Managing your day at Disneyland Paris: queues, the app and services

The quietest periods are January, March and September. If you don’t like crowds, avoid July-August, the French autumn half-term (Toussaint, Halloween season), the Christmas holidays and weekends in May. Midweek, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days, and Saturday is the busiest. On the other hand, the Halloween and Christmas seasons bring extra decorations and shows, at the cost of bigger crowds.

One day is enough to see the highlights of a single park if you pick your priorities. Two days is ideal to visit Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World at a relaxed pace, one day per park. Beyond that, the pace becomes more laid-back and you can go back on your favourite rides. For a first visit with kids, I recommend 2 nights / 3 days.

As early as possible. Disneyland Paris prices are dynamic: the earlier you book, the less you pay. For dated tickets, aim for at least 3 months ahead, and 6 to 9 months for a Disney hotel on very popular dates (French school holidays, French bank holidays in May, Halloween, Christmas). Booking calendars often open even further ahead, so as soon as your dates are certain, book. For table service restaurants, you can book up to 2 months ahead in the official app if you’re visiting for the day, and up to 1 year ahead if you’re staying in a Disney hotel.

At least 30 minutes before official opening time, ideally 45 minutes at busy times. Once you’ve been through the security check and then the turnstiles, you’ll be in place at the park gates as soon as it opens. The first 90 minutes of the day are the most valuable: that’s when you can do 3 or 4 major rides back to back without much of a queue.

At quiet times and with good planning, expect 10 to 15 rides over a full day. At busy times, more like 6 to 8. What really makes the difference: arriving 30 minutes before opening, eating at off-peak times (lunch at 11:30 or 14:00), making the most of the last hour before closing (the queues empty) and using Premier Access strategically on 2 or 3 very popular rides.

It depends on the day. Premier Access is paid on top of your ticket, from €5 per ride and per go, and the price climbs on busy days. On busy days (French school holidays, weekends, the Halloween and Christmas seasons) and on the big rides where the wait often goes over an hour, it’s worth it on one or two very popular rides. On a quiet day, it isn’t essential: if you arrive at opening time and follow a logical order, you won’t queue much without paying anything. You buy it in the official app, on the day for Premier Access One. Premier Access Ultimate can also be bought in advance. All the details are in my Premier Access guide.

Yes, I consider it an essential tool these days. It shows live queue times and show and parade times, and lets you book table service restaurants, manage your tickets and buy Premier Access. Remember to download it and log in to your Disney account before you arrive, as the network can be overloaded on some days.

Yes, it’s compulsory. It means linking each ticket to a Disney account before your visit, which lets you use the official app (queue times, Premier Access, restaurant bookings and more). If you buy a dated ticket or a holiday with a Disney hotel, your date is registered automatically. Otherwise, you do it from your Disney account online or in the official app. My advice: don’t leave it until the day before your visit but do it as early as possible, or you risk not being able to book if the park is full.

It all depends on your budget and your strategy. Disney hotel: you get Extra Magic Time (access to the parks up to 1 hour before official opening on some headline rides), delivery of your shopping to the hotel, the official shuttle bus and a themed atmosphere. Partner hotel (Explorers, Adagio or B&B, among others): prices are often lower, a free shuttle is usually provided but it isn’t an official Disney one, and breakfast isn’t always included in the price (check when you book). For a first stay, I’d tend to recommend a Disney hotel. To keep the budget down, a partner hotel.

Yes, as long as you actually make use of it. This access up to 1 hour before official opening time lets you do 3 to 5 major rides back to back with no queue, which changes the whole feel of the day. The perk is only for guests of the official Disney hotels and Gold annual pass holders. If you plan to sleep in or enjoy the hotel in the morning, the perk falls flat. A rough list of the rides open: Peter Pan’s Flight, Big Thunder Mountain, Crush’s Coaster, Ratatouille (varies with the period). Check which rides are included the day before.

Yes, Disneyland Paris is worth it for a group of adult friends. You can focus on the thrill rides, the most intense of which are mainly in Disney Adventure World. On several of them, the free Single Rider queue often saves you time: you queue together, then each of you takes a seat that’s been left empty. In the evening, each park ends the day with its night-time show, then Disney Village, which stays open after the parks close, keeps the evening going. As a group, you can share the room and the parking, which brings down the cost per person. I suggest choosing together, before you leave, the rides everyone wants to do and setting a shared food budget, so you don’t end up going in different directions. For a hen do or stag do, I have a dedicated guide. I also have one for visiting as a couple, solo or with seniors.

Yes. Entry is free for under-3s (no ticket needed). Plenty of rides are suitable from a very young age, especially in Fantasyland ("it’s a small world", Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Peter Pan’s Flight). Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch) lets parents take turns on rides with height restrictions without queuing again. There are Baby Care Centres (changing, breastfeeding, bottle warmers) in each park.

Rider Switch (formerly Baby Switch) lets two adults take turns on a ride with a height restriction (or one that’s not recommended for someone) without queuing twice. Explain your situation to the Cast Member at the ride entrance. One adult rides while the other waits with the child. When they come back, the adult who stayed outside goes straight through the priority queue or Premier Access, depending on the instructions given. The service is free and works on most rides with height restrictions in both parks.

Each park has a Baby Care Centre. In Disneyland Park, it is at the end of Main Street U.S.A., on the Plaza Gardens side. In Disney Adventure World, it is near the park entrance, in the Place des Frères Lumière area. Inside you’ll find changing tables, a quiet breastfeeding area, a bottle warmer and microwave, baby food and nappies if you run out (paid) plus adapted toilets. Access is free and open during park opening hours.

It depends on their age, and an important point: the rule is about being alone in the ride vehicle, not alone in the park (a child never wanders the parks alone). Children under 7 must be accompanied on the ride by someone aged 15 or over. From the age of 7, they can ride alone if they meet the height requirements. Parents who don’t ride wait at the exit: agree on a clear meeting point (Cast Members don’t bring children back if you get separated).

Rain won’t ruin a day at Disneyland Paris if you adapt your plan. My go-to moves: bring a rain poncho (more practical than an umbrella in queues), focus on indoor rides (Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ratatouille, Crush’s Coaster, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, "it’s a small world"), spend time under the arcades of Main Street U.S.A. or in the shops and see indoor shows such as Mickey and the Magician in Disney Adventure World (when it’s scheduled, check the show schedule on the day). Rainy days are often less crowded, which is an advantage worth using.

The two parks are right next to each other. You can walk from one to the other in 5 minutes across the central plaza (Fantasia Garden). You need a 2-park ticket to get into both on the same day. With a 1-park ticket, you stay in the park where your ticket was first scanned. No shuttle is needed between the two, and that’s one of the great strengths of Disneyland Paris.

Yes, rain is part of the Paris region’s climate: the park gets a lot of rainy days over the year, as the month-by-month table above shows. It’s mostly showers, and the park is designed with plenty of covered walkways so you can carry on visiting in the dry.

In the vast majority of cases, no. The park is set up to run in rain, cold weather and snow as well as in strong heat, and the visit stays enjoyable if you prepare well. Cancellation terms mainly depend on your type of ticket or holiday, not on the weather.

Yes. There’s a free, shaded picnic area with plenty of tables and benches outside the parks, near the visitor car park. To get there from the park, you leave with your ticket. Watch out: any exit outside the Parks / Disney Village area means going through the security check again when you come back, so allow enough time. Inside the parks, there’s no dedicated picnic area, but you can sit on the benches and low walls available (restaurant tables are for customers who have ordered there).

Yes, with the same ticket. Keep your ticket safe (paper or in the app) so it can be scanned when you come back. It’s handy for lunch in Disney Village (often cheaper and less crowded than in the parks), a nap at the hotel or picking something up from the car. You have to go through the security check again each time you enter.

My favourite spots: the covered arcades of Main Street U.S.A. (Liberty Arcade and Discovery Arcade), much calmer than the main street and with a few benches. In Disney Adventure World, the central studio hall (World Premiere Plaza) has some sheltered seating, otherwise I love the area around the lake. As for the hotels you can reach from the plaza, the large lobbies of Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel and Disney Sequoia Lodge are perfect for a proper quiet break.

The Single Rider queue is a separate queue for visitors who are happy to ride on their own. The idea: fill the empty seats left by groups with odd numbers. In return, you wait much less. It’s free and open to everyone, as long as you meet the ride’s height and safety requirements.

No, that’s the whole point. You queue together, but when it’s time to board you’re split up and placed in the free seats one by one. So you won’t ride side by side. If that matters to you (a child who is scared, a first time on the ride), take the regular queue.

No. The pools are strictly for each hotel’s own guests and access is checked with a wristband or room key. However, the lobbies, restaurants and bars of the other official Disney hotels are open to all guests of official Disney hotels: handy for getting a feel for Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel or Sequoia Lodge without staying there.

Disney Village is the free-entry leisure area located between the two parks (Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World) and the Disney hotels. You’ll find restaurants, bars, shops and a cinema there. It’s right next to the station (RER A, the Paris suburban train, and TGV high-speed trains) and the park entrance.

In Disney Village, the first venues open from 8:00 (breakfast), and most of them around 9:00-10:00. Each business sets its own hours. Closing times are spread out late into the evening, usually between midnight and 1:00. So the hours are longer than the parks’, which makes it a good option for the end of the day. I recommend checking the hours for your visit date on the official Disneyland Paris website.

Disney Village brings several kinds of entertainment together in one place: restaurants for every budget, bars, an amusement arcade, a cinema, the PanoraMagique balloon and a whole shopping area full of souvenirs for all ages. It’s a handy place to round off the day at a relaxed pace after the parks.

Yes, there are a few rules about what you can wear. Costumes and masks are not allowed for visitors aged 12 and over, except for medical reasons, so younger children can come dressed up. Any outfit or mask that covers the whole face is banned for safety reasons. Apart from that, wear whatever you like. My advice: above all, go for comfortable shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking.

The parks are non-smoking, but there are outdoor areas set aside for smokers. These designated areas are shown on the park map, which you can see in the Disneyland Paris app. Outside these areas, smoking isn’t allowed, and that includes e-cigarettes. Ask at the entrance or check the app to find the nearest area.

No, selfie sticks are banned in the Disneyland Paris parks. This rule, in place for several years, covers telescopic poles for phones and cameras. It was brought in for visitors’ safety and peace of mind, especially on rides. You can of course take photos as normal with your phone or camera.

At the park entrance, Disneyland Paris may carry out a visual check, or a check with special equipment, of your clothing and belongings, for security reasons. So allow a little time to get through this check, especially at busy times. My advice: keep what’s in your bag to a minimum and arrive early so you can get in stress-free. The exact rules are set out in the park regulations on the official Disneyland Paris website.

Opening hours vary from day to day and with the time of year, so always check for your exact date. The official calendar on the Disneyland Paris website is updated daily and shows each park’s opening and closing times. The Disneyland Paris app and my blog also give this information. My advice: check the opening hours a few days before your visit, as they can change.

Tell the nearest Cast Member (park employee) straight away: staff are trained to handle these situations and a search is started. Each park has a lost children meeting point, where a Cast Member looks after your child until you get there. My advice before your visit: agree on a meeting point with your child and put a phone number on them.

For a first visit of just one day, I recommend Disneyland Park. With a 1-day 1-park ticket, it’s the most complete option: the castle, the parade and the big rides for all ages, in the original world dreamt up by Walt Disney.

Disneyland Park. It has more rides designed for little ones, especially in Fantasyland, and an atmosphere that suits them well.

Yes, Disneyland Paris is open 365 days a year. The parks welcome visitors on French bank holidays too. Note, though, that opening hours change every day, so feel free to check in the Disneyland Paris app or on my blog.

The vast majority of rides open at the same time as the park’s official opening to the public. During Extra Magic Time, only a selection of rides is open.

Rides close at the park’s exact closing time. At that point, the queue entrance closes, but the ride keeps running until the last visitor has been on. If you’re in the queue before closing time, you can be sure of riding, even after a long wait.

Yes, on my blog I offer a crowd calendar for Disneyland Paris. It’s based on attendance in previous years, so actual crowd levels can vary, especially since dynamic pricing came in, which naturally tends to even out attendance.

There’s no shortage of options nearby: animal parks such as Parrot World or the Parc des Félins, the SEA LIFE Paris Val d’Europe aquarium, the Imagi Park leisure complex, the Villages Nature water park, shopping at Val d’Europe and La Vallée Village, golf, walks along the Marne or day trips to Paris, Provins and Parc Astérix.

Parc Astérix, in Plailly (about 50 minutes away), focuses on rollercoasters and the world of the Gauls, whereas Disneyland Paris offers a very different atmosphere and very different rides. I’ve written a detailed comparison on the blog to help you choose based on what you’re looking for.

Yes. An area for visitors with reduced mobility is set aside in each park, for the parades (in front of the control booth, to the left of Central Plaza) and for the night-time castle show (to the left of the castle), on presentation of a Disney Priority Card or a Thumper wristband. The person concerned can bring two companions. Arrive a little earlier to get a good spot.

No. Selfie sticks, tripods, monopods and stabilisers longer than 20 cm when extended are banned throughout the Disney area, as are professional lenses over 135 mm. Everyday equipment (phone, compact camera) is still allowed.

Yes. A changing room is available at the First Aid centre in Disneyland Park (on Main Street U.S.A.) and at Cafe Luminosity in Disney Adventure World. It welcomes the person and their companions in private, with a hoist, an adjustable bed or seat, toilets and a shower. It’s where disabled adults or children over 3 can be changed.

Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station (RER A, TGV and OUIGO) is accessible and a few minutes’ walk from the entrance. For assistance at the station, book it in advance with the SNCF service (no later than 24 hours before departure), otherwise it isn’t guaranteed. Personal wheelchairs and scooters can get around the parks and hotels, but scooters aren’t allowed on the Disney shuttles.

Call the reservations centre on +33 9 69 32 60 61, Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 19:30 and Saturday from 9:30 to 18:00. This number is also for tickets and questions about prices.

No. The official numbers start with 01 and 09, so they aren’t premium rate. You call them at the cost of a local call, or even at no extra cost if your phone plan includes calls to landlines. The 08xx numbers seen elsewhere aren’t the park’s.

Disney Tales of Magic has been running in place of Disney Illuminations since 10 January 2025 (after the return of Disney Dreams! in between), in Disneyland Park, on the castle and now also on the facades of Main Street U.S.A.

You’ll mainly find thrill rides and Marvel and Pixar worlds you won’t see at Disneyland Park, spread across several lands: World of Frozen, Avengers Campus, Worlds of Pixar, World Premiere Plaza, Adventure Way and, soon, The Lion King. Add several indoor shows and, in the evening, Disney Cascade of Lights on the Adventure Bay lake. For a detailed hour-by-hour plan, follow my guide to planning your day.

Yes, as long as you know what you’re coming for. I give it 4 out of 5 stars: it’s the park for thrills and Marvel and Pixar worlds, with great indoor shows and a night-time show on the lake. On the downside, it still has fewer rides than Disneyland Park, no parade and a few areas under construction. For a one-day first visit, I’d recommend Disneyland Park instead. Disney Adventure World really comes into its own on a trip of 2 days or more.

Yes for children under 12, all year round. From age 12, only on special days, such as 31 October for Halloween or Star Wars Day on 4 May. Costumes are also allowed at some Disneyland Pass evenings. Disney Bound is allowed all year round.

Yes, the Thumper wristband. You collect it on presentation of proof of pregnancy and it gives the same priority access as the card on a selection of rides. It replaces the old card for these visitors.

There’s no single reliable public email address. Disneyland Paris prefers its online contact form, which keeps a record of your request. The email addresses going around on other sites are often old or wrong.

Use the contact form on the official website, or write by post to Disneyland Paris, Bâtiment Fantasia, BP 100, 77777 Marne-la-Vallée Cedex 4. The form is the recommended route as it keeps a written record.

A service dedicated to disability, illness and food allergies can help you on +33 9 69 32 09 60. It helps you adapt your visit to your needs.

Yes, you can’t bring alcohol in from outside. Only licensed restaurants serve it in the park.

The night-time show takes place just before the park closes. So it’s earlier in winter (often around 20:00 or 21:00) and later in summer (around 22:00 to 22:40). The time changes every evening: check yours in the official Disneyland Paris app, on the day itself.

Yes. Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome in the parks, hotels, shops and restaurants. The dog must stay on a lead and under control, with its paperwork up to date. Some rides don’t allow it on board: a dedicated waiting area is then provided, as at Pirates of the Caribbean.

Disney Adventure World is the new name of Disneyland Paris’s second park, formerly Walt Disney Studios. It’s where the night-time show Disney Cascade of Lights takes place, on the Adventure Bay lake.

Yes. Your own cold food is allowed (sandwiches, snacks, fruit, cakes, water bottle) in a rucksack or a small soft cool bag, and there’s a picnic area between Disney Village and the car parks. Not allowed: alcohol, glass containers, knives and large rigid cool boxes. I always pop a water bottle and some biscuits in my bag. It heads off energy slumps and queues at the counter, and it keeps the bill down.

It’s a paid service, on top of your ticket, that reserves you a supervised standing area to watch certain parades and night-time shows without a long wait (no guaranteed seat). Expect €24 to €29 per person for a night-time show and €19 to €24 for the parade. The price varies with how busy the day is.

Yes, Adventure Bay lake gives you a view all the way round. The show does, however, include four water screens, each with its own projector. To make the most of the projections, stand as directly in front of a water screen as you can rather than between two screens.

Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the best spots, and arrive very early for the bandstand spot facing Main Street U.S.A. (small, fills up fast). Along the street, on the other hand, there’s often still room even 15 minutes before it sets off, as there is near the two Fantasyland towers. It varies with how busy the day is.

From age 4, your child really gets the most out of the day. The 6 to 9 age range is still the most comfortable: tall enough, plenty of stamina and a receptive imagination.

Many family rides are open to the very youngest, with no minimum height: it’s a small world, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Pirates of the Caribbean or Buzz Lightyear.

Yes, there are three: to the right of the Disneyland Park entrance, in the Disney hotels (free for guests) and at Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy TGV station, which is a service independent of Disney.

It’s free only in the Disney hotels, for hotel guests. At the park and at the station, you pay according to the size of your belongings. The Disneyland Pass no longer gets you free luggage storage.

There’s no minimum age: you can come from birth, with a newborn. The only real restriction is your child’s height on some thrill rides, never their age. As long as you adapt the day to their rhythm (naps, meals, quiet moments), a visit at a very young age goes really well.

Guaranteed Access costs from €15 per person per show, the same whichever show you choose, and it can go up on very busy days. This ticket comes on top of your park entry.

By the lake in Disney Adventure World, allow 30 to 45 minutes before the show for a good spot as a rule, and 45 to 60 minutes for the best views facing the stage when it’s very busy. Spots further back can be taken later.

No. Under-18s are exempt. Only adults (18 and over) pay the tourist tax, even if the child has a bed in the room.

Expect €19 for face painting (1 person), €27 for 2 people and €36 for 3 people. Arm painting starts at €15, the package with a crown is €45, face painting with a crown and hairstyle is €75, and a hairstyle with an accessory is €42.

No, there’s no discount on face painting, even with an annual pass or a Disneyland Pass. The price shown is the same for all visitors, as the official sign at the stand says.

No, the make-up package with a crown (€45) is offered at several stands, not just in the World of Frozen land. Hairstyles can vary from one stand to another, so it’s best to check on the day which packages the stand you have in mind offers.

Usually yes, paid separately when you arrive. For partner hotels and bookings made through a third-party website, the tax isn’t always included in the price. Check your booking confirmation.

Six venues: SpeedPark (bowling, go-karting, laser tag, arcade games, karaoke and virtual reality), KoJump (a trampoline park), Fort Boyard Aventures (a challenge course), Activate (action games), the Gold’s Gym fitness club and Wonderwoods, a forest-themed restaurant.

On a normal day, the complex often opens in the afternoon on weekdays (around 13:00) and earlier at weekends and during French school holidays. It closes late, at midnight on weekdays and at 1:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Each venue sets its own hours, so check the official website before you go.

There’s no single entry ticket. Getting into the complex is free and you pay for each activity separately, with several options (per session, per hour or unlimited). As it’s an independent venue, it’s best to check prices on site or on each venue’s website.

Yes. Imagi Park is an independent leisure complex inside the Val d’Europe shopping centre. It’s right next to Disneyland Paris but has no link with the parks: you get in without a Disney ticket and, the other way round, your Disney tickets or passes give you no perks there.

No, Magic Shots aren’t charged on top. They’re included in your PhotoPass or PhotoPass+ package, with no extra cost per effect. You simply need a package to download the photo in high quality. Prices are explained in my article on PhotoPass and PhotoPass+.

Yes. You need a PhotoPass or PhotoPass+ to download and keep your Magic Shots in high quality. You can buy your package before the photo session, or get a temporary card from the photographer and decide later. The packages are explained in my article on PhotoPass and PhotoPass+.

No. Magic Shots change with the location, the day and the season. You can’t be sure of getting a particular character. Think of it as a nice surprise. To see what’s on offer during your trip, check the app on the day.

Up to 4 companions on rides, at character meets and at indoor shows, and 2 at outdoor shows and parades. Under-3s count towards this number.

Three reliable sources: the box at the top of this article, the day’s programme in the official Disneyland Paris app and the boards at the park entrance. Show times are usually published around three months ahead.

It’s the animated version of the Magic Shot. Instead of a still photo, you get a short video in which the effect comes to life. It works the same way: you pose in front of the photographer and the effect is added afterwards. Availability varies with the day and the season.

Items are kept for a limited time, with valuables usually held longer than small everyday items. The service doesn’t publish a fixed period and timings can vary. So report your loss as soon as you can, without waiting.

The vaccination record or European pet passport, with up-to-date vaccinations and a valid rabies vaccination (given between 1 month and 1 year ago). The animal must be identified by microchip or tattoo.

Yes, access and basic care are free for all visitors. Only a consultation with an outside doctor, if one is needed, is at your own expense.

Yes. The nurses can give you basic medicine depending on your symptoms. Always tell them about any allergies and any treatment you’re currently taking.

The first aid posts have rooms with beds where you can rest. You can lie down somewhere quiet and be looked after by a nurse.

Yes. There’s a first aid post in Disneyland Park, one in Disney Adventure World (the second park) and one in Disney Village. Each is staffed by state-registered nurses, free and with no appointment needed.

Only Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch accepts dogs, with one dog per bungalow and a supplement of around €30 per night. That doesn’t mean your dog can go into the parks. Category 1 and 2 dogs are not allowed.

Yes, it’s tolerated: your dog can stay alone in the bungalow during the day, at no extra cost, with a sign on the door for housekeeping. Do think about its wellbeing before leaving it alone for several hours, though: heat inside the bungalow, whether it’s used to being alone and its need for walks and fresh water.

Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel is the ideal choice: superhero decor, Marvel artwork and statues, plus an atmosphere that carries on from Avengers Campus. For a calmer alternative, there’s Sequoia Lodge, but check how far its phased renovation has got and which services are open before you book.

It isn’t essential, but it’s useful on the most popular rides if your budget allows. The best approach: combine Premier Access (paid) on the thrill ride your teen absolutely wants to do with Single Rider (free) for everything else. A tip for independence: if you lend them your phone, they can handle their own bookings in the app.

No, you don’t need any permission as long as you don’t get in anyone’s way. You can go down on one knee in a public area. However, you’re not allowed to hold up a ride or a parade, or to climb onto a show stage.

Mulan is one of the Disney Princesses even though she isn’t of royal blood and doesn’t marry a prince: she was included for her heroic act of saving China. She officially joined the franchise after a popularity contest in 2006.

No. Your day will hold up very well: most rides and restaurants aren’t affected. Only some outdoor shows may be shortened or cancelled. Just bring a windproof layer.

Check the weather forecast and the official warnings from France’s national weather service for Seine-et-Marne the day before and that morning. In the parks, staff announce any show cancellations throughout the day.

Expect tens of thousands of euros. A basic package with around twenty guests is the most affordable option, while the most prestigious venues, such as the castle, are among the most expensive. Disney doesn’t publish a price list: everything goes through a personalised quote based on the venue, the number of guests and the options.

For a proper romantic dinner, go for Walt’s (around €55 per person) or Manhattan Restaurant (around €55). Avoid La Table de Lumière for an intimate proposal: it’s a character dining restaurant where princes and princesses visit every table (set menu around €120 per adult).

Three key points: pick a quiet day (Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, outside the holidays), arrive 30 minutes before opening and make a list of 5 to 6 priority rides to do as soon as the park opens, when queues are shortest. Plan around the shows and the parade that matter to you, eat at off-peak times and leave some time to wander. Leave the rest of the day to chance.

Not on the official website. It’s fee-free: spreading the payment costs you nothing extra and you pay the same price as in one go. Third-party options (Carrefour Voyages, Cdiscount) have their own terms and sometimes charge fees.

No. The official website doesn’t offer instalments for park tickets bought without a hotel. Paying in instalments is only available for hotel and ticket packages.

Yes, install it before your visit. It’s free and shows live queue times, the map and the day’s opening hours, and it lets you buy Premier Access, book a restaurant and find your PhotoPass photos. Connect to the park’s free Wi-Fi when you arrive to avoid loading glitches.

It’s a free service that lets you take turns on a ride with a minimum height without queuing again. You need at least two adults: one stays with the child who is too small while the other rides, then you swap through a quick access entrance. Ask the Cast Member at the ride entrance. Don’t confuse it with Single Rider, which lets you ride alone by filling single empty seats.

Aim for mid-January to early February (after the festive season) and September (once the children go back to school), outside French school holidays (including those of neighbouring countries, which push up crowd levels). During the week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the quietest. Saturday is the busiest. These off-peak periods are often the cheapest too, as prices are dynamic.

Yes, with a 1-day 2-park ticket you can move freely between the parks. It’s a busy pace: you have to make choices and accept that you won’t see everything. Tick off 3 or 4 priorities in the first park in the morning, switch to the second one around lunchtime and come back in the evening to the park where you want to end the day. Disney Adventure World has fewer rides, so you’ll get through your priorities there faster.

At the castle, no: since 1 April 2026, Disney Tales of Magic has been performed without drones, focusing on projections and pyrotechnics. To see drones, head to Disney Cascade of Lights in Disney Adventure World, with drones in the air and on the water, skimming the surface.

Yes. ANCV holiday vouchers (a French scheme) can pay all or part of the balance, after a deposit paid by card or PayPal. PayPal is accepted and, depending on your profile, may offer payment in instalments on its own terms, separate from Disney’s.

Usually not, especially for Disney hotels. Their prices are dynamic: they go up as the hotel fills. Booking early locks in the lowest prices. Booking at the last minute can be worth it in the low season, midweek or at a non-Disney partner hotel.

One or two, depending on your ticket. Each participant needs a ticket valid on the day. With a 1-park ticket, your guide can arrange access to the second park during the day (at an extra cost). With an undated ticket or an annual pass, remember to register your visit on the park reservation platform before the big day.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are generally the quietest, outside French school holidays. Saturday is the busiest day. As for months, January, March and September are the calmest. Avoid these if you don’t like crowds: July and August, the French autumn half-term (Toussaint, Halloween season), the Christmas holidays and weekends in May. Also keep in mind school holidays in neighbouring countries, which have a big impact on crowd levels.

No. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult: they can’t stay alone with the guide.

It’s possible, but the service books up fast, so book as early as you can. Requests stay open until the day of your visit, subject to availability. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you can also book at reception.

They’re set off in the evening, usually late, often after 23:00 (the park closes later that night). The exact time changes from year to year, so check the day’s programme in the official app or on site.

By bank card only, over the phone. For any questions, the VIP Tours team can be reached on +33 1 60 30 50 60 (not a premium-rate number).

Yes. Let the team know when you make your request, by email or by phone.

The Priority Card is for visitors with a recognised disability, visible or invisible (including autism), who can show official proof: a CMI (France’s official disability card) with a disability or priority endorsement, a disability or war disability card, an MDPH or MDA decision (from the French disability offices) confirming the disability or a military disability pension. An RQTH (French disabled worker status) alone or an ALD (a long-term condition recognised by the French health system) alone is not enough. For visitors from abroad, a medical certificate in French or English less than 3 months old may be accepted.

It depends on the ride. Some can be boarded directly in a wheelchair thanks to adapted vehicles, others require a transfer to the seat and a few aren’t accessible. It’s your companions who help with the transfer, not the Cast Members. You’ll find ride-by-ride details in my ride guides and in my guide to hiring a wheelchair.

Yes. Disneyland Paris offers a welcome booklet for autism spectrum disorders, with a sensory rating for each ride (noise, light, surprise effects, duration). The accessibility maps flag sensory effects, you can find calmer areas to take a break and the Cast Members can help you on site. I explain how to plan an adapted day in my guide to visiting with an autistic person.

Weather alone doesn’t entitle you to a refund at Disneyland Paris. A dated ticket can, however, be cancelled up to 3 days before the planned date, and an undated ticket is easy to move before your visit day. I explain these steps in my guides to cancellation and to the undated ticket.

Prepare your application online in your customer account up to around 1 month before your visit (independence questionnaire, proof and photo to upload). On the day, you collect the card at City Hall (Disneyland Park), Studio Services (Disney Adventure World) or the reception of a Disney hotel, with the original proof and ID. Disneyland Pass holders go through the annual pass desks.

Not quite. It gives you priority access, but not necessarily straight away: it isn’t a guaranteed fast track. Depending on the coloured sticker, you go through the Premier Access queue or the reduced-mobility queue, which cuts your wait without always removing it. The actual wait depends on crowd levels.

Get into the shade or somewhere cool, sit down, drink and cool off. If the symptoms carry on (headache, nausea, dizziness), go to the first aid post, free in each park, where a qualified nurse can look after you and let you lie down somewhere quiet.

Neither fibromyalgia nor endometriosis is on the list of 30 ALDs (long-term conditions recognised by the French health system), the only list the park accepts for this card. In some cases they may be covered under ALD 31 (the so-called off-list condition), but that isn’t among the 30 recognised by the park. Eligibility is therefore not guaranteed and has to be checked at the desk (City Hall or Studio Services).

You need the original medical certificate, written in French or English, signed and stamped by a doctor, less than 3 months old, confirming a long-term condition (without having to say which one, but check that it’s on the list of 30). Photos and photocopies are refused. You’ll also be asked for ID, as the card is in your name.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, in Disney Adventure World, is often named as the most intense: you’re lifted to the top of a tower, then dropped in a series of free falls that are never the same from one ride to the next. That stomach-dropping feeling and the unpredictable drops make it the most memorable ride for many visitors.

No, it’s a tip for flexibility, not for saving money. This undated ticket (Billet Liberté in French) is valid for one year, except on 14 July, 31 October and 31 December. You can change its date, but it costs noticeably more than a dated ticket. It suits you if your dates aren’t fixed. You still have to register your visit date.

Yes. Your own wheelchair, manual or electric, or your mobility scooter is accepted in the parks as well as in the Disney hotels, subject to standard width and speed limits. The only restriction: electric scooters aren’t allowed on the hotel shuttles and buses.

Disney hotels let you store a wheelchair overnight, which is handy if you hire one for several days. However, they don’t always offer hire or loans: hire goes through the desks in the parks or an outside provider. Check with your hotel’s concierge.

Start with something moderate: Star Tours (an enclosed simulator, with no drop and no real speed) or Big Thunder Mountain (a family rollercoaster in the open air). You get a feel for the thrills without the raw intensity of the big coasters, then you can step it up if you fancy it.

Yes, as long as you lighten the schedule. The challenge isn’t the rides but the walking and standing in queues: you cover several kilometres a day. If you build the day around seated shows, character meets and a few gentle rides, with regular breaks and a wheelchair if needed, the visit stays enjoyable.

From mid-January to early February, and in September once the children go back to school, midweek. These are the cheapest times of the year: demand drops and so do prices. On the other hand, French school holidays, weekends, Halloween and Christmas are the worst times to hope for a discounted price.

Often, yes. Partner hotels (close to the park but not run by Disney) offer last-minute prices more regularly, and they generally stay much cheaper than the Disney hotels, especially off-peak.

For most trips, yes. Booking early gives you more choice of hotel, the best prices as soon as sales open and the option of spreading the payment. It matters most for the French school holidays, Halloween and Christmas, when dates go quickly. For a quiet period with flexible dates, you can book later.

Yes. The premium viewing area is on the outer edge of Central Plaza, next to Plaza Gardens, priced from €21 to €24 per person. You can only book it through the Disneyland Paris app. I cover everything in my dedicated guide: the premium viewing area.

The quietest months are January, March and September (outside the French school holidays). January, just after the festive season, is often the calmest of the year. On the other hand, July-August, October (Halloween) and December (Christmas) are the busiest.

Yes. Once the trail is finished, your child collects a small souvenir gift from the hotel shop (what it is may vary with the time of year).

There is no official age limit. What counts is the minimum height (from 1.02 m to 1.40 m depending on the ride), checked at the entrance. A child who is tall enough can ride, and so can a short adult. To know exactly who can do what, go by the height chart rather than age. The details are in the height restrictions guide.

Not in the parks: only simple, non-reclining models are available there. For a double pushchair or a reclining seat suitable for a newborn, bring your own or use an outside hire company that delivers to your hotel if you book ahead.

Yes, access is completely free, for all families, with no booking. You can freely use the microwave, the bottle warmer, the changing tables and the breastfeeding area. Only the emergency supplies on sale there (nappies, wipes, baby food jars) cost extra.

Since May 2026, it has temporarily moved near Central Plaza, into the former Annual Pass office, because the Plaza Gardens restaurant (its usual neighbour on Main Street) has been closed for renovation since 31 March 2026. It is expected to return to its original spot some time in 2027. Check the day’s location in the official Disneyland Paris app.

Yes. The Baby Care Centre has an enclosed breastfeeding room with armchairs, calm and with no music. It’s open to mums and dads alike, and there are sockets for plugging in an electric breast pump.

Allow around 30 minutes to 1 hour. It’s played on a phone, at your own pace: you can take a break and pick it up again later in the day.

Yes, August is one of the busiest months: high summer, plus French and foreign school holidays. Crowds are heavy every day, weekends and weekdays alike. If you have the choice, go for January, March or September.

If you want to escape the crowds, yes. School holidays (French, but also British and Spanish) push crowd levels up, especially at Christmas, the French autumn half-term (Toussaint) and in spring. The exception is the French winter holidays (February): the park stays calmer, as many families go skiing.

Yes. Crowds are generally heavy to very heavy: the summer season, school holidays across Europe, the French bank holiday and sometimes a long weekend all add up. To plan ahead, check the crowd calendar.

Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble Flight Force and Crush’s Coaster all run in the dark. On Crush’s Coaster, the darkness comes on top of the spinning car, which is even more disorienting because you can’t see the movements coming. Big Thunder Mountain, on the other hand, is mostly in the open air.

At the entrance to each park. In Disneyland Park, the hire point is at Town Square Terrace, on the right just after the Main Street U.S.A. station. In Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios), it’s at the entrance on the right, next to the Studio Photo.

No. Space Mountain hasn’t gone: the ride was renamed Hyperspace Mountain. It’s the same ride, with a new name and a new theme. It’s still running in Discoveryland.

The second park is going through a major transformation. Several original 2002 attractions (Studio Tram Tour, Armageddon, Moteurs... Action, CinéMagique, Animagique) have been closed or demolished to make way for new areas, including Avengers Campus.

Yes. At peak times with very heavy crowds, Disneyland Paris can reach full capacity and close its gates: entry is then refused to visitors who don’t have a dated ticket. The only real way to secure your entry is to book a dated ticket in advance, then arrive early in the morning.

For photos and videos of Disney Tales of Magic, I recommend the control booth, opposite the Casey’s Corner terrace (spot 3). The view of the castle is clear, there aren’t many people around and low walls let you lift children up. Remember to turn off your flash, which lowers image quality and bothers other visitors.

To get out quickly after Disney Tales of Magic, stand towards the park entrance (spot 5) or halfway along Main Street U.S.A. (spot 4): you enjoy the show and you’re among the first heading for the exit. Otherwise, wait about ten minutes after the end to let the crowd thin out.

Two attractions on the Rivers of the Far West in Frontierland have disappeared: Les Canoës (Indian Canoes), closed as early as 1994, and the River Rogue Keelboats, shut for good around 2009-2010. Both suffered from low capacity.

A refurbishment is a temporary closure of a ride for maintenance or renovation. It’s scheduled and announced in advance, and the ride then reopens. It’s different from a breakdown (a short, unplanned closure) and from a permanent closure (a ride that’s removed and doesn’t reopen).

It depends on the park, the area you’re aiming for and the crowds. I give precise arrival times, area by area, in my dedicated viewing guides for each show.

Yes, both shows are suitable for everyone. The music and effects can be loud for little ones: ear protection is recommended for babies and young children.

The list of closed rides changes regularly. My ride closures calendar gives the scheduled closures month by month. It also shows live which rides are closed today and which are broken down right now. It’s the most reliable way to know what’s closed during your dates.

Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World usually open around 9:30, with almost identical hours, and close in the evening. Exact times vary with the season, the day and events: go by the banner at the top of the opening hours page or the official app for your date. Disneyland Paris is open 365 days a year, only the hours change.

Open the official Disneyland Paris app on the morning of your visit: it shows the day’s times for parades, shows and character meets. On site, you’ll also find signs outside the theatre entrances and at City Hall.

Yes, as long as you prepare for your visit. The park offers a guide that rates each attraction on sensory criteria, a priority card to avoid the queues, quiet places and trained Cast Members. The environment is still very stimulating: planning ahead is what makes the difference.

It’s the official document for people with autism spectrum disorder or a cognitive disability. It rates each attraction and each restaurant on sensory criteria (noise, darkness, movement, visual and olfactory stimulation), with pictograms and a scale from 1 to 4. You can download it free from the Accessibility page of disneylandparis.com.

No. Premier Access is never included, neither in Deluxe nor in Castle Club. The Castle Club’s private lift makes getting into the park easier, but gives no advantage in the queues.

Allow around €25 for a small size (about 2 people) and around €45 for a large size (about 6 people), in buffet or table-service restaurants. Order it in advance, as numbers are limited.

The Livret Bleu lists the First Aid Centres first, found in each park and in Disney Village. The shore of Lake Disney, in Disney Village, is calm during the day and has benches. Quieter corners exist in every land: ask a Cast Member to point you to the nearest quiet area.

Everything happens in the official app, once your ticket has been scanned at the park entrance (not possible before, and valid on the day only). You book a free time slot. Slots generally open in two waves (in the morning at opening time and in the early afternoon), sometimes a third in the late afternoon. Only one booking can be active at a time, with a limit of 6 people per slot and up to 5 meets in the day. Every member of the group, children included, must be counted.

Yes, it’s the most useful thing you can bring. Your phone is your ticket, your app, your Premier Access and your camera: the battery drains fast. A good-capacity model (10,000 mAh or more) lasts the day. Don’t forget the charging cable either.

No. The park doesn’t lend ear defenders or sensory vests. The Livret Bleu advises bringing your own equipment: earplugs or ear defenders, sunglasses and a comfort object. No sensory room or autism-specific early access is officially offered.

No. The pools are for hotel guests only and included in your stay. There’s no access for day visitors or for guests of another hotel. You get in with your room card, and access ends when you check out.

Yes. The Baby Care Centres have armchairs in an enclosed, quiet space, away from the noise and the crowds, so you can breastfeed or bottle-feed in peace. See my guide to the Baby Care Centre for where they are.

Bring your own. The pushchair available for hire isn’t suitable for a baby (rigid seat, no reclining for naps). It’s all explained in my article on pushchairs.

No, not in the parks. E-cigarettes are banned there just like cigarettes, under Disney’s park rules. You can, however, vape in the outdoor areas of the resort, such as Disney Village or around the hotels.

Yes, children under 12 can come in costume all year round, Halloween included. Masks must leave the eyes visible, and capes or accessories that trail on the ground should be avoided. From the age of 12, costumes aren’t allowed, except for medical reasons. A few special days are exceptions, such as 31 October for Halloween, when everyone can dress up.

Both options have their advantages for watching Disney Tales of Magic. Near the castle, you get more out of the projections and the fountains. On Main Street U.S.A., you get the projection mapping on the building fronts and much more space around you, which is ideal for families. The choice depends on what matters most to you.

Yes. Bags must not exceed 55 x 40 x 25 cm, wheels, pockets and handles included. Large hard-shell suitcases are refused: there’s a paid luggage storage service outside the parks, by the entrance.

No. The queues are inside the parks, so the smoking ban applies. You have to go to a designated smoking area.

Rooms and covered or enclosed areas of the Disney hotels are non-smoking, vaping included. In the hotels’ outdoor areas, there was no specific ban at the time of publication, but keep away from other guests.

The trigger is lightning, and strong wind can also stop everything. Outdoor rollercoasters such as Big Thunder Mountain stop, as do open-air rides such as Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and even some tall structures that are covered, such as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. Truly indoor rides such as Pirates of the Caribbean or Phantom Manor stay open.

You don’t lose your purchase. The app gives you a new QR code, which you can use when the ride reopens or transfer to another eligible ride with no set time slot. Premier Access isn’t refunded, but you can still use it once the storm has passed.

Indoor shows go ahead at the scheduled time, and indoor character meets carry on. However, parades, outdoor night-time shows and outdoor meets may be cancelled or shortened in heavy rain, wind or storms, for the safety of performers and visitors alike.

The cheapest periods are also the quietest: January (especially weekdays in mid-January), March, September once French schools are back and November outside the French school holidays. With dynamic pricing, what matters most is your arrival date: avoid Saturday, the most expensive day, and arrive on a Sunday or a weekday instead.

Not on that basis alone. The Easy Access Card is granted on a medical certificate confirming a recognised ALD (a long-term condition recognised by the French health system): fibromyalgia, endometriosis or an RQTH (French official disabled worker status) alone are not enough. Depending on your situation, other documents may entitle you to the Priority Card. The exact conditions and the cases that aren’t eligible are explained in my guide to the Easy Access Card.

For the Magical Shuttle, Troov has a dedicated page, separate from the parks’ one. For something lost on the train or the RER (Paris suburban train), go to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station or use the SNCF lost property form.

Yes. The official Disneyland Paris app is free, on iPhone (App Store) and Android (Google Play) alike. You pay nothing to download it or to check queue times, the map or opening hours. Only Premier Access and PhotoPass are paid services.

Yes, for most of the useful features. A free Disney account brings together your tickets, your Disneyland Pass, your bookings and your photos. You can create it from the app. Without being logged in, some features such as the virtual queue for character meets don’t work.

In Disneyland Park: Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones (140 cm, the most intense), Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours. In Disney Adventure World: the Tower of Terror, Flight Force and Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure in Avengers Campus, then Ratatouille, RC Racer and Crush’s Coaster (closed from September 2026 to summer 2027) in Worlds of Pixar.

Rarely in a reliable way. With dynamic pricing, the price depends mainly on demand for your arrival date, and Disneyland Paris hardly runs classic holiday offers any more. New discounted dates may appear, at the earliest around 90 days before the date, but nothing guarantees your date will get cheaper if you wait.

Never force them. Ask the Cast Members at the entrance for advice, let a parent try the ride first and accept a no. After a fright, follow up with a gentle ride to end on a positive note. Before the trip, watch a POV video together at home.

Single Rider puts solo visitors in the single seats left empty, which cuts the wait a lot. It’s free and perfect for an independent teen. It works on rides including Flight Force, Hyperspace Mountain, Ratatouille, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure and Crush’s Coaster (when it’s open). Watch out: Disney opens or suspends it depending on the crowds, so don’t count on it every day.

Yes. All the Disney hotels and some restaurants in the parks offer a range of gluten-free and/or milk- and lactose-free and/or egg-free products at breakfast, at no extra cost. These products aren’t on the usual buffet: ask a manager when you arrive so they can make them available to you.

On site, at the dedicated desk at the park entrance: City Hall in Disneyland Park, Studio Services in Disney Adventure World. Show the original medical certificate and your ID. You can prepare your application online on Disneylandparis.com before your trip to save time, but you still have to show the originals on site. The card is issued free of charge.

No. For safety reasons, no dish is made to order on request. You can choose between the dishes on the menu that suit your allergy and the selection of dishes free from the major allergens available on site.

Counter-service restaurants warm up your bottles and baby food jars for free, even if you’re not eating there. So there’s no need to carry a travel bottle warmer. The Baby Care Centres also have a microwave you can use. And you can absolutely bring your baby’s food (jars, milk, snacks), it’s allowed.

The 4-8 age range is ideal: your child can do all of Fantasyland, try their first big rides depending on their height and make the most of the character meets and shows. For the details by age, see what age to take your child.

You need to be 102 cm for Big Thunder Mountain. Kids are measured with a height stick at the entrance, with their shoes on: the sole counts, but no insoles or heel lifts are allowed. Have your child measured as soon as you arrive so you know straight away what they can ride.

Thrill rides (rollercoasters, drops, simulators) are not recommended for pregnant visitors, and you may be refused boarding at the entrance. You can enjoy the gentle rides without any worries (it’s a small world, boat rides, carousels, Disneyland Railroad). For shows and parades, a pregnancy wristband (Thumper wristband) gives access to dedicated areas on request.

The show is included in your park ticket. As an option, a reserved premium viewing area is available for the night-time shows, from €24 to €29 per person, bookable in the official app. Be wary of lower prices you read elsewhere: they’re often out of date or relate to daytime shows.

Go for a table-service restaurant and book your table in advance, so the staff have time to look after you. Mention your child’s allergy as soon as you arrive, ask to see the allergen chart and don’t hesitate to ask to speak to the manager about the selection of dishes free from the major allergens, also available in a children’s version. For all the arrangements available, see the accessibility guide.

No. It’s a night-time show projected onto the Disneyland Paris castle, with no connection at all to the festive lights in the streets of Paris.

Flash sales (Veepee, Showroomprivé) come back several times a year, often with no advance notice and for a short time. For holidays, their prices aren’t always lower than the official website’s. To keep track of offers, sign up to the official newsletter and turn on notifications from these platforms. Full details in my guide to promotions and offers.

Yes, it’s possible, at the foot of the castle, outside the park’s public opening hours. Disneyland Paris is one of the few Disney parks to offer it. An arrival by horse-drawn carriage escorted by guards can even be arranged as an option.

No, there is no senior discount or over-60s price at Disneyland Paris. The only option linked to mobility is the special-price ticket for visitors with reduced mobility (around 25% off), for eligible people on presentation of proof, alongside the Priority Card or the Easy Access Card.

Yes, but as an option, not automatically. Mickey, Minnie and other characters can appear during the event. Their presence has to be booked in advance, so mention it as soon as you ask for a quote if it matters to you.

Ask a Disney PhotoPass photographer to stand at the planned spot, then pop the question. The PhotoPass+ bundle costs €90 in 2026 (unlimited photos and videos, 10 days). Have a friend or relative hidden with a phone as plan B.

Sleeping Beauty Castle is the most popular spot, with an open setting on its left-hand side (towards Dragon’s Lair). The forecourt in front of the castle and the lobby of the Disneyland Hotel are also lovely alternatives. Go very early in the morning, when the park is almost empty.

Yes, but the forecourt is packed and impossible to have to yourselves during Disney Tales of Magic. Use the show as a backdrop and time your proposal just before or just after, so you can hear each other and keep it intimate.

Yes, absolutely. Lots of visitors come alone every day (fans, locals, annual pass holders), and the park works just as well solo as in a group. You even get more freedom to set your own pace and get more done, with no compromises to make with anyone.

Yes. Disney offers a turnkey package through the Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings programme, with a dedicated photographer, a reserved setting and the option of characters, on a quote basis. The details are in my guide to getting married at Disneyland Paris.

Disabled visitors get 25% off park tickets, the Disneyland Pass and evening tickets, for the person concerned and one companion, on presentation of official proof of disability. The rate stays fixed at 25%, even though the ticket price itself changes every day (dynamic pricing). Holiday packages with a hotel aren’t included, and the Easy Access Card (ALD, a long-term condition recognised by the French health system) alone doesn’t give you this right. The details are in my guide to the discounted ticket for disabled visitors.

Yes, no problem at all. Tables for one or two are easy to get and nobody takes any notice. In table-service restaurants, a solo diner is even seated faster than a group at peak times. At counter-service restaurants, just shift your mealtimes to find a table in peace.

It’s a free service, included in your ticket, that puts solo visitors in the single seats left empty by groups. When you’re on your own, it’s your most effective tool: it really pays off as soon as the standard queue goes beyond about thirty minutes. How much time you save depends on the crowds, from a few minutes to sometimes over an hour.

No, the park stays open in the rain. As most attractions are covered, you can still enjoy your day. Only some outdoor rides may close temporarily for safety, especially in strong wind or heavy rain.

Never force them. Prepare them at home with an on-ride video, build up the intensity gradually and use Rider Switch: one parent rides while the other waits with the child, then you swap without queuing again. Not to be confused with Single Rider, which splits the group up.

There’s no fixed price list: the price varies with the season, the day and any golf card you may have. Allow roughly €40 to €80 for an 18-hole green fee, or more in peak season or at weekends, to be confirmed when you book your tee time.

The golf course is on rue de la Mare Houleuse, in Magny-le-Hongre (77700), a few minutes from the parks and the resort hotels. There’s no dedicated shuttle between the parks and the golf course: you get there by car, taxi or ride-hailing service.

You book your tee time in advance, by phone on +33 (0)1 60 45 68 90 or online through the golf course website and green fee booking platforms. Remember to give the date, the time and the number of players.

The golf course has 27 holes, split into three 9-hole loops that can be combined, themed around Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan. You make up your 18 holes by choosing two of the three loops, which all start and finish in front of the clubhouse.

At this age, shows count as much as rides: aim for Mickey and the Magician, TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure, Stitch Live! and Minnie’s Dream Factory, without forgetting the Disney Stars on Parade parade. Check the day’s times in the app, as some take breaks at certain times of year.

If the birthday falls within roughly 30 days, pick it up free of charge, with no proof needed, at City Hall, Studio Services or your hotel. Cast Members and characters will then greet your child all day long. More details in my guide to birthdays.

Yes, as early as possible. Tickets are digital: book online, with a date, rather than counting on buying at the gate. As the price of a dated ticket goes up as the date fills, buying in advance often means paying less and having your choice of dates. Aim for a quiet period to make the most of your day (the crowd calendar).

Yes. Both parks lend ear defenders free of charge from 18 months, just ask (at City Hall in Disneyland Park, at Studio Services in the second park), with no deposit. Handy for the parades and the evening fireworks.

Yes. Free drinking water fountains are spread across both parks and can be found on the Disneyland Paris app. Bring your water bottle and top it up through the day, which saves buying bottles on site. You can also ask for a free glass of tap water at the food counters.

It all depends on height, measured at the entrance to each ride. At 8-12, most of the big ones open up: 102 cm for Big Thunder Mountain and the Tower of Terror, 120 cm for Hyperspace Mountain, 140 cm for Indiana Jones. Check their height before you queue.

Covered rides stay open. Outdoor rides such as Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril or RC Racer stay open in ordinary rain: they only close in strong wind or heavy rain. These closures happen without warning, so check the official Disneyland Paris app for the live status.

Space Mountain has become Hyperspace Mountain. It requires a minimum height of 120 cm, often reached around 8-10 years old. It’s a fast coaster, in the dark, that shakes you about: fine at that age if your child loves big thrills, but never force them.

Big Thunder Mountain (from 102 cm). It’s the right step up: speed and drops, sections in the dark, but no loops or inversions. It’s the stepping stone before Hyperspace Mountain or the Tower of Terror.

No. The child price applies from 3 to 11 years old inclusive. From 12, your child pays the adult price, on the park ticket as well as on some meal plans. Factor it into your budget if a child has just moved up an age band.

Crush’s Coaster requires 107 cm, which many children of this age reach. But it closes for renovation from 7 September 2026 and reopens in summer 2027. Its Single Rider queue therefore disappears for that whole period.

Yes, a lot, as long as you go for the thrills. Teens quickly get hooked on the coasters (Hyperspace Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Flight Force) and above all on Avengers Campus if they love Marvel. Give them some independence and let them choose part of the plan: that’s often what turns "I’m too old for this" into a really good day out.

Disneyland Paris doesn’t set an official minimum age for a teenager to go around alone, but parents remain responsible for a minor. So nothing stops your teen from queuing or going on a ride alone or with friends: it’s up to you to judge based on how mature they are. Agree on a precise meeting point, a charged phone and clear rules.

The covered Videopolis theatre in Discoveryland offers screenings and shows included with your ticket, with plenty of seating. The arcades along Main Street, the shops and the restaurants also provide shelter. To store your wet belongings, paid lockers are available near the park entrance.

For arrivals up to 31 March 2027, allow from €55 (Standard half board) to €245 (Premium full board) per adult per night. These prices include breakfast. The price depends on the plan (breakfast only, half board, full board) and the option (Standard, Plus, Extra Plus, Premium). The lower child price applies to ages 3 to 11. For arrivals from 1 April 2027, the new meal plans cost from €32 to €170 per adult per night. Children then pay half the adult price. Breakfast is no longer included in the plan. To compare with half board, add the price of breakfast if you have it.

No, the weather alone doesn’t entitle you to a refund: the park stays open, and many indoor attractions and shows run whatever the weather. Depending on your type of ticket, changing the date or cancelling may still be possible within the set deadlines. If you’re worried about the weather, look at my guides to cancelling your trip and the undated ticket, which is more flexible.

In light rain, a shortened version of the parade may run. In heavy rain, parades may be changed, delayed or cancelled. The night-time show is only cancelled in very bad weather, especially strong wind.

No, the park stays open in snow and in very cold weather. It’s mainly the open-air rides that may close temporarily, because of frost, ice or snow, for safety reasons. Indoor attractions carry on as normal.

Mainly the outdoor rides, Fantasyland first and foremost (Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Casey Jr.), as well as open-air thrill rides such as Big Thunder Mountain or RC Racer. None of it can be predicted in advance: check the official app on the day.

Yes, it’s a popular setting for a proposal or for celebrating an occasion as a couple. The simplest thing is to mention the occasion when you book, at the restaurant or when you arrive at the hotel: depending on the case, a little extra touch may be arranged. The details aren’t guaranteed, so check directly what’s possible. For the setting, the castle at the end of the day or a sit-down dinner are ideal moments.

Three places stand out: Walt’s on Main Street for an elegant setting, La Table de Lumière at the Disneyland Hotel for a fine-dining menu over several courses, and Manhattan Restaurant at the Hotel New York for an intimate atmosphere. Book well ahead, as the evening slots go quickly.

Yes, and it even feels like a different park when you visit as a couple. Without children, you get the freedom to set your own pace: you have dinner late, you take your time, you save the night-time show for the end of the evening. The thrill rides, the good restaurants and the two night-time shows are more than enough to fill a trip for two.

The dark rides where you stay snuggled up together: Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor. For something gentler, it’s a small world, Le Pays des Contes de Fées and a trip on the Disneyland Railroad or the Main Street Vehicles let the two of you catch your breath between big rides.

Plenty: seated shows (Mickey and the Magician, The Lion King, the night-time shows), meet and greets with Mickey and the princesses, a proper sit-down meal at Walt’s - an American restaurant and browsing the shops, under cover and with no time pressure. The rides are only one part of the visit.

Disney Hotel Santa Fe (Cars theme) is the cheapest Disney hotel, with family rooms for up to 6 people and a free shuttle bus to the parks. To cook for yourself and save on meals, Davy Crockett Ranch offers bungalows for up to 6 people with a fitted kitchen, but you’ll need a car.

Go for quick-service restaurants (Toad Hall Restaurant, Casey’s Corner), the food chalets on Adventure Way and the options at Disney Village, which are cheaper than in the parks. Picnics are allowed and remain the cheapest option. Accommodation with a kitchen, such as Davy Crockett Ranch, also lets you make some of your meals yourself, which can save you around a hundred euros on food.

No, there’s no permanent large family offer. From time to time, Disneyland Paris runs a temporary Billets Tribu offer (4 to 6 people). The only group discount is a sliding-scale price from 20 people, with a dedicated groups contact. To bring the bill down, aim for weekday dates and keep an eye on current offers.

The most efficient approach is to split into smaller groups: one adult with the little ones on the gentle rides, another with the older ones on the thrill rides, then you meet up again for the rides everyone enjoys, meals and the evening show. Always set a meeting point and a time before you split up.

No. The ceremony offered by Disney is symbolic and has no legal value. In France, a civil marriage can only be performed by a registrar, at the town hall. Most couples therefore get married at the town hall first, then have their symbolic ceremony at Disneyland Paris.

For 4-8 year olds, yes: it’s the character meal with the Disney Princesses (Cinderella guaranteed). Expect around €95 per adult and €50 per child for lunch or dinner (drinks extra), and around €60/€40 for breakfast, where Mickey has been joining the Princesses since spring 2026. Breakfast has two slots, both bookable in advance: the 8:15 slot can only be booked with Extra Magic Time (Disney hotel guests and Gold Pass holders), the 9:45 one by everyone. Booking via the app is required. See my pages on Auberge de Cendrillon and character dining.

Yes. The drones don’t fly in strong wind, and the show may then go ahead without them or be cancelled. Rain can also disrupt it. The safest bet is to check the day’s programme in the official Disneyland Paris app before planning your evening around the show.

No, it isn’t essential. If you arrive at park opening and head for the headline rides first, you’ll cover the essentials without paying. Premier Access (a paid fast track, per ride or as a bundle) is mainly worth it on very busy days or if you can’t arrive early. It’s never included, either with a ticket or with a hotel room.

Yes. The golf course is open to the public all year round (except 25 December and 1 January) and welcomes all levels, from beginners to experienced players. You don’t need a Disney park ticket to play there.

Yes. Manual wheelchair and pushchair hire is available at the park entrances: at Town Square Terrace for Disneyland Park (on Main Street, on your right just after the turnstiles) and at Studio Services for Disney Adventure World. It’s the same counter for both. You can’t book in advance (first come, first served, limited stock): go there as soon as the park opens on busy days. No proof is required, even for a temporary need. Expect around €25 per day with a €200 deposit (check the amounts on site). The park doesn’t hire out electric wheelchairs or scooters: for that, use an external partner company and book online. You can keep the wheelchair for several days and store it at your hotel overnight.

Yes. Disney Cascade of Lights uses hundreds of aerial drones as well as water drones. The water drones move just above the surface: to see them properly, you’re best in the front row, at the edge of the lake.

Yes, it’s suitable for everyone. The music and effects can be loud for younger children: ear protection is recommended for babies and young children.

A reserved viewing area gives you a standing-only spot, outdoors, for parades and night-time shows. Guaranteed Access is a separate paid service that gets you into an indoor show at the time slot of your choice, even if the theatre is full. They’re two different services.

The real highlight is the evening fireworks, among the best in France. During the day there’s no special entertainment, record crowds and a high ticket price. Worth it if the night-time show is your priority, ideally as part of a stay of several days.

No. Disney Dreams! hasn’t been performed since 30 May 2024. It’s no longer the park’s night-time show. Today, Disney Tales of Magic has been shown on the castle since 10 January 2025.

Disney Dreams! was the night-time show at Disneyland Park, projected onto the castle for about 20 minutes at park closing. It combined video projection, water jets, lasers, pyrotechnics and LEDs, and told the story of Peter Pan’s shadow travelling through the great Disney stories.

It launched on 1 April 2012 (with a preview on 31 March 2012) for the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris. Its first run ended on 24 March 2017. The show returned on 12 April 2023 for the Grand Finale of the 30th anniversary, then was performed for the last time on 30 May 2024.

No return has been announced so far. The show hasn’t been scheduled since 30 May 2024, and the castle now hosts Disney Tales of Magic. Another comeback is possible in theory, but nothing points that way for now.

Disney Dreams! followed a real story, that of Peter Pan’s shadow travelling from film to film. Disney Illuminations, on the other hand, strung together scenes from different franchises and well-known songs, with no single storyline. Many visitors found Disney Dreams! more moving for that reason.

The dedicated meet and greet takes place at the Princess Pavilion, in Disneyland Park, by reservation only through the free virtual queue in the app (since 2025). You don’t choose the princess, it’s a surprise. You meet Elsa and Anna separately, at A Royal Encounter with Elsa and Anna in Disney Adventure World (World of Frozen). The meet and greet is included in your ticket. Only a meal such as Auberge de Cendrillon costs extra.

Trying to do everything in a single day, especially by hopping from one park to the other. It’s better to give one day to one park and keep the second for later.

Aim for park opening: queues are at their shortest in the first hour. Then head straight for your most popular rides.

For table-service restaurants, yes, especially in peak season: they fill up fast. Quick-service restaurants don’t need a reservation.

No new permanent drone show has been confirmed so far. The park sometimes puts on one-off drone shows (such as an Avatar show in December 2025), separate from the daily show.

Today, the night-time show at Disneyland Park is Disney Tales of Magic, on the castle. For everything about the current night-time shows, see the night-time shows guide.

Check the minimum height for each ride before promising it to your child. Several thrill rides have a minimum height.

Because Disney Adventure World has grown a lot (World of Frozen, Adventure Way, a new night-time show) and now deserves a full day. Two days, one per park, is the best compromise for most visitors.

Yes. Disney Village is set up for visitors with reduced mobility: access ramps, lifts and accessible toilets. The outdoor areas and most restaurants are accessible with a pushchair. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask the staff on site.

Yes, you can bring a cake, for example to celebrate a birthday. However, candles and any naked flame are banned in the parks for safety reasons.

The big night-time show on the castle is rarely cancelled because of the cold alone: it usually goes ahead, even in freezing weather. Only strong wind or occasional restrictions can scale it back. Outdoor parades and daytime shows, however, can be cancelled if the weather is too bad, sometimes at the last minute.

10 rides have a minimum height: Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop and Autopia (81 cm), Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (1.02 m), Crush’s Coaster (1.07 m), Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer (1.20 m), and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril (1.40 m). All the other rides have no height restriction.

Take refuge in the covered arcades along Main Street (Discovery Arcade, Liberty Arcade), the indoor rides, the tea rooms and Café Hyperion in Discoveryland. To meet characters in the warm, head for Meet Mickey Mouse, beneath Fantasyland station, and the Princess Pavilion, next to "it’s a small world". Braziers and gas heaters are also set up along Main Street in winter.

No, the park stays open. Only some rides stop: the outdoor and high ones, while lightning is nearby. Indoor rides keep running and become your shelter while the storm lasts.

You need to be 1.02 m for Big Thunder Mountain and for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and 1.07 m for Crush’s Coaster. Height is measured at the ride entrance, with shoes on.

From 81 cm, with an adult, your child can ride Autopia (as a passenger) and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. The first big rides (Big Thunder Mountain, the Star Tours simulator and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) open up at 1.02 m.

My verdict: Big Thunder Mountain, in Frontierland at Disneyland Park. It’s always been my favourite, for its real thrills that are still family-friendly. It’s also the longest version of Big Thunder in the world (1,205 m) and the only one built on an island.

If you’re short on time, I go for Big Thunder Mountain, Frozen Ever After and Crush’s Coaster first. Crush’s has the longest queue in the park: do it at park opening. Ratatouille and Pirates of the Caribbean round off a very good first day.

The big new ride is Frozen Ever After, in the World of Frozen land (Disney Adventure World, the new name of the second park), which opened on 29 March 2026. It’s a family boat ride through the world of Frozen, and it goes straight into my top list.

For a baby, go for the gentle rides with no minimum height where you stay by their side: "it’s a small world", Le Pays des Contes de Fées, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Casey Jr. or Dumbo. They’re calm rides, with no loud noises or surprises. As soon as your child can sit up unaided, around 6 to 9 months, they can ride snuggled against you. The park also has a Baby Care Centre for looking after little ones.

No, the ticket price doesn’t take closed rides into account and there’s no refund for them. The park stays open with dozens of other rides. That’s why I advise you to check the closures before you book your dates.

There are 2 parks: Disneyland Park, which has 5 lands, and Disney Adventure World, which has 5 areas at opening around Adventure Bay lake (a sixth, The Lion King, is under construction). It isn’t a third park: Disney Adventure World is the former Walt Disney Studios, transformed on 29 March 2026.

Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Disney usually announces refurbishments two to three months ahead. That leaves unplanned closures (breakdowns, weather), which happen without warning on the day.

You can download the map of both parks as a PDF a little further down this page, in the Download the map section. It’s free and prints on A4.

No. The partner hotels and the Val d’Europe hotels don’t offer Club rooms or a private lounge. The Club service only exists in the upmarket Disney hotels.

Expect from around €80 for a short massage, up to nearly €290 for some long rituals or upmarket parent-child packages. These prices are a guide only: check the treatment menu in PDF for the exact prices.

Plenty: enjoy the pool, meet characters, do the Discovery Quest treasure hunt, relax in the spa or sauna, go shopping and eat at a themed restaurant. Each hotel adds its own activities, such as pony rides at the Cheyenne or Marvel workshops at the New York.

No. Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Hotel Santa Fe don’t have a pool. The hotels with a pool are the Disneyland Hotel, the New York, Newport Bay, Sequoia Lodge and Davy Crockett Ranch.

No. At her meet and greet spot, Minnie is usually with her friends, often Daisy (and sometimes Clarice, the chipmunk). To see Mickey, head to his own meet and greet spot, and the two can appear together at a character meal.

In Disneyland Park, the main meet and greet is booked for free through the virtual queue in the app (nothing to do with paid Premier Access). In Disney Adventure World, Mickey is waiting for you on Adventure Way (at the far end of Worlds of Pixar) in a regular queue, with no booking. The meet and greet is included in your ticket. Only character meals cost extra.

In Disneyland Park, most often at her meet and greet spot at Videopolis (Discoveryland), for a photo, a hug and an autograph. The location can change depending on the period, so check it in the official Disneyland Paris app on the day.

Open the official Disneyland Paris app on the day of your visit: it shows the scheduled character, the location and the times. Meet and greets can be changed or removed without notice, so it’s the most reliable source.

It depends on how things are run at the time: some meet and greets are walk-up, others require you to book a slot in the app. Check how it works on the day in the Disneyland Paris app as soon as you arrive.

No. Stitch Live! is an interactive show where Stitch talks to the audience from a big screen. You interact from a distance, with no close-up photo or hug. For a real meet and greet, head to his meet and greet spot in Disneyland Park.

No. Meet and greets at your hotel are included in your stay at no extra cost. Only character meals are paid for and booked separately.

Usually in the morning and late afternoon, in the lobby or near reception, at the quietest times. Times vary by hotel and season: check the app that morning or ask at reception.

There are 13 official Disney Princesses: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Moana and Raya. The first is Snow White (1937) and the latest to join is Raya. The line-up has been stable at 13 members.

Yes. It’s a paid service that gives you a dedicated queue on certain rides. It replaced FastPass, which was free and no longer exists.

Yes. Everyone over 3 must have their own to use the dedicated queue.

No. Neither One nor Ultimate is refundable or exchangeable, and they’re in your name. Check the height requirement carefully before buying a One for a child.

No. You can’t book Single Rider. You just go straight to the Single Rider queue entrance on site, with no app or kiosk. That’s a difference from Premier Access, which you book and pay for in the app.

No. All indoor shows are free and included in your admission ticket. Guaranteed Access is a paid option that only serves to reserve a seat on busy days.

In the Disneyland Paris app, under the Buy tab, or on site on the day. You choose the show, the date and the time, then pay. The tickets are in your name.

Disneyland Paris has two parks: Disneyland Park (the main park, with the castle) and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios, renamed on 29 March 2026).

Yes. The wristband, often called the Thumper wristband, is free. You just need to show ID and a medical certificate of pregnancy less than 3 months old, signed by a doctor.

The second trimester (months 4 to 6) is the most comfortable: you have more energy and cope better with getting around. The first trimester is tricky, the third more tiring. Ask your doctor for advice before you come.

Yes, in most cases. With flexible conditions (the most common), you can cancel free of charge up to 7 days before you arrive. After that, the standard cancellation scale with fees applies.

With flexible conditions, up to 7 days before your arrival date. For example, for an arrival on the 8th, you can cancel free of charge until midnight on the 1st. These deadlines may change, so check your confirmation.

Yes. Disneyland Paris offers a wifi network that is free and open to all visitors, at no cost and with no time limit for the day.

Disney PhotoPass lets you buy your photos and videos individually, from €15 per photo, with no bundle. Disney PhotoPass+ is a €90 bundle that unlocks unlimited downloads of all your photos AND videos from your visit.

Yes, entry to both parks is free for under-3s, with age counted on the date of your visit, and no ticket or paperwork needed. Make sure you can prove their age in case of a check. From 3 to 11 inclusive, it’s the child price, then the adult price from age 12.

Yes. Booking a slot through Lineberty costs nothing. You only pay for the item you’ve come to buy (a key, a pin), at the displayed price.

Yes, it’s strongly recommended. Dated tickets are almost always cheaper booked in advance than at the last minute, because prices are dynamic, and some dates can sell out. If you’re leaving it late, the Bon Plan ticket (between 60 and 90 days before) offers a discounted price on certain quieter dates.

Yes. Disney hotels have their own free wifi, separate from the parks’ network. You connect in the same way, through the hotel’s network.

Not always. With so many visitors, mobile networks get overloaded quickly at peak times. The park wifi is often more reliable for using the app or sharing your photos.

The amount depends on the hotel’s category and is charged per adult per night. It ranges from €3.25 at the Santa Fe to €11.38 at the Disneyland Hotel. The full breakdown is in the table above, updated for 2026.

You have to ask a PhotoPass photographer on site. Not every photo spot offers them, and what’s available changes from day to day. Look for their beige T-shirt with the PhotoPass logo and the small Magic Shot sign, ask if they have one at that spot, strike the pose you’re shown, then collect the photo in your PhotoPass account. The effect only appears once the photo is online.

Day care costs €25 per animal, water and food included. Overnight care is also available, at the same price of €25 per animal: day and night are two separate periods, so expect to pay double for a full 24 hours.

First check that it’s up to date in the App Store or Google Play. Then close and reopen the app, or restart your phone. If the screen is still stuck, switch between the Disneyland wifi and 4G/5G depending on which works best, and log back in to your Disney account if you’ve been logged out.

No. Pushchairs aren’t allowed in the queues or on the rides. Leave yours in the pushchair parking area in front of each ride, then pick it up at the exit.

The Baby Care Centre is open during park opening hours, from opening in the morning to closing in the evening. So you can use it all day, with no restricted time slot.

No. The two shows take place at the same time, at closing time in their respective parks, in two separate parks: so you can’t see both on the same evening, even with a 2-park ticket. The simplest option is to see one each evening if you’re staying several days, or to decide in advance which one you prefer.

The card covers the holder and up to 4 companions on rides (including at least one adult), and 2 companions at shows and parades. Children under 3 don’t count towards this total and are added free of charge. Not to be confused with the 25% discount on the ticket, which only applies to the person concerned and one companion.

It’s valid for the whole of your booked stay. For Disneyland Pass members who apply directly at the Annual Pass desk, the card is valid for the whole duration of the Pass. If your stay is postponed or cancelled, you’ll need to apply again.

No. The Easy Access Card isn’t a fast track. At the ride entrance, you’re given a return time, based on the current queue time. You wait elsewhere, then come back at the time given and access the ride through a dedicated entrance. Access is deferred, not immediate, and you can only have one return time at a time.

The cardholder can be accompanied by up to 4 people on rides. Children under 3 count as companions. If the cardholder doesn’t go on a ride, their companions use the main queue.

No. A temporary condition such as a broken leg doesn’t entitle you to any card, either Easy Access or Priority. If your mobility is temporarily reduced, it’s best to postpone your visit if possible, or plan wheelchair hire at the park entrance.

Each ride is rated from 1 to 4 on several scales: 1 means low stimulation, 4 very high stimulation. The main scales are noise, darkness and movement, plus pictograms (visual or olfactory stimulation, surprise effect, strobe lighting, splashes). These ratings are a guide only and were assessed with autism experts.

The easiest way is through the official Disneyland Paris app, a few weeks in advance as spaces are limited. Log in with your ticket or your Pass, choose the show and the date, then pay. Entry is in your name.

Disney Stars on Parade runs once a day, usually in the late afternoon (sometimes earlier depending on the season). It lasts about 33 minutes, from Fantasyland to Town Square. The exact time changes every day: check it in the official Disneyland Paris app on the morning of your visit.

It’s mainly useful for an occasional visit or a first time, to enjoy a night-time show without a long wait. I find it less essential for parades, where you can often find a good free spot a few minutes before. Watch out: at Disneyland Park (Tales of Magic), the projections on the Main Street facades can’t be seen from the paid area. It’s never compulsory: the shows are free and included in your ticket.

Everyone leaves at once and the RER A (the Paris suburban train) is packed: keep an eye on the time of the last train to Paris and expect the car park to empty slowly. The most comfortable option is to stay overnight on site to avoid the late-night rush.

A night-time show of about 20 minutes, projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle, with Mickey as master of ceremonies travelling through the great Disney films. It combined projections, lasers, water jets, fireworks and music.

No. Disney Illuminations is no longer performed: its last show was on 9 January 2025. You can only see it again in archive videos. The current night-time show at Disneyland Park is Disney Tales of Magic, projected onto the castle since 10 January 2025.

The ride formerly called Space Mountain is now called Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. It has a minimum height of 1.20 m, at Disneyland Park (Discoveryland). Height is measured at the entrance, with shoes on.

Height is measured with shoes on, at the entrance to each ride concerned. However, buns, headbands or caps don’t count. The signs and measuring bars on site have the final say, and there are no exceptions, even by a single centimetre.

Yes, thanks to Rider Switch, a free service. One parent rides while the other waits with the child, then you swap without the second parent having to queue all over again.

Yes. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril has an outdoor loop, where you go fully upside down. Hyperspace Mountain and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force also have inversions, but in the dark. These are the three main rides with inversions across the two parks.

Allow several hundred euros for a trip for two, depending on your hotel and your extras (figures to confirm when you book). The hotel is the biggest part of the budget: the most prestigious options quickly add up, while partner hotels are more affordable. Add tickets, possibly Premier Access and your meals: a fine-dining dinner at La Table de Lumière is a real expense for two.

Two Disney hotels have a slide in their pool: Sequoia Lodge (Quarry Pool) and Davy Crockett Ranch (Blue Springs Pool). They’re the two best choices if you mainly want a fun pool.

Yes. The Clarins spa at the Disneyland Hotel offers treatments, including for couples, in a calm setting. Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel also has a wellness area (sauna, hammam). Book your treatment in advance, especially at busy times, and plan it mid-stay to catch your breath between two park days.

Prices aren’t published and vary by period and offer. The only certainty is the order: standard, then Deluxe, then Castle Club, which is the most expensive. For a price on your dates, you need to send a booking request.

Four Disney hotels offer a Club room: the Disneyland Hotel (Castle Club), Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel (Empire State Club), Disney Newport Bay Club (Compass Club) and Disney Sequoia Lodge (Golden Forest Club).

No. The outdoor pools close in the cold season. In winter, only the covered indoor pools are open. The outdoor areas reopen when the warmer days return, depending on the weather.

Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Hotel Santa Fe don’t have a pool. They’re the two cheapest Disney hotels. Their guests can’t use another Disney hotel’s pool.

The longest is the full tour of the park on the Disneyland Railroad, which takes around twenty minutes, ahead of the Thunder Mesa Riverboat cruise (about 15 minutes). Among the big ride-through adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean is the longest, at just over 10 minutes, just ahead of "it’s a small world" (about 9 minutes).

Go for the covered rides: Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and Ratatouille are indoors. The Disneyland Railroad is also a good dry break between showers.

As soon as your child can sit up unaided, usually around 6 to 9 months, they can go on most of the gentle rides with you. The vast majority have no minimum height. Before they can walk, go for the boat rides and carousels, where you hold them close. At 2 or 3 years old, almost all the gentle rides are open to them.

Yes, the paper map is free for all visitors. You don’t need to buy anything to get one on site. You can pick it up at City Hall (Disneyland Park) and at Studio Services (Disney Adventure World).

The park doesn’t hire out scooters or electric wheelchairs: you need to go through an external hire company, booked before your stay. Watch out, electric wheelchairs and scooters aren’t allowed on the hotel shuttle buses (only manual wheelchairs are). And in the park, the scooter doesn’t go through the queue: you park it in the areas provided before each ride.

By car, there’s a dedicated car park for visitors with reduced mobility (the Winnie car park, behind the Disneyland Hotel, reserved space with a daily code), and a drop-off point to let the person out as close as possible. The Indigo car park at Disney Village is often closer and cheaper than the main car park. See also the main car park, the shuttle buses and the RER.

The vast majority of gentle rides have no minimum height: carousels, boat rides like "it’s a small world", the Disneyland Railroad, the Main Street vehicles, and Pirates of the Caribbean. A few gentle rides have a low minimum height. The full details are in my guide to height restrictions.

For seniors, I recommend the rides where you stay seated without effort: the Disneyland Railroad (the train that goes around the park), the Riverboat, the vintage Main Street vehicles, plus Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and "it’s a small world". They’re relaxing rides, often under cover, with beautiful sets and little standing in queues.

The gentle rides are designed with no sudden shocks: no drops, no loud noises. "it’s a small world", the carousel, Dumbo, Casey Jr. and Le Pays des Contes de Fées are the most reassuring. Peter Pan’s Flight and Snow White have a few dark scenes, so it depends on how sensitive your child is.

It didn’t disappear, it was transformed. The rollercoaster was fully rethemed and became Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, which reopened in 2022. The coaster structure is the same, only the Aerosmith theming has gone.

Yes. The paper map is available in several languages, including French and English. The downloadable PDF version is in French.

Download the official Disneyland Paris app (free on iOS and Android): it has a 3D map, geolocation, queue times and show times. Battery hire stations are available at the entrance to both parks.

The queue closes at park closing time, but if you’ve already joined it before then, you’ll still ride even if you board after closing. It’s a good reason to save the big rides for the end of the day and do them with almost no wait.

The princess breakfast is exclusive to the Castle Club at the Disneyland Hotel: it’s included there, with a complimentary glass of champagne for adults, and the princesses present can vary from day to day. In the other Club lounges (Empire State Club, Compass Club, Golden Forest Club), as well as in Deluxe rooms (the Disneyland Hotel’s upper room tier), breakfast is included as a buffet but without characters.

The Castle Club includes everything the Deluxe offers, and adds breakfast with the princesses, champagne, a lounge looking out over the Castle (night-time show and fireworks), a private lift into the park, dedicated floors and suites. The rooms themselves are identical on both levels.

It depends on your priorities. The Deluxe is enough if what you mainly want is a private lounge, plus breakfast and an afternoon snack included in a calm setting. The Castle Club is for anyone who wants breakfast with the princesses, the view of the Castle, the private lift into the park or a suite.

Disney Hotel Cheyenne, Disney Hotel Santa Fe and Disney Davy Crockett Ranch have no Club rooms. The same goes for all the Partner Hotels and the hotels in Val d’Europe.

Book one of the hotel’s services in advance: a table at a restaurant, a treatment at the Clarins spa, the Mon Rêve Royal experience or a meeting room. Bookings go through the official Disneyland Paris channels (website, app or the restaurant booking phone line).

No, not without a booking. Since November 2025, the shop and the bar are only open to hotel guests and to visitors who have booked one of the hotel’s services.

Yes, at the Disneyland Hotel, with the Royal Kid Club. It’s a free daytime kids’ club for children aged 4 to 11 inclusive, with supervised activities, for up to 2 hours a day.

Partly. The shops and some restaurants are usually open to non-residents, but the pool, the kids’ club and most supervised activities are for hotel guests only. For the Disneyland Hotel, there are ways in: it’s all explained in the dedicated article.

Yes, the Discovery Quest is completely free. It’s an activity included for Disney hotel guests, at no extra cost and with no booking needed. All you need is a phone to scan the QR code on the map.

The Stitch meet and greet takes place in Disneyland Park, the park with the castle. The Stitch Live! show, on the other hand, is in the second park, Disney Adventure World.

In Disneyland Park, mainly Hyperspace Mountain. In Disney Adventure World: Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure and Flight Force in Avengers Campus, plus Ratatouille in Worlds of Pixar (Crush’s Coaster offers it too). The list changes, so always check the app on the day of your visit. The full, up-to-date details are in my Single Rider article.

You can meet them in two ways. At Barrel of Monkeys, right in Toy Story Playland (Disney Adventure World), you simply join the queue on the spot, with no booking. A Toy Story character waits for you there, usually Woody. As for Jessie, you can meet her with no booking next to the Crush’s Coaster ride. In the morning, one of the two also waits for you in the lobby of Disney Hotel Cheyenne, which is open to all visitors. The meet and greet is free and included in your ticket.

No, not really. During the parade, one float is dedicated to the princesses and you see them go by, but it isn’t a real meet and greet: no close-up photo, no autograph, no hug. It’s a handy way to catch a glimpse of them without booking.

Yes. Stitch is one of the characters you can meet for a photo and a hug. As his location and times change often, check whether he’s out that day in the Disneyland Paris app once your ticket has been scanned.

Usually, yes: access is through a virtual queue that you book in the app. The way in has changed from time to time, so the safe habit is to check the app on the day of your visit. How it works is explained in the virtual queue guide.

It depends on the hotel. At the Disneyland Hotel (princesses, royal meet and greets) and at Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel (superheroes), meet and greets are booked in the Disneyland Paris app. In the other hotels, the daily meet and greet is included, with no booking.

The Darth Vader meet and greet at the Star Port runs all year round. As the schedule can change, the simplest thing is to check the Disneyland Paris app on the day of your visit.

At the Star Port, a building in Discoveryland (Disneyland Park), right next to the Star Tours ride. It’s the meeting point for the Star Wars characters.

Day to day, mainly Darth Vader, with Chewbacca sometimes standing in. Other characters such as Rey appear depending on the schedule, especially on Star Wars Day in May.

The dedicated meet and greet is at the Princess Pavilion, in Disneyland Park. You can also see them in the parade or during a themed meal such as the Auberge de Cendrillon. How it all works is explained in the guide to meeting the princesses at Disneyland Paris.

Yes. The Resort hosts ceremonies and receptions through its Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings programme, with a team of dedicated coordinators. The event runs from the ceremony to the reception, in a setting fully handled by Disney.

No. Elsa and Anna belong to the Frozen franchise, which is managed separately from the Disney Princess brand. Another explanation you often hear: Elsa becomes queen during the story, and queens aren’t part of the princess line.

Yes, the park is fenced, monitored, very busy and well lit: it’s considered safe, including for women travelling alone. A few simple habits are enough: keep your bag closed in big crowds because of pickpockets, stick to the main paths after dark and stay alert on the RER late in the evening.

Only now and then. You may come across some princes during special events, but they aren’t part of the regular meet and greets. Have a look at my articles on meeting the princesses and on the park’s character meet and greets.

Yes, and it’s a real plus of going solo. The PhotoPass photographers are happy to snap visitors on their own, so you can bring home lovely photos of yourself in the park rather than making do with arm’s-length selfies.

Single Rider is free, has no time slot, and you ride alone. Premier Access costs extra, you book a time slot and you stay with your group. The first saves you time without paying anything, the second guarantees a quicker ride while keeping your group together.

It’s a premium service: a private, personalised tour of the parks, led by a dedicated guide for the whole visit (6 hours minimum). You get no-queue access to the rides, reserved spots for the shows and priority character meet and greets.

Often yes, especially at peak times: on Crush’s Coaster or Ratatouille, I usually save 20 to 30 minutes compared with the regular queue. But not always: on quiet days, the gap shrinks or even reverses, and the Single Rider queue itself can be busy. Check the queue times shown before choosing your queue. If you’re travelling alone or don’t mind being split up for a moment, it’s the most effective free tool for making the most of your day.

One day is enough to discover a single park, not both. In a well-planned day, you’ll see the big rides, a show and the atmosphere of one park. For a first visit, go for Disneyland Park.

In the queue, yes, you wait together. On the ride, no: each person is seated individually to fill an empty seat. So you all do the same ride, just not in the same vehicle.

Guaranteed Access covers certain indoor shows, in Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. The up-to-date list is in this article. Outdoor shows, on the other hand, come under the premium viewing area.

Head to the dedicated queue around 30 minutes before your booked time. If you’re late, you may be turned away with no compensation.

Two days minimum so you’re not rushing, and ideally three with a baby or very young children, to fit in naps and keep a gentle pace.

No, especially as a family or if you want to see everything at a relaxed pace. Three days or more let you go back on your favourite rides, take a breather and enjoy the hotel without any stress.

No. Disney Village is free to enter and PanoraMagique has its own ticket. You don’t need a park ticket to take the flight.

The cinema is in Disney Village, right next to the World of Disney shop. Entry to the Village is free and open to everyone at Disneyland Paris.

The cinema usually runs screenings between 10:30 in the morning and 22:30 in the evening. Times vary with the programme and the season.

A standard screen shows a regular 2D film. IMAX gives you a giant screen, a very sharp picture and surround sound. 4DX adds moving seats, wind, water and smells, often with films in 3D.

Yes. Most films are shown dubbed in French, but some Disney and Marvel blockbusters are regularly shown in VOSTFR (original version with French subtitles). Check the screening format when you book.

No: there’s no booking, tickets are bought on the spot, at the foot of the balloon in Disney Village. As flights depend on the weather (especially the wind), the safest bet is to turn up and check that the balloon is actually flying that day.

Yes, every bag is checked at the park entrances: opened and inspected, often with a walk through a metal detector. It’s a bit like airport security. A banned item may be refused, in which case you’ll have to leave it in luggage storage or leave it behind. Arrive a little early to keep the wait down.

Yes, with a 1-day 2-park ticket, or if you’re staying in a Disney hotel (your tickets then give access to both). With a 1-day 1-park ticket, it’s one park for the day.

Each park has its own: Disney Tales of Magic in front of the castle in Disneyland Park, and Disney Cascade of Lights on the Adventure Bay lake in Disney Adventure World.

Yes. In Disneyland Park: Hyperspace Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. In Disney Adventure World: Crush’s Coaster, the Tower of Terror and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force.

Yes. The birthday badge is free and can be personalised with your first name. The sticker is free too. Both are available to all ages, adults included.

Just ask at City Hall (Disneyland Park), at Studio Services (the guest services desk in Disney Adventure World) or at your Disney hotel’s concierge. The hotel concierge is often the most reliable option when the parks have run out of badges.

Usually about an hour before official opening. The exact time varies with the season and the day: check today’s opening hours.

Yes, if you ask at City Hall. The call is free and available in several languages, depending on availability that day.

No, for arrivals up to 31 March 2027. Meal plans don’t qualify for annual pass discounts or shareholder discounts. For arrivals from April 2027, the official guide doesn’t say. Meal plans can also only be booked with a hotel stay.

For arrivals up to 31 March 2027, they’re only included with the Extra Plus option (one meal per stay) and Premium (as many as your vouchers allow). With Standard and Plus, they aren’t included, but you can use a voucher and pay a supplement. For arrivals from 1 April 2027, only the Royal option includes character lunches and dinners. It’s only available to Disneyland Hotel guests. With Essential, Extra or Signature, you can still book them, but you pay the difference.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before official opening. That gives you time to get through the security checks, scan your ticket and be in position at the entrance as soon as the gates open. The first few minutes are the most worthwhile: the headline rides then show very short queue times, sometimes none at all.

No. Disneyland Paris stays open in strong wind, and the vast majority of rides are indoors: they run as normal. It’s the outdoor entertainment that’s affected first, especially the parades and the evening shows. Check the day’s programme before planning your evening.

There’s no fixed list. Open-air, lightweight rides may be suspended, but the decision is made on site, there and then, based on the actual safety conditions. No wind thresholds are published in advance. The good news: most rides are housed in a building and aren’t affected by the wind.

For safety: a parasol or a light shelter catches the wind like a sail and can blow away. So in strong wind, they’re all put away. It’s the change you’ll notice most during the day, because they’re used a lot on restaurant terraces and in the queues for character meet and greets. You eat and wait out in the open, so go for an indoor dining room and indoor meet and greets.

No. The wristband doesn’t change the safety rules. Many thrill rides remain off limits during pregnancy, because of the harnesses, jolts and sudden stops. Others are not recommended.

Allow between 1 hour 15 and 1 hour 45 minutes in advance. The show draws bigger crowds every year and the good spots facing the castle go quickly.

Yes, you can visit the parks without a certificate. But a medical certificate confirming your pregnancy is needed to get the free priority wristband, so remember to bring it if you’d like one.

No. A room-only stay gives no access to the parks. To get in, you need a valid Disneyland Pass or a dated ticket bought separately.

Yes, that’s exactly what a room-only stay is. You book a night in a Disney hotel and only pay for the accommodation, with no park ticket.

No. Breakfast is never included. You can add it as an extra or go for half board. See my guide to the meal plans.

For a first visit, at Disneyland Park I go for Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean and Phantom Manor, and at Disney Adventure World for Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy, Crush’s Coaster, Frozen Ever After and the Tower of Terror. Do Crush’s Coaster as soon as the park opens, as it has the longest queue. Add Peter Pan’s Flight and it’s a small world if you’re with family.

Anyone can book by phone with the official reservations centre, on +33 9 69 32 60 61. Disneyland Pass holders can also book online in My Account, under My Disneyland Passes. Booking.com is another option.

Go for the indoor rides: Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s a small world, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain or Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. At Disney Adventure World (the second park), Ratatouille, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror are also under cover.

With young children, go for rides without big thrills and, in most cases, without a minimum height: it’s a small world, Le Pays des Contes de Fées, Le Carrousel de Lancelot, Dumbo, Casey Jr., Peter Pan’s Flight, the Disneyland Railroad and Ratatouille. No drops or sudden surprises, and you stay right next to your child.

No, collecting it on site is free. Show proof of identity or give a precise description at the lost property office. Only postage is charged, with shipping costs that depend on the item and the destination.

Report it to the ride’s Cast Members and to the lost property office. Bear in mind that on some rides, the tracks can only be checked after closing, at the end of the day. So an item that fell may only be found in the evening.

A few days before your trip. That gives you time to create your account, link your tickets and add the members of your group (up to 6 people) without any rush. Arrival day, in front of the entrance, is never the right moment.

From 81 cm (with an adult): Autopia as a passenger and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop. From 1.02 m: Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours and Tower of Terror. At 1.07 m: Crush’s Coaster. At 1.20 m: Hyperspace Mountain, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and RC Racer. At 1.40 m: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. Children are measured at the entrance, shoes on.

Through the Customer Relations Centre: the number shown on your confirmation, a letter to the Customer Relations address (shown on your confirmation and on the official website), or the contact form on the website.

On arrival, you fill in an autonomy questionnaire with a Cast Member. It sets your level of autonomy, shown by a coloured sticker on your Priority Card, so that evacuation arrangements can be adapted. Access to each ride then depends on matching your level of autonomy against that ride’s own boarding, exit and evacuation conditions. The sticker system is official. The colour gives you an idea of your level of autonomy, but it’s always the match with each ride’s own conditions that decides access: rely on the Accessibility Guides and the Cast Members.

One gives you a single ride on one attraction, at a set time slot. Ultimate gives you one ride on every eligible attraction during the day, with no time slot, each one once. One is bought ride by ride, Ultimate as a day pass, subject to availability.

Here’s how it works: with a flexible booking it’s free as long as you’re more than 7 days from arrival. After that, the fees go up as the date gets closer, until the stay is often non-refundable in the very last few days. The exact amounts depend on your offer and are shown on your confirmation.

No. Disneyland Paris stays open in very hot weather. Only some outdoor rides may close temporarily for safety during the most intense spells, and the night-time shows run in a scaled-down version. The vast majority of the park runs as normal, and nearly 80% of the rides are under cover.

Only outdoor rides, and only during the most intense spells: for example Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo, Autopia, Casey Jr., Orbitron, Indiana Jones, or RC Racer in Disney Adventure World (the second park). It’s a safety measure decided case by case. Indoor rides, meanwhile, stay open.

You have to go through that seller, not Disneyland Paris. Their terms apply, which are often less flexible, sometimes non-refundable. Read their terms and conditions.

Yes. An area for visitors with reduced mobility is set aside and it’s often enlarged on 14 July to meet the high demand. Access is on presentation of your Disney Priority Card.

No, they’re two separate systems. The access card (Priority Card or Easy Access Card) organises how you get through the queues. The 25% discount applies to the price of tickets and the Disneyland Pass. You can have one without the other, and you apply for them separately.

No, everyone has to pay for parking, with no specific exemption. There is, however, a parking area closer to the entrance, available on presentation of a disabled parking card. Details of access and prices are in my parking guide.

Face painting is available from age 3, with no upper age limit. The service is then open to everyone, children and adults alike.

No, no booking is needed. You buy your chosen design at the shop next to the stand, you get a ticket, then you show it at the face painting stand.

You’ll find one stand at Disneyland Park, behind the castle, near the Confiserie des 3 Fées, and another at Disney Adventure World, at the entrance to World Premiere. The World of Frozen land also has its own stand, and seasonal stands open depending on the events taking place.

Single Rider is a free queue, included in your ticket, that seats you alone to fill an empty seat. It’s available on some rides, mainly in Disney Adventure World (Crush’s Coaster, RC Racer, Avengers Flight Force…) and a few in Disneyland Park (Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril). The list changes: check the app on the day of your visit. You ride alone, so it isn’t suitable for young children who need to stay with an adult.

Yes. Since 29 March 2026, there’s a night-time show in each park every evening, included in your ticket: Disney Tales of Magic in Disneyland Park and Disney Cascade of Lights in Disney Adventure World. Only a reserved viewing area costs extra, as an option.

Not most of the time. In July and August, afternoons average around 25°C, with only a few days a month above 30°C. It’s during real heatwaves that afternoons can go above 35°C: if so, keep the outdoors for early morning and the evening, and the indoors for the hottest hours.

Rarely. In strong wind or a storm, the show is usually adapted (drones or fireworks dropped) rather than cancelled. Light rain doesn’t usually stop it. The drones in Cascade of Lights are the most sensitive to wind. Check the day’s programme on the evening of your visit.

The bundle becomes worth it if you’re planning lots of photos, character meet and greets or several days on site. For a short visit with just a few shots, buying photos individually from €15 is enough.

It depends on where you want to stand. Allow 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 for the foot of the castle and 1 hour to 1 hour 30 for Central Plaza. Near the show control booth (the little green house in front of Casey’s Corner), allow 30 to 45 minutes. For Main Street U.S.A. or the park entrance, allow 15 to 45 minutes. For Cascade of Lights, by the lake, 30 to 45 minutes is usually enough. Arrive at least 45 minutes ahead when it’s very busy.

You’ll find practical information, help with bookings and purchases if the app isn’t working, the free birthday and name badges, accessibility information, directions for lost property and the chance to thank a Cast Member.

Yes. 14 July is one of the three big dates of the year, along with 31 October and 31 December. A dated ticket for that day costs more than on most other days. Also watch out: the undated ticket isn’t valid on 14 July. Check the date you’re interested in when you book.

No. Once you’re in the park, City Hall and Studio Services are both free to visit. You need neither an extra ticket nor a booking to go to the desk.

No. The birthday badge and the children’s name badge are free. Just ask for them at guest services.