Disneyland Paris Guide for Indian Families

For children, and plenty of grown-ups, a day at Disneyland Paris is often the highlight of a Europe trip. It is the only Disney resort in Europe, with two theme parks, a shopping and dining street and its own hotels, about 32 km east of central Paris. This guide helps Indian families plan the day: which park to choose, the best rides for each age, food, and how a full Disney day fits into a Europe tour.

Disneyland Park is the classic fairy-tale park, centred on Sleeping Beauty Castle. It has five lands: Main Street, U.S.A.; Frontierland; Adventureland; Fantasyland; and Discoveryland. This is where you find the parades, the evening show and most of the rides for younger children.

The second park, Walt Disney Studios Park, is themed on films and studios, with Marvel's Avengers Campus, the Ratatouille ride, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and a large new area being added around Frozen. It suits older children and teenagers. On our tours you choose one park for the day.

• Under 7: It's a Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Dumbo, the carousel, meeting characters, and the daily parade.
• 7–12: Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Ratatouille and Crush's Coaster.
• Teens and adults: Hyperspace Mountain, the Tower of Terror, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force and the night-time castle show.

Check height limits on the official app before you queue, and use the app to see live waiting times.

Disneyland Paris is at Marne-la-Vallée, about 40–60 minutes from central Paris by road or by the RER A train to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station, which is right at the park gates. On our tours, the coach takes the group from the hotel and picks you up in the evening, so you do not need to manage trains with children.

The parks have plenty of vegetarian options such as pizza, pasta, salads and fries, but Indian food is limited. On our tours, a packed lunch is provided on Disney day, and dinner is an Indian meal after the park. Carry snacks and a refillable water bottle; water fountains are available across the parks.

• Arrive at opening time and head straight to the most popular rides.
• Download the Disneyland Paris app for the map, show times and waiting times.
• Wear comfortable shoes; you will walk 10–15 km in a day.
• Carry a light rain jacket; Paris weather changes quickly.
• Buy souvenirs at the end of the day to avoid carrying bags.
• Stay for the evening castle show if the season's timing allows.

From mid-November to early January, the parks are decorated for Christmas, with a giant tree on Main Street, festive parades and Christmas character greetings. Our Paris and Switzerland Christmas tour includes a full day at Disneyland Paris over the festive week. Read our Christmas in Europe guide.

Strollers can be rented at the entrance, and baby care centres have changing and feeding rooms. For grandparents, there are benches throughout the parks, gentle rides such as It's a Small World and the train around Disneyland Park, and the parade, which needs no queuing. Plan a mid-afternoon rest in a café while the younger travellers ride the roller coasters.

Queues for the top rides can be 60 minutes or more in summer and holidays. Arrive at opening, use single-rider lines where offered, ride popular attractions during the parade, and consider Disney Premier Access, a paid option that lets you skip the regular queue for selected rides.

• Morning: arrive at opening and ride the headline attractions in one land.
• Midday: lunch and character meetings.
• Afternoon: watch the parade on Main Street, then rides with shorter queues.
• Evening: shopping on Main Street and the castle show if it runs before the coach departs.

Many rides and shows are indoors, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Phantom Manor, It's a Small World and Ratatouille. Carry a light rain jacket; ponchos are sold in the parks at high prices.

The resort has its own hotels within walking distance or a short shuttle ride of the parks, and Disney Village, a street of restaurants, shops and a cinema that stays open after the parks close. On our tours you stay in Paris and travel to the park by coach, which keeps the cost down; families who want two days at Disney can add a night at a Disney hotel before or after the tour.

A full day at Disneyland Paris is included on most of our Paris tours, including Paris and Switzerland, Paris, Switzerland and Italy, Best of Europe and our London tours. See all our Europe tour packages.