Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris

Bonjour Disney fans! If you are planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, this article will have you covered with the tips, hacks, and details you’ll want to know. Welcome to our unofficial guide to Disneyland Paris. This guide will give you big-picture ideas about how to plan a vacation at Disneyland Paris while answering some of your biggest questions.

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Discover the Wonder of Disneyland Paris

Let’s be real, what could be more magical than visiting a Disney Park nestled in the heart of a country that inspired some of the best Disney movies, and the stunning architecture seen around Disney Parks? If you are a hardcore Disney fan that has made memories stateside and are looking for an adventure, you should absolutely visit Disneyland Paris. 

Fun fact: Disneyland Paris was originally known as Euro Disneyland until it was renamed in 1994.

This Disney spot has two Parks — Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park. Opening hours for these Disney Parks vary by season and day but are advertised on the Disneyland Paris Resort website for planning purposes. That said, you can expect summer hours at Disneyland Paris to range from around 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. each day. Walt Disney Studios Park‘s summer hours are 9:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. Additional Park time may be available to Guests staying at a Disneyland Hotel.

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Understanding crowd patterns is a key to enjoying more of that precious Park time and shorter attraction wait times. The “high season” in Disneyland Paris is from April 1 to October 31. I’ve visited in both peak season in June and the slower season in late November. Having arrived at Disneyland Paris rope drop during my June visit, we were able to pack our day and see all the attractions at least once. When visiting in November the smaller crowds enabled us to Park Hop and see the majority of Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Paris.

How to Travel from the Airport to Disneyland Paris Resort

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and book a vacation at Disneyland Paris. You have questions about how to get to the Parks, how to navigate the trains and how best to see Disneyland Paris. Don’t worry, we got you! Disneyland Paris is only 20 miles from the city of Paris and around a one-hour train ride from the city. If you are unfamiliar with European trains, you are going to be pleasantly surprised with the promptness, efficiency, and affordability of your experience.

If you are arriving by air, you can fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY). Train stations are located outside each airport, making it convenient to hop on and ride the line all the way across the city to the The Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy stop, which is just 2 minutes from the gates of the Parks. If you are flying into CDG, Guest arrivals should take a shuttle to Terminal 2 toward the TGV train that goes to Disneyland Paris. You should expect your ticket to cost €16 – €20 depending on the type of ticket (if you are a student or part of a discount program) you buy.

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If you are flying into ORY take the RER train to The Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station to go to Disneyland. You should expect your ticket to cost €19 – €30, depending on the type of ticket you buy and the time of day you are traveling. The RER train is much slower than the TGV high-speed train, so Orly Airport to Disneyland Paris will take around 90 minutes, whereas traveling from Charles de Gaulle Airport to Disneyland Paris will take around 45 minutes.

If navigating the train seems too daunting, just book a seat on the Magical Shuttle Airport Bus. This shuttle does come at an additional cost but it means you’ll have no guesswork as you’ll board outside the airport at a marked loading location and be taken directly to Disneyland Paris. Even better, now through December 31, 2022, the Magical Shuttle Airport Bus is running a special that means 5-8 people can ride for only €90. This is an especially great deal when you factor in what train fare would cost.

Planning Your Disneyland Paris Trip

Wondering about the best way to see Disneyland Paris? We recommend a two-day visit with a one-day Disneyland Park ticket and a one-day Park Hopper ticket for your second day. In my experience, I tend to spend more time on attractions, admiring walk-through attractions, and just generally enjoying the Park in Disneyland Paris. I would recommend Guests definitely spend one whole day in Disneyland Paris, with plans to spend the majority of the second day in Walt Disney Studios Park before hopping to Disneyland Paris for the remainder of the second day. If a three-day trip to Disneyland Paris sounds like the right fit for you, you will have the chance to slow down and enjoy your hotel. This will also mean more time to browse Disney Village shops, experience dining, and see entertainment at Disney Village.

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If budget is on your mind, you are not alone. Just how much does a trip to Disneyland Paris cost? Just like Park tickets in the USA, you’ll find that Disneyland Paris tickets vary in price based on peak crowd visiting dates. We recommend hitting the Disneyland Paris ticketing page to see crowd maps and pricing. However, glancing at the one-day single Park ticket provides a good gauge by which you can understand ticketing.

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A single one-day theme Park ticket for an adult visiting during the slowest time of year is $74.40. The next pricing level is $106.80, followed by $112.80 and $118.80 to visit during the busiest time of year. As you can see it literally “pays” to travel out of peak season if possible. You’ll save time in line and money on Park tickets. When purchasing tickets be sure to buy dated Park tickets to save money and avoid the need to secure a Park reservation. Dated ticket holders are all set to enter the Park they purchased the ticket for on that day without the need to secure a Park reservation, the same is not true for Annual Pass Holders or non-dated ticket holders.

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A two-day trip to visit the two Parks at Disneyland Paris is a great idea, as the more Park days you purchase the cheaper the price is per day. Bundling Park tickets with a Disney Hotel is also great way to save money and conveniently book your whole vacation in one swoop. With hotel choices like Disney Sequoia Lodge, Hotel Cheyenne, Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, Hotel Santa Fe, and Disney Newport Bay Club there are a lot of beautiful options to choose from. Browse hotel and ticket packages to find the right hotel and ticket combo for your family.

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Related: Live In California and Love Disney? At This Point, It’s Cheaper to Visit Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Park Experiences

I can assure you that your family will be dazzled by the magic in these two Parks. Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park have an incredible list of immersive, thrilling, and magical attractions that are not to be missed. When visiting Disneyland Paris you will be transported into magical Park areas you are likely familiar with — but with a new twist.

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Admire Sleeping Beauty Castle from Main Street, U.S.A., and check out Maleficent in dragon form, who is housed underneath the castle in a walk-through attraction. Join Pinocchio on a storybook adventure on Les Voyages de Pinocchio in Fantasyland and scream through Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain in Discoveryland. Don’t miss a visit to Phantom Manor, this Park’s version of The Haunted Mansion located in Frontierland.

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For a huge Walt Disney World fan, the highlight of a trip to Disneyland Paris may be comparing attractions with ones back home and exploring totally new attractions. I prefer Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Paris to the Walt Disney World version because of the longer ride length. Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Paris is another great attraction that is not to be missed and is better than its counterpart at Disney World.

Walk-through attractions at Disneyland Paris are a must-see. Alice’s Curious Labyrinth takes you through a small maze as you dodge the Queen of Hearts and celebrate a very merry unbirthday at the end of the maze! Explore other walk-through attractions like Adventure Isle, Discovery Arcade, and Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin in Adventureland.

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Walt Disney Studios Park Experiences

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You will not want to miss a visit to Walt Disney Studios Park. This is the place to be if you are a thrill ride fanatic, Toy Story junkie, or a Cars fan. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is similar to the version you’ll find at Walt Disney World‘s Hollywood Studios but with some unexpected touches. Don’t miss Marvel Avengers Campus for thrills and fun. Try your hand at Disney Animation at Animation Academy where you can train with a pro and learn to draw Mickey Mouse!

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The highlight of this theme Park in my opinion is, hands-down, World of Pixar. This is the must-visit land for Pixar fans. With rides like RC Racer, CARS Road Trip, and Ratatouille: The Adventure you must make time for this section of the Park. Shrink down to the size of a rat and help Remy and his buddies run the kitchen in this fun and immersive ride. My favorite ride at this Park is easily Crush’s Coaster. Go with the flow alongside Crush the sea turtle and the rest of the Finding Nemo gang. This spinning coaster provides a totally unique ride experience on a smooth ride track with adorable theming.

Dining at Disneyland Paris

French food is famous for being incredibly delicious, fresh, and savory. You can definitely get your fill of delicious French cuisine at restaurants across Disneyland Paris Resort. Between dining options in each Park and at Disney Village, you can choose from quick-service dining, on-the-go meals, dinner shows, character dining, and table service dining experiences. 

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There are some awesome dining options at Disneyland Paris so you will not go hungry! If you are wondering about how to book dining reservations, we recommend you book early. You can secure advanced dining reservations on the Disneyland Paris app 2 months before your day of visit. If in doubt, go ahead and secure a reservation, you can always cancel it later (up to 24hrs. out) so someone else can take the reservation.

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If you are looking for a character dining experience, try Auberge de Cendrillon in Disneyland Paris. You’ll dine on yummy French food and meet some of your favorite Disney Princesses while you eat. Want to get Mickey and the gang? Book a character dining reservation at Plaza Gardens Restaurant. This delicious buffet serves up French food, salads, sides, entrees, and of course delicious desserts.

 We hope this unofficial guide to Disneyland Paris is a helpful start as you plan and book your next vacation. Have a magical trip!