France
Make the Most of Disneyland Paris: Day 1
Super excited for the first of two full days in Disneyland Paris, we woke up before 7am aiming to reach Disneyland Park before opening time. Disneyland Paris is slightly over 1 hour away from ibis Paris Montmartre 18ème where we were staying for the night. With luggage to carry over, we needed to be as fast and efficient as possible to make it on time.
Refreshed after a good night’s sleep (much needed after Day 1), we decided to have breakfast at the hotel. Priced at 14 euros per person it was well worth the money – it was quick, convenient, filling and allowed us to pack a picnic for the rest of the day.
We took the metro to Nation station from where we caught a train (RER) to Val d’Europe. The train left us a short 15-minute walk from the hotel, where we headed to drop our luggage. We decided to walk through Centre Commercial Val’d Europe, a huge mall where we found an Auchan just in time to buy a focaccia plus bread and cheese to complement our picnic.
Aparthotel Adagio Val d’Europe was one of the most affordable accommodations we found close to Disneyland Paris. The park themed hotels seemed magnificent, but prices were extremely high at that time of the year, so our priority was to find a well located, private apartment which we could use mostly for sleeping. Our intention when we booked was to enjoy the 25-minute walk to and from the park, but the shuttle was a much-appreciated perk and smarter alternative if you want to preserve your feet to enjoy the park. There is a sidewalk to the park, and you will see some people take it, but it is dark at night and not what I would call scenic.
Our room wasn’t ready when we arrived in the morning, so we left our luggage in the hotel luggage room. No number is attributed to each luggage piece, which made us slightly uncomfortable, but we did not want to carry our luggage with us to the park so decided to take everything valuable and came back in the evening to check in and take our luggage to the room.
We spent minimal time at the hotel and can’t share an opinion on common areas (I know it has at least a swimming pool and breakfast room) but our apartment had more than we needed – a small bedroom, a big living room with kitchenet and a bathroom. Lots of storage. The living room had two sofa beds, ideally for families with children. The kitchen was fully equipped with cleaning supplies, and so was the bathroom.
On arrival at Disneyland, it was clear that despite choosing weekdays to visit the park, it would still be packed with long lines to almost all popular attractions. We decided to dedicate one day to each park – see below a summary of our itinerary.
Day 1
- Disneyland Paris
- Entrance - Disneyland Hotel
- Show: Disney Stars on Parade
- Phantom Manor
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Disneyland Railroad - Frontierland Depot (full ride)
- La Cabane des Robinson
- Adventure Isle
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Autopia
- Le Carrousel de Lancelot
- Alice's Curious Labyrinth
- "It's a small world"
- Le Pays des Contes de Féés
- Casey Jr. - le Petit Train du Cirque
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Dinner: The Royal Pub (Disney Village)
Day 2
- Walt Disney Studios Park
- Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
- Crush’s Coaster
- Cars Road Trip
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
- Les Tapis Volants – Flying Carpets Over Agrabah
- Disneyland Paris
- La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant
- Discovery Arcade & Main Street USA
- Gardens of Wonder – 30th Anniversary
- Les Voyages de Pinocchio
- Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains
- Pirates of the Caribean
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Disney Dreams Nighttime Extravaganza
- Disney D-Light (Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary)
- Dinner: Walt’s - an American restaurant
We haven’t been on all rides, but we have been in all those we had planned and even managed to repeat 1 or 2 of our favorites. This was not our first time at Disneyland Paris, so we left out most popular attractions such as “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril” or “Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain” (formerly known as Space Mountain).
Keep reading along for a high-level review of each day or jump to tips & tricks, favorite rides and restaurant reviews.
At the time we arrived at Disneyland, not long after opening, lines were moving fast – the security check takes place even before you get to park’s entrance, so when you get to the actual parks, the automatic ticket validation machines make it a smooth process. Disneyland Hotel stands as a magnificent entry door to the oldest of the two parks, its pink façade, flowered gardens and large lake a sneak peek into what awaits you inside the park.
As soon as we got in, music filled the air and people started moving to the sidewalks of Main Street USA – the parade was just about to start! It was smaller than we remembered, just 3 cars with some of the newest Disney characters dancing and singing a tune that stayed in our head for the rest of the day.
Eager to start exploring, we headed to Frontierland, to explore the city of Thunder Mesa, a true experience of the Wild West. We started with Phanton Manor, where the waiting time seemed reasonable. The attraction starts with an elevator ride underground, where you jump on a car that takes you around the haunted house of Henry Ravenswood whose beloved daughter, Melanie, has been waiting to get married since ever. It is not spooky but expect one of two surprise jumps on turns.
Big Thunder Mountain was right around the corner with its huge lines attesting this to be one of the most popular attractions in Disneyland. This runaway mine train cart speeds around the mountain and dives below waterfalls in what is a family-friendly rollercoaster, with the right amount of adrenaline. It has some bumpy parts and sections in the dark but no loops.
In need of some quiet time, we jumped onto Disneyland Railroad, taking the 20-minute journey around the park to get a comprehensive overview of its attractions and overall scenery. This train ride is an homage to the big train enthusiast Walt Disney, who had built a miniature railroad in his backyard. Today, all Disney Parks across the globe feature railroads.
Back to Frontierland Depot (we didn’t leave the train at Main Street USA) we headed to Adventureland, an exotic land of pirates and explorers. La Cabane des Robinson rises within a magnificent tree located in Adventure Island itself. We climbed to the top through a series of wooden stairs which took us through the Robinson’s family kitchen, library and bedrooms. Attention to detail is astonishing so don’t let yourself be rushed and enjoy every step. Back to solid ground, we explored the island’s caves and suspension bridges on our way to Pirates of the Caribbean.
It is not a coincidence that we came back to this attraction more than once. It is one of the most rounded attractions, with suspense, thrill, great scenery and soundtrack. The entire ride takes place in the dark, with fire and shimmering lights giving each scene a mysterious, dodgy look. Musket fire and explosions made us jump a few times and a steep climb announced an unforgettable splash.
Ready to explore another magic kingdom, we headed to Discoveryland with its retro future vibe and space adventures. The only attraction we have been to was Autopia and we had a blast! Each of us took the wheel of a colorful, futuristic car and started our drive along the picturesque route. With a functional accelerator pedal and responsive steering wheel, you can effortlessly mirror real-life driving. To brake, release the accelerator and the car slows down. It is suitable for kids and teens, who can either accompany an adult driver or drive the car themselves if having the minimum height of 81 cm (about 2.66 ft) and with an adult accompanying. For added safety, a guide rail runs beneath the vehicle, and both front and rear bumpers are in place.
At this point we were exhausted and in desperate need of a break. We decided to head back to the hotel, check our room, store our luggage and get ready for the evening. We were hoping to see Fantasyland less crowded, as families with smaller children left for dinner. It was a smart decision – we were out of the park for about one and half hours and when we came back, around 6pm, we had plenty of time to explore Fantasyland with no waiting time.
We started with Alice’s Curious Labyrinth an easy walk suitable for all ages. I am a big fan of Alice in Wonderland, and this attraction is an ode to its witty characters and meaningful storyline. We were startled by funny creatures, hiding behind the maze but found our way out through conflicting signs to finally face the Queen of Hearts castle, guarded by its card soldiers. If you get past them, you will enjoy one of the most beautiful views from the park and forever cherish the Cheshire Cat smile.
Heaving left Queen of Hearts with our heads still in place, we set sail on a journey around the world in the iconic attraction “it’s a small world”. An ode to world peace and cultural diversity, this unique boat tour is suitable to all ages: adults and older kids will have fun identifying each country represented while toddlers will be dazzled by the bright colors and rhythmical music playing. The classical anthem is likely to stay in everyone’s head for the rest of the trip.
With Fantasyland quieter than usual, we decided to jump on two less known attractions, right next to “it’s a small world”. Casey Jr. – le Petit Train du Cirque took us on a tour of the fairytale homes and villages made famous in classic Disney animated movies, aboard Dumbo’s train. The train is a smooth ride, suitable for non-adventurous, but if you would rather sail on a boat through the same scenery, get in line for Le Pays des Contes de Fées, a gentle cruise through the enchanting Disney’s Storybook Land. We have done both, but our favourite was definitely Casey Jr. – le Petit Train du Cirque.
With time for one last ride before dinner, we joined the crowd in line for Peter Pan’s Flight, one of Disney’s most famous attractions. A colourful galleon took us on a high-flying adventure, passing unforgettable settings from the movie, including an unexpected dive into the Darling children’s nursery and an unforgettable nighttime fly over London sky. The initial scenes are exquisite but as the attraction unfolded, it became less striking.
Having decided to leave the nighttime shows for the following day, we headed to Disney Village for dinner at The Royal Pub before taking the shuttle back to the hotel.
