10 Worst Disneyland Paris Planning Tips You Should Ignore [why does everyone give you this bad advice?!]

Are you in your Disneyland Paris planning phase?

You’re probably sifting through endless advice, trying to craft the perfect itinerary.

But not all Disneyland Paris planning advice is created equal. Some guidance can actually send you off course.

It might be time to rethink these common misconceptions.

In this post, we’ll uncover 10 planning tips you should flat-out ignore, or at least consider ignoring, so that you can have the best Disneyland Paris trip possible!

Whether you’re visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget, visiting Disneyland Paris with kids or trying to find the best attractions in Disneyland Paris for you, there will be some tips here you will want to actively avoid taking on board!

This post is all about the top 10 worst Disneyland Paris planning tips that you should ignore, so you can have the best trip possible!

Disneyland Paris Planning

1) “You Can Do Disneyland Paris in One Day”

Many well-meaning friends or travel blogs might tell you that you can conquer Disneyland Paris in just one day.

And technically, you could … But you can’t do it well. Or as thoroughly as you may like.

Let’s remember that Disneyland Paris is home to two parks. Even if you only choose to visit one of the parks, it is unlikely that you’ll have time to experience all the attractions.

You can get more done by purchasing Disney Premier Access (Disney’s newer FastPass system – which is no longer free). But keep in mind that this is expensive. And you still won’t be able to get the most of the parks. You may go on more Disneyland Paris rides, but you probably won’t have a lot of time to “smell the roses”.

The parks (Disneyland Park in particular) are so beautiful. The architecture is next-level and there are so many incredible details that you can easily miss if you’re in a rush.

Trying to squeeze everything into one day means you’ll likely rush through the parks without truly soaking in the experience.

With so many Disneyland Paris rides, incredible lands, dining locations and more one day simply isn’t enough.

Perhaps you want to watch a parade, see the fireworks, and visit all the gift shops.

disneyland paris planning tips — Disney Illuminations

Disneyland Paris is about more than just rides. So, to get the most of Disneyland Paris, I’d recommend a minimum of two days (and a maximum of four days, unless you want to take your trip *really* slow).

That being said, if the choice is between going for one day or not going at all, I still recommend going to Disneyland Paris! However, I’d recommend only visiting one park (Disneyland Park). And go in with the expectation that you won’t get everything done, so you don’t get too stressed!

2) “Staying at On-Site Hotels at Disneyland Paris Is a Waste of Money”

Have you ever searched for ‘Disneyland Paris budget tips’?

If so, you were probably told that you shouldn’t stay at an on-site Disneyland Paris hotel.

“They’re overpriced, and there are several hotels near Disneyland Paris that are just fine.”

This can be true … but it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re staying at the Disneyland Hotel, yeah, that’s going to be crazy expensive. It’s a 5-star hotel, and couldn’t be any closer to Disneyland Park!

And, Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel is also expensive.

But, don’t overlook the cheaper Disneyland Paris hotels (particularly Disney Hotel Santa Fe, Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Sequoia Lodge).

disneyland paris plan your day — Disney Hotel Cheyenne

You can often find good deals on these hotels. Even if they are a little more expensive, don’t forget about the perks of staying on-site – particularly Extra Magic Time.

This is where you can enter the Disneyland Paris Parks one hour before all other guests.

You can ride the most popular attractions with shorter wait times.

This may even diminish your need/want for Disney Premier Access. Surprisingly, staying on-site can actually be a great method for saving money at Disneyland Paris!

3) “It’s Too Cold to Visit Disneyland Paris in Winter”

When it comes to planning your trip to Disneyland Paris, it’s easy to be put off by the idea of low temperatures.

In January, the lowest temperature tends to be about 35 degrees Fahrenheit (or even 1.66 degrees Celsius!).

And if you’re really lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you feel about this), you may even see snow at Disneyland Paris!

As someone who has been visiting Disneyland Paris in Winter since 2009, I understand that it’s not much fun to be freezing at a theme park. (Similarly, it’s not much fun to be melting in the heat at Disney World in summer).

But it doesn’t have to be such a big deal – if you’re well-prepared.

How can you be well-prepared? Pack plenty of layers! Tops, jumpers, warm coats, very warm leggings/trousers, warm/fluffy socks with comfortable footwear.

Yeah, there’s a high likelihood you’ll need it all (at least for some of your winter trip).

And don’t forget: Paris can see as many as 10 days of rainfall a month in winter – so don’t forget your waterproof coat.

You may be thinking: ‘is it really worth all the effort?’.

YES.

For most of winter (avoiding Christmas and New Year), you will find some of the BEST Disneyland Paris hotel deals.

If your main vacation planning goal is saving money at Disneyland Paris, winter will probably be the best time to visit Disneyland Paris for you.

You can see the best deals at MagicBreaks and Disney’s site.

These deals can be so good that they put the Summer prices to shame!

Speaking of summer …

4) “It’s too busy to visit Disneyland Paris in summer”

Summer means school holidays. School holidays mean larger crowds at Disneyland Paris. Right?

Well, yes and no. Are school holidays going to be busier than the rest of the year?

Sure.

But school holidays in most countries tend to last between 6 and 12 weeks. So, not all families are visiting Disneyland Paris over the same few days. The crowds are spread out.

I visited Disneyland Paris in late July-early August in 2018 and 2022, and whilst the crowds were larger than the January/February crowds, they were not nearly as bad as I expected.

As long as you avoid any major holidays, don’t let the crowds put you off a summer vacation at Disneyland Paris!

However, expect Disneyland Paris hotel prices to be high at this time of year.

This may be one of the few times where staying off-site may make sense – unless you are willing to splurge on your Disneyland Paris trip.

5) “You Can Save a Lot of Money by Buying Disneyland Paris Annual Passes”

Okay, this used to be true.

I know this firsthand as someone who bought a Disneyland Paris Annual Pass in 2022.

There used to be four tiers of Disneyland Paris Annual Passes – all under €500 – with great benefits, like hotel discounts and more (depending on the Annual Pass you purchased).

In summer of 2023, Disneyland Paris changed their Annual Pass system. Now, there are three different types of Annual Passes. These are more expensive, and Disney stripped nearly every perk!

Annual Passes are no longer one of the best Disneyland Paris ticket options.

You are often best off buying your Disneyland Paris tickets in a package with the cost of your hotel stay included.

6) “You Can Wait to Buy Your Disneyland Paris Tickets at the Gate”

This is terrible advice because you can’t actually buy Disneyland Paris tickets at the gates anymore.

[And even if you could, would you really want to wait in line and and pay the highest Disneyland Paris ticket prices?

Want some good and helpful advice on how to buy tickets for Disneyland Paris? Check out our post all about buying Disneyland Paris tickets online.

7) “Disneyland Paris is for Kids, so All the Attractions are Child-Friendly”

DO NOT MAKE THIS ASSUMPTION if you are travelling with young kids.

Sure, Disneyland Paris rides like Dumbo The Flying Elephant and Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast are unsurprisingly un-scary.

But there are some rides tyhat seem fine for all ages .. but they are scarier than they seem.

How do I know this so well?

Once upon a time, I was a four-year-old kid TERRIFIED on Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (the Snow White ride).

I was also a six-year old kid who cried after Crush’s Coaster, because it was way more intense that I’d anticipated.

So yeah, if you’re traveling with younger kids, do some research on the attractions before your visit!

8) “Walt Disney Studios is the Best Park for Thrill-Seekers – much better than Disneyland Park”

Does Walt Disney Studios have good rides for thrill-seekers? Of course. From The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, there are certainly thrilling rides at the smaller Disneyland Paris park.

However, don’t overlook Disneyland Park – where you can find TWO roller coasters that go upside down (compared to just one at Walt Disney Studios).

Both Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril have inversions.

There are also other amazing thrilling roller coasters at Disneyland Park that you should not overlook!

9) “Character Meals Are the Best Way to Meet Characters at Disneyland Paris”

Many people think the best Disneyland Paris character experiences take place at Disneyland Paris character meals.

Whilst this can be convenient and fun, character meals are very expensive.

And luckily, you can find characters walking around Disneyland Park quite regularly (sometimes without a line to meet them!).

The best part: you don’t have to pay extra to meet characters this way!

Unless you really want to meet certain characters that are mainly found at a certain restaurant (or you want to try a particular dining location with characters), I’d save your money. Especially if you’re staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel (other than Disney Davy Crockett Ranch), as you can meet characters at your hotel at certain times of day.

10) “You Can Skip the Shows; They’re a Waste of Time”

When planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, skipping the shows might seem like a smart way to save time for rides.

But letting this idea guide your Disneyland Paris planning could mean missing out on some great attractions.l

Firstly, let’s be honest: not all Disneyland Paris shows are created equal (and not all of them will be your cup of tea).

For example, Frozen: A Musical Invitation may be fun for kids, but it’s a little boring for adults (no, sadly, it’s nothing like For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration at Hollywood Studios – Disney World).

On the other hand, The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands is best for slightly older kids and adults.

Do your research and find the best shows for you. But unless you are only visiting for one day, try not to skip the shows completely.

Even if you’re just looking for somewhere to sit down and rest, you can go and watch an awesome show!

Disneyland Paris FAQs for Planning Your Trip

What are the best times to visit Disneyland Paris?

If you’re looking for a good deal, most of January and February are affordable times to visit.

If you don’t mind spending a little more – and you want better weather – look at spring or summer.

Where should I stay when visiting Disneyland Paris?

This depends largely on your budget and what you want from a hotel.

I have broken down everything you should know about each of the Disneyland Paris hotels in this post.

How many days do I need to explore Disneyland Paris?

As I mentioned earlier, if possible, I’d plan at least two days at Disneyland Paris. You probably wouldn’t need more than 4 days.

Are there any money-saving tips for Disneyland Paris?

Luckily, yes! It’s no secret that Disneyland Paris is very expensive, but there are ways you can save money.

I wrote a post which helps you find the cheapest way to do Disneyland Paris, which can help you find and implement the best money-saving Disneyland Paris tips.

How can I avoid long wait times for rides?

Visit in quieter periods (most of winter).
Avoid weekends and school holidays.
Stay at a Disneyland Paris on-site hotel and take advantage of Extra Magic Time!
Consider splurging on Disney Premier Access.

Are there any attractions for young kids?

Yes, Disneyland Paris has plenty of attractions for young kids.

However, there are a number of attractions that are surprisingly scary, so make sure to do your research (as mentioned earlier in this post).

Ta Ta For Now

Disneyland Paris planning can be overwhelming. But if you avoid these bad Disneyland Paris tips, it should make the planning process (and your trip) so much easier!

What is the worst Disneyland Paris trip planning advice you’ve been given? Let us know, so we can avoid making that Disneyland Paris planning mistake!