most popular. Along with this, accommodation prices do increase though. If you are visiting at this time of year then I would recommend doing the parks over two days instead of one, as it will take longer to experience all the rides that you want to go on.
Things to remember:
ATMs
Are available in the park, although I would take a set amount of cash to stop you from overspending as I found the prices for most things to be quite expensive.
Fast Pass
You can choose to access certain rides and attractions ahead of the line buy purchasing a Fast Pass. I did this in LA but found the prices for this to be ridiculous in Paris on top of the Park entrance fees. I have included an example price chart below.
The Fireworks are a MUST
No trip to Disneyland is complete without seeing the daily Firework and animation show over the castle that plays every evening! I can’t stress this enough! This starts at 10pm and I would start getting in place between 9 and 9.30pm if you want a decent view. I know it is late and you will probably be tired from a jam packed day but trust me, it’s worth it. It is just magical!
Merchandise
No trip to D’land is complete without getting yourself a pair of Mickey/Minnie Mouse ears or an Extravagant Character hat. It’s a part of the experience and I totally think you should not skimp on this!
“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever” ~ WALT DISNEY
Food and Drinks
These are EXPENSIVE all over the park and I recommend taking a packed lunch and snacks of you are on a budget. I would let yourself splurge on popcorn and maybe a little bit of Fairy Floss (this is what Aussies call Cotton Candy)…because after all it a special day, so treat yo’self!
If you do want to grab some lunch and dinner restaurants can be found all over the park offering different types of cuisines at a range of prices. Some of these are buffet and others offer sit down table service. Be prepared to queue as the day goes on though. If you consult your map it has all of the different options labelled and where to find them. If you are looking for something easy, convenient and won’t break the bank, I would suggest heading to Main Street USA. They have relaxed places offering burgers, fries and hot dogs.
Comfortable walking shoes
This is a must! We racked up at least 23,000 steps over the course of 10 hours and were buzzing the whole time. I would have hated to be slowed down by thin, non-supportive shoes or a brutal blister. Plan accordingly for this.
I hope this helps you plan your visit to Euro Disney and you have a SPECTACULAR time. OH and you channel your inner child for the day, because in the end, aren’t we all just BIG kids?!
Have you been to Disneyland Paris? Let me know in the comments! 🙂
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