A Simple One Day Disneyland Paris Itinerary for 2 Parks
In this post you can find the detail of our 1 day Disneyland Paris itinerary covering both the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, split into morning, afternoon and evening we’ll tell you where to go, which rides to focus on and some recommendations on where to eat during your trip.
Planning a one day trip to Disneyland Paris can be tricky, mainly because it’s split over two parks that are completely different so you want to get experience them both but there is so much to do with all of the rides, parades, shows and extra attractions – not to mention the delicious snacks and drinks.
So, can a trip to Disneyland Paris be done in one day? We say yes! To help you plan your one day drip to Disneyland we’ve pulled together a one day Disneyland Paris itinerary that is based on our experience and knowledge of how long it takes to get across the park and what rides and attractions are the most worth it.
To make the most of your day try to stay in a Disney hotel the night before so you get access to the park an hour earlier than everyone else with the Early Magic Hour. Hotel Cheyenne is our favourite for the price and value for money but there are many to choose from with different price points and features.
If you’re not sure what rides you want to visit and are planning on doing some more research before you make your own plan of action then take a look at our best rides for kids, or best toddler rides if you’re travelling with younger family members.
Are you planning a trip to Disneyland Paris?
Planning a trip to Disneyland Paris can be overwhelming, especially for a first timer. If you’re at the start of your planning and soaking in as much Disney knowledge as possible you may be asking yourself “is Disneyland Paris worth it?”.
If you’re travelling with kids for the first time you’ll want to soak up all of the Disneyland Paris hints, tips and tricks. With all of the souvenirs, food and toys to buy it can be an expensive trip so you’ll find an entire post dedicated to visiting Disneyland Paris on a budget.
1 day itinerary for Disneyland Paris
Morning
First thing in the morning you’re going to want to get in the queue to ride Big Thunder Mountain, it’s a popular ride so the queue can get quite big. Definitely worth doing at least once during your trip.
Afterwards take some time to explore the rest of Frontierland, there are a few shops, the Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing and loads of cool scenery to take in. The Phantom Manor ride is a great addition and really fun if you have some spare time and the queue is a good length.
From Frontierland you’re going to walk through to Adventure land and spend 30 minutes exploring the caves around the skull and the bridge at Adventure Isle
Top Tip: Add the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to your list of unmissable rides. The effort and detail that’s gone into the ride shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s our absolute favourite family ride at Disneyland Paris.
Head back to Main Street through Adventure Land and make sure you walk through Le Passage Enchanté d’Aladdin. This walking attraction takes you through the journey of the Aladdin story with miniature scenes that have incredible detail. Definitely a stop not to miss!
Stop at Main Street for a Disney inspired late morning snack. We love anything themed as they’re so unique but if you’re looking for some specific recommendations then we’d suggest the Mickey Beignet from the Cookie Kitchen, or the Mickey Sandwich or Ham and Cheese Toastie from Market House Deli. If you try any of our recommendations then let us know what you think in the comments.
After your snack head to Discovery Land where you can find a great mix of rides including Hyperspace Mountain, Autopia and Star Tours.
Afternoon
During the normal lunchtime rush, take some time out and see a show. We 100% recommend the Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands show but there are plenty to see – just take a look on the app. You may think the rides are quieter during this time because everyone is eating lunch but we’ve found that this is the busiest time for rides.
After the show you’re probably going to be ready to grab some lunch. There are many restaurants in Disneyland Paris so there’s loads to choose from. I’d recommend taking a look at the menus in advance so that you have an idea of where you want to go. Cowboy Cookout Barbecue or Casa de Coco are both good if you see the Lion King show as they’re right near it and the food at both is pretty tasty.
At this point head into the Walt Disney Studios Park and look at the app to see which rides are best for you to head to based on the queue times.
Top Tip: Our recommendations for the best rides in the Walt Disney Studios Park based on queue times and how much we loved riding are Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Ratatouille, Cars Road Trip.
Once you’ve spent 2-3 hours enjoying the rides at Walt Disney Studios Park head back to the Disneyland Paris park and towards Fantasyland. On your way make sure to have a look around the Sleeping Beauty Castle and visit the Dragon that lives underneath. It’s an awesome animatronic that is well worth a quick visit in your way past.
In Fantasyland go to the March Hare Refreshments for one of their amazing ice creams. They are well decorated and the ice cream itself is delicious. In true mad hatter tradition everything is edible – even the spoon!
Next on your list is the most iconic and unmissable Disney ride – It’s a Small World.
If you have time between riding It’s a Small World and the parade go on either Peter Pan, Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (snow white) or Les Voyages de Pinocchio. There’s not that much difference between the rides so choose whichever has the shortest queue time.
Evening
Everyday at 5.30pm you can watch the main parade at Disneyland Paris – Disney Stars on Parade. Settle down on Main Street or the Central Plaza around 30 mins before and you can get a great view to enjoy the show.
Once the show finishes it’s time for your evening meal so head to the Disney Village for some great restaurant options. If you’re working to a budget then I can recommend New York Sandwiches and their Mickey Pizza deal. If you’re happy to splurge then you can find Annette’s Diner, Rainforest Café and The Steakhouse dotted throughout the Disney Village.
Depending on the time of year you visit you could have a couple of hours before you need to start getting in position for the fireworks. Use this time to ride whatever has the best queue time on the app. This is the quietest time in both parks so you should be able to get on quite a few rides during this time.
End your day with Disney Dreams – Disneyland Paris’ magical firework display. It really is the perfect way to round out a day trip to Disneyland Paris and you won’t regret staying late to watch them.
Summary of our 1 day Disneyland Paris Itinerary
While you can’t experience absolutely everything that Disneyland Paris has to offer by following our 1 day itinerary you can definitely experience enough to give you that Disney magic feel.
The main tip I have for someone building a 1 day itinerary to Disneyland Paris would be to do research so you know what to see and where to go. You can use blogs (like this one), the Disneyland Paris website and Youtube to get inspiration, an understanding of the layout of the parks, and see what others liked (and didn’t!).
