Disneyland Paris Travel Guide: What To Pack For Your Autumn or Winter Trip
So you've booked yourself a trip to Disneyland Paris. If you've clicked on this post, you're probably wondering what you need to take with you. After all, nobody likes taking too much with them or realising when they arrive that they forgot something important.
In today's post, we're taking you through our list of things we always bring with us on a trip to Disneyland Paris in autumn or winter. If you're visiting in spring or summer, check out our dedicated packing list here
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Let's Start With Clothing & Footwear
• Cute Swimwear. Swimwear is probably not the first thing you'd think of when packing for a theme park holiday, especially in autumn or winter. But having a dip in the hotel pool is a great way to start or end the day, So if your hotel has a pool, don't forget to pack some swimwear. We recommend packing 2 swimsuits / shorts / bikinis so you can wear one as you let the other dry.
• Jumpers. Keep warm in the parks and pack a few cosy jumpers in your suitcase. Why not dig out your collection of Disney jumpers and bring some of your favourites too.
• Comfy Jeans & Leggings. Comfort is key when it comes to a Disney holiday. If you are like us and like full on days running from ride to ride, you'll want to be as comfy as possible. So pack a few pairs of comfy jeans or warm leggings.
If it's forecast rain for your trip, consider packing some waterproof trousers. I love my Acai waterproof, thermal skinny trousers. Acai trousers are made with a water repellent soft shell material that is breathable and stretchy. If you love skinny jeans, I would highly recommend buying a pair. They're perfect for those rainy cold days in the park.
• Thick Tights & Winter Skirts. If we're heading out for a nice evening meal or drinks, I like to dress up a bit. Tuck a cosy jumper in a nice skirt and put on some warm tights and boots and you're good to go.
• Coats & Jackets. Disneyland Paris in the winter is cold, wet and windy. So when choosing the right coat for your trip, make sure it's longline, thermal and waterproof. A good coat or jacket will make keeping your spot for the fireworks or parade so much easier.
• Pyjamas. The nights are going to be chilly, so make sure to pack some warm, cosy pyjamas in your suitcase. Throw in some cosy socks too for walking around your hotel room too. You'll only need 1 or 2 pairs depending on the length of your trip.
• Comfortable Boots or Trainers / Sneakers . If you have been to Disneyland Paris before, you'll know it involves a lot of walking. Comfy footwear is essential, so bring shoes that you can walk in all day. If you're visiting for a few days, pack two pairs as even the comfiest pair of shoes can rub and cause blisters after a few days. TIP: Remember to break in your shoes before your trip to avoid rubbing and blisters.
• Flip Flops. Flip flops are always handy for walking to and from the pool.
Bags & Accessories
• A Backpack. We have done a whole post on what type of bag to take with you into the parks and what essential items you should put in it. Read our post here
• Handbag/Purse. It's always nice to take a small, cute bag to dress up your evening outfits and carry your phone, camera and some money when heading out for a meal or drinks in the evening.
• Minnie Ears. If you have Minnie ears, remember to bring them with you. You can buy Minnie ears (and a number of other character ears) in the parks, so don't worry if you forget them, as it's a great excuse to buy another pair.
• Statement Earrings. I'm not much of a jewellery person. Aside from my engagement and wedding ring, I don't generally wear any jewellery. But in the evening I like a colourful pair of large earrings (usually tassel) to dress up a simple outfit.
• Hat, Scarf & Gloves. A lot of the rides at Disneyland Paris are outdoors, so pack a couple of hats, scarves and gloves to keep warm whilst you wait.
• Sunglasses. They're something I'll almost forget on every winter trip we take. But just because it's cold doesn't mean the sun won't come out. Bring your sunglasses and enjoy the parade without squinting. I like to bring a backup pair, just in case.
Items For The Room
• European Adapter. Chances are you're bringing electrical items with you such as a hair dryer, hair straighteners and phone chargers etc. Make sure to pack your UK to European adapter with you so you can use them.
• Teabags, Coffee & Hot Chocolate. If you're staying in a Disney hotel (and haven't splashed out on a fancy club room) you won't have tea and coffee making facilities in your room, but you can request a kettle. You can also buy a tea box from reception which typically comes with a disposable cup, a couple of tea bags, UHT milk, sugar etc and a little box of biscuits. If you buy a box, be sure to pack a few extra tea bags, or a little jar of coffee or hot chocolate so you can make more hot drinks whilst in the room.
• Laptop or Tablet. After a busy day in the park, we're not always up for heading out for drinks especially in the colder months. We like to bring our laptop or tablet and have a few films or tv shows downloaded from Netflix or Disney+ in advance.
• Drinks & Snacks. You can buy drinks and snacks on Disney property, but they can be pricey. We like to pack a few snacks and drinks for the room and save ourselves some money. Standard Disney hotel rooms don't have a fridge, so just bear this in mind when deciding what to pack.
• Extensions leads. If you have a number of devices that you would like to charge overnight, consider bringing an extension lead. Some Disney hotel rooms have a plug socket shortage (we're looking at you Sequoia Lodge) so we're planning on taking an extension lead with multiple sockets on our next trip.
• Ear Plugs. Disneyland Paris is a place for families as well as adults, so it'll come as no surprise that there are young children and unaccompanied teens in the hotels. So be prepared for the possible noise during the night. It's not always noisy, but we have been kept awake before by noisy neighbours. We recommend bringing good quality earplugs just in case.
What Other Things Might You Forget?
• Umbrella. Avoid getting caught out by the rain and pack a small umbrella in your case.
• Lip-Balm & Moisturiser. Alongside the general toiletries and make up, I always make sure to pack a lip-balm and a small moisturiser in my suitcase. My lips and skin dry out in the cold weather so I like to have these items to hand,
• A Water Bottle. A bottle of water (500ml) in the parks will cost you around €3.30, so don't forget to pack a reusable water bottle. There are water fountains dotted around both parks where you can fill up your bottle with cold water that's safe to drink. TIP: In winter, the outdoor fountains are switched off, but indoor fountains still work. We usually fill up our bottles in the arcades that run alongside Mainstreet USA.
• A Coin Purse. We like to bring a small coin purse to carry bank cards, euros, our magic cards and train tickets.
• Autograph Book & Pen. If you or your children like collecting autographs, make sure to pack your book and pen close to hand for when you meet the characters. TIP: Bring a selection of different coloured Sharpies to make your autographs stand out (orange for Tigger, blue for Genie etc) Your book will stand out and the characters love the extra detail too.
• Powerbank. Along with your phone, you'll want to pack a portable phone charger. You can rent a charger onsite, but save yourself the hassle and the cost and pack your own. Don't forget the charging cable too.
• Pram/Stroller. If you have young children, you'll likely want to use a stroller. Again, you can rent strollers in the park, but if you have one that's easy to travel with, save yourself some money and bring your own.
• A Mini First Aid Kit. I usually pack some plasters (band aids), antiseptic wipes, mini scissors, tweezers, pain killers and allergy medications. But make sure to pack whatever you and your family might need personally.
• Hand Sanitiser, Wipes & Face Mask. As a result of covid-19, these items have now become essential on all our packing lists.
Hopefully this post has helped you when making your Disneyland Paris packing list. Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comment section below.
If you're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, check out some of our other posts such as:
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