Do you need a Disneyland Paris Park Plan to maximise time on a short trip? This is the guide for you!
Disneyland Paris is full of attractions, magic and fun. But, if you have limited time, you probably need to find effective ways to maximise your time.
Last weekend, I visited Disneyland Paris for 3 nights (but only 2 full days in the parks).
I have been visiting Disneyland Paris for 15 years (usually taking short trips), so here are some tips that I have learned throughout the years to maximise my time there!
So, grab a pen and paper, put on your Mickey ears, and let’s dive into the ultimate Disneyland Paris adventure!
This post is all about the ultimate Disneyland Paris park plan to maximise time on a short trip in 2024.
Disneyland Paris Park Plan for Short Trips
There are a number of things to consider before your trip that could help you save a lot of time.
Here they are …
1) Staying in On-Site Disneyland Paris Hotels
If you are visiting for more than just a day trip, this could help you save quite a lot of time.
This is mainly because guests who stay in Disneyland Paris Hotels have access to Extra Magic Time can usually enter the parks one hour before the other guests (though this is subject to change, so make sure to check Disney’s site for the date(s) that you visit).
Here is a List of all the On-Site Disneyland Paris Hotels:
- Disneyland Hotel – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – This is Disneyland Paris’ only 5-star Hotel, and is located conveniently at the entrance to Disneyland Park! It has just been refurbished, and it is gorgeous (and very expensive)!
- Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – This Hotel – which has been Marvel-themed since June 2021 – is just a 10-minute walk to the parks. Alternatively, you can take a “complimentary” 8-minute shuttle.
- Disney Newport Bay Club – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – I stayed here for the first time last weekend, and fell in love with its gorgeous seaside theming. For those who have visited/stayed at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts, they were designed by the same architect, Robert A. M. Stern. I would even argue that Disney Newport Bay Club is even nicer than the Yacht and Beach Club Resorts! This Hotel is a 15-minute walk to the parks and takes just 8 minutes if you’re taking the “free” bus.
- Disney Sequoia Lodge – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ – I stayed here for one night last weekend (my second stay at this Resort). It’s cute and cosy, but I would argue it has the worst rooms on Disneyland Paris property. They look a little tired and in need of a refurbishment.
If you’re expecting this Resort to be like Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World, you’re probably going to be disappointed. But, if you’re spending most of your time in the parks, and just need a place to sleep, this is a pretty good option. Also, it’s a great choice if you’re visiting in Winter (or around Christmas), because it’s cosy. Similarly to Newport Bay Club, this is a 15-minute walk to the parks and takes 8-minutes on the “complimentary shuttle” bus.
- Disney Hotel Cheyenne – ⭐️⭐️⭐️ – This Wild West-themed Hotel (with some subtle Toy Story theming) is one of my favourites. This is practically a Value Resort – and I would argue that it’s nicer than any of the Value Resorts at Walt Disney World. The rooms are perfectly themed and the Resort is fun to stay at! This Disneyland Paris hotel is a 20-minute walk to the parks and 8 minutes away, if you take the “complimentary” shuttle.
- Disney Hotel Santa Fe – ⭐️⭐️ – This Cars-themed Hotel is a pretty basic Resort, but it isn’t bad at all! The rooms are exciting and fun – especially for fans of the Cars movies! It is also usually the cheapest Hotel to stay at, and if you’d rather spend most of your time in the Parks, this is probably your best option, if you would like to stay on Disneyland Paris property. Like Disney Hotel Cheyenne, Disney Hotel Santa Fe is a 20-minute walk to the parks and 8 minutes away, if you take the “complimentary” bus.
- Disney Davy Crockett Ranch – When you stay here, you get your own 2-bedroom self-catering cabin – with a kitchen and lounge area. I have stayed at this Resort three times, and the cabins could do with a refurbishment in the relatively near future. That being said, it is a charming Resort. But please note that there is NO COMPLIMENTARY SHUTTLE service, and it is a 15-minute drive to the parks.
I also have stayed at a Disney Associated Hotels before (Explorers Fabulous Hotels Group – ⭐️⭐️⭐️), as well as other nearby Hotels (Grand Magic Hotel Marne La Vallée and Dream Castle Hotel Marne La Vallee – which is beautiful). However, these Resorts won’t grant you access to Extra Magic Time – so if that’s important to you, I would recommend staying on-site.
However, if you have a Disneyland Paris Annual Gold Pass, you will have access to Extra Magic Time, so it wouldn’t matter which Resort you stayed at.
2) Buy Your Tickets Online Before You Go
This is a MAJOR one.
Every time I’ve visited the Disneyland Paris Parks, the line for people buying tickets is INSANELY long.
You can save yourself a lot of time by purchasing your tickets online.
If you’re staying on-site and book your stay directly through Disney, your theme park tickets will be part of your package.
But, if you are staying off-site, or just visiting for one day, make sure to purchase your tickets online before your visit.
3) Try to Avoid Visiting Disneyland Paris During Peak Seasons
Unfortunately, this isn’t an option for everyone, but if you can visit during quieter times of the year (e.g. weekdays in January, February, September and November – avoiding school holidays), the Parks will usually be less crowded.
This makes it easier to get to all the attractions you want!
In addition, you will probably save on Hotels – especially on-site Hotels – during quieter seasons.
4) Maybe Skip the Table Service Restaurants
If you’re a foodie who loves table service dining, feel free to ignore this but if not …
Quick Service dining at Disneyland Paris can save you a lot of time (and money).
And they serve some incredible meals. The best Table Service restaurants I have been to are:
Colonel Hathi’s Outpost Restaurant – a great Italian quick-service restaurant
Casa de Coco – Restaurante de Familia – a wonderful Mexican quick-service restaurant with THE BEST vegan burrito.
5) But if you want to Meet some Disney Characters …
If you want to meet some characters, but don’t want to wait in long lines, Character Dining may be a good option for you (but keep in mind that this can be expensive).
Here is the current list of Disneyland Paris Character Dining Restaurants:
6) Prioritise the Most Important Attractions
Of course, this will differ depending on whether you prefer roller coasters or slow rides, but here is a list of the most exciting and iconic rides you may want to prioritise in each of the parks:
Iconic/Exciting Disneyland Paris Rides at Disneyland Park:
- “it’s a small world”
Location: Fantasyland
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Disneyland Railroad
Location: Main Street U.S.A.
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Peter Pan’s Flight
Location: Fantasyland
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Phantom Manor
Location: Frontierland
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Pirates of the Caribbean
Location: Adventureland
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Location: Discoveryland
Height Requirement: 1.20m +
- Big Thunder Mountain
Location: Frontierland
Height Requirement: 1.02m +
Iconic/Exciting Disneyland Paris Rides at Walt Disney Studios:
- Crush’s Coaster
Location: Worlds of Pixar
Height Requirement: 1.07m +
- RC Racer
Location: Worlds of Pixar (Toy Story Playland)
Height Requirement: 1.20m +
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
Location: World of Pixar
Height Requirement: Any Height
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
Location: Marvel Avengers Campus
Height Requirement: 1.20m +
- Spider-Man W.E.B Adventure
Location: Marvel Avengers Campus
Height Requirement: Any height
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Location: Production Courtyard
Height Requirement: 1.02m
I recommend that you check which attractions are closed for refurbishment before your visit.
7) Purchase Disney Premier Access
Disney Premier Access is essentially Disneyland Paris’ version of Genie + – a paid Fastpass system.
I have used Genie+ at Disney World, but I haven’t used Disney Premier Access. If you’re looking for more information, this is a helpful blog post that can help you decide if it’s worth it.
Ta Ta For Now
It can seem overwhelming at first, but with the right Disneyland Paris park plan, you can almost guarantee that you will have a magical visit – even if you’re not there for long!
As Disneyland Paris is a lot smaller than Disney World, short trips are ideal – and by implementing some of these tips, you can still have a very productive visit!
This post was all about the ultimate Disneyland Paris park plan to maximise time on a short trip in 2024.
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