The European influences make it foreign in the best way. If you ever want to experience a magical blend of cultures, go to Disneyland Paris.
More specifically, visit Sleeping Beauty Castle, or as the French call it, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant.
It may resemble the castle at Disneyland Resort in California, but the architectural grandeur inspired by Mont-Saint-Michel and medieval French castles is truly one-of-a-kind.
Cast members welcome you in multiple languages, reflecting the park’s international audience. Fellow guests, both locals and tourists, admire the intricate stonework and vibrant stained glass. You can’t help but feel transported to a European fairy tale.
“I want our guests to feel transported and to kind of escape from the daily grind. And I think that’s what really Disneyland Paris, the entire resort, does best,” a veteran Disneyland Resort annual passholder observed during their visit.
Disneyland may be the happiest place on Earth, but Disneyland Paris is a close contender. That’s just one of the reasons why Disney fans will fly across the world to visit its two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. Here’s what travelers should know before they go.
A European Main Street?
Main Street U.S.A. in Disneyland Paris feels like stepping into the beautiful Parisian arcades of the early 20th century.
Disneyland Paris feels very much like the original Disneyland in California and Magic Kingdom in Florida, with some notable European touches.
There are numerous experiences unique to the location, like dining on authentic French pastries at ‘Au Chalet de la Marionnette’ in Fantasyland or savoring a perfectly cooked steak frites at ‘Bistrot Chez Rémy‘. The park is getting a totally reimagined Discoveryland, inspired by European visionaries like Jules Verne. And it still has a distinctly European version of Pirates of the Caribbean, where even the pirates speak French.
Instead of a typical Main Street U.S.A., guests stroll down a charming promenade that feels more like a quaint European town. The architecture showcases distinct French touches, like Art Nouveau ironwork reminiscent of Parisian Métro stations. The shops offer a blend of classic Disney treats and French delicacies like macarons and fruit tartlets.
Adventureland feels foreign in the best way
Adventureland’s North African-inspired bazaars of Agrabah offer a fresh take on a familiar concept.
As a veteran Disney fan sang, Disneyland Paris’s Adventureland is like “a whole new world.” Instead of New Orleans Square’s Southern charm, you’re greeted by the sights, sounds, and flavors of a romanticized Age of Exploration.
The park’s newest addition to this land, ‘Les Trésors de Schéhérazade’, opened with unique treasures like hand-painted tea sets and spice blends. There’s also an adjacent restaurant, ‘Le Café Agrabah’, overlooking the bazaar with its own Moroccan-inspired menu.
In the middle of Adventureland, there’s the familiar yet different Pirates of the Caribbean. One of the park’s most popular rides, it takes guests through a swashbuckling adventure where “Yo Ho, Yo Ho” is interspersed with French sea shanties. Nearby, guests can dine at the Blue Lagoon Restaurant, which offers dishes like “Moules Marinières” alongside the expected pirate fare.
There is no Disney Genie+, But…
There’s no Disney Genie+ at Disneyland Paris, but there are ways to cut waits for fees and for free.
Guests staying at the resort’s hotels can get a head start with Extra Magic Time. Instead of 30 minutes of early entry like at Disney World and Disneyland, Disneyland Paris hotel guests get into the parks up to 2 hours early through dedicated entrance lanes. That’s a significant advantage when you see the lines that form outside park gates each morning.
Instead of Individual Lightning Lanes, guests can purchase Premier Access for the parks’ most popular attractions. That lets them into shorter lines at designated times. Each one has a separate à la carte fee. Guests can also purchase Premier Access for reserved seating for parades and nighttime spectaculars.
Currently, Disneyland Paris is also offering free FastPass-style options that grant access to shorter lines at select attractions. These can be obtained through the resort’s free app.
Nearly everything is in multiple languages Space Mountain in Discoveryland invites guests on a Jules Verne-inspired journey from the Earth to the Moon.
Unlike at Disney World and Disneyland, shows and rides at Disneyland Paris often feature multiple languages, reflecting the park’s international audience. This makes it more accessible and inclusive for non-French speakers.
Most rides blend languages seamlessly, like in “it’s a small world,” where a chorus of the iconic song in French, German, Italian, and more fills the air. Even on attractions unique to Paris, like the steampunk-inspired ‘Space Mountain: Mission 2’, the storytelling transcends language barriers.
The food is a culinary journey through France
From pain au chocolat to croque-monsieur, the food at Disneyland Paris is a delightful change from typical park fare.
From custard-filled pastries at ‘La Confiserie des Trois Fées‘ to a glass of Burgundy wine with your steak frites at ‘Bistrot Chez Rémy’, the food is a culinary tour of France at Disneyland Paris. Don’t miss the many flavors of French regional specialties, as well as the elaborately themed restaurants that transport you to different parts of the country.
Guests with dietary restrictions may find that cast members are accommodating, often able to communicate in multiple languages. However, it’s good to note that set menu items may have fewer modification options than at U.S. parks.
Everything feels more intimate The parks at Disneyland Paris offer a more manageable and charming scale compared to their U.S. counterparts.
Flying to France is an investment, but once you’re at Disneyland Paris, you’ll find the experience more intimate and manageable. The parks are slightly smaller, lending a cozy, storybook feel that many visitors find charming.
This scale is especially noticeable in lands like the North African-inspired Adventureland or the quaint European village of Fantasyland. It allows for more detailed theming and a sense of being fully immersed in the story.
Disney fans will want to savor these intimate moments and unique experiences that they can’t find anywhere else.
There’s no shame in Disney adulting
Guests of all ages embrace the magic, whether it’s dancing along in parades or exploring Sleeping Beauty Castle’s upper chambers.
Adults and children alike get swept up in the magic. Not only are there grand spectacles like the nighttime ‘Disney Dreams!‘ show that blends European art with Disney stories, but there are also quiet moments of wonder, like walking through the wood-carved gallery in Sleeping Beauty Castle.
“I do think that we provide something very emotional that is necessary for our guests … in a very safe place where you are not judged,” the passholder said. “That’s why they embrace the fairy tale. These stories, with their European roots, accept them for who they are.”
Cast members are magical Cast members at Disneyland Paris welcome guests with exuberant smiles in multiple languages.
Cast members are the magic at any Disney destination, but they’re especially enchanting at Disneyland Paris. With warm smiles, they’ll often greet you in your language, making every guest feel at home in this European wonderland.
Make sure to say “Merci!” or “Danke!” or whatever thanks you know. After all, they’re the ones who truly make this the place where European charm meets Disney magic.