If you're as huge of a Disney fan as we are, visiting all the different Disney parks in the world is definitely on top of your travel bucket list. Of course, that would mean that you'll have to visit the TWO Disney parks in Paris (and the only ones in the entire Europe)! Yep, you heard us right, Paris is home to two Disney parks - Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios! If you only have one full day to spare, get the park-hopper and conquer both parks in one day ;) To help you out on your visit, we've compiled a list of tips on how to make the most out of your Disney Euro adventure!
Getting to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, which is about 30 minutes east of Paris by train. The easiest way to get to the park is to take the RER A train from Paris's central station, Gare de Lyon. The train will take you directly to the park's entrance.
If you're driving, it will take you about an hour to get to Disneyland Paris from the centre of Paris. There is a large parking lot located at the park, but it can fill up quickly, so it's advisable to arrive early if you're driving.
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, which is about 30 minutes east of Paris by train. The easiest way to get to the park is to take the RER A train from Paris's central station, Gare de Lyon. The train will take you directly to the park's entrance.
If you're driving, it will take you about an hour to get to Disneyland Paris from the center of Paris. There is a large parking lot located at the park, but it can fill up quickly, so it's advisable to arrive early if you're driving.
1. Stay in a Disneyland Hotel for Those Magical Hours
The best thing about staying in a Disney hotel is the extra time that you’ll get in the parks! Your stay comes with Extra Magic Hours that allow you to enter the Disney parks before it opens to the public! Depending on their schedule, you'll either get to enter Disneyland an hour before it opens or Walt Disney Studios, two hours earlier! During our visit, we got to enter Walt Disney Studios two hours earlier and it was a lifesaver as we had a flight to catch on the very same day!
2. Snag a Park Map and Programme Before Your Visit
Park maps can be picked up at the park entrance! If you're planning to catch the Disney parades and take photos with the characters, you should definitely get a copy of the park map and programme so that you can plan your day in advance. If you're staying at the Disney hotel, the receptionist will pass you these along with your magic hours pass during your check-in.
3. Check Park Hours and Get Tickets Online
Always check the park calendar before heading down as park hours may vary! You can also purchase your tickets online (look out for packages with accommodation) so that you don't have to worry about queuing for the tickets when you visit!
4. Grab Your Disney Premier Access and Beat The Queue
Don’t want to spend your entire day waiting in lines? You’ll need to get your Disney Premier Access* to zoom past the snaking long queues! Here's the list of attractions you can get a Fastpass for in Disneyland:Indiana Jones™ and the Temple of Peril Space Mountain® - Mission 2 Buzz Lightyear, Laser Blast Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan's Flight Star Tours.
If you're visiting on a crowded day, head to Space Mountain once the park opens. Space Mountain is always a popular ride, no matter which Disney park you visit and the one in Paris is slightly different from those in the other parks. (Which probably means a long queue!). If you're lucky not to face a queue there, take the ride when the park opens and head to Peter Pan's Flight next to snag a Disney Premier Access! It'll usually be swamped with families and younger children later in the day, so a Disney Premier Access will definitely be handy.
Another popular ride would probably be the Big Thunder Mountain, so try getting a Disney Premier Access for that as well, once you're done with Peter Pan. Do note that Disney Premier Access CAN run out.
Walt Disney Studios: If you get extra magic hours, head directly to the two most popular rides in the park - Ratatouille and Crush's Coaster! These two rides can ONLY be found in Paris, so you can be sure that the queues will be really long in the later part of the day. If you didn't manage to get the magic hours, head straight to Ratatouille to pick up your first Disney Premier Access of the day before going over to Crush's Coaster and then Tower of Terror. If the queue for the latter is too long by the time you reach there, make that your second Fastpass for the park.
*The Disney Premier Access is a system that allows you to reduce the waiting time at certain attractions by giving you a specific time to enter the attraction. To get your Disney Premier Access, download the Disneyland Paris mobile app.
5. Get a Pocket Wifi and Download the Disneyland App
Want to easily check the queues for the attractions without running around the entire park like a mad person? We would definitely recommend renting a pocket wifi so that you can check the official Paris Disneyland mobile app!
6. Check Ride Wait Times
If you don't have a wifi connection, you can still check the wait times at Main Street! Parade information is also stated on this handy info board. Unfortunately, this is only located at the front of the park, but it's still a pretty useful guide to the wait times for all the rides in the park.
7. Shop at Disney Village After the Park Closes
Credit: David Jafra The Disney parks in Paris close pretty early (around 7pm), so if you're a night owl, don't worry! You can still do your browsing and shopping for Disney merchandise at the Disney Village. If you're staying at the Disney hotel, it's only a short walk away from your hotel (depending on which accommodation you choose).
8. Don't Miss the Rides/Attractions Unique to Paris Disney Parks
No two Disney parks are identical in the world. So of course, you won't want to miss out on the ride you can only find in Paris, would you? ;) For Paris Disneyland, don't miss the Sleeping Beauty Castle (which you can actually climb up and read the story of Sleeping Beauty!), Alice’s Curious Labyrinth – a hedge maze only found in Paris and Shanghai Disneyland, Phantom Manor with a French twist, Space Mountain® - Mission 2, La Tanière du Dragon - the walk-in dragon lair under Sleeping Beauty's castle and Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival - a 4D film festival that features 3 short films!
For Walt Disney Studios, you can't miss the ride inspired by the Pixar film set in Paris - Ratatouille. Be sure to take the fun spinning coaster - Crush's Coaster! The story for Tower of Terror is also different from the other cities, inspired by Twilight Zone. The queue for Ratatouille tends to snake, so head there once the park opens!
9. Grab a Spot 15 Minutes Before the Parade and Fireworks Start
Check the parade route on the park map and don't forget to head there early to get the best view! A Disney parade is definitely not to be missed ;)
10. Take the Magic Shuttle Straight to the Airport
Thanks to the Magic Shuttle service, it's also really convenient to travel to the airport from Paris Disneyland. It picks up/drops off straight from your Disney hotel, so no worries about lugging your luggage around. The Magic Shuttle is available for both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. Ticket prices start from 18€/person and you can either make the purchase when you're boarding the bus or book a ticket in advance on their website.
Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Trip to Disneyland Paris
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of your trip to Disneyland Paris:
- Purchase your tickets in advance to avoid the crowds.
- Stay at one of the Disney hotels for a truly magical experience.
- Take advantage of the FastPass system to skip the lines for popular rides.
- Pack comfortable shoes, as you'll be doing a lot of walking.
- Bring a hat and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Don't forget to take advantage of the many dining options available in the park.
- Be sure to see the nightly fireworks show, which is a truly magical experience.
So there you go, everything you need to know to get you all prepped for your Euro Disney adventure!
Thanks to KLM and Air France for making our Paris Disney dreams come true <3