Disneyland Paris Tips for First Time Visitors

I recently returned from Disneyland Paris and wanted to put together a list of my top tips for guests visiting Disneyland Paris for the first time. Even if you have visited Disneyland Paris before, this list could be beneficial for you. So many first-time visitors assume Disneyland Paris works exactly like Disney World or Disneyland in California and it definitely doesn’t! A little preparation for your trip can save time, money, and stress.

Here is my list of top tips for your next visit to Disneyland Paris:

Stay at a Disney hotel if your budget allows

Extra Magic Time

You’ll receive early entry (“Extra Magic Time”) to be able to spend extra time in the park before the official park opening. If you’re not purchasing Disney Premier Access (their version of Lightning Lane), this is a great way to get into the park and ride some of the more popular rides before the lines get really long. Qualifying guests enter the parks one hour before the regular opening.  You qualify if you stay at a Disney Hotel, Les Villages Nature Paris, or hold a Disneyland Pass Gold Annual Pass.

Disney Hotel Guests will get access loaded onto your digital Magic Pass via the official app upon online check-in, valid even on your arrival day before your physical room is ready. Only Les Villages Nature Paris grants this perk. Standard partner hotels do not.

Disneyland Park will open rides like like Peter Pan’s Flight, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, and Big Thunder Mountain.

Adventure World will open include Crush’s Coaster, Ratatouille: The Adventure, and Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure.

Daily schedules and exact participating rides change seasonally. Be sure to check the current hours on the Disneyland Paris Official Site or mobile app before your park visit.

Don’t Skip Disney Adventure World

Many people assume that Disney Adventure World is only a half-day park! This park is definitely a full day’s visit especially with the new expansions including the World of Frozen and the future Lion King themed land. This park has so many great rides including Avengers Campus, Crush’s Coaster, Ratatouille, and Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure. Character meet and greets and shows continue to be added making this park a great full day experience.

Consider a Park Hopper Ticket

Disneyland Park and Adventure World are just a short walk apart—less than 5 minutes from gate to gate! That means you can easily bounce between parks for your favorite rides, shows, snacks, and entertainment without wasting time on transportation. It’s so easy to go between the 2 parks.

Spend at Least 2 Days at the Parks

If you can spend at least 2 days at Disneyland Paris, you’ll be able to dedicate one day to Disneyland Paris and one day to Adventure World. You can also park hop between the 2 so you can ride your favorite rides at each park and also see the shows that the other park doesn’t offer at night. (ex: fireworks at Disneyland Paris). With 2 days, you can enjoy a balance and more complete experience of both parks and you won’t stress yourself having to try and rush through everything in only 1 day. I recommend 3 days to really give yourself time in the parks, but 2 is better than 1.

When you visit the parks at least 2 days, this gives you some time to slow down. You won’t have to rush from ride to ride or try and fit in every show and meet every character. You’ll stress yourself! Be sure to enjoy Main Street, watch the performers, take plenty of castle photos, leisurely walk through the castle, and enjoy a pastry with a coffee (or champagne ;) )

This park is better suited for guests that really appreciate slowing down (the European way!)

Consider Premier Access

Premier Access Ultimate

Premier Access Ultimate is a paid digital fast-track service that lets you skip the regular standby queues for major eligible attractions once per day without choosing a specific time slot. Pricing ranges from $124 to $259 (€90 to €190+) per person per day depending on the season. This is what we purchased for our 1 day at Disney so we could walk up to any ride we wanted at any time. It was nice being bale to go at our own pace and not have to play our day around rigid return windows. I highly recommend this if you only have 1 day in the parks.

Premier Access One

Premier Access One is a paid single-use fast-trace pass for individual rides. These are bought exclusively on the day of your visit using the official Disneyland Paris app while inside the parks. you will be automatically assigned the next available one-hour time window to return. This is ideal if you only want to skip lines for one or two major headliners rather than paying for an all-day bundle. It can be cheaper to do it this way and is a good option if you have more than 1 day in the park so you have more time and flexibility in your schedule. 

Arrive Early Every Day

You’ll experience the shortest wait times, get great photos in front of the castle without too many people in your photos, can ride some great rides with minimal waits, and get the coolest temperatures in the summer. After visiting Disneyland Paris in July, it was SO hot. Getting there right at park open was great because it was so temperate and actually a little cool out. It was nice to be in the park before it got too hot.

Download the Disneyland Paris App Before You Arrive

This app will be SO helpful during your visit. This app is similar to the My Disney Experience app at Disney World and Disneyland. This app includes wait times, mobile ordering (when available), show schedules, character locations, your park tickets, restaurant reservations, and more.

Character Meet & Greets are a Virtual Queue

Prioritize What You Want to Do

When we visited Disneyland Paris, we purchased the Premier Access so our priority was to ride all of the rides at both Disneyland Paris and Adventure World as well as see the parade at Disneyland Park. We only had one day so we wanted to maximize our time doing the rides. Many guests focus only on rides, but Disneyland Paris has some of the best live entertainment. The nighttime shows/fireworks are very popular so having at least 2 days to experience everything gives you more time to make a list of your priorities for each day.

Watch the Disney Stars On Parade

This parade is so good! Be sure to check the app for parade times because it can vary throughout the year. The parade route is also listed on the app so you can see the best locations to watch it. Be sure to arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to get a front spot. We got our spot near the castle about 45 minutes in advance so we have time to sit and relax since we have been on the go all morning.

Disneyland offers a paid reserved viewing area for the parade. This is currently €19 per person to guarantee a dedicated, roped-off spot without needing to camp out early. Purchase this in the Disneyland app.

Want fewer crowds? Head closer to “it’s a small world.” Many guests gather near the castle and Main Street, so this area is often less crowded.  When the parade finishes you’ll be able to hop on the ride (or another Fantasyland ride of your choice) while everyone else is still watching the parade.

When choosing a spot to watch the parade, think about where you want to go immediately after. The crowds take a while to disperse after the parade and can be tricky to navigate.

Walk Through Sleeping Beauty Castle

Unlike other Disney castles, you can actually walk through Sleeping Beauty Castle! You can walk upstairs, see the stained glass windows, and see the dragon that is actually underneath the castle. This is one of the most unique things to Disneyland Paris!

Make Dining Reservations in Advance

Popular restaurants book quickly during peak travel seasons. Bistrot Chez Remy, Captain Jack’s, Walk- An American Restaurant, and PYM kitchen all book in advance.

Visit the Champagne Cart

If you like champagne, this cart is for you! This is an experience exclusive to Disneyland Paris! The cart typically opens around 12:00 PM and is located on the right side near The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour just before Central Plaza.

If the outdoor cart is closed due to weather, that service moves indoors to nearby spots like Victoria’s Home-Style Restaurant or inside the ice cream parlor.

A second cart option is available along Adventure Way near World Premiere Plaza at Disney Adventure World.

Cost: Currently 20€ (roughly $23–$24 USD) per pour.

Bring a Refillable Water Bottle

Bringing a reusable water bottle to Disneyland Paris is allow and highly recommended to save you money from purchasing bottled water throughout the day. Drinking fountains and water points are located near major restrooms and areas throughout the parks, and tap water is completely safe to drink. You can enter the gates with your bottle already filled with water and ice.

Note: Glass bottles are not allowed for safety reasons. Choose plastic, aluminum, or stainless steel instead

Pack for Weather

Paris weather changes quickly. The morning is much cooler than the afternoon. I highly recommend bringing:

Layers

Poncho

Comfortable walking shoes (so important!!) 

Portable charger

Refillable water bottle

Pack a Portable Battery Charger

You will use the Disney app a lot to check wait times and access Premier Access during your visit. If you bring a battery pack, this will keep your battery from draining, especially if you plan to be at the park from park open to park close.

If you forget your charger, portable power bank rentals and stationary charging spots are available inside Disneyland Park, Adventure World, and Disney Village.

Pricing 

Learn a Few French Basic French Phrases

All cast members speak French and English, but a simple “Bonjour,” “Merci,” and  “S’il vous plaît” can go a long way.

Don’t Leave Without Trying These Food/Drink Items

Mickey Pizza 

Croque Monsieur 

Macarons

French pastries

Champagne on Main Street 🥂

Character-themed desserts

Plan Your Visit Around Seasonal Visits

Disneyland Paris offers a Halloween Festival, Disney Enchanted Christmas Event, and a Disney Music Festival (varies by year).  You’ll get special food and entertainment offerings during this time and it’s a great and fun way to experience the holiday season if you’re looking to visit during that time. It will be busier during that time for this event, so keep that in mind when planning your trip.

Packing List

Here is my full list of what to bring for your European vacation!

Ready to plan your vacation to Europe and Disneyland Paris? Contact me and let’s get planning!

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly