Hot Tips
Here is our information for parents / carers to help you get the most from your time at Disneyland Paris. Hopefully this will lessen stress and save time and money.
Scroll through this page at your leisure or click on a topic heading below
to link directly to your chosen section!
| Preparation |  Priority Access Pass |
| Parades and Shows | Queuing |
| Eating Out | Breakfast Vouchers |
| Esso petrol station | Play Areas |
| Swimming Pools | Buggy / Pushchair |
| Toilets | Arcades |
| Disneyland Charge Card | |
Use video, holiday brochures and web sites (even this one!) to prepare and familiarise your child with the Disneyland Paris before they arrive.
This is a free 'queue busting' ticket that allows a disabled person and carer to bypass queues for many of the rides and attractions. Popular rides can have waiting times of 2 hours or more. With the ticket you enter attractions via the exit or where a wheelchair sign is displayed. To apply for such a pass you will need to take a letter from your doctor or consultant to City Hall in Main Street USA. Our consultant explained that Oliver did not understand the convention of queuing and was likely to become very distressed and upset if he was made to wait around, especially in hot weather. Expect to be challenged about your child's disability, especially if they do not appear to be handicapped, but be persistent - these passes are like gold dust!
The priority access pass system is often modified, so always ask how it works each time you visit. The pass is valid for the duration of your stay, rather than having to be renewed daily. There can also a rather lengthy and probing questionaire to be completed during an interview. This we found daunting as it seemed to portray Oliver as too 'normal' when faced with questions such as -
'Can he climb 10 steps with help?'
'Can he step over obstacles 50cm high with help?'
'Can he walk 50m with help?'
A colour coded grid was placed over the answers which generated a code vert (green) for Oliver. A green pass was then issued for the week. The pass was valid for all rides that Oliver was tall enough for. The questionaire customises each individual's needs and their suitability for the different rides and attractions. Disneyland advertises that they are only able to issue a pass to cover one disabled person and their carer, but they are often more generous in reality so ask for your other family members to be included in the pass too.
Some parents think it's good for their autistic kids to queue because it provides an opening to educate the ignorant population about autism. However, at Disneyland Paris a language barrier can hinder good intentions! Personally we believe it's not worth the hassle - enjoy yourself instead.
Take your places at least 20 minutes before the scheduled start in order to get a decent view - and don't let late arrivals push in front of you! (See queuing below)
The Brits might easily get frustrated as the rest of Europe's concept of queuing is not to! Their idea is just to push to the front. So, to combat this, do the same or develop strong elbows to keep your place!
Casey's Corner does not have our recommendation. The hot-dogs are nearly always stone-cold-dogs.
Character Teas & Character Breakfasts are worthwhile if your child is not likely to be frightened of the characters. Oliver tended to prefer characters that looked most human, Captain Hook, Snow White etc.
To avoid queues we suggest having lunch at 11.30am. Queues can be horrific from then to around 2pm. Expect 40 minutes queuing at 'fast food' outlets. You could try getting one member of your party to stand in line and arrange to meet them there later.
Walt's, Main Street USA
The best option is to book your meal in a table service restaurant (if your child can manage this). There is more space, the food is of a better quality and there is more of it. The price doesn't have to be much more expensive than fast food places. The staff are very friendly with children. Children's set meals are of excellent quality and value.
Collect your breakfast cards from hotel reception. Cards are issued 2-3 days in advance (e.g. on Saturday you may get breakfast vouchers for Sunday and Monday). If you 'accidentally' leave it too late to get the NEXT DAY'S vouchers you may be told that your hotel restaurant is fully booked. Don't worry, this could be a blessing in disguise! You may be offered no option but to eat breakfast at a restaurant in the theme park from 8am. Not only will this get you inside the park an hour before it opens, but some of the rides are already running too.
This is situated at the entrance to the Hotel Santa Fe. Alcoholic and soft drinks, hot and cold snacks are available at low prices. We bought cola and crisps for around half the price charged in the theme park.
An indoor play area can be found in Pizza Planet Restaurant. Within the theme park there is an outdoor play area at the Pocahontas Village, near to the train station in Frontierland. There are also outdoor play areas at most resort hotels.
There are pools available for guests staying in Disneyland Hotel, Hotel New York, Newport Bay Club, Sequoia Lodge and Camp Davy Crockett.
Hire one or take one if your child tires easily. There is a long walk from some hotels to the theme park entrance (up to 15 minutes). It is a lot easier to keep an eye on your child if they are strapped in a buggy. You also have somewhere to hang all your bags / shopping. You can park your buggy anywhere in the park and feel confident that it will still be there when you return to it.
French toilets are different. Oliver would not use the toilets in the theme park. He would only 'go' in our hotel room which had a 'proper' toilet in it.
Use the two arcades situated behind the shops on either side of Main Street USA. They serve as a useful short cut during parades and other busy times. As few people use the arcades, the toilets there are never busy. We found the arcades particularly helpful as shelter from hot sun or rain.
Apply for this on arrival if you intend to use your credit card during your stay. Disneyland's own charge card can be used in all resort shops, restaurants and hotels* (excludes Planet Hollywood and Gaumont Cinema in Disney Village). At the end of your stay you will be billed once only, for all your purchases made in the resort - this will save you numerous transaction / exchange rate charges. Expect some delay in your charge card becoming 'active' as Disney's computer system is not always reliable / fast. Take some cash as 'backup' just in case.
* not available in Hotel Cheyenne or Hotel Santa Fe