Often stated as the most beautiful Disney resort, Disneyland Paris is a smaller but equally as brilliant version of its US cousins. Made up of Disneyland Park Paris, Walt Disney Studios and Disney Village, the resort of Disneyland Paris is walkable and easy to navigate but that doesn’t mean it requires any less planning. With any Disney trip, prior preparation is essential to make sure your visit runs smoothly and every Disney resort has its unique elements and quirks. We’ve put together this planning guide to help you prepare for your first Disneyland Paris trip and make things easy for you!
When to visit Disneyland Paris?
As the park is located in France, weather can be unpredictable so whilst you will experience better weather conditions in the Spring and Summer, the weather cannot be guaranteed and rain showers are a likely event. Meanwhile, the Winter months will be cold so wrapping up warm is essential!
The park is busiest around school holidays and special events so it is worthwhile checking out European school breaks to identify the busiest periods. Disneyland Paris is also busy around Halloween, Christmas and New Year with events taking place such as Disney’s Halloween Festival, Disney’s Enchanted Christmas and Disneyland Paris New Year’s Eve Party.
How long to visit Disneyland Paris for?
Disneyland Paris can be experienced in a short time period. Disneyland Park Paris is the largest of all the castle parks but can easily be covered in a day or two depending on what you wish to do. Walt Disney Studios, on the other hand, is a half-day park at best and can be easily squeezed into a morning. Whilst Disneyland Paris is an incredible resort and worthwhile to visit, if you are travelling a long way, it would be beneficial to tag this Disney visit onto a Paris or France trip rather than making it a sole Disney trip. We would recommend a three-day visit to make the most out of your trip.
How to get to Disneyland Paris?
If you are travelling internationally, the easiest way to get to Disneyland Paris is to fly into Charles de Gaulle or Orly. The Magical Shuttle is an extra charge that needs to be booked in advance but will take you from the airport straight to Disneyland Paris with stops at the parks and the Disneyland Paris hotels.
If you are adding Disneyland Paris onto a vacation in France, the resort has a train station, Marne-la-Vallee, just opposite the main entrance with direct routes to Paris and other French/European cities including the Eurostar from London. Alternatively, car hire is also an option with free parking at Disney parks and hotels if you are staying on-site.
Where to stay at Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Paris Resort has eight on-site hotels which include Extra Magic Time and offer character breakfasts or meet and greets. All hotels except for Davy Crockett Ranch and Les Villages Nature are within walking distance of the parks and all hotels offer a shuttle bus service with the exception of Disneyland Hotel which is located at the entrance to Disneyland Park.
Partner hotels are also a great option providing a themed experience at a cheaper cost. The partner hotels are great quality just with slightly less attention to detail than Disney hotels and all hotels offer a shuttle service.
There is also the option to stay off-site which is cheaper than either a Disney or partner hotel but also further away. Disneyland Paris is located within a secluded little bubble so off-site hotels usually involve a train journey to visit the parks.
Which tickets are best at Disneyland Paris?
If you don’t purchase a package which includes tickets, you can purchase either online in advance or at the gate. For a one-day visit, you can purchase either a dated or flex ticket with dated tickets having a cheaper price tag but flex tickets offering flexibility for one year. There is also the option to get a one or two park ticket. For more than one day, multi-day tickets are flexible for one year and offer access to both parks. It is worth noting that if you are visiting for more than three days or visiting twice in a year then upgrading to an annual pass will save you money and offer select discounts.
Disneyland Paris is an incredible Disney resort to visit and one where you will be awe-struck by the beauty of the parks. We hope this guide has helped you plan your first trip to Disneyland Paris! The booking process and planning is straight-forward, the only difficulty is deciding which of the fabulous hotels you want to stay in!
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