Our Whirlwind Day at Disneyland Paris

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We had just one day to experience Disneyland Paris for the very first time, and honestly, that was all the convincing we needed. As big Disney fans, the idea of being this close to a whole new park and not going felt impossible, so we dove straight into the magic.

Getting to and from Disneyland

Getting to Disneyland Paris from the city centre is actually super straightforward and surprisingly affordable. The easiest and cheapest option is taking the RER A train, which runs directly from central Paris to Marne‑la‑Vallée–Chessy, the station right at the park gates.

The ride takes about 45 minutes, depending on where you board—80 minutes for us as we had to take the metro from Porte de Versailles to Opéra, then the RER A train from Auber—and costs far less than a taxi or rideshare, making it the best value if you’re looking to save both time and euros.

If you’re heading to Disneyland Paris by car, whether it’s your own or a private ride like Uber, the trip takes about 40 minutes in light traffic. You can expect to pay around €60 to €80 during off-peak hours and €100 or more during peak hours, per trip.

Admission Tickets

We booked our tickets in advance on the official website to lock in lower prices and guarantee entry. There were a few options to choose from: dated tickets (usually the cheapest), flexible non-dated tickets (valid for a year but requires registration), and park‑hopper tickets if you want to visit both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park in the same day.

To make the most of our one‑day visit, we decided on the dated 1‑Day, 2‑Parks ticket, the easiest way to see as much as possible without overthinking it.

Tip: If you’re playing the smart‑traveler game, always peek at Klook, where deals often come in lower than booking straight from the park.

First Impression

Having visited Disneyland Tokyo most recently, the contrast at Disneyland Paris hit us the moment we arrived. Instead of the orderly, flow we were used to, we found ourselves squeezed into a sea of people all pushing toward the gated entry at once. There was no system, no lines, just everyone for themselves. I held Evelyn’s hand close and tight because, honestly, I was terrified of losing her in the chaotic crowd.

Inside, Walt Disney Studios Park was wrapped in renovation walls, long pathways flanked by construction panels that dulled that usual spark Disney excitement (they’re building the World of Frozen land). But even through the chaos and the clutter, the heart of it was still unmistakably Disney.

Walt Disney Studios Park

We made a beeline for Walt Disney Studios Park because, duh, Marvel Avengers Campus was the non‑negotiable priority for this Marvel‑loving crew. I was especially hyped for Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, the Iron Man–themed rollercoaster, and it absolutely delivered. It ended up being our favourite ride of the entire park. It is a high‑speed indoor launch coaster that blasts from 0 to 92 km/h in under two seconds and throws in three inversions for good measure.

It was the kids’ first true rollercoaster, and they came off wide‑eyed and buzzing… so of course we rode it again later. We did have one heart‑stopping moment when Evelyn’s glasses nearly flew off mid‑launch, but crisis averted with fast reflexes.

Our other must‑do was Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy since the kids are huge fans of the movie. Shrinking down to rat size and racing through Gusteau’s chaotic kitchen chase was an absolute blast.

We passed through the Toy Story area on our way out, but only as a walkthrough thanks to the time crunch and honestly, we didn’t feel like we were missing much. Most of the rides there were pretty tame, cute to look at, but our thrill‑seeking hearts were already set on bigger adventures.

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park is the definition that timeless Disney magic — the music, the colours, the castle — all the classic charm you expect. With most standby lines hovering around an hour, we had to be smart about what we queued for. Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups and Le Carrousel de Lancelot were non‑negotiables for the kids.

The Internet insisted we try Pirates of the Caribbean, so we did but sadly it didn’t quite live up to the hype for us. We wandered through Pirates Beach for a breather, grateful for the shade and the chance to explore “hidden treasures”.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril was a must‑do for Jordan and me, making this Jordan’s second rollercoaster. Jordan was a big fan, but for me, the ride was over far too quickly and simply didn’t measure up to the excitement of Flight Force. Evelyn was crushed she didn’t meet the height requirement, so she and Dad detoured to Les Voyages de Pinocchio instead.

Star Wars was a hit, and we squeezed in a quick walk-through Sleeping Beauty Castle, because you can’t come to Disneyland Paris and not step inside that fairytale icon.

The heartbreaks of the day? Not riding Big Thunder Mountain as it sat at a stubborn 90‑plus‑minute queue all day, and Hyperspace Mountain as it was closed for maintenance. Nonetheless, a classic Disney day through and through just only a sprinkle of disappointment.

Disney Food

There was definitely no shortage of food or snacks at Disneyland Paris and absolutely no shortage of exorbitant price tags to go with them. The weak Canadian dollar versus the Euro is doing us zero favours, but we came mentally prepared.

We grabbed lunch at Stark Factory, a quick-service restaurant offering Italian comfort fare like pizza and pasta. Nothing to rave about, but it did exactly what it needed to do: fill our bellies so we could keep sprinting through the parks.

Dinner was at Annette’s Diner, a retro 1950s‑style spot serving classic Western favourites like burgers, hot dogs, milkshakes, sundaes. If you’re a hot dog and chili lover like me, skip the All American Chili Hot‑Dog. They tried, but the chili and cheese just missed the mark.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a Disney day without the obligatory ice‑cream‑every-few-hours situation, even though the portions were comically small here compared to other Disney parks.

Overall Impression

Our one day at Disneyland Paris was a whirlwind of rides, crowds, and classic Disney charm. We squeezed in as much as we could and soaked up the magic where we found it. We didn’t see everything, but we left with another Disneyland in the books and legs ready to give out.