Disneyland Paris is great fun but it can be expensive. When you add the cost of hotels, flights, food and park tickets together it's not very budget-friendly. However here are some tried and tested ways of saving money when visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget.
How to get there
The easiest and quickest way is to fly into Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris. Easyjet is one budget airline that provides Paris flights. Don't forget you will have to add on suitcases and airport transfers which can quickly add up. If you are visiting for a couple of days, see if you can manage with carry-on luggage to keep costs down. There aren't any super cheap ways to get to Disneyland Paris from the airport that I know of. If you travel outside of rush hour, the TGV train is quicker and cheaper than the Disney bus at 17 Euros 50 each. If you have a large family, you may want to look at a shared transfer. Always book your transfer and train online in advance for the cheapest rates.
Other options include Eurostar from London as a foot passenger. At certain times of the year, they have some great deals on. You can also get a direct train to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy station which is directly in front of the parks. Another option is to drive yourself from Calais to France and then over to your accommodation. Factor in petrol and tolls which are approximately €22. You do have the convenience of taking your car directly to your door and if you are not a fan of flying this is a popular choice.
Where to stay
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| It's A Small World |
For a budget traveller, I would say avoid Disney hotels. None of these hotels are particularly cheap. If you have set your heart on a Disney hotel then the cheapest one is usually the Sante Fe. Instead of staying in a Disneyland Paris hotel consider accommodation in the Marne-la-Vallée area as any hotel in this area is perfect for the parks. There are some apartments in this area if you have a number of kids.
If you are looking at holidays to Paris and want to combine Disneyland with a trip exploring Paris and the surrounding area then a stay in a holiday park can be a cost-effective option. Some sites like those by Eurocamp have a high standard of mobile homes, with fridges, washing machines, DVD players and more, and are a fraction of the price of a hotel stay. You also have your own indoor and outdoor space which is great for large families.
When to go
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| Pirates Of The Caribbean |
If you are on a tight budget, avoid school holidays if you can; Easter and Christmas including when the French children are on holiday. The cheapest time to go is often between Christmas and Spring but November is often cheap and you will get the Christmas decorations going up straight after Halloween. Midweek is quieter than the weekend too.
Park Tickets
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| Sleeping Beauty Castle |
To get the cheapest tickets I would avoid buying at the gate. With the gate price of €79 for a day ticket, you can see it makes sense to compare prices online beforehand. Check out places like AttractionTix and Attraction Tickets Direct.
If you are visiting for more than a couple of days, check out the annual passes as it may be cheaper to buy these. They offer a wealth of discounts and perks and you can even buy a pass just for 150 days that you can use in low season.
Once in the park use the Disneyland Paris app to make the best use of your time and check wait times and also the Lineberty app to meet characters. Both of these are free.
Souvenirs
To save money buy your souvenirs before you go. Ok, this may only work with younger kids but why not give it a try? Shops such as Poundland and Primark in the UK have a selection of Disney merchandise at bargain prices. You can buy dressing up outfits, Mickey ears, autograph books, light up toys and more, and this will always be cheaper than buying in the parks.
Pressed pennies are a cheap souvenir, seek out the pressed penny machines for a lovely keepsake that won't break the bank. Check the park map for the free character meet and greets too and if you take an autograph book they will sign it as well.
Currency
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| Tower Of Terror |
The currency in France is the Euro, so if you are not from a country that uses the Euro, you will have to get currency beforehand. Never get it at the airport, the exchange rate will be terrible. Instead, use a comparison site like Travel Money Max to get the best rates.
Also, ensure you get a credit card with no currency conversion charge like the Halifax Clarity Card, otherwise you may be charged a fee on top when you use it abroad. Most debit cards with charge a foreign transaction fee so don't use your debit card unless you absolutely have to.
Food
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| Earl Of Sandwich |
Food in the parks is overpriced and can be disappointing especially the table service meals. Check out TripAdvisor for reviews. One place that has decent reviews is the Cowboy Cookout Barbecue and the prices are reasonable.
I would suggest you either take a picnic into the parks or go to the Disney Village for food to keep costs down. Near the Val d’Europe RER station, there is an Auchan Supermarket, so why not buy some baguettes, ham and cheese and do like the French do and take a picnic in? In the Disney Village, there are a few decent options for a quick service meal like Earl of Sandwich and if you are on a tiny budget you can always try Mcdonalds. Vapianos was also recommended to me by my friend Juliette. It's worth using Google to find discount coupons too as we managed to find coupons for Earl Of Sandwich in the past.
pin for later
There are water fountains around the park so be sure to take a water bottle and fill it up to save on the price of Evian bottled water. For a quick snack why not take some snacks from Poundland into the parks with you, you will be grateful for a Kit-Kat when you see the price of the cupcakes?
So here is a guide to doing Disneyland Paris on a budget. Have you been to Disneyland Paris? Do you have any tips?
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Great tips - it's somewhere I'd love to take my children when they are a bit older because I have so many fond memories there :)
ReplyDeleteHope you get the chance Helen!
DeleteI've never been myself but really want to go with or without the kids. Handy tips. I did expect the food to be overpriced as it normally is in theme parks which is a shame considering entry costs.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is unfortunately.
DeleteMy wife and I went in January 2017. We found that they offered tickets at a greatly reduced price. I bought one day passes in America for around $70 each. We planned to spend 10 days in Paris and found that they offered Disney passes on special for 28 Euros. We bought them from the same place we purchased our City passes.
DeleteAnother tip is to go in Mid January. There were no lines at any rides. Most people are not aware that they only allow sales at the stores in January and July. We purchased souvenirs at a fraction of the normal price.
I went to Disneyland Paris a few years ago and I'd love to go again! I'm saving up to take my niece and nephew in a few years. It's so expensive though, I think we'll probably look into staying offsite to keep the cost down!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good idea Sam.
DeleteI have always dreamt of going! Ive been to paris a few times and never been... will definitely check it out next time. Thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeleteYou can go there for the day from Paris.
DeleteI'd love to go back to Disneyland Paris, I do agree about food and hotels in the park, we stayed out of the park but overall I liked my experience. You've got some good tips
ReplyDeleteThank you. I think the parks are great. It's not Orlando but it's still fun.
DeleteI would never have thought to fly to France and then travel to the park as a way of saving money. That is suc a great idea. I’ve been twice to Disneyland and loved it but it was a school trip so I didn’t really pay attention to cost whilst I was there!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't live near the Eurostar terminal, flying from your local airport could be cheaper as you have to factor in transport to get to the terminal and possibly parking.
DeleteThere's some great ideas to save money here. I've never really considered visiting Disneyland because it seems so expensive for what it is but tips like staying outside the park and bringing packed lunches makes it more feasible!
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteI did a budget trip to Disneyland Paris a few yeara ago and took the Eurostar. Every visit since has been a budget visit carefully planned
ReplyDeleteWe went on the Eurostar the last time and I was impressed.
DeleteI've never been myself but, my daughter went with her school last year. We really want to take all the kids there one day so this post has definitely helped with looking at cheaper alternatives x
ReplyDeleteIt can be done on a budget Charli, so I hope my tips helped
DeleteAny advise for single parents? I’d love to take him to Disneyland or Disneyworld but one adult + one child is more expensive than a family of four!
ReplyDeleteIs that in a Disney hotel? Try the Marne-la-Vallée area near the Val D-Europe shopping centre. There are hotels near there that are super cheap and some have free transport to the park 15 mins away
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