Are you visiting France this summer? Why not add Disneyland Paris to your itinerary? This year is Disneyland Paris’s 30th anniversary and the experience is as magical as ever. Tom and I recently spent the day there and had a blast discovering what makes Disney so special. Let me share my top tips and invite you to experience all that is Disneyland Paris via a special contest brought to you by Orange Holiday.
Tips for visiting Disneyland Paris
First, Disneyland® Paris is the only Disney theme park in Europe and is a must-do stop on your summer trip to France. Just a 35-minute ride on the RER A from the Nation metro stop and easily accessible by car, Disneyland® Paris is a piece of cake to get to from Paris city center.
Coming from another area of France via train? Read my France train guide here >>
You can spend the day exploring the two parks — Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park — or stay at one of the area hotels and make a weekend out of it.
In addition to the two parks, Disney Village, the entertainment district full of restaurants, shops and a movie theater, is just a short walk away. Disneyland® Paris is fun for kids and adults of all ages, so it’s no wonder it’s France’s most popular theme park.
Here are my top tips for visiting Disneyland Paris:
1. Get an early start.
The parks both open at 9:30 a.m. and with summer being a peak time, it’s best if you show up right when they open. That way you can head to your top attractions first before it gets too crowded. If you stay at one of the official Disney hotels, you can access the parks an hour earlier at 8:30 a.m., which is worth it if you want the full Disney experience.
Can you do Disneyland Paris in one day? For sure. The parks are manageable and if you get there when they open, it’s doable. I’d recommend starting with Disneyland Park first, as it’s the bigger of the two. Definitely visit during the week if you can!
2. Wear comfortable shoes.
You’ll be doing a lot of walking all around the two parks, taking full advantage of all the attractions and rides, so comfortable shoes you can wear all day are essential. Think sneakers or another type of walking shoe you’ve already broken in ahead of time. Steer clear of flip flops and any other type of shoe that’s not practical for walking tons and standing in line.
3. Consider Premier Access.
If you hate waiting in line or just want to maximize your time at the park, Disneyland® Paris offers a Disney Premier Access option. Think of it like a fast pass, where you can get in a much shorter priority line on a variety of attractions by scanning a special QR code on your phone. It’s especially handy during the peak summer months and school vacations.
There’s the Ultimate option where you have access to all of the attractions that are part of the Premier Access program or you can do it a la carte, called Premier Access One, and pay a set fee per attraction. Pricing is dependent on the dates you visit. Premier Access is something you can buy ahead of time or can add via the app on your phone once you’re in the park.
One thing to keep in mind is that not every single ride is part of the program, such as Pirates of the Caribbean. Definitely decide what rides are the most important to you and do the calculations to see if the ultimate pass or the per-ride pass makes more sense for your family.
There’s also the single rider line at some rides which is a fee-free way to cut down your wait time. If you are by yourself or don’t mind being seated separately from those in your group, you can use the single rider line and save yourself some time.
4. Download the app in advance.
The Disneyland® Paris app is a must, so to be ready from the moment you enter the park gates, make sure the app is downloaded and ready to go on your phone ahead of time.
You can use it to buy your tickets, book restaurants, see ride wait times, and look up show schedules so it’s a must. You’ll also be using it if you opt for Premier Access and will simply scan your QR code at the turnstiles at each ride.
5. Ride all the “Big Thrills.”
Roller coasters were the highlights for us, so if you’re a fellow thrill seeker, make time for the big rides. Be sure to do them first thing in the morning or at the very end of the day, as they’re popular and tend to have longer lines.
The following five rides are referred to by Disney as “Big Thrills” on their map and were our favorites. If you’re there to max out your experience, all five are well worth it: Big Thunder Mountain (our favorite roller coaster out of them all), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Crush’s Coaster, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (in Walt Disney Studios Park). Adrenaline junkies, take note and get ready to scream!
6. Take advantage of the nearby outlet shopping.
Many of us enjoy shopping while in France, so after you visit Disneyland® Paris, make the short trip over to La Vallée Village for an outdoor outlet shopping experience you’re not soon to forget.
With over 100 premium brands like Longchamp, Burberry, Polo Ralph Lauren, Gucci, and many more, the elegant shopping center is a shopper’s paradise. And with the advantageous USD/EUR exchange rate at the moment, you save even more money, making the outlets well worth a visit.
Summer 2022 Contest
Lastly, let me tell you about an amazing contest going on this summer now through August 26, 2022, brought to you by Disneyland® Paris’s longtime partner Orange. They’re giving away two tickets to the parks per day so you can experience the magic of Disneyland® Paris for yourself during the special 30th anniversary celebration!
First, Orange Holiday is an all-inclusive SIM card for your phone where you can call, text, and use the internet while in France or elsewhere in Europe. Orange Holiday is the best way to avoid expensive roaming fees and instead get the quality of the #1 network in France and use your phone like a local.
And when you’re at Disneyland® Paris, save your data and use the free Orange Wi-Fi available in the parks.
If you’re going to be in Paris this summer, be sure to register for your chance to score a special invite to Disneyland® Paris and experience the unforgettable magic for yourself via this link. There are a bunch of special events going on to celebrate the anniversary so it really is a wonderful time to visit.
In addition, when you’re there, you can take part in a special treasure hunt. Download the Celebration Quest application created by Orange to go on a digital treasure hunt that’ll have you discovering Disneyland® Paris’s secrets.
Bonne chance and enjoy your trip!
Disclosure: This is a sponsored collaboration with Orange Holiday and Disneyland Paris. All opinions are my own.
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I wish I could visit Disneyland but sadly I can’t
Your video really made me want to visit Disneyland Paris! I’m hoping/planning on moving to the South of France (from Los Angeles) in January/February of 2023. Maybe when I get homesick, I can go there and feel like I’m back in CA!