A highlight of any Paris trip for me is always the visit to Disneyland. The parks are constantly in development, so there’s always something new or just different depending on when you visit but whenever you go, it’s sure to be amazing! Combining a couple of Disney days with your Paris trip is something I highly recommend. Here are some of my tips for a trip to Paris in a previous post but for now, let’s have a look at the various aspects of visiting Disneyland Paris and what to look out for.

• General information
• Disneyland Paris app
• When to go
• Hotel
• Attractions
• Parades and shows
• Meeting the characters
• Food and drink
• Shopping

General information

First off, you have to know that Disneyland Paris is split into two parks. Disneyland and The Studios Park that is soon to be renamed. I would absolutely always recommend visiting both parks. If you have young children, look into what you would like to do and when as it may make sense to do one park on one day and the other on another. The tickets can be bought for one or both parks so it does make a slight difference for the budget.
The parks are very large and you’ll be walking around a lot all day so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately. Some stuff is outside and some is inside but you don’t want to be all wet and cold inside so rain jackets or light cagoules can be a very handy investment. 

Disneyland Paris app

The Disneyland Paris app isn’t quite optimised and could still use a little work but overall it’s still a very useful tool when visiting the parks. It includes maps of the parks, the village and to the on site hotels. A very helpful but also not quite optimised feature is the queue waiting times overview. The app should be able to tell you which rides are open and how long you’ll have to wait to get on but we found that the information was only partially accurate. Another very helpful thing the app offers is menu and pricing information on various restaurants and a digital ticket and magic pass option with information on your stay and the hotels. Overall, I would definitely recommend using the app and all features but you may have to work with a little patience and calculate for errors a bit (but the benefits outweigh the negatives).

When to go

As with everything when it comes to Disneyland, it will all of course depend on who you’re going with and what your goal is. I tend to visit during the week to avoid larger crowds and of course, try to avoid any holiday times in Paris or bordering countries – but this is only possible as we’re usually two adults visiting so aren’t bound by school holidays or similar issues. The pricing of your tickets and the hotel will vary depending on the season. I’ve mainly been in the off seasons around the beginning of March and late early to late September which has been amazing but the weather is a bit unreliable – not terrible, but not necessarily great. The summer surely offers the best weather but also the largest crowds. Many people certainly rave about the Halloween and Christmas season but I can’t really say much to that having not been there at that time yet. On our last visit in late September there was already a lot of Autumn decor up and it did set a certain kind of mood which was lovely.

Hotels

Of course, you can stay wherever your heart desires, but I must say that the on site Disneyland Hotels are certainly worth it, in my eyes. So far, I’ve stayed at the New York – The Art of Marvel and the Newport Bay Hotel – both of which were great experiences but very different to each other. 

In general, a huge advantage of the Disneyland Paris hotels on site is the fact that they are quite simply so close to the parks. You can nip over during the day, it’s very easy to get there in the morning and of course, the trip home at the end of the day is also short and sweet. Another advantage of all Disneyland hotels is the magic hour access – this means, you get to enter the parks an hour earlier which can really make a difference depending on which attractions you’d like to visit etc. Also, it can be a financial good move being as when booking into the hotels, you are also paying for your park entry. So, it’s certainly worth looking into the cost benefits of your booking. It’s also good to know that the hotels offer a free luggage service that you should definitely take advantage of (especially when arriving on the first morning).

Something I would advise against is booking the breakfast. As you get the extra magic hour, you already should be leaving your hotel room pretty early and then adding breakfast either means you have to get up very, very early or go back to the hotel after magic hour which would be a shame as the first couple of hours tend to be some of the best for going on rides. There are great snacks that you can get in the bakeries in the Disney Village or on Main Street in the park. This works our cheaper and probably better logistically.

The New York – The Art of Marvel Hotel is a four-star hotel and very modern — full of sleek lines, superhero art, and immersive Marvel theming. It’s definitely more of a “city chic” style, great for adults and/or Marvel fans. The Newport Bay Club, on the other hand, feels more classic and elegant, with nautical décor and soft colours that make it really cosy. It’s slightly larger and has a beautiful view over Lake Disney, perfect for an evening stroll. Both have lovely pools and bars for winding down after a long day in the parks and are close enough for a short stop, maybe a nap and a shower during a long park day. I have yet to explore the other hotels and accommodation options but am certainly open to what they have to offer.

Attractions

This is one of the biggest points where it will absolutely depend on your preferences and the age groups travelling with you. I love rollercoasters and faster rides and as mentioned, usually travel with adults, so most of my experience is based on the more adult rides. 

My favourite ride at the moment would probably be Thunder Mountain. It’s an absolute classic, it’s really fun and also lasts quite a while. There’s also the added advantage of having a lovely view of a lot of the park areas while riding and the setting and scenery is very cool making the whole experience great! The Hollywood Tower of Terror and Crush’s Coaster are again classics and for a very good reason. Both are located in the Studios Park and tend to have long queues, so going early or using the paid Premier Access option can be worth it if you want to maximise your time. Two low adrenaline but also great attractions are the Cars Road Trip and the Tree House. The Cars Road Trip is a lovely little attraction in the back corner of the Studios park where you sit in a studio bus and take a little trip with some great Cars flare. The Robinson Tree House isn’t a ride but is a great attraction that you walk around and just enjoy some great views of Disneyland and the little fun features spread all around.

Other fun rides include Hyperspace Mountain for Star Wars fans, Pirates of the Caribbean (beautifully themed and a bit of nostalgia for everyone), and Ratatouille: The Adventure, which is one of the most charming rides in the Studios Park — especially if you’re travelling with kids or prefer something a bit calmer.

Parades and shows 

Which parades and shows are worth seeing is a factor that greatly depends on the season that you visit. On our last visit, for example we only saw one show and one parade and then of course, the fireworks show at the end of the day. Previous visits however, there were different shows on offer that appealed to us more.

If it’s on while you’re there, The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands show is an absolutely phenomenal must-see. It’s basically a mini version of the musical — full of live singing, acrobatics, and incredible energy. Even if you’re not a big “show person,” this one will blow you away and is an absolute joy for young and young at heart alike.

The Disney Stars on Parade that’s usually on in the afternoon is another highlight, especially for first-timers. Seeing the floats, the characters waving, and the music playing through Main Street just gives you that signature Disneyland goosebump moment. For the best view, grab a spot 20–30 minutes early near the start or end of the parade route (Main Street or near the castle).

Last but most certainly not least, the fireworks show at night is unmissable. No matter how tired you are, stay for it. The projections on the castle, the music, and the fireworks make for the perfect magical ending to your day. 

Meeting the characters

As much as I love meeting the characters, it can be very time consuming and often requires quite a bit of planning — especially if you want to see specific ones. The character meet-and-greet system at Disneyland Paris keeps changing, so it’s really important to check how it works during your visit. Sometimes it’s done via the Disneyland Paris app with time slots you can book, while at other times it’s more of a traditional queue system.

Unlike some of the U.S. parks, the characters in Paris don’t really roam around freely, which is a bit of a shame as those spontaneous encounters add a lot of magic. That said, the meet-and-greets are still great fun and very well organised once you have your time secured. For kids, meeting the characters is an absolute highlight and something that shouldn’t be missed — the excitement on their faces makes it so worth it! For adults, I’d say it’s more of a “nice to have” rather than an essential part of the day, but if you do decide to meet one, definitely go for a classic like Mickey, Minnie, or Goofy — you can’t go wrong with those!

Food and drink

A lot of people don’t know or forget that you can take your own food and drink into Disneyland. This is something I would highly recommend as this can be a big money saving factor. There are drinking fountains throughout the park as well so you can refill your water bottle at almost any point.

The restaurants in the park can be quite expensive and don’t always have a lot of options so make sure you check out the menus before deciding on where you’d like to go. The Disneyland Paris app has a great overview of the information for the restaurants including pricing and menus. A great food option to consider is eating in the Disney Village. The value for money tends to be a bit better than in the parks directly.

Shopping

A part of any Disneyland trip are the shops. Of course, you don’t have to buy anything, but a quick look in at least some of the shops is something I would definitely suggest. Especially the quaint little ones located on Main Street. This includes some jewellery stores, a sweets shop and little bakery. I personally love collecting the exclusive pins that can only be bought in the Disneyland Paris park or generally the more exclusive products such as the special Pandora charms. Having a look around is definitely worth it, even if you don’t want to or end up buying anything.

Disneyland Paris really is one of those places that never loses its magic — no matter how many times you go, there’s always something new to see or something old that feels brand new again and reminds you of that wonderful childlike magic. Whether it’s your first visit or your tenth, every trip brings a little bit of that special sparkle that only Disney can deliver. For me, combining a couple of days in the parks with a stay in Paris itself always feels like the perfect mix of excitement and wonder — the thrill of the rides and shows balanced with the charm of the city. There’s just something about walking down Main Street with the music playing, a coffee or Mickey-shaped snack in hand, that instantly makes you feel like a kid again. It’s that sense of wonder and magic that keeps me coming back time and time again — and I can’t wait to see what new memories the next visit will bring.

If you’re interested in some Top 10’s, travel and packing tips or more information on different destinations, then check out some of my other Meg’s Places articles and stay tuned for more! In case your questions aren’t answered here, or you have any comments or personal experiences you’d like to share, don’t be afraid to get in touch, comment and let me know. 

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