With over 1.943 hectares of fun and Magic, Disneyland Paris (DLP) is one of the most popular attractions in Europe.
It is located just 32 kilometers east of Paris and this is your ultimate meeting point with your favorite characters from movies and cartoons.
No matter if you are just a kid or a grown-up, you will spend some memorable moments here, in this park together with the epic characters.
DLP is the perfect destination for a day trip from Paris and it is very easy to reach by train from central Paris.
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General information
COVID 19 health and safety measures
Face masks and Physical distancing requirements
In line with guidance from the French government and health authorities, face masks and physical distancing will be implemented throughout the resort in queues, ride vehicles, shops, hotels, restaurants and other facilities, and signage will be displayed as a reminder.
The resort will continually adjust current operations guideline and health and safety measures as the situation evolve and in accordance with guidance from French authorities.
So please check their official website for an updated policy about safety measures and other important details which represent current operational guidelines.
How many parks at Disney Paris?
DLP is made up of four parts:
- The castle theme park is known as Disneyland Park or Parc Disneyland
- The second park called Walt Disney Studios Park
- Disney Village which contains a high number of small shops and restaurants where you can eat themed food and buy all kind of souvenirs
- The hotel area, which is home to six Disney hotels.
Everything is located within a few minutes’ walk and in less than 20 minutes you walk from one part of the park to another.
There is also a railway station with a direct connection to central Paris train station and in about 45 minutes you can reach the center of Paris from Disneyland.
The train station from the park is called Marne-la-Vallée Chessy and it also has a direct connection with Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport which journey lasts for about 10 minutes.
A short description of the parks
Disneyland Park is a traditional castle park with many interesting attractions, all created with increased attention to detail and a unique version of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant.
Walt Disney Studios Park is nothing but a smaller version of Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a lot of interesting attractions.
Getting to Disneyland Paris
From those of you who live outside France, the easiest way to get to Disneyland is by plane to Charles de Gaule airport.
The park is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from the airport and 35 minutes away from central Paris by train.
Most airports from the US have direct flights to Paris CDG airport and most of the flights are overnight.
If you choose to travel from Chicago, let’s say, then the journey lasts for 8 hours and usually, the flight departing time is 6.30 p.m and arriving at 9 a.m in Paris.
When you go back to the United States most of the flights leave mid-day and arrive mid-day too because of the time change.
For those of you who fly from other European countries, the journey lasts for a few hours and the flight time is different depending on the country you are flying to.
Once you get to the airport the easiest and fastest way to get to the park is by train.
TGV trains connect Charles de Gaulle airport to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy railway station and the train ride lasts just 10 minutes.
The price of a ticket starts from18 euros but it escalates so you’d better buy the tickets in advance.
The TGV trains depart every hour from Terminal 2 and are the most popular means of transport among tourists who plan to visit DLP.
Moving around the park
For first-time visitors of Disneyland Parks, it might be a little difficult to locate all the attractions from the park.
But you don’t have to worry because there are maps available at the entrance of both parks and all you have to do is to pick up one.
The maps are available in multiple languages, so pick the one which is more convenient for you.
Another good thing is that maps contain both parks so you can better plan your day at Disney.
On the map, you can find all the park attractions and restaurants, as well as the time the shows and parades are running that day.
Characters you might meet on that day in the park are also mentioned on the guide map.
Disneyland Paris tickets
Like all themed parks in the world DLP is also expensive to visit, so don’t expect to find anything cheap here.
You can buy a day ticket, a multi-day ticket, or annual passes when visiting the park.
Children up to 3 years have free entrance to the park, while kids between 3 and 11 years have special prices for tickets.
In this article, I will show you the price tickets available for an adult.
Day tickets
For those of you who have just one day to visit the park, you can choose from a day-dated ticket or a day flex ticket.
The dated ticket is a 1 day 1 park ticket which can be used on a certain date, the one you choose when you buy the ticket.
The cost of such a ticket starts from 54 euros for an adult and can go up to 100 euros, depending on the date chosen.
There is also the 1-day flex ticket which gives you the flexibility in choosing the date when you want to visit the park.
The 1-Day Flex ticket is available under 2 forms:
- 1 Day-1 Park at the cost of 89 euros for an adult
- 1 Day- 2 Parks at the cost of 109 euros for an adult.
Multi-Day Flex Ticket
For the lucky ones who have more than one day to spend in the parks, there are the following Disneyland Paris tickets:
- Flex ticket for 2 days for both parks at a cost of 179 euros per ticket for an adult
- Flex ticket for 3 days for both parks at a cost of 219 euros per ticket for an adult
- Flex ticket for 4 days for both parks at a cost of 259 euros per ticket for an adult
Annual Pass
There are 4 annual passes available at Disney:
- Discovery Pass gives access 150 days/ per year at a cost of 179 euros per adult
- Magic Flex Pass with 300 days/per year access at a cost of 259 euros per adult
- Magic Plus Pass with 350 days/year access at a cost of 299 euros per adult
- Infinity Pass with full access at a cost of 449 euros per adult
For a complete review of all these annual passes and when worth buying one of those read my full review of:
FastPasses
Disneyland Fastpass is a program that allows you to avoid lines at certain attractions by getting a ticket that assigns you a 30 minutes window to come back and skip the line.
The basic option of Freepasses is free and available to all ticketed guests, while there are some paid options (Super Fastpass and Ultimate Fastpass), but not worth the money.
What are the DLP free Fastpass rides?
All over the two parks, there are 8 Disneyland Paris Fastpass rides – six rides at Disneyland Park and two rides at Walt Disney Studios Park.
The 6 Fastpass rides at Disneyland Park are:
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
And the two Fastpass rides at Walt Disney Studios Park are:
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
How can you get a Fastpass at DLP?
- Go to the ride as you cannot get the Fastpass from an app or at locations other than the ride.
- You have to go there physically and retrieve the ticket.
- Get in line for the Fastpass machines as most of the visitors want to get the Fastpass ticket and the queue might be sometimes long ( especially for Big Thunder Mountain)
- Scan your Disney park admission ticket at the machine and get your Fastpass ticket. The Fastpass ticket is issued for a 30-minute return window indicated above the machine.
- Return to the ride to use the Fastpass as there is a separate Fastpass entrance to each ride with a Cast Member taking tickets. Give your ticket to the Cast Member who will send you through the Fastpass queue and then onto the ride.
Major Disneyland attractions without Fastpass
The following Disneyland attractions don’t have Fastpass:
- For Disneyland Park is Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor
- For Walt Disney Studios Park is Crush’s Coaster
When to visit Disneyland Paris
With so many magical attractions, parades, and shows all over the year, I can say that it is always a great time to visit DLP.
There are certain moments across the year when the weather is perfect for sightseeing and the crowds are not here yet.
So, if you want to visit the park when the number of guests is fairly low I would advise you to travel during the week, from Tuesday to Thursday and from mid-January to mid-March, from mid-April to mid-May, or from mid-September to mid-November.
The main benefit of visiting the park when it is less crowded is that the queues are shorter and the waiting time is significantly shorter.
The main downside of visiting the park in the off-season is that there are fewer shows and parades during this time of the year.
An interesting period for visiting Disney is the first half of December when everything is decorated with Christmas decorations and there is a fairy tale vibe in the whole park.
I strongly recommend you to visit the park in the first part of December and avoid going after 20 December when the number of visitors explodes and the queues are incredibly long.
For a complete review of Weather in Disneyland and the best time to go check this article:
- Weather for Disneyland in Paris and when to go
How many days to stay at Disneyland Paris
We recommend you at least 2 days at DLP or even 3 if you are a Disney fan.
There are a lot of things to explore in the two parks, which by the way, are extremely detailed, so allocating 1.5 or 2 days for each park is advisable.
If you are not a Disney fan and plan to visit this park just for the sake of your kids then you most probably will need one day for both parks.
Here is a sample of 2 night, three-day itinerary:
- Day 1- Arrival and visit Disneyland park
- Day 2- Visit Walt Disney Studios Park in the morning and Disneyland Park in the afternoon
- Day 3- visit Disneyland Park and depart to Paris
Disneyland main attractions
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is home to some of the most nostalgic and iconic DLP attractions and is the place which you most probably have in mind when you hear about DLP.
The area is located behind Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, in the middle of the park, accessible from Disneyland Adventureland and Main Street, USA.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
This is by far one of the most beautiful Disney castles from all over the world which is visible as you are walking down Main Street, USA when you first enter DLP.
An interesting fact is that you can go inside the castle where you can admire scenes from the movie depicted on the walls.
You can also go outside on a balcony where you have an outstanding view of Fantasyland.
La Taniere du Dragon
The Sleeping Beauty Castle is not complete without a dragon that has to lie somewhere around.
At the bottom of the castle, you can see a fierce dragon sleeping, at least for the moment.
I am sure that if you wait a few moments you might have a surprise so be ready for everything as in the fairytale land everything is possible.
Dragon’s Cave is accessible from both Main Street, USA, and Fantasyland and it is a dark cave not recommendable for children and adults who have fear of the dark.
It’s a small world
Another classic Disney attraction can be found in almost every park including Disneyland Paris.
This is a slow-paced boat ride that takes you through different scenes that shows people and animals from all over the world.
It is a brightly colored attraction with lots of animatronics wearing clothing traditional to the part of the globe they are standing for.
It is full of timeless, Disney nostalgia and is fantastic for people of any age due to the fact that there isn’t an elevation restriction.
While It’s a Small World is preferred amongst determined Disney fans, it normally doesn’t have a long queue.
It is a fantastic choice if you have a FastPass for various Fantasyland destinations and have some extra time left until their return window begins.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups
This attraction from Fantasyland was inspired by the tea party scene in Alice in Wonderland and it is a slow ride, perfect for taking pictures.
All you have to do is to pick a cup, get in and then spin around and around and have a lot of fun.
The cups spin automatically, but you also have an individual wheel that lets you spin faster if you want.
Alice Curious Labyrinth
This is another attraction inspired by the very well-known tale of Alice in Wonderland and it consists of a walk-through maze in which are displayed all the main characters from the movie.
This is a very popular and fun attraction, especially if you have children with you as they can run freely around.
The maze is not very long; it will take you about 10 to 20 minutes to complete it depending on how fast you pass along the figurines.
Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
Translated as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this Disneyland Paris attraction is actually a dark ride where you board a wooden mine train and pass near scenes from the movie.
It is a pretty slow ride suitable for children of all ages, very popular, and does not offer FastPass so expect long queues especially during peak season and in the afternoon.
Le Carrousel de Lancelot
I would say that this is the classical carousel you will find in every Disney Park from all over the world.
You climb the horse you like most and spin around slowing in circles, a quite fun activity for children and people of all ages.
Peter Pan’s flight
This is by far one of the busiest attractions from the entire park so you’d better ride it early in the morning or get a Fastpass for it.
Peter Pan’s Flight is a dark flight where you board a boat and soar above the story of Peter Pan.
You begin in the Darling kids’ bedroom and also end by defeating Captain Hook.
You will pass via all the renowned scenes that make this film the Disney classic it is.
Les Pays de Contes de Fées
Expect a slow boat ride that takes you through miniature dioramas that depict your favorite Disney fairy tales like Tangled, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, or The Little Mermaid.
The good news is that there is no height limit so all children and adults are welcomed.
Casey Jr- le Petit Train du Cirque
Get ready to board Casey Jr train for a fun ride through Storybook Land.
From the train, you will get a short view of Les Pays de Contes de Fees and Dumbo the Flying Elephant, so prepare your camera for some great photos.
Les Voyages de Pinocchio
This experience is very similar to the Snow White dark ride in Fantasyland, but this time you are riding through Pinocchio’s story.
The ride layout and vehicles are the same just that this attraction is less scary for young children because there are brighter colors and a lower number of scary characters.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
After Peter Pan’s Flight, this is the second popular attraction from Fantasyland Disneyland Paris.
The ride vehicles are in the shape of elephants and once you choose your elephant you are lifted into the air and go in a circle while you can control the vehicle and raise it or lower it so that you have the impression that you are flying.
Discoveryland
This is the equivalent of Tomorrowland from other Disneyland parks from all over the world and is home to futuristic attractions.
Discoveryland is located on the left side of Main Street USA and you can access it either from Fantasyland or Main Street, USA.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
One of the newest attractions from the park, this 4D show presents you, Donald, getting into trouble and Mickey trying to save him.
This is also a musical show and a great opportunity to listen to your favorite classic Disney songs.
The show is in the middle of the day and can accommodate a large number of visitors so it might be a good option if you don’t want to stay in the queues for other attractions.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
This is a slow-moving game where you have to shoot different targets with a laser gun with the final purpose of defeating Emperor Zurg.
Each ride vehicle has 2 laser guns and you are contending to see which one of you has the highest score.
This is just one of the longer non-show Disneyland Paris destinations as the trip takes approximately 5 minutes.
You are shooting the entire time, so five minutes goes by rather swiftly, and also you may wind up with a hand cramp by the end of it.
Les Mysteres du Nautilus
The list of Disney Paris attractions continues with Les Mysteres du Nautilus, a very entertaining ride where you have to board a submarine.
You will explore the world created by Jules Verne with 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea and see some of the discoveries made by the crew during the expedition.
Orbitron
Now it’s time to board a spaceship and fly into the solar system designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
With a controller from the inside, you can adjust the height of your spaceship so that you can enjoy the ride without being scared about the heights.
The ride is very similar to the Dumbo attraction just that the scenery is different.
No Fastpass is available for this attraction so you’d better ride it early in the morning as the queue is shorter during that time of the day.
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
This is one of the coolest attractions of the park, especially if you are a Star Wars fan.
You will board a Starspeeder and go on an exciting adventure throughout the Star Wars world.
The queues for this attraction are huge, during peak season you have to wait more than one hour for a ride, but Fastpass is available.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
One of the most interesting combinations between Star Wars elements and one of the most popular roller coasters in Disneyland is this Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain.
This is such a thrilling adventure, it is even better than the original one found in the US parks.
Autopia
Children definitely love this attraction because they can drive a motorized car through a closed course.
For the safety of your kids, there is a metal track along with the cars that prevent kids from driving out of their lane or crashing others.
This attraction might be sometimes crowded and there is no Fastpass available for it, so you’d better ride it in the morning.
Adventureland
Adventureland is located to the left of Fantasyland and on the right side of Frontierland.
You can access this part of the park from Fantasyland, Frontierland, or Main Street, USA.
The area is full of spectacular attractions out of which I will name:
Le Passage Enchanté D’Aladdin
The decor of this Disneyland Paris attraction is extremely beautiful with many bright colors and scenes from the movie Aladdin.
This is a self-paced attraction, which means that you can walk on your own and enjoy the beautiful decor.
Usually, there are no queues for this attraction, so to be more efficient you can visit it while waiting for a nearby attraction where you have a Fastpass.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
This is a unique rollercoaster that can be found only in Disney Paris and in Tokyo DisneySea, so you should not miss it!
It is a very fun activity to try, especially if you are a roller coaster fan so you know what you’ll get: an upside-down loop, a couple of big drops, and a lot of quality time.
La Cabane des Robinson
This attraction consists of climbing into a treehouse and is inspired by the Family Robinson book.
The most interesting part is that you walk around the treehouse and can see with your own eyes how the family would have lived in that house.
Pirates of the Caribbean
I would say this is a classic Disney attraction on which you get on a boat and sail through different scenes from the movie.
It is a pretty popular attraction so expect to stay in the queue for at least 30 minutes before you hop on the boat.
There is no Fastpass for this attraction, but based on my experience I can tell you that late in the afternoon the queue tends to diminish.
Frontierland
Frontierland is the smallest area from Disneyland Paris and is located on the left side of Main Street USA.
The most iconic attractions are:
Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing
This classic boat ride is specific to most Disney parks from all over the world and you actually board in a life-size boat and sail around Frontierland.
It is a good opportunity to admire Big Thunder Mountain and take some great photos of the park.
Big Thunder Mountain
This attraction is similar to other Big Thunder Mountain attractions from other Disney parks from all over the world, but it has more turns and dips than the others.
This rollercoaster is an outside attraction, popular among adults and children of all ages, so the queues are significantly longer, especially during the high season.
Phantom Manor
Disneyland version of Haunted Mansion, the Phantom Manor is not for the weak ones.
It is a slow, dark ride on a board of a buggy along with an old manor that is inhabited by ghosts.
There is a narrator inside the haunted manor, but unfortunately, he speaks only French so this will cut off a little bit of the fun out of the attraction.
Walt Disney Studios Park attractions
Toon Studio
This is the biggest and most popular area in Walt Disney Studios and is home to some of the most popular Disney attractions.
It is located on the right side of the theme park and consists of the following attractions:
Crush’s Coaster
This is a roller-coaster type attraction with dips and turns, just this time you board a turtle shell and go on an ocean journey with characters from the Finding Nemo movie.
The ride starts slow and calm and then the speed is increased as you are riding the East Coast Current.
Being a popular attraction, it attracts many people so expect to stay in the queue for at least 30 minutes.
Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin
This unique Disneyland Paris attraction is created especially for young children which are boarded into a giant Slinky Dog which is chasing his tail.
The queues to this attraction are at least 30 minutes long and the Fastpass is not available for it.
Les Tapis Volants- Flying Carpets over Agrabah
Like the Dumbo ride from Disneyland park, Flying Carpets over Agrabah is also an enjoyable ride for children of all ages.
The only difference is that this time the design is inspired by the Aladdin movie.
RC Racer
This roller coaster attraction boards you in a huge car and goes up and down a half-pipe while you are screaming as loud as you can.
I have to tell you that this is not for everybody, so if you don’t like such an attraction you’d better stay out of it.
Cars Quatre Roues Rallye
This attraction was inspired by Pixar Cars and you have to choose a car you want to ride and all the cars move in circles.
This ride was designed especially for children so don’t expect sudden turns or high speed while you ride the cars.
Even if there is not a Fastpass offer for this attraction, the queue is reasonably long so don’t panic, you will have enough time to explore the rest of the attractions.
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
This is the last Toy Story-related attraction from the park and it is a child-friendly drop of doom-type attraction.
All you have to do is to take a seat in the green seat that has something like a parachute above it and prepare to be dropped into the action.
It is a popular attraction so long queues form all day long around this ride; you might end up waiting for more than 1 hour sometimes.
Ratatouille: The Adventure
One of the best attractions from Disneyland Paris is Ratatouille: The Adventure.
You shrink down the size of a rat and help Remy prepare a special meal.
It is a trackless flight, so you never know where you will certainly end up!
Each time you ride the tourist attraction, it will be a brand-new experience. It is also a 3D destination, so that adds one more aspect of enjoyment to the trip!
Production Courtyard
This area of the park consists of only one attraction: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and you can reach it if you follow the path that goes to the left when you first enter the park.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
You board an elevator that stops working and then you drop from a pretty high altitude ( high for Disney standards).
The attraction is based on the Twilight Zone show and very similar versions can be found in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and Tokyo DisneySea.
Backlot
Backlot is located behind and slightly to the left of Production Courtyard and is the last attraction from the park.
It is made up of the following attractions:
Armageddon: les Effets Spéciaux
This interesting experience consists of a walking tour with a guide who tells you everything you need to know about special effects.
You enter different rooms and see how some of the most popular movie effects were created.
The tour ends in a big room where everybody should stay in a circle and experience an explosion effect.
This part of the tour is not recommended to those of you who have sensitive hearing.
There are a lot of Disneyland Paris attractions to choose from, so book enough time to enjoy everything this park has to offer.
Where to stay
Inside the park there are 6 hotels, all belonging to Disney and located within walking minutes from all the attractions.
As you might expect these hotels are very pricey and the facilities and services are not among the best.
The good news is that in the last few years, Disney started to invest some money and refurbish some of the hotels.
Still, around the Disneyland Paris area, there are some very great hotels with high-quality services and great facilities, and more than that these hotels have partnerships signed with Disney.
When I visited the park I chose to stay in such a hotel and it proved to be a very smart decision.
So, my recommendations for stay around Disney are:
- Radisson Blu Hotel Paris Marme La Vallee – a great 4-star hotel, located 10 minutes drive from the park which offers a free shuttle to and from the park
- Magic Circus Hotel Marne La Vallee Disneyland -also a 4-star hotel, 10 minutes drive from the park which offers a free shuttle to the park every 20 minutes. Rooms have a circus theme and offer views of the countryside, the park or the lake.
- Lelysee Val Europe Disney is located a few minutes drive from the park and The Sea Life Aquarium and offers a free shuttle to the adventure park. The staff is extremely friendly and welcoming, while the services are one of the best in the area.
I bet you are really excited right now and want to try all the rides I have been telling you about!
Disneyland Paris is a unique experience which creates many enjoyable moments for all people, no matter how old they are!
Planning a trip to Disneyland is no more complicated than planning any other trip to Europe so start doing your homework and book everything in advance to get the best price!
And there is something else I want you to ask… to share with us your experience once you come back and let us know which were your favorite attractions!
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Book your accommodation
We always use Booking.com as they have the best price-quality ratio and they offer a wide range of hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and villas to choose from.
You will find here all types of accommodations, from the cheapest ones to the most luxurious.
Don't forget travel insurance
We never leave home without HeyMondo Insurance or Safety Wings Insurance as they offer the best services and a good value for money.
When we go for longer trips around the world we get Globelink Insurance as it offers a good cover for an affordable price.
Travel insurance will always protect you against unexpected costs caused by medical events like illness, injury, theft, or travel cancellation.
We never go on any trip without travel insurance and there were many cases when we had to use it.
Renting a car
We like to explore a country on our own and a car gives us the mobility and freedom to do that.
We always rent our car from Discovercars as they have free cancellation 48 hours prior to starting date and a wide range of car rental companies and options to choose from all over the world.
Tours and attractions
When we are looking for some adventure or we simply want to break up the monotony and discover new places, we always use GetYourGuide.
We love it because we always find the most amazing experiences, with free cancellation and a large variety of activities and tours to choose from.
Airplane tickets and holiday packages
Expedia is our ally when searching for the best price for airplane tickets as it works as an aggregator for a huge number of airlines and we always find the best price for our flights.
Travel tip: use Expedia when you are searching for holiday packages as they have many last-minute offers and great discounts for hotels, flights, and even the whole holiday packages.