15 Things to Know Before Planning a Trip to Disneyland Paris

While living in Europe, we’ve made our way to Disneyland Paris as a family two different times (plus my husband has been on his own a third time for a work trip).

(We live in Billund, Denmark, where he is a LEGO Model Designer for The LEGO Group and he got to visit Disneyland Paris for a signing event at the Disneyland Paris LEGO Shop (what a work trip, right?).)

All of this is to say that since we’ve been to the park a few times, we’ve learned some things along the way, and I may have a few tips for planning a trip to Disneyland Paris.

This guide is to let you know what works for us when visiting Disneyland Paris and what might work for you as well.

*There may be affiliate links in this post. Read my privacy/disclosure policy to learn more.

✨ 🏰 IN A RUSH? HERE ARE OUR EURO DISNEY FAVORITES 

WHERE TO STAY: 

😍 Adagio Serris Val d'Europe: Affordable but nice apart-hotel within walking distance to Disneyland Paris with an outdoor pool!

AIRPORT TRANSFER/TAXI IN PARIS WITH CAR SEATS:

🚘 Baby Cabs: We've used Baby Cabs multiple times in Paris and have always had a great experience, I highly recommend. 

HOW WE SAVE MONEY ON OUR RENTAL CARS:

🚘 Economy Bookings Car Rental: Any bit you can save on your car rental is worth it! Our go-to is Economy Bookings.


OUR OTHER TRAVEL FAVORITES:

📸 Tours/Excursions: Viator & Get Your Guide
🚕 Airport Transfers with Car Seats: Welcome Pickups
👉 Travel Strollers: Zoe Traveler & Zoe Double
🍼 Baby Carriers: Tula Carriers, Wildride Hip Carriers 
📱 International Data Phone eSIM: Airalo
🚗 Cheap Rental Cars: Economy Bookings
🏠 Accomodations: Booking, Expedia, VRBO, Airbnb
🌎 Travel Insurance: World Nomads
We receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using the above link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Is a Disneyland Paris trip worth it?

This one is easy- YES. Disneyland Paris is definitely worth it. And that’s coming from someone who wasn’t entirely convinced before we arrived.

I was a worried that it wouldn’t feel like an authentic Disney Park experience…but, I was wrong.

After being in Parc Disneyland for just a couple of hours, I turned to my husband and said, “I think this is as good or better than Disneyland in California. And shockingly, he agreed ( I didn’t expect that since he loves the original Disney so much).

First of all, the castle at Disneyland Paris is absolutely epic- it’s often thought of as one of the best and prettiest Disneyland castles.

Secondly, Disneyland in Paris has almost all of the iconic Disneyland attractions you’d hope to find. For example, you can ride Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. Plus, in Fantasyland, you’ll find The Teacups, Dumbo, and It’s a Small World.

And besides all of this, everything is just so cute and well done. The theming is top-notch and even without the rides, it’s an impressive place to walk around and feel a little of that Disney magic ✨.

However, keep in mind that Disneyland Paris does NOT have Galaxy’s Edge. If that’s something you really look forward to, you may be a little disappointed in your visit to Parc Disneyland.

15 Things To Know to Help Plan Your Holiday to Disneyland Paris

Here are my top tips for visiting Disneyland Paris.

1. Disneyland Paris is only 45 Minutes Away from Central Paris

Paris Disneyland is located in Chessy, France, only about a 45-minute direct Metro ride to the Paris city center.

This means that you can easily visit Parc Disneyland as part of a greater Paris trip, or even take a day trip to Disneyland Paris.

Since we are always visiting with kids, we like to stay a couple of nights just outside of Disneyland to make the days shorter and easier. However, if that’s not an issue for you a day trip is totally doable.

On our first trip to Disneyland Europe, we spent two days in Disneyland, followed by four days in Paris. Our second trip was comprised of two days in Disneyland, followed by two days in Paris.

If you travel to Paris with kids, be sure to check out my 10 Fun Playgrounds in Paris Near Top Paris Attractions post, it’s a lifesaver.

2. Disneyland Paris is Comprised of 2 Different Parks

Disneyland Paris is made up of two theme parks: Parc Disneyland and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios- the name change takes effect in March 2026).

Parc Disneyland is the main, iconic park in Paris with rides like Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. Plus, in its Fantasyland, you’ll find familiar rides like The Teacups, Dumbo, and It’s a Small World.

The castle at Disneyland Paris is beautiful and huge (it’s my favorite castle from a Disney Park) and the theming everywhere is really well done. The French language only makes everything feel even more magical.

Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios) is somewhat akin to California Adventure but also includes a brand new, immersive Frozen world.

We haven’t visited the new World of Frozen area yet, but we definitely look forward to it! You can learn more about The World of Frozen here.

Besides Frozen, Disney Adventure World is also home to some other really great attractions, such as The Tower of Terror, Ratatouille, Crush’s Coaster, and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force (which is one of the best coasters I’ve ever been on).

If you’re in the midst of Disneyland Paris planning, I’d recommend making time to visit both of these parks and I’ll get into that more below.

3. Disneyland Paris Beautifully Transforms for Halloween and Christmas

Although fall & winter weather may not be as nice at Disneyland Paris, the decorations and seasonal vibes within the park make up for it. Disneyland Europe transforms with beautiful, seasonal decorations for Halloween and Christmas.

Halloween decorations are typically up from late September to early November, followed by Christmas decorations from mid-November to early January.

We’ve never visited during this time of year, but the Christmas light parade looks amazing! You can read more about seasonal activiites at Parc Disneyland here.

4. Plan to spend 2-3 days in Euro Disney

I know some people enjoy spending 3-5 days at any given Disney theme park; however, if you’re just looking to ride everything once, I’d suggest booking tickets for 2-3 days.

These Disneyland Paris tickets on Viator can sometimes be less expensive than the main Disney Paris website so I’d suggest looking into them.

On both of our recent trips to Europe’s Disneyland, we spent 1.5 days in Parc Disneyland and 1/2 day in Walt Disney Studios (now Disney Adventure World).

However, with the new Frozen World and many other new attractions in Disney Adventure World, we plan to spend one full day at each park on our next trip.

You can also easily take a day trip to Disneyland Paris from central Paris! That’s honestly what I’d recommend if you are traveling to Paris from the US and just want a little taste of Disneyland Paris magic.

✨ Click here to see Disneyland Paris entrance tickets on Viator (sometimes they are less expensive!)✨✨

5. Be Sure To Purchase ENtrance Tickets in Advance

I recommend purchasing your Disneyland Paris entrance tickets in advance for two reasons:

Reason #1: A limited number of tickets are available for the park each day and if you don’t purchase your ticket ahead of time (plus choose the specific date) you run the risk of not being able to enter.

Reason #2: I saw the line to buy tickets day of at Disney Paris and it was crazyyy long. I wouldn’t want to wait in that line, plus, they could also sell out.

When purchasing your tickets, be sure to pay close attention to whether you are purchasing ‘dated’ or ‘non-dated’ tickets. If you buy ‘non-dated’ tickets, you will need to reserve online, before your trip, the specific date you will be visiting; otherwise, your ticket will be invalid.

I’ve read loads of reviews that say they purchased their Disneyland Paris entrance tickets from Viator that were actually less expensive than anywhere else (including the official Disneyland Paris website).

The Disneyland Paris entrance tickets from Viator are dated entrance tickets that work just like the tickets purchased directly from Disney, but are sometimes less expensive.

If you happen to be purchasing tickets last-minute, I’ve heard that same-day park tickets on Viator are when they are most likely to be less expensive.

🎟️✨Click here to check out the ticket prices for Disneyland Paris on Viator (sometimes they are less expensive)! ✨🎟️

6. There are Multiple Ways to Get To Disneyland Paris From the Airport or Central Paris

There are many ways to reach Euro Disney and some options are better than others. Here’s a quick rundown of each option. Our preferred method from CDG to Disney is Baby Cabs (a taxi service with carseats) and our preferred method from Central Paris to Disneyland is the RER train.

Charles de Gaulle Airport to Disneyland Paris:

• Baby Cabs: This is by FAR our preferred way to reach Disneyland Paris. Baby Cabs is a taxi/airport transfer service that SPECIALIZES in families. We have used them multiple times and have had a perfect experience each time. At the airport, the driver waits for you with your name on a sign while in the car, carseats are loaded and ready to go! If you are traveling with young kids, I HIGHLY recommend this option over the train. We’ve done the train with kids, a stroller, and luggage, and it was so stressful. Plus we hadr to walk from the station to our accommodations. Our Baby Cabs transfer was only slightly more expensive than the high-speed train, and it was an absolute breeze. *You must book your Baby Cabs transfer at least 24 hours in advance.
• High-Speed TGV Train: High-speed train directly from CDG to the entrance of Disneyland Paris. The actual train ride is only 12 minutes long; however, departures are every 30-60 minutes, so it can still take a while to arrive if you have to wait for a train. Plus, your ticket is only available for your selected journey, which feels risky when purchasing in advance, and same-day tickets can get expensive. I’d rather spend my money on a private transfer with Welcome Pickups and have a super smooth, fast ride. However, if you don’t have young kids and everything aligns, the train can be a good option. Ticket prices range from €19 to €35 per ticket, depending on how far in advance you book them.
• Disneyland Magical Shuttle from CDG: The only drop-off points for this shuttle bus are specific Disneyland Paris hotels. If you are not staying at any of the associated hotels, it won’t be a good option. Tickets cost €24 per adult, €11 for kids under 12, and are free for kids under 2.
• RER Train: From CDG, this is the most time-consuming option to reach Disneyland Paris, but it is also the least expensive option. Basically, you take an RER Train from CDG to Central Paris, and then you take a different RER train from Central Paris back out in another direction to Disneyland Paris (RER B from CDG to Châtelet-Les-Halles, then transfer to RER A towards Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy). The total travel time is around 90 minutes, but the cost is only about €12. You can purchase tickets at the station.
• Uber: We’ve used Ubers all over Paris and have always had a good experience. Just book a trip on the Uber app and you’re good to go.

Orly Airport to Disneyland Paris:

• All of the same options as from Charles de Gaulle Airport EXCEPT for the high-speed train.

Central Paris to Disneyland Paris:

• RER Train: The RER train from Central Paris is super easy and inexpensive. Get on the RER A Train from Central Paris and get off at Disneyland (Marne-la-Vallée Chessy Station). The trip takes about 40 minutes and tickets can be purchased at the station for around  €5.
• Disneyland Paris Express Shuttle from Central Paris: This is BY FAR the most expensive (and worst in my opinion) option to reach Disneyland Paris, plus the schedule is extremely limited. You purchase these tickets at the same time as purchasing your park entrance tickets and the shuttle costs €65 round-trip for both adults AND children. That means a family of four would cost €260 round-trip (that’s twice as much as a round-trip Baby Cabs or Uber ride).
• Baby Cabs: An amazing taxi/transfer service that SPECIALIZES in families and provides carseats and booster seats. Read more about Baby Cabs above- we have used Baby Cabs many times in Paris with perfect experiences.
• Uber: Uber is very easy to use in Paris and is another good option to get to Disneyland Paris (especially if you will be splitting the cost with others).

7. Airbnbs Can be a Great Choice for Lodging

One of my best tips on Disneyland Paris would be to look into Airbnbs rather than booking a Disney Resort hotel. In short, you’ll get way more space (and oftentimes, much nicer accommodations) at a fraction of the price than the Disneyland Paris Resort Hotels.

I’ve looked into Disney park hotels each time we’ve visited Disneyland Paris in the hopes that I’ll find something amazing. However, after each search, I’m left feeling disappointed.

Either the accommodations look outdated, far away, and not nice, or they are WAY out of our price range (and I wouldn’t say we skimp on lodging).

I know, I know, some people are 100% committed to booking a Disney hotel… and that’s fine. But to me, most of the hotels seemed pretty outdated and pricey for what you get.

Plus, most of them are still a 10-20 minute walk from the entrance, and none offer apartment-style accommodations (which we often like).

That being said, Disney did recently (re)open the Hotel New York: The Art of Marvel which looks really nice and could be fun if you are a big Marvel fan, but it does cost a pretty penny.

And the 5-star Disneyland Hotel, RIGHT at the entrance, recently finished a complete renovation, which I hope it’s amazing because it costs around €1,000 per night (if you can believe that).

We’ve booked this amazing, one-bedroom Airbnb in Serris, just a 20-minute walk from the entrance to Disney. The separate bedroom, pullout couch, and full kitchen were lifesavers.

When we travel, we usually opt for staying in a full apartment rather than a small hotel room. It’s a lifesaver for saving money and ensuring the kids can get some food they actually like.

Having a large space to unwind after a long day at Disney was prime, plus we ate breakfast, packed lunch and occasionally made dinners at our Airbnb.

Another great place to stay, very close to Disney, is Adagio Serris Val d’Europe. It has apartment-style rooms like an Airbnb has, but it also offers breakfast AND an outdoor pool! My husband has stayed here and we are eyeing it for our next family trip to Disneyland Paris.

✨ Click here to see the outdoor pool at Hotel Adagio Serris Val d’Europe! ✨

8. Disneyland Pairs isn’t really a Culinary Destination

If you do much research on Disneyland Paris, you’ll quickly learn that this park’s not known for it’s food.

One thing that is noticeably lacking is the abundance of cute, Disney-themed treats like you can find at Disneyland Anaheim or Disney World. That being said, you CAN find some!

We haven’t bought many meals in the park as we often pack lunches and eat dinner in Disney Village (just outside of Disneyland) or at our Airbnb .

However, we have purchased plenty of treats and snacks such as popcorn from the cute popcorn carts (they are seriously everywhere), plus cookies, beignets, crepes, and more.

You aren’t allowed to bring big coolers or large picnic baskets into Parc Disneyland, but a small lunch that fits into your backpack is totally okay.

9. Be Sure to Download the Disneyland Paris App

Using the Disneyland Paris app seems like it should be obvious, but it hadn’t even crossed my mind until we had already arrived and my husband was using it.

The app has a great map, which is a must considering how large the parks are. You can even allow it to know your exact location so that you can see right where you are in the park (it’s super helpful).

You can also see all of the current wait times, which attractions are closed, a schedule of events for the day (like parades, shows, character meet & greets), and much more!

We relied heavily on the Disney Paris app to help us plan where we were headed next.

Click here to download the Disneyland Paris app.

10. The Parades and shows at Paris Disneyland are top-notch

The parades and shows we experienced at Euro Disney turned out to be some of favorite things we did. I definitely recommend planning your day around one to two parades or shows.

The parades are especially amazing for kids. It’s like this wonderful event made up of all of the things kids love: upbeat music, colorful costumes, fun dancing, and some of their favorite characters from stories they know.

You’ll want to secure a standing spot along the parade route about 30 minutes before the parade begins to ensure you get a front-row seat. You can see the parade route in the Disneyland Paris app.

The Broadway-style shows at Disneyland Paris are quite impressive and I highly recommend fitting at least one into your itinerary.

They work the same way as other attractions, where you wait in line to secure a seat (or you can purchase a seat in advance in the Disneyland Paris app).

We especially love The Lion King show at Parc Disneyland. It’s a 30-minute adaptation of The Lion King, complete with amazing acrobatics. This may be blasphemy, but we like it more than the Broadway version😝.

Click here to learn more about the current shows and parades.

11. You’ll Want To Bring a stroller if you have young ones

On our most recent trip to Disneyland Paris, our phones said we walked 10+ miles each day. That’s tiring enough as adults; I can’t imagine having young kids attempting that.

The parks are large and queues can be deceivingly long, so expect to walk many miles each day.

Not only will a stroller save your little ones from getting totally exhausted, but strollers also serve as a great napping spot. Our toddler doesn’t usually take naps; however, she did each day in Disneyland Paris.

You know your kids best, but even our 6-year-old still loves to steal a seat in the stroller sometimes when she just gets too tired.

It’s possible to rent a stroller near the Parc Disneyland entrance at the Town Square Terrace and also at the entrance of Disney Adventure World at Studio Services.

However, the strollers available hardly look comfortable. But it’ll do if you have no other options.

12. Take Advantage of single rider lines and rider switch

Single rider lines and ‘rider switch’ (sometimes referred to as baby switch) are two free ways to help beat some of the wait times at Euro Disneyland.

Single Rider Line: Single rider lines are a special line available on some attractions that cast members use to fill empty single seats to make the rides more efficient. By using this line you have almost zero wait, however, you’ll be separated from your group.

You can still join the single rider line even as a group, but just know that you will be split up.

Rider Switch (aka Baby Switch): Rider Switch is an amazing service Disney provides for those visiting Disneyland Paris with young kids. When one adult stays behind to be with a child and the other adult rides a ride, the adult on the ride can ask the cast member (upon exiting) for a rider switch card for their partner.

They will then be given a small card that grants access for one adult and one additional rider to skip the line. Isn’t that so amazing??

For example, I’ve waited in line for Big Thunder Mountain with my daughter while my husband played with our younger child at the Frontierland Playground. When we were done, I gave him the rider switch card, and he was able to take our daughter back to Big Thunder mountain, skip the line and also get to experience riding Big Thunder Mountain with her.

If you aren’t sure how to use it, just ask the cast member at the entrance to any ride they’ll let you know how it works.

All of the cast members were happy to give us a rider switch pass and to explain where our partner needed to come in order to skip the line.

You can take advantage of Rider Switch whether you wait in the normal line, the single rider line, or pay to be in the Premier Access line. I highly recommend taking advantage of this service if you are traveling to Disneyland Paris with young kids.

13. Premier Access Can Be Pricey, But Might Be Worth It

What you need to know about Disneyland Paris is that the ‘skip-the-line’ system they use is called Premier Access (the Fast Pass system is no longer).

Most of the top attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, and Peter Pan’s Flight, have Premier Access available.

How it works is you are basically purchasing a ticket to skip the line for a specific ride. You can go to the Disneyland Paris App to the Premier Access section to see all of the attractions that offer Premier Access.

You can see which timeslots are available and how much skipping the line will cost, and then you can purchase it directly from the app.

After your purchase, you show up to the premier access line of your chosen ride, within your chosen time slot, show them your QR code and you’ll have next to no wait to ride.

We’ve never used Premier Access because it can be so expensive (especially when paying for multiple people).

However, I can definitely see using it in times of desperation if one of the grown-ups really wants to ride a ride and it’s just not feasible to have them wait in line.

The wait times for rides do vary throughout the day.

For the super planners out there, you can see when waits for specific attractions are typically the longest each day on this Disney wait-time website.

After you click on the website, choose which ride you’re interested in in the right-hand column to see a graph of the average wait times throughout the day.

If you’re with young kids and are going to take advantage of Rider Switch, only one adult needs to purchase the Premier Access ticket because they will just get the rider switch card at the end.

14. You can explore Inside of the Disneyland Paris Castle

Not only is the outside of the castle in Disney Paris totally epic, but you can explore the inside too!

You can visit underneath the castle to see a huge animatronic dragon, walk up the stairs to see stained glass windows and a balcony with views of Fantasyland, and on the main level, you’ll find shops selling Disney trinkets and Christmas ornaments.

And the great thing is, there usually isn’t a queue to explore the castle! You can just wander right on in 😀 .

15. There are some Fun Playgrounds at Parc Disneyland

Obviously, we all know that Disneyland is full of fun rides, but did you know it also has playgrounds? When I visited Disney before having kids, I 100% did not understand the reason behind there being playgrounds at Disneyland. However, I 100% understand now 😂.

The playgrounds are a great way to let your kids get their wiggles out and a great place to hang out when the parents take some time riding bigger rides.

Our little one played at the Frontierland Playground for probably 1.5 hours while we took turns riding Thunder Mountain (me waiting in line and my husband using ‘Rider Switch’).

Plus, we’ve also spent plenty of time at the park’s other two playgrounds in Adventureland: Pirates’ Beach playground and Adventure Isle.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any playgrounds at Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios).

And those are my 15 Paris Disneyland tips! I hope you visit Disneyland Paris, have a total blast, and that these tips are helpful in your planning for your holiday to Disneyland Paris.

Please comment below if you have any questions. I’ll be sure to get back to you!

✨ LOOKING FOR MORE DISNEYLAND PARIS POSTS? 

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🥐 LOOKING TO VISIT PARIS?

🗼 The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Paris with a Toddler: Things to do + Top Tips

🛝 10 Fun Playgrounds in Paris Near Top Paris Attractions

🥖 The Only Itinerary You Need to Spend Two Days in Paris

❗ 27 Essential Paris Travel Tips: Things to Know Before Traveling to Paris

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