Disneyland Paris: What We Love (And Don’t Love)

Last Updated on September 20, 2024 by Leslie Stroud <!– %AUTHOR_NAME% –>

Basking in our Disney glow (and loaded down with plenty of Disney swag), we are returning home from this visit with a greater appreciation of Disneyland Paris.  It’s been a full four years since our last visit (and COVID-19 in between), and my overall opinion of our new, “local” Disneyland has warmed over the last few days.

While it was chilly and rainy during our entire visit, Disneyland Paris has plenty to offer its roughly 15 million annual visitors.  Disneyland Paris ranks as the most popular amusement park in Europe (although we also love EuropaPark), which is no surprise considering the Disney name and overall operating style.  Nothing quite matches Disney!

On this particular trip, my son, Grant, and I timed it according to his birthday, which fortuitously landed us in Disneyland Paris as it was converting Halloween to Christmas.  I felt all my Christmas dreams came true.  Europe will always rank supreme for me when it comes to Christmas spirit and Christmas Markets, so combining Disney with Christmas is like a new drug to an addict.  🙂  I was reveling in delight.

During our trip, I noted several things that make Disneyland Paris different from its five worldly siblings (of which we’ve visited all of them).  Following is a breakdown of our highs and lows of Disneyland Paris.

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What We Love About Disneyland Paris

Walkability Ranking Is High

Like its California sibling, Disneyland Paris consists of two parks side-by-side: Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios.  Walking between the two is a mere five minutes or less, which is wonderful when you want to park hop.  Additionally, Disneyland Paris boasts several Disney hotels that are walking distance to the parks.  These include the Disney Hotel (reopening January 2024 from a major remodel, located just INSIDE the Disneyland park), Newport Hotel, The New York (Marvel) Hotel, and more.  We stayed at the New York Hotel, which backs up to Disney Village.  I loved not having to take a bus during our entire stay!

Crowds Are a Bit Less Than in Other Disney Parks

Due to its smaller size and other factors, Disneyland Paris seems to have fewer crowds.  Don’t get me wrong, it can feel very full!  However, we arrived on a Thursday in early November and didn’t see a single ride with more than 15 minutes wait time.  As the weekend progressed, lines reached up to 40 minutes, but we never saw anything like the 90+ minutes you’ll experience in Florida.  At night, after dark, we also noticed that crowds thinned considerably.  Perhaps it’s the chilly, wet weather, but we loved ride hopping and practically walking on!  Plan for the weather, and enjoy!  Note that the park also doesn’t stay open as late as its American siblings.

People Are Less Pushy

I’m the first to admit that I can be the crazy, pushy American when it comes to Disney.  I can plan like a pro, speak, walk across the park, and be annoyed by slow walkers.  However, Europeans, in general, are just more chill.  Aside from several pushy Spaniards, we found everyone to be chill, taking it all in and enjoying the park experience.  They aren’t rushing from line to line, they aren’t shoving their breakfast down to get to a magic hour (which we admittedly never made it to since ride times were so low!  We decided to sleep instead.), and they sit and enjoy their coffees as much as they do outside of Disney.  Maybe I’m picking up on this more now that we live in Europe, but I appreciated that patrons were there as much for walking around Disney and enjoying the park as they were for the rides.  In fact, Europeans don’t seem as used to the Disney rides as many Americans are, growing up with frequent carnival rides and such.  

Christmas Rocks at Disneyland Paris

As I already mentioned, Christmas in Europe is just better.  I said it, and I’ll own it. I don’t mind if I spend all the rest of my Christmases here. From food stands, mulled wine (which we don’t drink, but it smells amazing), and quaint cities as your backdrops, Europe truly does Christmas right.  Disneyland Paris does little market stalls IN the park (in Disney Studios, specifically), and the food is heavenly.  Hot raclette (melted French cheese) sandwiches, warm fresh pretzels, hot chocolate, soft gingerbread… these are the stuff of Christmas sweet dreams.  Add in mind-blowing Christmas parades, fireworks shows, singalongs, and outstanding decorations. I so love Christmas in Europe! 

Unique Rides to Disneyland Paris

All Disney Parks have unique rides (usually repeated in at least one other Disney park around the world), and Paris boasts several that we love!  These include RC Racer, Spiderman W.E.B., Storybook Canal Ride, Crush’s Coaster, and more.

Culinary Delights at Disneyland Paris

All Disney Parks wow with fun, themed food and restaurants.  However, we happen to think France offers the best food in the world (and that is after visiting nearly 50 countries!).  This translates into Disneyland Paris.  We think the food is a step above the other Disney Parks, and Paris, just an hour or so from the park, offers literally the best food in the world!  

Accessibility of Disneyland Paris To and From Other Parts of Europe

For us living in Europe, of course, Disneyland Paris is easy to reach by plane and is fairly cheap as well (like a domestic flight in the US).  However, you can also easily access Disneyland Paris by train from most major European cities!  You’ll probably use the train system to get to Disneyland Paris if you are staying in Paris anyway (as taxis and Ubers this far will run you quickly 100€ and up). Likewise, you could finish your Disneyland Paris vacation and hop on the train outside the park to go to other major cities like Amsterdam, Prague, or even London.  Besides, it’s the only Disney park at which you can visit the Eiffel Tower for lunch!

Premier Access at Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris’ take on Magic Genie or Fast Pass is Premier Access.  We bundled it with our package and really enjoyed it!  It wasn’t totally necessary on our first day, as lines were short, but as crowds increased, we loved walking onto most of the rides once per day.  You do have to work to make it worth it, though, as you’d need to hit more than 10 rides in a day to make it worth it.

Colder Weather

Not everyone craves colder weather like we do, but as original Coloradans who ended up in Portugal, we love that Disneyland Paris is the only Disney where you can actually see snow!  Christmas time in Disneyland Paris brings “snoap”, a bubbly snow that falls on Main Street every few minutes during the Christmas season, but the weather can actually get cold enough for snow.  We saw it in November 2019, and it’s reported occasionally.  Even without snow, temperatures warrant some heavy winter gear as it is chilly and usually rainy in the winter.

What We Don’t Love About Disneyland Paris

Lack of Rides

During our three days in the park, Grant and I did all the rides at least twice, watched several shows, and pretty much saw everything Disneyland Paris had to offer.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but having visited Disney World earlier this year, I craved some of the states’ big rides.  The roller coasters, like HyperSpace Mountain and the new Avengers ride, are a bit rough on the head and neck and aren’t up to the level of Tron or Guardians of the Galaxy.  Indiana Jones is far from its California counterpart (think small, outdoor coaster).  For older kids or thrill seekers, each park only offers 3-4 rides.  However, a new Frozen Land is set to open soon.

Bathrooms

Some of the bathrooms in the Disneyland park are older and small, with only 2-3 stalls each.  These are easily overwhelmed in a crowd.  Also, it’s good to note that bathroom attendants in the women’s restroom can be men.  I saw more men than women as attendants.

Language

Any Disney park outside of the US is going to have the local language as the predominant one.  This means on the rides, on the signs, etc.  While there are many English-speaking visitors to Disneyland Paris, French is definitely dominant (as perhaps it should be, right?). However, this can get a little old when you don’t speak French. 🙂 The Stitch live show, for example, offered some shows in English during weekdays, but the weekends were French only.  We are leaving wanting to learn some French!

Other Things To Check Off Your List When Embarking on a Magical Adventure in Paris

When it comes to family fun, Disneyland Paris is a magical destination that promises enchantment for kids and adults alike. I know how much you would like to experience Disneyland Paris fully. What should you look out for and check off your bucket list?

1. Disneyland Delights: Start your journey with a stroll down Main Street, where the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle awaits. This is the heart of Disneyland Paris, where dreams come to life. From meeting beloved Disney characters to catching enchanting parades, the park is a treasure trove of experiences for little ones. Don’t miss the magical rides like Dumbo the Flying Elephant or the whimsical It’s a Small World – these classics are bound to spark joy.

2. Parisian Panache: One of the unique aspects of Disneyland Paris is its blend of Disney magic with a touch of Parisian elegance. As you wander through the park, notice the charming French architecture and the exquisite attention to detail. It’s like stepping into a fairy tale within the enchanting backdrop of the City of Light.

3. Disney Princess Encounters: For the little princesses and princes in your group, meeting Disney royalty is a must. Head to Princess Pavilion for a chance to greet Cinderella, Ariel, and other beloved characters. The sheer joy on your child’s face when they come face-to-face with their favorite princess is simply priceless.

4. Park-Hopping Fun: Disneyland Paris consists of two parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Make the most of your visit by hopping between the two. While Disneyland Park is the epitome of classic Disney enchantment, Walt Disney Studios Park offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the magic of movie-making.

5. Snack Time Extravaganza: Don’t underestimate the power of Disney snacks! Treat your little ones to iconic Mickey-shaped treats, churros, and character-themed snacks. It’s not just about satisfying hunger, but also creating delicious memories that will last long after the trip.

Family-Friendly Hotels When Visiting Disneyland Paris With Kids

Staying in a Disneyland Paris Property

We love staying on property while visiting Disney. Disneyland Paris has three hotels that are easily accessible by walking to the park (I love not having to take a bus!). The Disneyland Paris Hotel is set to re-open in 2024 and was extra magical when we stayed there in 2019.

Additionally, the Disney Newport Bay Club and New York: Marvel Hotel are easily walkable to the entrance of the parks. We had a great time at the New York Hotel.

Staying off Property at Disneyland Paris

If you want to stay off-property, here are some great options!

• Dream Castle Hotel is a 7-minute drive from Disneyland Paris and has an onsite spa where you can enjoy a body scrub, a facial, and a Thai massage.

• Marriott Village d’Ile-de-France is a 9-minute drive from Disneyland Paris. You can enjoy the hotel’s 24-hour gym, as well as activities like basketball, hiking or biking.

• Grand Magic Hotel Marne La Vallée offers families free shuttle rides to theme parks and other locations in the area. It also has an indoor pool and playground where kids can warm up.

• Hôtel l’Elysée Val d’Europe is connected to a shopping center. Nearby attractions are Disneyland Paris, and SEA LIFE Val d’Europe.

As you can see, what we like about Disneyland Paris outweighs some of the small annoyances we don’t love.  We encourage you to give Disneyland Paris a try for your next Disney vacation.  Enjoy some French baked goods and a macaron or two while in France!

Xoxo,

Leslie

Additional Reading

15 Amazing Christmas Dreams Come True at Gaylord Rockies, Denver, Colorado

How To Visit Lake Bled With Kids: 11 Things To Do as a Family

How To Choose a Destination When Traveling Abroad With Kids