Last updated: . Clarified current park names, admission and Premier Access terms, transport and hotel planning details, and the historical scope of the family’s Disneyland Paris visits. Date information added October 31, 2026.
Our 2023 birthday trip, with planning details checked in October 2026. This review preserves our rainy November return with Grant and memories of our earlier 2019 visit. Crowds, meals, performances and ride comparisons describe those trips. For a new visit, use the current park names, ticket terms and official planning links below.
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 visitors. It’s an easy place for us to find some Disney magic (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 the other Disney resorts (of which we’ve visited all of them). Following is a breakdown of our highs and lows of Disneyland Paris.
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Watch our original Halloween film from Disneyland Paris on YouTube.
Like its California sibling, Disneyland Paris has two parks close together: Disneyland Park and the former Walt Disney Studios Park, now Disney Adventure World. We found the walk between entrances very quick, which was wonderful for park hopping; you need admission to both parks. Several Disney hotels are within walking distance, including Disney Newport Bay Club and Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. The Disneyland Hotel has reopened and stands at the entrance to Disneyland Park. 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!
On this rainy November 2023 visit, Disneyland Paris felt less crowded to us than our Florida trips. 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+ minute waits we’ve experienced 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! For your dates, check the official opening hours and attraction calendar and the app for current waits. Our short lines are a memory, not a forecast.
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. On this visit, most people around us seemed more relaxed. Aside from a few pushy encounters, we saw people taking it all in and enjoying the park experience. They weren’t rushing from line to line or 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 sat and enjoyed their coffees. 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. That was the pace we noticed on this particular trip; crowds and personalities vary everywhere.
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. On our 2023 visit, the little market stalls IN the park (in Disney Studios, specifically) were heavenly. Hot raclette (melted French cheese) sandwiches, warm fresh pretzels, hot chocolate, soft gingerbread… these are the stuff of Christmas sweet dreams. Add in the Christmas parades, fireworks shows, singalongs, and outstanding decorations we enjoyed. Check the current seasonal program before planning around a particular event. I so love Christmas in Europe!
Paris has several rides and versions of familiar attractions that we love! These include RC Racer, Spiderman W.E.B., Storybook Canal Ride, Crush’s Coaster, and more.
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!
For us living in Europe, flying to Paris has been convenient, and we’ve found fares comparable to a domestic flight in the US. Prices and airport transfers vary. Trains are another option, though international routes can require connections. From Paris, the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy takes about 35 minutes from some stations; allow for your whole door-to-door route. The station is about a two-minute walk from the parks. Compare current train routes and taxi or rideshare quotes rather than budgeting around our old €100-plus estimate. Likewise, you could finish your Disneyland Paris vacation and plan onward train travel to go to other major cities like Amsterdam, Prague, or even London. A Paris day with an Eiffel Tower stop is a lovely add-on; it needs its own travel time, rather than being a quick lunch break inside the resort.
We bundled Premier Access with our 2023 package and really enjoyed it! It wasn’t totally necessary on our first day, as lines were short, but as crowds increased, we loved the quicker access to our favorites. For a new trip, Disney Premier Access Ultimate gives one use on each available eligible attraction, without an allocated time slot. Premier Access One covers one attraction once, in an allocated slot, and is bought on the day in the app. Both need separate valid park admission and are subject to availability. Fast access is not immediate boarding. Compare the current price with the eligible rides your family actually wants; there is no universal “more than 10 rides” break-even rule.
Not everyone craves colder weather like we do, but as original Coloradans who ended up in Portugal, we love that Disneyland Paris can get cold enough for real snow! We’ve also enjoyed the seasonal “snoap” effect, a bubbly imitation snow on Main Street. Effects and schedules can change, and real snow is never guaranteed. 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.
During our three days in the parks in 2023, 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 in 2023, 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 our tastes at the time, each park had only three or four rides that scratched the big-thrill itch. That is our 2023 comparison, not a current attraction count. World of Frozen opened on March 29, 2026, alongside the second park’s change to Disney Adventure World. We haven’t reviewed those new experiences in this trip report.
Some bathrooms we used in Disneyland Park on that visit felt older and small, with only two or three stalls. 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.
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. 🙂 On our visit, we found English Stitch Live! shows on weekdays but French-only options when we checked that weekend. That was our experience, not a permanent language schedule; check the app and ask a Cast Member about your day’s performances. We are leaving wanting to learn some French!
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 feels like stepping into a fairy tale. The resort is outside central Paris, so plan city sightseeing separately.
3. Disney Princess Encounters: For the little princesses and princes in your group, meeting Disney royalty is a must. Check the app for current character encounters, locations and any booking requirements. A particular princess or meeting is not guaranteed. 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 has Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, formerly Walt Disney Studios Park. Choose admission covering both if you want to hop. The second park now includes World of Frozen, Worlds of Pixar and Marvel Avengers Campus.
5. Snack Time Extravaganza: Don’t underestimate the power of Disney snacks! See which Mickey-shaped treats and character-themed snacks are available during your visit. It’s not just about satisfying hunger, but also creating delicious memories that will last long after the trip.
We love staying on property while visiting Disney. Several Disney hotels are within walking distance of the parks (I love not having to take a bus!). The Disneyland Hotel has reopened; our stay there in 2019 was extra magical.
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.
If you want to stay off-property, here are some great options!
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
Travel Tip: This Charles Schwab Debit Card offers ATM cash-withdrawal fee rebates for eligible Schwab Bank accounts, subject to Schwab’s current terms. Rebates exclude dynamic currency conversion and non-withdrawal fees. Check eligibility and the account terms before relying on this benefit.
Catch great fare deals from Booking.com, Skyscanner, Kiwi.com, or Expedia
Find a family-friendly hotel in Paris from Expedia, or Vrbo, (we also love Tripadvisor and Hotels.com)
Discover more of Paris while having fun through exciting activities from GetYourGuide, Airbnb Experiences, or Viator
Need to rent a car to navigate the city? Visit Rentalcars.com.
Compare current cover and eligibility with World Nomads.
Want to have a family photo shoot while traveling in Paris? Check out professional photographers from flytographer.
Capture your best travel memories in Paris as we do with a GoPro, Sony camera, or our favorite drones: DJI FPV, Air, and Mini
Check out your travel necessities from a comprehensive list of all the 7Wayfinders Travel Must-Haves. Click Here!
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