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Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris can be confusing for first timers.
How long do you need for the two parks? Should you stay in a Disney hotel or offsite? What’s the best way to get there? How do you avoid long lines? Which rides are best?
In this detailed guide, I answer all these questions and share my best Disneyland Paris tips and tricks. Simon and I have visited the Paris parks several times (with many more trips to Disney parks around the world).
Contents
- An Introduction to Disneyland Paris
- When to Visit Disneyland Paris
- How Many Days at Disneyland Paris
- Where to Stay for Disneyland Paris
- How to Get to Disneyland Paris
- Disneyland Paris Tickets
- The Essential Disneyland Paris App
- Time Saving Tips for Disneyland Paris
- Best Rides at Disneyland Paris
- Food in the Parks
- More Disneyland Paris Tips
- Disneyland Paris Map
- Final Thoughts
- Recommended Reading
An Introduction to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, France, about 32km (20 miles) east of Paris.
It consists of two parks next to each other. Disneyland Park has a fairytale castle, classic Disney characters, and the most rides.
Walt Disney Studios Park has far fewer rides (but some very fun ones) and several live musical shows. It’s currently under construction before World of Frozen opens in 2026 and is a half-day park.
See my guide to visiting both Disneyland Parks in one day for a more detailed comparison.
Disney Village is also near both parks and the train station. It doesn’t require a park ticket and includes shops, restaurants, and some of the Disney hotels.
When to Visit Disneyland Paris
The Best Time of Year
You can visit Disneyland Paris any time of year, and each season has pros and cons.
The summer has the best weather and longer park hours, but prices are higher, and it’s busy during the school holidays. We still enjoyed our August visit, and avoiding long lines is possible. The last week of August is usually the quietest.
The weather in spring and autumn is mixed. You could have beautiful sun, cooler rainy days, or a mix of both.
In late May, we had sunny 22ºC days and one drizzly 17ºC day. In mid-September, temperatures were cooler (16-18ºC) and it rained intermittently.
Disneyland Park always looks lovely, but the flowers are especially beautiful in spring.
Top tip – Our ponchos made rainy days in the parks enjoyable. We got this two poncho pack from Amazon for half the price of one sold in the parks. The advantage of rainy days is that the parks are usually quieter so don’t let it stop you exploring.
Crowds are lower if you avoid school holidays like Easter (May and June are quieter than April).
To see the park with the best decorations, visit in autumn and early winter. October is Halloween season (with parades, villainous characters, and more), but we saw some park decor in September.
Christmas is the most magical time of year at Disneyland Paris, but it’s one of the busiest. It runs from early November to early January with beautiful decorations, a huge tree, festive parade, Christmas show, and seasonal treats.
While winter is generally cold, grey, and wet, it’s not too cold to enjoy the parks with some warm clothes (average maximum 8ºC in January) and snow is rare. January and February are the quietest months.
A good way to get a sense of expected crowds is to check the price calendars on the Disneyland Paris website—for tickets or Disney hotels (if you are considering staying onsite).
The Queue Times site also lists stats for Disneyland Paris, including the average crowd level by month and day of the week.
The Best Days of the Week
Weekends are busiest at Disneyland Paris, especially Saturdays, so travel mid-week if possible. Tuesdays to Thursdays are the quietest (assuming no holidays).
On one September trip, we visited Sunday – Wednesday as Sunday was the cheapest arrival day for our hotel (Disney Hotel New York). This varies depending on the hotel and season.
We found Sunday night in the parks very quiet (perhaps because it was raining).
On our latest May trip, we visited Tuesday to Thursday. Thursday was much busier than Wednesday, but I think this was more due to the fact that it rained on Wednesday and was sunny on Thursday.
How Many Days at Disneyland Paris
Two full days is a good amount of time for a Disneyland Paris trip. You’ll likely spend about half a day in Walt Disney Studios Park and 1.5 days in Disneyland Park.
If you have limited time or budget, you can see the highlights of both parks in one long day. See my Disneyland Paris two park itinerary for how to manage your time.
You might consider three or four days in the parks if you want to do it all at a relaxed pace—experience all the rides, characters, parades, shopping, etc. Disneyland Park is a beautiful park to explore.
More time is especially useful for families with small children who won’t be able to travel at as fast a pace as us child-free adults.
We usually spend two or three nights at Disney Paris. Note that with a Disney package, you get a ticket for one day more than your stay.
So for a two-night stay, you get a three-day ticket. Our typical itinerary is to pop into the park on arrival evening, have a full day the next day, and then do anything else remaining on departure day (leaving luggage at the hotel) before moving into Paris that evening.
We always like to combine Disneyland Paris with a few days in central Paris (see our one day in Paris itinerary). If you don’t want to do that, you might prefer to stay longer at Disney.
Where to Stay for Disneyland Paris
Your biggest decision is whether to stay onsite in an official Disney Hotel or save some money with an offsite hotel or apartment.
While you could visit Disneyland as a day trip from central Paris, I recommend staying closer so you can get an early start and stay late without a tiring commute.
Onsite Disney Hotels
There are two major advantages of staying onsite at a Disney hotel:
- Extra Magic Time – Hotel guests can enter the parks one hour earlier than other guests. This is a huge advantage, and we usually ride the 4-5 most popular rides before the parks officially open.
- Location – Not all official hotels are within walking distance of the parks, but those that are make life so much easier. You don’t have to get up so early, you can take a break in the afternoon when the parks are busiest, and it’s an easy commute back to your hotel after a tiring day.
We also love being in the Disney bubble and feeling far away from the real world.
The closer hotels are to the parks, the more expensive they are. These are the official hotels with an example total price for two adults for accommodation and tickets for 2 nights/3 days in mid-September 2025 (in British pounds).
Note that it tends to be cheaper the further ahead you book.
Disney Hotels in Walking Distance
All these have free shuttle buses if you don’t want to walk.
- Disneyland Hotel – This gorgeous 5-star hotel is newly refurbished and located at the entrance gate to Disneyland Park. We absolutely loved it when we stayed here on our last visit (read our Disneyland Hotel Paris review). £1403.
- Disney Hotel New York – We enjoyed our stay at this Marvel-themed hotel. A 10-minute walk from the parks. £851.
- Newport Bay Club – A traditional, nautical-themed hotel. 15-minute walk. £667.
- Sequoia Lodge – A US National Park-themed hotel. Dated but good value considering its location a 15-minute walk from the parks (it’s only just beyond Hotel NY). It’s being refurbished in 2026. £579.
- Hotel Cheyenne – A cowboy/ Toy Story hotel popular with families, although there’s no pool. A great budget option. 20-minute walk. £579.
- Hotel Santa Fe – Motel-style accommodation themed around Cars. No pool. 20-minute walk. £509.
Disney Nature Resorts
If you are driving, consider one of these holiday parks a 15-minute drive away. They are popular with families who want more space, a kitchen, and activities for kids.
- Disney David Crockett Ranch – Stay in a woodland cabin with kitchen. There’s a pool, mini golf, and tennis. £502.
- Les Villages Nature Paris – A Center Parcs facility with a large water park, farm, kids club, spa, bowling, and many other activities. Accommodation is in apartments. £550.
Disneyland Hotel Review
We recently booked a last-minute trip to the Disneyland Hotel and absolutely loved it. I never thought we’d stay here due to its high price, but if you can afford it, it is worth the splurge.
The lobby, bar, and rooms are beautiful, and the princess sightings add to the magic, but the location is the real selling point. It was a four-minute walk from our room in the West Wing (the furthest point from the entrance) to the special park entrance just for hotel guests.
I was able to take lots of breaks during the day and it was my most relaxed Disney Paris visit ever.
Read my full Disneyland Hotel Paris Review to help you decide if it’s worth the high price.
Disney Hotel New York Review
Although not quite as fancy as Disneyland Hotel, we also enjoyed our stay at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel.
Pros
- The second closest hotel to the parks. It took us 10 minutes door-to-door, including the elevator and park security.
- Marvel artwork in rooms and throughout the hotel.
- Spacious rooms with plenty of storage.
- It was refurbished in 2021, so it feels modern.
- Indoor and outdoor pool and sauna.
- Downtown Restaurant is highly rated for its buffet (we didn’t eat in the hotel, though).
- Disney Village restaurants are on your doorstep (including our fave Earl of Sandwich).
Cons
- It’s the second most expensive Disney Paris hotel.
- A few things weren’t working—one elevator and ice machines on two floors.
- Room service was very expensive (except for a la carte breakfast, which seemed reasonable—€12 for a vegan breakfast).
- It was hard to find when arriving at the train station (not well signposted). The quickest way is to walk through Disney Village, but you’ll have to go through security. Or walk through the bus stops and go right along the road to reach the front of the hotel.
- We were at the far end of the corridor, so it was a fairly long walk to the elevators. Request a room closer to the elevator if you want a quick exit.
Saving Time at Check-In
One of my top Disney Paris tips, if you stay in a Disney hotel, is to check in via the app and unlock your room with your phone. This avoids long lines at reception.
We filled in our details in advance and told the app we had arrived as soon as we stepped off the train.
You definitely want to do this step as soon as possible as there was a delay in getting our room number (despite being hours after the 3pm check-in time). By the time we found our way to the Marvel hotel, we had our room number and went straight up.
Note that we couldn’t get this to work for the Disneyland Hotel, but it ended up working out for the best.
There was no line at check in and we were given a beautiful souvenir guide to the hotel. We could unlock our room with our MagicPass keycard (which also works as a park ticket) or the app.
Offsite Accommodation
It’s almost always cheaper to stay in a non-Disney hotel; some aren’t too far from the parks.
Be sure to do a price comparison including tickets, though, as a Disney package in one of the cheaper hotels can sometimes work out not much more expensive than staying offsite and buying tickets separately.
On our first Disney Paris trip, we stayed at Grand Magic Hotel. It was modern and comfortable with a pool.
It’s a 30-minute walk from the parks (we walked to Disney Village on arrival evening), but you’ll likely want to take the free shuttle, which is shared with other hotels in the area. It takes about 15 minutes.
Hotel Explorers is another nearby option on the same shuttle route.
On Airbnb and Booking.com you can also find self-catering accommodation not far from the parks, which families might appreciate. Try searching for Disneyland Paris, Chessy, or Serris.
How to Book Disney Paris Accommodation
When we stayed offsite, we used Booking.com to find hotels (they also have apartments).
We now prefer to stay onsite and book directly on the Disneyland Paris website. All hotel stays include two-park tickets (including your arrival and departure days).
You can also book official Disney hotels like Hotel New York on Booking.
The advantage of using Booking is that prices don’t include tickets, and this can work out cheaper if you don’t need as many days as the official hotel packages give you.
For example, two nights at Hotel New York on Booking in January costs £509 for two adults. The same dates on the Disneyland Paris website cost £814.
If you only needed a one-day/two-park ticket, this would cost an extra £150 for two adults, so it works out cheaper to use Booking.com (£659 total).
But, if you want the three-day ticket you get with the hotel package, this would cost an extra £372 for two, so booking on the Disney website is cheaper.
When you book on the Disney site, you only have to pay a 15% deposit; the balance is due two months before. You can change or cancel your booking up to seven days before arrival without charge.
When we cancelled a hotel, we had to do so by phone, which wasn’t ideal, but it was easy, and we got a full refund.
Disney UK
Another option if you travel from the UK is to use the Disney Holidays website, the official Disney site for Brits.
We used it to book our latest Disney World Florida trip and it was cheaper than booking on the US website.
On the Disney Holidays website, you can search for packages that include transport (flight, Eurostar train, or self-drive ferry) with the hotel and tickets.
It’s worth comparing to booking individually to see how much this saves you, but it’s a good starting point, especially if you aren’t sure which transport method to use.
How to Get to Disneyland Paris
Here are the three ways to get to Disneyland Paris from England.
If you are travelling from further afield, you will likely fly to Paris or take the train from within Europe.
Central Paris to Disneyland Paris
If you are already in Paris, take the RER A train to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. From Chatelet Les Halles (a central station near the Louvre), this takes 40 minutes. Use Google Maps to find the route from your location.
On the departure screens on the train platform, Marne-la-Vallée is marked with Mickey ears to make it easy to see which train you need.
The journey costs €2.50 with a Metro Train ticket (Zone 1-5) from any station in central Paris (including transfers). (Note: this is new—the old metro t-tickets were not valid to Disneyland. This is a big improvement).
You can buy tickets from machines at the stations, but we found lines long at Gare du Nord after getting off the Eurostar.
You can now buy tickets in Apple Wallet if you have an iPhone, which makes things so much easier. You need to add a Navigo card and then buy an individual ticket. With Express Mode activated, you don’t even need to open the card on your phone or watch—just tap your device on the ticket machines.
If you don’t have an iPhone, you can also buy tickets from the Île-de-France Mobilités app but it doesn’t sound as easy.
Note that RER A is a commuter train and can be very busy, at least until you get further out of the city.
Marne-la-Vallée Chessy Station is next to Disney Village and a 2-minute walk from the two park gates.
Eurostar Train
We always travel to Paris on the Eurostar train from London St Pancras as it’s a comfortable, easy, and environmentally friendly journey.
There is no longer a direct Eurostar to Disneyland Paris, so you will need to change at Paris Gare du Nord or Lille.
Via Paris Gare du Nord
Travelling via Paris gives you more train options, and it can work out cheaper. It is a longer journey that requires two transfers, though.
From Gare du Nord, take the RER B or D to Chatelet Les Halles then transfer to the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy (see above).
From London to Paris, the Eurostar takes about 2.5 hours.
The trip from Gare du Nord to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy technically takes an hour and we have managed it in this time in reverse (on our way back from Disney). But the transfer took us two hours on a Sunday evening due to long lines for ticket machines at Gare du Nord and waits for trains.
Consider this route if it’s much cheaper, but we’ll go via Lille next time. I would especially avoid going via Paris if you have lots of luggage or small children.
Via Lille
The other train route to Disneyland Paris is to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Lille Europe and then transfer to the fast TGV train to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. You can book the whole journey on the Eurostar website (up to four months in advance).
The transfer at Lille is easy and the TGV train is quieter and more comfortable than the RER trains.
The total journey will be quicker—around 3 hours with the best connection (35 minutes to transfer in Lille is plenty).
Disney Express Service
If you want to maximise your first day at Disney and are staying at a Disney hotel, you could pay extra for the Disney Express service, which is located at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy Station.
You drop off your luggage at the station (it’s transferred to your hotel room) and pick up your tickets so you can head straight into the parks.
We haven’t used it ourselves but some people (especially families) love the convenience.
Flying
Flying to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) can work out cheaper than the Eurostar, but it’s less comfortable, and you have to allow more time to check-in.
If you are travelling from outside of South England, it’s worth considering.
From Charles de Gaulle Airport to Disneyland Paris, you can take the Magic Shuttle bus to the parks and hotels (about 45 minutes), book a private transfer, or take a train from Terminal 2.
The TGV train is the fastest option as it only takes 10 minutes. It costs from €20.
Driving
Some families with small children prefer to drive to Disneyland Paris from England. This can be the cheapest option, and you’ll have no luggage restrictions, but it will take longer.
It would be especially convenient if you stay at one of the holiday parks a short drive from Disneyland Paris.
There are two options to get across the channel:
Car Ferry
P&O Ferries sail from Dover to Calais and take about 90 minutes. From Calais, it’s a 3-hour drive to Disneyland Paris.
Le Shuttle Train
Le Shuttle (previously Eurotunnel) train runs from Folkestone to Calais and takes you through the Channel Tunnel. It takes 35 minutes.
It’s usually a little more expensive than the ferry.
Price Comparison
If you are coming from the UK, it’s worth checking the Disney Holidays website to see how the packages including transport compare to booking individually.
Here are some example prices for two adults staying at Disney Sequoia Lodge for three nights in September 2025. It includes hotel, tickets, and transport.
- Eurostar from London St Pancras via Lille – £1202
- Easyjet flight from London Luton (other airports available) – £1029
- Self-drive and ferry from Dover to Calais – £927
- No transport – £784
If you are travelling with a group larger than two, the saving for self-driving is even greater. With two adults and two kids, the Eurostar package costs £1946 and the ferry costs £1253.
Don’t forget to allow for petrol costs, though.
Disneyland Paris Tickets
You must book Disneyland Paris tickets in advance for a certain date as they are no longer sold at the gates.
Ticket costs vary depending on the time of year you visit. A one day/two park ticket starts from €81 for adults in low season (such as weekdays in mid-January) to €124 in high season (such as Christmas week).
You can buy tickets on the Disneyland Paris website or on Get Your Guide or Klook. They usually have the same prices and you just show the QR code to enter.
You can then link your ticket on the Disneyland Paris app (by scanning the ticket) to be able to access virtual queues and premier access.
1 or 2 Park Tickets
I recommend getting a two park ticket as you can easily hop between both parks. The exception is if you only have one day and are travelling with small children—you’re probably best off sticking to Disneyland Park.
Tickets for Onsite Resort Guests
If you are staying at a Disney hotel and book direct, tickets will be included (see above).
Once you’ve booked, you can access a digital ticket (your MagicPass) in the app and save it to Apple Wallet if you have an iPhone.
Note that there is no Express Mode at Disneyland Paris (unlike Walt Disney World), so you will need to bring up the QR code on your phone or watch to enter the parks.
Your room keycard also works as a park ticket.
The Essential Disneyland Paris App
Be sure to download the Disneyland Paris mobile app before your visit and familiarise yourself with it.
Here’s what you can use it for:
- Link your park ticket and use it to enter the park.
- Use it as a room key for Disney hotels.
- Check ride wait times – I recommend looking in the days leading up to your trip to get an idea of wait times at different times of day. Go to the Maps section, List view, then heart your priority rides. These will show up in the Wishlist for easy access.
- Buy Premier Access – To skip the lines for rides.
- See show times and reserve viewing areas for the night show.
- Join virtual queues to meet certain characters.
- Plan your meals – Book table service restaurants, view menus, and make click and collect orders for quick service restaurants.
- Find the nearest toilets and other guest services.
Time Saving Tips for Disneyland Paris
Now we get to our top tips for Disneyland Paris!
While Disneyland Paris is quieter than the US and Tokyo parks, it can be busy with one-hour+ lines for the most popular rides.
We never wait more than 15 minutes, though, and by following these tips you shouldn’t have to either.
The important thing is to be prepared and have a plan before you enter the parks. Your plan needs to be flexible as rides do break down or lines might be longer than expected, but knowing your priority rides (and when to ride them) makes all the difference.
Arrive Early
The first one to two hours at the parks is the best time to ride the attractions with the longest lines (I share those below).
During this time, we hustle to as many rides as we can and don’t stop for food or (many) photos. We don’t mind crossing back and forth across the park—it helps to be a fast walker!
Once we’ve ridden our priority rides or the lines start getting longer (above 20 minutes for us), we slow down and relax, get a snack, take photos, and explore the quieter parts of the park.
See our Disneyland Paris one day itinerary for how to do the highlights in just one day.
To make the most of the morning, I recommend you arrive at the park gates 30 minutes before park opening.
This allows you time to go through park security and puts you closer to the front of the line when gates open so you can head straight to your priority ride.
You can check the app or Disneyland Paris website for hours on your visit. Typically the parks open at 9.30am and close at 8 or 9pm (in autumn/winter) or 10.40pm (Disneyland Park in spring/summer).
Extra Magic Time
If you stay at a Disney hotel, you get a major perk—Extra Magic Time. This allows you to enter the parks one hour before official opening (usually at 8.30am).
I highly recommend you take advantage of this. We were able to ride 4-5 of the most popular rides before the park even opened!
Not all rides are open for Extra Magic Time, but the busiest ones are. Make sure you prioritise the rides that will have the longest queues later.
The rides that are open early can change, so I suggest checking the app a few days before your visit to see the opening times of the top rides (if the start time is around 8.30am, it’ll be open for Extra Magic Time).
Here are the priorities for each park:
Walt Disney Studios Park
If you only have one morning of Extra Magic Time, I recommend using it for Studios Park as it has fewer rides and longer lines.
Here was our strategy that worked perfectly with no more than 5-minute waits:
- Arrive 8.10am for 8.30am early entry (9.30am official opening). This put us near the front of the queue. If you don’t want to ride Crush, just rock up at 8.30am (or Simon did this once and got on Crush via the single rider line in 10 minutes).
- Crush’s Coaster – We walked fast there. This is the busiest ride in both parks and lines shoot up quickly.
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force – This is not open early but we timed it perfectly to ride at 9.30am when the park opened.
Disneyland Park
- Arrive 8.28am for 8.30am early entry.
- Big Thunder Mountain x 2
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
If you want to ride Peter Pan’s Flight, I would ride that first. It’s not a priority for us.
If you have already ridden these rides, early entry is a great time to wander Main Street and get photos in front of the castle without crowds.
Stay Late
Don’t worry if you don’t get to all your priority rides before lines increase in late morning.
The middle of the day is the ideal time to wander around beautiful Disneyland Park, ride low wait attractions (our Disneyland Paris itinerary has our favourites), see a show, shop, and do walkthroughs like the cool dragon under the castle.
If we’re staying close by, we also like to take a break at our hotel.
Keep an eye on the app for when wait times drop. Usually, this is late afternoon in Studios Park and the last few hours of park opening in Disneyland Park.
The last hour before the parks close is ideal for riding anything you’ve missed or repeating favourite attractions (thrill-loving Simon rides Tower or Terror, Avengers, and Hyperspace Mountain again and again!).
Try the Single Rider Line
The single rider line is another way to skip long lines on certain rides. There’s a separate entrance at the front of the ride. You will ride separately from the rest of your party, so it’s not suitable for small children.
It’s only worth doing the single rider line if there’s a big difference between the single rider and regular queue. Otherwise, it could end up taking even longer—the single rider line is less predictable as you have to wait for a single seat to open up.
The best rides for single rider are Ratatouille, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Spider-Man WEB Adventure (sometimes), and Avengers Assemble (only if the regular line is long).
Single rider lines for Crush’s Coaster and RC Racer are unlikely to save much time. It’s rarely needed for Indiana Jones.
Consider Premier Access
Free FastPass at Disneyland Paris has been replaced with the paid service Disney Premier Access, which allows you to skip the lines on the most popular rides.
We have never needed Premier Access and by following these tips you can probably avoid paying.
You might consider it if you don’t want to get up early, are visiting at a very busy time, or only have one day. You can purchase Premier Access in the app.
You can pay per ride (called Disney Premier Access One)—from €5-18 and be allocated the next available time to ride.
Or Disney Premier Access Ultimate allows you to skip the queue for all available attractions (one time each) at any time. Currently, 14 rides are included and prices start from €90 per person per day.
You’ll likely save money by just buying the Premier Access to individual rides as needed.
Check Accessibility Policies
If you or your child has a disability (including autism), check the Disneyland Paris accessibility policy to see if you qualify for a Priority Card, which gives you priority access to rides.
You’ll need proof of disability and can apply online from one month before your visit.
Those with certain long-term chronic diseases can apply for an Easy Access Card with a medical certificate from a doctor. This card gives you a timed return ticket for one ride at a time.
Pregnant people can also access a priority bracelet to skip lines by showing a medical certificate.
Best Rides at Disneyland Paris
It’s important to know the most popular rides at Disneyland Paris and decide which are a priority for you.
If you have kids, check the height restrictions, too—the most thrilling rides have minimum height requirements of 1.02 – 1.4 metres.
Here are our picks for the best rides with the average wait times in 2024 (taken from Queue Times).
Our one day in Disneyland Paris guide has more information on the rides (plus all the cool smaller attractions/walkthroughs).
Disneyland Park
- Peter Pan’s Flight – 43 minutes (not a priority for us but could be with kids)
- Big Thunder Mountain – 39 minutes (the best Thunder Mountain in all Disney parks!)
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain – 27 minutes
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast – 26 minutes
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – 17 minutes (it’s a rough ride so skippable)
- Pirates of the Caribbean – 14 minutes
- Star Tours – 14 minutes
- Phantom Manor – 10 minutes
If you are travelling with small children, you might also be interested in Fantasyland rides like Dumbo and Pinocchio.
Character meet and greets are often busier than rides, especially Princess Pavilion and Meet Mickey Mouse, where waits can be hours.
Walt Disney Studios Park
- Crush’s Coaster – 66 minutes (ride first during Extra Magic Time or pay for Premier)
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure – 39 minutes
- RC Racer – 31 minutes (we skip this unless the line is very short)
- Ratatouille: The Adventure – 30 minutes
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 29 minutes
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force – 14 minutes
Food in the Parks
There are plenty of places to eat in the parks. You’ll find the most choice in Disneyland Park and there are even more options in Disney Village just outside the gates.
Overall, we found the food quality and snack variety lacking compared to the Florida parks, but there are some decent options.
We appreciated that there is at least one marked vegan choice in each restaurant. See the Vegan at Disneyland Paris Instagram account for the top picks.
You can find restaurant menus on the Disneyland Paris website and app. You can filter the list of restaurants by type of cuisine (including vegan and vegetarian) and price range.
Table Service Restaurants
Table service restaurants are for sit-down meals. Prices are much higher (expect a main to cost €30+) and a meal will take an hour or two—bad if you only have one day, good if you want a break.
We were put off table service restaurants after eating at Captain Jack’s. The theming is cool—it’s inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride—but the €90 we spent for two mains (an average veggie curry) and two cocktails was not worth it.
Other popular restaurants are Bistrot Chez Rémy, Walt’s (overlooking Main Street), and Auberge de Cendrillon (dine with princesses).
If you want to eat at a table service restaurant, book far in advance. Bookings open two months ahead or if you are staying onsite, as soon as your hotel booking is confirmed.
Quick Service Restaurants
We prefer to eat at casual, quick-service restaurants where you order at the counter. They are much cheaper and faster; you don’t need to book.
Some of them do get busy, though, so it’s best to eat early if possible—such as lunch at 11am and dinner at 5pm with snacks as needed.
If it’s busy, you could try click and collect on the app.
Check opening times as some restaurants close at 5pm. Those that are open later are busy—we queued 20 minutes at Cocos at 8pm.
Here are the restaurants we enjoy:
- Gourmand Food Stalls – My top pick is these stalls that are sometimes found outside the Ratatouille ride in Studios Park or in Fantasyland in Disneyland Park. We found the food much better than the restaurants. Each stall represents a different region of France or a neighbouring country. We had a goats cheese and honey galette from Bretagne, frites from Belgium, and a cheese pretzel from Alsace, and all were good. Unfortunately, Disney doesn’t seem to release dates for when the stalls are there, so just have a look on your visit.
- Casa Coco (Frontierland) – A solid choice for burritos (including a nice vegan burrito). The fried jalapeños stuffed with cheese were also delicious (not vegan).
- Colonel Hathi’s Outpost (Adventureland) – The decor is cool with a giant tree in the middle. Our food was decent—a vegetable curry Mickey-shaped pizza, vegan lentil dahl with rice, and onion bhajis.
- Hakuna Matata (Adventureland) – This Lion King-themed restaurant has a good vegan option, the chakalaka, a tomato and chickpea stew with broken rice. For non-vegans, the Scar cupcake is cute. The restaurant usually closes at 5pm.
- Casey’s Corner (Main Street) – Simon liked the vegan hotdog, but the fries were terrible.
- March Hare Refreshments (Fantasyland) – The Alice in Wonderland themed soft serve ice creams are our favourite sweet treat.
- Cable Car Bake Shop (Main Street) – The Mickey-shaped cookies were nothing special, but the old-timey interior makes it nice for a break. Other desserts and sandwiches available.
- Earl of Sandwich (Disney Village) – A quick, inexpensive option outside the parks. Upstairs seating is usually quiet. We like the veggie sandwich and the pizza is pretty good.
Self Catering
Our strategy is to have a quick breakfast in our hotel room before we enter the parks early. We had oat bars from home and bought bananas at Gare du Nord on arrival.
If you want to save money, you are allowed to bring sandwiches and snacks into the parks (just no picnic baskets, coolers, or glass containers).
There is no supermarket in the park area, but at the station there’s a small convenience store, Pret A Manger (for takeaway sandwiches), and Starbucks.
The nearest large supermarket is Auchan, one train stop away in Val d’Europe.
Of course, bring a water bottle and fill up from water stations in the park.
More Disneyland Paris Tips
- Listen for sounds on Main Street. Outside Victoria’s you can hear a guy brushing his teeth or having a shower. Elsewhere you can hear a dentist and piano lessons.
- Turn up 30 minutes before stage shows – They are very popular so arrive early to guarantee a seat. The Lion King show in Disneyland Park is our favourite.
- Check the app for seasonal events – The first Disney Music Festival is running from 19 April to 7 September 2025 and has some fun entertainment. Minnie’s Marching Band on Main Street was one of our favourites and you don’t need to turn up too early (unlike Moana and others).
- Consider paying for the reserved viewing area for the nighttime show – The fireworks and projection show (currently Disney Tales of Magic) gets extremely crowded outside the castle and on Main Street. We felt trapped and uncomfortable and want to pay for the reserved viewing area next time. It sells out fast, though.
- Don’t use the toilets in Fantasyland – They are always the busiest!
- Wait times aren’t always accurate – We found them less reliable than other Disney parks so allow for a longer wait than listed.
- Watch Disney Stars on Parade in Discoveryland – If you don’t want to claim your spot for the daytime parade early, head to the entrance of Discoveryland (here on Google Maps). Five minutes before it started we got a great spot against a fence by the waterfall.
Disneyland Paris Map
This map shows the key points like train stations and hotels. For a detailed map showing rides and restaurants, it’s best to use the Disneyland Paris app.
Final Thoughts
I hope these Disneyland Paris travel tips help you plan a magical trip.
Remember there is no right or wrong way to visit the parks—rush around to do all the rides if you want or take it easy and explore the hidden corners. Stay onsite for a night or offsite for a week. Whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time.
If you have any questions about planning Disneyland Paris, leave a comment below.
Recommended Reading
Read our other posts about Paris and Disney parks around the world.
Paris
- Disneyland Paris Itinerary: 2 Parks in 1 Day
- Disneyland Hotel Paris Review: Is It Worth It?
- Paris in a Day: The Perfect Itinerary
- Belleville: An Alternative Side to Paris
Disney Worldwide
- 26 Best Things to Do at Disney World: Must Do Rides in Each Park
- Planning a Trip to Disney World on a Budget
- Disneyland & California Adventure in One Day: An Itinerary for Adults
- 14 Best Tokyo Disneyland Rides For Adults
- 14 Best Tokyo DisneySea Rides for Adults
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I appreciate the toilet tips. These things are important!
Haha! Yes indeed!