Disneyland Paris: My Real-World Playbook You Can Copy
After 2 trips to Europe at the end of 2024; I thought it was time to put pen to paper for my Disneyland Paris destination guide. You know, since I am an expert now. (joking). Especially since I made major mistakes that must be corrected if I travel back to the park; especially with the expansion coming soon! Maybe a little later; but I hope anyone who is considering travel to Disneyland Paris will get a chance to see this and learn from those errors; which by no means ruined the trip but if it was a 9.8 out of 10; it might have been an 11 out of 10.
Getting there the simple way
I took the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy. The ride was only about 40 minutes and the best thing is as soon as you exit the station you are there! Disneyland Paris signs are able to seen within a few steps of the exit. The best time saver I can share: buy your round-trip RER right away at the machine in the morning. You can pick a return or just buy two singles. I failed to do this and for me it mean standing in line after an 11 hour day and 25,000 steps before I could even pretend that I was heading back to the Hotel in Paris. Don’t make my fatal mistake
Breakfast before rope drop
Eat in Disney Village before you enter. When I got in I discovered a lot of the restaurants and stands didnt serve breakfast, breakfast. The ones that were open at Rope Drop were serving”Coffee and a Sweet Treat” which of course I did grab. Yet, grabbing a quick breakfast outside the turnstiles would have meant I wasn’t hangry by 11 and struggling before lunch!
What I brought and nothing more
I kept it light. Phone, wallet, portable power bank, and a tote for souvenirs. That was it. The tote was perfect at the end of the night when I suddenly remembered I promised gifts.
How I handled lines
I treated paid line skips like a tool, not a lifestyle. I bought Premier Access One for two rides that mattered to me:
- Ratatouille: The Adventure in Worlds of Pixar. The queue can balloon and I wanted the guaranteed return.
- Phantom Manor in Frontierland. Classic and moody, and the time slot let me stack it neatly between shows.
I still rope dropped a couple of headliners and saved some rides for later when waits eased, but those two purchases kept the day smooth.
What I brought and nothing more
I kept it light. Phone, wallet, portable power bank, and a tote for souvenirs. That was it. The tote was perfect at the end of the night when I suddenly remembered I promised gifts.
How I handled lines
I treated paid line skips like a tool, not a lifestyle. I bought Premier Access One for two rides that mattered to me:
- Ratatouille: The Adventure in Worlds of Pixar. The queue can balloon and I wanted the guaranteed return.
- Phantom Manor in Frontierland. Classic and moody, and the time slot let me stack it neatly between shows.
I still rope dropped a couple of headliners and saved some rides for later when waits eased, but those two purchases kept the day smooth.
The nighttime plan that mostly worked
I aimed for the two-show combo, but weather had other plans. Disney Electrical Sky Parade was canceled due to weather the night I went. It happens. I was already set up in Central Plaza, so I stayed put for Disney Illuminations and still had a great evening. One note for you if you love details as much as I do: I missed the dragon in the castle lair because the castle area closes ahead of fireworks for crowd control. If the dragon is a must-see, go earlier in the afternoon. Which having seen him on Tiktok and YouTube I highly encourage.
Reserved viewing is worth it
If you can swing it, book reserved viewing for the nighttime spectacular. You don’t have to guard a curb for an hour and you still get a clean view. I’ll do that again. It paid off the moment everyone started squeezing in and we were just… fine.
A simple day plan you can copy
Morning
Eat in Disney Village, then be at the taps for opening. Hit one or two headliners. If something you love is already 60 minutes, buy Premier Access One and keep rolling.
Afternoon
Shift to shows, walkthroughs, and rides with kinder waits. This is when I slotted Phantom Manor with my return window. Take a break. I dont mean just for water and a snack, sit down for me that was Cafe Hyperion plus the rest allowed me to shore up my energy for more rides and fun!
Evening
For the nighttime spectacular since I booked a reserved viewing ticket, I got a chance to walk over closer to the start of the show and relax. My drones were canceled, but holding position for Illuminations kept the night on track without stress.
Where I ate and what actually hit the spot
I kept food simple and fast so I didn’t lose ride time. For breakfast I got a Mickey chocolate beignet. It was cute and tasty; I mean anything mickey shaped scores extra points in my book. But heads up, at least mine didn’t have a lot of chocolate inside. If you’re needing that sugar high; this may not be a great option for it; but still tasty.
I jumped at the chance to run into Café Hyperion and grabbed a burger and fries. Nothing fancy, just safe and quick, and it did the job. Even if the lines look wild, I’d still do Hyperion again for the speed and the big seating area; you can eat, take in for my old self a much needed rest, and then jump right back into the fun.
Later on since I was bust with rides I did grab a cone of French fries to snack on while walking. That little salt-and-carb boost kept my energy and mood up without a long break. I
Marvel shows on Avengers Campus
If you like live entertainment with your rides, Avengers Campus is worth a dedicated block. You’ll see short, high-energy pieces throughout the day. Think heroes rolling out for staged encounters, stunt beats on rooftops, and quick crowd moments that turn into great photos. It’s not a sit-down theater run as much as a series of tight, repeatable set pieces that pop up as you wander. My move was to do WEB Slingers first, then hang back for one or two hero moments before heading out. If you’re a Marvel fan, aim for late morning or mid-afternoon when the Campus feels lively but not jammed.
What I skipped and why
There was no way I was going to be able to do everything in both parks, Crush’s Coaster was never below a 60 minute wait and paying 16 euro for a Premier Pass was out of the question.. I started in Disneyland Park and did some of the rides, snacks and stayed for the Afternoon Parade before moving over to Studios Park. I ran through it quickly hitting a few rides before making sure I was in the Main park for the nighttime festivities.
Small things that helped a lot (or would’ve)
- Buy your round-trip RER in the morning. Walking straight to the platform at night felt like winning.
- Download the App I know we all don’t want another APP but some the events at Disneyland Paris do have a Virtual Queue system
- Use Premier Access on a ride you really care about, then stop spending. Two strategic buys changed the mood of my whole day.
- Bring a tote you can fold away. You’ll want it.
- Check the app, then screenshot times. Calm beats sprinting.
- See the dragon earlier if it matters to you, since the castle entry closes before the fireworks.
- If you want more than that Mickey Beignet in the Morning grab breakfast in Disneyland Village
- Character Meets at Disneyland Paris does offer a lot of Character Meets especially with those rarer Characters if you want to prioritize this check the App as some of these can be a Virtual Queue
Quick answers you asked me
Is the RER A ok with luggage?
Totally fine. Keep bags close and avoid peak rush. Buying the return in the morning is the secret sauce.
Can you do both parks in a day?
Yes, but pick a favorite. Spend most of it in Disneyland Park and give Studios a strong half-day. You’ll be happier.
Do you need reserved viewing and Premier Access?
You don’t need both for everything. I’d do reserved viewing for the nighttime show and Premier Access One for the one or two rides you care about most. That combo felt perfect.
Bottom line from my night
Even with the drones canceled, the evening worked because the plan was simple. I ate before the gates, kept my bag light, bought Premier Access for Ratatouille and Phantom Manor, and grabbed reserved viewing for the fireworks. I missed the castle dragon since the area closed early, but Illuminations still hit the heart just right. If you mirror that flow, you’ll leave under the Main Street lights feeling full, not wiped, and you’ll already be talking about the next trip on the train home.
