Disneyland® Paris guide ❤️🏰

Introduction ✨

I'll be honest, Disneyland wasn't first on my bucket list. But when I got the opportunity to go, I decided to see what the fuss is about. Boy, do I get it now. As cliché as it sounds, they truly weren't lying when they said you'll feel the ✨ magic✨ in Disneyland® Paris.

You'll walk in feeling like you're simply visiting Disneyland® Paris, but walk out feeling like you were just immersed in your favourite Disney® film. Dancing with all the different Disney® characters at the parade, overcoming fears with the big thrill attractions, having your mind blown at the sight of the fireworks and drone show and entering a whole new world. Your inner child is guaranteed to have a great time, and do some healing while you're there. ✨

Read on to discover everything you need to know before you start planning your trip. 👇

The journey 🚆

You can travel from London to Disneyland® Paris, in under 4 hours. It just depends on the travel method you choose to take, and how long the changes are. Here are some ways to get to Disneyland® Paris:

1. Eurostar routes 🚅

There is no longer a direct Eurostar service to Disneyland® Paris. You'll need to take the Eurostar train to Lille or Paris and connect to Marne-la-Vallée.

If you're connecting via Lille, take the Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Lille. Then take a connecting French high-speed train (TGV) from Lille to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, which is opposite the Disneyland® Paris park gates.

If you're connecting via Paris, catch the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord. From there, take a local RER train to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station.

You can also opt to book a transfer service to Disneyland® Paris, when you arrive to the train station in Paris.

2. By air ✈️

If you decide to travel to Disneyland® Paris via plane, the easiest route is to fly from London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle, and then catch the RER train to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station.

Pirate tip #1 🏴‍☠️: Plan your travel in advance. If you book your travel early, you'll likely end up paying a lot less than what you would if you book last minute.

The hotel 🏨

Once we arrived safely, we dropped our bags at the Disney Hotel New York® – The Art of Marvel. This 4-star hotel is conveniently located, with only a 10-minute walk to the parks and 5 minutes away from Disney Village®. There is also a free shuttle service from the train station to the hotel.

If you're a Marvel Super Heroes fan, then this hotel is a must, as the superheroes are featured everywhere. You can admire Iron Man in the lobby, buy hundreds of souvenirs dedicated to Marvel in the store or sip a cocktail at the Skyline Bar while waiting for Spider-Man to appear behind the bar. To top that off, when you enter your room, there's a television disguised in the mirror that welcomes you with a Marvel Super Heroes mini-film.

The hotel features two heated swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, set in a 'New York subway'. So when you need a bit of a break, you'll be able to swim some laps, and relax in the Jacuzzi.

We'd highly recommend you book one of the six Disneyland® Paris hotels, and do your research to find out which is the most up your alley as they all have a different theme, and offer exclusive benefits. Some hotels even get visits from Disney Characters during breakfast. 😍

The six Disneyland® Paris hotels 🏩

• 5-star Disneyland Hotel (reopens January 2024 and located at the entrance of Disneyland Park)

• 4-star Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel (10-minute walk to the Park)

• 4-star Disney Newport Bay Club (15-minute walk to the Park)

• 3-star Disney Sequoia Lodge (15-minute walk to the Park)

• 3-star Disney Hotel Cheyenne (20-minute walk to the Park)

• 2-star Disney Hotel Santa Fe (20-minute walk to the Park)

A free shuttle service runs from each of these six hotels, and will take you to the Park in 8 minutes.

🚙 Just outside of Disneyland is the Disney Davy Crockett Ranch – which is another accommodation option only 15 minutes away by car.

Pirate tip #2 🏴‍☠️: Book to stay at one of the Disneyland® Paris hotels. This will give you an extra hour to enjoy the Parks® before they open to the public – that's what Disney calls Extra Magic Time. Trust me, this is such an advantage. Plus, who doesn't want Mickey and Minnie to join them during breakfast. Click here to see hotels.

Disneyland® Parks ✨

Speaking of advantages, we benefited from Extra Magic Time, which means we were able to enjoy the Disney® Parks an hour before the official opening. This was great as we felt like we had the parks all to ourselves, and avoided the 'rush hour' of queuing for attractions when it's open to everyone.

1. Disneyland® Park

The first park we explored was the Disneyland® Park, where we were greeted with music and decorations that truly made us feel like we were part of a Disney film. There are a bunch of different characters that you can meet in the park, all you've got to do is search for your favourite character on the Disney app, and see what time they're doing a meet and greet.

We brought our inner child back to life by meeting up with Winnie and Goofy, which was an absolute treat (even though Goofy almost stepped on my shoe with his big feet).

Taking photos in front of the impressive Sleeping Beauty Castle, is almost like an initiation, and simply has to be done. Did you really go to Disneyland® Paris if you don't have this photo?

The attractions in this park are accessible to toddlers, and are perfect for the families planning a trip. You can also rent a large pram for €25 per day, and don't worry while you're busy on rides, there''s plenty of areas dedicated just for pram parking.

Pirate Tip #3 🏴‍☠️: Download the Disneyland® Paris mobile app.

With Disney Premier Access Ultimate, we had quick access to 16 of the most popular attractions without having to reserve a time slot, thus avoiding queues. We took the opportunity to get our fill of thrills aboard the Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain™️, the most thrilling attraction in Disneyland® Park. Before boarding the Big Thunder Mountain, a high-speed train that makes you feel like you're travelling through the American West.

Disney® definitely knows how to create a magical atmosphere, as even simply walking around the park and taking in all the small details, will make you feel like Cinderella in her castle. Nothing is left to chance, the settings, shops, and restaurants all offer perfect immersion.

Every day at 5:30 pm, the Disneyland Paris® Park comes to life for the famous Disney Stars on Parade. Where you'll get to sing, dance and greet all your favourite Disney characters!

Being pirates ourselves, we had to try out the Captain Jack's restaurant. Located in the heart of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, the restaurant serves Caribbean dishes with a tropical atmosphere. There are numerous themed restaurants in the five worlds of the Disneyland® park, we do recommend you book in advance to make sure you get a table.

End your day right by watching the Disney Dreams night show! The Sleeping Beauty Castle brings heroes to life, and you'll witness more than impressive fireworks.

Pirate Tip #4 🏴‍☠️: Buy the Disney Premier Access Ultimate from £82 per person per day, or Disney Premier Access One. Click here to read more.

2. Walt Disney Studios® Park

On our second day, we went and discovered the worlds of Disney, Pixar and Marvel at Walt Disney Studios® Park. It truly feels like you're walking through a Hollywood film set, every corner you turn, there's an element of one of these universes.

This park features the biggest 'thrill' rides. You can choose to defy the law of gravity in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™️, follow Nemo in the Pacific Ocean or accompany the Avengers on their mission as you board a hypersonic vehicle.

The Ratatouille ride offers a 4D experience, following Rémy through the kitchen as the chefs try to catch him. The Spider-Man WEB Adventure is an interactive experience, as you work alongside Spider-Man and help him destroy Spider-bots. Another fun attraction, that features a shocking surprise, is Cars Road Trip.

Needless to say, there is something for everyone in Disneyland® Paris.

Pirate Tip #5 🏴‍☠️: Wear comfortable shoes. This is a no-brainer, but in case it slips. Don't forget to pack comfortable shoes, as you will be getting all your steps in.

Before your visit, don't forget to download the Disneyland® Paris mobile app. You'll easily be able to navigate your way through both parks with the digital map, can see attraction waiting times and what time each show is playing.

We managed to score seats for the Disney Magic Show by using the app, and arriving early to make sure we got a spot. You'll also be able to see which restaurants accept reservations, their price rating and which is closest to you.

We ended our wonderful stay with a meal at Bistrot Chez Rémy, serving French cuisine dishes within a Ratatouille-themed space. Followed by the new show, Avengers: Power the Night. It was mind-blowing to watch the Marvel Super Heroes come to life on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™️, with lights and drone making it ultra-realistic.

Disneyland® Paris was truly an unforgettable experience, where people of all ages and from anywhere in the world are welcome. Each park offering something unique.

Pirate Tip #6 🏴‍☠️: Make restaurant bookings in advance. The restaurants in the park get booked up quickly, and the sooner you make a reservation, the higher your chance of securing a table.