Have I mentioned how much I love theme parks? I literally can’t get enough of them, and I love seeing how each place develops a different atmosphere and entertainment focus. This is what drew my husband and me to Disneyland Paris on our trip. The chance to see Disneyland from a French perspective was just too tempting to pass up!
If you have an extra day to spare in Paris, I recommend changing the pace for one day and dedicating it solely to fun! Disneyland Paris is such an incredibly magical experience that you won’t want to miss! Tickets start around $80 for a one-day adult ticket, but they do run deals that can make your trip more affordable.
Now, rather than tell you how to spend your day at Disneyland, this post will hit some of the parks’ highlights. I am obsessed with roller coasters, but I understand that you may prefer shows or calmer rides. So, to remain neutral, I’ll cover what you need to know to get started and a few of the park’s unique aspects that I found refreshing compared to the parks back in the United States. Let’s get started!
Day 6: Experience Disneyland Paris
Things to Keep in Mind
The first thing you’ll want to do when you arrive at the park is to find a map. Thankfully, the park provides maps in various languages, so choose whichever one you’re the most comfortable with. The map will give you a beneficial overview of the rides, shops, shows, and restaurants in the park. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app to access features like ride wait times and your exact location within the park.
Side note: If you happen to get lost or have another question throughout the day, the park staff can help. We found that most of the staff spoke English very well or had someone nearby who could whenever we had a question. The park operates a bit differently from the ones in the U.S., so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you get confused.
As you plan your route for the day, keep in mind that the back half of the park often closes before Main Street, U.S.A. Be aware of the park hours and find out when they’ll shut down the area behind the castle for the Disney Illuminations show. I recommend skipping Main Street until the end of your day to ensure that you get to explore every other area fully because these closures will also affect your shopping experience for the evening.
If you see something you like, ask if you can pick it up at the front of the park later, or be sure to buy it before the section shuts down. The Main Street shops offer many fun and beautiful souvenirs, but you can only find certain items in other areas of the park, so plan accordingly.
Another thing to consider is your dining schedule. The French eat at different times than Americans generally do, so be sure to eat before the restaurants close for the evening. When we visited, the restaurants closed at 4 p.m., and we had no idea until we were starving at 5 p.m. and couldn’t find anything open! Oops! Restaurant hours will vary with the park hours, so don’t be caught off guard!
Best Hidden Touches
One of the things I loved about Disneyland Paris was its little details. The Disneyworld Parks, although beautiful, have always felt a bit crowded for me. At Disneyland Paris, I felt like I could breathe. There were little gardens and statues and hidden oases everywhere that added to the magic and excitement. However, three experiences, in particular, really stuck out to me as brilliant.
La Taniére du Dragon:
Along the left side of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle lies a clever tribute to the movie: a dragon’s cave. There’s an entrance to a sinister-looking cave with a rather convincing animatronic dragon at the bottom of the hill. The environment inside is cleverly detailed with fog and green lighting to complement the dragon’s lair. Every couple of minutes, the sleeping dragon will wake up, look around menacingly, and roar at everyone before returning to its nap. It’s a simple but fun touch to the Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Alice’s Curious Labyrinth:
Below the smiling face of the Cheshire Cat, you can wander through Wonderland like Alice in a series of two mazes. The first phase is more suitable for children because the maze is shorter and simpler. The second phase, however, will provide a bit of a challenge but more of a reward! The second maze mimics a walk through the Queen of Heart’s gardens, where card soldiers pop up around the corners. It’s much easier to get turned around, but if you make it to the maze’s center, you’ll find the Queen of Heart’s castle! You can climb up the towers for a beautiful view of the park before taking on the second half of the maze, which pops you out by the Tea Cups.
Les Mystéres du Nautilus:
Over in Discoveryland, you can explore the wonders of Captain Nemo’s submarine, the Nautilus. This attraction takes you down into the sub and through Captain Nemo’s living quarters. It’s a straightforward walk-through attraction, but the submarine’s interior is quite detailed. Be sure to stay in the “viewing” room for a few minutes to see what sea creatures venture by!
Best Roller Coaster
Although it’s not unique to Disneyland Paris, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain was definitely the top roller coaster in the park. Special effects, a great soundtrack, and unforeseeable twists in the track all combined to make this an epic ride. You really feel as though you’re flying through space, avoiding enemy space crafts, and zipping past stars at the speed of light.
Best Character Meet ‘n’ Greet
Make fun of me all you want, but I was particularly thrilled with how many characters were accessible when we visited. We went to the park in January, so I know that attendance was low, but I never waited longer than ten minutes to meet a character! Even as a full-grown adult, this aspect of Disney was so much fun! Of the characters I met, my favorite was Mickey Mouse by the Haunted Mansion. He really outdid himself by being friendly and even goofing off a bit with my husband and me before taking pictures. All of the characters were outstanding with their crowds, but Mickey was definitely the most enjoyable.
Best Show
Hands down, the highlight of our day was the Disney Illuminations show. You will not want to miss this fantastic closing event! If you’ve never seen one, Disney Illuminations is an incredible water, light, and music show performed on the park’s castle. Scenes from Disney movies are projected onto the castle walls, accented by fountains of water within the moat, colorful lasers, and fireworks. The Paris show was particularly fun because it had both French and English elements in it. Disney music almost becomes a universal language during the show because you can easily follow all the songs no matter what language the words are in. This show is such an incredible way to wrap up a day surrounded by Disney magic!
Depending on crowds, you should be able to see most or all of the park during your visit. We were able to do everything we wanted at a comfortable pace on a day when the park closed at 6 p.m. with low crowds. If you think time will be tight, be sure to map out your day in advance or consider investing in a FastPass.
Thank you so much for taking a quick virtual tour of Disneyland Paris with me! I hope you enjoyed it and that you, too will be able to have the vacation of your dreams in Paris!
If you’re interested in reading my blog guides to 5 more days in Paris, be sure to check out the rest of my The Best of Paris in a Week series.
The Best of Paris in a Week: The Louvre, Shopping, & Montparnasse Observation Tower
The Best of Paris in a Week: Palace of Versailles
The Best of Paris in a Week: The Beautiful Ile de la Cité
The Best of Paris in a Week: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, & More
The Best of Paris in a Week: Montmartre District
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Feel free to drop any questions or comments below! I hope to see you back on the blog soon!
Happy travels!
For more fun amusement park guides, visit the Amusement Parks page!
