Preparing for Disneyland Paris

Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris is almost as exciting as being there — the excitment of booking the trip, the countdown, and the anticipation of all those magical moments! Whether it’s your first visit or you’re a seasoned Disney fan, a little preparation can make your experience even more special. Here’s my guide to getting ready for your Disneyland Paris adventure.

Book Smart: Tickets, Hotels & Dining

Tickets. It’s often cheaper to book your tickets in advance, especially if you opt for multi day passes. And always check if any special offers are running!
Hotels. Staying in a Disney hotel means you’re right in the magic, plus you get perks like early park entry. But nearby partner hotels can offer great value too. Just weigh up convenience vs budget.
Dining. If there are specific restaurants you’re dreaming of (hello, Pym Kitchen or Plaza Gardens), it’s wise to book ahead. Reservations fill up fast so get them booked as early as you can.

We booked a full holiday package with Disneyland Paris. We will be staying in the Hotel New York Art of Marvel and we have 4 day/2 park tickets. We also purchased a food package in with this so we don’t have to worry about food and paying for that on top of everything else!

Plan Your Park Days

Take a look at the map and decide what’s on your must do list. Do you want to hit all the thrill rides? Focus on meeting characters? See both parks in a day? Having a loose plan helps avoid disappointment, and saves time wandering aimlessly.

We have downloaded the official Disneyland Paris app, it shows live wait times, parade schedules, and mobile food ordering options, as well as showing you your tickets, hotel bookings, table bookings and any magical extras you have purchased! I cannot stress how much I love this app and how useful it is!

Pack Like a Pro

Comfort is key at Disneyland Paris. Here’s a packing checklist to get you started:
✅ Comfortable shoes. You’ll walk miles! We did 1 day back in 2022 without kids, and we managed 25,000+ steps in the day.
✅ Weather appropriate layers. It can be chilly or rainy, even in summer. Again, back in 2022, we got absolutely soaked in a freak 30 minute downpour!
✅ A small backpack for snacks, water, sunscreen, and essentials We took 1 backpack last time but that was just for the 2 of us. This time we’ll have one each and we will have the pushchair too
✅ Ears or costumes if you want to dress up. Ears are a staple and we’ll be taking a couple of pair with the view to purchasing more while we are there.
✅ Portable charger — you’ll be taking lots of photos and videos. They do have stations now though where you can pay to use one of the park chargers and then return it later (I’m not sure if these are rentable or you pay and return but don’t get your money back, I’ll let you know when we come back!)

Learn a Little French

You can get by without speaking French, but a few phrases can add to the fun:

Bonjour (Hello)
Merci (Thank you)
Où est…? (Where is…?)
Une photo, s’il vous plaît? (A photo, please?)

All Cast Members speak English but if you wanted to try your hand at some French, you can!

Manage Expectations

Disneyland Paris is magical, but it’s also busy. Queues are part of the experience, try and embrace them! Bring little distractions for kids if they need them, but queue lines have a lot to look at too. Hidden Mickey’s are everywhere and it’s a fun game to see who can find the most, or who can find them first.

We are going just as the schools break up this year. We are hoping everyone else will want to wait until the end of the break but we are still expecting it to be incredibly busy!

Budget for Extras

Factor in souvenirs, extra snacks, and maybe that plush your child (let’s be honest, you) falls in love with. Prices can add up, so it’s good to set a limit in advance.

We have saved up a lot for this trip, just so we don’t have to say ‘no’ to everything the kids want! I have watched a lot of Youtube videos of what’s available in the park shops at the moment so I already know things I definitely want to bring back and what I’m calling “veto” on!

But, above all, remember — you don’t have to do everything in one trip. Some of the best memories come from unexpected moments: spotting Mickey on Main Street, sharing a crêpe, or simply soaking up the atmosphere. The most important part? Enjoy every minute of the magic while you’re there!