Disneyland Paris with a baby (Tips & Rides)

Are you visiting Disneyland Paris with a baby? Looking for tips to ensure you make the most of taking a baby to Disneyland Paris? In this guide we round up our top tips from our own experience of taking our baby to Disneyland Paris alongside a comprehensive list of what rides you can take a baby on at Disneyland Paris. 

Tips for Visiting Disneyland Paris with a baby

In this section of the guide we will round up our tips for visiting Disneyland Paris with a baby from helping you decide when to travel, where to stay and what to pack and how to get the most out of your time in the parks with a baby of any age whether they be one month or one year! 

Travel Off Peak

One of the best things about visiting Disneyland Paris with toddlers or babies is the fact that you aren’t beholden to the school holidays  (so long as your baby doesn’t have an older school aged sibling of course). 

If you can travel off peak then you will be rewarded with both fewer crowds in the parks swell as cheaper accommodation options.

The following months are considered more off peak (note – be sure to check the peak travel times within these months by clicking on our Disneyland road calendars below):

• Disneyland Paris in January
• Disneyland Paris in February 
• Disneyland Paris in September 
• Disneyland Paris in November

Pick Your Days Carefully

Although there is definitely peak times at Disneyland Paris, the business of a park can also change dependent on the day of of week you decide to travel to Disneyland Paris. 

We recommend trying to avoid weekends and heading to the parks midweek if you can when traveling with a baby. 

Decide if you want to visit one or two parks 

Disneyland Paris is actually made up of two parks – the traditional Disneyland Park which is most akin to Disneyland or the Magic Kingdom park at Disney World and the Walt Disney Studios Park which is more like Hollywood Studios in Florida or California Adventure in Anaheim. 

If you only have time to visit one of the Disneyland Parks I would recommend the traditional Disneyland park. However there are definitely things to do in both parks with babies. 

Book Your tickets in Advance

No matter which park you are visiting and at what time of year it is absolutely essential to book your park tickets in advance. 

Disneyland Paris has a maximum capacity and on our last visit to Disneyland Paris in December we found the park at capacity unless you had pre-booked tickets. 

Click here for one park tickets and click this link for two park tickets options  or ensure you have booked an on-site Disneyland Paris hotel that comes with park tickets included. 

Consider Driving

When we visit we like to drive to Disneyland Paris especially from the UK. We definitely find driving to Disneyland Paris with a baby easier as you aren’t restricted on luggage and as any parent will tell you, babies come with a lot of stuff. 

By driving we don’t have to worry about bringing a stroller, car sear, pack and play or snacks and baby formula with us. 

However if you decide not to drive be sure to check out our guides on how to get from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris and how to get from Gare du Nord to Disneyland Paris. 

Stay On-site

If you Disneyland Paris budget allows for it we recommend staying on site with a baby. The reasons for this are numerous but include:

Firstly by staying on site you get access to the Early Magic Hours or Extra Magic hours as some other people call them at Disneyland Paris . This means you get access to the parks an hour earlier than off-site guests. 

You will find in this time most of the baby friendly Disneyland Paris rides will be open (i.e. most of Fantasyland and Buzz’s Astroblast and Orbitron). 

Using this hour will ensure you can get on lots of rides with your baby in that first hour without having to wait in long queues. 

Another benefit of staying on site is that you can walk to the park from your hotel and can get back easily if you decide to take your baby back for a nap. There are also amenities at some of these hotels such as swimming pools which can be great to use with a baby. 

And finally, you can meet characters in the lobby of your hotel (at certain times) without the queues that you get in the main park meet and greets. Also these characters will often be dressed in more unusual attires.

Want to know how to have an amazing interaction? Check out our questions to ask Disney Characters for the best interaction post. 

For the best hotels for families at Disneyland Paris check out this post. 

If you want to be closest to the parks then we recommend staying at either the Disneyland hotel or the New York Hotel Art of Marvel. 

Take Baby Paraphernalia 

Although there are baby care centres throughout both parks, I recommend taking everything you need for a baby with you such as dummies / pacifiers, bottles and formula or breast milk. 

If you do forget anything you can try buying extras at the baby care centre or at the nearby mall at Val D’Europe. 

Pack Medications 

There are no pharmacies in Disneyland Paris or in the Disney Village therefore we recommend traveling with essential medicines and a small travel first aid kit. 

We usually take Calpol, Bonjela or other teething relief aids and creams to Combat nappy rash etc. 

For a full Disneyland Packing List check out this post. 

Things to Pack for a Baby at Disneyland Paris

While the link above will take you to the most comprehensive packing list for Disneyland Paris there are a couple of additions you may want to pack for your baby. These include:

Noise Cancelling Headphone

If you are staying late in the parks for the fireworks and illuminations, your baby may find them a little loud, especially if they are trying to sleep. 

We therefore recommend packing some baby noise cancelling headphones. Click here for the best options. 

Changing Mat

Changing areas for babies are hit and miss for babies in Disneyland Paris. Often only found in ladies toilers and disabled toilets and their cleanliness varies from toilet to toilet. Therefore we recommend having a travel changing mat with you. 

For more information on what to pack for Disneyland Paris and what to wear check out these costs. 

Should I take a stroller to Disneyland Paris? 

Any parent traveling to Disneyland Paris with a baby will be wondering if they should take a stroller to Disneyland Paris. 

And in our opinion, you should definitely take a stroller with you. 

There is a lot of walking to do at Disneyland Paris so a stroller is very handy for moving around the park with a baby. Also you can add extra layers over them if traveling to Disneyland Paris in Winter and add some cooling factors such as fans in summer. 

However, it is worth noting that you can’t take your stroller with you in most of the Disneyland Paris queues. For this reason we recommend taking a carrier and a stroller with you. 

The carrier can be used in the queue but also you are permitted to baby wear on rides which have no height restrictions though you may have to wear them forward or backward facing depending on the ride. Always follow the instructions of the ride operators regarding this. 

Also it is worth making your stroller noticeable with one of our Disney stroller hacks so you don’t misplace your stroller in the stroller parking area. 

However having said this we do not recommend leaving valuables or souvenirs in strollers or prams as this is a target for theft. 

If you are worried about stroller theft in Disneyland Paris we recommend taking a bike lock to secure your stroller. 

Note: did you know that there are size restrictions on strollers you can take to Disney. For the best stroller and best Double strollers to take to Disney check out this post. 

Book Character Dining in Advance and decide if you want a meal plan

Meal plans can be a great way of saving money if you are planning to eat at the park for most of your meals. As we were only there for a limited time we opted to just eat one meal at the park and took our own snacks and breakfast which was a great cost save.

However you will need to do the calculation as to whether this will be a worthwhile cost saving for you. For more information on the cheapest way to eat at Disneyland Paris check out this post. 

Take Layers 

The weather at Disneyland Paris is far more temparemental compared to other Disneyland parks around the world so my biggest packing tip for the Paris park is to have layers.

For a full month by month what to wear guide check out this post. 

Make use of the Baby Care Centre

If you are travelling to Disneyland Paris with baby it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with where the Baby Care Centre is (located just off Main Street in Disneyland Paris or behind Studio Services at Walt Disney Studios).

This is a great place to go if you need some down time to feed or get baby off to sleep. 

Plan

We recommend planning your Disneyland Paris itinerary in advance to make sure you know what rides you baby can go on and what time meet and greets are so you make the most of your time. Just don’t forget to add in some down time and nap time into your Disneyland Paris with a baby itinerary. 

Make Use of Rider Swap

While there are lots of rides that babies can go on at Disneyland Paris, some of the best and scariest rides in the parks have height restrictions. 

For these rides make sure you use the rider swap or sometimes known as baby swap function at the rides. For more information on how to use rider swap at Disneyland Paris check out this post. 

Don’t Skip the Character Meet and Greets

Although babies will not know who each of the characters are yet, I would advise you not skipping the character meet and greets as they make for some great photo opps. 

My little one personally preferred actual people such as the Princesses at Disneyland Paris or Aladdin over the classic characters such as Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse however this is very much a personal thing. 

Where to feed your baby at Disneyland Paris

If you want to find somewhere quiet to feed your baby at Disneyland Paris we recommend heading to the Baby Care Centre on Main Street. However you should not have any issue breastfeeding anywhere in the park. 

Where to take your baby for a nap at Disneyland Paris 

Again, one of the reasons we like to have a stroller with us at Disneyland Paris is to ensure that our little one is comfortable for their naps. 

However if you want a quiet space to take your little one outside of the stroller you really can’t beat the baby care centres. 

Grab A Button at City Hall

And if this is your baby’s first trip to Disney be sure to head to the City Hall (on the left hand side after the entrance) where you can pick up a button, or badge to commemorate your baby’s first visit. 

What Rides are for Babies at Disneyland Paris?

It may come as a surprise but there are actually quite a few rides that babies can go on at Disneyland Paris. These rides are often the ones that are also suitable for pregnant travelers at Disneyland Paris and have those that have no height restrictions. 

In this section we will tell you what the baby friendly rides are in both parks alongside tips on whether your little one may find them frightening. 

Note: this rides are all those that are listed in the Disneyland Paris app as being universal i.e. can be ridden by babies and pregnant ladies at Disneyland Paris. However you should always take care of your baby and consider safety and neck support before boarding a ride. 

Baby Friendly Rides at Disneyland Paris

In this park, I would recommend starting your Disneyland Paris itinerary at Fantasyland as there are more baby friendly rides in this section of the park than any other. 

It’s a Small World 

This is a classic Disney ride and for me is the perfect first ride at Disneyland for babies. This ride is very gentle and although technical a dark ride as you go inside there is nothing scary inside. 

Babies will love all of the marionettes as well as the catchy (read annoying) song). 

Peter Pan’s Flight

This ride has to be the most popular in all of Fantasyland, if not the most popular ride in Disneyland Paris full stop. The queues for his ride regularly exceed an hour. 

If you are into the parks for Early Magic Hours we recommend heading to this first unless the queue is over 20 minutes when we recommend heading to other Fantasy land area rides. 

Note: this is a dark ride where you fly over London and Neverland. While there is nothing particularly scary in this ride some babies who do not like the dark may be scared. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (sometimes written as Blanche Neige et les Sept Nains) 

This is another Fantasyland dark ride without a height restriction. On this ride you board a mine train that takes you through a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. 

While there is nothing particularly scary in this ride, small children may be scared by the Evil Queen turning into the old Crone. 

Voyage of Pinocchio

Similar to Snow White, on this ride you board a car and head into a dark ride retelling of the Pinocchio Story. Again while there is nothing overly scary on this ride, the dark nature could scare some babies of a more nervous disposition. 

Casey Junior Circus Train

This ride is probably the closest you will get to a baby friendly rollercoaster at Disneyland Paris. On this ride you board the Casey Junior Circus Train from Dumbo and travel around a fairytale land (it shares landscape with the Story Book Canals). 

Story Book Land Canal Boat (Le Pays des Contes de Fee)

The Story Bookland Canal Boats are a great water ride that babies can go on. On this ride you board a little canal boat and go round each of the kingdoms from the princess stories. 

It is a lovely and gentle ride that babies will love. However both the queue and ride are completely open air so if you are visiting Disneyland Paris in August for instance you will want to ride this early in the day or evening and make sure you have plenty of sun protection with you. 

Lancelot Carousel

This is a traditional carousel ride but with one of the more beautiful carousel settings in the world overlooking the beautiful Disneyland Paris castle. 

Please note however that only one person per horse is allowed to ride so you will have to hold your baby if you want them on a horse. 

However for small children we prefer to use the carriages so baby and parent can sit together more easily.

Mad Hatter’s Teacup

The Mad Hatter’s Teacup is your classic waltzer style ride. As this ride has no height restriction it is a great one to go on with babies. And as the ride spin is controlled by your group you can make it more gentle for when riding with a baby,. 

Dumbo and the Flying Elephant

Another Disney classic ride. For me no Disney trip is complete without a spin on the flying elephants. 

Mickeys Philharmagic

This is an indoor 3d attraction where Donald misuses Mickey’s magic hat. 

While there is no height limit I don’t recommend this for a baby as they will not be able to use the 3d glasses. However it is a great place to escape on a very hot day or rainy day at Disneyland Paris as this is an indoor attraction. 

Alice’s Curious labyrinth 

This is more an attraction than a ride but it is worth mentioning as the maze that makes up this attraction is completely stroller friendly.

Note: if you are interested in finding hidden Mickeys there is one on the castle at the centre. 

Buzz Lightyear’s AstroBlast

Outside of Fantasyland there are less attractions for babies but there are some of note. The first is Buzz Lightyear’s Astroblast. 

While babies will not be able to shoot the lasers and help Buzz defeat the Evil Emperor Zorg they will enjoy going round on the waltzer style car. 

However please note this is a dark ride that may scare some kids. 

Orbitron

This ride is very similar to Dumbo and the Flying Carpets over Agrabah ride but with a futuristic space take. 

Personally I find this car hard to get in and out of if you are baby wearing at Disneyland Paris and is definitely one of the more difficult rides if you are traveling to Disneyland Paris as a plus size. 

Thunder Mesa River Boat

The River boat is more of an attraction than a ride but is a great one to do with babies. This is a gentle journey around the Adventureland area that has absolutely zero scare factor so is a great early ride with babies. 

Phantom Manor

Phantom Manor is another ride at Disneyland Paris that has no height restriction. However I would urge riding this with babies or toddlers with caution. That is because this is a dark and eerie ride that may even give babies the heebie jeebies. 

If your little one is of a sensitive disposition then I would probably avoid riding this and probably only take a baby who is unaware of surroundings on this to avoid your little one getting nightmares. 

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is my favorite water ride at Disneyland Paris. This is a dark log flume ride however the drops are not huge so it is suitable even for babies. 

However again as this is a dark ride it could scare some babies or toddlers. 

Walt Disney Studios Baby Friendly Rides

Now we have gone through the rides babies can go on at Disneyland Park we will turn our attention to the Walt Disney Studios rides that are suitable for toddlers. 

Flying Carpets

The Flying Carpets over Agrabah ride is the Walt Disney studios version of Dumbo. However there are two rows of seats on this ride and the front row controls the height and the back row controls the tilt.

This ride is one of the most gentle in Walt Disney Studios and is definitely my top pick for babies in this park.  

Cars Road Trip

Again I would categorise this as more of an attraction than a ride. You board a car that takes you round Cars scenery where you watch as a vehicle sets fire and water cascade down around it. 

This ride is not particularly noisy but could shock a little one. However my sensitive baby was absolutely fine riding this. 

If you want to make the experience more gentle for your bay you will want to be sat on the right hand side of the car . 

Ratatouille 

Ratatouille is one of my favorite rides at Walt Disney Studios that is suitable for babies. The ride does require 3d glasses so your baby won’t get the full effect of the ride however having suffered motion sickness on this, I have ridden without the glasses and found it still enjoyable. 

Webslingers 

Webslingers is one of the newer rides at Disneyland Paris as it is part of the Avengers Campus. This ride has no height restrictions so is suitable for babies however babies will get little enjoyment from this ride as it is three 3d and interactive. 

However if you want to ride this and are visiting with a baby there is nothing that will scare them on this ride. 

Overall is it worth taking a baby to Disneyland Paris?

I personally don’t think that a baby is the best age to go to Disneyland Paris however if this isn’t a once in a lifetime trip there is plenty to enjoy at Disneyland Paris with a baby. 

Given the amount of rides you can do with a baby, the character meet and greets and amazing dining at Disneyland Paris we think it is worth taking a baby to Disneyland Paris. 

FAQs about visiting Disneyland Paris with a baby

Do you have to pay for babies at Disneyland Paris?

No you do not have to pay for babies at Disneyland Paris. Children under the age of 3 are free at Disneyland Paris so it is a great time to visit Disneyland Paris if you are on a budget.