Cheap Tickets to Disneyland Paris: how to buy, prices and discounts
Visiting Disneyland Paris will take you back to your childhood. Make the most of the park with these tips to get the cheapest tickets.
Cinderella's Castle, Disneyland Paris | ©David Jafra
The multitude of attractions and everything you can learn about movies and special effects make Disneyland a unique visit for everyone, even if you go without children or even if Disney movies are not your favorite.
Before buying your ticket, you should know that there are two parks: the traditional park (Disneyland) and the Disney Studios park (Walt Disney Studios). They are next to each other and both have attractions: the cheapest way is to buy a 1-day ticket valid for one of the two parks.
How to get the cheapest tickets for Disneyland
My advice is to buy Disneyland tickets online and in advance to get the best prices: you can also buy a one-day ticket, a combined ticket for two days -which is cheaper than if you buy both separately- and even take a package that includes transportation from Paris and is also cheaper than buying it separately.
After making an exhaustive study of all the types of tickets that exist, the one-day ticket to the park is the cheapest, especially if you select the visit to only one of the two parks.
What is the price of Disneyland tickets?
From 72 euros you can get the cheapest tickets to Disneyland. In this case, you will have access for one day to one of the two parks, you can choose any of them. If you want to make the most of the day and try to enjoy as many attractions as possible, from 100 euros you can buy tickets for both parks.
Other options are the multi-day passes to Disneyland, with which you can choose when booking how many days you want to visit the Disney complex in Paris. From about 175 euros for two-day tickets to approximately 300 euros for four days, you will have these passes with unlimited access to both parks.
Can I visit both parks in one day?
Disneyland Paris is a whole complex that includes, apart from the parks, stores, hotels, discos, restaurants and squares. However, if you want to save on entrance fees and you are not a Disney enthusiast , it is a good option to visit both parks even if you can only spend one day.
Everything is taken care of with the same detail as the parks (after all, the whole universe of Disney parks is characterized precisely by the meticulousness and care behind each element). With your 1-day ticket to Disneyland you can explore much of the entire resort, although there will be many attractions and shows that you will have to reserve for another time.
Is it financially worthwhile to buy a two-day ticket?
If you are going to stay two days, of course: the most economical option is to take the 2-day ticket to Disneyland from the beginning and dedicate a whole day to each park.
Moreover, if you really like Disney World, maybe the ideal option for you is to get the 3-day pass to see both parks. For a little more money you will be able to really stop and enjoy both parks at your leisure. You can choose any of these options when booking multi-day tickets.
Save on tickets and don't miss Walt Disney Studios Park
For those who are curious about the world of movies and special effects, the Walt Disney Studios will be a paradise and remember that it is included in your 1-day park ticket. You will save with the pass if you choose to see it together with Disneyland on the same day.
It offers different shows (with several shows throughout the day) in which they tell you how Disney movies were made or what were the first special effects in the history of cinema. You can see a car action show, enter the Armageddon ship, ride the Aerosmith roller coaster or try the Tower of Terror free fall.
Also in this park there are areas dedicated to Pixar movies such as Toy Story, Monsters SA, Finding Nemo (the turtles' air currents attraction is a must) or Ratatouille. It is a smaller park than the main one, but it has nothing to envy in number of attractions and shows. I strongly recommend you not to exclude it from your visit.
Ana's Traveller Tip
If you are going to see both parks in one day, remember that Walt Disney Studios closes at 7 pm, while Disneyland is open until 11 pm.
Choose the flexible entrance if you have doubts about the dates
If there is something we have learned in recent times is that flexibility when traveling and being able to change or cancel dates is an advantage. So, if you are thinking of traveling to Paris and you are not sure what day you want to visit Disney, you can choose the flexible ticket to Disneyland Paris with a year's duration.
How does it work? Very easy! You buy it and choose the date you want and the ticket will be valid for one year from that day. So a good tip is to book it for the first day you are going to be in Paris to make sure you can use it the day that best suits you during your trip.
The cheapest one-day ticket with transportation from Paris
Regardless of which ticket option you choose, there are services that include transportation to the park. The resort is far from the center of Paris (in the Marne-la-Vallée area) and, although it can be reached by RER trains (the cheapest option), you will save a lot of time with a Disneyland ticket with bus transportation included: and you will get directly to the door of the parks.
For a little more, choose private transportation to and from Disneyland
After the ride, the queues to get out of Disney are impressive and even longer to access the train. If in addition to including transportation to your tickets, you are considering the option of investing a little more but having more freedom of schedule and movement, I advise you to value the option of buying your ticket to Disneyland and book a private transfer to and from Disneyland, you will be very grateful.
The best tips to save money at Disneyland
If you're looking forward to going to Disneyland but you're scared that the visit will be out of your budget, don't worry. We've already seen that there are ways to get your tickets cheaper, but if you allow me, I'll leave you with a small list that you can follow to make sure your visit to the park is much cheaper while having a great time without worrying about your wallet:
- Tickets: in advance and online to get them cheaper: as we have already seen, this is the cheapest 1-day Disneyland ticket.
- Souvenirs: you will be struck by the dozens of corners where you can get any kind of Disney souvenir in the park, but do not fall into the temptation of these "tourist traps": the vast majority of stuffed animals, mugs, T-shirts, etc., you can get them in stores outside the park or in the center of Paris and they will be cheaper.
- Lodging: sleeping inside the park is often an unnecessary luxury: if you do not have the budget to stay in one of Disneyland's resorts, do not worry. There are areas around that are very well connected to the park and that will allow you to make the most of your time without spending the money that the park's hotels cost.
- Low season, better prices: spring and summer are usually the busiest seasons in the park and therefore, tickets, accommodations and even transportation may be a little more expensive. If you have a choice, avoid high season (plus there will be less crowds inside!).
- Avoid, if you can, weekends and holidays: throughout the year there are special dates, such as Christmas or Halloween, but also long weekends or even Saturdays and Sundays, when everything is more expensive (and also crowded). If you can, avoid it for a cheaper but also more relaxed experience.
- Use public transportation to get to the park: maybe it is not the most comfortable, because there are rush hours when trains are more crowded, but it is certainly a good way to save on the day. However, if you are thinking of hiring private transportation, you already know that this option exists.
- Save on meals: many of the park's restaurants have above-average prices. Therefore, choose well where to sit down to eat: check the menu before ordering and if you can, carry snacks in your backpack to save on snack costs. You will be able to refuel without having to pay extra.
Make the most of your time at Disneyland Park
With all the information on how to buy the cheapest tickets for Disneyland Paris, it's your turn to enjoy getting an idea of what you will find in a park that (I repeat) is not only for children. Disney's strong point is not its attractions, although Space Mountain is a pioneer among indoor roller coasters; neither are its shows, although its rides are famous all over the world; not even the characters that interact with children.
In Disney parks, constant innovation and attention to details are the strong point and it is something that is perceived in everything; that is why adults, aware of it, enjoy the visit even more than children. What are you going to find there?
Main Street USA
Disneyland Park is the main park. It is presided over by "Main Street USA": a "village" built around a main square from which to move around the park, full of stores all decorated differently and with a train stop at the entrance that takes you around the park.
Once you have toured Main Street (and it is worth doing, do not think it is just a shopping area because you are wrong), you will have at your disposal the four main areas of the park with their respective attractions and shows, each with a different atmosphere.
Fantasyland
This is the most classic Disney area and the one with the largest number of attractions for children. Behind Sleeping Beauty's Castle you will find the Beauty and the Beast mugs, Alice's Labyrinth, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White and Pinocchio's stories, Dumbo's Flight or the It's a Small World water carousel with characters from all continents.
Discoveryland
It is the area dedicated to the future and science fiction and therefore the one with the famous indoor roller coaster Space Mountain (it's a real blast). Here you will also find the Star Wars flight simulator, Buzz Lightyear's saber game, Captain Nemo's ship, the Videopolis theater or a car highway.
Frontierland
It is the territory set in cowboys and Indians. You will find there the Big Thunder Montain, the haunted house (very worthwhile), Pocahontas' village or Woody's rodeo attraction.
Adventureland
Dedicated to the world of adventures, this area has large green areas such as the Robinson's hut or the pirates' beach. The star attractions are the Pirates of the Caribbean (which inspired the movie) and the Indiana Jones roller coaster.
Ana's Traveller Tip
Once the night ride ends, the lines for the train are endless. Leave the park a little early or hire a private shuttle to your hotel.
Choose your travel dates wisely and optimize your visit
It is logical to think that an attraction so popular around the world receives thousands of visitors every day. In spite of having extended opening hours, it is convenient to know other tips for exploring Disneyland that will help you enjoy a perfect day at the park. Here are a few:
Book in advance to get the cheapest tickets
There are huge lines at the park's ticket booths and there are many things to see in a short time; save your nerves and go directly with your ticket. The best option to save time and money is to buy your Disneyland Paris tickets in advance: you will receive a voucher that you can exchange for your ticket at any of the automatic machines at the entrance of the park (there are many and you will not have to wait). You will enter the park directly through the turnstiles at the entrance without waiting in line at the ticket office.
Ticket dates and times
Tickets are subject to a time of the year, but not to a specific day. You can buy your tickets before your trip to Paris and, once there, decide which day you are going to use them depending on factors such as the weather. Keep in mind that by buying your tickets in advance, you can choose the type of ticket and compare prices, which will allow you to save money and get them cheaper.
Once you validate your ticket at the gate of either park you can access throughout the day as many times as you want, but keep in mind that the studio park closes earlier than the main park (around 7 pm), whose opening lasts until after the night parade (approximately 11 pm). Closing time may vary depending on the time of year, but the opening time is always 9:30. You can find more information in our post about Disney Parks opening hours.
When to go
Disneyland Paris is open every day of the year (there may be exceptions that are announced on its website, but it is not common), but depending on the season in which you go you will find some special events or others. There are periods of the year dedicated to the different Disney movies and special Christmas or Halloween celebrations.
When planning your visit to Disneyland Paris you have to take into account that it rains a lot in Paris, so it is a good idea to check the weather before your visit; you can visit the park in the rain, but you will not enjoy it as much. It is also advisable to avoid the hottest days, which also coincide with the high season (summer). As for days of the week, the same rule applies as for the rest of the tourist sites: it is better to avoid weekends and holidays.
Save on transfers and plan your time well
Organizing your visit to Disneyland taking into account its large dimensions and everything there is to see and do there is a recommendation you will appreciate when you are at the resort. Take note:
How to get there
The Disney parks are far from the center of Paris, but you can easily get there on the RER (Paris train network). Taking line A (red) is the last stop and is announced in all train stations; it will take you about 45 minutes from the center of Paris. Here are all the options to find out how to get there.
The real problem is usually getting back, as after the ride you may want to stay for dinner in some of the restaurants outside the park and, even if you don't, you will have to run to avoid the train closing as trains do not run in the early morning in Paris.
I recommend you to book in advance a private transport to and from Disneyland, as you will avoid last minute rushes and crowds when entering the park in the morning.
Duration of the visit
The parks open at 9:30 am. Disney Studios closes at 7:00 p.m. and the main park closes around 11:00 p.m. once the night ride is over. To see both parks well you need at least two days because there are many attractions to ride, many shows to see and many details to enjoy.
It is not worth to make the visit in a hurry, but if you have no choice and you are going to be only one day in Disneyland, choose one of the two parks to enjoy it better (although if you have the ticket for two parks you can move from one to the other without any problem).
Finally, I leave you these other guides for those who are lucky enough to have more days to visit Disney World in Paris: What to see in Disneyland Paris in 3 days and What to see in Disneyland Paris in 4 days.
Other tips to get the most out of your visit
You already know that there are many attractions to enjoy at Disneyland and it's not every day that you travel to the Disney universe. That's why I'll leave you with these other tips so that young and old alike can make the most of this magical experience.
Save on meals
The Disney Resort is ready for you to eat in one of its many restaurants, all of them decorated with different themes. Although there are some restaurants with menus, most of the food you will find is fast food (pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs) and you cannot bring food from outside the park.
Save on accommodation
If Disneyland is one of your main destinations during your visit to Paris, I advise you to stay close to the park for your convenience. The accommodations belonging to the Disney complex are truly wonderful, but they are also usually much more expensive. A good option to find the best value for money and save on your stay, is to look for accommodation in the Chessy area, much cheaper but equally close to the park and with a good and quick communication with it.
Shows
When you enter the park you will be given the program of shows. Take a few minutes to decide which ones you want to see (if you have doubts about which one you might like more you can ask any member of Customer Service) and organize your visit according to those schedules.
If you are going to see both parks, it is best to go first to the Studios Park which usually has less visitors in the morning and queue for the first passes of the shows held there.
Official app
With so much to see, organizing your visit to Disneyland Paris can be a bit chaotic. At the entrance you will be given a map of the park, but when you get to the attractions you will see that in many of them there are different passes and sometimes long lines for them. The best trick: download the park's official App where you will be able to see at all times how long you have to wait for each attraction and where each one is. You will get more out of your time.
Avoid queues
At the entrance of some attractions you have a machine to get a fast pass for a certain time. These attractions are marked on the map. Organize your time and, before going on an attraction, get a fastpass for a nearby attraction so that, at the time it is your turn, you can go directly to the queue.
Be careful, fastpasses also "run out" and there is a certain time at which you will not get any more and you will have to wait in the normal queue. Keep in mind this and also the distances between the different attractions to avoid spending the day running from one attraction to another.
If you are interested in going to the Disney park in Paris, you will also be interested in
If your main reason for traveling to Paris is to go to Disneyland, don't miss out on seeing central Paris, even if it's on a day trip. If you don't do it you will regret not having reserved at least one day for it and, although during this time you will not be able to appreciate Paris in all its magnitude, you will get an idea of the wonders of the city.
If you decide to go to Paris, a very cheap option for an overview can be to book the tourist bus that will take you all over the city. Here is an article about Paris Hop on Hop off Bus Tours so you can organize your visit to perfection.
Whether you are traveling with children or not, taking a cruise on the Seine can also be a good option, as they will be more entertained while you can all relax enjoying the wonderful views. You have more information about Seine River Cruises in Paris in the guide I have prepared about it.
And finally, to make the most of your visit to Paris, I recommend that you consider the option of acquiring the Paris Pass, a tourist card that gives you "flat rate" to access the best attractions in the city. I leave you here the practical guide that I have prepared on the Paris Pass.