Disneyland Paris books: where to buy them and which ones to pick

At Disneyland Paris, you’ll find more books than you might expect: coffee table books on the behind-the-scenes of the rides, reference works on the park’s history, and children’s books. The main place to buy them is The Storybook Store, the bookstore on Main Street U.S.A., in Disneyland Park. If you remember just one thing, make it the Attraction collection: three coffee table books that tell, ride by ride, how each one was imagined and built.

I’ve read every one of these books (they’re on my shelf), so here are my picks based on what you’re after.

The main spot for books is The Storybook Store, the bookstore on Main Street U.S.A., right next to City Hall in Disneyland Park. It’s my first stop. You’ll find books in several languages, coffee table books about how the park was designed and what goes on behind the scenes, children’s books, plus postcards, posters, and stationery.

Worth knowing: on certain days, the shop is open only to annual passholders for a few morning hours. After that, anyone can walk in.

Some titles, especially limited editions, may also be stocked in other shops around the park. If you’re after a specific book and The Storybook Store doesn’t have it, ask a Cast Member: they can tell you which shop still carries it.

The Attraction collection is a series of coffee table books, each volume devoted to a single major ride. Every book tells the story of its origins, development, design, and the secrets behind its creation, with the work of the Imagineers (the people who create and design Disney parks) and plenty of anecdotes.

Packed with illustrations (sketches, concept art, photos), the books are beautifully made in a premium format and come in both French and English. A different author handles each volume, always someone who knows that particular ride inside out.

Unlike most books sold in the park (put out by outside publishers like Hachette), the Attraction collection is published by Disneyland Paris itself, with authors close to the park’s teams. For me, it’s the go-to if you’re interested in the behind-the-scenes and how rides are made. Expect around €22 per title.

Don’t confuse them: this "Attraction" collection of books has nothing to do with the 2023 Collection Attractions, a merchandise line (T-shirts, Loungefly bags, puzzles). They’re two different things.

These books go much further than a basic overview, and that’s what I love about them. You learn about the first sketches of an idea, the decisions along the way, the engineering challenges, and countless details that slip past you on the ride itself.

Since reading the Phantom Manor volume, I look at that ride with new eyes. Searching for a "secrets book" or a "behind-the-scenes book" on Disneyland Paris? Start with this collection. There are just three titles for now, and none has been announced as a fourth. In the Pirates of the Caribbean volume, you follow the ride’s many versions worldwide and how Jack Sparrow made his way into the Paris one. The Space Mountain volume goes back to where the ride began in the US parks, covers its nods to Jules Verne, and walks through each Paris version.

Disneyland Paris de A à Z is the reference work on the park’s history. It’s laid out like a dictionary, with several hundred entries: rides, shows, characters, restaurants, events, and behind-the-scenes. It’s the book I recommend for an in-depth understanding of how Disneyland Paris has grown and changed over time. It has gone through several editions over the park’s anniversaries, and some older editions are out of print and mostly available used.

Disneyland Paris célèbre 100 ans de Disney, by Jérémie Noyer and Mathias Dugoujon, was released in November 2023 for the Walt Disney Company’s centennial. Running a little over 230 pages, this official book walks through 100 milestones in Disney’s history from the angle of Disneyland Paris. Plan on roughly €40. Watch out: since it’s a limited edition, it isn’t always in stock, so ask in the shop whether it’s available.

With the second park being reworked (Walt Disney Studios Park has become Disney Adventure World), a coffee table making-of book featuring Imagineer interviews, sketches, plans, and renderings from the park’s creation would follow on nicely from the books already out. Nothing has been officially announced yet, so ask in the shops when you visit.

For kids and gifts, the pop-up book Disney Princesses: Merveilleux Châteaux (Hachette, 2023) features five castles that rise off the page (Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine). In a nice large format, it makes a great gift idea for kids. Note that it covers Disney princesses in general, not Disneyland Paris specifically.

A book is a great souvenir to bring home, but it’s not the only one. For ideas beyond the bookstore, see what souvenirs to bring home from Disneyland Paris. And to find every place to shop in the park, check out all the shops.