Would you like to enter the magical world of Disneyland Paris, the enchanted kingdom where dreams come true! Located just 32 km from the French capital, this theme park is a must-visit destination for families and Disney fans from all over the world. In this article, you’ll find all the information you need on tickets, attractions and how to plan an unforgettable stay at Disney Parks in Paris.
Disneyland Paris, formerly known as EuroDisney, opened in 1992. It is the only Disney park to date in Europe, and the second largest in the world after Walt Disney World in Florida. It’s well worth the detour, especially since it’s easier to visit, with fewer crowds than other Disney parks. It’s made up of two distinct theme parks:
The two Disneyland Paris parks, Parc Disneyland and Parc Walt Disney Studios, are located side by side in the Disneyland Paris complex in Marne-la-Vallée. The distance between the two parks is just a few minutes, making it easy for visitors to walk from one to the other throughout the day.
What sets Disneyland Paris apart from other Disney parks is its unique blend of European culture and Disney spirit. Exclusive attractions include:
The park comprises five thematic areas (“lands”) arranged around this magnificent castle including:
The park includes 34 attractions in total, including four roller coasters and several classics such as “It’s a small world”, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
You can meet the Disney characters at various dedicated points throughout the day, as well as during parades and daily shows.
Walt Disney Studios is the second largest theme park of Disneyland Paris and was opened in 2002. This park is smaller than its neighbour. In 3 hours, you’ll have ventured through it. It is currently dedicated to the world of Disney cinema, television and animation. Currently, it is divided into four thematic areas:
It offers unique attractions based on the Pixar and Marvel universes, as well as a nighttime show.
Please note that part of the park (Studio 1 and certain parts of the Production Courtyard) are currently being renovated and will be closed from April 25, 2024, until spring 2025. The iconic attractions will remain open during the construction period.
In 2025, you’ll discover a brand-new zone, World of Frozen, featuring the Kingdom of Arendelle and its flagship attraction, Frozen Ever After! The Walt Disney Studios Park evolves and expands to make way for new worlds, restaurants, and a new Adventure Bay water feature.
Walt Disney Studios Park will be renamed Disney Adventure World when the new World of Frozen zone opens, offering visitors new immersive experiences with the adventures of their favourite heroes.
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, about 32 kilometres east of the centre of Paris. To be more precise, the Disneyland Paris complex is situated in the commune of Chessy, in the Seine-et-Marne region (Île-de-France).
Depending on where you’re coming from, try to plan your travel time to arrive before the park opens. Here’s how to do it:
By train, take the RER A towards Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy: it’s the quickest way to get there. Allow 35 to 45 minutes, then get off at the “Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy” station, just outside the entrance to the Disneyland parks.
By car, from central Paris, take the A4 freeway eastwards and follow the signs to “Disneyland Paris”. It’s a 45-minute drive.
Dedicated direct shuttle services and Magical Shuttle buses link several points in Paris (such as Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports) directly to Disneyland Paris.
These means of transport are practical and comfortable, with air-conditioning and space for luggage. They are ideal for visitors arriving by air and going directly to the Disney parks or their associated hotels. Shuttles are also often equipped with free Wi-Fi for passengers.
They leave every 45 minutes between 9:00 a.m. and 6:45 p.m. and serve the Disneyland and Val d’Europe hotels, for example. You can buy your tickets there or in advance.
Allow 45 to 60 minutes from Paris-Charles De Gaulle and 60 to 90 minutes from Orly.
The best time to visit Disneyland Paris depends on your preferences:
Having been to Disneyland Paris several times and at different times, the crowds can vary depending on the date you choose to go. Compared with Disney World in Orlando, where the paths are always very crowded, I much prefer Disneyland Paris: to this day, we’ve always managed to do all the attractions without necessarily needing any Lightning Lane Passes. However, the evening crowds for the night show are very crowded.
Having a Lightning Lane Pass to cut ahead isn’t a bad idea. Admittedly, the cost can be considerable, but this pass allows you to make the most of your stay on site. Instead of doing two days of attractions in Paris, for example, we did both parks in a single day, even though we were a family of 14! Good organization was key.
From what we could see, the maximum waiting time was generally two hours for the most popular attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, and 45 and 60 minutes for the others. That’s why it’s so important to plan your list of attractions carefully on the big day, agree with your group and check the official Disneyland Paris app for real-time waiting times for all attractions.
At the end of the day, some attractions see their waiting times decrease, during the parades. If you don’t mind missing a show, this is a good time to take advantage of your favourite attraction.
Opening times vary according to the season. So, it’s important to check the official calendar before each visit.
Low season: 10 am-6 pm. High season: 10 am-10 pm. On special days: extended opening until midnight.
Also, special events are organized depending on the season, so we advise you to plan your stay and try to attend them. It would be a shame to miss them. In 2024, you can take part in:
In our experience, it’s important to arrive early before the park opens. On our visit, with 14 people, it took some serious planning! Two groups came directly from the center of Paris (Arc de Triomphe) and chose to book an early morning cab. The journey took 1 hour. So we had to leave by 7:30 am.
Once we arrived, we were among the first in line to enter the park at 9 a.m. Guests staying at Disney hotels had already been in the parks since 8:30 a.m.
For our part, we booked the Marriott Bonvoy group’s Moxy Paris Val d’Europe, located 5-10 minutes from the RER and 7 minutes from the Marne-la-Vallée exit. Allow 25 minutes to reach the park entrance. The hotel was very friendly and modern, with a nice atmosphere: a playroom for children and relaxation areas for adults on the first floor. Breakfast was included with our Titanium status.
Here is the report from Marie-Claude and her family who were also there:
You’ll need at least two to three days to get the most out of both parks. This will allow you to discover the main attractions and participate in the shows without rushing, especially if you don’t have a queue-cutting ticket.
For our part, we managed to do all the attractions in both parks in one day, starting at opening time and leaving at closing time after the fireworks. It was a big day, with the little ones sleeping in our arms as we left, but we didn’t feel like we were running. And some of our group who hadn’t used their ticket for one attraction were able to pass it on to others in the group for a second round.
We chose the attractions over the shows and Character Encounters. We had to make a choice as we only had one day planned. It’s possible to do it all in one day or to take it more slowly over two or three days—it’s all a question of organization.
Here’s the Disney Parks map:
Disneyland Paris offers several ticket options for the Disney Parks. And the good news is that children under 3 get in free. Children aged 3 to 11 receive a discount.
The Liberty Ticket, non-refundable and non-cancellable, valid for one year:
The 1-day or 2 to 4-day dated ticket(multi-park: tickets for two or more days include both parks) can be obtained at the following rates depending on the season:
Five types of periods are determined according to frequentation: Eco, low, medium, regular, and peak.
The multi-park ticket is similar to the Park Hopper ticket: it gives you the flexibility to move from one park to another at any time during the day. You could, for example, do the Disneyland attractions in the morning, then go to the Studios in the afternoon and return to the other park in the evening for its fireworks display.
These tickets offer better value for money if you plan to visit both parks, especially if you’re staying for several days.
Until September 1, 2024, groups of 4 to 6 people can benefit from special rates on Disney Tribe Tickets, with a €20 per person savings. These tickets can be cancelled up to three days before your visit.
Some annual passes also allow year-round access to both parks, thanks to the Disneyland Pass program. Sales are open to all, but availability is limited. You can choose between three types of pass:
To enjoy the magic of Disney, many people decide to stay at a Disney hotel. Costs are often higher than at nearby hotels. However, they offer many advantages:
For your convenience, your stay can be changed or cancelled up to seven days before arrival, excluding insurance. You can pay in instalments (1 to 5 payments) with an initial deposit of 15%, made no later than 10 days before your arrival via the DisneylandParis.com website or 11 days before via the reservation center. Finally, if you find a lower price within seven days of booking, Disneyland will refund the difference and give you a €20 gift card to use in the stores or restaurants.
Under normal circumstances, a processing fee of up to €29 is payable. Currently, these are free.
Finally, Disney+ subscribers get a 20% discount on their stay at a hotel (excluding Disneyland Hotel) + Disney Parks tickets for arrivals up to and including September 30, 2024. This special offer is only available on the DisneylandParis.com website.
A Transport* + Hotel + Ticket package is available for visitors to England. Several modes of transport are available: Eurostar, Eurotunnel, flight, PO Ferries or car service. Find out more at DisneyHolidays.co.uk.
During your visit to Disney Parks, you can take advantage of Special Rates on Park Tickets only.
You’ll have access to both Disney Parks and can cancel your ticket up to three days in advance. Depending on the season, tickets cost between €36 and €56/d for an adult and €33 to €52/d for a child. The offer is available for two-day tickets only.
A military card will be requested as proof of military service on the day of your visit. The French government, the United Kingdom or the United States may have issued it.
Disney has considered people with reduced mobility, making certain attractions, shows, parades, restaurants, and stores accessible so that everyone can enjoy the magic of Disney. This clientele can take advantage of Park Tickets, available at a 25% discount on the purchase of a one—to three-day ticket for one or two parks.
Tickets for the disabled and their companions are only available at the ticket office on the day of the event. A priority card is issued upon presentation of official proof. Should the park be at full capacity on that day, you will still be guaranteed access to Disney Park.
You can obtain your priority card one month in advance by applying online. Once on site, it gives you priority access to attractions, shows, parades, character encounters, restaurant checkouts and stores.
To obtain this card, you will need to prove your disability by presenting one of the following documents:
Some attractions are adapted for the visually impaired and blind, with guides accessible via the AudioSpot mobile app. Theatres are equipped with magnetic induction mouths to maximize the sound in the shows.
Guide and assistance dogs are welcome to accompany their owners. Blue Booklet guides have been produced for disabled visitors. We recommend that you refer to them before you come, as they are full of tips to make your visit easier.
For people with a long-standing medical condition (ALD30), a special card is available on presentation of proof of entitlement in French or English at the ticket office on the day. This card allows easier access to attractions.
To personalize your Disney Parks experience in Paris, it’s hard not to succumb to the paid options. They offer:
For all holders of Undated Tickets, Annual Pass or Disneyland Pass, you will need to register on the disneylandparis.com website to choose your visit. You will then receive your confirmation of access to the Disney Parks. This step is essential because of the strong influences that can occur throughout the year.
You’ll need your ticket number and the date you wish to visit on the dedicated booking platform, as bookings are only available a few months in advance. Children under 3 do not need to be registered.
Here are a few tips to help you save money:
As we all know, a trip to the Disney parks is an expense that can quickly become insane. Expect to spend at least €380 per person per day.
For a two-day stay at Disneyland Paris, without options or photopass, calculate :
Exclusive VIP treatment and access are offered with a personal VIP guide for groups of up to 10 people. During a 6-hour guided tour, you’ll discover the secrets of the Disney Parks, including the Dragon’s Tavern in Sleeping Beauty Castle. You’ll have privileged access to attractions, characters and reserved areas for shows. Reservations can be made by calling 01 60 30 50 60.
After our 14-person trip (ages 7 to 73) to Disney Parks in May 2024, we ranked the attractions with our family. Here are the ones that came out on top in terms of no-nonsense thrills for the kids/teens in our group:
However, for adults, the ranking is as follows:
Looking for thrills and chills? Here’s our ranking!
Once you’ve had your thrills, let’s move on to the must-see attractions for families with children:
But there’s also It’s a Small World, a classic with a catchy soundtrack that gets stuck in your head, and Mickey’s PhilharMagic!
In our opinion, the must-see family attraction at Walt Disney Studios Park is Ratatouille: Rémy’s Totally Toasted Adventure. It is a wild ride through the kitchens of Paris, with its very special scenery and atmosphere.
Kids will love Toy Story Playland’s Slinky Dog ZigZag Spin. If you’re not afraid of gagging, you’ll love the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop with its controlled descent or, even more impressive, the Crush’s Coaster, which hurtles down the East Australian sea currents.
The Cars Road Trip was our least favorite attraction, even if it does showcase an example of Disney’s cinematic prowess.
New shows at Disneyland Park in 2024 include Un Million de Couleurs (A Million Splashes of Colour) during the day and the Disney Electrical Sky Parade after dark. Between fireworks and drones, you’re sure to be impressed by the latter’s beauty.
You can watch The Lion King and the Rhythms of the Earth, the Disney Stars parade through the streets from the top of their colourful floats, or take in the second night show, Disney Illumination.
Access to Disney cinema and entertainment, attend one of the famous indoor musical shows with :
You can meet the Marvel characters in the aisles of the Marvel Avengers Campus to see their performance:
In Paris, you can use the Disney Premier Access system (known to North Americans as FastPass) to reduce your waiting time at certain popular attractions. This option is charged.
Another free and very practical option is Single Rider queues. If you’re alone or ready to be separated from your group, you’ll be asked to be separated from your group to get through faster by filling empty seats at attractions.
Before you come, download the official Disneyland Paris app for :
For restaurants, you need to book well in advance. In our case, they were not bookable even two weeks in advance. So, when we got there, we used the app to order takeaway food. Picnic areas can be found in some parts of the park.
Conversion fees can add up quickly when travelling internationally, increasing the total cost of your expenses. Banks usually apply these charges when you make transactions in a foreign currency, but they can be avoided!
We recommend that you use these credit cards without conversion fees:
Some attractions have size restrictions, including :
These restrictions must be taken seriously for your family’s safety. Several checks can be made between your entry and before you enter the attraction’s carriage to verify your child’s size.
Disneyland Paris offers 43 restaurants with a variety of themes and cuisines from around the world. These include:
For a quick meal between two attractions:
For restaurants offering table service, online reservations are recommended as early as two months before your visit. You can also choose from :
If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you can take advantage of the Disneylicieux offer by booking in advance: Disney offers a meal package when you book, including one, two or three meals a day with breakfast, half board or full board.
Three meal options are currently available:
You can then book your table via the app.
Breakfasts are not included in Disney hotels, but are if you book in one of the Disney Clubs (Empire State Club, Compass Club and Golden Forest Club) or Partner Hotels (B&B Hotel, Explorers Fabulous Hotels Group).
Staying in a Disney hotel offers benefits such as early entry to the park with Extra Magic Hours. You’ll have access to certain attractions before they officially open to the general public. For total immersion in the Disney universe, here are a few options:
Currently, an offer is available from €125 per person / night at Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch for 3 days/2 nights from September 22 to October 3, Sunday to Thursday. You’ll be nestled in a bungalow in the middle of the forest. Please note, however, that it’s a 15-minute drive to the ranch, and there’s no shuttle service.
For Marriott Bonvoy members who wish to use their points to book their stay, several options are available within reasonable distance of the park:
We’ve tried the last two, and you can read our reports:
Several hotels and apar’thotels are also available close to Disney. We recommend the following:
By selecting a Disney Partner hotel, you can purchase a Partner Hotel + Park Tickets package. For example, you’ll benefit from free parking at the parks and a shopping service that allows you to collect your purchases directly from your hotel.
Not all hotels offer a loyalty program. To save money, you’ll have to use a different strategy: redeeming bonus points for statement credit.
Some credit cards allow you to redeem your points for savings on hotel accommodation. American Express, for example, offers its own travel agency, American Express Voyages, where you can then use your Membership Rewards points.
Another option is the Rocketmiles rewards portal, where you can earn Aeroplan points and many other types of points when booking hotel stays, even at Disney hotels!
For more tips on how to save on your non-loyalty-affiliated accommodation, I recommend our article on independent hotels.
Disney is a partner of Center Parcs Villages Nature Paris, a nature park just a 15-minute drive from the Disney Parks that offers a lush, family-friendly setting and a wide range of activities:
We have found several accommodations on the Booking. com website in Chessy that may be suitable for you, here is our selection in Val d’Europe:
For visitors already in France and wishing to travel to Paris, the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) option with the SNCF is the fastest, most environmentally friendly and easiest, given the distances involved:
The second option is to take the bus with Flixbus, which is cheaper but takes longer. For example, a trip from Paris to Bordeaux costs around €16 (7-hour journey).
Domestic flights are available from major cities such as Marseille and Nice with Transavia. Fares start at €30, but are generally around €100 and can rise during periods of high demand.
Finally, there’s the choice of a car. But tolls and the cost of petrol can make this option more expensive, even though it offers greater freedom. For example, a Paris-Bordeaux journey costs around €125 (5 h 37).
Disneyland Paris offers a magical experience unique in Europe. With the right planning, you can take full advantage of all the wonders the Disney parks have to offer. Don’t forget to book your tickets, dates and restaurants in advance, and above all, let yourself be swept away by the magic of Disney!
Disney parks, known for their magic and iconic attractions, are not limited to Disneyland Paris. Other parks around the world offer unique experiences.
Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan combine local culture with Disney magic. Hong Kong Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland in China offer innovative attractions tailored to Asian audiences. California’s Disneyland, the original park, continues to evolve while preserving its historic heritage, as does Florida’s renowned Walt Disney World.
Every Disney park in the world promises an unforgettable adventure filled with magic and surprises for visitors of all ages.
We recommend a budget of around €500-700 per person (750 to 1100 CAD), including tickets for two days and entry to two parks, accommodation, meals, and souvenirs. Of course, don’t forget to use your points to lighten the bill.
We can mention two attractions that are very intense and different. Beware of sensitive souls with these two attractions:
To avoid long queues at attractions, we used the Disney Premier Access paid option, which can be used once for popular attractions, and we highly recommend it to make the most of your stay at Disneyland Paris.
Ideally, to fully enjoy the attractions, choose off-peak periods outside school vacations: January to mid-March, June, or November, and give priority to weekdays. You can also check the number of visitors. Online calendars are available for this purpose. Check the weather and Disney’s show events to get the most out of your visit.
At Disneyland Paris, you’ll find three thrill rides that are well worth the detour: Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and the Mine Train, while at Walt Disney Studios Park, you’ll be gripped with fear by the Tower of Terror, RC Racer and Crush’s Coaster.
Due to the creation of the World of Frozen zone, Studio 1 and Les Tapis Volants in the Toon Studio are closed. At Disneyland Park, the Pirate Galleon attraction is closed.
Savings are here:
