One of the beauties of Disneyland Paris is that everything is within walking distance. There are two Parks to explore – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park (soon to be re-named Disney Adventure World) where you will find all the rides, parades and shows. There are also restaurants and shops galore. Tickets can be bought to one or both of the Parks plus many optional extras to make your visit even more enjoyable. The two Parks are right next to each other, taking only a few minutes to walk between.
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Disneyland Park
This is the main Park, and where the Disney Character parades take place as well as the evening fireworks show with images projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle. Around the castle are four themed lands where you will find various rides, restaurants and shows in keeping with each land’s theme. There are lots of restaurants and merchandise shops in Disneyland Park. The Disney Character meet ‘n’ greets tend to be with classic Disney Characters such as Mickey and Minnie, Donald and Daisy Duck and Goofy, as well as Disney Princesses. There is a mix of family-friendly and thrill rides dotted throughout the lands alongside various indoor and outdoor shows.
Top Tip: Kids will love dressing up as their favourite superhero characters at Disneyland Paris in these Marvel inspired outfits.
Walt Disney Studios Park
Walt Disney Studios Park contains three separate areas based on the worlds of Disney, Pixar and Marvel. There are a few indoor shows at this Park including the fantastic ‘Mickey and the Magician.’ You can also meet Characters from Star Wars and Marvel films as well as Toy Story here. There are a couple of restaurants plus several places serving fast-food or snacks. Like the bigger Disneyland Park, this Park has a good mix of family-friendly and thrill rides. Check the website to see the height restrictions for each ride.
The two Parks are next to each other, and you have the option of purchasing a ticket to one or both of them. With the double ticket, you can come and go between the Parks as often as you like on the day. The price of your ticket includes all the shows and parades. Those staying at one of the onsite Disney hotels get tickets to both Parks included with their booking. These include the days you arrive and leave, so if you were staying for three nights, you would get four days in the Parks.
Disney Village
Disney Village is in front of the two Parks. This area contains themed and fast-food restaurants, a cinema, Disney merchandise shops and night-time entertainment. Entrance to Disney Village does not require a ticket. There is generally quite a fun, party vibe here with some venues staying open much later than the Parks. Beyond this is the Disney lake and five Disney hotels within walking distance of the Parks. The Disneyland Hotel is over the main entrance to Disneyland Park.
Optional Extras at Disneyland Paris
There are several optional ‘extras’ you can purchase on the Disneyland Paris app to make your time in the Parks even more spectacular. It’s worth bearing in mind that some of these do come with a hefty price tag, particularly if you have a big family. Guests who book their stay through the Disneyland Paris website have access to these optional extras before those who have booked through a different website.
- Guaranteed Access to Indoor Shows
- Reserved Viewing Areas for Parades and Night-Time Show
- Premier Access to Queue Lines
- Disney Photopass
- Birthday Cake
- VIP tour
Guaranteed Access to Indoor Shows at Disneyland Paris
You have the option to purchase a ‘Guaranteed Access’ ticket to one of the three indoor shows:
- The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands (Disneyland Park)
- Mickey and the Magician (Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Together: a Pixar Musical Adventure (Walt Disney Studios Park)
This ticket allows you to go into the theatre before non-ticket holders, and choose the best seats. However, you need to turn up 30 minutes before the show starts. Arriving after this time will result in you choosing your seats along with everyone else. Guaranteed Access tickets currently cost 15 euros per person per show.
Reserved Viewing Area for Shows at Disneyland Paris
The Castle Stage, Castle bridge, Fantasyland, Chessy, Torcy, Seine-et-Marne, Ile-de-France, Metropolitan France, 77700, France
Disney Dreams !, Castle bridge, Fantasyland, Chessy, Torcy, Seine-et-Marne, Ile-de-France, Metropolitan France, 77700, France
It is possible to buy tickets to a Reserved Viewing Area for the main Disney Character Parade or the Night-Time Show. The Parade Reserved Area is located on the parade route between Discoveryland and Fantasyland. You can find the Night-Time Show Reserved Area in front of the castle, near the entrance to Discoveryland. Currently, tickets for each area cost 19 euros per person. Tickets can be bought on the Disneyland Paris website or the Disneyland Paris mobile app. You need to arrive at the Reserved Area 30 minutes before the start of the parade/show. Click here for more information.
Premier Access to Queue Lines at Disneyland Paris
The time of year you visit will have a big impact on queue times. School holidays always result in the longest queues, so checking crowd calendars from the previous year is a good idea. Bear in mind that school holiday dates in France and other countries differ from those in the UK. There are two ways of jumping the ride queues:
- Disney Premier Access One
- Disney Premier Access Ultimate
These involve purchasing a pass which allows you to join a faster queue . . . it doesn’t guarantee that you will walk straight onto the ride, but the queue will probably be a lot shorter than the regular queue. Prices change depending on how busy the Parks are and the popularity of each ride. If you want to ride every attraction that has a Premier Access queue, the Disney Premier Access Ultimate will usually offer the best value. Check the website or app for any ride closures during your visit. Click here for more information.
Disney Premier Access One
This pass can be used one time on one attraction, and you will have to join the Access Queue during the next available time slot. You must be inside one of the Parks to purchase this type of pass. You can buy it on the day at City Hall in Disneyland Park or Studios Services in Walt Disney Studios Park or via the Disneyland Paris app. Currently, one pass costs 5-18 euros per person per attraction.
Disney Premier Access Ultimate
This pass is valid for one day, and can be used one time on 16 different attractions – you can join the Access Queues whenever you like during the day. You can buy it on the day at City Hall in Disneyland Park or Studios Services in Walt Disney Studios Park. Alternatively, buy the pass up to 7 days in advance via the Disneyland Paris website, app or your holiday provider. Currently, this type of pass costs 90-190 euros per person per day.
Which Attractions Have a Disney Premier Access Queue at Disneyland Paris?
Disneyland Park
- Autopia
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
- It’s a Small World
- Orbitron
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Phantom Manor
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Walt Disney Studios Park
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
- Cars Road Trip
- Crush’s Coaster
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Disney Photopass at Disneyland Paris
As you walk around the Parks, there will be photographers ready to take photos of you and your family. These can all be loaded onto a Disney PhotoPass. Also included on the Pass are ride photos from certain attractions. When you have your photo taken, show your Pass to the photographer who will add the photo. You can view your photos at any Disney PhotoPass sales point or online. Photos are available to download for one year. Alternatively, you can purchase ride photos individually without the PhotoPass.
Birthday Cake
If someone in your family is celebrating a birthday during your visit to Disneyland Paris, a birthday cake serving eight people can be pre-ordered when making a booking for a table service or buffet restaurant. The cake is more like an ice-cream cake than a traditional birthday cake, and might or might not have a candle. If you’re lucky, staff will sing Happy Birthday when bringing it out, but this isn’t guaranteed. Currently, birthday cakes cost 35 Euros each. Remember to pick up a birthday badge from City Hall in Disneyland Park, Studio Services in Walt Disney Studios Park or from one of the Disney hotel reception desks.
VIP Tour of Disneyland Paris
Families with very deep pockets have the option of booking a VIP tour of Disneyland Paris. This is a 6 hour guided tour of the Parks for up to 10 people, including short queue times for rides and Disney Character meet ‘n’ greets. The price is roughly 3000 euros per group, but it could be more, could be less. You still have to pay for entrance to the Parks on top of the price of the tour. You must book the VIP tour by email. Click here for more information.
Can I Visit the Eiffel Tower?
If you’re staying at Disneyland Paris, why not take some time out to explore Paris? Disneyland Paris partners with local businesses to offer various excursions into the city. Most tours leave from Hotel Santa Fe, Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and B&B Hotel. The following excursions can be added to your stay on the Disneyland Paris app:
- Paris Essentials – drop off and pick up at the Eiffel Tower + 1 hour Seine river cruise + 5 hours to explore Paris
- Paris Hop On/Hop Off Tour – drop off and pick up at the Eiffel Tower + hop on/hop off tour of Paris on open-top double-decker bus
- Royal Versailles and Paris – entrance to the Palace of Versailles and gardens + 1 hour Seine river cruise leaving from the Eiffel Tower
- Eiffel Tower lunch + Cruise – drop off and pick up from the Eiffel Tower + lunch on 1st floor of the Eiffel Tower + 1 hour Seine river cruise + 3½ hours to explore Paris
Not sure whether to stay onsite or somewhere nearby? Check out the best places to stay at Disneyland Paris.
