Disneyland Paris has all the hallmarks of a traditional Disney Park. But there are so many things that set it apart. Amazing shops, quirks and foods that are worth indulging in to make the most of your time in the most magical place on Earth… in Europe.
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Paris Disneyland Essentials
Park Tickets
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Disneyland Hotel | Disney Hotel New York | Disney Newport Bay Club
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Airport Transfer to Paris Disneyland
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Get Champagne & Macarons on Mainstreet
It just wouldn’t be Paris without champagne. And hidden just across from Casey’s Restaurant in front of The Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor on Mainstreet is an unassuming green cart. It’s location can change and even though we knew of its existence, we still had a little trouble finding it. The cart only comes out in the late afternoon to evening times and serves champagne in these lovely souvenir flutes. We’re not big on champagne, but we all unanimously agreed it was pretty tasty… and a little strong. It is the only cart in a Disneyland park that serves champagne making it a Paris-exclusive experience. And, while you’re at it…
There’s only one shop at Disneyland Paris that serves macarons, and it’s the confectionary shop on Mainstreet. There are multiple designs to choose from, all of which offer different flavors. And, coincidentally, they pair really well with the champagne. If you’re getting one, you might as well get the other for the ultimate Disneyland Paris experience.
Book a Table at Chez Remy or Auberge de Cendrillon
There are two restaurants exclusive to Disneyland Paris that everyone should try at least once. Auberge de Cendrillon is the Cinderella themed restaurant in Fantasyland while Chez Remy is located in Walt Disney Studios Park. Auberge is a princess style restaurant where all the princesses will make the rounds so you can take photos with them. They are known for their course menu and they experience is a nice slow paced break from the bustling streets of the park.
Chez Remy is an immersive experience based on the movie with an interior that makes you feel like you’ve been shrunk down to the size of mice. We got a quick glimpse into it as we were exiting the ride, but we were a bit too strapped on time to actually try it.
Reservations are available 3 months ahead (or 6 months if you’re staying at a Disney hotel) through the Disney Paris app. We used DLP tables to set an alert which eventually led to reservations at both.
Seasonal food festival: Le Rendez-Vous Gourmand
There are pages of information when it comes to Chez Remy or Auberge de Cendrillon, but there’s not nearly as much information about the seasonal food festival Le Rendez-Vous Gourmand. This food market is located in the Walt Disney Studios Park (in the Ratatouille area) and typically runs from June to October. It mainly features food, drinks and snacks from various regions of France and surrounding European countries. It’s a nice cluster of food carts serving sandwiches, crepes, wines, cheese and charcuterie all waiting to be savored.
It’s similar to the food festival at California Adventure in Anaheim, but focuses exclusively on European cuisine. We took a break in this area just to grab a standing table and try out a few dishes before moving on. Next time, we will definitely be spending more time in this area, we suggest you do too.
Disney Paris Exclusive Mickey and Minnie Ears
There are several Paris-exclusive ear headbands located throughout the park. Most, like the “Disneyland Paris” embroidered Princess Minnie Ears, can be found at a small shop located on the left-side of the Disneyland entrance called the Plaza West Boutique. There are also lots of ride exclusive ears, like the Ratatouille and Phantom Manor ears that can be found at their respective areas in the park. It’s definitely worth checking out if your a big ear headband collector.
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Prioritize the Disney Paris Exclusive Rides
It doesn’t matter what anyone says, we know that Disney parks are all about the rides. There are several Paris-exclusive rides and attractions, along with a few variations of classics, that everyone needs to go on.
First up, Disneyland is home to La Taniere du Dragon under the Disneyland Castle. Here, you can come face to face with Maleficent in her dragon form. It’s a walkthrough attraction similar to the long gone Black Cauldron attraction in Tokyo. Unfortunately it was randomly closed off for maintenance when we went, so keep that possibility in mind.
Next, we have Avengers Assemble and Ratatouille in Walt Disney Studios. Ratatouille is also at EPCOT park in Florida, but Avengers Assemble is exclusive to Paris. Ratatouille is a trackless ride similar to the Haunted Mansion in Hong Kong while Avengers Assemble is more of a Marvel-themed rollercoaster like Space Mountain (but faster).
Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris is a similar but incredibly different variation on the Haunted Mansion rides at other parks. We’re HUGE fans of the Haunted Mansion and Mystic Manor, so we were thrilled that Phantom Manor did not disappoint. We rode it twice and still wished we had ridden it more!
Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones and It’s a Small World are also different from their American counterparts. Hyperspace Mountain is still Star Wars themed, but the original ride in Paris was built inherently differently from any others. Expect to be surprised.
Visit the La Boutique Du Chateau
Located inside Belle’s castle in Paris Disneyland is the park’s best kept secret. Most visitors don’t even notice the shop thanks to all the attractions in and around the castle, but that’s a shame. La Boutique Du Chateau is Paris Disneyland’s Christmas shop and features plushies, clothing and decorations for the holidays all-year round. If you’re like us and you like buying Christmas ornaments on your travels, the Boutique is a godsend. Check out our post for more details.
Why are the Figurines so CHEAP!?
Of all the Disney parks we’ve visited, Paris had the cheapest prices for collectables and figurines. We haven’t seen figurines priced at 20 USD or 40 USD inside a Disney park since we were kids. If you’re a fan of Disney collectables, expect to be flying home with more than a few purchases.
We didn’t know anything about this so we didn’t prepare extra luggage space ahead of time. But you don’t have an excuse! If you’re interested in Disney merch, make sure to leave space in your luggage for figures and their bubble wrap!
