Marne-la-Vallée Travelers Recommend

For many kids, a trip to Disneyland® Paris is the ultimate fantasy, but when planning your dream family vacation, it can be hard to know where to start. From booking your tickets to skipping the queues—here are some of our top tips for visiting Disneyland Paris.

Buy Tickets in Advance

Purchasing your tickets in advance means you can take advantage of flexible dates, combination deals, and added extras like Paris transfers. You'll also enter the park much faster than you would otherwise. If you can't decide between Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios© Park, pre-purchase a 1-day, 1-park ticket and decide upon arrival, or book a 2-park hopper ticket to experience both.

Book Round-Trip Transport from Paris

Disneyland Paris is set 27 miles (44 km) east of Paris, so skip the hassle of navigating the Ile-de-France region on your own by booking a tour that includes round-trip transport between your Paris hotel and the Disney theme park.

Hop Between Two Parks

See both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park with a 2-park hopper ticket that allows you to hop between the parks as often as you'd like—you'll double the fun with additional thrilling rides and things to do. Disneyland Park offers five themed lands to explore (Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantastyland, and Discoveryland), while Walt Disney Studios Park is all about movie magic and TV, featuring four studio lots (Production Courtyard, Toon Studio, Backlot, and Front Lot), a variety of shows, and behind-the-scenes studio tram tours.

Opt for FASTPASS® Tickets

Avoid long lines with free FASTPASS® tickets to the park's most popular rides, including Space Mountain: Mission 2 and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. To get a FASTPASS®, insert your park ticket into one of the machines at the ride entrance. You'll receive a ticket indicating a time slot—just returned within that time frame to bypass the standard line for the far shorter FASTPASS® line. These tickets can only be issued for one attraction at a time. To steer clear of long lines elsewhere, board the Disneyland Railroad at a stop away from the main entrance gates; take advantage of the Baby Swap service or Single Rider lines; or time your arrival at the most popular rides during big shows or parades.

Save Money on Food and Drinks

Eating in the Disney Village can be pricey, but it's a fun part of the Disney Experience. You can cut down on costs by enjoying just one meal a day inside the park and bringing a picnic lunch and snacks. Instead of paying extra for drinks, bring a refillable bottle and make the most of the free water fountains around the park. 

Explore Beyond the Park

If you're staying at Disney for several days, make sure to visit some of the surrounding sights too—4-and 5-day passes must be used within seven days of their first use, so that leaves at least two extra sightseeing days. The La Vallée Village and Val d'Europe shopping centers are just minutes from the park, as is the grand Chateau de Champs-sur-Marne, or you could take the high-speed train into Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre or cruise along the Seine.

Stay After Dark

The Disney park is open late through summer, and staying until closing time is worthwhile—especially for the spectacular nighttime Disney Illuminations light and color show at Sleeping Beauty Castle in Fantasyland.

Less than an hour east of Paris, Marne-la-Vallée has a broad old-meets-new appeal. The town’s unabashed highlight is Disneyland® Paris, which draws scores of visitors seeking a dose of magic—but the region also boasts châteaux, luxury shopping stops, and more. Here’s how to spend three days in Marne-la-Vallée.

Day 1: Disneyland Paris

One of Europe’s top amusement parks, Disneyland Paris attracts millions of visitors each year. Set aside a full day for your explorations, as Disneyland Paris encompasses two different theme parks. Book a flexible 1-day pass to journey between the two parks at your own pace, and enjoy access to all main rides and attractions. Begin in Disneyland Park, where you’ll find a host of beloved characters and five themed areas, such as Fantasyland (home to Sleeping Beauty Castle) and Adventureland (ideal for thrill seekers). After lunch at one of the dozens of on-site restaurants, continue to Walt Disney Studios Park. Head to the Front Lot for some movie magic; go for a studio tour in the Production Courtyard; see animated characters come to life at the Toon Studio; or watch high-octane stunts in the Backlot. At the end of the day, hop on a free shuttle back to your hotel.

Day 2: Shopping

It isn’t a trip to France without some shopping—and happily, Marne-la-Vallée is home to several destination shopping centers that entice Parisians and international visitors alike. If scoping out luxury brands at bargain prices is how you roll, make a beeline for La Vallée Village, a high-end outlet mall moments from Disneyland Paris. Following lunch at one of the mall’s cafés, continue to nearby Val d’Europe. A guided excursion can help you navigate the labyrinth in the company of a personal shopper.

Day 3: A Day Trip to Remember

On your final day, discover one of the area’s major landmarks—the grand Château de Champs-sur-Marne (about a 20-minute drive or ride from Disneyland Paris). Recently restored to its 18th-century glory, the château is celebrated for its neoclassical architecture and 210 acres (85 hectares) of formal gardens and parks. Alternatively, spend the day in Paris. If you prefer to explore independently, book round-trip shuttle service for hassle-free travel. Otherwise, full-day sightseeing tours whisk you around the city—from the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre to the Luxembourg Gardens and Montmartre—without the stress of navigating on your own.

Marne-la-Vallée has long been overshadowed by its star attraction, Disneyland Paris, but with shopping centers and outlet malls springing up in recent years, the Parisian suburb has also garnered a reputation as one of Europe’s top shopping destinations. See below to find out more about Marne-la-Vallée’s best shopping spots. 

Val d’Europe

Featuring a curved-glass-and-iron roof inspired by Paris’ art nouveau–style Grand Palais, the large indoor Val d’Europe complex offers a chic shopping environment. The center contains more than 160 retailers, ranging from high-street clothing chains to sportswear, housewares, tech, and beauty brands. When you need a break from shopping, you can take a seat at any of the mall’s 20 or so restaurants, or even pay a visit to the aquarium Sea Life Paris, situated within the complex. 

La Vallée Village

This designer outlet mall offers high-end shopping at discounted prices. More than 110 brand-name boutiques, set in an open-air village-like setting, sell previous seasons’ clothes from the likes of Burberry, Céline, Givenchy, Michael Kors, and Marc Jacobs. Shuttle buses run bargain-hunting shoppers to and from central Paris.

With iconic rides such as Big Thunder Mountain and a whirlwind of parades, performances, and firework displays, you’ll never be short of entertainment at Disneyland Paris. But if you need a break from Mickey and friends, the City of Light is just minutes away. Here’s what you need to know about Paris sightseeing tours from Disneyland Paris.

Highlights

• Tour the city’s top sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées.

• Skip the line at the Louvre, France’s largest art museum and the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the ancient Greek marble statue Venus de Milo. 

• Float along the Seine during a river cruise, sailing past the gargoyle-guarded Notre Dame Cathedral on Île de la Cité.

• Find out more about the history of the city on a guided sightseeing tour. 

• Enjoy free time to shop, sightsee, and experience Paris’ famous café culture.

• Discover charming Parisian neighborhoods such as Montmartre, Le Marais, and the Left Bank (Rive Gauche), an area associated with artists, philosophers, and writers from Picasso to Jean-Paul Sartre to Hemingway.

Things to Know

Disneyland Paris is just 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Paris. 

Choose a private transfer and explore Paris independently, or opt for an organized group tour with a fixed itinerary. 

Most sightseeing day tours from Disneyland Paris last for about nine hours. The length of private tours can be adjusted according to your schedule.

Day tours typically include free time for lunch.

Opt for a tour that includes a hop-on hop-off bus ticket so you can travel efficiently between Paris’ top tourist sights.