8 Hours in... Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is an extremely popular holiday destination for families, couples and adults. I have been lucky enough to be a visitor as all of these group types; because of this I feel like I know how to do Disneyland Paris to the best of an average visitor’s abilities. As DLP is a small resort, compared to that of Walt Disney World, it can be done in a day if done right; therefore below are my top tips, tricks and all the information key to doing Disneyland Paris in 8 hours.

These are just my thoughts on how to tackle DLP best within an 8 hour day, I will write again about the cheapest way to book a holiday, how to spend a 2 day or longer holiday in the resort and more. Henceforth, below is just the key information on essential rides, food, attractions and characters for each travelling group style, plus a few of my tips and tricks along the way.

Let’s start with rides, there are many to choose from and people have their favourites; however it doesn’t mean everyone will think certain rides are essential. Thrill factor can be a big reason when choosing what rides to enjoy. I love thrills but have visited DLP many times with people who are much less into thrill seeking; therefore I will list the best rides, who best suits that ride and whether it be suitable for infants or even if there’s a height restriction.

Big Thunder Mountain - Disneyland Park, Height 1.02m

Big Thunder Mountain is a classic thrill ride and a staple of any Disney park. Known as the wildest ride in the wilderness, the ride is based around a runaway mine train having a bumpy ride around a haunted mountain. It’s a fun ride for all the family, however it is extremely popular and so maybe only decide to do in your short stay if you have a fastpass.

Crush’s Coaster - Walt Disney Studios, Height 1.07m

Crush’s Coaster is a thrilling spinning roller coaster ride which takes you on a spiralling journey through the East Australian Current. The ride starts like a classic Disney dark ride where you see jellyfish, the great barrier reef and Bruce the shark; but when Bruce tries to attack your turtle shell falls into the strong force of the EAC which hurtles you straight to safety. This is a very popular ride, so I would suggest getting to the ride at opening time (magic hours would be perfect here) or use the single rider entrance as your wait time will most likely be cut in half.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Disneyland Park, Any Height

Jump in to a gondola, which looks just like Dumbo, and get to control how high or low you soar through the air. This ride is perfect for little ones and is truly magical from their eyes.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril - Disneyland Park, Height 1.40m

This ride is a ramped up Big Thunder Mountain. You enter the spooky temple and board a train which takes you to try and find the missing expedition party, however the train becomes out of control and takes you on a speedy and looping journey which is extremely thrilling. If you prefer a bigger thrill I would suggest choosing this over Big Thunder Mountain as the queues are normally much shorter and so you can fit more into your day.

Le Pays des Contes de Fées - Disneyland Park, Any Height

This ride is a beautiful relaxing boat journey that takes you through stunning miniaturised versions of classic Disney movies and fairytales. It is a charming escape from the hustle and bustle of the park and rarely has a long queue as the boats hold up to 15 visitors, it is perfect for little ones and Disney lovers alike.

Phantom Manor - Disneyland Park, Any Height

Board a doom buggy within the haunted, dilapidated manor owned by Henry Ravenswood. Haunted by the owner and his bride to be daughter, whose last 4 beloveds have mysteriously demised. This ride is fantastic for all ages, even though it’s haunted it is not too scary for young kids, and is truly captivating and enjoyable for all ages.

Pirates of the Caribbean - Disneyland Park, Any Height

Pirates of the Caribbean is my favourite ride in Disneyland Park, I have loved it since I was tiny and it has always stayed within a special place in my heart. The theming of this ride is fantastic and by incorporating Jack Sparrow, Barbossa and the red headed woman, the ride is now up to date and more enjoyable for fans of the film franchise. This boat ride is a family favourite and the queue can move quite quickly even on a busy day.

Ratatouille: The Adventure - Walt Disney Studios, Any Height

This was a fantastic addition to the park which is why it is now being built at Walt Disney World’s Epcot. Ratatouille: The Adventure is a 4D experience ride which takes you into Gusteau’s famous Parisian restaurant as you shrink down to the size of a rat and accompany Remy and Emile as Skinner tries to stop you. This ride is not to be missed and I strongly suggest using fastpass or the single rider entrance in order to be able to fit this into your day.

Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain - Disneyland Park, Height 1.20m

This is a Star Wars themed upgrade to the classic Space Mountain. A thrilling looping roller coaster ride where your aim is to destroy the Death Star. I love this upgrade, even though I’m not a massive fan of the franchise, the score and the effects added have really upped the immersion of the ride. I'd advise making use of the fastpass or single rider option.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Walt Disney Studios, Height 1.02m

This is my absolute favourite ride at DLP. Not only is the ride thrilling and scream worthy, the theming is the thing I adore the most. Based around the Hollywood Tower Hotel, a mysterious incident occurred in 1939 causing the disappearance of 5 guests when in the elevator. The elevator now welcomes you in to see if you end up in the twilight zone. The queue for this one however can be quite long so definitely use fastpass if it seems like over a half hour wait.

So those are my opinions on the best rides to try and complete in an 8 hour DLP day. There are also many attractions within the parks that don’t include rides. As this is only for an 8 hour day there is no point spending time on all the walk arounds, especially if it’s your first ever visit. Most definitely you should watch the afternoon parade and the firework show at park closing. They are quintessentially Disney and will make you feel like a child again or even start a pure love of Disney in your children’s eyes. The parade face characters and dancers are always ready to interact with the audience; also the music and floats are absolutely stunning. The firework shows integrate fireworks with music and projections against the castle; therefore you will be enchanted and dazzled by the beauty of Disney’s nighttime spectaculars. The only other attractions that I would suggest, when restricted for time, would be Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and La Tanière du Dragon. The castle is beautiful and because the castle is Aurora’s it means that Maleficent has been trapped underneath the castle, in dragon form. Beware of entering the cave but children are always fascinated by the terrifying dragon that could wake up at any moment.

Now it is well known how expensive it is to eat and drink in Disney parks; however when only there for a 1 day visit you can easily limit the expense. In Disney you have 4 types of food outlets:

Kiosk: These places are mainly for quick drinks or sweet treats and can be more difficult when it comes to no seating and bad weather.

Quick Service: This is my choice for a quick bite, especially for a short visit, and the food is never outrageous in price. I will also explain my favourite quick services below.

Buffet: These are great when you want a lot of food to fill you for the day but they can be quite expensive, I would only suggest the buffet restaurants when using a dining plan.

Table Service: Disney table service restaurants can be fantastic but also very expensive. I would suggest to not bother dining in a table service when on a quick visit, as it can easily take an hour or more out of your park time.

My advice would definitely be to take advantage of the quick service dining options in DLP, when only in the parks for 8 hours. I will suggest my favourite quick services which I believe are good value for money and what cuisine is provided there.

Au Chalet de la Marionnette - Disneyland Park

This is a great quick service if you want a quick bite to satisfy everyone’s palette. The building is large enough to fit a significant amount of guests, mainly families, at large tables. The menu mainly consists of hot dogs, chicken nuggets and fries, so not healthy but a perfect filler when in the parks.

Restaurant Hakuna Matata - Disneyland Park

This quick service provides large portions that could be shared between families and an international menu. They serve african inspired foods and classic american options which aims to please all the family. The restaurant is also quite large meaning even on a busy day you can most likely get a table.

Café Hyperion - Disneyland Park

This is my favourite quick service in DLP. Normally the restaurant provides Star Wars themed food at lunchtime and they also serve breakfast at a good price. This quick service also sells Star Wars themed novelty drinks holders which are a great souvenir. There is a substantial amount of seating and there’s a big screen where either old school disney cartoons or episodes of the clone wars are played. This quick service is perfect for families as it is reasonably priced and keeps the kids entertained.

Disney Blockbuster Café - Walt Disney Studios

This quick service is perfect when you find yourself in Walt Disney Studios around lunchtime. They mainly sell sandwiches and salads; however from personal experience I can confirm that their croque monsieur is fantastic and not too expensive. There is quite a bit of seating, including outside, but there’s not a very large range if you have fussy eaters.

There are some incredible restaurant options across DLP resort, and so at another time I will review and suggest some advice for table service and buffet restaurants. Unfortunately, when you have a limited time in the parks these options just aren’t really feasible if you want to get the most out of your short visit. There are also cheap quick service options in Disney Village if you need to grab a bite on your way out of the parks. I’d suggest somewhere like McDonald’s, Five Guys or Earl of Sandwich for value for money.

When it comes to meeting characters it can be difficult if only going for one day. My best tip would be just to jump in line if you see a meet and greet that’s short or plan a time to go to the Princess Pavilion or meet Mickey Mouse. These queues can be deceiving however, as characters want to interact with the guests meaning that each interaction can differ in length causing a queue that looks short to be more than 30 minutes long. It can also be a good idea to watch the parade and see all your favourite characters there, if you’re not too bothered about an autograph or selfie.

And there you go! Those are my quick tips and tricks for anyone going to Disneyland Paris for a quick day trip. I hope these ideas have been helpful and that you have the most magical time!