What Is The Difference Between Disneyland Paris and Disney World in 2024?

difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World

Are you desperate to plan a Disney vacation but unsure which Disney park to head to? Wondering ‘how is Disneyland Paris different from Disney World?’. Today, we are going to discuss the difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World, so you can plan a magical trip!

difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World

With Disney parks in a variety of countries – and continents – it can get confusing. After all, they all have castles and Mickey Mouse, right?!

But there is a lot more to it than that. So today, we are covering everything you need to know, so you can decide which Disney parks to head to!

This post is all about the difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World.

The Difference Between Disneyland Paris and Disney World

@caffeinebythecastle

I am obsessed with Disneyland Paris and Disney World, but they are pretty different! What do you think is the biggest difference between the two?! To read the full post, visit caffeinebythecastle.com/difference-between-disneyland-paris-and-disney-world/

♬ Cheerful and cute like Disney’s parade – Minaco

Location, location, location

Perhaps the biggest difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World – as suggested by their names – is their location.

It’s no surprise that Disneyland Paris is located in France, Europe. It is important to note that Disneyland Paris is not actually in Paris. Yes, I’m sorry to burst your Disney bubble, but it is approximately 20 miles from Paris – according to the Disneyland Paris website.

Whereas Walt Disney World is situated in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Depending on where you live, it might be less time-consuming (and cheaper) for you to travel to one or the other.

Size and the number of parks

Other than the location, the most substantial difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World is their size.

Disneyland Paris covers approximately 4,800 acres. This may sound a lot, but it is rather minute compared to Disney World at about 30,000 acres (yes, there are four zeros!).

RELATED POST: How Many Parks Are There At Disney World? – All The Disney Parks You Need To Know

Disneyland Paris Parks

Two parks can be found at Disneyland Paris: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios.

Disneyland Park is the equivalent of Magic Kingdom (in Orlando) – with similar lands, attractions and theming.

how big is disneyland paris compared to disney world
Disneyland Park – Disneyland Paris

 

Walt Disney Studios is similar to Hollywood Studios, as it’s all about the behind-the-scenes of movie-making. That being said, it is significantly smaller and has a lot of unique attractions.

 

does disney own disneyland paris
Photo by Lydia Turner on Unsplash

 

Disney World Parks

On the other hand, Disney World has 6 parks: 2 water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon) and 4 traditional theme parks.

As we already mentioned, Magic Kingdom is similar to Disneyland Park in Paris.

How is Disneyland Paris different from Disney World?
The entrance of Magic Kingdom at Disney World (in Florida)

 

They have some similar attractions and lands (more on that later). That being said, they are different enough not to feel like replicas of one another.

We also mentioned that a similar park to Walt Disney Studios in Paris is Hollywood Studios in Orlando.

Is Disneyland Paris more expensive than Disney World?
Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World (in Orlando)

 

Hollywood Studios is a much bigger version of a “movie-making” themed park. Because of this, it is usually perceived as the better option of the two.

The two Disney World theme parks that haven’t been replicated in Disneyland Paris are:

  • Epcot
  • Animal Kingdom

Arguably, the best Disney World theme park is Epcot.

Is Paris Disneyland worth to go?

 

Epcot is known for 3 main things:

  1. Immersing guests into different cultures (at the world showcase, where you can “travel” to 11 countries. This includes France 🇫🇷, the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, Morocco 🇲🇦, Germany 🇩🇪, Japan 🇯🇵, Canada 🇨🇦, the United States 🇺🇸, Norway 🇳🇴, China 🇨🇳, Mexico 🇲🇽 and Italy 🇮🇹)
  2. Festivals, including: the Festival of the Arts, the Flower and Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival and the Festival of the Holidays.
  3. Spaceship Earth (aka the Epcot ball, photographed above)

Animal Kingdom is another unique theme park in Disney World.

disneyland paris vs disney world size
The Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom

 

As you would expect, this theme park is all about animals! You can go on safari, “regular” Disney rides and enjoy some fabulous food and drinks – like all Disney parks.

Ideal Length of Trip

As we mentioned earlier, Disney World has 6 parks (including the 2 water parks), whereas Disneyland Paris only has 2 parks. This greatly impacts the ideal length of your vacation.

For Disneyland Paris, you could stay for as little as two days (if you wanted to do one park per day). This may mean that you only have to stay for one night.

However, if you wanted a more leisurely trip, I would recommend staying for 2-4 nights (especially if it’s your first trip). This way, you may feel less pressure to cram lots of rides and experiences into every park day.

cheap disneyland paris tickets
Peter Pan at Disneyland Paris

 

On the other hand, if you go to Disney World, you will probably want a longer vacation.

In order to fit in all 6 parks (including the water parks), it is best to have 5-6 days at Disney World.

If you’re only interested in visiting the 4 main theme parks, you could do one park per day and spend 4 days at Disney World.

disneyland paris packages 2023
Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World

 

To have a more leisurely trip, 7 days is an ideal length of stay.

If you are an international Disney World visitor, it might make sense to stay for 14 days, as tickets are usually 14 days for the price of 7. You can often get access to some great packages for 2 weeks.

Cost

As you may expect, Disneyland Paris can often be the cheaper option. After all, the average length of stay is often less than Disney World, saving on your accommodation cost.

That being said, it depends on where you are travelling from. If you are American, it might still be cheaper to visit Disney World, and save on your travel.

The main factors to determine the cost of a Disneyland Paris or Disney World vacation for you include:

  • The price of travel (e.g. flights, fuel, trains etc.)
  • The cost of accommodation
Things to book Disneyland Paris
Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter at Walt Disney World

 

  • The price of theme park tickets
  • Spending money (average price of souvenirs and food etc., as well as considering the current exchange rates)
Disney Resorts in Paris
The Emporium at Disney World

 

It is worth looking at Disney packages to see if you can save any money this way.

The time of year can also greatly affect the price. School holidays will predictably be more expensive than non-peak times.

Accomodation & Resorts

There are many accommodation options at both Disneyland Paris and Disney World.

Firstly, let’s discuss the on-site options.

Disneyland Paris On-Site Options

There are 8 on-site hotel options at Disneyland Paris, ranging from 2 to 5 stars – accommodating a variety of budgets and needs.

Disneyland Paris “Deluxe” Options (4-5 star, which is what is considered “deluxe” in Disney World)
  • Disneyland Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (currently closed for renovation until 2024)

 

 

disneyland paris tickets
The Disneyland Hotel at Disneyland Paris

 

Disneyland Paris “Value” – “Moderate” Options (3 stars)

The Perks of Staying On-Site at Disneyland Paris

  • Extra Magic Time (the duration may vary, depending on when you visit Disneyland Paris)
  • Free transportation to the parks (shuttle bus) – excluding Disney Davy Crockett Ranch
  • Character encounters at the hotels (except Disney Davy Crockett Ranch)
how is disneyland paris different from disneyland usa
Minnie Mouse at Disneyland Park in Paris

 

  • You get to stay in the “Disney bubble” and enjoy Disney theming 24/7 during your stay (which could also be a con if you’re not the biggest Disney fan ever)
  • If you book directly with Disney, theme park tickets are included in the price

Disney World On-Site Options

In stark contrast to Disneyland Paris, Disney World offers over 25 on-site accommodation options – including Value, Moderate, Deluxe and Deluxe Villas to suit a variety of needs.

Note: the number of stars for each resort is according to Google.

Disney World Deluxe Resort Options (4-5 star accommodation)
disneyland paris vs disney world reddit
Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World

 

  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
disneyland paris reviews
Beach Club Resort 🏖 at Walt Disney World

 

  • Disney’s Boardwalk Inn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

RELATED POST: The Best Disney World Deluxe Resort You Should Book A Stay At

Disney World Moderate Resort Options (3-4 star accommodation)
  • Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disneyland must haves
Port Orleans – Riverside at Walt Disney World

 

  • Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disneyland secrets
Caribbean Beach 🏝 (& the Skyliner!) at Walt Disney World

 

  • The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (which are being turned into DVC properties, so these may not be available for your vacation
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Paris disney
Coronado Springs at Walt Disney World

 

Disney World Value Resort Options (1-3-star accommodation)
  • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disneyland park
All-Star Movies Resort 🎥 at Walt Disney World 🐾

 

  • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disneyland hacks
All-Star Music Resort 🎵 at Walt Disney World 🦁

 

  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Is Disneyland Paris better than Disney World?
Art of Animation 🎨 at Walt Disney World 🦁👑

 

  • The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort ⭐️

RELATED POST: 9 Reasons Why You Should Stay At Value Resorts At Disney World

Disney World Deluxe Villa Resorts (Disney Vacation Club Resorts)
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Boardwalk Villas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Is Disney in Paris worth it?
Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort at Walt Disney World

 

  • Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Riviera Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Is it cheaper to go to Disneyland Paris or Florida?
Riviera Resort at Disney World

 

  • Disney’s Old Key West Resort ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Is Disneyland Paris same as Disney World?

 

  • The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Perks of Staying On-Site at Disney World

  • Free transportation to the parks & Disney Springs (a variety of transportation options including: buses, the monorail, the Skyliner or a boat – depending on which resort you are staying at)
Which is better Disneyland or Walt Disney World Paris?
The magical Disney World buses

 

  • Early Theme Park entry to guests at all Disney World on-site resorts
  • Extended Evening Theme Park Hours to those staying at Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas exclusively
How does Disney World Paris cost?
Cinderella’s Castle 🏰 at night 🌙 at Walt Disney World

 

  • Free parking at your resort & the theme parks (parking at the theme parks is $25-$50 (depending on your vehicle and the standard of parking you choose) – for those staying off-site)
  • Early access to Individual Lightning Lanes (the updated version of the Fastpass) at 7AM. (Off-site guests have to wait until the parks open)
  • Free towels at the water parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon)
  • The ability to book dining reservations 60 days in advance
  • Pre-ordering MagicBands at a discount (usually around $10 per guest)
disneyland paris tickets
Walt Disney World MagicBands

 

  • Early access to event tickets (e.g. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party)
disneyland paris packages
Mickey having a grand time at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 🎄🎁

 

RELATED POST: Everything You Need To Know About Disney World Halloween Events

  • You can stay in the “Disney bubble” for your entire trip
  • Some resorts offer a fitness centre

As you can see, there are more perks for staying on-site at Disney World than at Disneyland Paris. That being said, let’s review the Disney Partner Hotels at Disneyland Paris and the Good Neighbour Hotels at Disney World for Disneyland Paris and Disney World, as well as the benefits of staying there.

Disneyland Paris Off-Site Options

If staying on-site is too expensive or unappealing to you, Disneyland Paris offers a variety of off-site options.

Disneyland Paris Partner Hotels & Selected Hotels
  • Adagio Marne la Vallée Val d’Europe ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • B&B Hotel ⭐️⭐️
  • Hôtel l’Elysée Val d’Europe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Campanile Val De France ⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Explorers Hotel ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Perks of Staying Off-Site at Disneyland Paris

  • Some of these hotels offer complimentary shuttle buses to the Disneyland Paris parks
  • Some partner hotels are within walking distance of the parks
  • They can often be more inexpensive than the Disneyland Paris hotels

Disney World Off-Site Options

Similarly, Disney World offers Good Neighbor Hotels (which are Disney approved).

Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels

The Perks of Staying Off-Site at Disney World

  • 3 and 4-star options
  • Options of suites
  • Some Good Neighbor Hotels offer a free breakfast (which can save a lot, especially if you’re travelling with a large party)
  • Some have complimentary transportation to Disney World
  • Some have a fitness centre

Clearly, there are more off-site options at Disney World. Therefore, it may be easier for you to save money at Disney World – if you want to stay off-site.

Theme Park Tickets

One of the largest expenses of your trip is theme park tickets. Unfortunately, this is true for both Disneyland Paris and Disney World.

A one-day un-dated ticket for one park at Disneyland Paris (not part of a package) is $124.96 (as of 2023). If you would like to visit two parks, this would cost $154.71.

For Disney World, a one-day ticket is from $109, and a park hopper one-day ticket. The park hopper one-day ticket is from $184. The park hopper plus option (which grants you access to the water parks) is from $204.

So, tickets are extremely expensive for both parks. However, you can save money by buying tickets for more days.

RELATED POST: The Insane Prices of Disney World 1-Day Tickets

Annual Passes

Believe it or not, you may actually save money on your tickets by purchasing Disneyland Paris or Disney World annual passes.

Disneyland Paris annual passes are currently available for €289 – €699 (depending on the tier). If you’re spending enough time at Disneyland Paris, it might be worth opting for an annual pass.

Disney World annual passes cost $399-$1,399 + tax (it would be $1,399 if you’re not a Florida resident or DVC member with a blue card). A Disney World annual pass may also help you save on other expenses (e.g. hotels, merchandise, food etc.).

Difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World Parks

Attractions

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris offer a variety of attractions.

Disneyland Paris offers over 50 attractions (according to the Disneyland Paris website) across the two parks. These attractions include a variety of rides, character meet-and-greets, shows and more!

disneyland paris opening times
Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop in Toy Story Playland at Disneyland Paris

 

Walt Disney World currently offers over 260 attractions (according to the Disney World website) across the resorts, parks, Disney Springs and Boardwalk.

disneyland paris opening times
Frozen Ever After ❄️ in the Norway Pavillion 🇳🇴 in Epcot at Walt Disney World

 

So, clearly, there is a lot more to do in Disney World (hence why you may need a longer vacation, if you want to go to the Orlando parks).

RELATED POST: 10 Exhilarating Disney World Thrill Rides You Can’t Miss

The Castles

Now, this may not be a big deal to you, but it is important to note that they are quite different! 🏰

Disneyland Park (in Paris) is home to Sleeping Beauty Castle (or ‘Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant‘).

disneyland paris parks
Sleeping Beauty Castle 🏰 in Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris

 

As expected, Sleeping Beauty Castle has a more European feel and is also an endearing walk-through attraction.

Magic Kingdom (in Orlando) is home to Cinderella Castle, which is larger than Sleeping Beauty Castle.

disneyland paris day tickets
Cinderella Castle 🏰 in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

 

Unlike Disneyland Park, there is no walk-through attraction. However, there is a table-service restaurant here instead (Cinderella’s Royal Table).

And if you’re really lucky, one day you might be invited to stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite. We might be dreaming a little much here, but hey, miracles can happen at Disney World 😂

Ta Ta For Now

Which Disney park will you be headed to next? And, if you’ve been to both Disneyland Paris and Disney World, which is your favourite?! Let me know in the comments.

This post is all about the difference between Disneyland Paris and Disney World.

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