This summer, we had the opportunity to head to Europe as a family. After touring Italy for nine days, we took off to Disneyland Paris. I was still determining what to expect from a Disney Park overseas. I did some research; however, I discovered there was a limited amount of information out there. After spending five days at Disneyland Paris, I can easily confidently share that the magic is alive and well overseas.
I would share our experience and encourage you to consider visiting Disneyland Paris overseas.
Arrival at Disneyland Paris
There are many options for getting to Disneyland Paris. We flew into Charles de Gaulle Airport. Arrival was effortless, with great signs everywhere, making it easy to know where to go.
When flying into Charles de Gaulle, a train can take you directly to Disneyland Paris. This takes over an hour but can be a fantastic option.
We choose to use Blacklane, a private car company. They met us right outside our luggage pickup, and we were quickly on our way to Disneyland Paris. The drive was under 45 minutes, making it a quick trip to the magic.
Where to Stay
Like Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Disneyland Paris had a handful of onsite Resorts for Guests to enjoy. Although we would have loved to stay at the iconic Disneyland Hotel or the excellent Marvel-themed New York Resort, both were under construction while we visited.
We booked Newport Bay Club Resort and did the Compass Club Lounge and the family suite. After traveling in Italy, it was necessary to have a larger room to spread out and give everyone their space. The room was great, with two double beds, two twins, and two showers.
We enjoyed the Compass Club Lounge throughout our stay. Here we could enjoy a complimentary breakfast from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. each morning and an afternoon tea filled with treats from 4 to 5:45. Throughout the day, and we could stop in for drinks which were great for having in the room or at the Parks.
We didn’t choose to eat at either of the two restaurants at the Resort while staying there; however, they were busy every day.
The walk from Newport Bay Resort took around 15 to 20 minutes. Some shuttles ran every 10 to 12 minutes, but we have yet to use them.
When looking at where to stay at Walt Disney World, remember that many resorts don’t have air conditioning. Depending on when you want to visit, this might be especially important.
Disneyland Park
The central Park is Disneyland Park. This is where you will find the iconic Sleepy Beauty Castle. This Park is very similar to Magic Kingdom or Disneyland Park in California. Guests enter Main Street, U.S.A., and head into the different lands.
At Disneyland Park, Guests will find Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discovery Island. We thought the theming of these lands was extraordinary and the rides a more intense version of our beloved attractions from Walt Disney World.
Highlights in this Park were Phantom Manor, Big Thunder Mountain, and a hidden gem of the Storybook Boats. Disneyland Park in Paris has classic dark rides such as Snow White (Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains), Pinocchio (Les Voyages de Pinocchio), and Peter Pan’s Flight. I loved being able to ride some of these classic stories.
Speaking of classics, it’s a small world that was outstanding. It had just recently undergone a huge update, and you can tell. The scenes are bright and colorful, and having an outdoor section was also fun.
The highlight, however, was the shows. The Dream … and Shine Brighter! The stage show was fantastic. This show brings various characters to the central hub on beautiful floats. Once there, the characters and dancers enter the hub and dance on the four stages. It brings the characters close to the Guests in a fun and unique way. We loved watching the dancers and those in the crowd who danced right along with them. This show was upbeat, with fun costumes, characters, and a great message.
Disneyland Park is a beautiful Park that brings magic to Paris.
Walt Disney Studios
Right next door is Walt Disney Studios. This Park has undergone a lot of adjustments over the years. Guests can enjoy both Worlds of Pixar and Avengers Campus. This Park reminded us a lot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. With a focus on movies, this Park brings fan favorites such as Toy Story, Nemo, and the Marvel universe to Guests.
Our kids enjoyed the more thrilling rides at Walt Disney Studios. Crush’s Coaster, Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror all took the thrill to a new level.
A family favorite was Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure. This ride had great re-ride ability, and we loved working together while competing.
Finally, Walt Disney Studios had great entertainment. Our two favorites were Stitch Live and Mickey and the Magician. Stitch Live reminded us a lot of Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Turtle Talk with Crush at Walt Disney World. Stitch interacted with the audience for a humorous show.
Mickey and the Magician was a unique show that brought many beloved Disney stories to life. The unique ways that the reports were presented were exceptionally well done.
Walt Disney Studios is an accessible Park with much to see and experience. It will be interesting to see how they continue to grow this second Park.
Disney Premier Access
As part of our package, I added Disney Premier Access. Guests can choose to add this for specific days of their vacation. By purchasing this, Guests can access Premier Access for specific daily rides. It is a one-time use per ride but can be used anytime.
We loved this version of FastPass+ or Genie+. Using it whenever convenient was fantastic and made our tour much easier. No worrying about a schedule or rushing.
Guests can pay per ride like an Individual Lightning Lane, and this system gives a designated time to return.
Like Universal Studios Orlando’s Express Pass, the Disney Premier Access was fantastic and easy to use.
Our experience at Disneyland Paris was nothing less than magical. We enjoyed the Cast Members, rides, shows, and magical experiences. I would head back to visit again in the future.
