Knowing how to visit Disneyland Paris on a budget can help you plan an affordable trip, ensuring you can return year after year. Growing up in the UK, we would head over to Disneyland Paris often, and as a struggling uni student, I learned plenty of ways to save money in Disneyland Paris.
How to visit Disneyland Paris on a budget
Save money on accommodation at Disneyland Paris
Off-Site Hotels: Staying off-site can save a significant amount of money compared to Disneyland hotels. Make sure to look for hotels in nearby areas such as Val d’Europe, which is just one stop away on the RER train. These hotels often provide shuttle services to the park and offer competitive rates.
We like to stay at the IBIS hotel nearby and the Radisson Blue Hotel often have some great offers.
Compare Prices: Websites like Booking.com, Agoda, Airbnb, and Hostelworld can help you find budget-friendly accommodations.
You can organize your search by best rated and best price, finding cheap accommodation that is still at a good standard. Some mid-range picks include:
- L’Elysee Val d’Europe
- Moxy Paris Val d’Europe
- Hotel Dali Val d’Europe
Tip: Look for places that offer free breakfast or kitchen facilities, allowing you to save on meals too!
Vacation Rentals: Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo offer affordable vacation rentals that can accommodate larger groups or families. This option can also save on food costs if you choose a rental with a kitchen, allowing you to prepare your own meals.
Hostels: For solo travelers or those looking for the cheapest possible option, hostels in Paris or Marne-la-Vallée can be a great choice. They offer basic amenities at a fraction of the cost of hotels.
Book in Advance: One of the most effective ways to save money is to book your trip well in advance. Disney often offers early bird discounts on tickets and accommodations. By planning your trip months, you can take advantage of these offers and lock in lower prices.
Visit During Off-Peak Seasons: Disneyland Paris can be significantly cheaper during off-peak times. Avoid school holidays, summer, and major holidays like Christmas and New Year. Instead, consider visiting in January, February, or early autumn. During these times, not only are the ticket prices lower but hotel rates and flights can also be more affordable.
Plus, by visiting in these off-seasons, you can experience a much quieter park!
Save money on getting to Disneyland Paris
Flights: Many people choose to fly to Paris, and there are plenty of ways to save money with this. Book flights well in advance and be flexible with your travel dates to find the best deals; from our many years of travel and travel blogging, we find the cheapest days to fly are Tuesday and Wednesday.
Use comparison websites like Skyscanner or Google Flights to track prices and set alerts. You should also check the budget airlines like RyanAir and EasyJet; but be cautious that these don’t tend to include checked luggage and can be strict on hand luggage allowance.
CDG Airport to Disneyland: This is the most convenient airport to fly into. You can catch the TGV fast train straight to the park, with the drain dropping you off just a few minutes away at the Marne-La Valley Chessy Station.
However, if you do decide to stay in the Val d’Europe area, you can get the magic shuttle; an air-conditioned bus that takes around 45 minutes. However, this will cost around €24 whilst the train is around €17.
ORY Airport to Disneyland: This is another airport in Paris, that is sometimes served by low-cost airlines. It doesn’t have a high-speed train connected to it however the magic shuttle bus takes around 60 minutes and costs €24.
Train Travel: If you’re traveling from within Europe, consider taking a train to Disneyland Paris. The Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station is right at the entrance of the park. High-speed trains like the TGV, Thalys, and Eurostar offer convenient and often affordable options, especially when booked early.
Coming from the UK, we often would take the Eurostar but prices have risen dramatically in recent years; so much so that we find flights can work out cheaper. However, if you do want to get the Eurostar, make sure to :
- Book in advance
- Book the earliest or the latest travel times (you can compare prices on the website too)
- Sign up for deals – you can get great discounts when you take advantage of the deals they offer, especially at the end of Summer or in January.
Driving to Disneyland Paris from the UK: As UK residents, driving from London to Disneyland Paris can be a cheaper option than the train or flight, especially if you have 3 or more travelers in your group.
Ferries from Dover to Calais take 1 hour, 30 minutes and then the drive from Calais to Disneyland Paris is around 3 hours.
Ferries can range in price but getting early morning or late night trips will save you money. You can also use websites like Directferries to compare different companies and the shuttle options.
Public Transport: Once in Paris, you can use public transportation to get to Disneyland. The RER A train runs from Central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy in about 35 minutes. A one-way ticket costs around €7.60, much cheaper than a taxi or rideshare service.
Save money on Disneyland Paris Tickets
Buy in Advance: Purchasing tickets in advance online can save money. Disneyland Paris often offers discounts for tickets bought at least a few days ahead. Check the official Disneyland Paris website or authorized sellers for deals.
Multi-Day Passes: If you plan to spend more than one day at the park, multi-day passes offer better value than single-day tickets. Compare prices for 2-day, 3-day, or 4-day passes to find the best option for your stay.
Off-Peak Season: Visiting during the off-peak season (usually outside school holidays and weekends) not only means lower ticket prices but also shorter queues and less crowded parks. Make sure to check the Disneyland Paris calendar to find off-peak dates.
Combo Tickets: Consider combo tickets that include access to both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. These are often cheaper than buying separate tickets for each park.
Attractiontix: Whenever we head to any Disneyland, we head over to this site to check the prices here first.
Now, sometimes Disneyland Paris offers deals and cheaper rates themselves, especially if you are visiting in the off-season. However, it is always worth comparing prices across the FRENCH Disneyland site (these are often cheaper than the UK site) and comparing these prices to Attractiontix.
Save money on Food at Disneyland Paris
Bring Snacks: Disneyland Paris allows visitors to bring their own food and drinks into the park. Pack snacks, sandwiches, and refillable water bottles to avoid high prices at food outlets.
Picnic Areas: Use the designated picnic areas outside the park to enjoy your homemade meals. This not only saves money but also provides a break from the hustle and bustle of the park.
Budget-Friendly Restaurants: If you prefer to eat within the park, look for budget-friendly options such as counter-service restaurants and food carts.
How to save money on shopping in Disneyland Paris
Set a Budget: Souvenirs can quickly add up, especially with kids. Set a budget for souvenirs and stick to it. Encourage your children to choose one or two special items rather than buying everything they see. Also remember that most stores in Disneyland Paris have the same items, so you can always pick something up at the end after thinking about your purchase first.
Buy Souvenirs Outside the Park: Disney-themed merchandise can be found in many stores outside the park at lower prices. Check out shops in Val d’Europe or even in central Paris for Disney merchandise. Alternatively, if you want to be wearing Disney items, you could always buy your clothes on Amazon or take advantage of the Primary/Disney collaboration to stock up on Disney items.
Look for Sales and Discounts: Inside the park, keep an eye out for sales and discounts on merchandise. Some shops offer end-of-day sales or special promotions on selected items. This is especially true at the end of seasons, so January for Christmas items and November for Halloween items.
Extra ways to visit Disneyland Paris on a budget
Make the Most of Free Attractions and Activities: Disneyland Paris offers a variety of free shows, parades, and character meet-and-greets. Plan your day around these events to get the most out of your visit without spending extra money.
Use the Disneyland Paris App: The Disneyland Paris app is a valuable tool for budget-conscious visitors. It provides real-time information on wait times, show schedules, and dining options. It also offers a free interactive map to help you navigate the park efficiently.
Pack Wisely: Make sure to pack all the essentials to avoid buying overpriced items in the park. Bring comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and any necessary medications.
Use a Cashback Credit Card: If you have a cashback or rewards credit card, use it for all your travel-related expenses. You can earn cashback or points on flights, accommodation, and even park tickets, which can be used for future savings.
How much does it cost to visit Disneyland Paris?
Here’s an example of a budget breakdown for a family of four visiting Disneyland Paris for three days:
Flights
– Budget airline tickets: €150 per person x 4 = €600
Accommodation
– Three nights in a budget hotel in Val d’Europe: €80 per night x 3 = €240
Park Tickets
– Three-day park tickets purchased online in advance: €200 per adult x 2 + €180 per child x 2 = €760
Food
– Bringing snacks and breakfast from home: €50
– Eating lunch and dinner outside the park: €30 per meal x 6 = €180
Transportation
– RER A train tickets from Paris to Disneyland: €15 round trip per person x 4 = €60
Souvenirs
– Budget for souvenirs: €50 per child x 2 = €100
Miscellaneous
– Travel insurance: €50
– Unexpected expenses: €50
Total Estimated Cost
– €2040 for three days
By carefully planning and making strategic choices, you can enjoy a magical visit to Disneyland Paris without straining your finances. Focus on the experiences and memories, and you’ll find that a budget-friendly trip can be just as enchanting as a more extravagant one.
Helpful Resources
Travel essentials:
- We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
- For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs.
- We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first).
- This is our favourite travel insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offer year coverage.
What to pack
- No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizers and a mini first aid kit.
- We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage.
- We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips.
- I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.
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