Happy new year! Is 2026 going to be the year you go to Disneyland Paris? We understand that booking a trip can be a big step, and there are a lot of doubts that can set in. In this blog we’re addressing some of the most common concerns that we see, with some tips on how they could be overcome. Let’s dive in!

… I’m worried about the cost

Definitely a relatable problem this one! A lot of folks that would like to go to Disneyland Paris are put off by the potential expense. And that’s not really a surprise, as a visit to Disneyland Paris can be very expensive!

If you’re worried about the potential expense of a trip, there are a few things you can do to mitigate the costs. To visit the Disneyland Paris parks there’s only one absolute you have to have, and that’s a park ticket. There are lots of other potential expenses, but here’s how they could be addressed:

• For accommodation, consider staying offsite – we love the convenience, perks and overall Disney feeling of staying in one of the Disney owned hotels onsite. But we also know that these hotels are pretty expensive! If you’re worried about the cost of a Disney hotel, you could look at staying in another hotel nearby. There are a lot of hotels close to the Disney Parks, and some are recognised by Disneyland Paris as Good Neighbour hotels, so you can book them through the Disneyland Paris site. You might also be able to get something like an AirBnB. If you are looking at an offsite option make sure you read reviews and double check the legitimacy of the website you’re planning to use for booking. Also consider if you’re planning to take your own car and as such if there’s parking (and factor in Disney’s parking fees), or research if there’s a shuttle bus. You might miss out on some Disney theming and perks, but it’ll open up a lot more budget friendly options.
• Visit in an off-peak season – School holidays, public holidays and weekends are some of the most expensive times to visit Disneyland Paris. If you’re able to, try to visit outside these times. January and early February will be your quietest times. We have a whole blog post breaking down the cheapest times to visit Disneyland Paris in 2026, so maybe have a look at that next!
• If you do want to stay onsite, consider one of the value hotels – If you really want those Disney perks and theming but are on a budget, look at staying in one of the value hotels – that’s Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe (and technically Davy Crockett Ranch although that’s not walking distance). Just bear in mind they’ll be a bit of a longer walk to the parks (up to 25 minutes in the furthest away rooms at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe), and that the rooms are on the small side. If you’d like to see if these resorts are right for you, check out our room tours of both Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe, and we have full resort tours of Cheyenne and Santa Fe too!
• Take advantage of discounts – Some annual pass holders can get discounts on hotel stays, and those with registered disabilities can save on park tickets. You can also get a Blue Light discount if you’re eligible. Disney also periodically run special offers so check before you book, just in case you can save some cash!
• Book early if you can – in general for Disneyland Paris hotels stays and many forms of transportation, the earlier you book the cheaper it’ll be. As such if you’re planning a trip book as soon as you can to hopefully snag the best prices!
• Bring your own food into the parks – Disney food can be on the expensive side – but you don’t have to eat it! You can bring your own food into the parks, just so long as it doesn’t have to be kept cold, doesn’t need heating up, doesn’t smell too strongly, doesn’t have glass containers, and isn’t alcohol. Under Disneyland Paris’ rules you can’t picnic in the park, but generally speaking if you’re sat on a bench out of the way the cast members don’t seem to bother folks. Just bear in mind you can’t bring any picnic furniture in with you – they will take that away! There are also picnic tables in the Fantasia Gardens just outside Disneyland Park and the Disneyland Hotel. Another thing to consider is that there are no lockers at the Disneyland Paris parks so you either need to carry stuff with you or leave it at the bag check outside Disneyland Park. If you’re looking for somewhere local to pick up cheaper food, the supermarket at Val d’Europe is only a short drive or one stop on the RER away.
• Plan for merchandise as much as possible – Disney sure know how to market stuff, and opportunities to buy merchandise are everywhere in the parks, which can make keeping to a budget hard. If you’re worried about spending getting out of control set yourself before hand a limit on what you can buy, maybe sticking to just one or two types of merchandise. If you’re worried about little ones wanting everything try to buy some items in advance you can give them, you can even get some Disneyland Paris merchandise on the Disney Store website! Or buy items from toy shops and places like Amazon you can produce as a treat.
• Read our full blog post on budgeting for a Disneyland Paris trip – it has more detail on ways to save and to know your budget in advance!

… I’m worried about the crowds

Another very relatable concern here! There’s no doubt that crowds at Disneyland Paris can be… intense. It’s very peopley there. And if you’re someone who doesn’t get on with large crowds this can be very off-putting when thinking about a trip. But as someone who genuinely hates large crowds, I can say that there are things you can do to help you cope! Here’s some of our top tips.

• Go in off-peak season – Yup this was in the budgeting point above as well, but it’s maybe even more important here. If you can, avoid school holidays and public holidays (in France and the UK). Also if possible restrict your visit to weekdays, as weekends are noticeably busier when the locals come out to play! Again January and early February will be the noticeably quieter times of the year. But you can find quieter periods elsewhere too – March and May outside of the bank holidays and school breaks can be good, as can September. October and November can both get pretty busy due to the Halloween and Christmas seasons, although November is generally speaking still quieter than December! The summer is pretty busy from June to August, although if you’re restricted to these months early June and later in August will be your better bets for lighter crowds. But avoiding peak crowds can make a difference!
• Check if you’re eligible for Priority Pass or the Easy Access Pass – For those who are neurodiverse or differently-abled, you might be eligible for the Priority Pass or the Easy Access Pass. The former will give access to shorter ride queue lines, separate queues in restaurants, and special viewing areas for parades and nighttime shows. The Easy Access Pass will allow you to book return times for rides, where you can join much shorter and less crowded queues. Both can be of great help to those that need them. For more information checkout our guide to Priority Pass, and our post with information on all the services Disneyland Paris offers the differently-abled.
• Consider budgeting for special viewing areas or premier access to rides – If you’re not eligible for the Priority Pass, you can pay for special viewing areas for the nighttime spectaculars and parades that will be a lot less crowded than the general viewing areas. You can also buy premier access for rides, which will give you access to shorter queues for some of the rides. For this you can buy a pass that covers all the rides that are eligible for the day (this is a pricey option though), or you can buy them ad hoc for individual rides as needed, which is great if you want to help reduce waits at some of the more popular rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Crush’s Coaster or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It kinda sucks you have to pay more to access these services, but it could be worth it if you need to avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid peak crowds during the day – Crowds ebb and flow in the Disneyland Paris parks throughout the day, and it’s pretty predictable. There’ll be a crowd at the beginning of the day with Early Entry for Disneyland Paris hotel guests, and more of a crowd just before general park opening. There’ll be a lot of crowds around Main Street USA for the parades and the nighttime spectacular, and there’ll be the biggest crowds at park close. The busiest time of the day in the parks is typically early afternoon, and at this point some of the more popular or smaller lands can get pretty tight – notably Fantasyland in the Disneyland Park; and Avengers Campus, Toy Story Playland and the Ratatouille area in the current Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to be Disney Adventure World. (I’d expect World of Frozen to join this list when it opens too). If you can, plan to be in some of the less busy areas of the parks then to give yourself some breathing room. Or if you’d like retreat to Disney Village or your hotel for a break! You can always return to the parks later.
• Know the less crowded places you can escape – For all the people in the Disneyland Paris parks, there are some spots that tend to stay a lot quieter, and these can be good places for an in park breather. We shared a lot of these in our video on the quieter spots in Disneyland Park, and also in our blog on avoiding sensory overload in the parks, so definitely check those out. And again, you can retreat to Disney Village or your hotel if you’d like and return to the parks later!
• Don’t plan park open to park close every day – It’s tempting to pack as much as you can into your Disneyland Paris trip, but if your trip is 3 days or more we’d recommend not trying to do park open to park close each day – plan a lie in, or an early evening. Not only will this help you to be less tired, it also means you avoid some of those crowd pinch points – park open and park close!
• Bring distractions or other aids you need – Dealing with some crowds at Disneyland Paris is inevitable, so bringing in something to distract you from the crush can be really helpful. I wear a fidget ring that I play with when the crowds get a bit too much, but small fidget toys can also be great. Or even some games or reading a book can help take you out of the crowd situation! If sound can be an issue, bringing ear plugs or ear defenders could also be of benefit. You can also borrow ear defenders from City Hall if you like.

… I’m worried about managing the parks with my medical conditions or disabilities

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with choices when planning a Disneyland Paris trip, and it’s natural to feel even more overwhelmed when you have medical conditions or disabilities to consider. The good news is though that being differently-abled does not have to be a barrier to visiting Disneyland Paris. The parks are actually excellent at supporting guests so that everyone can enjoy their visit!

Disneyland Paris has a programme called MagicALL – which is what they do to make the parks as inclusive as possible. One of the biggest ways they support guests is through the Priority Card and Easy Access Card I mentioned in the crowds section above. These passes are a real bonus when it comes to navigating the parks, allowing you to avoid standing in longer lines or large crowds at times. The passes also allow the Disney cast members to see your needs when you’re boarding a ride, so they know what they might need to accommodate (for example a longer time for boarding for those with physical differences). Again, check out our Priority Card blog for all the details you need on this pass, who’s eligible and how to apply.

But this is not all that Disneyland Paris offers guests who are differently-abled. They can offer discounts on park and carer tickets. There are accessible hotel rooms, and the ability to borrow devices to help guests with sensory differences interact with their rooms more easily (such as lights that flash when the fire alarm goes off). They can accommodate service animals (although they can’t go on a lot of the rides sadly!). They offer tactile maps and audio description for guests with visual differences, and haptic vests for some shows to allow guests with hearing loss feel the music of the shows. There are also audio loops available in shops, restaurants and some shows. There are plentiful disabled loos (although other guests just using them is a common problem sadly), and the first aid centre and baby care centre are places to help support medical conditions and take a breather away from the crowds if need be. You can hire wheelchairs and ear defenders. The list goes on! Check out our blog listing all the support for differently-abled guests for full details.

If you’re concerned about how suitable some of the attractions are, you can use Disney’s ride warnings as a guide to the more intense attractions. However for more detail I’ll add a shameless plug for our Magically Different Guide to Disneyland Paris attraction accessibility. Here I break down every attraction and all the details you might need – style of attraction, style of ride seat, possible sensory triggers and more. It’s only £3, or free if you subscribe to this blog! Click here to subscribe to the blog, or buy your copy.

So yes, having medical conditions to consider does mean a bit of extra planning for your Disneyland Paris trip – but it does not have to be barrier!

… Are my kids too young / old?

There’s a lot of debate online about the perfect age to take children to Disneyland Paris. Some worry about children being too young to be able to remember the parks and adding extra complications to planning. Others worry about children being too old to appreciate the magic. The honest answer for this one? You won’t know until you try!

We’ve seen people with little babies in the Disney Parks, with everyone having a great time. Will the little one remember the trip later? Nope. But will their parents? Absolutely! Of course you need to plan in things like nap schedules, feedings etc. Fortunately the Disney Parks are equipped with plentiful changing tables, you can rent buggies, and the Baby Care centre can be a good place to nurse, change or grab essential supplies. (Although all you breast feeding folks out there are free to nurse anywhere and anyone who doesn’t like it should just put up and shut up – the Baby Care Centre is more if you or little one would get on better in a quieter spot!). On the flip side of this I’ve seen more little kids have a meltdown in the parks than I can count at this point. Although this may not be that they weren’t ready for the parks – as noted above Disneyland Paris can be a busy and overstimulating place that can send adults over the edge, let alone little ones.

As for the kids getting too old, I can confidently say that I was going to Disney Parks throughout my teens and loved it every time! But again, each kid is different. It might be that your moody teenager might need to be let loose occasionally to ride some rollercoasters to keep them happy, and that’s fine if they’re responsible enough to be on their own in the parks. Some might think they’re ‘too cool’ for Disney, but even with this attitude a lot of folks can thaw once they’re in the parks! It might help if you get them involved in the planning for the trip – if they have some say in what’s going on, they may be more willing to go along with the other ‘Disney magic’.

At the end of the day, you know your kid best. If they freak out at the local zoo they may not manage the parks. But if it would make you happy taking them, I’d go for it and not overthink it! You’d just have to make sure you plan for breaks as needed, have all the needed supplies with you (for the teenage folks I’d say a battery pack for their phone is a must!), and prioritise for your trip with must dos. If you want a try out, maybe take them to a local theme park first and see what happens? But then again, there can be some special magic about Disney that touches folks, young and old alike.

… Isn’t it just for kids?

Sigh. Where’s that facepalm emoji when you need it? There’s a simple answer to this one (say it louder for folks in the back) – NO IT’S NOT JUST FOR KIDS!

Folks who think this tend to have seen pictures or videos of things like Dumbo or It’s a Small World, and presume that everything in the parks is aimed at young children. But actually the parks are aimed at all ages! And they have been since Walt Disney envisioned the first Disneyland – places where people of all ages can have fun together.

Within the parks themselves there are richly detailed walk through experiences to enjoy like the Mysteries of the Nautilus and Adventure Isle – the details of which can be lost on little ones. Shows where the talent on display is West End or Broadway level talent. Thrill rides aimed at all ages and not for the faint of heart (or little children). Dining experiences that evoke different times and places. Experiences based on franchises like the Avengers, or Star Wars, or Indiana Jones that folks of all ages enjoy. Extending out to the wider resort there’s a range of shopping to experience, fine dining, spa treatments, and a lot of opportunities to indulge in an alcoholic drink or two if that’s your thing! Plus the level of theming Disney put into literally everything give new details to discover around every corner, many of which are lost on kids.

Also, for many adults I think that the overall family friendly vibes are part of the appeal. Let’s face it, adulting is hard and the outside world can be a pretty frightening place at times. So why not forget your troubles for a bit to hug Mickey Mouse, take a trip through a haunted house, or fly on the back of an elephant?

When you visit Disneyland Paris you’ll see a lot of adults there without children just living their best lives and enjoying the parks to the fullest. And hey, I’ll be among them! Because Disney really is for everyone.

… I or someone in my group hates Disney!

Are you sure you’re planning for the right holiday?! Actually, when this situation normally arises it’s because certain members of a family or friend group are really keen to visit, and other folks who aren’t fans get dragged along with them! It’s a tricky situation but it’s not entirely insurmountable.

I feel that a lot of the points from the ‘aren’t the parks just for kids’ section above can also apply here. A lot of folks don’t like Disney because they’re just not in to animation etc, and don’t see beyond the parks being the ‘Mickey Mouse park’. Reality check time, you’ll probably see Mickey Mouse at some point. But it doesn’t have to be the focus of the trip!

I think my main tip here would be to talk to the person in question to discover why they ‘hate Disney’. It might be that they’ll like the Avengers or Star Wars aspects, or the Wild West or Pirates theming in areas but not the more traditional ‘Disney’ aspects. In which case you might agree to split the group up so while some folks tackle Fantasyland others get to explore other parts of the park. Or head to a bar. Or have a nap. Whatever really to keep them happy! I’d definitely involve them in the planning, allow them to choose some priorities of what to do so they don’t feel just ‘dragged along’ for the trip.

It might also be they say they ‘hate Disney’ because they’re concerned about aspects of the trip, like crowds or the expense. In which case feel free to refer them to other portions of this blog for help!

If they’re really adamant they hate all things Disney, is it possible for them not to come along for the trip? It might be tricky to deal with someone who’s sulking and ruining the magical vibes for everyone else. I realise that’s not an ideal situation, but it might be what’s needed here.

My biggest takeaway here is that communication is key. Maybe have an agreement that if they don’t moan about everything you won’t make them wear Mouse Ears and hug a Disney Princess? At least if you know where you stand before the trip you can move forward with some understanding!

… All the planning needed is stressful!

Some folks think that heading to Disneyland Paris is like heading to a local theme park. You pay on the gate, pick up a map and then play the rest of the day by ear. Such folks therefore get a rude awakening when they discover the amount of planning that can go into a Disneyland Paris trip, and can be put off as a result. And it is a lot! But it doesn’t have to be.

While you can’t buy tickets on the gate anymore, you could literally just buy them in advance, turn up on the day and then wing it. Are you likely to get less done in the day than other folks who planned? Yes. Does that mean it’ll be a bad day? Not necessarily! If the planning is going to make you miserable then you don’t have to do it, and there’s plenty of folks who head to Disneyland Paris with minimal planning and have a great time.

If you do want to do some planning though then you’re in the right place! Our blogs are designed to help planning your Disneyland Paris trip easier, and to help you avoid the pitfalls. We have blogs dedicated to attractions, dining, hotels, and more. While all the blogs are helpful here’s some we particularly recommend to help get you started:

• Key steps for planning your Disneyland Paris trip – a step by step guide to help you plan and book your Disneyland Paris trip
• Key dates, deadlines and information for booking a Disneyland Paris trip – a timeline of what needs booking when and deadlines to be aware of when Disneyland Paris trip planning!
• Disneyland Paris package add-ons – what’s worth it? – A guide to the packages offered by Disney to Disneyland Paris, including breaking down exactly what all the potential package add-ons are so you can decide if they’re right for you.
• When to go to Disneyland Paris – A month by month guide to Disneyland Paris throughout the year to help you choose the right time for you
• When’s the cheapest time to go to Disneyland Paris in 2026? – Perfect if you’re planning to go this year and don’t know when!
• 10 things you shouldn’t do in Disneyland Paris – common planning pitfalls to avoid!
• Overview of the hotels at Disneyland Paris – a breakdown of all the onsite Disney Hotels at Disneyland Paris to help you decide what works for you.
• What rides should you prioritise at Disneyland Paris? – A look at the best attractions for guests with different types of interests, so you can prioritise!
• Introduction to dining at Disneyland Paris – a guide to the different types of dining you can find at Disneyland Paris

As well as our blogs you can also check out our YouTube channel for planning advice and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or BlueSky where we post regular news and updates for Disneyland Paris!

Hopefully that’s set some doubts aside for you. Anything else you’re worried about? Let us know in the comments, and while you’re down there subscribe to snag your free copy of our Magically Different Guide to Disneyland Paris Attraction Accessibility. If you’d like to support our work we’d also be very grateful if you could leave us a tip. Thank you!