Disneyland Paris Day Trip from Paris, France
Do you want to take a Disneyland Paris day trip from Paris, France?
This guide contains everything you need to know!
I’m a huge fan of the Disney theme parks. I’ve been to Walt Disney World in Florida over 25 times, Disneyland in California twice, and Disneyland Paris five times. I used to live in Paris during college, and I took several day trips to Disneyland Paris then, because it was so easy to get to (and not too expensive!)
If you’re a big Disney fan, I actually recommend spending two full days at Disneyland Paris. I’ve shared some of the best hotels near Disneyland Paris if you want to make a multi-day trip out of it.
However, if you’re more of a casual Disney fan, or you’re just short on time, a day trip is also doable.
Which Park Should You Visit?
Disneyland Paris is actually made up of two theme parks adjacent to each other: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. If you try to visit both on a day trip, you’ll feel rushed and won’t be able to experience all the attractions at both parks. You’ll also have to pay more for a Park Hopper ticket.
That’s why I personally recommend choosing just one park to visit for a day trip.
The best park is definitely Disneyland Park. This is the larger of the two parks with the iconic pink Sleeping Beauty Castle at its center. Walt Disney Studios Park is undergoing a lot of new development, and one day it might be a full-day destination of its own, but right now it’s a half-day park at best.
Disneyland Park definitely requires a full day, which is why I recommend it for a day trip. You’ll get more of that classic “Disney” experience and easily be able to fill up a whole day with fun experiences.
Getting to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, which is located east of Paris. By public transportation, you can reach Disneyland Paris in just 35 to 45 minutes by train from central Paris.
The easiest way to get to Disneyland Paris is by taking the RER A train. You can catch this train from several stations in Paris, including Charles de Gaulle–Étoile, Châtelet–Les Halles, and Gare de Lyon.
Just be sure to get on an RER A train heading east towards Marne la Vallée-Chessy. This is the last stop on the line, and where you’ll get off for Disneyland Paris. In the train stations in Paris, you’ll see a Mickey Mouse icon on the departure board so it’s easy to know that you’re getting on the right train!
Tickets cost €2.50 each way and can be purchased at any ticket machine in Paris Metro or RER stations. You can also buy them on your phone using the apps Ile-de-France Mobilités or Bonjour RATP.
When you arrive at the station in Marne la Vallée-Chessy, it’s just a two-minute walk to the entrance.
Buying Tickets
What’s the best way to buy your tickets for Disneyland Paris?
Like with any Disney theme park, you’ll want to buy your tickets online in advance to save time and get the best deal! Visiting Disneyland Paris is a lot cheaper than visiting the US Disney parks.
However, it can still be pricy, and ticket prices fluctuate based on day of the week and the season.
If you can go on a weekday, that will almost always be cheaper than going on a weekend. Dates around popular holidays (like Christmas, Easter, and Bastille Day) are usually more crowded too.
I highly recommend using GetYourGuide to purchase Disneyland Paris tickets. This typically saves you a little bit of extra money compared to buying them directly on the Disneyland Paris website, and it gives you the added flexibility of being able to reschedule or cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance.
Click here to check prices for Disneyland Paris tickets.
You’ll want to book the one-day, one-park ticket. This can be anywhere from $60 on off-season days to $130 if you go on a holiday like Christmas Day. Usually, you’ll find tickets priced well under $100, though. The other option (a one-day, two-park ticket) is about $30 extra to have the Park Hopper benefit.
As I mentioned earlier, you really don’t need this. Trying to visit both parks in one day would feel rushed. If you only have one day, just spend it all at Disneyland Park and you’ll have a great time.
How to Spend Your Day
If you’re taking a day trip to Disneyland Paris, you’ll want to do some prep work beforehand to make the most out of your day. First, be sure to check the park opening and closing hours, which change seasonally.
I highly recommend arriving right when the park opens (ideally 15 minutes early) so you can maximize your time. Early morning is when popular rides will have the lowest wait times. Similarly, it’s a good idea to stay until the park closes, because later at night in the hour before closing, the crowds also die down.
You should download the Disneyland Paris app before your day trip because you’ll be able to check ride wait times, see performance times for shows and parades, mobile order food, and more.
Disneyland Park is divided into five themed lands that span out from Sleeping Beauty Castle in the center like spokes on a wheel. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with a map of the park before you go, so you can plan your day logically based on which rides and attractions are close to each other.
There are some good dining options at Disneyland Paris, but it’s nothing overwhelmingly amazing. Breakfast options are limited, so I recommend picking up some fresh croissants or other pastries in Paris in the morning before you arrive, and just doing lunch and dinner inside the theme park.
Know Before You Go
Here are a few more tips to know before you go to Disneyland Paris:
- The single rider line saves time. If you’re by yourself or don’t mind being split up from your travel companions, use the single rider line. It’s available for certain rides like Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, and the wait time is usually really short.
- You can pay for Premier Access to skip lines. Unfortunately, the free FastPass system at Disneyland Paris has been replaced with paid Premier Access. I haven’t tried this myself, but if you don’t mind the extra splurge, it can be worth it to save time. You can buy Premier Access in the app.
- Try to eat at off-peak times. I noticed that lines for many restaurants in Disneyland Paris were extremely long, but virtually empty if you go for an early lunch at 11 AM or an early dinner at 4 PM.
- Use mobile ordering for food. Another way to save time is to use the Disneyland Paris app to mobile order your food from select quick-service restaurants. You’ll bypass the line completely!
- Prepare for the weather. Unlike the US Disney parks in Florida and California, which range from warm to sickeningly hot year-round, the weather in Paris is much milder. If you’re visiting Disneyland Paris in the spring, fall, or winter, you’ll want to bundle up and wear several layers!
- English is spoken in the parks. Almost everyone working at Disneyland Paris is bilingual, since many visitors come from outside France. Some rides and attractions are only in French, but you can still pretty easily follow along with the “plot” since they draw from popular Disney stories.
How to Take a Day Trip to Disneyland Paris
This guide showed you how to take a Disneyland Paris day trip from Paris, France.
Whether you’re obsessed with Disney theme parks like me, or just a casual Disney fan, visiting Disneyland Paris is a fun day trip for all ages. No, it’s not the most historic or cultural day trip you can take from Paris, but it’s a good time. You’re guaranteed to have a magical time on a day trip to this theme park.
Enjoy your visit to Disneyland Paris!
Related Guides:
- 11 Best Hotels Near Disneyland Paris
- Where to Stay in Paris for the First Time
- 11 Best Boutique Hotels in Paris, France
- 10 Best Day Trips from Paris, France
- 17 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Paris
- Paris Bucket List: 75 Best Things to Do in Paris, France
- 12 Differences Between Disneyland Paris and Disney World
