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Disneyland Paris

"I absolutely love this park. Everything about it is just amazing."

10/10
📍LocationMarne-la-Vallee, France
🎢RidesTwo parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios
👶Best ageAll ages, genuinely works for everyone
💷Tickets fromVaries by date and package, check official site
📅OpenYear-round
✈️Getting thereEurostar with a change, or fly to Paris CDG

My Review

Disneyland Paris is a 10 out of 10. Easy. There is nothing about this park that I think is bad. Nothing. The atmosphere is different to anywhere else, the rides are on another level and the whole place just feels special from the moment you arrive.

Crush's Coaster is the best roller coaster I have ever been on in my life. That is not an exaggeration. And even beyond the rides, there is Disney Village, the Rainforest Cafe, the Lego shop, the arcade, and the whole trip feels like an experience, not just a park day.

I have nothing bad to say about the whole park. Some people do, but I just love it. It's amazing.

★★★★★ 10/10

Favourite Rides

Crush's Coaster

Favourite #1 Big thrill

The best roller coaster I have ever been on. The theming puts you inside Finding Nemo, but once the ride gets going it is full-on: that first drop going backwards, the spinning, the speed and the elements. It feels like you are flowing through something. It goes on and on, twisting and turning, and it feels like you are going upside down even when you are not. My first ride is still the moment I remember most.

Big Thunder Mountain

Toby's runner up Family thrill

Big Thunder Mountain used to be my favourite before Crush's Coaster took the top spot, and I still call it the second best roller coaster of my life. You get on the train, you hear "much obliged", and then you go straight down a really cool drop. Everything about the ride is amazing: the theming, the atmosphere and the pacing.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Favourite #3 Water ride

This is one of those Disney rides where the atmosphere does loads of the work. It is not there to be a massive thrill ride, it is there because the scenes, boats, music and pirate theming make it feel like proper Disney. It is a good one when you want a big ride experience without being thrown around.

Star Tours

Favourite #4 Simulator

Star Tours is a simulator, so it is different to the coasters, but it still feels like a proper adventure. I like that Disney has rides where the story and the movement work together, because it makes the ride feel bigger than just sitting in a seat watching a screen.

Character Meets

Favourite #5 Disney moment

This is not a ride, but it is still one of the best parts of Disney. Meeting the characters makes the trip feel special, especially when you have something for them to sign. Last time we took a frame and they all signed it, and I love it.

Phantom Manor

Favourite #6 Haunted house

This is the Disneyland Paris haunted mansion-style ride, and it is great because it is spooky without being too much. It is more about the mood, the story and the creepy Disney detail than being a massive thrill ride, and that is what makes it work.

Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure

Favourite #7 Interactive ride

This is in the Marvel side, and I like that it gives you something to actually do while you ride. It is not just sitting there. You are part of the action, trying to help Spider-Man, so it feels more like a game mixed with a ride.

It's a Small World

Favourite #8 Good rest ride

This is a good one when you need a rest and want to get off your feet for a bit, because there is a lot of walking at Disney. It is gentle, classic Disney, and sometimes that is exactly what you need between bigger rides.

The park for everyone

My view is that Disneyland Paris is not just for one type of visitor. Little kids have gentler rides and characters. Families have Big Thunder Mountain and Crush's Coaster. Thrill seekers have Space Mountain, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and Indiana Jones. I have been on them, even if some of them are not my favourites, and everyone gets something.

Honest Take

Who it works for

Everyone. Genuinely. Younger kids, families and thrill seekers. My view is that Disneyland Paris has something real for all of them. There are characters, gentler rides, family coasters, big thrill rides, shows, Disney Village and loads of moments that make the whole trip feel bigger than just a park day.

Small downside

There is nothing bad about it for me. Walt Disney Studios has fewer rides than the main park, but there are shows, the Avengers theming is fantastic, Avengers walk around the park, and classic Disney characters are around too. Chip and Dale were there a lot when we went. The only real downside is rude people. There are quite a few of them, which is surprising when you consider Disney is for children.

Moment he remembers

My first ride on Crush's Coaster. It just keeps going: twisting, turning, feeling like you are upside down when you are not. I could not believe it was still going. That first ride is it. The one.

TobesVerse Top Tips

Hit Crusher's early

The queues for Crusher's Coaster are mad, so I would make that one of the first things you aim for.

Work out fast access

Either buy a day paid fast access pass or work out if it is cheaper to do it per ride. We have a wait-time rule, and if a ride goes over that, we fast pass it.

Plan your route

There is so much walking at Disney, so plan your day so you are not constantly going backwards and forwards across the parks.

Plan your food

Plan where you are eating before you leave the hotel. Some people make Disney food a massive part of the trip, but we normally eat to survive and spend more time on rides and characters.

Watch the fireworks

Watch the fireworks at least once during your stay. We bought the special viewing area, but there was still a lot of pushing, mainly from adults, which shocked me.

Take something to sign

Take something for the characters to sign. Last time we took a frame and they all signed it, and I love it.

Plan Your Visit

Planning Disney properly

Disney is the biggest planning operation for any theme park visit in my opinion. We always fly, although I really want to try the Eurotunnel next time. We stayed in the Explorers Hotel the first time we went and actually it was really good. There is a great pool and eating areas, but the breakfast was pretty grim and we were all sitting on top of each other.

Tickets & Prices

  • Book in advance on the official Disneyland Paris site. Prices vary significantly by date and package. My tip is to bring extra euros and use paid fast access for the biggest queues if the budget allows.
Book Official Tickets →

Food

  • Disney meal plans can make things simpler if you are staying in a Disney Hotel, and meal vouchers can be used in the parks, Disney Village and Disney Hotels depending on the plan you choose. We normally like to eat in Disney Village because there is a Starbucks for your mums and dads, plus diners and restaurants.
  • Our favourite is the Rainforest Cafe. Look it up. Every so often there is rainforest thunder and lightning and an elephant trumpets, which is funny. The food is good, the desserts are brilliant, and it is not a bad cost for the three of us to eat there.
  • We always do a Disney breakfast when we are there in the park where the characters come along. I really love that because my favourite character is always there: Goofy.

FAQs

What rating do I give Disneyland Paris?

10 out of 10. It is easy, and I have nothing bad to say about the whole park.

What is my favourite ride at Disneyland Paris?

Crush's Coaster. I call it the best roller coaster I have ever been on in my life. The first drop going backwards, the spinning and the length of the ride are what make it.

What is my second favourite ride?

Big Thunder Mountain, a very close second. It used to be my favourite before Crush's Coaster took the top spot.

What do I recommend eating at Disneyland Paris?

The Rainforest Cafe in Disney Village is our favourite. I love the rainforest thunder and lightning, the animals, the desserts and the fact it is not a bad cost for the three of us. I also love doing a Disney character breakfast because Goofy is usually there.

Is Disneyland Paris good for younger children?

Yes. I think it works for all ages: little kids have gentler rides, families have the mid-range thrills and thrill seekers have Space Mountain, Avengers Assemble and more.

What is my top tip for first-time visitors?

Hit Crush's Coaster early because the queues are mad, plan your route so you are not walking backwards and forwards all day, and work out whether paid fast access makes sense for your family.

What is Disney Village?

Disney Village is the area outside the parks with restaurants, shops and an arcade. I love the Lego shop, the merchandise and the Rainforest Cafe, which is my favourite restaurant.

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