
Fun Times at Disneyland Paris: With and Without Kids
Last Updated: May 23th 2024.
We’ve been to Disneyland Paris four times: once before Yuri was born, in 1999. Back then it was still called EuroDisney. Three times with our son in 2014, 2019 and 2021. In 1999 we went in the Summer and spent one day at EuroDisney. In 2014 it was a winter visit with an almost 4 year old boy, a road trip with a toddler. In 2019 was 20 years after our first visit to Disneyland Paris, again in the Summer. Last time was in 2021, again in the Summer time. Those 3 visits were all 3 days, 2 nights. We’ve enjoyed ourselves every single time.
Here’s a short guide to Disneyland Paris, in which I will highlight things to do and how our experience was. At the end I will shortly compare Disneyland Paris to Disneyworld Orlando and Disneyland Anaheim. The other 2 Disney parks we have visited.
Where is Disneyland Paris
Well, duh, in Paris ofcourse, well not quite. You see Disneyland Paris isn’t located in Paris itself, its in Marne-la-Valleé. Which is approximately 40 kilometers East of Paris, in a banlieue of Paris. Reachable by car or public transport. Closest to the entrance to the parks is the Garre de Marne la Valleé Chessy. When arriving by car and not staying at one of the Disney hotels, then there are 2 parking garages. The first one is Parking gare de Chessy Marne-la-Valleé, which is not that far from the Disney parks and there’s Parking Saemes Val d’Europe-Serris Montévrain. From which you take the RER to the parks.

We’ve arrived by train and by car, in 1999 we took the train from the center of Paris to Marne-la-Valleé, which went well. The other 3 times we arrived by car, and parked at the hotel we were staying at. Disneyland Paris is one of the best day trips from Paris. Parc Asterix is another theme park close to Paris, both are perfect stops on a Northern France road trip.
Things to Do at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris contains 2 parks: Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Park. Both require separate entrance tickets, there’s also a combined ticket available.
Besides those 2 parks there’s Disney Village, the party- and shopping town in front of the parks. No entrance fee, but if you want to eat, drink or buy something you have to pay for it as in any other establishment. Lastly, there’s Golf Disneyland, a 27-hole golf course with a club house. The golf course has an entrance fee.
Disneyland Park
It’s the original park from 1992. Disneyland Park starts with Mainstreet USA and the Sleeping Beauty castle in the middle. Around it are Discoveryland, Fantasyland, Adventureland and Frontierland. With in total 39 attractions.

There are several shows on offer, Disney Illuminations (the fireworks show), Disney Electrical Sky Parade ( a drone show) and Disney Stars on Parade. Next to that you can meet so many Disney characters: Pluto, Donald, a Disney Princess or Darth Vader.


Walt Disney Studios Park
The second Disney Park in Paris opened in 2002. It’s next to the entrance of the first one. Walt Disney Studios has 13 attractions and several shows based on Disney, Marvel and Pixar. Further more you can meet Buzz Lightyear, Mary Poppins or Olaf. Walt Disney Studios is the smallest Disney Park of the world. The park consists of themed areas, it’s built up as a real filmstudio with Worlds of Pixar, Marvel Avengers Campus, Frontlot, Production Courtyard and Toon Studio.

Our experience
All 4 times we loved visiting Disneyland Paris. The first time we were 19 and 20 and it was our first vacation together. We went to Paris for 10 days and visited EuroDisney for one day by train.

We loved wandering around the park, back in 1999 there was no Walt Disney Studios Park yet. Since we came by train we couldn’t stay until the fireworks show. Our favorite attraction back then was Space Mountain.
Second Visit to Disneyland Paris

In 2014 we went with Yuri, who was then almost 4 years old. It was his second time to a Disney Park, Disneyland Anaheim was the first one at one years old, but he had no memory of his first visit. He loved it! We had our picture taken with Pluto and with Donald Duck, which he liked. No other pictures with characters, since he was a little bit scared of people in suits. We watched the Illuminations show with a sleeping Yuri. The rides where fabulous to see through our son’s eyes. Buzz Lightyear and the tea cups being his favorite rides on this visit.


Our second visit to Disneyland Paris was 2 nights, 3 days on a weekend. We stayed at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge and loved it there. We parked our car at the hotel parking lot and walked every day to the park, only the first time we went by shuttlebus. On this visit we got to visit Walt Disney Studios, watch the parade and for a few rides. We went to a Disney Junior show which Yuri loved. All in all our visit was a success. But what was the one thing Yuri loved most about our visit? The safety first movies from Timoon and Pumba playing in our hotel room.

Third Visit to Disneyland Paris
Our third time to Disneyland Paris was in the Summer of 2019, it was our 6th visit to a Disney Park and Yuri’s 5th. He knew what to expect this time, although there were Disney World Orlando expectations. He didn’t remember our visit from 5 years before.
Apart from the downpour on our first afternoon, we loved our 3rd visit to Disneyland Paris. We stayed again for 2 night, 3 days on a weekend and celebrated Paul’s 40th Birthday here with the 3 of us. For the second time we stayed at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge and enjoyed our nights here. Yuri’s favorite attractions this time were Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and Big Thunder Mountain. I am still captivated by It’s a small world. At Walt Disney Studios we like the Stitch live show. Paul and Yuri loved Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. I didn’t visit that attraction, since I have severe motion sickness and was already a bit nauseous from Crush’s coaster.

We went one evening to the fireworks show Disney Illuminations and found it still a superb show. Although the show had changed to the one we saw 5 years before. We further enjoyed the Disney Stars on Parade in the afternoon. At around eleven, at the official opening of the park there’s also a parade with a cheery theme and lots of dancers and some wagons. It was so fun to watch. This visit was again a success, despite getting soaked on our first day.

Fourth Visit to Disneyland Paris
Our last trip to Disneyland Paris was in the Summer of 2021. Which I wrote a separate blog post about, since there were a lot of restrictions at that time. We stayed at Disney’s Newport Bay Club, another great hotel in the Disney chain. We rented a wheelchair for my husband at the park (25 euros a day). There were no shows, however attractions were open. Sadly, the Disney castle was wrapped up on this visit, it was being restored. Favorite rides were again Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast and Big Thunder Mountain, and for me It’s a Small World.
Tips for Visiting Disneyland Paris
After 4 visits to Disneyland Paris we have a few tips on how to do it and have a fun time.
- Get there on time. When staying at one of the Disney hotels, you have early access. Use this, it’s much more quiet. You can ride a lot of attractions before the crowds come in around 11 am.
- If traveling with young kids or with someone who is disabled visit in the morning and then go back to the hotel and/or a restaurant in Disney Village. Go back at the end of the afternoon, when crowds are less again.
- When able to, walk to the park from the hotel. You can determine your own time to come and go. When not able you can take the shuttlebus at the hotel.
- Have a plan. Before you go in, determine together where you start and what route your gonna take. To us it gives peace of mind to know where we’re going.
- If you’re disabled or with reduced mobility get an Priority card, so that you can stand in a separate line, which is most times shorter. And then you can stay longer in the park, and do more rides, which other wise wouldn’t be possible. My husband wouldn’t have been able to stand that long in line for every attraction. There’s a lot of walking to be done at the parks.
Hotels & Restaurants

There are many great restaurants in both the parks and Disney Village. If that isn’t enough the hotels also have restaurants. None of them are cheap. We love Annette’s Diner and King Ludwig’s Castle in Disneyland Village. In the main park we liked Casey’s Corner, Café Hyperion, Silver Spur Steakhouse and Fuente del Oro Restaurante. Don’t miss the Mickey waffles at Walt Disney Studios Park, they’re cute and delicious.

Hotels
Disneyland Paris has several hotels. The closest to the parks is the Disneyland Hotel. Its at the entrance to Disneyland Park. Just outside Disneyland Village are the Disney’s Hotel New York, Disney’s Sequoia Lodge and Disney’s Newport Bay Club. We stayed twice at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, and once at Disney Newport Bay Club. We liked both hotels. Disney’s Hotel New York-The Art of Marvel has a Marvel theme. A little further are Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe and Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne. Furthest is Disney’s Davy Crocket Ranch.


Comparing Parks
We’ve visited 3 Disney Parks, next to Disneyland Paris we also went to Disney World Orlando and Disneyland Anaheim. Disney World is the one we love the most. Its Yuri’s favorite since it has water parks. He simply loves those. We loved Disney World the most for that its so large, the good weather, Epcot and the water parks. We also liked Disneyland Anaheim, Yuri was to young to remember it. Toon town was our favorite back then. And Disneyland Paris will always be the first Disney Park we visited. All 3 are great and worth your time.


That’s a Wrap on Our Short Guide to Disneyland Paris
We loved our time at Disneyland Paris and will visit again. The Disney Magic is real and takes us all in its grip with every visit. It’s by far not the only magical place in France, Honfleur is also magical.
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27 Comments
Kelly
Such helpful tips. I love the idea of getting there early and visiting the most popular rides. Thanks for sharing!
Cosette
Your welcome and yes, we had the least long lines in the morning before 11am.
Margie
Can’t wait to visit Disneyland Paris! Thanks for the tips.
Cosette
Hope you get there soon (enough)
Ruth
I wasn’t aware Disneyland Paris has been around for such a long time. Looks like tons of fun. I live in Southern California so going to Disneyland is popular in here.
Cosette
We’ve been once to Disneyland Anaheim and loved it. Yes, Disneyland Paris is getting older already.
Lyne
I love Disneyland! Those are great tips to plan a visit, I want to visit Disneyland Anaheim and Disney World Orlando. I have only done Disneyland Paris and Disneyland Tokyo for now!
Cosette
Oh, I have done Disneyland Paris, Disneyland Anaheim and Disney World Orlando and the last one is our favorite. But we haven’t done Disneyland Tokyo.
jade
Looks like an adventure! Thanks for sharing your experience here, definitely something worth checking out!
Cosette
Yes, Disneyland Paris is definitely worth yourtime.
Alma
It must be such an overwhelming yet delightful sensual experience for children! A great guide.
Cosette
Yes, it’s fantastic for kids. But also for adults, seeing al those Disney characters come to live.
Anwesha
I have always wanted to go to Disneyland. It’s on top of my bucket list. Loved your post. I hope to visit their soon
Cosette
Hope you get to visit soon.
Sharyn
I have been to Disneyland twice and I have loved it both times. I’d love to go again for Star Wars. Love your photos.
Cosette
Star Wars part is cool. We went on a picture with Dart Vader.
Adventures from where you want to be
Disneyland Paris is on my Travel list, we have been to Disneyland, Disneyworld and Aulani, and Paris is next on our list, will have to bookmark your site, to come back closer to the trip.
Sonia
We’ve never visited Disneyland Paris, though my cousins visit almost yearly. Looks like a fun trip!
Marilyn
I had no idea Disneyland Paris has been around for so long. One Disneyland/Disney World experience was enough for me. 🙂
Tara | Where Tara Went
This is going to be so helpful for people traveling with children!
Laureen Lund
Fun! I have been to Disney but not Paris Disney. I would love to some day!
Jolayne
We’ve never stayed onsite at a Disney resort, but I can imagine it would be pretty awesome.
Carey
Stating right on site at Disney sounds like a great way to make the most of your time there.
Josy A
My grandma took all 9 of her grandkids to EuroDisney back in the 90s, so this bring soooo many good memories! I think we stayed in the Newport Bay Club as well – but everything looks a bit different now. 🙂
I love that we have such a cool memory with cousins and grandma. Thanks for reminding me about it.
Her Asian Adventures
Great post! I love disneyland Paris! I visited a couple of years ago and can´t wait to go back! It´s magical even for adults and it has so many fun activities!
Becky
Disneyland Paris is on my list. My daughter went there for spring break on year and said that it looks like they use prototypes.
Carolina
Thank you for sharing this! I haven’t been to this one (only Anaheim’s) but it’d be awesome to visit one day!