Is Disneyland Paris Worth It
Is Disneyland Paris Worth It?
Back in June 2024, my family traveled to Disneyland Paris for the first time. We are huge Disney park fans and go to Walt Disney World every year, so Disneyland Paris was an exciting new adventure. My daughter was two years old at the time and enjoyed the parks, the rides, and of course, meeting her favorite characters.
Was traveling all the way across the Atlantic, to a Disney resort, smaller than the one we are used to, worth it? Let’s dive in!
You may also like, Ultimate Guide to Visiting Disneyland Paris With a Toddler
How Many Parks Are There?
Disneyland Paris has two parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios.
Wandering around Disneyland we felt very much at home since it is similar to how Magic Kingdom and Disneyland California is set up. The nostalgia hits as you stroll down Main Street but excitement kicks in when you see the stunning castle and square cut trees. The feeling of being in a story book is real and you suddenly wonder if you should brave the depths below the castle where the sleeping Maleficent Dragon lies.
Walt Disney Studios is marked by they cutest water tower you will ever see. It was interesting to explore a whole new-to-us park and sing along in amazing stage shows that my toddler insisted on seeing twice.
How Are the Rides?
SO fun! Disneyland has a lot of classic rides like “It’s a Small World” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”. We loved experiencing rides that are similar with a different twist, like “Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain” and “Phantom Manor”.
The rides at Walt Disney Studios might have been some of our favorites. “Hollywood Tower of Terror” had a different spooky twist. I loved “Avengers Assemble: Flight Force” but mine and my husband’s favorite was “Crush’s Coaster”!
My toddler’s favorite was “Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin”. She still asks to go on it even now, a year later.
For more about the best rides for toddlers, check out Best Disneyland Paris Rides for Toddlers
Can I Meet My Favorite Characters?
Absolutely! There are character meet and greets all over the parks and it’s super easy to see one out and about, and get in line to meet them. More popular characters like Mickey, Minnie, and princesses can be a bit harder to see and have some of the longest wait times in the parks!
We got lucky and found Mickey outside Phantom Manor dressed in his spooky outfit and we didn’t have to wait very long to see him.
Check out The Princess Pavilion at Disneyland Paris
Is it Crowded?
This is probably the best part about visiting Disneyland Paris, it’s not crowded! At least not compared to Walt Disney World. The two times we went were during summer – early June and early July.
During holidays the parks might be a little bit more crowded.
If you’re like us and used to visiting Walt Disney World where even in the off seasons, wait times average 45-60 minutes, then Disneyland Paris will feel like a ghost town. Ok, not really, there are still lots of people but seriously we waited no longer than 35 minutes for any rides with wait times averaging 20-30 minutes.
With wait times so low, we saved a bit by not purchasing a Premier Access Pass since we didn’t feel it was needed to see and do everything.
Is the Food Good?
I am a picky eater, yes the food was good! We mostly ate quick service food and of course, ice cream!
Quick service locations offer mobile order which is perfect for grabbing food on the go. One of our favorite quick service restaurants was Café Hyperion in Discoveryland. Not only did we like the food but the cafe had a theater that showed movies and shows which kept our toddler sitting and entertained long enough to eat a decent meal. It was a nice little break to sit, relax, and enjoy our meal.
As cliché as it is to admit, my toddler loves chicken nuggets. The best chicken nuggets at Disneyland Paris can be found at Café de la Brousse in Adventureland. You’re welcome.
Typical of any Disney park, there is a wide variety of restaurants, menus, and cuisines. There is something for everyone and the food was delicious. Meal plans are available to purchase ahead of time as well.
Disney Village
Similar to Downtown Disney or Disney Springs, Disney Village is full of restaurants and shops. We love the parks a little too much and didn’t take as much time to explore Disney Village. It was also under construction while we were there so we only walked around the shops.
If your looking for one big shop that has almost everything, check out World of Disney! it is near the entrance to Walt Disney Studios!
Is it Easy to get to Paris?
The entrance to the parks is right in front of the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station. You can hop on the metro for a day trip or if your staying in the city, just take the metro to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy and you’ll be at the front gates!
Explore Paris tours and excursions available on Viator!
Disney Paris Excursions
If you are staying on Disney property, there are quite a few options to exploring Paris. Disney has a bus service that takes you right to heart of Paris. You can explore all day by yourself then hop on the bus back to Disney when you’re done!
There are also a few Paris Excursions with Disney tour guides such as the Eiffel Tower and Royal Versailles. Get picked up and dropped off by a Disney bus right at your Disney Hotel for a tour.
Discover the different Disney Paris excursions here!
Getting to and From the Airport
If you’re flying into Paris-Orly or Paris-Charles De Gaulle airports, Disney offers the Magical Shuttle Airport Transfer. This shuttle bus will take you right to your hotel on your arrival day and pick you up on your departure day! You can also take the train from the airport to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy.
Click here for train tickets to and from Paris!
Disney also offers luggage services, where they take your luggage from the airport or Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy to your hotel so you can head straight to the parks!
For more information, check out How to Get to Disneyland Paris From Paris
Conclusion: Is Disneyland Paris Worth It
YES! There is so much, new and familiar, to do and see at Disneyland Paris. With low wait times, lots of character meet and greets, and yummy food, it is well worth the visit. Plus it is so easy to get to and from Paris you not only get to experience the magic of Disney but the magic of Paris as well. We loved our visit in June so much we went back a month later in July!
You may also like:
Top 9 Must-Haves for a Magical Disney Trip With Your Toddler
