Disneyland Paris has two parks: Disneyland Park (the main park) and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios, renamed on 29 March 2026). With a 1-day 1-park ticket (it only gets you into one of the two parks for the day), you have to pick one. My quick answer is just below.
Quick quiz Which Disneyland Paris park should you choose?
Got a 1-day 1-park ticket and can’t decide? A few questions, and I’ll tell you which park is right for you.
Both parks at a glance:
Disneyland Park
The most complete park: the great Disney classics, the castle, the big parade and the most rides.
Disney Adventure World
Thrill rides, lots of shows and the Frozen, Marvel and Pixar areas around Adventure Bay.
Both parks!
With your ticket, you don’t have to choose: allow at least one day per park so you can enjoy them without rushing.
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The 2 Disneyland Paris parks in a nutshell
Disneyland Park is the main park, opened in 1992. Its centrepiece is Sleeping Beauty Castle. It takes its cue from the first American Disney parks and showcases the great classic Disney stories.
Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios) opened in 2002 and was renamed on 29 March 2026. Its centrepiece is now the Adventure Bay lake. It’s all about adventure, with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Frozen areas. A land (a themed area of the park) based on The Lion King is under construction, with no date announced.
Since the 2026 expansion, the park has almost doubled in size and the two parks have become more alike. They now close at the same time.
Each park now has its own night-time show: Disney Tales of Magic in front of the castle at Disneyland Park and Disney Cascade of Lights on the Adventure Bay lake at Disney Adventure World.
From 24 July 2026, the park also has its own daytime cavalcade, the Disney Princesses Cavalcade (Moana, Raya, Rapunzel and Tiana), with several runs a day.
Disneyland Park or Disney Adventure World: how do they compare?
Disneyland Park still has the most to offer: more rides, more restaurants and the only big parade. Disney Adventure World stands out for its shows and thrill rides. Here are the main differences, to give you a clear idea of how much each park offers.
| Criterion | Disneyland Park | Disney Adventure World |
|---|---|---|
| Year opened | 1992 | 2002 (renamed in 2026) |
| Centrepiece | Sleeping Beauty Castle | Adventure Bay lake |
| Attractions | around forty | around fifteen |
| Restaurants | 33 | 16 |
| Shops | 35 | 12 |
| Parades | 1 | 1 (a cavalcade) |
| Indoor shows | 1 | 5 |
| Outdoor shows | 0 | 3 |
| Night-time show | 1 | 1 |
Data from October 2026, subject to change with seasons, new openings and refurbishments.
Point by point
- Theming Disneyland Park takes its cue from the first American parks and showcases the great classic Disney stories, around the castle. Disney Adventure World is all about adventure, with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Frozen areas.
- Rides for kids Disneyland Park has more, with a land dedicated to little ones, Fantasyland. It’s often the better fit for families with young children.
- Thrill rides you’ll find them in both parks, with a slight edge to Disney Adventure World. The rides are covered just below, in the section on the headline attractions.
- Indoor shows Disney Adventure World stands out with Mickey and the Magician and Together: a Pixar Musical Adventure.
- Parade only Disneyland Park has one, Disney Stars on Parade.
- Food Disneyland Park still has the most varied choice, with its themed restaurants and food from around the world.
- Crowds at Disneyland Park, queues are longer for the classic rides. Disney Adventure World generally flows better, except at Crush’s Coaster. To plan ahead, see my guides to crowd levels at Disneyland Paris and queues.
What are the headline attractions in each park?
Here are a few rides for all ages to give you a feel for each park. At Disneyland Park: Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor and Peter Pan’s Flight, plus the thrill rides Hyperspace Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. At Disney Adventure World: Ratatouille and Crush’s Coaster, as well as the thrill rides The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force.
For the full list, see my pick of the best rides and my page listing all the attractions.
What are the lands in each park?
Each park is divided into lands, its themed areas. Here’s the up-to-date list of lands in both parks.
| Land | Theme |
|---|---|
| Main Street U.S.A. | America in the 1900s |
| Frontierland | Wild West |
| Adventureland | Exotic adventure |
| Fantasyland | Fairy tales |
| Discoveryland | Retro-futurism |
The lands of Disneyland Park (list updated automatically)
| Land | Theme |
|---|---|
| World Premiere Plaza | Art Deco Hollywood |
| Marvel Avengers Campus | Marvel superheroes |
| Worlds of Pixar | Pixar worlds |
| Adventure Way | Disney and Pixar gardens |
| World of Frozen | Arendelle |
| Pride Lands | The Lion King |
The lands of Disney Adventure World (list updated automatically)
In short: Marvel, Pixar and World of Frozen are at Disney Adventure World. The great Disney classics and the castle are at Disneyland Park.
Which park should you choose for your profile?
To help you decide, here’s my recommendation for each type of visitor.
- First visit Disneyland Park. It has the most to offer, with the castle and the big rides for all ages.
- Families with young children Disneyland Park, for Fantasyland and its rides suited to little ones.
- Fans of parades and Disney classics Disneyland Park.
- Teens and adults after thrills Disney Adventure World, which has the most thrill rides (see my pick of the best rides).
- Marvel, Pixar or Frozen fans Disney Adventure World.
- Indoor show lovers Disney Adventure World.
- Visitors on a stay or with a 2-park ticket both, no need to choose.
My tip
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How and when to choose on the day
With a 1-day 1-park ticket, you choose on the spot, on the day itself. There’s nothing to book or tick in advance. At the entrance, you scan your ticket at the park you want: that first scan sets your park for the day. Here’s what to remember.
- The first park you scan into becomes your park for the day.
- You can go in, come out and go back into that park by scanning your ticket again.
- The other park isn’t included with a 1-day 1-park ticket.
- You can upgrade to a 2-park ticket on the day, at the ticket offices at the park entrances, for an extra charge and subject to availability. See my tickets guide for the details.
- On a Disney hotel stay or with a 2-park ticket, you get into both without having to choose.
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Further reading
- Planning your day at Disneyland Paris
- Planning your trip
- The best rides
- All the attractions
- Disney hotels
- Tickets and prices
Frequently asked questions
01 What are the 2 parks at Disneyland Paris?
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).
02 Which park should you choose for a one-day first visit?
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.
03 Which park is best with young kids?
Disneyland Park. It has more rides designed for little ones, especially in Fantasyland, and an atmosphere that suits them well.
04 Can you visit both parks on the same day?
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.
05 Where do the night-time shows take place?
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.
06 Are there thrill rides in both parks?
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.
