Karin1984
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2012
Here is some general information to keep in mind when you have to determine when you want to visit Disneyland Paris.
Some links to get you started:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-crowds-weather-language-wifi.3736354/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-to-book-direct-with-disney-room-and-tickets-package.3735087/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-touring-plans-rides-shows.3741109/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-photopass.3736285/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...n-the-dutch-disneyland-paris-website.3736651/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...age-are-standard-at-disneyland-paris.3735076/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...-disneyland-paris-to-the-other-parks.3735105/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-disabled-queries.3736286/
Crowd calendars, touring plans and best/worst times to travel
Weather
The Paris region has a Western European climate with 4 distinct seasons. Overall, the climate is mild and moderately wet. December and January are the coldest months (bring gloves, scarfs, hats), July and August the warmest months.
Especially in February/March/April the weather can go all ways. Be prepared for anything, and check the weather report short before you leave.
Find the weather forecast here (Change to Fahrenheit in the top right corner): https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/t...0b688466f451ac2e53563729068417d36e9777b858155
Find the sunrise/sunset times here (for the photography lovers):
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/france/parisv
Language
Disneyland Paris is located in France, and therefore the most common language in the park is French, with English as the second language. Everything in the park is bilingual, maps, menus, signs, everything is available in both English. Maps and entertainment schedules are also available in other languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.
Until recently it could happen that you encountered CMs who didn’t speak English. However, since a year or two that rarily is the case anymore. At Guest Services, and atthe Disney hotels (but also good neighbour hotel Kyriad) the CMs wear language pins to indicate the other languages they speak.
There are some rides where there is no English or hardly any English. Phantom Manor and Pirates of the Caribbean for example. Also the shows Mickey and the Magician and Philharmagic are mainly in French with some English songs and lines.
Otherwise most shows have the following system:
Mickey speaks French, Minnie answers in English. The dialogue is build with lots of repeats to make sure most people can understand the storyline.
Do you need to learn French before you go?
Like in every country it doesn’t hurt if you know some basic phrases, and it's usually appreciated by the locals when you try. The ‘yes, no, thank you, where is the bathroom’. But is it necessary in Disneyland? Probably not. (but if you have a long flight over, you need to do something useful to pass time on your flight
)
WiFi & Apps
There is free WiFi available throughout Disneyland Paris, this includes all hotels all areas.
In Disneyland Park and The Studios the connection can be spotty.
Usually the WiFi works better on the outskirts of the parks than on the hub.
More information about the WiFi can be found here: https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/guest-services/free-wifi/
To go to Disneyland Paris you can use 3 apps:
- Disneyland Paris
Most important, map of the park, waiting times, what can you find where?
- Photopass
When you have a photopass, you can see them online, but you can also use the app.
- Lineberty
Only needed when you are into meeting characters in The Studios. For more information click here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/
Do you need to check your phone constantly when in Disneyland Paris? No, you don't. You cannot book your fastpasses on the app like you can in Disney World or Disneyland Anaheim. There are purchased fastpasses, but the majority of the guests uses the paper ones.
You can check the park plan on the maps handed out at the entrance of the park or guest services. For the waiting times there are boards on Main Street USA and Production Courtyard.
Cash, credit cards, room charges & gift cards
Some links to get you started:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-crowds-weather-language-wifi.3736354/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/how-to-book-direct-with-disney-room-and-tickets-package.3735087/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-touring-plans-rides-shows.3741109/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-photopass.3736285/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/i...n-the-dutch-disneyland-paris-website.3736651/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/r...age-are-standard-at-disneyland-paris.3735076/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/g...-disneyland-paris-to-the-other-parks.3735105/
https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-disabled-queries.3736286/
Crowd calendars, touring plans and best/worst times to travel
- There are some crowd calendars out there, but reliability is to judge for yourself.
https://queue-times.com/parks/4/calendar - Disneyland Paris doesn’t have sites like Touring Plans to make a touring plan.
- Like any theme park the golden rule applies: Avoid public holidays and vacation periods.
- The French holidays and vacations are the most important. But you have to keep an eye on other countries as well. The other large groups are the Brits and the Spanish. It might not mean an immense increase if the Brits have a public holiday, however it might be a busier than normal.
French national holidays: https://publicholidays.fr/2019-dates/
French school holidays: https://publicholidays.fr/school-holidays/
For Spring & Winter breaks, keep an eye on Zone C as this is the Paris region.
UK national holidays: https://publicholidays.co.uk/2019-dates/
UK school holidays: https://publicholidays.co.uk/school-holidays/
Spanish national holidays: https://publicholidays.es/2019-dates/
Spanish school holidays: https://publicholidays.es/school-holidays/
- Like Disneyland in California, Disneyland Paris knows a lot of local visitors. Going to DLP for a day is very easily done for people living near. Therefore the next tip: If possible, go during the week.
- Like other Disney parks, Disneyland Paris uses different kinds of festivals and seasons to keep locals interested and to fill up low seasons.
See the Events calendar here: https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/events/
- There can be changes to this calendar per year. The Magic Pride festival will be new in 2019. The St. David’s Welsh Festival second weekend of March is not on there (yet). The Welsh Festival is one of those weekends where you do not expect huge crowds, but it can get very busy.
Weather
The Paris region has a Western European climate with 4 distinct seasons. Overall, the climate is mild and moderately wet. December and January are the coldest months (bring gloves, scarfs, hats), July and August the warmest months.
Especially in February/March/April the weather can go all ways. Be prepared for anything, and check the weather report short before you leave.
Find the weather forecast here (Change to Fahrenheit in the top right corner): https://weather.com/en-GB/weather/t...0b688466f451ac2e53563729068417d36e9777b858155
Find the sunrise/sunset times here (for the photography lovers):
https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/france/parisv
Language
Disneyland Paris is located in France, and therefore the most common language in the park is French, with English as the second language. Everything in the park is bilingual, maps, menus, signs, everything is available in both English. Maps and entertainment schedules are also available in other languages like Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch.
Until recently it could happen that you encountered CMs who didn’t speak English. However, since a year or two that rarily is the case anymore. At Guest Services, and atthe Disney hotels (but also good neighbour hotel Kyriad) the CMs wear language pins to indicate the other languages they speak.
There are some rides where there is no English or hardly any English. Phantom Manor and Pirates of the Caribbean for example. Also the shows Mickey and the Magician and Philharmagic are mainly in French with some English songs and lines.
Otherwise most shows have the following system:
Mickey speaks French, Minnie answers in English. The dialogue is build with lots of repeats to make sure most people can understand the storyline.
Do you need to learn French before you go?
Like in every country it doesn’t hurt if you know some basic phrases, and it's usually appreciated by the locals when you try. The ‘yes, no, thank you, where is the bathroom’. But is it necessary in Disneyland? Probably not. (but if you have a long flight over, you need to do something useful to pass time on your flight
)WiFi & Apps
There is free WiFi available throughout Disneyland Paris, this includes all hotels all areas.
In Disneyland Park and The Studios the connection can be spotty.
Usually the WiFi works better on the outskirts of the parks than on the hub.
More information about the WiFi can be found here: https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/guest-services/free-wifi/
To go to Disneyland Paris you can use 3 apps:
- Disneyland Paris
Most important, map of the park, waiting times, what can you find where?
- Photopass
When you have a photopass, you can see them online, but you can also use the app.
- Lineberty
Only needed when you are into meeting characters in The Studios. For more information click here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/faq-1st-time-visitors-how-to-meet-characters-in-dlp.3736237/
Do you need to check your phone constantly when in Disneyland Paris? No, you don't. You cannot book your fastpasses on the app like you can in Disney World or Disneyland Anaheim. There are purchased fastpasses, but the majority of the guests uses the paper ones.
You can check the park plan on the maps handed out at the entrance of the park or guest services. For the waiting times there are boards on Main Street USA and Production Courtyard.
Cash, credit cards, room charges & gift cards
- The currency in DLP is Euro.
You can exchange money in Disney Village at Travelex, at Disneyland Park City Hall and at the post office in train station.
- There are ATMs around the park.
The ATMs are indicated on the map of the park. Most of them are build-in the wall and not a kiosk.
The ATMs do not charge for withdrawal, however it is possible your bank charges exchange fees. Please check with your bank.
- You only need cash for some food carts.
- At the ticket booths, in the restaurants and stores you can use Visa, Mastercard and American Express.
- When you check in, it is possible to have charging to your room added. It is added to your room key card. Non-Disney-stores/restaurants like Planet Hollywood in Disney Village are excluded, like the food carts.
- American gift cards are not accepted at Disneyland Paris, as the currency on the card is Dollar, and DLP's currency is Euro.
- Also Rewards you earn with your Disney Visa card are not accepted at Disneyland Paris, similar currency issue as with the gift cards.
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