The complete guide to Disneyland Paris

How to get to Disneyland Paris

Credit: Disneyland Paris

Located just 32km (20 miles) outside of Paris, the Disney Parks are easily accessible by plane, train and car.

From Paris Charles de Gaulle or Paris Orly airport, you can hop straight onto the Magical Shuttle bus that offers regular transfers to the Disney Parks and Hotels. The journey takes an hour and you can add this as an optional extra when booking your trip. You can find the Magical Shuttle timetable here.

For those travelling by train, the closest train station is Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy, just a two-minute walk from the park gates. The station serves both the high-speed TGV trains and the RER A line from Paris.

Driving is also easy, whether you’re renting a car from one of Paris’ airports or bringing your own via ferry or the Eurotunnel (the drive from Calais takes three hours). Parking is free if you’re staying at a Disney Hotel or a Partner Hotel booked via Disneyland Paris.

The best places to stay at Disneyland Paris

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Your hotel is half of your holiday, so finding the right base for your trip is equally part of the fun.

Stay at one of the Disney Hotels and you’ll be just minutes away from all the action. Fresh for January 2024, the newly refurbished five-star Disneyland Hotel is the ultimate Disney dreamland. Or be immersed in a movie world at one of the themed hotels; superhero life awaits at the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, while the woodland surroundings of Disney Sequoia Lodge are like something out of Bambi.

If you want to reconnect with nature, make a beeline for the Les Villages Nature Paris. This incredible eco-village is just a 15-minute drive from the Disney Parks and is centred around a beautiful lake. The complex has five immersive worlds to explore including a farm, a beach and even a water park!

Alternatively, there are a number of nearby hotels partnered with Disney that offer a free shuttle service to the park. For a taste of Parisian culture, there’s the four-star Hôtel l'Elysée Val d'Europe or if modern and spacious apartments would suit the family better, try Staycity Aparthotels Paris. Prefer the simple life? The B&B Hôtel is just the ticket.

The best time to visit Disneyland Paris

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There’s never a bad time to visit Disneyland Paris, with shows, rides and parades open and running year-round.

Summer is generally the busiest time to visit, but has the perks of extended opening hours, more scheduled shows and special seasonal events, plus the weather tends to be warmer.

The shoulder seasons of spring and autumn are great for a quieter experience (as are mid-week visits), though it’s worth noting that there may be fewer scheduled events during this time, and the weather may not play ball.

For even more magic, visit at Christmas when Disneyland Paris transforms into a winter wonderland – you’ll need to book your trip well in advance to catch Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade or the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.

When booking your trip, make a note of both European and UK school holidays dates as these will be busier with families who are restricted to travelling during half term, Easter and summer holidays.

The best tickets for Disneyland Paris

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Your Disneyland Paris holiday can be as flexible as you like, with tickets to suit all budgets.

Disney Park tickets

A standard Disney Park ticket is your classic choice, with tickets ranging from one to four days, for one or both the parks.

The one-day, one-park ticket is your cheapest option – prices start at £50.87 for an adult – but a two-park, multi-day ticket is generally considered the best value. The price per day decreases the more days you stay.

Keep in mind that it’s more expensive to purchase your ticket on the same day as your visit, so always book online in advance. Disneyland Paris’ booking calendar handily shows prices for the full year, with peak and off-peak pricing available, so you can plan your trip according to your budget.

Hotel and tickets package

Go for the full Disney experience with a hotel and ticket package, which includes tickets to both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park on every day of your visit, a high-quality hotel close to the parks, and free parking.

There are packages to suit both families and couples, plus extra benefits such as early park entry and character encounters at your Disney Hotel.

Disneyland Pass

A yearly Disneyland Pass is a great option if you fancy visiting the parks on your own terms as it offers unlimited access throughout the year.

Prices range from €289 for a Bronze Pass, which grants access to both Disney Parks for 170 days of the year, to €699 for a 365-day Gold Pass. Passes include extras like free parking, discounts in Disneyland Paris shops and restaurants, and offers on the Annual PhotoPass.

To use your Disneyland Pass, you need to download the Disneyland Paris app and register for your dates in advance.

Extras

Added extras such as speedy ride access and guaranteed show entry can take your Disneyland Paris experience to the next level.

Little ones will love the Character Dining add-ons, where you can share a meal with some of Disney’s most-loved characters, and you can capture all the magical memories with a Disney PhotoPass. For the ultimate Disney experience, consider the VIP Tour.

Dining at Disneyland Paris

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There are dining options to please even the fussiest of eaters at Disneyland Paris.

While you can always bring your own food with you, the parks have plenty of options from quick-service cafes and snack bars to table service and buffet-style restaurants. For a meal you won’t forget, check out one of the themed restaurants where you can pull up a seat in Hollywood or Agrabah. Book your restaurant table in advance via the Disneyland Paris app.

You can enjoy all your favourite flavours and Disney-themed snacks at the Disney Hotels’ restaurants and cafes, too. Vegetarian and vegan options feature on all the restaurant menus, as well as a range of homemade and organic choices.

Alternatively, have all your meals sorted and budgeted for before your visit with a meal plan. Exclusive to Disney Hotel guests, meal plans range from breakfast to full board and allow the freedom to eat anywhere in the Disney Parks, Hotels and the Disney Village.

The best rides and attractions at Disneyland Paris

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Whether you’re after full-on thrills or fantasy fun, there’s entertainment for all ages across the two parks.

Disneyland Park has all the classics, including Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and fan favourites such as the adrenaline-pumping Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain, the beloved It’s A Small World boat ride and the twisty Indiana Jones™ and the Temple of Peril coaster. Don’t miss the runaway train on Big Thunder Mountain.

Big hitters at Walt Disney Studios Park include the Tower of Terror, Crush’s Coaster and the 4D Ratatouille: The Adventure ride. The Cars ROAD TRIP is a must for racing enthusiasts, and you can even catch a musical performance with Mickey at Production Courtyard.

Use the interactive map on the Disneyland Paris app for directions and live waiting times on rides.

Accessibility at Disneyland Paris

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There’s a magical experience for all to enjoy at Disneyland Paris thanks to their MagicALL approach to accessibility, providing support to anyone with disabilities and special needs.

For practical information on how to prepare for your visit ahead of time, the Accessibility Guide includes everything from transport services to access procedures on rides, as well as information on requesting a Priority Card. The Blue Booklet is an additional resource with useful information for any guests with Autism Spectrum Disorder or cognitive impairment.

While at Disneyland Paris, the parks’ accessibility maps and cast members can help answer any questions you may have on attractions, restaurants and shops. There’s also an Easy Access Trail to ensure a safe and easy route around the parks.