Your ULTIMATE guide to Disneyland Paris for beginners

Disneyland Paris is one of my favoruite places in the whole world. I still get that same bubble of excitement and magic as I had when I first went at 6 years old. It can feel overwhelming when you start planning your first trip to Disney, so we’ve compiled an ULTIMATE guide to Disneyland Paris so you can plan your trip, feel confident, and get excited for the most magical holiday.

How to get to Disneyland Paris?

There are plenty of ways to get to Disney, so let’s break it down…

Is Disneyland Paris near the airport?

It’s super easy to fly to Disneyland Paris. Get a flight to Charles De Gaulle airport, and you can get the Magic Shuttlebus which goes direct to Disney hotels, and other hotels near the parks. Make sure to pre-book your transfer, but this is a super simple and easy way to get to Disney!

Disneyland Paris and the Eurostar

A popular way to travel, especially if you live local to London, is to get the Eurostar. Gone are the days of a direct train to Disney, but it’s still simple to get the train.

Get the train to Lille Europe, and then hop onto a TGV train to Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, and you’ll be there in no time. No need to worry about luggage as you can bring two bags and one piece of hand luggage with you at no extra cost! It takes around 3 hours from London, and it’s a really relaxing way to travel.

The Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station is right next to the entrance to Disneyland Paris, and if you’re staying at a Disney hotel, it’s no more than a 15 minute walk to your hotel. You’re also really near the buses and taxi rank to get to your hotel.

We’ve compiled a complete guide for your first time on the Eurostar here!

Driving to Disney : Dover-Calais crossing & Les Shuttle from Folkestone

If you fancy road tripping to Paris, the Dover Callais boat crossing is a perfect way to travel. It’s definitely an adventure! The boat is about an hour and a half, and once you’re in France, it’s about three hours to drive from the port to Disney.

Another option is to get Le Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais, which is a 30 minute crossing, and then three hour drive once through at Calais. It’s quick and easy and you’re in France in no time!

Where to Stay on your trip

There are so many options on where to stay, to suit every budget. You can stay on site at Disney hotels, which come with perks like magic hours, or you can save money and stay off site.

Do I have to stay at a DLP hotel?

The quick answer is no, you don’t. There are plenty of off site hotels such as The Kyriad hotel (15 mins away), Dream Castle (10 mins away) or the Holiday Inn (6 mins away).

If you’re staying at The Kyriad, you’ll have to drive, get a taxi or take the train to get to the parks. Dream Castle has a free shuttle bus that will take you to the parks, and Holiday Inn you can get the bus, drive or take a taxi.

Which Disneyland Paris hotel is best?

I love staying on site, and try to do so when I go as it’s so easy. All of the hotels, except Davy Crockett Ranch, are in walking distance of the parks as well as having a shuttle bus service.

Depending on what you’re looking for from your holiday and hotel will depend on which hotel suits you best, so let’s break it down;

• Disneyland Hotel : This is the premier hotel at DLP, and has just had a massive refurbishment. Themed on the Disney Princesses, this hotel is luxury luxury luxury with a spa, character dining, and views over the park! The hotel is at the entrance to the park, so wake up and walk straight into Main Street USA
• Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel : this is for all of the Marvel lovers, Hotel New York feels sleek, cool and modern. It’s right next to the Disney Village, and 5 minutes to the park entrance. My favourite part of the hotel is the bar, which feels straight out of a Marvel movie – with screens giving you a view over New York, some familiar faces may pop up from time to time.
• Newport Bay Club : If you fancy a trip to the yacht, then you’ll love it here. Celebrating all things nautical, and with views over the lake, Newport Bay makes you feel like you’re at the Yacht Club.
• Sequila Lodge : With a little touch of Bambi, feel like you’re on exploring America’s national parks as you step into Sequila Lodge. Rooms are cosy woodland lodges, and keep an eye out for Bambi and her friends as you walk around the hotel.
• Hotel Cheyenne : This is a must stay for Toy Story fans! Head to the Wild West with Woody, Jessie and the gang, and have a real adventure. I love staying here as there’s so much space and so many photo opportunities
• Santa Fe : Head to Route 66 when you stay at the Cars themed Santa Fe. This might be controversial, but Santa Fe is actually my favourite hotel to stay at. The rooms are basic but still themed and very fun, it’s affordable, and I just love the theming of the hotel! When I go to Disney, I usually go from opening to closing, and stay in the park all day, so it’s perfect for me!

Which Disneyland Paris hotels have pools?

Disneyland Hotel, Disney Hotel New York – art of Marvel, Disney Newport Bay Club and Disney Sequila Lodge all have pools.

How to get from the Disney hotels to the parks?

The above hotels are all in walking distance, via a lovely walk by the river to Disney Village, through the village and to the entrance.

Disney recommend that it’s 20 minute walk from Santa Fe and Cheyenne, 15 minute walk from Sequila Lodge and Newport Bay and 10 minutes from New York. However, I find it’s a lot quicker than that (or at least feels like it) and is a nice way to start and end your day.

All of the hotels also have a free shuttle bus that runs every 5-10 minutes, but these can be really crowded, especially at peak times.

Where to eat

I’ve found that the food at Disneyland Paris can be very hit and miss – but I’ve had some absolutely brilliant meals here, and some great disney snacks too.

Are the Disneyland Paris Meal Plans worth it?

One thing I will never shut up about is the Disneyland Paris Meal Plans. I think they are brilliant, but they can be slightly overwhelming so you can read my free guide to Disneyland Paris Meal Plans to get the full low down on them.

Which Disneyland Paris restaurant is best?

For me, there is one clear winner. Bistro Chez Remey.

The food is consistently good (in my experience), and the theming is INCREDIBLE. You really feel like you’re in Ratatouille, which is one of my favourite Disney films!

Some other standouts: The Steakhouse, Captain Jack’s restaurant, Agrabah (buffet), and the Sliverspur Steakhouse.

When are the Disneyland Paris Fireworks?

The Disney Dreams nighttime extravaganza is on every night (weather permitting).

The timings change depending on park closing times, but for Spring/Summer 2024, it’s 22:50 every night. Make sure to check the Disneyland Paris app to get the up-to-date timings.

Disneyland Paris Park + Tickets

Can you parkhop at DLP?

Yes!! Your ticket gives you entry to both parks, and you can go in and out as you please.

Are the Disneyland Paris rides in English?

The rides are a mix of English and French. Rides such as Star Tours and Spiderman WEB are a mix of the two. Star Tours doesn’t have subtitles however WEB does, so you always know what’s being said.

The shows are also done in a mix, however you always seem to know what’s happening and it’s never been a big issue. Certain shows like Stitch Live and Frozen have French Shows and English shows so just make sure to go to the best one for you.

Can Disneyland Paris be done in one day?

Disneyland Paris is small compared to the Florida park, and if you only have one day, it is possible.

I would say 2 days minimum, especially as the Studio park (soon to be Disney Adventure World) is expanding!

Ideally, 3 – 5 days, to be able to explore both parks and relax at the same time.

Going to Paris from Disneyland

Whether you’re staying in Paris and wanting to do a daytrip to Disney, or you’re at Disney and wanting to take a trip to Pairs, it’s super simple to do.

You can head to the station and get a RER A regional train 35 minute train direct to the capital city.

Disneyland Paris Deals

Disneyland Paris often have great packages throughout the year, and it’s always worth checking out. This summer, they have a brilliant deal which you can check out here and a summer calculater to help you find the best price for you.

I also like to book through Magic Breaks, who often do great deals – especially if you want to do a coach trip there!

And there is our ultimate guide to Disneyland Paris for beginners. If you have any questions, either comment below, or DM me on Instagram and I’ll do my best to help you! There are lots of Disneyland blog posts here at Postcards From for you to check out and help you plan a magical holiday!