Your Ultimate Guide to Disneyland Paris: Is It Worth A Day Trip?
After living in Paris for four years, I finally took my first day trip to Disneyland Paris – and I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it, knowing that I had already been to the flagship location of the worldwide beloved theme park in Orlando, Florida.
View of Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland Paris; September 2025
Disneyland Paris is quaint, cute, and a sized-to-scale version of the classic Disney World in Orlando. However, for those who have already been the iconic park elsewhere in the world, such as Disneyland Tokyo or Anaheim, it begs the question – is a day trip to Disneyland Paris even worth it?
I’m going to provide an in-depth guide, with my knowledge of being an American living in Paris having already been to Disney World in Orlando – on everything you’ll need to know for a day trip to Disneyland Paris, and whether or not it’s worth the adventure.
Entrance to Disneyland Paris theme park; September 2025
Things to Know Before Going to Disneyland Paris
Ticket Prices: Ticket prices for Disneyland Paris vary depending on the time of year you go. I know friends in Paris who have paid upwards of €120 per ticket for the summer, and people who have paid a low €55 for a ticket when going in the middle of winter. On average, it seems the usual price for a ticket to Disneyland Paris ranges between €85 and €110 euro.
Transportation: If you don’t already live in Paris or have a Navigo Pass, you’ll have to figure out the best way to get to Disneyland Paris for yourself, friends, or family. The RER A train from Paris is a great and efficient way to get to the theme park without switching trains or needing to take a shuttle, but keep in mind that if you’re a tourist – this is a separate train ticket, and the metro passes you have loaded on your tourist Navigo card won’t work. A single trip on RER A will cost €2.50, meaning it will cost €5 round trip to take the RER A train to Disneyland Paris and back to the city center. You could also take an Uber, which costs around €60 from the 7th arrondissement near the Eiffel Tower.
Two Theme Parks: Disneyland Paris has two theme parks: Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney Studios Park. Unlike the parks in Orlando, Florida – you don’t have to take a bus shuttle to get between the parks. However, it is about a 20-minute walk from the center of Disneyland Paris to Walt Disney Studios Park – so be sure to plan your time accordingly if you plan to visit attractions at both parks during your day trip to Disneyland Paris. Ultimately, I found Walt Disney Studios Park to be more tailored towards toddlers and children under the age of 5 – with less thrilling rides or attractions. If you can only pay or do one of the two parks, definitely buy your ticket for Disneyland Paris Park.
Walt Disney Studios in Disneyland Paris; September 2025
Disney Village: Similar to Disney Springs in Florida, Disney Village in Paris is a shopping center where you can enjoy a meal at a restaurant or peruse Disney merchandise without needing to pay for a ticket to enter the park. It is located just outside Disneyland Paris, near the RER A station Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, and several hotels at Disneyland Paris are within walking distance.
Ride Popular Attractions Early in the Morning: If you’re set on going on classic Disneyland Paris rides such as Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain, try to go earlier in the day – as wait times can be as long as up to 70 minutes if you wait to ride these thrilling rollercoasters later in the afternoon.
Security is Simple & Easy: You’ll have to remove your phone or camera from your pocket when going through security, but you can easily bring things in like a portable battery, food, and water into Disneyland Paris.
No Cash or Coins Needed: In other theme parks in France, such as Parc Astérix, I found it would’ve been helpful to have cash or euro coins handy for the dryer after water rides. Luckily, I found Disneyland Paris to be a cash-free zone – every food stand, restaurant, and gift store happily accepted Apple Pay, debit, or credit card.
View of Disneyland Paris; September 2025
Is a Day Trip to Disneyland Paris Worth It?
If you’re a tourist visiting Paris with limited time in the city, and have already visited another Disney theme park elsewhere in the world – I personally wouldn’t go out of my way to see Disneyland Paris, as it’ll be another iteration of what you’ve already seen elsewhere.
However, if you’re a massive fan of the Disney franchise and have several days in Paris – then it might be worth the trip to Disneyland Paris to experience another version of the beloved theme park.
Ultimately, I think if you live in Paris, find a good ticket price, and enjoy theme parks in general – you should definitely head to Disneyland Paris at least once. That being said, I don’t think the theme park can justify its higher-priced tickets – and I personally wouldn’t pay more than €90 for a ticket to go for the day.
View of Main Street on a rainy day in Disneyland Paris; September 2025
General Information on Disneyland Paris
Below I’ll provide some practical tips, advice, and information you might find useful before heading to Disneyland Paris.
What Time Does Disneyland Paris Open and Close?
Disneyland Paris doesn’t open as early as Disney World in Orlando, with opening hours starting at 9:30am and the park closing at 9pm on weekdays.
The opening and closing times for Disneyland Paris are as follows:
⏰ Disneyland Paris Opening & Closing Times
Day | Opening Hours |
---|---|
Sunday | 9:30 am – 10:00 pm |
Monday | 9:30 am – 9:00 pm |
Tuesday | 9:30 am – 9:00 pm |
Wednesday | 9:30 am – 9:00 pm |
Thursday | 9:30 am – 9:00 pm |
Friday | 9:30 am – 9:00 pm |
Saturday | 9:30 am – 10:40 pm |
Is there English at Disneyland Paris?
Yes, English is everywhere at Disneyland Paris!
I was impressed how all staff at Disneyland Paris, whether at restaurants, rides, or attractions – was bilingual in French and English. You’ll often hear the speakers repeating things in both French and English at Disneyland Paris, as well as the staff for attractions repeating things in both languages when you enter and exit the rides. Sometimes, you’ll see somethings in the park only in French (such as “sortie” which means “exit”) – but for the most part – you’ll be just fine at Disneyland Paris, even if you don’t know a lick of French!
View of colorful buildings in Disneyland Paris; September 2025
How Many Days Do I Need for Disneyland Paris?
If you plan to only do one of two the parks, it’s possible to do Disneyland Paris in a day – but it would require being there from park opening to closing, and maybe even utilizing fast passes to save on time. Ultimately, if you want to see, do, and eat everything available at Disneyland Paris – I would say 2 full days is enough.
How Far is Disneyland Paris from the Eiffel Tower?
Distance wise, the Eiffel Tower is roughly 44 kilometers, or 27 miles, away from Disneyland Paris. Living a mere 3-minute walk away from the Eiffel Tower, it took me around 1 hour and 20 minutes door-to-door from my apartment to get to the entrance of Disneyland Paris.
To get to Disneyland Paris from the Eiffel Tower, the easiest way is to take the bus or metro to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, which is right outside of the Arc de Triomphe, and hop on the RER A train all the way to the end of the line at Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy.
City Hall at Disneyland Paris; September 2025
What Time of Day is Disneyland Paris Most Busy with Crowds?
I found that Disneyland Paris was most congested between the hours of 12pm and 3pm, when people were coming into to the park around lunch hour. Luckily, these crowds died down again as we neared 4pm as people began to queue for the parade. Also, people that comes to Disneyland Paris with families will often take their kids home for naps – which results in a quieter park as you near the late afternoon.
What Time is the Parade at Disneyland Paris?
The parade at Disneyland Paris happens every day, ranging from around 5 to 5:30pm. The time of the parade at Disneyland Paris changes depending on the time of year and when the sunsets.
What Time Are Fireworks at Disneyland Paris?
Similar to the parade the time for fireworks at Disneyland Paris is bound to vary by season, happening anywhere from 9:00pm or closer to closing time at 10:20pm or 10:40pm during the summer months.
Want to see some of our day in Disneyland Paris in action? Checkout our Disneyland Paris vlog below!
What is the Difference Between Disney World, Disneyland Anaheim, and Disneyland Paris?
The table below will break down the differences to compare and contrast Disney World in Orlando, Florida, Disneyland Anaheim in California, and Disneyland Paris – formerly known as EuroDisney, to help you decide which of the Disney theme parks may be the best fit for you:
Category | 🇫🇷 Disneyland Paris | 🇺🇸 Disney World Orlando | 🇺🇸 Disneyland Anaheim |
---|---|---|---|
🏙️ Main Street | Smaller, quaint, and charming with shorter buildings | Bigger and grander, with taller buildings and more detail | Also smaller and more intimate like Paris, with a nostalgic vibe |
📏 Size | Not expanding much, but Frozen Arendelle land coming Spring 2026 | Massive, keeps expanding with multiple theme parks | Compact park, doesn’t grow much but remains iconic |
💰 Prices | ~€62–€105 per day (≈$65–$110) | ~$140–$180 per day (≈2x Paris prices) | ~$120–$160 per day (slightly less than Orlando) |
🎟️ Annual Pass | ~€229–€499 depending on tier | ~$799–$1,499 depending on tier | ~$649–$1,449 depending on tier |
🌦️ Weather | Cloudy, grey, and rainy at times | Humid and hot, even in January | Likely the best year-round weather of all three |
⏳ Time Needed | Can be done in 2–3 days | 5 theme parks — you could spend over a week and still not see everything | Manageable in 2–3 days |
🏰 Castle | Sleeping Beauty Castle — you can walk inside and go up for views | Cinderella’s Castle — larger, but you can’t go inside | Sleeping Beauty Castle — smaller, can walk through inside with charming details |
Are the Rides Different At Disneyland Paris?
A lot of the rides at Disneyland Paris will be reminiscent of the classic rides and attractions you’ve seen at other Disneyland Parks – but there are some differences worth noting before heading to Disneyland Paris.
Breakdown of ride differences between Disneyland Paris and Disney World Orlando
Big Thunder Mountain: More darkness in the Paris ride than I remember in Disney World Orlando
Indiana Jones: Goes upside down in Paris
Avengers Campus: Goes upside down in Paris
Space Mountain: Goes upside down in Paris, does not go upside down in Disney World Orlando
Car Racing: Disney World has go-karting in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom, whereas Disneyland Paris has Autopia car riding (both are very similar)
Classic Rides: Teacups and Dumbo exist in both Disney World and Disneyland Paris; essentially identical in both locations
View of Disneyland Paris from the top of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle; September 2025
Which is better: Disneyland Paris or Disney World in Florida?
There’s no questioning that Disney World in Orlando has dozens of more restaurants, rides, attractions, and experiences to offer theme park goers in comparison to Disneyland Paris.
When it comes down to Disneyland Paris or Disney World Florida, it’s a lot like comparing apples to oranges – as Disneyland Paris is an extremely miniaturized version of the original Disney World in Orlando. That being said, which theme park is better will come down to personal preferences – as Disneyland Paris is smaller and more “do-able” for a day trip, whereas Disney World in Orlando needs several days to the massive and infamous park justice.
🏰🎢✨ FAQ on Disneyland Paris 🇫🇷
🚆 How Long Does it Take to Get to Disneyland Paris from central Paris? | It takes around 43 minutes on the RER A train to get to Disneyland Paris from the 1st arrondissement of Paris taking the RER A from Châtelet–Les Halles. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take any other trains or buses once you get on the RER A – as the last stop on the line drops you off right outside Disneyland Paris. |
✈️ Can I get to Disneyland Paris straight from the Paris Airport? | Yes! There is a TGV that runs from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport all the way to Disneyland Paris, so you can have a non-stop journey to “the most magical place on Earth”. This high-speed TGV train takes less than 15 minutes to get from the airport to Disneyland Paris. |
🏨 Where Should I Stay in Disneyland Paris? | There are several hotels a short 5 to 10-minute walk away from the park entrance that you can stay at, including Hotel New York, Disney Sequoia Lodge, Yellowstone Lodge, Sierra Lodge, and Disneyland Hôtel. |
💶 Is Disneyland Paris expensive? | Honestly, I didn’t find the prices inside the park at Disneyland Paris to be outrageous – it’s about what you’d expect from being at a theme park. Both souvenirs and food were appropriately priced. |
📅 When is the best time of year to go to Disneyland Paris? | Since Disneyland Paris is in France, it’s best to avoid going to Disneyland Paris during France’s scheduled school holidays – of which France has much more of than in the United States. Keep in mind that weeks from late October to early November (fall break), select weeks in February (ski week), and the weeks around Easter (spring break) could be especially crowded. We went in September and I found it was the perfect happy medium, knowing that Disneyland Paris is packed in the summer and benefits from calmer, off-season crowds between September and November. |
👥 How to avoid crowds at Disneyland Paris? | If you can swing going to Disneyland Paris in the middle of the week on a workday, such as a Tuesday or Thursday (maybe try to avoid Wednesday as kids in France have an early release day on Wednesdays) this would be the best way to enjoy shorter lines and rides and attractions at Disneyland Paris. Time wise, heading to the park as early as you can in the morning or staying until the end of the day can help you to avoid the bustling nature of the park in the middle of the day. |
🌱 Are there Vegan options at Disneyland Paris? | Yes! As a longtime vegan, I was stunned how nearly every single food cart or restaurant at Disneyland Paris offered vegan options, from vegan salads, vegan ice cream bars, cookies, and more. Therefore, there’s no need to worry about food for the day if you’re vegan and headed to Disneyland Paris! |
🥪 Can I bring food and water to Disneyland Paris? | Yes! I came into Disneyland Paris with packaged snacks, a full reusable water bottle, and a sandwich in a Ziploc bag with no problem. However, it is important to note that Disneyland Paris warns against bringing bulky containers. I did see a family with bento-boxes and lunchbox containers to feed their children outside of Indiana Jones, so it could depend on the day whether they’ll let you in with those – but bring those containers at your own risk. If you want to bring your own food to Disneyland Paris, bringing it in surfaces that can be flattened like paper or plastic bags is safest. |
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland Paris; September 2025
Should I Visit Disneyland Paris?
Overall, Disneyland Paris is a great day trip and is well worthwhile – especially if you’ve been to Paris several times, have never been to any of the other Disney theme parks, and have a soft spot for Disney princess and Pixar movies.
However, if you’re short on time in Paris – I would definitely say skip the trip to Disneyland Paris and focus on seeing the city of lights before heading to Europe’s Disney park.
View of main road in Disneyland Paris with a view of the castle; September 2025
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Last updated: September 23, 2025