We ended up with an unexpected extra day in Paris, and some friends invited us to join them for a day at Disneyland Paris. I’ve been to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Walt Disney World in Florida, and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan, and though this park was the smallest, it was still a fun way to spend a day that only required a little planning. While visiting this park can be as simple as showing up and exploring where the wind takes you, I do recommend adjusting your expectations if you’ve visited other Disney parks, which I’ll get into later. That’s not to say Disneyland Paris isn’t worth visiting, but it was also very different from the other parks. I hope this guide helps you have a wonderful time.
Above: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle
About Disneyland Paris & Our Visit
Celebrating its 31st year, Disneyland Paris, located outside of the city, has a pretty pink castle that is very different from other Disney Castles. Inspired by Mont Saint-Michel castle, an architectural masterpiece in Normandy, France, this castle is lovely inside and out. Outside are square-shaped hedges, and guests can explore in and around the castle just as with other Disney parks. This park offers familiar rides like the teacups above, Big Thunder Mountain, and Indiana Jones & the Temple of Peril. This is excellent for amusement park enthusiasts of all ages.
Compared to Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris is smaller but still not the smallest of the international Disney parks (that would be Disneyland in Hong Kong).
The park is very welcoming to English speakers. Nearly all signs are in English, usually above the French text. All the park attendants were at least bi-lingual and approached the visitors we saw by asking if they preferred English or French, and even the announcements were in English. We were disappointed by this. Part of why I wanted to visit was because I incorrectly assumed far more French would be available so we could practice at what would be an elementary level, but nearly all of it was in English. Almost all the other guests were French speakers judging by the conversations around us, so I wondered why so much was in English. Still, for those who don’t speak French, this is a great place to visit if you like amusement parks!
Preparing for our last-minute visit, every blog post I read said to prepare for rude staff, but just like the rest of Paris, we encountered the exact opposite. Maybe it was because we did our best to speak with them in French, but everyone working here was so friendly and helpful. We never once had a bad encounter!
Regarding the rides, we may have been unlucky, but we got stuck on the first three rides we went on during our visit! Things like this happen, and of course, we were never in danger, but we wasted nearly an hour, and a half stuck on rides, which was very frustrating. Maybe it was bad luck, perhaps the rides aren’t maintained as regularly, or maybe they didn’t like us (haha, just kidding). Still, despite a very disappointing start to our day, we had lots of fun!
How to Get to Disneyland Paris
While staying at Hotel Raphael near the Arc de Triomphe in the 16th arrondissement, we took the Paris RER Train (A) to the end of the line. It took about an hour, and it offered us great views of Paris as we left the central part of the city. It was easy to find our way to Disneyland Paris via train because there were so many signs for it!
Best Time of Year to Visit
We visited at the beginning of October, and it was warm and beautiful. The crowds were small, the lines were short, and we had a great time. The park would be great to visit any time of year, so when planning your visit, check their website to find out what’s on and if there are any special events within the park you may want to attend!
Where to Stay
As I mentioned, we stayed at Hotel Raphael when our trip was unexpectedly extended. It was a gorgeous hotel in the 16th arrondissement within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe. There are also numerous hotels and resorts on the Disney property if you want to stay closer on-site! Disneyland Paris’ Disney Newport Bay Club looked lovely, and that’s where I’d stay if we ever return to stay on the property.
Where to Eat Inside Disneyland Paris
My dietary restrictions skewed my experience, so other guests with similar nutritional concerns should be aware of this too. I cannot eat gluten, and I do not eat meat, and because of this, there was very, very little in the way of food I could eat on the property unless it was straight-up sugar, and even then, there wasn’t much that was guaranteed to be gluten-free. There were a lot of vegetarian options, but they were all bread and pasta, so all I could eat during our visit were salads, fruit, and a granola bar I had in my camera bag. After walking nearly 45,000 steps in a single day – I was starving! Bring your snacks if you have any food allergies or dietary or religious restrictions!
My husband, while also a pescatarian (he doesn’t eat meat but does eat fish and seafood), had a much better time finding food around the park. As I mentioned, our visit was very last-minute so we couldn’t book any table service sit-down restaurants, but we did find some “fast-food” style spots for him.
Colonel Hathi’s Pizza Outpost
This place was a bit out of the way, but our friends had heard it had great pizza, so we went to check it out. The only gluten-free item here during our visit was a salad, so that’s what I had, but look how cute their pizzas were! Are you kidding me? Adorable! I wish they’d offer gluten-free versions!
This was the only place we had time to eat since we were stuck on rides in the morning, and there was nothing in the way of gluten-free, vegetarian options (other than plain salad). So, we stayed hungry and went out for sushi when we returned to Paris! Bring your own snacks if you have any dietary restrictions.
What to Do Inside Disneyland Paris
There are so many fun rides at Disneyland Paris! The lines here were so much shorter than any other Disney park I’ve ever been to, and because we got stuck on so many rides, we were given front-of-the-line passes for three rides, so for the most popular rides like Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. Disneyland Paris has five distinct lands, so I’ll organize this section by land! Check out their interactive park map here.
Adventureland
Adventureland was my favorite region of the park. I love all of the foliage here, and the attention to detail on the rides, the park itself, and the waterways were lovely. It felt a bit like being back in the jungle of Tulum!
Rides & Attractions
Adventure Island
This relaxing walking area is perfect for anyone who wants a break from the excitement of the rest of the park. It’s also a great place to take photos of the rest of the park from a unique perspective.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This is such a fun ride and a classic for any Disney fan. It’s a water ride, in the dark, with a few sharp drops. Did you know the ride at Disneyland in California inspired the famous movie series?
Pirate Galleon Ship & Pirate’s Beach
A walking area with a ship docked in the water and a real beach near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, this area was practically empty all day despite the incredible details here. It’s an excellent spot for photos!
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
This was closed during our visit, so we didn’t get to ride it. It looked almost identical to the Indiana Jones rides at other parks, which means it would be a lot of fun!
La Cabane des Robinson (Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse)
I was very disappointed this was closed during our visit. I’ve always loved these giant treehouses at Disney parks – they’re such great vantage points, and all of the plants surrounding them make them cooler than the surrounding areas.
La Passage enchanté d’Aladdin (Aladdin’s Enchanted Passage)
This was a quick, indoor walk-through experience where we explored miniature versions of scenes from Aladdin behind glass and larger-than-life scenes all around them.
Discoveryland
This was another great area for fun rides at Disneyland Paris. Fans of thrill rides, action, and Star Wars will love this region.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
This ride was closed during our visit, so we didn’t experience it, but it looked fantastic! It’s one of the park’s more exciting rollercoaster rides.
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
This was a fantastic 3D ride that felt like we were moving way more than we actually were. There are around 60 different versions of this ride on the 3D screen paired with unique sequences of motion that made us feel like we were on a rollercoaster, so if guests ride it more than once per visit, you’ll always have a different experience.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
This ride allows riders to shoot lasers at targets as they move through the storyline. The ride carts keep score and fit up to three people so you can compete with your friends & family. Robin thoroughly destroyed me at this game, haha, even though I was 75,000 points up at first!
Autotopia: Drivers Take the Wheel
This ride was also closed during our stay, but it looked like so much fun. Drivers ride around the track in cool futuristic-looking race cars.
Mickey and His PhilharMagic Orchestra
Another experience that was closed during our visit, this 4D animated concert, sounded like a unique experience!
Fantasy Land
Entering Fantasy Land was like stepping into a storybook. Everything here was very detailed and so whimsical. Even though similar regions exist at other Disney parks, this one was entirely unique and lovely. This section also had far more French on the rides and signs, so if you want to practice French, be sure to visit.
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth
This hedge maze was so fun to explore, not only because I love hedge mazes but also because the unexpected hints of the story made it even more fun and intriguing. A lookout tower at the center of the maze is the perfect spot to take photos of the park!
Casey Jr. Train
Sure, this ride is meant for children, but it was so cute I couldn’t resist riding it twice. The pastel train cars race along the tracks near the Land of Fairy Tales water boat ride, and even if you’re an adult, I recommend riding this one.
The Dragon’s Lair (La Tanière du Dragon)
This ride was also closed during our visit, but from what I gathered, it’s a walking experience through the underground section of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
The Land of Fairy Tales (Le Pays des Contes de Fées)
This pastel boat ride is exactly how I imagine being shrunken down and entering a fairytale would feel. Everything is miniature, and as the ride progresses, riders explore different landscapes inspired by classic fairy tales like the Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and dozens more!
Sleeping Beauty Castle (Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant)
This castle, the famous pink landmark that makes Disneyland Paris so iconic, is an experience in and of itself. It’s more accessible than the other Disney castles I’ve explored, and guests may explore the castle’s different levels and vantage points at their leisure – inside and out. Don’t forget to come back after sunset for the laser light show here!
Peter Pan’s Flight
We rode a flying ship through the story of Peter Pan, and though the ride was dark, the bright and colorful scenes added a fascinating perspective to our soaring adventure.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves (Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains)
This mine cart ride was fun and so colorful. It was like watching the movie unfold throughout the ride. This is not a rollercoaster like the one at Walt Disney World.
Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups
This classic Disney ride calls Disneyland Paris home, too, and is always a classic experience.
Frontierland
Frontierland at Disneyland Paris looked a lot like Walt Disney World. They look so similar I was a bit disoriented upon first seeing it. Even so, I love the Big Thunder Mountain rollercoaster ride!
Big Thunder Mountain
This was one of my favorite rides. I love rollercoasters!
Phantom Manor
Spooky, a little creepy, and delightfully haunted. What’s not to love?
Rustler Roundup Shootin’ Gallery
This was closed during our visit.
Thunder Mesa Riverboat
This steamboat takes riders down the river, around Big Thunder Mountain, and back in a fun cruise ship setting. It’s another great place to take photos!
Main Street, U.S.A.
This is such an iconic part of any Disney park. It’s where most souvenir shops, restaurants, and transportation options are. This is also the part the park guests have to venture to if they get stuck on rides to get front-of-the-line passes, which we had to do three separate times. One of my biggest disappointments was the lack of unique merchandise here. My best friend is obsessed with everything Disney and asked me to buy her something special here. Everything was generic Disney merchandise. Nothing was specific to the Paris park, and the only thing that specified that the park was in Paris was a plain grey sweatshirt, all in English, that was only available in a size too large for her. Everything else just said “Disney” or had the Mickey Mouse logo. I did, however, eventually find a Pandora bracelet charm for her in the shape of the Disneyland Paris Sleeping Beauty Castle, and it was one of only two left in stock.
Advice for Disneyland Paris
Wear comfortable shoes! I saw many women here wearing heels, and I have no idea how they survived. After nearly 40,000 steps in a single day, I thought my feet would fall off in my comfortable walking shoes. Although that’s probably because we’d hit at least 30,000 steps every single day during our month-long visit to Europe, even so, I can’t imagine how much my feet would have ached if I hadn’t worn something comfortable.
I mentioned it before, and I’ll say it again – if you have a special diet, bring your own food and snacks. There was almost nothing here I could eat as a pescatarian with a gluten allergy, and by the time we made it back to Paris, I was positively famished.
Safety
We always felt safe here. Before entering the parks, all visitors are thoroughly searched, as are their bags, strollers, backpacks, and camera bags, and everyone has to go through a metal detector. The staff was kind, and so were the other parkers. Like anywhere with crowds, keep an eye on your belongings, don’t flash your valuables, and keep an eye out for pickpockets, and you should be just fine.
Rachael says
Makes me want to visit!!
Alison says
Definitely makes me want to go back to Paris and try some of the things you mentioned!
Amy Ottenfeld says
I’m planning a trip to Disneyland Paris next year. This was so helpful.
Morgan Adams says
We’re pass holders at Orlando but I would love to see Paris version!