Essential Disneyland Paris Tips and Tricks

Are you looking for the ULTIMATE Disneyland Paris tips and tricks to help you plan the perfect trip? Well no look further! In this guide we will talk you through everything you need to know from getting the best price, where to stay, the best itinerary and more. 

Important Note: This post may contain affiliate links which means if you click through and make a purchase I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you!

Disneyland Paris Booking Tips

Perhaps the first challenge when looking at taking a Disneyland Paris vacation is the booking process.

Booking Disneyland Paris can seem quite a daunting thing, especially if it is your first time as there is so much choice in terms of where to stay, whether to buy meal plans and more. In this section of the guide we round up everything you should be doing before you go including all our Disneyland Paris booking tips.

Check different country websites for booking Disneyland Paris

When you are looking at booking Disneyland Paris, our first Disneyland Paris hack to help save you money is to check all the different Disneyland Paris country specific website. 

Many people don’t know that Disneyland Paris has country specific sites i.e. a UK site, an Irish Site a Dutch site etc. And here’s the hack – these websites all have different pricing. 

Therefore it is worth checking the German, US, UK etc websites before booking to make sure you get the best price for your trip. 

Want to book direct with Disneyland Paris? Click here for our affiliate link! We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you that helps with the overheads of  running this site

Should I book a separately or book a package trip to Disneyland Paris?

The next question people have in relation to Disneyland Paris is whether or not they should book a package or separately. 

And I have to say this really depends on you and your comfort level in booking travel. One of the advantages of booking a package is that if there is an issue or cancellation all parts of your travel are connected and can be easier to reorganise etc.

There are companies that specialise in booking Disneyland Paris breaks but be sure that any companies you use have all appropriate levels of cover should anything happen to the company etc. 

I have always found better deals by booking my accommodation and travel separately. However it is worth reminding people that if you book accommodation separately you will need to also book Disneyland Paris tickets with date specific tickets to avoid disappointment at the gate. 

To book a package we recommend booking tickets and hotels with Disneyland Paris 
Or using a company like Magic Breaks which can arrange transport, accommodation and tickets. Click here for our affiliate link. 

If you only require tickets we often find attractiontix to have some of the best value tickets: 

What is the Best Time to Visit Disneyland Paris 

I always say there is never a bad time to visit Disney whether you are travelling to Disney in Hong Kong, Disneyland in Tokyo or Paris. However there are probably better times the others.

There are a few things to consider when looking at the best time to travel which include:

• Public Holidays and School Vacations (both UK and European School Holidays) – as crowds and queue times swell during these times. 
• Operational Hours – Usually the Disneyland Paris operational hours in Winter are shorter than summer. This can affect how much you can get done in a day. 
• Weekend Vs Weekdays – Weekdays are usually much quieter than weekends at Disneyland Paris. 
• Weather – you could travel off-peak in Winter however you could get more rain at Disneyland Paris at these times. In heavy rain they can shut attractions so it is worth considering.
• Special Events – Disneyland Paris runs special events at Christmas, Halloween,Pride and New Year (note: there are no parties for Halloween or New Years Eve in 2023). These days can be exceptionally busy in the park. 
• Decorations and Seasons – Disneyland Paris has some amazing seasonal events such as Christmas and Halloween. For these periods the park has special decorations and special character meet and greets which include rare characters and characters dressed in seasonal attire. This is very popular and will make the park very busy.

Before you are travelling to Disneyland Paris I would check the crowd calendar online and choosing your dates based on predicted crowd levels if you can. One of the best ways to assess the pros and cons of your dates is to check out our month specific guides for your intended travel dates to decide whether or not it is a good time for you. 

• Visiting Disneyland Paris in January Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in February Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in March Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in April Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in May Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in June Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in July Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in August Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in September Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in October Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in November Tips
• Visiting Disneyland Paris in December Tips

Note: if you do look at the above and see you are traveling at peak times and this is the only time you can go, don’t be put off. I have traveled over the Christmas period and summer holidays which are some of the busiest times to visit and still had an amazing time.

Best Way to Get to Disneyland Paris

My personal favorite way to get to Disneyland Paris from the UK, and when we were visiting from our old home town of Amsterdam was in a car. 

We like having our own vehicle so we could go to the supermarket if needed and it means we are never restricted on luggage. For info on supermarkets near Disneyland Paris check out this post.

We like to get the Eurotunnel instead of the ferry – you can read why here. 

For more tips about driving to Disneyland Paris check out this post. 

However if you don’t want to drive and are coming from London then the Eurostar is convenient, even though direct trains from London to Disneyland Paris no longer exist. 

If you are arriving into Gare du Nord be sure to check out our post on the best ways to get from Gare Du Nord to Disneyland Paris. 

And finally, if you decide to fly then then check out our post on how to get from Charles De Gaulle to Disneyland Paris here. 

Where to stay for Disneyland Paris – On Site VS Off Site Hotels 

There are a huge range of hotels that you can stay at both on site and off site at Disneyland Paris. When considering whether you should stay On Site or Off Site at Disneyland Paris I would say the main factors to consider are:

• How much is in your budget for accommodation as staying off site is a cheaper option.
• How much time you plan on spending in your room.
• Whether you will be using your room during the day time .
• Whether having Early Magic Hours will be required. 

Personally I always advocate staying on site where your budget can allow it. The reason for this for me is Early Magic Hours. 

Early Magic Hours or Extra Magic hours as some other people call them at Disneyland Paris basically grants on-site guests earlier access to the Disney parks i.e. before guests staying off-site. 

For me this benefit is worth the extra cost as we get so much done during this time as it really reduces the queue times on some of Disneyland Paris’ most popular rides such as Peter Pan’s Flight and Crush’s Coaster. 

 This can make a huge difference especially if you are travelling in peak season but you will need to decide whether or not the additional cost is worth it. I think staying on site can actually reduce the number of days you need at Disneyland Paris. 

Other perks of staying on-site include: 

Character meet and greets in the hotels 

You don’t know who you will meet (it’s usually one of the classic and favorite Disney characters i.e. Mickey Mouse, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Pluto or Max – u but the queues for these meet and greets are much shorter than those in the park. 

Note: the two hotels with different meet and greets are Cheyenne and New York Art of Marvel which have Toy Story and Marvel meet and greets respectively. 

Being walking distance to the parks

Although there are shuttle buses to the park, the walk to the entrance from the on-site hotels is very easy through the Disney Village. 

If you do decide to stay on site there are 6 hotels on site at Disneyland Paris. These range in price, stars (2-5*) and distance from the park. But which one should you stay at? 

What is the best Disneyland Paris Hotel?

There are 6 Disneyland Paris hotels and they all are aimed at a difference price point and with a different theme. Below is a brief overview of each Disney hotel:

Disneyland Paris Hotel 

This is literally at the park entrance which makes it very easy to access your room during the day and is the only 5* Disneyland Paris hotel. 

This hotel has many amenities including Inventions Cafe, Cafe Fantastic, Minnie Mouse Playroom, Mad Hatters Arcade, a spa and an indoor pool.

Please note: the Disneyland hotel is currently closed for refurbishment with expected reopening being in 2024. The hotel will have a complete facelift including a royal retheme. 

Once we have more details about the reopening, theming and amenities I will update this section. But staying here is certainly on my Disneyland Paris bucket list.

Hotel New York – Art of Marvel 

This hotel is newly reopened to coincide with the opening of the Disneyland Paris Marvel Avenger’s Campus and is an absolute must stay for Marvel fans. 

This is a 4* star hotel and currently is the most expensive Disneyland Paris hotel to stay at (until the Disneyland hotel reopens in 2024. 

This hotel has some amazing amenities for Marvel fans such as the Bar where superheroes will fly past the windows aka digital screen and one of the most sought after Disneyland Paris dining experiences in the Downtown restaurant. 

Also this hotel offers Marvel meet and greets that are exclusively for hotel guests – unlike other hotels where you can walk between them to meet characters you have to be staying at this hotel and make a reservation 7 days in advance for these hotel meet and greets.

This hotel is also one of the Disneyland Paris hotels with a pool 

For prices and availability click here! 

Disney’s Newport Bay Club 

 THis is another 4* hotel at Disneyland Paris but is themed on New England seaside properties and has a nautical feel. The character meet and greets here usually dress in their nautical / sailor attire. It also has a pool and is one of the more grown up places to stay at Disneyland Paris is is less overtly Disney themed. 

To check prices and availability click here.

Sequoia Lodge

Sequoia Lodge is a 3* hotel at Disneyland Paris but has amenities such as a pool, restaurants, bar and a kids play here. The characters you meet have a national park theme while the rooms have Bambi decorations. 

We love staying at Sequoia for the combination of slightly better amenities such as the pool but the cheaper price tag than the hotels above. 

To check prices and availability click here. 

Cheyenne

Hotel Cheyenne was the hotel we stayed at when my daughter was going through her Toy Story phase as this is the theme of the hotel and has meet and greets with Jessie and Woody.

! The theming of this hotel is Toy Story / Old West and is set in a frontierland village. On site is the Chuck Wagon Cafe, Saloon, and indoor and outdoor play areas. But my favorite thing about this hotel is it has a Starbucks in the lobby. The hotel is a twenty minute walk from the park or 8 minute shuttle.

To check reviews and compare prices CLICK HERE! 

Santa Fe 

The final on site hotel is the 2* hotel Santa Fe and is the one we are on staying at during our next visit. And the reason for this is the theming.

The theming in this hotel is all Cars which my son absolutely adores! The hotel boasts a tex-mex restaurant, bar, games room and is also a 20 minute walk or 8 minute shuttle.

To check reviews and compare prices CLICK HERE! 

• For more information on the best Disneyland Paris Hotel with toddlers or small children click here. 
• And for hotel comparison guides check out these posts – Sequoia Lodge Vs Cheyenne.

Where to Stay Near Disneyland Paris

However if you decide to stay off site there are plenty of places to Stay Near Disneyland Paris. The main areas to stay near Disneyland Paris are

• Disney Self Catering Accommodation
• Val D’Europe 
• Central Paris 

The two self catering Disney accommodation options are 

• Davy Crockett’s Ranch – it is worth noting there is no shuttle to and from this hotel so it is essential that you are traveling to Disneyland Paris in car if you want to stay here. 
• Les Villages Natures Paris – this is more akin to Centre Parcs and is great for those looking for a hotel where they can have rest days not in the park. 

The differences between these and the on site hotels is that you can have self catered options however you don’t get all the added bonuses that you get on a traditional on site hotel. 

When we were staying off site at Disneyland Paris we decided to stay at Val D’Europe. The reason for this was largely budgetary. We were travelling in peak season and last minute so staying on site was super expensive. 

Val D’Europe is a great option for those on a budget as the hotels are a lot cheaper than on site, there is a supermarket next door to you where you can buy plenty of snacks and foods to keep the costs down and you are are only one stop on the train to the park making it very easy to get into the park. For more information on cheap places to eat at Disneyland Paris check out this post.

We stayed at the Ibis Budget which I am not going to lie was very basic but was well under 100 Euros a night during peak season and we only used it to sleep and shower. You can see other people’s reviews and prices of the Ibis Budget here. 

For more tips on visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget check out our post. 

However there are some higher end options in Val D’Europe and some apart hotels which might appeal to you if you are staying longer in Paris. To see the variety of options for accommodation at Val D’Europe click here. 

If you do decide to stay in central Paris and just do a day trip to Disneyland Paris be sure to check out our guide on how to get to Disneyland Paris from Paris.

How Long Do I need at Disneyland Paris

One of the most frequently asked questions we get about Disneyland Paris has to be “How Long Do I Need at Disneyland Paris?” and the truth is that the answer is how long is a piece of string?

There are so many factors that go into deciding this – what budget do you have, are you travelling to go to Paris or to Disneyland Paris specifically, who you are traveling with, what time you are traveling etc. 

There are actually 2 parks at Disneyland Paris: the Disneyland Park and the Walt Disney Studios Park. Now you can do 2 parks in 1 day however we recommend longer if possible. 

For more information on what you can achieve with different times in the park check out our how long do I need at Disneyland Paris post! Spoiler alert we usually go for 3 – 4 days. 

But if you have less time to spend in the park be sure to check out our Disneyland Paris one day itinerary and our guide on how to spend 2 days in the park. 

Buying Tickets For Disneyland Paris

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

Depending on how long you decide to spend in the park depends on how if you want tickets to one or both parks. If you only have one day then I personally would recommend only doing one park however any longer than a day I would definitely recommend buying passes to both parks either in the form of one day one park tickets or getting a  park hopper ticket. 

Remember if you are staying off site you need to organise tickets and your reservations separately. 

For more information and to check availability on park tickets click here.

Disneyland Paris Hack: One of my top tips for saving money is that if you are staying for 4 days, and maybe even 3 days if you plan to spend money on food and gifts on site, is to buy an annual pass as this can often work out cheaper than buying day tickets and will get you discounts in the gift shop and restaurants. 

Decide whether you want a dining package

If you are visiting Disneyland Paris one of the options you have is to decide whether or not you want to an include a dining package. This is a fixed price and means you can eat at allocated Disneyland Paris restaurants for each of your meals during your stay (or half if you choose half board). 

Whether or not this is worth it for you depends on how much of a foodie you are and how often you are happy to sit down for meals. 

I personally never get the dining package as we don’t find it worthwhile or cost saving for us a family. We always eat breakfast on the go as we use Early Magic Hours and only do one sit down meal a day. 

It is worth doing the math however and deciding whether or not it is good for your family.

Book Your Character Dining Early 

Although we do not use the dining packages we like to book one character dining experience at Disneyland Paris. 

There are currently only two character dining options at Disneyland Paris:

• Auberge de Cendrillon – the dining with the princesses experience and 
• Plaza Gardens – a buffet restaurant with classic Disney characters

These experience are exceptionally popular and therefore advance booking is essential – however if you are unsuccessful it is worth asking when you arrive in the park if there has been a cancellation. 

If you are staying at an on site hotel at Disneyland Paris (which we recommend) the bookings open early – one year in advance actually. However if you are staying off site you can only book 60 days in advance. Be sure you check and book your date early to avoid disappointment.

If you want some ideas for better Disney character interactions check out our post on questions to ask Disney Princesses and questions to ask Disney characters. 

And if you are vegan at Disneyland Paris then check out this guide which includes seasonal offerings. 

But don’t worry if your budget doesn’t stretch to the premium character dining fear not, we have a guide on cheap eats at Disneyland Paris too!

What do you need to book in advance in Disneyland Paris?

One of the biggest questions we get in our Disneyland Paris facebook group is what you need to book in advance and when you can do it. Now as I mentioned above the window for bookings depends whether you are staying on or off site and none of things are essential to book to make your DLP trip magical but they are things you may want to add depending on your group and time you have: 

• My Royal Dream – Disneyland Paris’ equivalent to the bibbidi bobbidi boo in the US where children can get makeovers to look like their favorite prince or princess. 
• Table service and character dining – as mentioned above. Quick service and most village restaurants are walk ups only though so don’t need bookings
• Fireworks and Parade Viewing Area – if you wanted a guaranteed good view then this viewing area is a good thing to add on. Personally we never book the parade viewing area and just arrive 40 minutes early however fireworks viewing area is highly recommended amongst members of our group. 
• Show Reservations – this one in my opinion is a completely unnecessary spend. Again we usually arrive 30-40 minutes before a show starts and have never had a problem getting in. 
• Premier Access –  this comes in two forms individual rides and ultimate pass. Given the expense of the ultimate pass we don’t recommend booking the ultimate premier access however the individual one can be handy if you find a very long queue on the day. The pricing is dynamic so will change based on demand on the day. 

To book these experiences head to the official Disneyland Paris app or speak to your travel provider.

Decide if you want a photo pass 

Photo passes basically give you access to all the photos the Disney photographers take of you at Disneyland Paris character meetings and from rides.

Unless this comes as part of package however I delay making this decision until you have seen how many of the photos you want.

We usually opt not to get the Photo Pass on our last visit simply because my husband isn’t a fan of being in photos and is happy to capture the meetings with our little girl. However if you all want to as a family be in the photos or aren’t very good at photography you might want to consider getting the photo pass.  

Note: At character meetings the assistant with the photographer will take photos of your whole family with your phone or camera however the angles are never going to be as good as the ones the professional photographer takes. 

Getting Ready to Travel to Disneyland Paris

Now you have all of our Disneyland Paris tips and tricks for booking your trip, we will look at the weeks leading up to your vacation and what you should do in the run up.

Download Relevant Disneyland Paris Apps

There are loads of apps that are really useful for when you are at Disneyland Paris and there are a few which are pretty much essential for instance the Disneyland Paris App itself.

For information about the essential Disneyland Paris apps you need to have downloaded for your trip click here. 

What to Pack for Disneyland Paris & What to Buy Before you Go 

Packing for Disneyland Paris is a bit tricky because the weather in Paris is so temperamental. We recommend checking our monthly guides for weather information but my biggest tip for general Paris packing is make sure you have plenty of layers.

However on top of the regular packing there are some things we recommends taking whatever time of year you are travelling. They are: 

Snack Bags

Food in Disneyland Paris is expensive and I guarantee if you are travelling to Disneyland Paris with toddlers and young children  they will get hungry as you are in the longest line you have been in.  

Be sure to save yourself from a Hangry kid by having plenty of imperishable snacks with you. This is also one of my top tips for travelling to Disneyland Paris on a budget as snacks and food in the park adds up quickly. 

Collapsible refillable water bottles 

Water in the park is expensive. Therefore we recommend taking a collapsible refillable water bottle with you (there are plenty of Disney themed ones too on Amazon). There are plenty of water fountains in the park to refill in (though many shut in the park during Winter) as this is a cost saver and better for the environment as you won’t be using single use plastic in the park.

If you or your kids don’t like water then take up some squeeze concentrate squash to add a bit more flavour. 

Costumes

I found that whenever my daughter was in costume she had better character interactions with that character. Be sure to travel with your child’s favourite character costume as costumes are expensive on site.

Please note: Adults are not permitted to wear costume into Disney (in some parks exceptions are made around Halloween). However if you would like  you can pay homage to your favourite Disney character through Disneybounding (outfits inspired by the costumes of Disney characters). Click here for some amazing Disneybounding inspiration! 

Disney Ears

Disney Ears are my favourite accessory for photos in the park. They are much pricier in the park  and there are loads of great ears available on amazon. 

Themed T-Shirts

For the same reasons as above. Remember adults can’t wear costumes but themed t shirts will get you better interactions and get you in the Disney spirit. For a more complete guide on what to wear to Disneyland Paris check out this post.

Disney Autograph Book  

If you love character meetings then chances are you want to meet and collect autographs when you do each meeting. To save time and money be sure to buy this online first. 

However if you want something more original why not check out our guide to the best alternatives to Disney autograph books here. 

Phone Battery Pack

I have my phone out constantly at Disney for using the Disneyland Paris apps to check current wait times as well as for taking photographs. Your battery runs low quick at Disneyland Paris so make sure you have a portable charger with you. 

Disney Lanyards

Lanyards are a great way to keep hold of your tickets. There are some lovely Disney ones out there.

Don’t Forget Your Medical Notes 

If you have a disability or are pregnant be sure to take your medication notes with you as Disneyland Paris has special procedures in place that enable fast pass access for those with disabilities. 

And if you want some more information on how to apply for a Disability or Easy Access Pass at Disneyland Paris check out this post.

Disneyland Paris Tips for in the Parks

Plan your day 

My number one tip for being at Disneyland Paris is to plan your day. It is a good idea to know the most important rides for you and where they are in the park so you know where you are heading. 

Disneyland Paris doesn’t have fast passes or Genie Plus so you can’t use those to skip queues. There are single ride premier access tickets but these cost around 16 Euros per ticket so can be costly which is another reason why it is important to plan your Disneyland Paris itinerary.

Use Your Early Magic Hours Effectively

If you are staying on-site my biggest tip is be sure to use your magic hours effectively. This early access is one of the best perks about staying on site at Disney and you can achieve a lot in them.

I recommend doing things that will undoubtedly have big queues later in the day like Crush’s Coaster, Peter Pan’s Flight or even lining up for the Princess Pavillon which opens after Early Magic Hours.. 

Know what gets the longest ride times

I recommend researching the rides you most want to ride and also noting what are the most popular Disneyland Paris rides as these will often have long lines. 

If you are traveling with a toddler you will want to concentrate on Fantasyland rides and Disneyland Paris rides with no height restriction while adults may want to know which of the scariest rides at Disneyland Paris has the longest queue and get these done early in the day. 

Utilise Single Riders or Baby Swap at Popular Rides 

If you are travelling to Disneyland Paris with a baby then you can use the baby swap at some of the bigger rides. Basically one of you queues while the other waits at the exit and you swap once the one is finished. 

The other option if you don’t mind not being seated next to your group on a ride is to use the single rider line. This queue is often much shorter so you can get on the popular rides quicker by filling any gaps on the ride. 

Plan for Shows and the Parade 

One of my favourite things to do at Disneyland Paris is the shows and parades but the truth is they get busy.

Be sure to get to shows and parade routes 3o minutes before it starts, maybe even easier during peak season to be sure you get a good position. 

FAQS About Disneyland Paris

How many days do you need in Disneyland Paris?

How many day you need at Disneyland Paris is a difficult answer. I would say you should allocate one day to each park (don’t try and do them in the same day). Therefore I would say a minimum of two days to do both parks but if you want to do character meetings and most of the rides you will need longer. 

However if you only have one day don’t think it isn’t enough but only try and attempt to visit one park.

Do you tip at Disneyland Paris?

No – you don’t need to worry about tipping at Disneyland Paris 

Do they speak English at Disneyland Paris?

Yes in most places you will find cast members speak English and French. For more information on where they speak English at disneyland Paris check out this post. 

Is one day enough for Disneyland Paris?

One day is not enough to do both parks well but one day at Disneyland Paris is certainly enough to see some highlights at one of the parks. 

Can you bring food into Eurodisney?

Yes it is a myth you can’t bring food into Eurodisney however you aren’t allowed to bring large coolers into the park but snacks, sandwiches etc is absolutely fine. 

What are the best day trips from Disneyland Paris? 

Are you looking for a complete guide to the best day trips from Disneyland Paris? Check out our guide for more information.