Disneyland Paris shops: discounts, Shopping Service and tips

You have four main options: the shops in Disneyland Park (mainly on Main Street U.S.A. and in each land), the shops in Disney Adventure World, the shops in Disney Village (no park ticket needed) and your hotel shop if you’re staying at an official Disney Hotel. I go through the main shops in my dedicated article.

Yes. Disney Village is free to enter, with no ticket or checks. You’ll find several Disney shops there, including the big World of Disney store, as well as partner brands. It’s the ideal option if you just want to go shopping without paying for park entry.

Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a collection point, to pick up later in the shop, or as you leave the park in another shop, or even in the shop at your Disney Hotel. The service is free in most shops (above a minimum spend). Just ask the sales assistant when you pay.

The shops in the parks roughly follow the parks’ opening hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the night-time show. The Disney Village shops have their own opening hours, usually later into the evening. The exact times are in the Disneyland Paris app.

There’s no Disney shop in the station itself. However, Disney Village is less than 5 minutes’ walk away once you’re through the security checks, with several Disney shops you can visit without a park ticket. It’s perfect for a last purchase before your train home.

There’s no official Disneyland Paris online shop. To buy from home, you can go to the Disney Store website (formerly shopDisney), which sells official Disney merchandise and sometimes a few Disneyland Paris-specific products. At the resort, you buy directly in the shops.

Yes, there are two places in Serris. The Val d’Europe shopping centre is a large indoor centre with around 190 shops, a hypermarket and restaurants. La Vallée Village is an outlet village with over 110 discounted shops. Both are a few minutes from the resort.

My favourites are Plaza Gardens Restaurant, right in the middle of Disneyland Park with visiting characters, and Chuck Wagon Café at Hotel Cheyenne, generous and reasonably priced. For a big occasion, Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel is festive but more expensive.

The most affordable buffets are Crockett’s Tavern (Davy Crockett Ranch) and La Cantina (Hotel Santa Fe), at around €35 per adult.

Yes. Two buffets welcome characters during the meal: Plaza Gardens Restaurant in Disneyland Park and Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel. They’re the most popular, so remember to book.

Yes. Contactless payment works, as do Apple Pay and Google Pay from your phone or smartwatch.

Yes, cash in euros is accepted almost everywhere in the resort: parks, hotels, shops and restaurants. The payment machines (the PhotoPass service, the car park and some restaurants in the parks), however, only take bank cards.

Yes. There’s a physical gift card, loaded with €5 to €200 in some shops in Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, as well as at World of Disney (Disney Village). It can’t be topped up afterwards. Cast Members sometimes give them out too. There’s also an e-gift card (on partner websites) to contribute towards a ticket or a holiday as a gift.

Autograph books are sold in the big souvenir shops in the parks and Disney Village, such as the Emporium or World of Disney, for around ten euros. You can also bring your own from home.

Characters sign your book at character meets (meet-and-greets), in the parks and some hotels. Check the locations and times in the app. A thick felt-tip pen is easier for costumed characters to hold.

Yes. You can have a card, a photo, a soft toy or even a balloon signed. To keep a picture of the moment, remember PhotoPass too.

The simplest and cheapest option is to bring your own power bank, charged to 100%. On site, free sockets are rare (there are some at Videopolis, for example). Otherwise, there’s a paid battery hire service.

Hiring a power bank costs around €4 for 2 hours or €10 for the day, with €30 charged if you don’t return it. Lightning, USB-C and micro-USB cables are included, and you pay by contactless card.

At Disneyland Park, the stations are mainly at the entrance (under the Main Street station) and in Discoveryland. At Disney Adventure World, they’re spread throughout the park, and there are some at Disney Village too. The easiest way is to find them with the "Battery rental stations" filter in the app.

The bandstand on Main Street gives the best view, with the castle in the distance. For a close-up, stand at the foot of the castle on the La Tanière du Dragon side, or on the right near the wishing well. And to avoid the crowds, try the passage behind the castle, on the Adventureland side.

If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, make the most of Extra Magic Time, the early opening reserved for hotel guests: the park is almost empty. Otherwise, aim for park opening in the morning, or the end of the day for soft light.

At Disneyland Park, look for the harlequin wall between Fantasyland and Discoveryland, the pink wall in Fantasyland and the colourful walls of Discoveryland. At Disney Adventure World, look for the brick wall near Cars and the letter wall in Toy Story Playland.

Yes, easily. Almost every restaurant offers at least one vegetarian option, and often a vegan one too, marked with a symbol on the menu. You don’t need a specialist restaurant: a mixed group can eat together anywhere.

My favourite is the vegan chilli at Last Chance Café in Frontierland, for €8: generous and so spicy you’d swear there was meat in it. The lentil dahl at Colonel Hathi’s and the vegan nuggets at Toad Hall are excellent too.

Yes. Several dishes are fully vegan, such as the chilli at Last Chance Café or the nuggets and chips at Toad Hall. They are marked with a dedicated symbol on the menus.

Disneyland Paris held a Run Weekend every autumn from 2016 to 2019, with 5 km (3 miles) and 10 km (6 miles) races and a half marathon through both parks. The event has been on hold since 2020 and no comeback has been announced so far.

Yes. Disneyland Paris allows food and non-alcoholic drinks brought in from outside, which is really handy for allergies or strict diets: you can make sure your child has a completely safe meal. Bring a soft container, as glass, alcohol and large hard cool boxes are not allowed for safety reasons.

In the shops and restaurants of Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, as well as at World of Disney (Disney Village). You can also use it on site to pay for a Disneyland Pass or a Disneyland Pass evening ticket. At the ticket office, it also lets you buy a ticket for the same day, but only if there is still room and often at a higher price than online: I wouldn’t count on it.

No, the amounts loaded onto it are not refundable. If it is lost, stolen or damaged, it is neither replaced nor refunded.

My four favourites: the sweets at Boardwalk Candy Palace, the ice creams at March Hare Refreshments, the doughnuts at Searchlight Kiosk and the princess choux buns at Chez Marie.

Overland Trail Café, in Frontierland at Disneyland Park, is the only place that sells churros all year round. Disney Adventure World has no permanent stand: you’ll only find them now and then at the festive food chalets set up in summer and at Christmas.

There are three options. At a quick-service restaurant (fast food), you order and pay at a counter, then find a seat. It’s the quickest and cheapest option, with no booking needed. At an all-you-can-eat buffet, you pay a set price and help yourself: handy for families with different appetites. At a table-service restaurant, a server takes your order and brings your plated dish: more relaxed and more expensive, and best booked in advance. For a first visit, counter service is enough at lunchtime, and a buffet or table-service restaurant makes a lovely evening meal.

Lightsabers are mainly sold at Star Traders, at the exit of Star Tours in Discoveryland, but also at Disney Wonders and Mickey’s of Hollywood. You’ll find everything from toy models for kids to more elaborate collector’s sabres. Good to know before you come: there’s no workshop to build your own sabre or droid in Paris, as these experiences are only offered in the American parks.

It’s a premium option, pricier than a standard meal. Allow from €80 to €120 per adult and from €40 to €60 per child, depending on the restaurant and the meal. Breakfast at Auberge de Cendrillon is the most affordable option, La Table de Lumière the most upmarket. These meals accept the Disneyland Pass discount and are included in the Extra Plus and Premium meal plans.

Yes, every Starbucks sells collectable mugs and tumblers featuring the resort. The widest choice is at the Starbucks in Disney Village. If you’re after a particular design that’s no longer available there, it’s worth heading over to the Starbucks at Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Hotel Santa Fe.

In every restaurant in the parks and Disney hotels, tell the restaurant manager about your allergy as soon as you arrive. You’ll be shown the allergen chart and, if nothing suits you, a selection of dishes free from the main allergens (including gluten) is offered on the spot, with no advance order and no extra charge. Vegetarian and vegan options are available everywhere. For kosher and halal meals, order at least 48 hours in advance on +33 1 60 30 40 50. You can also bring something to tide a baby or a fussy eater over (baby food jar, bottle), as food is allowed through security.

In 2026, four restaurants offer a character meal: Auberge de Cendrillon (Disneyland Park, princesses, breakfast, lunch and dinner), The Regal View (Disney Adventure World, princesses, breakfast, lunch and dinner), Royal Banquet (Disneyland Hotel, Mickey and friends, lunch and dinner) and La Table de Lumière (Disneyland Hotel, for hotel guests only, dinner). Plaza Gardens is closed for renovation until early 2027 and no longer offers character meals.

The official picnic area, which is free, near the visitor car park. It’s the only place with tables and benches set out for sitting down to eat. Inside the parks, you’re limited to snacking on a bench or a low wall.

It’s possible, but not guaranteed. Whether non-residents can have breakfast at the Disney hotels is decided day by day, depending on occupancy. Ask the hotel directly, and expect to pay on the spot.

Disney Village is the cheapest place in the morning: Starbucks, McDonald’s or Le Comptoir for a quick takeaway breakfast, much cheaper than a hotel buffet. A simple pastry remains the lightest option for your budget.

Princess meals are at Auberge de Cendrillon, The Regal View and La Table de Lumière. To meet Mickey and friends, head to Royal Banquet, where they wear exclusive royal outfits. So you know in advance which group of characters you’ll meet, even if the exact line-up of the day stays a surprise.

Yes, at Royal Banquet in the Disneyland Hotel, where Mickey and friends join you in royal outfits, at lunch and dinner. It used to be possible at Plaza Gardens, now closed for renovation until early 2027.

Yes, at Royal Banquet in the Disneyland Hotel, open to everyone even without a park ticket (booking recommended). The other restaurants require either a park ticket (Auberge de Cendrillon, The Regal View) or a stay at the Disneyland Hotel (La Table de Lumière).

Bistrot Chez Rémy (the hardest), Walt’s, Auberge de Cendrillon and La Forêt Secrète par Jean Imbert, as well as the character meals, which go very quickly as soon as bookings open.

At Disneyland Park, head to March Hare Refreshments (Fantasyland), the Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlour or The Ice Cream Company (Main Street U.S.A.). Simpler ice creams are sold at Cool Post, Cool Station and the mobile carts. At Disney Adventure World, go to Ice Cream Creations (Magnum stand), Speciality Ice Cream or the FAN-tastic Food Truck.

Yes. There are water fountains in both parks, and you can ask for a free glass of tap water in table-service restaurants. Bring a reusable bottle (plastic, as glass isn’t allowed): it’s a saving you make at every meal.

My go-to is Toad Hall in Fantasyland, with its fish and chips: a full dish (protein and chips) at the lowest price in Disneyland Park, not just a snack. It’s my first choice for a proper meal on a budget.

My favourite is Walt’s, an American Restaurant, upstairs on Main Street, in Disneyland Park. I love its decor, its tribute to Walt Disney and the view of the parade from upstairs.

I’d pick Chuck Wagon Café, at Disney Hotel Cheyenne. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of American food, in a Wild West setting I love, with very good cornbread.

Yes for table-service restaurants and character buffets, which are often booked several weeks ahead. Quick-service restaurants are walk-in, with no booking.

To meet the characters, I recommend Royal Banquet, at the Disneyland Hotel. You’ll see Mickey in his royal outfit going from table to table, over a lovely buffet.

The Village stays lively until late: the fun usually carries on until 1:00, even though each venue has its own opening hours and some close earlier. After the parks close, the Village stays open for dinner and the bars, which makes it one of the few late-dining options at the resort.

No, there are no Disney character meals at Disney Village. To share a meal with Mickey and friends, you need to look at certain restaurants in the hotels and parks. The Village is the place for a casual meal with no ticket needed.

Yes, no problem. A cold meal in a small bag is allowed. It’s large cool boxes, folding tables and glass containers that are turned away, not sandwiches.

Not a large rigid cool box, which is refused at the security checks at the park entrances. A small soft cool bag, the size of a backpack, gets through without any trouble. At the picnic area near the car park, which is before security, you can bring a cool box though.

Yes, the official picnic area is free and open to everyone. You’ll find tables and benches there to eat in comfort.

No. Restaurant tables and terraces are for customers who bought their meal there. For the food you’ve brought, sit on a bench or a low wall, or eat as you walk.

Yes. At Disneyland Park, several spots on Main Street serve coffee and pastries à la carte (Cable Car Bake Shop, Cookie Kitchen, Market House Deli), as does Café Hyperion in Discoveryland. At Disney Adventure World, Searchlight (kiosk) and The Hollywood Gardens Restaurant are good for a morning stop.

It depends on what you want. At the hotel, the buffet is generous and comfortable, perfect if it’s included or if you want a lighter lunch. In the park, grabbing something on the go saves you time before the crowds arrive. To save money, Disney Village is still the best choice.

Yes, subject to availability: at City Hall (Disneyland Park), at Studio Services (Disney Adventure World), at the restaurant entrance or at your Disney hotel’s concierge desk.

Log in to your Disney account in the app, tap "Book a table", choose the date, the number of guests and the meal, then the restaurant and the time, and confirm. The full step-by-step guide is in this article.

Only buffet restaurants and table-service restaurants can be booked. Quick-service restaurants and snack kiosks are walk-in, with no booking.

No, booking a standard table is free and doesn’t require prepayment. Only character meals may be prepaid or included in a meal plan.

Keep an eye on the app: cancellations often free up slots. You can also ask your Disney hotel’s concierge desk or try the restaurant’s "walk-in" queue on the day.

You’ll find chips at most of the park’s quick-service restaurants, including Toad Hall Restaurant (Fantasyland), Casey’s Corner (Main Street U.S.A.) and Cowboy Cookout Barbecue (Frontierland), as a side with the set menus.

The restaurants at New York - The Art of Marvel, Newport Bay Club, Sequoia Lodge, Hotel Cheyenne, Hotel Santa Fe and Davy Crockett Ranch are open to everyone with a booking. At the Disneyland Hotel, Royal Banquet is also open to everyone with a booking. Only La Table de Lumière is reserved for hotel guests.

Yes. Even though Café Mickey and Inventions have closed, there’s a character buffet at the Disneyland Hotel called Royal Banquet, open since January 2024. For the other hotel restaurants, see the article on Disney hotel restaurants.

No. Café Mickey, the character restaurant on the shores of Lake Disney, stopped serving in 2020. The building became Brasserie Rosalie, a full-service French brasserie (from breakfast to dinner) that opened on 8 December 2023. Many guides still mention the old name, hence the frequent confusion.

The biggest shop in the park is the Emporium, on Main Street, ideal for shopping on your way out. You’ll also find shops at the exit of rides and several stores in Disney Village, such as World of Disney. For the up-to-date list and opening hours, see all the shops.

Allow €10 per balloon. This price includes the balloon and the small plastic weight that stops it flying away.

I recommend Disneyland Paris de A à Z. Organised like a dictionary with several hundred entries, it covers the history, the rides, the characters and the behind-the-scenes side of the park.

Yes, they’re completely free. The park doesn’t sell them anywhere. They’re handed out for the duration of an event, while stocks last.

The Cast Members of the custodial team, in other words the staff who keep the park clean, whom you’ll see sweeping the paths. They’re the ones with the cards, not the shops.

A booster (12 cards) costs around €5.99. It’s the basic purchase for collecting. Prices vary slightly from one retailer to another.

Most often at The Storybook Store (Disneyland Park), and sometimes in other shops in the park or at Disney Village (such as World of Disney). New sets are often released there early, before the general release.

These are the resort’s two princess restaurants, one in each park. Auberge de Cendrillon is a table-service restaurant in Fantasyland, in Disneyland Park, just behind the castle. The Regal View is also table service, but in Adventure World, by the lake. The simplest approach: choose according to the park you’re visiting that day. In both cases, the princesses come round at random and the line-up changes from one day to the next.

My favourite ice cream stop is March Hare Refreshments in Fantasyland, for its Alice in Wonderland setting and a quiet break. Gibson Girl, on Main Street, is still a safe bet with a wide choice of scoops.

Yes, since June 2025, at Searchlight Kiosk in Disney Adventure World: a stand inside World Premiere serving Disney-themed doughnuts and classic doughnuts. You can also get them at the McDonald’s in Disney Village. At Disneyland Park, there’s no 100% doughnut stand, but doughnuts and fritters are sold at several counters.

The Mickey doughnut is served at Cookie Kitchen, on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Park. It’s a Mickey-shaped doughnut and very popular: get there a little before peak times to avoid the queue.

Sweet snacks stay affordable: a takeaway ice cream, a doughnut or a few pick and mix sweets from Boardwalk Candy Palace make a tasty break without a big budget. The mobile stands and the ice creams at Cool Post are among the simplest options.

For a special occasion, I like The Regal View Restaurant, at Disney Adventure World, for its table service, the princesses, its view of the lake and, in the evening, of the water shows.

Yes. You can meet the princesses at Auberge de Cendrillon (Disneyland Park, breakfast, lunch and dinner), The Regal View (Disney Adventure World, breakfast, lunch and dinner) and La Table de Lumière (Disneyland Hotel, dinner, for hotel guests only).

Often, yes, especially for fast food. The quick options in the Village (McDonald’s, Earl of Sandwich) are usually a little cheaper than in the parks, and free entry means you don’t have to go into a park just to eat. For smarter restaurants, prices are similar to those of a good restaurant. Beyond the price, eating at the Village at the lunchtime peak lets you skip the queues at the packed quick-service restaurants in the park and saves you time for your visit.

For a quick meal, the Village has Earl of Sandwich (hot sandwiches made to order, my favourite in this category), Five Guys (burgers), McDonald’s (the cheapest option, with click and collect, very handy at peak times) and Le Comptoir, the takeaway snack counter next to Brasserie Rosalie. In summer, the Petite Rosalie terrace by the lake lets you eat quickly but sitting down.

Yes. Disney Village has a McDonald’s (the cheapest place in the Village) and a Five Guys for burger lovers, as well as other quick options such as Earl of Sandwich. As the Village is being transformed, some restaurants are moving: check the up-to-date list before your visit.

In the Disney hotels, yes: breakfast is an all-you-can-eat continental buffet, sweet and savoury. The places in the Village and the parks work more on an à la carte or takeaway basis.

For the character breakfast at Auberge de Cendrillon, you book through the Disneyland Paris app, well in advance as places go quickly. For a hotel buffet, there’s no booking through the app: ask the hotel directly, depending on occupancy.

Yes. For a standard table, open the app, go to "Account" then "My dining reservations" and cancel, or call the booking line. For a prepaid meal or a meal plan, the conditions are stricter: contact the booking line.

A booking gives you priority seating, not a table guaranteed to the minute. You may still wait a little when you arrive, but you’ll go ahead of people without a booking.

The Mickey-shaped pizza (pepperoni or 4 cheeses) is served at Pizzeria Bella Notte (Fantasyland) and Colonel Hathi’s Outpost Restaurant (Adventureland).

The Mickey sandwich, the Mickey pizza, a hot dog or the lobster roll are easy to eat while walking. Kiosks and quick-service counters are spread across both parks.

Casey’s Corner, on Main Street U.S.A., is the go-to spot for hot dogs. FAN-tastic Food Truck at Disney Adventure World also serves quick snacks.

For a day visit, I recommend a picnic at lunchtime and a proper meal in the evening, rather than two fast-food meals. The total budget is almost the same, but it’s a completely different experience: you really sit down and enjoy some time at the table.

It depends on how you like to eat. The meal plan pays for itself if you often eat at table-service restaurants over several days, much less so if you rely on picnics and snacks. It’s usually booked before you arrive.

They’re temporary events where food chalets with speciality dishes are set up in the park for several weeks. There are two editions a year: Le Rendez-vous Gourmand in summer and L’Hiver Gourmand around Christmas. You buy dishes and drinks individually, both sweet and savoury.

Twice a year. The summer edition, Le Rendez-vous Gourmand, usually covers a large part of the warm season. The winter edition, L’Hiver Gourmand, runs over Christmas and New Year. The exact dates change with each edition: check the calendar for the current year.

Yes. Most Disney hotel restaurants are open to everyone with a booking, subject to availability, even if you’re not staying at the hotel. The only exception: La Table de Lumière at the Disneyland Hotel, reserved for guests of that hotel.

Everything is done in the official Disneyland Paris app. Tap the "Dine" button at the bottom of the screen, go to "Pre-order food and drinks", choose your restaurant, put together your meal, choose the time, then pay in the app. You then collect your order on site at the time shown.

The main one is at Disney Village, on the walkway leading to the parks. The other two are at Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Hotel Santa Fe.

Mobile Order (Click & Collect) is available at some of the park’s quick-service restaurants (the counters where you order at the till). It doesn’t cover buffet restaurants or table-service restaurants. The list changes regularly: you’ll find it up to date in the "Which restaurants offer Click & Collect?" section of this article.

Yes. Buzz Lightyear’s Pizza Planet Restaurant, in Discoveryland, closed for good in 2016. The building has never been replaced. In Discoveryland, Café Hyperion is now the main place to eat.

At Auberge de Cendrillon (Fantasyland, Disneyland Park), the resort’s only character breakfast at the moment, with booking required through the app. There are two morning slots: the 8:15 slot is reserved for Extra Magic Time (Disney hotel guests and Gold Pass holders), and everyone else can book from 9:45. All the details are in my article on character meals.

The closures mainly come from three waves: the shutdown linked to the health crisis in 2020, the major hotel renovations (Disneyland Hotel, Hotel New York) and the transformation of the second park with Avengers Campus, followed by the redevelopment of Studio 1. The overhaul of Disney Village has also seen several restaurants disappear.

At Disney Village, my favourite restaurant is The Steakhouse, for the quality of its meat and its smart brasserie setting in the style of a New York warehouse.

You can bring back pretty much anything: Mickey ears, soft toys, pins, mugs or water bottles, clothes, sweet treats (biscuits, chocolates), magnets and keyrings, Loungefly bags or Pandora jewellery. The best approach is to choose the type of souvenir you like first, then go by your budget.

On a small budget, think of a postcard (around €1), a magnet (around €8 to €10), a keyring or a pin. You can also pick up a paper map and a free celebration badge at City Hall. Lovely souvenirs that won’t break the bank.

Allow around €15 to €35 for a Mickey or Minnie headband. Embroidered, sequinned or seasonal designs are often more expensive. These are rough price ranges, so check in the shop.

You choose your collection point when you drop them off: the shop at your Disney hotel or the shop in Disney Village. Collection starts from 20:00, at Disney Village and at the hotel shops alike. Remember to keep your receipt.

Some products are only available on site: items with a "Paris" design or wording, items engraved with the year and ranges linked to a particular ride or area (such as Phantom Manor or Ratatouille). That’s often the best reason to buy during your trip rather than online.

Some products are available on the Disney online shop, sometimes at a good price. But many items, especially the Paris exclusives and limited editions, are only sold in the parks. For these souvenirs, buying on site is the only option.

No. There’s no official Disneyland Paris website that sells and delivers the park’s full range of products. The official website for Disney products online is the Disney Store, which offers a selection of Disneyland Paris exclusives, but not the park’s full catalogue.

There are no longer any physical Disney Store shops outside the park. The last one, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, has closed. You can still shop in the Disneyland Paris shops, and Disney Village gives you access to a Disney shop without a park ticket.

Yes. Disneyland Paris is a French business and follows the two official sales periods, one in winter and one in summer, as everywhere in France.

Twice a year: the winter sales start in early January (the second Wednesday of the month) and the summer sales at the end of June (the last Wednesday of the month). Each period lasts about four weeks.

Yes, at Harrington’s, on Main Street U.S.A. The shop offers on-site engraving of glass items, with a first name, a date or a message, for an extra charge of around €7 for a simple engraving.

The two go-to places are the Pueblo Trading Post, in Frontierland, and Harrington’s, on Main Street, U.S.A. You’ll also find them at World of Disney, in Disney Village. Look out for bundles and gift sets to get started for less.

Allow around €49.99 for the personalised glass wand, plus €7 if you have it engraved. The price can vary depending on the shape and size of the glass body you choose, and limited editions cost more.

It’s a paper collectable card, given out free by the park during an event (season, character birthday, ride opening) or a Disney film release. Each edition has from 1 to around ten cards.

Yes. The main bookshop is The Storybook Store, on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Park, right next to City Hall. You’ll find coffee-table books, behind-the-scenes books about the park, children’s books and books in several languages.

Yes, for buffet restaurants and table-service restaurants, I strongly recommend it: tables go quickly, especially at weekends and in the school holidays. Quick-service restaurants and snack kiosks are walk-in, with no booking. Book as early as possible, up to 2 months ahead for a day visit and up to 1 year ahead if you’re staying at a Disney hotel.

It all depends on how you like to eat. With a picnic at lunchtime and a counter-service meal in the evening, a family of four can manage on around €40 to €60 a day. With a table-service dinner, allow more like €100 to €150, and more again with a character meal. My tip: save on most meals so you can treat yourself to one really memorable one.

Yes, with the free Shopping Service. You hand over your purchases at the till (drop-off until 14:30) and collect them in the evening without carrying them all day: from 20:00, at the shop in Disney Village or at your Disney hotel’s shop if you’re staying there. A minimum spend of around €50 per shop applies, waived with an eligible physical Visa card. Collection at the Village works even if you’re not staying at a hotel.

Yes. You can come in with your meal in a backpack (sandwiches, snacks, fruit, cakes): food isn’t confiscated at security. A full sit-down picnic (picnic blanket, table) isn’t allowed in the parks, but you can snack on a bench, a low wall or as you walk. For a proper picnic, there’s an area with tables outside, between the car park and the entrances. It’s also the best way to cut your food budget. The detailed rules are in my guide to bringing your own picnic.

Head to Plaza East and Plaza West, the two shops just after the entrance to Disneyland Park. They stock almost every design and are rarely packed, unlike the Emporium at the end of the day.

At La Boutique de Merlin l’Enchanteur, inside Sleeping Beauty Castle (Fantasyland, Disneyland Park), the shop run by Arribas. You choose the glass body and coloured gems, then the glassblower seals it in front of you. The same activity is also available at Harrington’s, on Main Street U.S.A.

Yes, some shops can embroider a first name on the ears, for a small extra charge and sometimes after a short wait. The service isn’t available everywhere, so ask in the shop.

Yes, there are sizes for kids and soft headbands for babies, as well as adult designs.

Off-site hotels are usually the cheapest, but tickets aren’t included. Among the Disney hotels, the most affordable is Hotel Santa Fe. For a first visit, I’d recommend the Santa Fe or the Cheyenne instead, a little more expensive but with the full Disney experience.

Yes. Partner hotels and off-site hotels are often cheaper. You simply don’t get Extra Magic Time and, for off-site hotels, tickets have to be bought separately.

For a first visit, I recommend an affordable Disney hotel such as the Santa Fe or the Cheyenne: the shuttle bus, the short distance and Extra Magic Time make the experience much smoother. Keep partner hotels or off-site hotels for a future stay.

Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 20:45, Saturday from 9:00 to 19:00 and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:30.