Disneyland Paris shops: discounts, package pickup, and tips

There are four main places to shop: Disneyland Park (Main Street U.S.A. above all, plus every land), Disney Adventure World, Disney Village (open to everyone, no park ticket required), and, if you book an official Disney hotel, the shop inside your hotel. My dedicated article walks you through the main shops.

Yes. Disney Village is free to enter, with no ticket and no checkpoint. You’ll find several Disney stores there, including the big World of Disney store, along with partner brands. It’s the best option if you only want to shop without paying for park admission.

Yes. The Shopping Service lets you have your purchases sent to a pickup point, so you can collect them later at the same shop, at another shop on your way out of the park, or even at your Disney hotel’s shop. The service is free in most shops (with a minimum purchase). Just ask the cast member at checkout.

Shops inside the parks roughly follow park hours, often opening a little earlier on Main Street U.S.A. and closing a little later after the nighttime show. Disney Village shops have their own hours, usually running later into the evening. You’ll find the exact hours in the Disneyland Paris app.

There’s no Disney store inside the station itself. That said, Disney Village is less than 5 minutes away on foot once you’re past security, and it has several Disney stores you can visit without a park ticket. It’s perfect for one last purchase before your train home.

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

Yes, two spots in Serris. Val d’Europe shopping mall is a large indoor center with around 190 stores, a hypermarket, and restaurants. La Vallée Village is an outlet village with over 110 discounted designer stores. Both are just a few minutes from the resort.

My favorites are Plaza Gardens Restaurant, right in the middle of Disneyland Park, where characters come by, and Chuck Wagon Café at the Hotel Cheyenne, generous and easy on the wallet. When it’s a big celebration, Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel brings a festive mood, though it costs more.

For the lowest price, go with Crockett’s Tavern at Davy Crockett Ranch or La Cantina at Hotel Santa Fe, both around €35 for each adult.

Yes. Characters visit guests at two buffets: Plaza Gardens Restaurant, inside Disneyland Park, and Royal Banquet, at the Disneyland Hotel. Because they’re in high demand, book ahead.

Yes. You can tap to pay with a contactless card, and Apple Pay and Google Pay work too, from your phone or your smartwatch.

Yes, cash in euros is accepted almost everywhere at the resort: parks, hotels, shops, and restaurants. Self-service payment machines (the PhotoPass service, parking, and some restaurants in the parks), on the other hand, only take cards.

Yes. There’s a physical gift card you can load with €5 to €200 at certain shops in Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, as well as at World of Disney (Disney Village). It can’t be reloaded afterward. Cast Members also hand them out sometimes. There’s also an e-gift card (on partner websites) to chip in toward a ticket or a vacation given as a gift.

You’ll find autograph books in the larger souvenir shops, both in the parks and at Disney Village, like the Emporium or World of Disney, for roughly ten euros. Bringing one from home works just as well.

Characters sign your book during meet-and-greets, in the parks and at some hotels. Find the locations and times in the app. A thick marker is easier for costumed characters to hold.

Yes. You can have them sign a card, a photo, a plush, or even a balloon. To keep a picture of the moment, consider PhotoPass too.

The simplest and cheapest solution is to bring your own portable charger, charged to 100%. Free outlets are rare in the parks (there are some at Videopolis, for example). Otherwise, there’s a paid battery rental service.

A portable charger rental runs about €4 for 2 hours, or €10 for a full day, and you’re billed €30 if it isn’t returned. It comes with Lightning, USB-C, and micro-USB cables, and payment is by contactless card.

In Disneyland Park, you’ll mainly find the stations by the entrance (beneath the Main Street station) and in Discoveryland. Disney Adventure World has them all over the park, and Disney Village has a few as well. To track them down, just use the "Battery rental stations" filter in the app.

For the most striking angle, stand at the Main Street bandstand and frame the castle in the distance. If you want it up close, go to the base of the castle by La Tanière du Dragon, or to the right near the wishing well. To get away from the crowds, try the path behind the castle, toward Adventureland.

Staying at a Disney hotel? Use Extra Magic Time, the early entry for hotel guests, when the park is almost deserted. If not, go right at park opening in the morning, or wait for late afternoon and its soft light.

In Disneyland Park, the walls to look for are the harlequin one between Fantasyland and Discoveryland, the pink one in Fantasyland, and the bright walls around Discoveryland. In Disney Adventure World, find the brick wall by the Cars area and the wall of letters in Toy Story Playland.

Yes, and it’s easy. Nearly all the restaurants have a vegetarian choice on the menu, frequently a vegan one as well, flagged with a little symbol. There’s no need to seek out a specialized place, so a group with mixed diets can sit down together wherever it likes.

My favorite is the vegan chili at Last Chance Café in Frontierland, for €8. It’s hearty and so well spiced 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 chili at Last Chance Café or the nuggets and fries at Toad Hall. Look for the dedicated icon on the menus.

Between 2016 and 2019, Disneyland Paris put on a Run Weekend each fall, featuring a 5 km, a 10 km, and a half marathon that wound through both parks. It has been paused since 2020, and there’s been no announcement about it coming back.

Yes. Disneyland Paris lets you bring in outside food and non-alcoholic drinks, which is a real help with allergies or a strict diet: that way you can make sure your child gets a completely safe meal. Pack it in a soft container, since glass, alcohol, and large hard-sided coolers aren’t allowed for safety reasons.

In the stores and restaurants of Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, and at World of Disney (Disney Village). You can also use it to pay on site for a Disneyland Pass or a Disneyland Pass evening ticket. At the ticket windows, it can even buy a same-day ticket, but only if there’s still availability, and often at a higher price than online: I wouldn’t count on it.

No, any balance loaded on it can’t be refunded. If the card is lost, stolen, or damaged, it won’t be replaced or refunded.

My four favorites: the candy at Boardwalk Candy Palace, the ice cream at March Hare Refreshments, the donuts at Searchlight Kiosk, and the princess cream puffs at Chez Marie.

Year-round, churros are only sold in one place: Overland Trail Café, a Frontierland counter at Disneyland Park. Over at Disney Adventure World, no stand carries them permanently. They show up only occasionally, on the festive food chalets that open for summer and Christmas.

There are three options. At a quick-service restaurant, you order and pay at a counter, then find a seat: it’s the fastest and cheapest choice, with no reservation needed. At an all-you-can-eat buffet, you pay a set price and help yourself: handy for families and for different appetites. At a table-service restaurant, a server takes your order and brings your plated meal: more relaxed and more expensive, and you should book ahead. For a first visit, counter service is enough for lunch, and a buffet or table-service meal makes a nice dinner.

Most lightsabers are sold at Star Traders, at the Star Tours exit in Discoveryland, but you’ll also find them at Disney Wonders and Mickey’s of Hollywood. The range goes from toy models for kids to more elaborate collector sabers. Good to know before your trip: there’s no workshop in Paris where you build your own saber or droid. Those experiences are only offered at the US parks.

Character dining is a premium option, and it costs more than a standard meal. Depending on the restaurant and the time of day, budget €80 to €120 for each adult and €40 to €60 for each child. The cheapest way in is breakfast at Auberge de Cendrillon, while La Table de Lumière sits at the top end. Your Disneyland Pass discount works on these meals, and the Extra Plus and Premium meal plans cover them.

Yes, every Starbucks sells collectible mugs and tumblers featuring the resort. The widest selection is at the Disney Village Starbucks. If you’re after a specific design that’s sold out there, it’s worth heading over to the Starbucks locations at the Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe.

In every restaurant in the parks and Disney hotels, tell the dining room manager about your allergy as soon as you arrive: you’ll be shown the allergen chart and, if nothing works for you, you’ll be offered a selection of dishes free of the major allergens (gluten included) right there, 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 ahead by calling +33 1 60 30 40 50. You can also bring backup food for a baby or a picky child (baby food jars, bottles), since food is allowed through security.

For 2026, character dining happens at four restaurants. Auberge de Cendrillon hosts princesses at Disneyland Park for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Regal View does the same with princesses at Disney Adventure World, at breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well. Royal Banquet, inside the Disneyland Hotel, brings out Mickey and friends at lunch and dinner. La Table de Lumière, also at the Disneyland Hotel, serves dinner to hotel guests only. As for Plaza Gardens, it’s shut for renovation until early 2027, so character meals there have stopped.

Head to the official picnic area near the visitor parking lot. It costs nothing, and it’s the only place set up with tables and benches for a sit-down meal. Once you’re inside the parks, a quick bite on a bench or a low wall is as far as it goes.

You can, but it isn’t guaranteed. Whether non-guests can get into breakfast at the Disney hotels is decided day by day, based on occupancy. Check directly with the hotel, and plan to pay there.

Disney Village is the most budget-friendly place in the morning: Starbucks, McDonald’s, or Le Comptoir for a quick breakfast to go, far cheaper than a hotel buffet. A simple pastry remains the lightest option on your wallet.

Princess meals take place 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 ahead of time which group of characters you’ll see, even if the exact lineup of the day stays a surprise.

Yes, at Royal Banquet in the Disneyland Hotel, where Mickey and friends join you at lunch and dinner dressed in royal outfits. You used to be able to do this at Plaza Gardens, which is now closed for renovation until early 2027.

Yes: Royal Banquet, inside the Disneyland Hotel, welcomes anyone, ticket or not (it’s smart to book). For the other character restaurants, you’ll need either park admission (Auberge de Cendrillon, The Regal View) or a room at the Disneyland Hotel (La Table de Lumière).

Bistrot Chez Rémy (the hardest to get), Walt’s, Auberge de Cendrillon, and La Forêt Secrète par Jean Imbert, plus the character meals, which fill up very fast as soon as reservations open.

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

Yes. Both parks have water fountains, and you can ask for a free glass of tap water at table-service restaurants. Bring a reusable water bottle (plastic, since glass isn’t allowed): it saves you money at every single meal.

My go-to is Toad Hall in Fantasyland, with its fish and chips: a complete dish (protein and fries) at the lowest price in Disneyland Park, not just a snack. It’s the first place I head for a real meal on a budget.

Hands down, my favorite is Walt’s, an American Restaurant, on Main Street at Disneyland Park, one floor up. The decor wins me over, along with the nod to Walt Disney and the parade view you get from upstairs.

I pick Chuck Wagon Café at the Disney Hotel Cheyenne. It’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of American food, with a Western setting I adore and really good cornbread.

Yes for table-service restaurants and character buffets, which often get booked several weeks in advance. Quick-service spots work on a walk-in basis, with no reservation.

If meeting characters is the goal, my pick is Royal Banquet at the Disneyland Hotel. Mickey stops by every table in his royal outfit while you enjoy a generous buffet.

The Village stays lively late: the fun usually goes on until 1:00 in the morning, though each place sets its own hours and some close earlier. Once the parks close, the Village stays open for dinner and the bars, which makes it one of the few late-night dining options at the resort.

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

Yes, no problem at all. A cold meal in a small bag is allowed. What gets turned away are bulky coolers, folding tables, and glass containers, not sandwiches.

Not a large hard-sided cooler, which gets refused at the security checks at the park entrances. A small soft insulated bag, about the size of a backpack, gets through with no trouble. At the picnic area near the parking lot, which sits before security, you can bring a cooler.

Yes, the official picnic area is free and open to everyone. It has tables and benches so you can eat comfortably.

No. Restaurant tables and patios are only for guests who bought their meal there. For food you 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 from the menu (Cable Car Bake Shop, Cookie Kitchen, Market House Deli), and so does Café Hyperion in Discoveryland. At Disney Adventure World, Searchlight (kiosk) and The Hollywood Gardens Restaurant make good morning stops.

That comes down to what you’re after. The hotel buffet is filling and comfortable, a great fit when it’s part of your package or when you’d like to eat less at lunch. A grab-and-go breakfast in the park, on the other hand, buys you time before the crowds build. And if saving money matters most, Disney Village remains your best bet.

Yes, depending on availability: at City Hall (Disneyland Park), at Studio Services (Disney Adventure World), at the restaurant entrance, or at the concierge desk of your Disney hotel.

In the app, log in with your Disney account and tap "Book a table". Then select the date, how many people are coming, and which meal, before choosing the restaurant and a time slot. Confirm, and you’re done. This article walks you through every step.

Only buffets and table-service restaurants take reservations. Quick-service restaurants and snack kiosks are walk-in only, with no booking.

No. Booking a standard table costs nothing, and nothing is charged upfront. Prepayment, or inclusion in a meal plan, only comes into play for character meals.

Keep an eye on the app: cancellations often free up time slots. You can also ask the concierge at your Disney hotel, or try the restaurant’s "walk-in" line that same day.

You’ll find fries 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), served as a side with the meals.

The restaurants at the Hotel 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 reservation. At the Disneyland Hotel, Royal Banquet is also open to all with a reservation. Only La Table de Lumière is limited to hotel guests.

Yes. Café Mickey and Inventions are gone, but the Disneyland Hotel now runs a character buffet, Royal Banquet, which opened in January 2024. Curious about the other hotel restaurants? My article on Disney hotel dining covers them.

No. Café Mickey, the character restaurant on the shore of Lake Disney, served its last meals in 2020. Its building now houses Brasserie Rosalie, a French brasserie with full service from breakfast to dinner, which opened on December 8, 2023. Plenty of guides still use the old name, which is why people often get confused.

The Emporium on Main Street is the park’s largest shop and a perfect last stop before you leave. Many rides also end in a shop, and Disney Village has several stores of its own, World of Disney among them. To see the up-to-date list with hours, browse all the shops.

Plan on €10 per balloon. That price includes the balloon and the small plastic weight that keeps it from floating away.

I recommend Disneyland Paris de A à Z. Laid out like a dictionary with several hundred entries, it covers the park’s history, rides, characters, and behind-the-scenes stories.

Yes, they’re completely free. The park doesn’t sell them anywhere. They’re handed out for as long as an event lasts, while supplies last.

The Cast Members on the custodial team, meaning the staff who keep the park clean, the ones you see sweeping the walkways. They’re the ones holding the cards, not the shops.

A booster pack (12 cards) costs about €5.99. It’s the basic purchase for collecting. Prices vary slightly from one seller 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 often go on sale there early, ahead of 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, at Disneyland Park, right behind the castle. The Regal View is also table service, but at Adventure World, on the lakeshore. The easiest approach: choose based on the park you’re visiting that day. At both, the princesses stop by at random and the lineup changes from day to day.

For ice cream, I always end up at March Hare Refreshments in Fantasyland: the Alice in Wonderland setting is charming and it’s a calm place to take a break. Over on Main Street, The Gibson Girl never disappoints and has plenty of flavors to choose from.

Yes, since June 2025, at Searchlight Kiosk in Disney Adventure World: a stand inside World Premiere that sells Disney-themed donuts and classic ones. You can also get them at the McDonald’s in Disney Village. Disneyland Park has no 100% donut stand, but you’ll find donuts and fritters at several counters.

The Mickey donut is served at Cookie Kitchen, on Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Park. It’s a Mickey-shaped donut that people love: show up a little before the rush to skip the wait.

Sweet snacks stay affordable: an ice cream to go, a donut, or a bit of candy by weight from Boardwalk Candy Palace makes a tasty break without a big budget. The roaming carts and the ice cream at Cool Post are among the simplest options.

When I’m celebrating, I go for The Regal View Restaurant at Disney Adventure World. I love the table service, the princesses stopping by, and the lake view, which turns into a front-row seat for the water shows after dark.

Yes. You’ll find princesses at Auberge de Cendrillon at Disneyland Park (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), at The Regal View at Disney Adventure World (also breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and at La Table de Lumière at the Disneyland Hotel, open in the evening to hotel guests only.

Often, yes, especially for fast food. The quick options at the Village (McDonald’s, Earl of Sandwich) generally cost a bit less than in the parks, and since entry is free, you don’t have to go into a park just to eat. For the fancier restaurants, prices are similar to any good restaurant. Beyond the price, eating at the Village during the lunch rush lets you skip the lines at the park’s packed quick-service spots and gives you more time to explore.

When you need to eat fast, the Village gives you Earl of Sandwich (hot sandwiches made to order, which I rank first among the quick options), Five Guys for burgers, McDonald’s (the cheapest choice, and its Mobile Order is a real help at peak times), and Le Comptoir, a takeout snack counter right beside Brasserie Rosalie. During summer, the Petite Rosalie terrace on the lakeside means a fast meal with a seat.

Yes. Disney Village has a McDonald’s (the cheapest place to eat in the Village) and a Five Guys for burger fans, along with other quick options like Earl of Sandwich. Since the Village is being transformed, where some restaurants are located keeps changing: check the current list before your visit.

In the Disney hotels, yes: breakfast is an all-you-can-eat continental buffet, with sweet and savory items. The places in the Village and the parks mostly work à la carte or to go.

For the character breakfast at Auberge de Cendrillon, you book through the Disneyland Paris app, and you’ll want to plan ahead since spots go quickly. For a hotel buffet, there’s no booking in the app: check directly with the hotel, as it depends on occupancy.

Yes. For a regular table, open the app, go to "Account", then "My table reservations", and cancel, or call the reservation center. For a prepaid meal or one in a meal plan, the conditions are stricter: contact the reservation center.

A reservation gives you priority seating, not a table guaranteed down to the minute. You may still wait a little when you arrive, but you’ll be seated before people without a reservation.

Look for the Mickey-shaped pizza, in pepperoni or 4-cheese, at Pizzeria Bella Notte in Fantasyland and at Colonel Hathi’s Outpost Restaurant in Adventureland.

A Mickey sandwich, a Mickey pizza, a hot dog, or a lobster roll are all simple to eat on the move. You’ll find kiosks and quick-service counters scattered throughout both parks.

For hot dogs, Casey’s Corner on Main Street U.S.A. is the place everyone knows. Over at Disney Adventure World, FAN-tastic Food Truck has fast snacks as well.

For a day trip, I recommend a picnic at lunch and a real sit-down meal in the evening, rather than two fast-food meals. The total budget is almost the same, but the experience is completely different: you actually get to rest and enjoy some time at the table.

That depends on your eating style. If you plan to sit down at restaurants regularly over several days, the meal plan pays for itself. If picnics and snacks are your thing, it makes far less sense. Most people add it before their trip starts.

These are seasonal events: for several weeks, chalets selling food specialties pop up in the park. They come around twice a year, with Le Rendez-vous Gourmand in summer and L’Hiver Gourmand during the Christmas season. Each dish or drink is sold separately, with both sweet and savory choices.

There are two each year. Le Rendez-vous Gourmand, the summer one, typically runs through much of the warm months. L’Hiver Gourmand, the winter one, follows the Christmas and New Year’s season. Since the exact dates shift every time, look at this year’s calendar.

Yes. Most Disney hotel restaurants are open to everyone with a reservation, subject to availability, even if you aren’t staying at the hotel. The one exception: La Table de Lumière at the Disneyland Hotel, which is only for that hotel’s guests.

Everything happens in the official Disneyland Paris app. Tap the "Eat" button at the bottom of the screen, go to "Pre-order food and drinks", choose your restaurant, build your meal, pick a time, then pay in the app. You then collect your order at the restaurant at the time shown.

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

You can use Mobile Order at a portion of the park’s quick-service restaurants, meaning the counters where you place your order at a window. Buffets and table-service restaurants aren’t part of it. Since the list changes often, the current version lives in the "Which restaurants offer Mobile Order?" section of this article.

Yes. Buzz Lightyear’s Pizza Planet Restaurant in Discoveryland shut its doors permanently in 2016, and nothing ever took over the building. These days, Café Hyperion is the main place to grab a meal in Discoveryland.

At Auberge de Cendrillon (Fantasyland, Disneyland Park), currently the resort’s only character breakfast, with reservations required through the app. There are two morning seatings: the 8:15 slot is reserved for Extra Magic Time (Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders), and everyone else can book from 9:45. You’ll find all the details in my article about character dining.

The closures mainly come down to three waves: the shutdown during the 2020 health crisis, 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 wiped out several restaurants.

At Disney Village, my favorite restaurant is The Steakhouse, for the quality of its meat and its upscale brasserie setting styled like a New York warehouse.

You can bring home just about anything: Mickey ears, plush toys, pins, mugs or water bottles, clothing, treats (cookies, chocolates), magnets and keychains, Loungefly bags, or even Pandora jewelry. The best approach is to pick the kind of souvenir you like first, then go by your budget.

On a tight budget, think postcards (about €1), magnets (about €8 to €10), keychains, or pins. You can also pick up a paper map and a free celebration button at City Hall. Nice souvenirs that won’t break the bank.

Expect to pay about €15 to €35 for a Mickey or Minnie headband. Embroidered, sequined, or seasonal designs often cost more. These are rough price ranges, so double-check in the shops.

You choose your pickup point when you drop off your items: the shop at your Disney hotel or the Disney Village shop. Pickup starts at 20:00, at Disney Village and at the hotel shops alike. Remember to keep your receipt.

Some products are only sold on site: items with a "Paris" design or wording, pieces engraved with the year, and lines tied to a specific ride or area (like Phantom Manor or Ratatouille). That’s often the best reason to buy during your trip rather than online.

You can buy part of the range on the Disney online store, and the price is sometimes attractive. Still, lots of items, Paris exclusives and limited editions above all, never leave the parks. If that’s what you want, you’ll have to buy it there.

No. Disneyland Paris doesn’t run an official website that sells and delivers everything you see in the park. Online, Disney products are officially sold through the Disney Store, which offers some Disneyland Paris exclusives but far from the park’s entire catalog.

Outside the park, every physical Disney Store has closed. The final one, on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, is gone too. The Disneyland Paris shops are still there for you, and at Disney Village, you can visit a Disney shop with no park ticket.

Yes. Disneyland Paris is a French retailer and follows the two official sale periods, one in winter and one in summer, just like everywhere else in France.

Twice a year: the winter sales start in early January (on the 2nd Wednesday of the month) and the summer sales in late June (on the last Wednesday of the month). Each period lasts about four weeks.

Yes, at Harrington’s, on Main Street U.S.A. The shop engraves glass items on the spot with a name, a date, or a message, for an extra charge of about €7 for a simple engraving.

The two go-to spots are 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 for pin sets and boxed collections to get started for less.

Budget around €49.99 for the personalized glass wand, and add €7 for engraving. What you pay depends on the shape and size of the glass body you pick, and limited editions are pricier.

It’s a paper trading card handed out for free by the park during an event (a season, a character’s birthday, a ride opening) or a Disney movie release. Each edition has anywhere from 1 to about ten cards.

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

Yes, for buffets and table-service restaurants, I strongly recommend it: tables go fast, especially on weekends and during school breaks. Quick-service restaurants and snack kiosks are walk-in only, with no reservation. Book as early as you can, up to 2 months ahead for day guests and up to 1 year ahead if you’re staying at a Disney hotel.

It all depends on how you eat. If you go with a picnic at lunch and a quick-service meal at dinner, a family of four can get by on around €40 to €60 a day. With a table-service dinner, plan on 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 memorable meal.

Yes, with the free Shopping Service. You leave your purchases at the register (drop-off until 14:30) and pick them up in the evening instead of carrying them all day: from 20:00, at the Disney Village shop or at the shop in your Disney hotel if you’re staying there. A minimum spend of about €50 per shop applies, waived with an eligible physical Visa card. Pickup at the Village works even if you aren’t staying at a hotel.

Yes. Pack your meal in a backpack (sandwiches, snacks, fruit, cakes) and walk right in, since security doesn’t take food away. Setting up a full picnic with a blanket or table isn’t permitted inside the parks, but snacking on a bench, a low wall, or on the move is fine. If you want a real sit-down picnic, there’s an area with tables outside, between the parking lot and the park entrances. Bringing food is also the easiest way to shrink your dining budget. My guide to bringing your own picnic goes through all the rules.

Try Plaza East and Plaza West, the two shops right after you enter Disneyland Park. Almost every design is there, and they’re seldom crowded, unlike the Emporium late in the day.

Go to La Boutique de Merlin l’Enchanteur, the shop run by Arribas inside Sleeping Beauty Castle (Fantasyland, Disneyland Park). There, you select a glass body and colored gems, and the glassblower seals your wand while you watch. Harrington’s, on Main Street U.S.A., offers this same activity.

Yes, a few shops will embroider a name on your ears for a small fee, sometimes with a short wait. Not every shop offers it, so check with the staff.

Yes, there are kid sizes and soft headbands for babies, in addition to the adult designs.

Hotels off property tend to cost the least, but they don’t come with tickets. If you want a Disney hotel, Hotel Santa Fe is the most budget-friendly. For first-timers, I lean toward the Santa Fe or the Cheyenne: they cost a little more, but you get the whole Disney experience.

Yes. Partner hotels and off-site hotels are often cheaper. You simply don’t get Extra Magic Time, and with off-site hotels, you have to buy your tickets separately.

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

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