Is One Day Enough at Disneyland Paris? Our Disneyland Paris Itinerary
Wondering if one day at Disneyland Paris is enough?
During our visit to Paris before embarking on AMA Waterways’ Paris & Normandy cruise, we dedicated a single day to exploring both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. By arriving before opening, using Premier Access strategically, and staying until closing, we experienced 16 attractions, watched Disney Stars on Parade, and ended the night with the Disney Tales of Magic drone show.
If you’re planning one day at Disneyland Paris, here’s exactly how we spent our day and whether we think it’s enough time.
How We Spent One Day at Disneyland Paris
To maximize our time, we hired a car from Paris and arrived before opening.
By 9:00 a.m., we were inside the gates and ready to start our day.
While we chose to hire a car, Disneyland Paris is also easily accessible by train. The Marne-la-Vallée-Chessy station is located directly outside the parks, making it a convenient option for visitors staying in Paris.
Since we only had one day to experience both parks, we purchased Premier Access for several attractions throughout the day. While it added to the overall cost of the visit, it helped us fit significantly more into a single day than we otherwise would have.
Rather than heading straight to Disneyland Park, we decided to start in Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park) before moving over to Disneyland Park later in the day.
Starting at Disney Adventure World
Our first stops included RC Racer and Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin in Toy Story Playland before making our way to Ratatouille: The Adventure.
Starting the day here allowed us to knock out several attractions before crowds really started building.
Ratatouille: The Adventure
As fans of the movie, Ratatouille was one of our priorities for the day.
If you’ve visited EPCOT, the attraction will feel very familiar since it’s essentially the same ride. Even so, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to ride Ratatouille while visiting Paris, where the film is set.
The attraction is beautifully themed and feels right at home in a Disney park located just outside Paris.
Crush’s Coaster
One of the attractions we were most excited about was Crush’s Coaster.
After hearing how popular it was, we made sure not to skip it. It ended up being one of the highlights of our day and a ride we would definitely recommend.
Tower of Terror
We also made time for Tower of Terror.
Even after experiencing other versions over the years, this one managed to surprise us. While the attraction shares similarities with the other Disney parks, there are some major differences that caught us off guard right from the start of the ride.
Without spoiling anything, it ended up being one of the most enjoyable versions we’ve experienced.
Avengers Campus
Our main goal in Avengers Campus was to ride the area’s two attractions before moving on to the rest of the park.
We rode Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, which uses the former Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster track and will feel familiar to anyone who remembers that attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
We also rode Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, which is similar to the version found at Disney California Adventure.
After finishing both rides, we continued on with the rest of our day.
Watching the Parade
After spending part of the morning in Disney Adventure World, we headed over to Disneyland Park to watch the parade.
The parade provided a nice break from rushing between attractions and gave us a chance to enjoy one of Disney’s classic entertainment offerings.
If you’d like to see Disney Stars on Parade for yourself, here’s the full parade from our visit.
Once it ended, we headed back to Disney Adventure World to finish the remaining attractions before spending the rest of the evening in Disneyland Park.
Exploring Disneyland Park
Once we finished at Disney Adventure World, we made our way back to Disneyland Park and remained there for the rest of the day.
Big Thunder Mountain
Out of all the versions we’ve ridden, Disneyland Paris has our favorite Big Thunder Mountain.
The island setting, unique layout, and overall ride experience help it stand out from every other version we’ve experienced.
If we had to rank our favorite attraction of the day, Big Thunder Mountain would be near the top of the list.
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
We also rode Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, another major highlight.
Compared to several other Disney versions, this ride felt noticeably more intense and delivered some of the biggest thrills of the day.
Phantom Manor
We also made time for Phantom Manor, Disneyland Paris’ version of the Haunted Mansion attraction.
While Disney fans will recognize some familiar elements, Phantom Manor features a darker storyline and unique western theme that helps it stand apart from the versions found in the United States.
It ended up being one of our favorite attractions in Disneyland Park.
Gluten-Free Food at Disneyland Paris
One challenge we encountered was finding gluten-free food options for Julia.
Compared to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort in California, we found gluten-free dining at Disneyland Paris much more challenging. If you’re planning a trip and need help navigating gluten-free dining throughout the city, be sure to check out our Gluten Free Paris: A Celiac Friendly Guide to Eating in Paris where we share restaurants, bakeries, and other resources that helped make our time in Paris easier.
Fortunately, Julia was able to find gluten-free macarons in Disney Village, which gave her something special to enjoy during the day. Overall, however, there were far fewer options than we’re accustomed to finding at Disney parks in the United States.
Disneyland Paris does have a few table-service restaurants that offer gluten-free options. Unfortunately, one of the restaurants we were interested in trying was closed during our visit, and the other had no reservations available.
Since we were focused on maximizing our time in the parks, we didn’t want to spend valuable ride time searching for another sit-down option. Visitors with celiac disease may have better luck if they make reservations well in advance.
For dinner, I grabbed a Mickey-shaped pizza. Since we anticipated that gluten-free options might be limited, Julia had packed a few snacks before we arrived at the park.
Throughout the day, she supplemented those snacks with the gluten-free macarons we found in Disney Village and gluten-free popcorn later in the evening.
It wasn’t exactly the Disney dining experience we had hoped for, but it worked well enough to get us through the day until we returned to Paris.
Travelers with celiac disease can certainly visit Disneyland Paris, but we found it required considerably more planning and flexibility than Disney destinations in the United States.
Ending the Night With the Drone Show
As the day came to a close, we grabbed some champagne, found a viewing spot, and waited for the nighttime entertainment.
The drone show was the perfect ending to a long day in the parks.
Watching the drones light up the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle was one of the most memorable moments of our visit.
The Disney Tales of Magic drone show was one of the highlights of our day. If you’re wondering whether it’s worth staying until closing, here’s the full show from our visit.
After the show ended, we made our way out of the park and headed back to Paris around 11:10 p.m.
Attractions We Experienced
By the end of the day, we had experienced 16 attractions across Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, watched Disney Stars on Parade, and enjoyed the Disney Tales of Magic drone show.
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
- Phantom Manor
- Crush’s Coaster
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- Tower of Terror
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force
- Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
- RC Racer
- Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin
- Cars Road Trip
- Cars Quatre Roues Rallye
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Les Mystères du Nautilus
Was Premier Access Worth It?
Because we only had one day at Disneyland Paris, Premier Access played a major role in how much we were able to accomplish. While it increased the overall cost of our visit, it helped us experience 16 attractions across both parks while still making time for Disney Stars on Parade and the Disney Tales of Magic drone show.
For visitors hoping to experience both parks in a single day, we found it well worth considering.
Is One Day Enough for Disneyland Paris?
For us, one day was enough to experience the attractions we cared about most and get a good feel for both parks.
However, it’s important to note that we used Premier Access throughout the day, which helped us fit so much into a single visit.
Without Premier Access, we likely would not have accomplished nearly as much.
If you’re a casual visitor spending several days in Paris, one day is probably enough.
If you’re a major Disney fan, you may want to consider two days to experience everything at a more relaxed pace.
Final Thoughts
After spending one day at Disneyland Paris, we believe it’s enough time for most visitors to experience the highlights of both parks, especially when using Premier Access strategically. During our visit, we experienced 16 attractions, watched Disney Stars on Parade, enjoyed the Disney Tales of Magic drone show, and explored both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World.
While dedicated Disney fans may prefer two days, we found that one day at Disneyland Paris provided an excellent introduction to the resort and made for a memorable day trip from Paris.
