Disneyland Paris Tips: Insider Secrets to Make the Most of Your Trip

Visiting Disneyland Paris is an experience that many dream of, and with the right preparation, it can be an unforgettable one. The park is home to iconic Disney characters, exciting rides, and spectacular shows that will transport you to a magical world.

Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in Europe, and it’s not hard to see why. The park offers something for everyone, from young children to adults. It’s a place where memories are made and where you can relive the magic of your childhood.

However, it’s essential to plan your visit before you go. With so much to see and do, it’s crucial to make the most of your time at Disneyland Paris. From purchasing tickets in advance to knowing the best time to visit, a little bit of planning can go a long way in ensuring that you have a magical experience at the park.

Purchase Tickets in Advance

One of the best tips for visiting Disneyland Paris is to purchase your tickets online before your visit. Not only can you save money by purchasing in advance, but you also avoid the hassle of waiting in long lines to purchase tickets at the park.

Additionally, consider purchasing multi-day tickets. This will allow you to experience all that the park has to offer without feeling rushed. With a multi-day ticket, you can take your time to enjoy the rides and shows and even come back to your favorite ones multiple times.

Also, you will have the opportunity to park hop, going from Disneyland Park to Walt Disney Studios Park and back again whenever you like. If one park is too busy, you can always head to the other!

Stay at a Disney Hotel

Staying at one of the on-site Disneyland Paris hotels is another great way to maximize your time at Disneyland Paris. It’s not only an opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the Disney magic, but it also offers exclusive access to the Extra Magic Hour.

Extra Magic Hours

Extra Magic Hours allow you to enter the park an hour before it opens to the general public, giving you a head start on the crowds and allowing you to experience some of the most popular attractions with shorter wait times. This is an excellent opportunity to ride on your favorite attractions and take pictures with less crowd around you.

Character Breakfasts

One of the highlights of staying at a Disney hotel is the opportunity to enjoy a character breakfast. This is a unique dining experience where you’ll have the chance to meet and interact with some of your favorite Disney characters while enjoying a delicious meal.

Character breakfasts are offered at several of the Disney hotels and typically feature an all-you-can-eat buffet with a variety of breakfast items. The characters will come to your table for photos and autographs, making it a great opportunity for families with young children.

The characters that will be joining you for breakfast will vary depending on the hotel and the day, but you can expect to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and others. It is a great way to start your day in the park and make a memorable experience for your kids and family.

Keep in mind that character breakfast reservations are usually required, so be sure to book in advance. Also, it’s best to check the schedule and availability for the dates of your stay so that you can plan accordingly.

More Disney Magic

Disney hotels also offer a variety of amenities, such as a shuttle service to the parks and Disney-themed rooms. It’s a great way to make your stay a truly magical experience. Many of the hotels offer different themes, such as Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne with a wild west theme or Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe with a southwestern theme. Each of them provides a unique experience and memories.

Plus, the convenience of staying on-site means that you’re just a short walk or shuttle ride away from the park, so you can easily come back to your hotel for a break during the day. This is especially helpful if you’re traveling with young children or if you’re planning to stay for multiple days. It allows you to take a break and rest and then return to the park refreshed and ready to continue exploring.

Plan Your Day

One of the best tips for visiting Disneyland Paris is to plan your day in advance. This will help you make the most of your time in the park and ensure that you don’t miss out on any of the attractions or shows that you want to see.

It is also important to take into consideration the park’s parades and fireworks schedule, as they are one of the highlights of the park and are usually very popular, so make sure you have a good spot for viewing them.

Arrive early at the park; this will give you an opportunity to experience some of the less crowded attractions before the crowds arrive.

One last tip, be flexible with your plans and be open to changes. Sometimes unexpected experiences are the most memorable ones.

Disneyland Paris App

The best way to plan your day is to use the Disneyland Paris app. It provides a ton of real-time information on wait times, show schedules, and Fastpass availability. You can also use it to make dining reservations, purchase tickets, and even navigate the park.

Park Map

As of September 2022, Disneyland Paris was the first Disney theme park to remove paper maps from their distribution in favor of a digital option. Therefore if you want to navigate the parks, you’ll need the app.

The interactive park map will provide you with information on all the attractions, shows, and restaurants that are available. It’s a good idea to make a rough itinerary of the attractions you want to see and the shows you want to watch. This will give you a better idea of how to move around the park and make the most of your time.

Wait Times

Via the map view or a list view, the Disneyland Paris app provides real-time information on wait times, show schedules, and Premiere Access “Fast Lane” availability.

Dining Reservations

You can also use it to make dining reservations at sit-down restaurants. Additionally, for some quick-service restaurants, such as Casey’s Corner, you can order via the app in advance and pick up your order when it’s ready, completely skipping the line.

Pro Tip:

You can download and install the app at any time. There’s no need to wait until you’re at the Disneyland Paris resort. And if you install the app in advance, you can actually start monitoring the wait times of rides from the comfort of your home.

This gives you the opportunity to get an idea of the average wait times you should expect for any given ride. You can also check in at various times throughout the day to see which rides have longer or shorter lines during the morning vs. the afternoon vs. the evening.

Take Advantage of Disney Premiere Access

If you’re willing to pay a premium, the Disney Premiere Access option can be a great choice. It is available for some of the most popular rides and attractions in the park and provides you with a window of time during which you can use an express entrance to bypass the standby line.

There are two options to purchase Disney Premiere Access:

One (pay per attraction)

• Prices range from 5€ to 16€
• Prices are per guest and per ride.
• Given a time slot when you are allowed to ride

Ultimate (all attractions except Orbitron)

• 90€ to 190€ per guest
• price range based on low-season vs. high-season
• Can use 1 time on each eligible ride
• No time slots, can use whenever you wish

Here is a list of the rides that offer Disney Premiere Access:

Disneyland Park

• Big Thunder Mountain
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
• Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
• Star Tours : L’Aventure Continue
• Autopia
• Phantom Manor
• Orbitron (Not included in Ultimate)
• Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril

Walt Disney Studios Park

• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
• Ratatouille
• Cars ROAD TRIP
• Crush’s Coaster
• Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
• Avengers Assemble: Flight Force

If you have limited time in the parks, or you’re traveling with young children that aren’t accustomed to long lines, the Premiere Access option could be well worth the premium surcharge.

Dining and Shopping

Disneyland Paris offers a wide variety of dining options, from quick-service restaurants to sit-down table service and even character dining experiences. To make the most of your time, it’s a good idea to make dining reservations in advance, especially for table service restaurants.

Some of the most popular dining options include Auberge de Cendrillon for character dining with Cinderella and her friends, Walt’s – An American Restaurant for a sit-down meal, and the Plaza Gardens Restaurant for a buffet lunch or dinner.

For a quick and easy meal, there are also plenty of counter-service restaurants and food carts throughout the park, offering a variety of options from burgers and fries to sandwiches and salads.

In addition to the dining options, Disneyland Paris also offers a wide range of shopping experiences. From souvenir shops to designer boutiques, there’s something for everyone, for example, the Disney Fashion Store, which offers a variety of Disney-themed clothing and accessories.

Souvenirs Available Outside the Parks

Lastly, if you’re looking to bring home a piece of the magic, don’t forget to check out the Disney Village. This gives you the ability to spend your time inside the parks focusing on the attractions, shows and parades that you can’t find elsewhere. And doing your souvenir shopping at a more relaxed pace outside the parks.

In the Disney Village, you’ll find a variety of shops and restaurants. Some of the must-visit shops include World of Disney, which offers a wide range of Disney merchandise. Much of what you can find in the parks you can find here as well.

This is a perfect spot for some last-minute shopping and dining before leaving the park.

Don’t Miss the Parades and Shows

One of the highlights of a visit to Disneyland Paris is the parades and shows that take place throughout the day. From the colorful Disney Magic on Parade to the spectacular Disney Illuminations show, these performances are not to be missed.

The Disney Stars on Parade is a daily parade that features all of your favorite Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, and the Disney Princesses. The parade starts at the Central Plaza in Disneyland Park and winds its way through the park, ending in Fantasyland. Be sure to get there early to secure a good viewing spot.

Another must-see show is Disney Illuminations. This spectacular nighttime show combines stunning projections, pyrotechnics, and special effects to tell the story of Disney’s most beloved characters. The show takes place at Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park and is the perfect way to end your day at the park.

In addition to the parades and fireworks shows, there are also a variety of other entertainment options throughout the park, such as the extremely popular Frozen: A Musical Invitation. As well as the Disney Junior Dream Factory show, both of which take place in Walt Disney Studios Park.

Lastly, be sure to check the park schedule for show times as they change throughout the year, and plan your day accordingly. With so many incredible performances to choose from, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss any of them during your visit.

Extra Tips

Here are a few of our favorite tips to make your visit to Disneyland Paris even more magical:

Crowds

When planning your trip to Disneyland Paris, it’s important to keep in mind that the park can get very crowded, especially during peak season.

• To avoid crowds, try to plan your visit during the off-season or during the weekdays.
• Wednesdays can be busy as well. Schoolkids in France do not have school on Wednesdays

Shoes

Another tip to make the most of your visit is to bring comfortable shoes.

• Disneyland Paris is a large park, and you’ll be doing a lot of walking
• Make sure to wear shoes that will keep your feet comfortable throughout the day.
• Be humble, think about form and comfort over fashion

Weather

Always check the weather before you pack. The weather in France can be very different from one week to another.

If you’re visiting in the spring or summer:

• Be prepared for the sun and the possibility of heat
• Don’t forget to bring sunscreen
• Bring lots of water, as staying hydrated is very important

If you’re visiting in the fall or winter:

• Bring a jacket at a minimum
• Be prepared for rain with a poncho or umbrella

Strollers

If you’re traveling with young children, it’s a good idea to bring a stroller. This will not only make it easier to navigate the park, but it will also provide a place for your child to rest. And if your child wants to walk, the stroller can be a good place to store bags, water bottles, souvenirs, etc.

Conclusion

Disneyland Paris is a magical place to visit for all ages, and with a little bit of planning ahead, you can make the most out of your trip. From thrilling rides and attractions to parades and shows to dining and shopping options, there’s never a dull moment at the parks.

Remember to check the weather before packing, so you’re prepared for any temperature changes during your stay, as well as bring comfortable shoes for walking around the park. And if traveling with young children, don’t forget a stroller—it will make it much easier when navigating through the park!

Whether you’re visiting with your family and friends or on your own, Disneyland Paris is sure to be a trip you’ll never forget. It’s the perfect destination for anyone who loves Disney and wants to experience the magic firsthand. So pack your bags, grab your mouse ears, and get ready for an unforgettable trip to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland Paris.