Useful tips to help you enjoy Disneyland Paris to the fullest and without stress.
Disneyland Paris is not just a theme park, but a lifelong dream for young and old alike. A whole world of imagination where childhood dreams meet reality lies just 40 kilometers from the center of Paris. It is one of the most popular family destinations in Europe, attracting millions of visitors of all ages every year. Here, fairy tales come to life through spectacular castles, themed rides and daily shows that blend music, lights and a cinematic feel.
The complex includes two different parks, Disneyland Park, with the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle, and Walt Disney Studios Park, which is dedicated to cinema. To experience the trip without stress and unnecessary hassle you need proper preparation. Below you will find six useful tips that will help you organize your visit better so you can enjoy every moment.
Choose the timing of your visit carefully
The season you choose to visit Disneyland Paris plays a huge role in your overall experience. For example, the months with fewer crowds are January, February and mid-November. At the same time those dates are ideal both for finding Paris quieter and for finding more affordable airfares. Conversely, summer, Easter, Christmas and school holidays are the periods when you will encounter large crowds and you will find your visit more challenging.
During the holidays the queues are enormous and the wait will tire both you and the children. The weather plays a big role, as on rainy days the park is noticeably emptier. If you do not mind the rain, then you will truly enjoy your visit, as long as you have waterproof ponchos with you so you do not get wet. Regarding the best days for your visit, the quietest are Tuesday to Thursday, provided they are not public holidays in France.
Download the official Disneyland Paris app
What will really save you is downloading the Disneyland Paris app for your phone. There you will find all the essential information about the park and every ride. In addition, you can reserve a table at a restaurant and view the menu in advance, something that will be very useful so you do not wait in queues with the kids.
You can also see the map and queue wait times, check parade and show times and reserve a spot in a specific area for a better view. The app will also be useful for booking and using Disney Premier Access (fast pass). If you are staying at a Disneyland hotel you can use it in many cases as your room key.
Plan your schedule the right way
Disneyland Paris consists of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Trying to see everything in just one day is exhausting and can feel truly disappointing. If you have the option -financially and time-wise- to visit the park for two full days, that is the ideal scenario to see it all. If you can only be there for one day it is better to visit Disneyland Park. However, if you absolutely want to see both on the same day, split your time between them (Disneyland is open all day and hours vary depending on the season and the park).
To avoid waiting at the ticket counter it is a good idea to buy your tickets in advance for the day you will go. There are two types of tickets: dated (you can cancel it up to 3 days before your visit) and undated (validfor 1 year from the purchase date, non-refundable and more expensive). An easy solution, if you want to visit for two days, is to stay in one of the hotels located inside the park. Although they are noticeably more expensive than hotels outside the complex, you will not need to travel at all and you will have immediate access to the rides. If you are staying off-site, then you should check the train schedules or the Magical Express shuttle bus early on.
Make the most of Extra Magic Time
If you are staying at a Disneyland hotel you have one of the biggest perks: access to the park earlier than the general public via Extra Magic Time. It is worth taking advantage of it because it will give you exclusive access to the parks an hour earlier, and the option to leave later than all visitors staying off-site. In practice this means you will enjoy the park more with minimal or even zero waiting at the most popular rides and you will be able to take photos with Mickey, Minnie and the other Disney characters with ease and without many people around.
This way you will be able to see more in less time and take an earlier break for food when the restaurants are not crowded.Extra Magic Time applies to every day of your stay, even on arrival and departure days, as long as you have a valid park ticket. For many visitors this perk alone makes staying at a hotel within Disneyland worth the money. Because availability is limited do not forget to check it online 3 months before your arrival.
Plan your meals in advance
A midday break for food is essential to rest from the rides and all the standing. Disneyland Paris’s popular restaurants fill up quickly, especially during peak periods. Choose the one you want and book a table through the app to save time. Alternatively, you can choose quick street food options, but make sure you go at off-peak times to avoid queues. Roughly between 14:00 – 16:00 the park fills up with people and so do the restaurants.
A break for food helps you return to the parks rested so you can manage to see the evening show. Another solution that will save you is, if you are staying at a hotel inside Disneyland, to go back there for food and rest. This way you will definitely avoid the crowds.
Stay until the evening for the show
Many visitors leave the park earlier, missing one of the most impressive experiences Disneyland offers. Just before nightfall the theme park becomes even more enchanting. If you are there with your family, you certainly do not want to miss this magical moment with Disney’s grand parade. Make sure to check what time the evening show is on the day you visit and head to the castle about an hour earlier to secure a good spot.
The magical day will end with music, a parade of our favorite characters, an impressive light show on the castle and fireworks. If you have planned to visit the park for two days, a good tip is to use one evening during the show to hop on the rides that usually have long queues, as they have no queues at all at that time. This way, you will save time without paying extra for a Premier Access pass.
