As much as a lot of us probably wish we could roll up and spend a good
week or so at Disneyland Paris, strolling around the parks and saving
all of the rushing for the other visitors, this isn’t always possible.
Add in a dose of sugar-fuelled or tired children, budget limits and
holiday allowance restrictions and suddenly, spending more than a day or
two in the Magic Kingdom can start to feel like a nightmare.
Thankfully, it’s entirely possible to make the most out of your day (or
two!) at Disneyland Paris and still get the chance to see both parks! So
pack up your bags, grab your e111 cards and get ready to jet off – here
is how you can make the most of your day at Disney.
Research Tickets In Advance
Tickets to Disneyland can be notoriously
expensive and when travelling with a large family, this quickly adds up
to an eye-watering amount. By researching ticket availability in
advance, you may be able to get your hands on discounts and deals so you
can get the best possible ticket for the money you have.
Download The Disneyland Paris App
The Disneyland Paris app for mobiles is going to be your best friend
when it comes to choosing which attraction to visit next. The leading
attractions tend to have longer waiting lines and you might find
yourself standing in a queue for upwards of an hour during the busiest
times of the year, but they do have lulls. Whether due to meal times,
natural migration around the park or simply because every parent has
decided to take an afternoon break for some popcorn and a drink, this
app gives you real-time reports of every single waiting time so you can
head straight for the rides you want to head on to right at the optimal
time.
Use The FASTPASS Feature!
If you’d rather not sprint from
one end of the park to the other, the FASTPASS feature around the park
also offers quick and efficient ride opportunities. This feature was
introduced to help cut down waiting times and is completely free – yes,
free! – to everyone who wants to give it a try. Essentially, many of the
leading rides have a FASTPASS ticket machine, at which you’ll go to the
machine, scan your ticket and be given another ticket to return at a
later time and essentially cut the queues! You can only hold one
FASTPASS voucher at any time, however, so plan carefully!
Give Yourself As Much Time As Possible
Arriving at opening and
leaving at closing is arguably your best bet if you want to make the
very most of your day at Disney. If you’re planning on staying in the
hotel or have an annual pass, you’ll be given access to Early Magic
Hours before the park even opens! This magical time allows you to dart
from ride to ride with pretty much no wait time whatsoever and a park
all to yourself – well, and the other early riders. If you don’t have
this luxury, starting as early as possible and staying until as late as
you and the kids can take will guarantee you a chance to play, see the
parade and witness the stunning fireworks and light show on Sleeping
Beauty’s Castle before closing too!
Don’t Just Focus On The Rides
Disneyland Paris is an intricately designed beauty that Europe is lucky
to have and if you truly want to make the most of this magical
opportunity, make sure you do more than just hop from ride to ride. The
castle is home to a room designated entirely to the story of Sleeping
Beauty, with a balcony to get a unique view of the Disney Park and if
you wander underneath the castle walls, you’ll even be greeted by none
other than the fierce dragon! There’s a shopping arcade filled with
unique Disney-themed stores, other specialist shops dotted around
including Boardwalk Candy Palace, a boutique designated entirely to
Christmas within the castle and a whole abundance of memorable shows for
the entire family to enjoy – oh, and of course, you can meet Mickey and
Minnie too!
There’s so much to do at Disneyland Paris that some
argue it’s impossible to do it all in one day. If you can afford, or
handle, to do more than a single day at Disneyland, I recommend doing
exactly that. If you can’t, don’t fret! You can still enjoy the magic
that Disney has to offer without worrying about missing out!
