MartyParty
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2023
- Messages
- 766
Just returned from a wonderful trip to Paris! The main reason for the trip was to experience Paris itself, but being so close to Disneyland Paris, we couldn’t resist a visit. While Paris was the focus, this trip report covers only our day at Disneyland Paris (DLP).
Our strategy was to prioritize rides unique to DLP and fit in Disney favorites as time allowed. We skipped the Disney Premier Access pass (which was €90 per person—€360 for a family of four, or over $400 USD). Instead, we selectively purchased individual ride passes for Crush’s Coaster, Hyperspace Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. These saved us about 3–4 hours of wait time and cost around $100 USD total for the four of us.
Getting There
We stayed at a hotel near Gare de Lyon, which turned out to be a great location for getting to DLP via the regional RER A train line. The cost was €2.50 per person one way, and the ride took about 40 minutes. The train drops you off at Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy, which is conveniently located between the DLP parks and Disney Village. A fun mental shortcut I used to remember the station name: Mickey Mouse loves all things “cheesy” (even though Chessy isn’t cheese and isn’t pronounced that way—but it worked for me!).Park Strategy
We had just one day for Disney, so we debated whether to visit both parks. In the end, we opted for the park hopper ticket and visited both Walt Disney Studios Park and Disneyland Park—and we’re glad we did!Our strategy was to prioritize rides unique to DLP and fit in Disney favorites as time allowed. We skipped the Disney Premier Access pass (which was €90 per person—€360 for a family of four, or over $400 USD). Instead, we selectively purchased individual ride passes for Crush’s Coaster, Hyperspace Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean. These saved us about 3–4 hours of wait time and cost around $100 USD total for the four of us.
Dining
With limited time, we skipped sit-down meals and stuck to quick-service spots and food carts. This turned out to be the right call—the food was more than good enough and comparable in quality (if not better) than what we’ve had at Disney California Adventure.Ride Highlights & Tips
- Crush’s Coaster: Absolutely lived up to the hype. Wait times of 90–120 minutes are justified. We headed to Walt Disney Studios first to ride it, but without early access (since we didn’t stay at a Disney hotel), the line was already long. Tip: You can buy individual Premier Access passes the day of your visit—no need to wait until you’re inside the park.
- Hyperspace Mountain: A surprise favorite! It’s a reimagined Space Mountain with Star Wars music and visuals. Think classic Star Wars from the first movie Episode IV.
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril: Super fun with only a 20-minute wait. It’s a short ride, though, so if the line is long, come back later.
- Ratatouille: Loved it! It’s not in 3D like the EPCOT version, which my wife preferred. I personally like the 3D version better.
- It’s a Small World: Quite different from the versions at WDW and Disneyland California. The large USA section was especially nice to see.
- Avengers Flight Force: Based on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (which I love), but this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Still worth trying to ride and see what you think.
- The Lion King Show: Not a ride, but a must-see! We booked a reservation, which was a good move—the line was packed, and we likely wouldn’t have gotten in otherwise.
- Castle Dungeon Dragon: Very cool animatronic and sound effects—worth checking out.
- Phantom Manor: Okay. We prefer the Haunted Mansion setup.
- Sleeping Beauty’s Castle: Absolutely gorgeous. The Mary Blair-style trees around it add a fairytale charm.
- Big Thunder Mountain: Sadly, closed during our visit.
- Alice’s Curious Labyrinth: An unexpected highlight! The Queen of Hearts’ castle offers great views of the back half of the park.
Shopping
If you find something you like in the parks go ahead and buy it. I had a couple of shirts in mind but didn't want to carry around my purchase throughout the day. Thought I could make the purchase at the World of Disney store outside of the parks just before boarding the train. Nope. Supplies are limited. Sizes might be limited. If you see something you like best to go ahead and get it.Final Thoughts
DLP feels like a two-day max experience. If you have the time, staying at a Disney hotel might be worth it for early entry. That said, we thoroughly enjoyed our one-day visit and don’t regret keeping our focus on Paris. It was the perfect Disney detour!
