15 tips for traveling to Disneyland Paris
Any visit to Paris deserves at least a one-day getaway at Disneyland. If you want to know how to make the most of every second and make your experience even more magical, take note of the tips shared below.
Pluto at Disneyland Paris | ©Craig Adderley
Going to Disneyland from Paris for just one day to enjoy a few hours of fun with friends and family has become a new tradition in itself. It is also one of the reasons why thousands of tourists flock to the City of Light every season.
If you selected Disneyland as your next destination, congratulations! There is so much to see and do there that buying a ticket for several days is synonymous with big fun. If you want to get the most out of your adventure, check out this compilation of tips designed to save time, money and effort on your next visit to Disneyland.
1. Buy your Disneyland tickets in advance
Buying your tickets in advance has numerous advantages, not only does it give you the opportunity to find Disneyland tickets during off-peak times, but it also saves you from wasting valuable time at the park's ticket office.
There are several ways in which you can purchase your tickets in the virtual environment. For example, you can purchase tickets for several days, between two and four. This option also includes admission to Walt Disney Studios Park.
2. Download the Disneyland app
There is so much to see and do at Disneyland that if you are only in the park for one day, downloading the Disneyland app is a must. This important resource, developed as a help system by the Disney Company, will be your most valuable tool during the entire excursion since it will provide you with reliable information to help you decide how to move around the park.
Attractions
The application shows you the waiting time for all the park's attractions, and also gives you information about those that are closed for repairs. A trick to avoid constantly browsing through the long list of Disneyland Paris attractions is to add the ones you are most interested in to the favorites section.
Characters
Our favorite Disney characters walk around the park to interact with the public and take pictures. The application gives you information about which characters will be walking around during the day, where they will be and in which time slot you will be able to meet them.
Shows
Disney's show schedule is constantly changing from season to season and the Disneyland app will let you know what shows are on the day of your visit, where and at what times.
Restaurants
The app gives you a list of all the restaurants in the Disney park with easy access to all the menus.
Download links
- Download Disneyland on the App Store.
- Download Disneyland on Google Play.
3. Discover the alternative to the Free Fast Pass
Disneyland had a service that we will all miss: the FastPass, an option that allowed us to select an access ticket for attractions in high demand. The ticket offered us a time range in which we could access the attraction without queuing. The only drawback is that the passes were limited in terms of users and attractions.
Disney Premier Access
The service that replaces FastPass is called Disney Premier Access and, to use it, you need to download the Disneyland app and register. It works very simply: when you arrive at Disneyland, you link your ticket to the application, select the attraction you want to visit and the number of participants. Then, the app generates a QR code and gives you information about the exact time you can enter without queuing.
However, not all attractions are available for Disney Premier Access. This service can be requested only at:
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Phantom Manor
- Peter Pan's flight
- Ratatouille
- Buzz Lightyear
- Star Wars Hyperspace
- Star Tours
- The Twilight Zone
- Utopia
- Indiana Jones
- Orbitron
In addition, it is not exactly a cheap service, since it has a minimum cost of 5 € per attraction, it is valid for a single use and the price may increase depending on demand.
4. Take advantage of the Single Rider
The Single Rider is a free service offered by Disneyland that you can take advantage of to save time. It is a special line for those who can or want to ride the attractions alone. The operation is very simple: if an attraction is designed for a 4-person car or trolley and a family of only 3 members approaches, the operator will place the family in the car and include the extra participant (single rider) from the alternative queue.
However, this benefit is not available for all attractions either. You will be able to use it on:
- Star Wars Hyperspace
- RC Racer
- Toy Soldiers
- Ratatouille: the adventure
And, although you can join the Single Rider line with your friends, remember that you will not be able to ride the attraction together, as the operator will call you one at a time.
5. Organize your schedule and prioritize attractions
A little planning before going to Disneyland from Paris will help you a lot. Besides downloading the Disneyland app, I recommend you to have a small list of Disney attractions you want to go on and watch the app days before your trip, the behavior of the lines with the minimum and maximum waiting times.
If you are going to be in Disney for two or more days, I recommend you to arrive at least one of those days at the opening time of the Disney park and go first to the Crush 's Rider attraction located in the Walt Disney Studios park. It is one of the most in demand and the lines get impossibly long.
6. Pick the right time to travel to Disneyland
Knowing the best time to travel to Disneyland is extremely important. However, there is no simple way to answer this question and it will depend a lot on your priorities and the kind of experiences you want to have.
A formula that is repeated almost all year round, except for the weeks of mass tourism, is that during the first days of the week the influx to the parks decreases considerably. The reason is simple: people who live in Paris take advantage of the weekend break to spend a fun afternoon at Disneyland; however, during the week these same families are at work or at school.
7. Do not wear sandals
Even if you visit Disneyland in the summer, sandals are not suitable footwear since you might lose some of them in very busy attractions. In general, avoid wearing any footwear that comes off your feet easily or that may cause discomfort after a few hours of walking. In these scenarios, practical and comfortable slippers are usually the best footwear to wear.
8. Protect yourself from the weather
No matter what time of the year you visit Disneyland, considering that you will be outdoors for several hours, you should be properly prepared for the season's prevailing weather.
- In warm weather, a pair of sunglasses, SPF factor 30 or higher, and an umbrella in case you have to stand in long lines under the sun.
- In cold weather, a sweatshirt or coat depending on the weather, thermal clothing in the months when the Parisian winter lashes, winter hats and gloves, and a poncho or umbrella for the rain.
9. Fill your backpack with everything you need
When visiting Disneyland you should be properly prepared for all the necessities that may arise. A backpack with some accessories or essential items will make your visit much more enjoyable. Here are my recommendations:
- Bring your own water bottle because it is expensive in the parks. For this you have two alternatives: plastic thermos or metal thermos. Keep in mind that glass containers are forbidden inside the park.
- Bring a portable charger. You will use your cell phone a lot not only to take pictures, but also to check the Disneyland app.
- Put all important documents in a separate case or pocket.
- Bring some snacks. During the queues you may get hungry and you won't be able to move around to buy food.
- Bring napkins and tissues.
- Even in summer, bring a light sweatshirt for the evening.
- Bring a cocoa bar. The strong wind on some rides can be very drying to the lips.
10. Take advantage of the Rider Switch pass
Disney attractions are regulated according to their target audience and some of them have height limitations. If you are traveling with small children and want to go on rides that are not designed for them, a Rider Switch Pass is your best option.
This special pass is designed so that parents traveling with small children can go on rides one at a time without having to repeat the line. The operation is very simple: you must request the Rider Switch pass, when you arrive at an attraction where the child cannot get on, one of the two parents stands in line and gets on the attraction while the other waits outside. Then the second parent can get on without queuing and swap roles.
11. Plan and reserve your meals
With the Disneyland app, in addition to working for the attractions, you can organize your meals for the day. From the app, you can perform two important tasks.
- Reserve a table, even months before your trip at the park's most popular restaurants such as Bistrot Chez Rémy or Captain Jack's.
- Order and pay for your food directly on your cell phone. When you are in the park you can order food on the app and avoid lines at the restaurants. When you place your order, the app gives you a waiting time that is usually 15 to 20 minutes. Some of the Disney restaurants that have this service available are Café and Casey's Corner.
Disney parks are known for having a varied number of restaurants and food establishments. When planning your meals for the day you can consult this information about the best restaurants in Disneyland Paris. Although on average the food in the park will be a little more expensive than in the city, you are sure to find something to suit your needs.
12. Stay at the resort
Although hotels at Disneyland are somewhat expensive, it is important to keep in mind that staying at these facilities implies several advantages. For example, you can access the park before the normal public, which means that you can go up practically without queues to the most popular attractions.
Likewise, when staying at Disneyland hotels you will be able to hire meal plans that include lunch and breakfast at the park's restaurants.
13. Take advantage of the parades to go on rides and attractions
Another great trick that will allow you to avoid long lines at the attractions is to attend them when the parades are taking place. The reason is simple, park goers, excited to see their favorite characters parade, all concentrate on Main Street and the attractions are practically empty. The rides have an average duration of 20 minutes.
14. Arrive early for Disney Illuminations
One show you can't miss is the Disney Illuminations, which takes place every night at Sleeping Beauty Castle. It is a light and fireworks show that projects endearing stories for about 20 minutes.
However, like the other shows at Disneyland, this one usually concentrates a large number of people, so it is advisable to always keep in mind the time of the show and get to the square an hour before to ensure a good seat.
It is very important to check the itinerary because the hours of Disney shows vary from one season to another; in summer and spring the parks have extended hours, but during the winter the closing time is much earlier.
15. Consider purchasing a Disneyland Annual Pass
Finally, if you are a fan at heart and enjoy the idea of visiting Disney several times in a year, the annual pass is an option you should consider. With this type of service, Disney assures you entrance to both parks whenever you want and other benefits. For the annual pass you will find four categories: Discovery, Magic Flex, Magic Plus and Infinity.
Annual passes are available in two formats:
- Single payment. Starting at 210 € for the most economical option.
- Payment in installments. Requires an initial payment of 60 € and 11 monthly installments starting at 14 € for the cheapest option.