Is Disneyland Paris Worth the Visit?
Are you considering a visit to Disneyland Paris but aren’t sure if it’s worth it? You are not alone.
We also questioned if the time and money was worth it. Disneyland Paris (originally Euro Disneyland Park) is not cheap for a family of four (or more). And you only have so many days to spend in Paris – do you really want to use that time exploring an American-owned theme park?
Let me start by sharing that we are not huge Disney fans.
Sure, we like Disney movies and we enjoy visiting the occasional theme park. But I would not put us in the Mickey Mouse ears category.
However, we did visit Tokyo Disneyland (read about that experience here) and Disney World in Orlando (more on that here). So this trip to Paris Disneyland means we have now visited a Disney park in Asia, North America and Europe.
Because of this, I think we have a good perspective about the differences between these Disney parks. Which Disney park do we like best? Scroll down to the FAQ section to find out.
Table of contents – Disneyland Paris
This is a very long post. Skip ahead using the links above.
Disney Parks at Paris Disneyland
Disneyland Paris consists of two parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.
It also has a shopping area called Disney Village. The two Paris Disney parks are located beside each other and do not require additional transportation – it’s only a few minutes’ walk between the two parks.
Disneyland Park is the main theme park. This is where you will find the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (pictured above).
Walt Disney Studios Park (Parc Walt Disney Studios) is a smaller park with less rides. The main attractions here are Ratatouille: The Adventure (this was being renovated during our visit), Crush’s Coaster, Tower of Terror, Marvel Avengers Campus, and Toy Story Playland.
Both parks offer parades and shows throughout the day, including the Disney Stars on Parade and Disney Illuminations night time spectacular.
View the Disneyland Paris map here.
Rain, Rain, go away…!
Our morning at Paris Disneyland began with a torrential downpour. The kind of heavy rain that forces you to run for cover.
Fortunately, the big rain drops didn’t last long. However, the cold and damp weather did stick around for a few hours.
We stayed at a Disney hotel (more on that below). Disney hotel guests have the opportunity to enter Disney parks one hour before the general public. I believe they call it Extra Magic Time. It’s a nice perk that allows you to visit rides that typically has long wait times.
We failed to take advantage of this perk at Disney World in Orlando (read about that here).
Unfortunately, because of the heavy rain that morning, our early entry advantage was basically wiped away. We didn’t want to stand in the pouring rain, so we ended up taking shelter in the Disney stores instead.
We purchased the 2-park pass with Disney Premier Access.
Disney Premier Access pass allows you to skip the line on most rides. Because we had Premier Access, we didn’t feel the need to rush to certain rides and attractions. So, we weren’t too upset that the rain got in the way of our early entry.
If you add Premier Access, we recommend you get the 2-park pass. The parks are located directly beside each other, so it makes sense to do both.
Read more about Disney Premier Access in the Disneyland FAQ section below (keep scrolling!).
Below, we will share a photo journey from our day at Disneyland Paris.
We also respond to frequently asked questions and we share some Disneyland Paris tips. Scroll to the bottom of the post.
Also, we stayed at a Disney hotel. We share photos and thoughts about this Disney hotel experience after the photos.
Keep scrolling down. There’s a lot of photos!
We begin our day at Walt Disney Studios Park
Almost every Disney blog post will advise you to strategize your day. Have a plan. Don’t just wing it. Look at the maps, decide what you want to do, then build your plan of attack.
We know this. We’ve been to Disney parks before.
But, did we take this advice and come with a plan? Nope.
Now, before you shake your head in disbelief, we have an explanation for this lack of planning. Because we have Disney Premier Access, we can skip the line for most rides. Therefore, we didn’t feel the need to rush from one ride to the next.
This pass allows you to go with the flow, which is our preference.
We started at Walt Disney Studios Park because it’s the closest gate entrance to Disney Village. It was still raining, so this decision was based purely on where we could find shelter.
The entrance to Walt Disney Studios is inside a large building with shops and a restaurant; the perfect place to wait out the rain. After the rain subsided, we made our way to Toy Story Playland.
Taking shelter inside Walt Disney Studios while we wait for the rain to stop.
Why did we start at Toy Story Playland, you ask?
Well, the short answer is because we made the mistake of thinking that Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin is the same as Slinky Dog Dash (roller coaster at Disney World Orlando).
We did not get to ride the Slinky Dog Coaster in Orlando because the wait time was too long during our visit. It was a disappointment for our boys.
So, when we saw “Slinky Dog” on the map, we raced to this ride thinking it was a same coaster as Orlando.
Spoiler – the Slinky Dog Spin at Paris Disneyland is most certainly is NOT a coaster. It’s a little kids ride that slowly goes around in circles. Whomp, whomp!
If you’re wondering why a couple of these photos at Toy Story Playland have blue skies and sunshine, it’s because we came back an hour later after the rain stopped.
After spending about 45 minutes at Toy Story Playland, we made our way to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This is Nicole and Braydon’s favourite ride at Walt Disney Studios Park.
We won’t give away the magic of this ride. You should do it. It’s really fun.
Avengers Campus
We used our Disney Premier Access to skip the line for the Avengers Assemble: Flight Force. This indoor coaster is super fast.
It’s a Disney PhotoPass attraction, which means you can purchase photos of yourself on the ride. Our family photo was hilarious! Braydon’s mouth was wide open and his eyes were popping out of his head. While Connor’s eyes were closed tight and he was holding his breath with puffy checks.
Above is the coaster on Avengers Assemble Flight Force. It’s really fast!
Entrance to Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure. This is another fun ride. I won’t give away any spoilers but kids of all ages will like it. It’s fun for adults, too.
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
We made our way to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure after Avengers Campus. However, we learned that the Ratatouille ride at Disneyland Paris is closed for renovations.
This was a disappointment because it’s one of the rides that feels most suited for Paris Disneyland.
The Ratatouille section has a row of vendors that serve a variety of food and drinks.
Most of the items are small handheld treats, including sweet and savory crepes, warm pretzels, fried potatoes, raclette on a bun, roasted chestnuts, and wine, of course.
The Ratatouille area has the most Parisian vibe inside the two Disney parks.
I enjoyed this ham and raclette cheese bun. The raclette cheese is heated under a lamp and the melted part is scraped off and put on top of the ham. It’s a delicious snack. I believe it was 6 Euros.
I also enjoyed these tasty fried potatoes with bacon and cheese. The perfect snack between rides.
Connor is happy with a fluffy Belgian waffle.
Entrance to Crush’s Coaster. This is one of the more popular rides at Walt Disney Studios Park. It typically has a long wait time. We used the Premier Access to skip the queue.
The best rides at Walt Disney Studios Park
So, what did we think about the rides at Walt Disney Studios Park?
- Nicole’s favourite ride – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Cameron’s favourite ride – Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
- Braydon’s favourite ride – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Connor’s favourite ride – Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
Most unexpectedly good rides at Walt Disney Studios?
There are two rides that we agree were unexpectedly good – (1) Cars ROAD TRIP (specifically, Cars-tastrophe Canyon), and (2) RC Racer in Toy Story Playland.
See Disneyland Paris map of Walt Disney Studios rides here.
Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris
After spending about 3 hours at Walt Disney Studios Park, we exited the park and walked 5 minutes to the entrance of Disneyland Park.
Having visited Disney World Orlando last year, our boys were expecting to board a bus or train to visit the next Disney Park. They were pleasantly surprised when they learned it was just across the Fantasia Gardens. It’s very convenient.
Although, Disney could also combine the two parks because they’re so close together.
Family selfie in front of the entrance to Disneyland Park.
The pink building is the Disneyland Hotel (expected to open in 2024), located at the entrance to Disneyland Paris.
Disneyland Paris celebrates its 30th Anniversary in 2023.
Walking down Main Street with the Disney Castle in the distance is a fun experience. Dare I say, magical? The architecture is similar to Main Street in Disney World Orlando.
Notice the Halloween decorations.
Fun fact – all 3 of our Disney experiences have happened during the Halloween season. Both Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris happened in late September because we were attending Japan and France for the Rugby World Cup.
Related post – 100 Photos of Tokyo Disneyland
We arrived at Main Street USA just in time for the afternoon Disney parade.
Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris
We’re told the Disneyland Castle was recently renovated to coincide with Paris Disneyland’s 30th anniversary celebrations. It’s a nice looking castle.
Fortunately, the sun came out in the afternoon, so we got a few family selfies in front of the castle.
You’ll notice a theme with these Disneyland photos. We experienced strange weather, from torrential rain to wind to sunshine to clouds and rain again.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain was temporarily closed multiple times throughout the day. We noticed it re-opened when we were on the opposite side of the park. By the time we got back there, it had broken down again.
Unfortunately, we did not get to ride this one. Disappointing, but it happens.
The Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain coaster shoots out of this tube. It’s really fast and looks super fun.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
This classic Star Wars ride is similar to the one found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland.
It’s a 3D ride where you sit in a motion simulator that moves to the on-screen video.
It’s a Small World – Disneyland Paris
You can’t got to Disneyland and not ride on ‘It’s a Small World”, right?
In the event that you have no idea what I’m talking about, It’s a Small World is a water-based boat ride located in the Fantasyland area at various Disney theme parks around the world, including Disneyland Park in California, Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Outside view of the It’s a Small World ride in Fantasyland.
Food at Disneyland Park
There are several restaurants inside Disneyland Paris. If you’re looking for table service or all-you-can-eat buffet dining, you must make reservations ahead of time. It’s wise to book reservations before you enter the parks on the Disneyland Paris APP.
Otherwise, there are several quick service restaurants with counter service. Once you get your food, you cross your fingers and hope you can find seating. These restaurants get very busy during peak hours.
Disney likes to get creative with its food options, which can be hit or miss. Our boys are not adventurous eaters, so they’re often unimpressed by the food creativity.
Here’s a list of restaurants and dining at Disneyland Paris.
We ate lunch at Au Chalet de la Marionnette.
It’s Bavarian chalet-style eatery from the world of Pinocchio.
Above is the Bratwurst sausage. Below is the Hot Pretzel Sandwich with Pork Loin, Red Cabbage and Mustard sauce.
Here’s a pdf version of the menu.
Pirates of the Caribbean and Adventure Island
We love the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. While the atmosphere and details are similar to Tokyo and Orlando, we like the Paris ride best.
I’m not sure what it is specifically, but we all agree that this one is better than the others.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland
Big Thunder is our favourite ride at Disney parks. The ride at Disneyland Paris is the best out of the three that we’ve been on.
What makes this one different is that the tracks actually go under the water before spinning around the island. It also feels like a longer track than the others.
For the best views of Disneyland Paris, visit the Queen of Hearts Castle in the Alice in Wonderland area. You can see almost every attraction inside Disneyland Park from here.
It’s a good place to see what rides or attractions you missed.
Here’s a short video of the views from the castle.
To the left of the Old Mill (above) is the entrance to The Little Circus Train and the Storybook Land Canal Boats. We did not visit this area because it’s meant for younger children.
We caught some nice late afternoon light on Cinderella’s Castle.
Autopia
Before we left Disneyland, we tried one last time for Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. Sadly, it was still temporarily closed.
So, we decided to drive a car at Autopia instead. Our Premier Access allowed us to skip the queue, so it was an easy decision.
The best rides at Paris Disneyland Park
So, what did we think about the rides at Disneyland Park?
- Nicole’s favourite ride – Pirates of the Caribbean
- Cameron’s favourite ride – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Braydon’s favourite ride – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Connor’s favourite ride – Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Most unexpectedly good rides at Disneyland Park Paris?
The two rides that we agree were unexpectedly good – (1) Peter Pan’s Flight, and (2) Phantom Manor
See the Paris Disneyland map for Disneyland rides here.
Disney Village at Paris Disneyland
Disney Village is an entertainment quarter that’s located just a few steps from the Disney Parks. It has several with themed restaurants, bars, shops, a giant balloon, and a cinema.
We decided it made more sense to eat dinner here, instead of inside Disneyland Park. Our feet were tired. I believe we did 25,000+ steps that day.
We did not stick around for the evening fireworks display. We’ve seen them before and our boys were not interested in the fireworks.
That was just fine with us because we preferred to sit on a patio drinking beer while watching the World Cup Rugby match. That’s the main reason purpose of our France trip.
Related – Our experience at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France
Mickey Mouse pepperoni pizza at the Sports Bar in Disney Village.
Staying at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe
We decided to stay at a Disney hotel because of its close proximity to the Disney Parks and Disney Village. Being able to walk from our hotel to the park is very convenient.
We stayed at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe.
Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy train station is located at Disney Village, so it’s an easy walk from the train station to your Disney hotel. We took the train from Nice to Paris earlier that day. The train disembarks are Gare de Lyon in Paris. From there, you take the RER A train to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy. It’s the train last station on this line.
We chose Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe for it’s price point.
It’s a 2 star hotel that’s located furthest from the park entrance (it’s about a 15 minute walk). It’s also the cheapest Disney hotel within walking distance to Disney Village.
Our plan was to spend 2 nights at this hotel. This gives us one full day to spend at Disneyland Paris.
The room is small but comfortable. Realistically, we only slept in the room. The rest of our time was spent exploring Disneyland and Disney Village.
A nice feature at this hotel is the free coffee vending machine. Rather than coffee pots in your room, guests can order coffee, cappuccino, latte, hot chocolate, etc. from a vending machine. You tap your room key and the machine processes your hot beverage for free.
I prefer this system versus the nasty coffee pots and stale coffee packs in hotel rooms. Why don’t more hotels do this? I would imagine it’s more cost effective.
Disney Hotel Santa Fe is much bigger than we expected.
It has several buildings with multiple floors. The hotel buildings are connected with paths that are meant to look like roads, to keep with the Disney Cars movie theme.
The hotel has a buffet-style restaurant, La Cantina, and a bar, The Rio Grande. We did not dine at either restaurant. Instead, we visited the Starbucks at the hotel and grabbed a few items to-go.
The hotel is a little dated, but it meets the expectation of a 2 star hotel.
It did not compare to Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando or Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay at Tokyo Disneyland.
Search for more Disneyland Paris hotel accommodations here.
Benefits of staying at a Disney Hotel
- Close proximity to the parks. Walking distance to the park entrance means you can come and go as you please.
- Extra Magic Time. Disney hotel guests can enter the parks one hour before they open to the general public.
- Themed atmosphere. This hotel has the Cars movie theme. Our boys used to love these movies, but it’s been years since they’ve watched them. We didn’t really care about the themed hotel, but it’s a big hit with little ones.
- Free transportation to the parks. Disney hotels provide shuttle services to the parks, which means you won’t have to worry about parking or navigating public transportation.
- Concierge Services. Disney hotels have dedicated concierge services to assist with reservations, park information, and questions about your stay.
- Guaranteed Park Access. Staying at a Disney hotel can provide peace of mind by ensuring you have access to the parks even during busy periods, because the number of available park tickets can be limited.
Check Disney Hotel Santa Fe rates and availability here.
Below are photos of Disney Hotel Santa Fe.
Shuttle transportation to Disney parks
There is a nice paved path that connects Disney Hotel Santa Fe to Disney Village, and the park entrances. It’s about a 15 minute walk. We preferred to walk to and from the parks.
However, if you’re travelling with young kids or you have mobility issues, the hotel offers free shuttle service from the hotel to the parks.
As you can see in the above photo, this is a popular option. The shuttles fill up quickly, especially in the morning, so be prepared to wait. Or walk the pathway, instead.
There is a fast train from Disneyland to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
Initially, we intended to take this high-speed train to the airport (Terminal 2). It only takes 12 minutes from CDG Airport to Disneyland Paris, which is crazy fast and convenient.
However, we could not get a straight answer about the train schedule. Hotel concierge said it comes every hour, but could not confirm when.
The price of the high speed train from Disneyland Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport in between 19 to 47 Euros per person. Because there are four of us, we decided to take an Uber instead. The total cost was about 100 Euros, which is cheaper than the train. The drive is approx. 45 minutes.
Paris Disneyland Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time visiting a Disney park, there are few things you need to know before you go.
We had a lot of questions when planning our trip to Disneyland Paris, so we thought we’d answer them here. We will continue to update this section, so please leave us a comment if you have questions.
How much does a ticket to Disneyland Paris cost?
The price of tickets to Disneyland Paris will vary depending on factors like the time of year, the type of ticket, and the age of the visitor. Book you tickets online here.
Here’s the Paris Disneyland ticket price at the time of our visit (September 2023):
- Adult (12 years and older): Approx. 56-105 Euro per person
- Child (3-11 years): Approx. 52-97 Euros
- Children under 3: Free admission
Keep in mind that these prices are subject to change. It’s always a good idea to check the official Disneyland Paris website for current rates. Additionally, they often offer discounts for multi-day passes. If you plan on visiting both parks or staying for a few days, you will save money with a multi-day pass.
What does Disneyland Paris ticket include?
A standard Disneyland Paris ticket includes admission to the park(s) (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park), access to rides, attractions, shows, parades and character meet-and-greets, fireworks in the evening, access to restaurants, and more.
However, your Disney Paris ticket does NOT include food and beverages (this is an additional cost), souvenirs, or Premier Access to skip the lines on certain rides.
Can you do Paris Disneyland in one day?
Even though Disneyland Paris is smaller than Orlando’s Disney World, it’s very ambitious to do every ride and attraction in one visit. Especially during peak seasons.
There’s just too much to see and do. And, remember, you will spend a lot of time waiting in lines (if you do not purchase the Premier Access).
Is Disneyland Paris less crowded than the other Disney parks?
We read several posts from people claiming that Disneyland Paris is less crowded then Disney World Resort in Orlando and/or Disneyland California.
I don’t think this is an accurate statement. At least, it might be misleading.
Let’s be clear – Paris Disneyland is very busy. We visited on a rainy Friday in late September and it was very crowded.
While Disney Paris might technically attract less people than Orlando or California, don’t make the mistake of thinking it will not be crowded. It will be.
Now, it’s important to remind you that we opted for the Premier Access pass, so we did not wait in long lines. It’s difficult for us to compare our experience in Tokyo and Orlando because we did not have this type of pass during those visits.
Related post – We made a few Disney World mistakes. Here’s what NOT to do.
What Disney park do we like best?
Now that we’ve visited Tokyo Disneyland, Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland Paris, the most common question we get is – which Disney Park is your favourite and why?
It’s hard to answer, because we visited each park when our boys were different ages.
For example, we visited Tokyo Disneyland when our boys just turned 8 and 6 years old. At the time, they preferred themed rides and Disney characters. Now, while visiting Paris, they don’t care about the characters and themes – they prefer the coasters and “big kid” rides.
If you’re only spending one day at one Disney Park, I would say Tokyo (but that was our first ever Disney park, so that probably influences my decision).
However, if you plan to spend multiple days visiting Disney parks, then Orlando is the better option.
Is Disneyland Paris worth it for adults?
If you’re a big Disney fan than I would say that Disneyland Paris is worth it for adults. You can easily spend a full day visiting both parks.
However, if you don’t have kids and you’re not a die hard Disney fan, I would think that there are more interesting things to do in Paris. But that’s my personal opinion.
What does Disney Premier Access Pass get you?
Disney Premier Access Pass is an additional fee that gives you the opportunity to skip the regular lines on most popular Disneyland attractions. This upgrade is designed to reduce wait times so you can enjoy more rides and attractions.
There are two options – Disney Premier Access Ultimate and/or Disney Premier Access One. More info on both options here.
The Premier Access Ultimate allows you to join the fast lane one time on each available attraction, whenever you want, without time slots. You can buy in advance or on the day of park entry.
For the Premier Access One, you get to join the fast lane on the next available time slot. You must buy on the day, in the Disney Parks, using the Disneyland Paris app.
If you’re planning to purchase the Disney Premier Access Ultimate pass it’s best to get a 2 park ticket to get the most value.
What is the price of Disney Premier Access pass?
The cost of Disney Premier Access Pass varies depending on the time of year, park demand, and the specific attractions included.
The price is approximately 90 EUR to 190 EUR per person per day.
Keep in mind, prices can fluctuate. It’s a good idea to check the official Disneyland Paris website for the most current rates.
How do I use the Disney Premier Access pass?
Once you buy Premier Access, your Disneyland Paris phone app shows a QR code(s).
Scan your QR code(s) at the entrance of each attraction and head to the Premier Access queue. More info here.
It’s basically the updated replacement for the FastPass system, which no longer exists.
Is Paris Disneyland Premier Access worth it?
This is difficult to answer, without understanding your personal situation.
If you (and/or your group) want to do all of the rides at both parks in one day, then I would say that it is worth it. It’s not cheap, but it does enhance your Disney experience.
The most we waited in line was about 10 minutes. It was really nice to skip the lines on popular rides. Some wait times were 60+ minutes, so this was a huge time saver.
That said, if you plan to spend multiple days at Paris Disneyland, and you’re comfortable waiting in regular lines, then it might make sense to skip this additional expense. Or consider the Premier Access One option for specific rides.
See the list of Disneyland Paris Premier Access rides here.
Is it worth staying at Disneyland Paris?
Yes, we think it is worth staying at Disney hotels when visiting Disney Parks. It’s very convenient to be so close the parks and it’s nice to have early access.
Staying at Disney hotels is more expensive though. If you plan to spend 3+ nights at Disney, that will start to add up.
Related posts from Disney hotels we have stayed at:
Which hotels are inside Disneyland Paris?
Below are Disneyland Paris hotels within walking distance to Disney Village and park entrances.
You can purchase Disneyland Paris packages that include hotel accommodations and park tickets.
There are also several hotels located close to Disneyland park
Some of these hotels have pools, which is a nice feature if you’re planning to spend a few nights.
What is the cheapest month to do Disneyland Paris?
The cheapest months to visit Disneyland Paris are mid-January to early March.
Disneyland Paris low season is from November 1 to March 31. Except for Halloween.
That said, Disneyland Paris at Christmas is one of the busiest periods.
How expensive is the food at Disneyland Paris?
There are restaurants for all budgets at Disneyland Paris. However, expect to spend amusement park prices (above average).
The cheapest way to eat inside the parks is to visit a food truck or small vendor severing specialty food, like pizza, sandwiches, pretzels, crepes and ice cream.
Table service restaurants, like Captain Jack’s Restaurant des Pirates, have a 3-course set menu (45 Euros) and a la carte options (18 to 40 Euros per meal). See menu here.
There are several counter service restaurants, like Cowboy Cookout Barbecue and Toad Hall Restaurant, have items that range from 12 to 18 Euros per meal.
The all-you-can-eat buffets, like Restaurant Agrabah Café and Plaza Gardens Restaurant, range from 40-50 Euros adults and 20-30 Euros kids.
Disney Village has a variety of restaurants, pubs and cafes, including McDonalds, Five Guys, Rainforest Cafe, Annette’s Diner, The Steakhouse, Billy Bob’s Country Western Saloon, The Royal Pub and New York Style Sandwiches.
Here are a few Paris Disneyland tips to maximize your time:
- Arrive early. Get to the park before it opens. You will have the advantage of being first in line for the more popular rides that have long wait times.
- Stay at a Disneyland Paris hotel. Not only will you get early access to the park, you don’t have to worry about transportation or parking because you’re within walking distance to the park entrance. We stayed at Disney Santa Fe hotel.
- Use the official Disney App. Check real-time ride wait times and show schedules, make restaurant reservations, etc. You need this app.
- Prioritize the rides you want to visit. Make a short list of your must-ride attractions and head to these rides first thing in the morning.
- Take advantage of Disney Premier Access. Use Premier Access on popular rides to skip the regular lines and maximize your ride count. This will save you valuable time.
- Rider Switch. If you’re visiting with small children who don’t want to go on certain rides, use the Rider Switch service. This allows one adult to wait with the child while the other adult rides. Then you switch without waiting in line again.
- Avoid Peak Seasons. If possible, visit during the off-season or on weekdays when the parks tend to be less crowded.
More Disneyland Paris tips for beginners:
- Bring water and snacks. Guests are allowed to bring outside food and nonalcoholic beverages into the parks for self-consumption, provided they are not in glass containers.
- Dress for the weather. Wear layers. The weather will likely change throughout the day.
- No bags, if possible. You can’t bring you bag on rides, which can create unnecessary stress. Wear clothes with pockets and pack light.
- Make restaurant reservations well in advance. If you’d like to dine at a Disney restaurant, you must make reservations using the Disney app. Restaurants WILL be full, so don’t wait, make your reservations weeks in advance, if possible.
- We ate dinner at Disney Village instead (located 5 minute walk outside the parks). We did not have reservations and it was fine.
- Be Flexible. Sometimes rides will temporarily close for maintenance. This happened multiple times during our visit. Go with the flow and be flexible with your schedule. You might not get to do all of the rides you planned, and that’s okay!
- Slow down and enjoy the moment. At Disney, the lines are part of the experience. Listen to the music and enjoy the little details that make Disneyland special.
Visiting all the rides in one day can be a challenging, especially during peak seasons. Prioritize your favourite Disneyland Paris attractions and be flexible if/when plans change. Slow down and enjoy the atmosphere. There’s more to Disney parks than the rides.
Related – We made a few Disney World mistakes. Here’s what NOT to do.
Is Paris Disneyland worth the money?
Back to the original question. Is the price worth the experience?
I would say yes, based on our experience.
Visiting Disneyland Paris is expensive. It’s not a cheap family vacation. I had to take a deep breathe when I looked at credit card expenses related to this Paris Disneyland trip.
However, we feel like it was worth it. We enjoyed our visit and have fun memories that will last forever (hopefully!). And, remember, we are not big Disney fans.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our boys will only be this age once. We are glad we made this trip happen because it’s unlikely we will return to Disneyland Paris. Never say never, but it’s unlikely.
The Disney Premium Access Pass made our day.
It’s fantastic to skip the lines on almost every ride. Yes, this feature is an expensive addition, but it gave us a stress-free experience. That’s really what we paid for.
Should you visit Disneyland Paris on your first Paris vacation?
I’m not sure. If this is your first time visiting Paris and you have limited time, it might not be worth it.
We’ve visited Paris multiple times, so we did not feel the need to re-visit the popular Paris tourist attractions.
Ultimately, whether or not it’s worth visiting Disneyland is unique to you and your travel goals.
Read more blog posts from Europe:
Read more Disney blog posts here:
Have you visited Disneyland Paris?
Share your Disney tips in the comments below. Our readers thank you!
