Disneyland Paris – Tips And Hints For A Joyful Trip To Magic

Disneyland Paris – magic is real! :) As soon as you step inside the park, you find yourself in a fantasy land with an atmosphere of a fairy tale.

Visiting Disneyland for the first time might be a little bit overwhelming and stressful. There are two parks, both are big and always loaded with visitors. Whether you are travelling with kids, friends, family or alone, getting these tips and hints will help you plan a cheerful journey to magic.

Location and Transportation:

Disneyland Paris is not actually in Paris. It’s located in Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy. You can get there by train, car or shuttle bus.

By train:

The RER A regional train from Paris, Gare de Lyon to the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station. The trip takes approximately 40 min. The cost is 8€/per person. The Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station is only 3 minutes walking from the Disney parks. It’s very convenient, but keep in mind, it might be crowded.

By car:

You can travel by car or take an Uber. The last one will cost around 60€ one way from Paris city centre. As for parking, if you are staying at one of the Disneyland hotels, parking is included. If you do not book your stay there, then fees are 25€ at the hotel parking and 30€ at the Disney Car Park. 

By transfer:

There are a few types of shuttles – from the airport and the city. For example, if you plan to go for a day trip from Paris, you can use “One Day Ticket with Shuttle”. On our first visit, we got this package. It included: 1 Day Ticket – 2 Disney® Parks + round trip transfers by bus from Paris city centre. However, we missed our returning shuttle as the Illumination show and fireworks, usually between 22:30 and 23:00, while the shuttle left much earlier.

Disneyland Paris has two parks – Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Park.

Both parks are fun, with lots of exciting rides and live shows. I would recommend spending at least two days visiting Disneyland. Then you can spend one day in each park without rushing around. However, if you are limited to only one day, then the Disneyland Paris App will help you save time and energy. Though big thrills and popular rollercoasters are always crowded, so depends on the season, you might still spend at least 30-50 minutes in a queue.

Good to know:

• Working hours:

Walt Disney Studios Park from 10:00 to 20:00;
Disneyland Park from 10:00 to 23:00.

• Structure:

The Park is divided into 5 themed parts: Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland. It’s easier to visit them one by one, check the rides, and mark the places you would like to visit later if they are overcrowded. Of course, you can get a paper map at the park, but I find it much more convenient to use the Disneyland Paris App. It shows you the structure of the parks and the actual waiting time on the rides and information about shows, FASTPASS, and restaurants.

• Tickets:

In general, Disneyland is not cheap, but you can’t really put a price on memories, happiness and positive emotions. Having said that, there are different tickets and packages to choose from. So I would recommend investing some time to check them out if you want to save some money.

This time, we stayed for three days and got a Multiday Experience+ Ticket – 2 Days. It included access to both parks for 2 days + priority viewing area to watch the Disney Illuminations show (only on the first day of visit) + FASTPASS for 3 attractions (only on the second day) + extra discounts for food & shops. This offer is available in select countries. Check Disneyland Paris official website to choose one which suits you.

FASTPASS alone do not give access to the parks.

• Food & Drinks:

Would you like to have a Royal breakfast with Disney Princesses or dinner with rough pirates? If yes, then don’t forget to book a table at the Disney themed restaurants. There are also plenty of small cafeterias for recharging your energy on the go. Furthermore, it is allowed to bring your own snacks and water in plastic bottles inside the parks.

• Magical Fireworks:

The Sleeping Beauty Castle turns into the shining display for a spectacular illumination show and magical fireworks in the evening. It was an extraordinarily emotional experience for me with goosebumps and childlike happiness from the first chords of well-known music from my favourite cartoons! :)

The show starts at closing time at around 22:30 and lasts for nearly 30 minutes. The programme might change, so check it out for your visiting day.

• Hotels:

There are several Disneyland themed hotels around the parks. They have some important benefits like free parking, FASTPASS, magic time access, a priority watching area for the illumination shows, etc.

However, we stayed in a marvellous little town just outside of Disneyland, called Marne la Vallée. It is a beautiful place to stay not only for Disneyland, which is by the way only 5 min drive or one train stop away but also for an amazing shopping experience. The town is a home for a huge Shopping & Outlet Village – La Vallée Village, with over 1000 outlet boutiques of world-famous fashion brands. It is a shopping paradise for all fashionistas! :)

Disneyland Paris, magic is real there!

Finally, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me -> GET IN TOUCH

Be healthy and wealthy! :)