Discovering Disneyland Paris

They say that you’re never too old or too young for Disneyland. Whether your first Disney experience was watching “Bambi” in 1942, or watching “Cars” in 2006, the characters of Disney always manage to hold a special place in our hearts. Over the last decades, Disney has grown from being an America film company, to an internationally recognized household name. In 1955, California became home to the first and only Disney theme park. However, it didn’t stay that way for long; in 1971, Disney World opened in Florida, and in 1983 Tokyo Disneyland opened up. In 1992, Europe welcomed its first Disney amusement park: Disneyland Paris, which quickly grew to be one of the most popular destinations on the continent.

About the Park

Originally called Euro Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris is family-friendly vacation theme park located in Marne-la-Vallée, in the eastern suburbs of Paris. The Disneyland Paris resort is made up of the Disneyland theme park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Golf Disneyland, several hotels, and a complex that will meet all of your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs. With so many terrific sights and activities, it’s no surprise that Disneyland Paris tickets continue to be Europe’s best seller themed attraction.

Sights and Attractions

Disneyland Park is home to a variety of great rides and attractions that are ideal for visitors of all ages. Younger kids will love “It’s a Small World”, a mini, musical cruise filled with joyful songs, while thrill-seekers will love exciting rides such as “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril” and “Big Thunder Mountain”. Another must see for all visitors is the Disneyland Parade, which features a magical procession of everyone’s favorite characters.

Additionally, make sure to stick around for the nighttime shows, a spectacular extravaganza of lights, lasers, and fountains, all focused around great Disney stories and characters. Those who aren’t fans of rides can get their thrills from meeting Disney characters such as Cinderella and Mickey Mouse. Meanwhile, the Walt Disney Studios Park focuses more on life behind the cameras, and features shows such as “CinéMagique”, a big-screen experience that explores 100 years of movie-making, and “Moteurs…Action! Stunt Show Spectacular”, an explosive performance of unforgettable car and motorcycle stunts.

Plan Your Trip

There are many ways to get to Disneyland Paris. The train is a great choice, with the "Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy" station located right outside the main entrance to the parks, as well as being very close to the Disney hotels (with the exception of Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch). It is a 35 minute train ride from the center of Paris on RER A express train. If you’re driving to the park, take the A4 expressway; exit 14 will bring you to the park. For those who have flown into Paris and are heading directly to the park or to the hotel, use the VEA shuttle service that connects Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, and Disneyland Paris.

Buying your admission in advance always makes your trip more enjoyable, and there are many options to do so online. Even if you do not know the exact date of your visit, you can select Disneyland Paris tickets valid for any one day for the year following your purchase (note that it is cheaper to purchase a ticket for a specific date). Other options you can select include multi-day tickets, and multi-park tickets (allowing access to both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios).

Adult ticket prices range from $113 USD (for a one-day, two-park, date-specific ticket) to $250 USD (for a five-day, two-park, flexible-date ticket). Admission prices are slightly lower between March 28th and November 7th, and are reduced for children. Opening hours, so make sure to check the website, but generally the Disneyland Park is open from 10am to 10pm, and Walt Disney Studios are open from 10am to 7pm.

Photos by Sparkly Kate, bubble_gum, nikontino via Flickr Creative Commons