Disneyland Paris Extra Magic Time: early entry before crowds

Hoping to dodge the crowds at Disneyland Paris? Of all the tips I could give you, Extra Magic Time ranks near the top.

Here’s how it works: you get into the park ahead of everybody, about an hour before it officially opens. During that window, a handful of attractions are already running, and most of them have short lines.

This early entry is only for Disney hotel guests and Disneyland Pass Gold holders. Below, I explain who qualifies, how to make the most of it, and whether it’s really worth it.

Extra Magic Time means early access to the parks, before they officially open to the general public. You’ll also see it called an extra hour of magic, early entry, or early park access. It’s all the same perk.

During this reserved slot, you can enjoy certain attractions with very few people around, in a calm atmosphere. Only a small number of guests get in, so you have the park nearly to yourself. It’s the best way to skip the waits at the start of the day.

Three groups qualify: guests staying at a Disney hotel, guests of Villages Nature Paris (depending on the package chosen when booking), and holders of a valid Disneyland Pass Gold.

If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you get it every day of your stay. The other partner hotels (outside the resort), however, don’t include access to the slot.

There’s nothing to reserve. All you have to do is go to the park gates carrying:

• your MagicPass (your digital park ticket in the Disney app, available once you’ve done online check-in), if you’re staying at a Disney hotel,
• or your valid Disneyland Pass Gold.

My advice: get there as soon as the slot opens so you can use every minute of it.

The slot usually runs for about an hour and starts before the park’s official opening time.

The exact time depends on the season, the day of the week, and how busy it is. That’s why I don’t pin it down here. Instead, check today’s park hours, which I update every day based on what Disneyland Paris announces. I suggest checking it the night before so you can plan your morning.

Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park) both run some of their attractions during the slot. The list isn’t set in stone and can change from day to day.

Below, park by park, are the attractions that typically open.

Disneyland Park is the main park, home to Sleeping Beauty Castle and the classic attractions. During the slot, these attractions are usually open:

Disney Adventure World is the second park, with the Pixar, Marvel, and Frozen areas among others. During the slot, these attractions are usually open:

Yes, without a doubt. Of all the benefits of staying at a Disney hotel, this is the one I push the hardest.

With an hour in a quiet park, you can ride several big attractions with far shorter waits than later in the day, often half as long. It might even save you from paying for Premier Access that day, which is real money saved.

One thing to keep in mind: the Disney hotels cost more than the partner hotels. It’s a trade-off that depends on your budget. To think it all through, see planning your trip.

Every day, I log the posted wait times in both parks. Here’s the typical wait during the slot and in the afternoon, for the attractions where the line really matters. The ones with the biggest gap are at the top of the table.