I don’t know if I’ve ever really said this in a blog before (although it’s probably been clear to regular readers by omission if nothing else) but we don’t have kids. And yes, we go to Disneyland Paris a lot. And like any adult who visits Disneyland Paris without children we’ve been asked (more than once!) ‘Isn’t it just for kids’? Of course there’s a lot at Disneyland Paris for children, but the actual answer to that is a firm no! Here’s why Disneyland Paris is just as fun for adults as it is for families.

Some of the rides aren’t made for young children

Disneyland Paris has a whole range of rides and attractions. Many are suitable for all ages. Some it may be argued are aimed more towards younger children. But there’s some that can’t be experienced by younger children at all – those with height requirements.

Typically height requirements are in place on thrill rides – rollercoasters being an obvious one but also simulators and drop tower rides can full into this category (looking at you Star Tours and Tower of Terror). The reason for height requirements comes down to safety – the wilder the ride, the more you need a seat restraint and the better that needs to fit in order to prevent accidents. But also, height restrictions serve as a way of preventing little ones riding a ride that will simply be way too scary for them to experience!

The highest restrictions are at rides like Hyperspace Mountain or Avengers Flight Force with a 1.2m minimum height – that’s roughly around 7 years old although naturally that will also depend on the child and how quickly they grow! So while these rides aren’t adult only by any means (and they’re not meant to be), it certainly doesn’t prove that Disney is only for families with young children either!

The level of theming and immersion may be best appreciated by adults…

If there’s one thing that Disney is excellent at, it’s theming and immersion. That level of theming is created by wide sweeping vistas and the smallest points of detail to tell a complete story. And a lot of that theming might be best appreciated by adults!

When I was visiting Disney Parks as a child I of course loved the entire experience, but I don’t think I was truly appreciating all the nuance of detail that Disney put into the lands or attractions. But as an adult I find I notice it a lot more. Examples in Disneyland Paris include looking up in Star Traders to see the signs that you’re still in a Star Port in the Star Wars galaxy, noticing how the elements of Frontierland come together tell the story of the town of Thunder Mesa (they even have a themed back story for the Doritos stand for crying out loud!), and appreciating the posters in the Discovery Arcade predicting what cities of America will look like at the turn of the 21st Century – tying in to the retro future vibe of Discoveryland still to come. And the level of detail in attractions like Phantom Manor and Pirates of the Caribbean is off the charts. Did you know that a baby photo of Walt Disney is in the Phantom Manor queue? For a lot of little ones they’re probably going to be more interested in getting to the next ride or snack (and looking for snacks is something I also appreciate!) but for those willing to slow down and look around, there’s a lot of rich detail to be enjoyed!

Also in the past Disneyland Paris hasn’t shied away from the odd theming detail or pun that had a touch of innuendo about it. Anyone else remember the Bordello building over at Hotel Santa Fe, or the gravestone on Boot Hill of the servant who ‘made the master happy’ and his wife who ‘made the master happier’?! While a lot of this has now been removed there’s still the odd touches of humour still better appreciated than adults, like the grave of the Housekeeper now on Boot Hill who has ‘made the dirt a whole lot deeper’!

Some Disney experiences can only be had by grown ups!

Drinking champagne on Main Street USA has become a right of passage by Disney Adults at this point, so much has it been on social media! (And now you can add drinking champagne on Adventure Bay in Disney Adventure World). And this is just one of the Disneyland Paris experiences geared just for adults.

Many of the Disneyland Paris restaurants have signature cocktails and drinks to try. And with the opening of the first lounge in a Disneyland Paris park (Regal View Lounge in Disney Adventure World with several Princess themed cocktails), it seems that Disney executives are embracing this trend for adults wanting a bit of Disney Magic in experiences only for them! Another place that embraces this is the Fleur de Lys bar in the Disneyland Hotel which has offered unique themed drinks since it reopened with the hotel in 2024. And La Foret Secrete is a fine dining experience at the Disneyland Hotel – while it accepts bookings for children, its adult menu is still heavily Disney themed!

The Disneyland Hotel also has a spa, which offers a range of treatments. Some are geared just for children or for all ages – but some are also for adults only! And if you’re more of a party animal, then on Friday and Saturday night Billy Bob’s Saloon in Disney Village offers DJ sessions from 10.30pm to 2am.

Also let’s mention shopping for a moment – there’s a lot of opportunities to shop at Disneyland Paris! And while some merchandise is aimed at children, some is very much themed at adults – like home decor items, luxury handbags and the like. If you’d like to learn more about shopping at Disneyland Paris check out our previous blog.

You can get married in Disneyland Paris

Did you know you can get married in Disneyland Paris? If you’re not a French national then this is more of a symbolic ceremony than a legal wedding (the residency laws for marrying in France are strict!) – but you can still say I do with Sleeping Beauty Castle as your backdrop.

Also, want a fairytale horse drawn carriage? You’ve got it. Hire out one of the Disneyland Paris restaurants as your reception venue? Sure thing. Special cake? They’ve got you covered! Well they do if you have the cash at least. As you’d probably guess a Disneyland Paris wedding isn’t cheap, starting at 25,000 Euros and only going up from there! (Start saving folks).

Cost aside, if there’s one thing that this does prove it’s that Disneyland Paris is in demand as both a wedding venue and a honeymoon destination. And they offer various packages now to help people planning to propose too! So you can really live your love story at Disneyland Paris if you so wish…

Adults need some Disney magic too…

This is probably the most important point on this entire list – that adults need some Disney magic in their lives just as much as children do sometimes!

Let’s face it, the world can be a pretty scary and stressful place – even more so at the moment than usual, and that’s saying something! So for many going to a Disney park is an escape from that reality – a chance to act a bit like a kid again, to have some fun, and maybe pretend that the real world doesn’t exist if only for a little while…

And also, many grownups love Disneyland Paris for the same reason they love Disney movies – the nostalgia, and the appreciation of the artistry that goes into them. A chance to relive things from when they were young, or to finally live out that daydream they had as a kid – whether that’s blast into the Star Wars galaxy, come face to face with a Marvel superhero and help save the day, or be able to live a Princess story and exist somewhere where good triumphs over evil, and happily ever after is a pretty sure outcome, not just a hopeful wish.

Walt Disney himself recognised this need in grown ups – he said that ‘adults are just kids grown up anyway’. And his aim with the original Disneyland was a place that everyone could have fun together – no matter what their age. There’s a reason that you see adults in the parks wearing Minnie Ears, Loungefly Bags and spirit jerseys, and hugging Mickey Mouse with tears in their eyes – they’re unlocking that inner child for a while. So if Disneyland Paris is just for kids, it’s for kids of all ages – from just born up to age 100 and beyond!

Hopefully this blog will give you some arguments next time someone says to you that Disney is ‘just for kids’ – or at least an excuse to roll your eyes and ignore them! If you like our content do please subscribe to our blog below, you’ll get a free copy of our Magically Different Guide to Disneyland Paris attraction accessibility (otherwise £3). We have lots of Disney magic over on our YouTube channel too and we’d love to see you there! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so by leaving a tip. Thank you!