Get top tips for planning the perfect trip to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, France, about 32 kilometres (20 miles) east of the city centre of Paris. It consists of two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels and a shopping, dining and entertainment complex.
Disneyland Paris opened in 1992 with a single theme park, Disneyland Park, which was joined by a second park, Disney Adventure World (then known as Walt Disney Studios Park), in 2002.
Disneyland Paris (also known for a time as “Euro Disney”) has a range of unique rides and attractions, making it a worth addition to a Disney park bucket list. Here are some tips to help with planning Disneyland Paris.
How many days to spend at Disneyland Paris
One huge question is always how much time to dedicate to spend at the parks. While you can definitely spend a few days visiting both parks and enjoying all of the rides and experiences, you can also compress the visit into a single day – which is what we did.
It was extremely hectic and exhausting and we did not ride everything or see everything, however it fit in best with our overall trip plan. We did purchase the Disney Premier Access Ultimate and were able to skip the queue to all rides we wanted to experience across both parks, which helped immeasurably.
When planning a Disneyland Paris trip, consider what your main goals are, how many days you want to spend at the parks vs other places in Europe, and if you’re willing and able to spend money on Premier Access Passes to help with your trip if you choose to only go for one day like we did.
Unique Attractions: Disneyland Park
Phantom Manor: A much darker, gothic take on the traditional Haunted Mansions in other Disney parks.
Big Thunder Mountain: This is a must-ride for us in every country as they are all unique. The Paris mine train is built entirely on its own island in the middle of a lake.
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth: A colorful hedge maze inspired by Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. The labyrinth features interactive elements, funny mirrors, and the Queen of Hearts’ castle in the centre.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain: While this ride does exist in other Disney parks, the French version is housed inside a striking steampunk-themed copper dome and features an outdoor launch.
Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant: The iconic Sleeping Beauty castle is uniquely home to La Tanière du Dragon, a 89-foot-long, breathing animatronic dragon resting in a cavern underneath. The dragon periodically wakes up, growls, and puffs smoke. The dragon extremely cool and not to be missed.
Les Mystères du Nautilus: A walk-through attraction in Discoveryland that lets you explore Captain Nemo’s submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The walkthrough features a fun encounter with a giant squid.
Adventure Isle: This is a great activity for when the lines are too long and the kids want to run around. Adventure Isle is an island filled with suspension bridges, hidden caves, smuggler wrecks, and secret pathways.
Unique Attractions: Disney Adventure World
Avengers Assemble: Flight Force: Located at the Avengers Campus, this is a high-speed thrill coaster featuring an on-board appearances by F.R.I.D.A.Y., Iron Man and Captain Marvel. The ride features several inversions.
Ratatouille: The Adventure: A trackless 4D dark ride that shrinks you to the size of a rat and rushes you through Gusteau’s restaurant. This ride has since been replicated in Epcot so it’s not unique to Disneyland Paris anymore, however as this ride is actually set in and located in France, I think it still kind of counts.
Crush’s Coaster: An extremely popular spinning roller coaster themed to Finding Nemo. We absolutely loved this ride.
Cars Quatre Roues Rallye: A family-friendly spinning whip-style ride set in Radiator Springs that is identical in format to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree at Disney California Adventure.
Unique experiences at Disneyland Paris
You can purchase a glass of sparking Champagne in Disneyland Paris for €20, the only Disney park where you can sip bubbly in front of the castle. The Champagne can be purchased from a cart that is located at the top right end of Main Street.
The “Fast Pass” System: Disney Premier Access
Disney Premier Access allows you to bypass regular standby lines via a dedicated fast lane. There are two variants available on the official app:
Disney Premier Access One: Buy a one-time pass for a single attraction. It gives you a 1-hour time slot and costs between €5 and €20 per person, per ride, depending on demand.
Disney Premier Access Ultimate: A comprehensive all-in pass covering all eligible attractions (roughly 15–18 total across both parks). It requires no time slots—you simply walk up whenever you like. Prices range from €90 to €190+ per person, per day, depending on how busy the park is.
How to get to Disneyland Paris
Deciding if you will stay in Paris and commute to the park or stay onsite is one of the biggest decisions you will have to make when planning Disneyland Paris.
If you decide to stay in Paris and commute, it is actually extremely easy to get to and from the park.
The fastest and easiest way to get to Disneyland Paris from the center of Paris is by taking the RER A regional train directly to the park gates. This is what we did and it was easy and also got us there before the shuttle bus.
By Train (RER A): Take the RER A line (red line) heading east. You can catch it from major central stations like Châtelet–Les Halles, Gare de Lyon, or Nation. Get off at the very last stop: Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. Look for the Mickey Mouse ear symbol on the platform screens to ensure your specific train goes all the way to the park. Travel time is about 40 to 45 minutes and cost is about €5 each way, making it a lot cheaper than the shuttle. The station is a 2-minute walk from the park entrance.
By Shuttle Bus: The Disneyland Paris Express coach service picks up passengers from several central Paris locations (including Gare du Nord, Opéra, and the Eiffel Tower) departing Paris around 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM and leaving Disneyland at 9:00 PM. The cost varies, and you can bundle it with park tickets. The shuttle bus drops passengers off at the coach parking area, which is about a 10-minute walk via moving walkway to the gates.
Where to stay at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris offers seven official themed accommodations ranging from budget to ultra-luxury:
Disneyland Hotel (5-star): The iconic hotel features Victorian castle architecture, princess-themed rooms, fine dining like the Royal Banquet, and has a direct private entrance into the park. It is the most conveniently located hotel for accessing the park and also the most expensive.
Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel (4-star): This hotel celebrates Marvel superhero art with modern a New York styling and is a 10-minute walk through Disney Village.
Disney Newport Bay Club (4-star): A 1900s New England maritime mansion style, it is a 15-minute walk around Lake Disney.
Disney Sequoia Lodge (3-star): A cozy, rustic national park-style lodge, which is a 15-minute walk to the park and located near Lake Disney.
Disney Hotel Cheyenne (2/3-star):Budget-friendly hotel themed around the Wild West and a 15 to 20-minute walk along the river path.
Hotel Santa Fe (2/3-star): Budget-friendly property themed around the Pixar’s Cars. This is the furthest on-site hotel, taking a 20-minute walk along the river.
Disney Davy Crockett Ranch: Woodland self-catering cabins offsite. Requires a 15-minute drive (no shuttle service provided).
Get more information about Disneyland Paris hotels.
Get more information on visiting Disneyland Paris.
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