Disneyland Paris
Europe's most visited theme park - two Disney parks with a fairy-tale castle just outside Paris, the ultimate family day out on the continent.
Updated 16 October 2026
AI illustration
Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park resort in Europe, two parks, Disneyland Park with its pink Sleeping Beauty Castle and Disney Adventure World, the former Walt Disney Studios Park renamed in March 2026, just east of Paris and easily reached by train. Immersive, magical and huge, it is the continent's ultimate family destination, with the classic rides, parades and fireworks in a European setting.
Background
The resort opened on 12 April 1992 in Marne-la-Vallée, about 32 kilometres east of central Paris. Only Tokyo Disney Resort, opened in 1983, came earlier among Disney parks outside the United States. It started out as Euro Disney Resort, and the second park, then called Walt Disney Studios Park, followed in 2002. Plans for a European park go back to 1966, and by March 1985 a list of approximately 1,200 possible locations had shrunk to four, a pair each in France and Spain. Alongside the parks are seven hotels owned by Disney, two convention centers, a golf course and an arena, on approximately 2,100 hectares. With 17,000 employees it is the largest single-site employer in France.
Source: Wikipedia, "Disneyland Paris"
Highlights
- Sleeping Beauty Castle - the pink fairy-tale castle at the park's heart.
- The classic rides - Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain and more.
- Disney Adventure World - the second park, called Walt Disney Studios until March 2026, with film-themed rides and shows.
- Parades and fireworks - the daytime parade and the nightly castle show.
When to go
Spring and autumn for milder weather and thinner crowds; summer and school holidays are busiest, winter magical with festive decorations. Weekdays are calmer than weekends.
Things to know
It is expensive and busy, with ticket tiers, and queues can be long without paid line-skipping. It is an easy train ride from Paris, so it can be a day trip. It rewards families who plan and arrive early.
Nearby
Central Paris is forty minutes by RER train; the Val d'Europe shopping and the town spread around.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q206521, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Disneyland Paris
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
Some links on this page are Amazon affiliate links - if you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
All packing kitsPlan your trip
Where to start if Disneyland Paris is going on the list.
Booking links on this page are affiliate links - if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we write about a place.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
