Disneyland Paris Tips
Disneyland Paris tips you can't miss
Disneyland Paris is a magical place for children and adults alike. However, it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect! Here are some tips on how to make the most of your day at Disneyland Paris:
Download the Disneyland app beforehand.
Download the Disneyland app beforehand, so you can use it while you're at the park. The app recommends food and drink that's available at different locations throughout Disneyland Paris, and even allows you to place your order in advance and pay for it through your phone. This is a great way to save time when you're hungry!
The app can also help you get around by navigating easily (with step-by-step instructions) through each area of the park, or by providing information on shows and other activities taking place at specific times during your visit.
Pay for breakfast in the hotel but bring bags to take food out of the restaurant with you.
Pick up some pastries from the restaurant and put them in your little bags. These are extremely handy when you feel like you need a little snack waiting in line for a ride.
Use Premier access if you can.
If you can get it, use Premier access. This allows you to skip long queues for rides at Disneyland Paris. It's not available for every ride but when it is, it makes a huge difference to your day! For example, if there's an hour-long wait to go on Space Mountain (and there often is), with Premiere access, we could walk straight onto the ride without waiting even 10 minutes!
Don’t try to do everything
Disneyland is a big place; there’s just too much to see in one day. If you try to squeeze it all in, you’ll end up exhausted from running around and will miss out on all the magic. Instead of trying to do everything in one day, take your time and plan your days ahead of time.
Book a restaurant as early as you can
We recommend booking restaurants as early as you can. Restaurants in Disneyland Paris book up to 180 days in advance, which means that if you wait until the last minute, it's likely that your favorite place will be full.
To make a reservation at any restaurant, simply visit the official website and choose what time you'd like to dine and how many people are with you. Then select "Book now" and follow through with payment information if necessary. You'll receive an email confirmation within 24 hours (though some restaurants may take longer).
Visit the Plaza garden restaurant, Pirates of the Caribbean restaurant and the Ratatouille restaurant
• The food is good.
• The atmosphere is lovely.
• Service is good.
• The locations are great.
• Prices are reasonable
Quick Tip! The Plaza Gardens Restaurant is a good place to watch fireworks from. The wait from 8 pm-10 pm feels long when outside, especially in winter.
Order fast food on the app instead of in person and just pick it up.
The app lets you order food and then pick it up at the restaurant. This makes waiting in line to order a thing of the past, which is great if you're pressed for time or just want to get away from all the people around.
Private transfers are excellent, bus doubles travel time.
When you arrive at the airport and want to get to your hotel as fast as possible, it makes sense to take a private transfer instead of the bus. Not only is it faster, but you also skip all of the stops along the way (and crowds). The downside is that it costs more than taking transportation from one destination to another in Disneyland Paris itself — but if you're saving time by skipping transfers at each stop, then this can be worth it for some people!
Use Disney app
If you're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, download the app before you go. The Disney app will help you plan your day and keep track of what's happening throughout your visit.
• Check wait times for rides and shows
• Get premier access to attractions that have them (such as Peter Pan's Flight)
• Check height requirements for each ride (you don't want to get trapped in an elevator with your small children)
• Make sure you check that all details are correct when purchasing premier access as it can be challenging to correct mistakes. Disney sometimes doesn’t let you transfer to another ride, which might mean visiting guest services or the city hall to approve it. The process can be lengthy and may not always be successful. Double check you are on the correct ride before hitting purchase.
Consider staying in a Disney hotel if you're travelling from far away.
• If you’re travelling from far away, consider staying in a Disney hotel.
• You can take advantage of the free shuttle service from the airport to Disneyland Paris and back again, which will save you time and money compared to taking taxis or other forms of public transportation.
• You can also use Disney's premier access system while staying at one of its hotels: simply download the free app and make reservations as you would if you were staying elsewhere (more on that below).
• If you’re eating at one of the restaurants inside Disneyland Paris itself (ahem, there are many), use the app to make restaurant reservations instead of waiting in line first thing in the morning—trust me on this one!
Check ride height before you buy premier access.
When you buy Premier Access for your trip, the ticket will have a height restriction on it. This is important because if you can't ride a given ride, your child won't be able to either—no exceptions! So before buying any tickets for children who are under 4ft 11in tall, check the ride's height restrictions with an associate at the entrance of each attraction. If there are no restrictions or height requirements, then go ahead and purchase that ticket!
If one of your party members needs to be accompanied by someone taller than them (like a parent), we have good news: Disneyland Paris offers special “Companion Tickets” which allow an adult to accompany their shorter companion free of charge. These tickets can only be used once per day and will come up as "Child" when scanned at each attraction but they'll still get you in without having to pay extra or wait behind everyone else while they clear security checks (and we're all about saving time).
Don't skip the classic rides.
You can't go to Disneyland Paris without trying the classics. You may have heard that those rides are not always the most popular with children, and that's true—but it doesn't mean you should skip them. The classic rides at Disneyland Paris are just as fun for adults as they are for kids, so take advantage of them if you get a chance!
One example of a classic ride is Space Mountain: Mission 2, which was built in 1995 and was one of approximately 30 versions of Space Mountain around the world (including one in Florida). It's worth riding even if you've already been on this version or another before. I'd say it's an absolute must-ride no matter what kind of rider you are!
Another example is Phantom Manor, an attraction based on The Phantom Of The Opera musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber that opened in 1993 at Walt Disney Studios Park (the second park ever built at Disneyland Resort Paris). Originally called Le Château Hanté du Comte Rahir (The Haunted Castle Of Count Rahir), this haunted house ride has been thrilling guests since then and still delivers chills today!
Always bring a rain jacket; it's likely to rain. Bring pocket warmers, and layer up in winter. Hats to children especially on rides. Waterproof boots are a must.
• Always bring a rain jacket; it's likely to rain.
• Bring pocket warmers, layer up in winter, and hats on children, especially on rides. Waterproof boots.
Pack snacks and water bottles to save money, or keep an eye out for complimentary snacks.
• Pack snacks and water bottles. Disneyland Paris is an expensive place to eat, so consider bringing your snacks and water bottles to save some money. There are plenty of places around the park where you can buy food and drinks, but they're not usually at a discount compared to what you'd pay in other parts of Europe.
• Look out for complimentary snacks. While we don't recommend going hungry at Disneyland Paris, it's worth noting that there are some complimentary bites throughout the park that won't cost a cent: along with ice cream carts and popcorn stands, look out for fruit baskets at various locations throughout the park (and keep an eye on their dates!). These will give you a quick energy boost without having to spend any money!
Avoid restaurants during peak times (12-2) and opt for sit-down restaurants instead of fast food joints.
During peak times, you are going to pay a lot more for food. Also, your options will be limited if you don’t have a reservation. Hence, it is best to avoid restaurants during this period and opt for sit-down restaurants instead of fast food joints. You can save money by bringing snacks and water bottles from home or using the app to order fast food when you need it most.
If you have some extra cash to spare, staying in one of the Disney hotels may be a good choice because they offer discounted meals if you order through them (order at least 24 hours before).
Disney has helpful tips on their website, so look there first!
Disneyland Paris has a list of helpful tips on its website. These include everything from which attractions are closed during certain times of the year to how to find your way back home if you get lost. We highly recommend reading through them before planning your trip!
Conclusion
So there you have it! We hope that this article has helped help you plan your trip to Disneyland Paris. If you have any other Disney tips, please leave them below and we'll be sure to add them to the list!
