There are six Disney parks worldwide, with Disneyland Paris being the only one in all of Europe. This year marks the 32nd anniversary of Disneyland Paris, which comprises Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, featuring over 50 attractions that will provide you with an amazing time.
Today’s article is a comprehensive guide to Disneyland Paris, and of course, I’ll also touch on the merchandise you can find there. I just visited last week, spending three days and two nights at Disneyland Paris, and I absolutely loved it! This guide is also freshly compiled.
Let’s start with the highlights of Disneyland Paris:
1) Large area with plenty of attractions
Disneyland Paris covers an area approximately ten times larger than Hong Kong Disneyland, and when you include the hotel section, it’s even bigger than the one in Shanghai. With over 50 attractions and many performances across both parks, there are options for both adults and children to find suitable entertainment.
2) Less crowded with short lines
Compared to other Disney parks, the crowd levels at Disneyland Paris are relatively low. Moreover, the park’s operating hours are quite long; it is open from 9:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and if you stay at a park hotel, you can enter by 8:30 AM, giving you a full 14 hours of playtime. I personally tested the one-day two-parks experience and had no issues at all, even without buying the FastPass. Let me share some pictures with you — I even visited on a weekend!
Additionally, the wait times for pictures with Disney’s iconic characters rarely exceed 15 minutes. The classic characters are very engaged during their meet-and-greets.
3) Convenient transportation
Direct access from Paris city center via Metro Line A gets you to Disneyland in about 35 minutes. Furthermore, a high-speed train station is conveniently located right at the park entrance, making it just a 12-minute ride to Charles de Gaulle International Airport. I suggest staying at Disneyland the night you arrive in Paris or the night before you leave; it’s the most convenient option.
4) Spectacular performances
The shows at Disneyland Paris are large-scale Broadway productions lasting over 30 minutes, with multiple performances daily. There are no lottery systems for viewing these performances either. Having visited five Disney parks, I found Disneyland Paris to have the best shows among them.
5) Amazing fireworks displays
Every night, there is a stunning 30-minute light and fireworks show, and they often include drone performances. I’ll show you some pictures, as the fireworks alone are worth the ticket price.
6) A roller coaster paradise
Disneyland Paris features an abundance of thrilling roller coasters, with each one more exciting than the last:
– Avengers Assemble: Flight Force – an indoor roller coaster with an exhilarating acceleration.
– Finding Nemo: The Musical Turtle Coaster – a project that combines a tea cup ride and a roller coaster, exclusive to Paris.
– Big Thunder Mountain – the longest coaster in Paris, similar to Thunder Mountain in Disneyland.
– Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain – an indoor roller coaster simulating a fast-paced space environment.
– Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril – where you board an “out-of-control” truck racing through a perilous ruins setting, flipping you 360 degrees.
Having covered the highlights, I’ll delve into a detailed guide for Disneyland Paris.
The park is primarily divided into three main areas:
– Disneyland Park: This is the main park, featuring the iconic Disneyland Castle, parades, and fireworks shows. Most attractions are concentrated here, divided into five themed lands: Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Fantasyland; and Discoveryland.
Main Street, U.S.A. is primarily for shopping, while the other areas are geared more towards fun and rides.
Must-try attractions in the park include:
– Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain: an indoor roller coaster.
– Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril: an outdoor roller coaster with the longest wait times. This ride is super thrilling and includes 360-degree rotations.
– Big Thunder Mountain: similar to the one in Disneyland, it’s an outdoor roller coaster.
– It’s a Small World: an enchanting boat ride that takes you through 26 countries across all seven continents.
– Phantom Manor: a haunted house themed attraction that is a gigantic version of the Haunted Mansion.
– Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast: an indoor shooting game where you can join forces with Buzz to defeat the villain Zurg.
– Pirates of the Caribbean: similar to its counterpart in Disneyland, though with a different story and experience.
Other optional attractions include: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Park Train, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and more. Most of these are either 4D movie experiences or gentle spinning rides.
The major show of the park is “The Lion King: Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an exclusive indoor performance that features a mix of dancers, acrobats, and drummers, reminiscent of the movie’s elements. I believe it represents a significant Broadway-style production.
Recently, Disneyland Paris has introduced a new show called “Meet the Colors,” resembling a small-scale float parade combined with outdoor musical performances, continuing until September 30, with multiple daily shows.
The daily parade is a must-see where all Disney’s classic characters make an appearance.
The nighttime light and fireworks show is also a major highlight. Having visited five Disney parks, I can confidently say that Disneyland Paris offers the most awe-inspiring display lasting over 30 minutes, not including the drone shows that precede it. During the fireworks, it seems to be the most crowded time in the park.
Before the fireworks, there’s a drone performance “Disney in the Sky Parade,” which utilizes drones for the first time at Disneyland and won the “Best Live Show” award from the Global Attractions Excellence Awards in 2022. Be sure to arrive early to secure a good viewing spot.
– Walt Disney Studios Park
It’s a bit smaller than Disneyland Park, but it features more unique and entertaining attractions. One standout attraction is the Ratatouille Adventure, located here.
The Studios consist of five areas: Marvel Avengers Campus, Toy Story Playland, Production Courtyard, and Front Lot. The Avengers Campus is newly constructed and has become incredibly popular.
Must-visit attractions in the Studios include:
– Ratatouille: The Adventure – a 4D immersive experience exclusive to Disneyland Paris.
– The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – one of the most popular attractions that perfectly combines a haunted house with a drop tower. I rode it three times because it was just that fun! Plus, it provides a stunning view of the entire park while riding.
– Spider-Man W.E.B. Slingers – a 4D interactive experience where you can shoot web lines at villains.
– Avengers Assemble: Flight Force – another indoor roller coaster that offers an enormous thrill, which I believe is the most exciting coaster in Disneyland Paris.
– Finding Nemo: The Musical Turtle Coaster – based on Finding Nemo, this attraction combines tea cups and roller coasters, exclusive to Paris.
Other optional projects include: the Armchair Racer (a thrilling version of the pirate ship ride), Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, and the Magic Carpet of Aladdin.
Two must-see shows include “Mickey and the Magician” and “Pixar: We Belong Together,” both lasting over 30 minutes and embracing the Broadway style.
The Studios also offer many interactive experiences, such as the Animation Academy where you can learn about Disney’s classic characters, and some close encounters with Stitch.
I highly recommend visiting both parks if you can. If your time only allows for one, choose Disneyland Park for its size and number of attractions. If you’re planning a day to explore both the Studios and Disneyland, prioritize the Studios first and head to Disneyland in the afternoon, which will give you a chance to catch the parade and fireworks later on. Both parks open at the same time, but the Studios tend to close earlier.
– Surrounding Facilities
This mainly covers the commercial and dining areas outside the parks, as well as seven affiliated hotels, which are marked by the green box in the accompanying image (the Disneyland Hotel is not included here).
The most luxurious hotel, Disneyland Hotel, is located directly at the entrance, and I stayed there. It has just been revamped and is only a minute’s walk from the park entrance and also just a 5-minute walk to Walt Disney Studios Park.
Disneyland Hotel is also where you see the most frequent appearances of Disney’s classic characters.
Entering through the Disneyland Hotel is smooth and convenient, with a separate entry lane.
Other affiliated hotels include:
– Disney’s New York – The Art of Marvel
🚶: A 10-minute walk to Disneyland, with a free shuttle bus available. This is currently the only Marvel-themed hotel in the world, featuring various Marvel superhero-themed rooms, and also offers exclusive photo opportunities with superheroes.
– Disney’s Newport Bay Club
🚶: A 15-minute walk to the parks, also with a free shuttle bus service. This hotel is located beside Disney Lake, making it one of the closest options to the park. It features a Mickey and Minnie mouse theme combined with a nautical style.
The two hotels mentioned above are the most mainstream choices. Additionally, there are more budget-friendly options like the three-star Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne (Toy Story themed) and Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe (Cars themed), which are high on value for money. These three hotels require about a 20-minute walk to reach the parks but can be accessed within 10 minutes via the free shuttle service.
There’s also the Disney Davy Crockett Ranch, a treehouse hotel set in nature. However, staying there does not include free shuttle access, which means you’ll need to drive for about 15 minutes to reach the parks.
By the way, most rooms in Disneyland Paris hotels can accommodate a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children.
You absolutely must utilize the advantage of early entry available to hotel guests, which allows entry one hour before opening. Currently, Disneyland opens at 9:30 AM, so an hour earlier means you can enter at 8:30 AM. Since Disneyland Paris is generally not very crowded, going in an hour early can allow you to experience at least three attractions. I rode the drop tower three times and the Avengers Assemble: Flight Force once.
Disneyland Paris also has retail establishments, an IMAX theater, a LEGO store, and various dining options around the area. You can even take a hot air balloon ride to view Disneyland from above. The commercial atmosphere is lively, and there are quite a few reasonably priced restaurants (like Starbucks and McDonald’s).
Next, I’ll add some essential information about Disneyland Paris.
【Official Disneyland Paris website】
https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-int/
The official site is crucial! This is because we can’t download the Disneyland Paris app (at least, I wasn’t able to download it successfully). Thus, much of the most useful information can be found on the website.
You can also make restaurant reservations through the website.
This is important as some dining spots offer character interactions (such as Cinderella’s Restaurant and Plaza Gardens Restaurant), and some restaurants themselves feature great attractions (like Captain Jack’s Pirate Restaurant and Agrabah Café). I made a reservation for Agrabah Café, which offers a €40 buffet (that’s quite reasonable), and it was like stepping into the Arabian world.
【Operating Hours】
– Disneyland Park: 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM, with the fireworks show generally starting around 10:30 PM (see the website for specific times).
– Walt Disney Studios Park: 9:30 AM – 9:00 PM.
– Guests at certain affiliated hotels can enter one hour early.
