Maybe you are planning to fulfill your child’s (or your own) dream of Disneyland and are heading to Paris; this guide will be helpful for planning your visit to the amusement park.
The idea of taking a child to Paris Disneyland seems very simple up until the moment you start preparing.
Tickets, two parks, lines, accommodation, transport, food, weather—so many questions arise that at some point you catch yourself thinking: “Maybe it’s better not to complicate things and just buy a bus tour with a Disneyland stopover?”
But I think a tour is not easy either, and you will only see what you manage in the limited excursion time. Without information about lines, you’ll be face-to-face with queues or other issues if you go unprepared. Better to know everything in advance and get ready; and once you’ve done that—why buy a tour from someone when most of the work is already done?
We visited Disneyland Park as a large family with almost adult children. It was my daughter’s 18th birthday present. Both adults and teenagers were thrilled with the visit. So if you hear that this park is only for little kids – it’s not true. My mother and I also felt like children again, which is worth it even at a respectable age.
That’s why I decided to put together a real guide for those planning a trip to Disneyland in Paris. No illusions, no rose-colored glasses, but with great memories of this place.
I recommend reading: Paris – what to see in three days
How many parks are there in Disneyland
The first thing that’s important to understand, even at home:
Paris Disneyland is not just one park.
There are two, and they are very different.
- Disneyland Park — this is the heart of childhood fairy tales and magic. The very same pink castle, Main Street, parades, classic Disney rides. I don’t know how it works, but even adults, once inside, stop being serious people for a few minutes.
- Walt Disney Studios Park — has a completely different character. Here it’s more about movies, special effects, Marvel, Pixar, Avengers Campus. The atmosphere is more dynamic, the attractions are more “adult”.
If this is your first visit, especially with children, I highly advise:
plan a separate day for each park.
Yes, there is a ticket for two parks in one day. Yes, theoretically, it’s possible. But in practice, with children—it’s running, fatigue, and a constant sense that you’re still missing something. And even for adults—personally, I wouldn’t mix these parks in one day.
When is the best time to go to avoid two-hour lines
We were at Disneyland at the beginning of May (for my daughter’s birthday). It was very warm during the day and pleasantly mild in the evening, though a light rain started as the park closed. But the main thing—there were few people, compared to the summer season.
From personal experience and observation, I can say: the best time to visit is spring or early autumn.
April, May, September, early October—an ideal balance between weather, prices, and number of visitors.
On the other hand, I would categorically not recommend (although of course it’s easier to travel around this time, especially from Germany and other countries where skipping school is strictly monitored):
- summer holidays
- Christmas and Easter holidays
- any school holidays in France
- a specific nuance not often mentioned: Wednesday
French primary school pupils often have Wednesdays off (known as “pas d’école le mercredi”). That’s why there are noticeably more children in the park on that day. Because kids are taken to extracurricular activities, including Disneyland, on Wednesdays.
As for holidays, for example, on Halloween or Christmas the park hosts unique shows and parades. But tourists who went to Disneyland at this time warn: “during the holidays, tickets are much more expensive and not all attractions are operating.”
Tickets: where to buy and how not to overpay
We bought tickets in advance on the official Disneyland Paris website.
This is important for two reasons: firstly, it’s cheaper, secondly—on popular dates there may simply be no tickets at the box office.
For our trip, we chose a one park one day ticket. And it was absolutely the right decision. Even in a whole day, it’s impossible to see everything, and trying to means you’ll only spoil your mood. So, as I said before, my grown-up child dreamed of seeing Disneyland Park to fulfill a childhood dream. That’s why we bought tickets only there (without visiting the second park Walt Disney Studios Park).
Buy tickets online in advance
The official Disneyland website often offers discounts for early booking: online tickets are often cheaper than buying on site. Make sure you buy dated tickets for a specific day (these are usually cheaper than guest tickets). In any case, it’s better to buy tickets online in advance to guarantee entry (especially on hot summer or holiday days).
There is no need to print anything. At the entrance they just scan the barcode from your phone (always bring a power bank just in case).
Choosing tickets
There are several options to choose from.
- One-day ticket for 1 park (1 Day/1 Park) lets you choose either Disneyland Park or only Walt Disney Studios Park.
- One-day ticket for 2 parks (1 Day/2 Parks, “Park Hopper”) allows you to visit both parks in a day.
- For more savings you can buy multi-day tickets (2, 3, 4 or 5 days) allowing entry to both parks.
Carefully check whether there are special offers or family packages.
Disneyland Paris app—an absolute must
I highly recommend downloading the official app before the trip and getting familiar with how it works. It will help you get your bearings on site, shows the park map, real-time queue times for rides, and also lets you buy Premier Access.
We used it all the time:
- checked where the lines were shorter
- navigated the map
- checked which attractions were open
It was thanks to the app that we noticed that after 2:00 pm people started gradually leaving, and there was a chance to ride popular attractions with a shorter line.
About queues: be prepared for them
Lines are part of the Disneyland experience. There’s no getting away from them.
First, you’ll have your backpack checked at the entrance—there are security gates that scan all personal items. Plus, you can bring food and water with you! — this is important.
Then—a line to enter the park.
Tip: right after opening, head to the most popular and farthest attractions from the entrance.
For example, the app said a 90-minute wait for Peter Pan, but in reality, we stood almost two hours. You just have to accept this. On the other hand, Pirates of the Caribbean was so good, we rode it twice.
Priority access (skip the line)
The free FastPass system at Disneyland no longer exists. Instead, there is a paid service Disney Premier Access—paid priority entry to attractions. It doesn’t guarantee instant access, but lets you “cut the line”.
There are two options to buy: Premier Access One—purchased for a specific attraction and gives you a time slot—and Premier Access Ultimate—unlimited access to all available attractions without fixed timings. Tickets can be bought through the official mobile app or added to your “hotel+parks” package.
Honestly: it’s expensive. From around 100 euros per person.
If you’re not going at peak season, use the app, and arrive early in the morning. Then, you can easily manage without Premier Access.
Food at Disneyland: more expensive than it seems, but there’s a solution
We had a solid breakfast before visiting Disneyland. We also brought our own sandwiches, but honestly—it barely lasted us the whole day. But we were all adults (or almost adults) and managed somehow. With small children this won’t work, so be sure to prepare for it!
Be sure to bring an empty water bottle. There are drinking fountains on the grounds where you can refill for free.
If you do go to a café, choose a kids’ menu. For around 9 euros, a child gets a burger or chicken, fries, drink and ice cream—which is a real lifesaver.
There can be lines at the restaurants too. So if you definitely plan to visit one—book your restaurants in advance. This can be done through the Disneyland app.
What to bring and how to save money
Arrive in comfortable clothes and shoes. You’ll have to walk a lot and stand in lines. Don’t forget a cap or sunglasses on sunny days.
I highly recommend taking to the park for a full-day visit:
- backpack (kids can also wear a small one with pre-bought accessories)
- snacks
- bottle of water and something to refill it
- power bank—if your phone dies from a million photos, it’ll be inconvenient
- warm sweater for the evening
- raincoat in case of rain
- sun hat and sunscreen in sunny weather—you’ll spend almost all your time outside and in summer it’s essential
Tip: buy accessories in advance—Mickey Mouse ears, a princess dress, glow or bubble wands, etc. In the park they are very expensive—on AliExpress it all costs many times less. Just don’t show them to the child too early, let it be a surprise.
Where to stay: near the park or in Paris
We stayed in Paris, near Montmartre, and it took about an hour to get there.
This was convenient and economical.
But if your main goal is Disneyland for a few days, I would advise staying closer to the park. There are hotels, apartments, and a few RER stops from the entrance. Then move to Paris later for the rest of your excursions.
A ticket on the RER costs about 2.5 euros one way, it’s a direct line, hard to get lost.
Hotels on the territory of Disney park
Hotels on the territory of Disney park offer the full experience: rooms styled in Disney themes, themed locations nearby, animation, etc. If you book a Disney hotel directly on their website, you automatically receive tickets to Disneyland park. These tickets come with a significant discount, making it the number one reason to book a Disney hotel.
Additional advantages include:
- Direct proximity to both parks (sometimes you just leave the hotel to find yourself in Disneyland Park).
- Early entry (Extra Magic Time) and attraction priority for Disney Hotel guests.
- The ability to return and rest at any time of day (convenient with kids).
- Special offers: “hotel+park” package prices are often discounted, there’s often a restaurant with Disney animation, kids’ entertainment at the hotel, etc.
- Free special shuttle to the parks (e.g., from the airport).
- Disney themes throughout the resort and in your hotel room. Possibility to meet Disney characters at the hotel.
- Restaurants and bars in the hotel. Also, the chance to book Disney restaurant tables ahead of the general public. Access to the Disney meal plan.
For your information: Disneyland Hotel (5*) is located right above the entrance to Disneyland Park—here “the fairy tale never ends” (literally).
Hotels near Paris Disneyland
Hotels in Val d’Europe are located a few minutes (one stop) by RER train from Disneyland. This can be a cheaper option with a wide selection of hotels and apartments. The RER ticket to the park costs 2.2 euros per person one way.
Thus, if the budget is limited, consider mid-range hotel prices on the metro/railway line.
- ibis Marne La Vallée Val d’Europe – budget classic from the Ibis chain: excellent location near the metro, rooms are small but clean. Breakfast is basic but filling.
- Residhome Val d’Europe – more spacious rooms, as you can often get a suite for the same price as a standard room. Great breakfasts. Excellent location right by the metro, 1 stop from Disneyland.
- Moxy—has a stylish restaurant with a good breakfast. Very convenient hotel location, near the RER metro station, and 1 stop from Disneyland.
- At Grand Magic there is a pool and free shuttle to the parks.
- At Dream Castle there is a pool, free shuttle, and it is styled like a castle, most reminiscent of Disney.
Tip: For those staying in the Val de Europe area, there is a café Mucette – salon de the Patisserie. A new, spotlessly clean and beautiful café with delicious food.
How to get to Disneyland
It’s easy to get to Disneyland by various means of transport:
- RER and metro: the most popular way is by red line RER A train from Paris to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station. The exit is right at the park’s entrance. The journey from the center (for example, from Châtelet–Les Halles or Charles de Gaulle – Étoile) takes about 30–40 minutes. Trains run every ~15 minutes. A single ticket costs about 2.5 euros. You can pass through turnstiles by showing a ticket printed from a machine or uploaded to your mobile wallet.
- Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): from Terminal 2 station at the airport, a high-speed express (TGV/TER) goes directly to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. The trip takes about 10–15 minutes. This is convenient if you arrive at this airport and head straight to a hotel near the park.
- Car: Disneyland is 30 km from Paris (on the A4 highway). Navigation will show exactly where to exit. There are covered and open parking areas (paid, €25–€35 per day depending on the season).
- Car rental is also an interesting option if you plan to travel around the region after Disneyland. Look for rental cars directly from the airport—it’s more convenient and often cheaper.
- Magic Shuttle: shuttle from Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. You can book tickets for a special bus connecting Disneyland with Paris’s big airports. Price from 24 euros for adults, 12 for children. Schedules and tickets are on the official Magic Shuttle website.
We flew from Warsaw to Paris-Beauvais airport—it was a cheap but not the most convenient option (we got to Warsaw by car). There are now direct WizzAir flights from Chisinau at very attractive prices, which is much more comfortable. Then we spent the night in Paris and went to Disneyland for one day.
The night show — the highlight of the day
The night show with fireworks by the castle—this is the moment worth staying until the end for.
What time are the fireworks at Paris Disneyland?
The fireworks show “Tales of Magic” always starts just before park closing. So its time varies depending on the season (check the app for times).
- Summer: Usually about 22:40 (a new French law requires fireworks to finish before 23:00).
- Winter/mid-season: at 20:00 or 21:00
Note: After the show everyone heads for the RER—thousands do this, it’s normal and organized.
The best spots for watching the fireworks at Disneyland
Be prepared for huge crowds, which can slightly spoil the impression. But the fireworks and magical sky projections are clearly visible from the park’s Main Street.
So, to avoid spending extra money on Disney Premier Access and still have a good spot to watch the fireworks, ‘here’ are a few spots where you’ll have a good view.
- Stand behind any of the flower beds in front of the railings. That way, nobody will be in front of you and you won’t be crushed by the crowd. But these places go like hotcakes—you need to take your spot at least an hour before the show starts.
- A good lifehack—you can bring a chair or mat into the park to sit down. Many tourists do this, staking out places near the flower beds.
- A good spot to view the fireworks is near the shops on Main Street. The projection will be a bit to the side, but there may be fewer people in front of you.
- Put a small child on dad’s shoulders—that way, they’ll definitely see as much as possible.
I advise coming at least 40–60 minutes early to grab a spot. Or buy Premier Access for the evening fireworks show. This is a paid option giving you seats in the front rows. Yes, it’s expensive but convenient, especially if you have small children or sore legs.
Is it worth going to Disneyland with a tour
Many agencies offer “Paris + Disneyland” but almost always it’s just one day in the park and not even a full day.
That’s not much. At Disneyland, the night show ends very late—around 22:00. And tours don’t wait.
So, if you have a choice, I would organize the trip on my own rather than agree to this format.
But if you must choose: go with a tour or not go at all—it’s better to go!
Summary
Disneyland is not a “walk in the park.” Often it’s fatigue, queues, a lot of emotions and a heap of impressions.
But if you:
- choose the right date
- buy tickets in advance
- don’t try to do everything in a day
It will be one of the best memories for you and your child.
Useful articles and links:
- Lisbon with children
- Prague with children
- The most beautiful villages in France – a road trip through Burgundy
- Guide to the districts of Paris – where to book accommodation for tourists
Car rental – Rentalcars.com
Travel medical insurance – online at HotlineFinance
Hotel and apartment bookings – Booking.com
