A Breakdown & Comparison Of Transport Options To Disneyland Paris.
If you're planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, you're likely wondering how to get there. In today's post we're breaking down all the options to help you choose which is best, whether you're coming from Paris, The UK, Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) or Orly Airport (ORY).
Note: At the time of writing, strikes are taking place across France which may disrupt your travel plans. We suggest keeping up to date with the latest information about the strikes as they may affect your trip.
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Contents
From Paris
If you're visiting Disneyland Paris, you may be combining it with a trip to Paris. Even though Disneyland Paris isn't in the city itself, it's very easy to travel from Paris to Disneyland Paris and there are a number of ways to do it:
• By Train. If you're unsure which mode of transport to take from Paris to Disneyland Paris, we highly recommend taking the train. Travelling by train is simple, fast and affordable, making it one of the most popular ways of getting from Paris to Disneyland Paris. It's a journey we've taken many times and have never had any issues with.
Disneyland Paris is served by Marne-la-Vallée train station and will take you into the middle of the resort, right outside the gates to the theme parks. Marne-la-Vallée is on the RER A line (the thick red line on a metro map) and can be taken from a number of the larger train stations in Paris.
The train system is excellent in Paris and it's surrounding areas, with a train to Disneyland Paris departing around every 10 minutes or so and a one way ticket costing around €10pp. The journey takes between 35 and 45 minutes depending on which train station you're departing from. We would highly recommend using the train if you're coming from Paris or heading to Paris after your time in Disneyland.
(For more information on taking the train from Paris to Disneyland Paris, including a detailed step by step guide check out this guide by Paris By Train)
• By Bus. There are a number of companies offering bus rides from the center of Paris to Disneyland Paris. They usually combine tickets and the shuttle ride, so this is only an option if you haven't booked your tickets yet. Disneyland Paris also offer their own shuttle bus service from the city. More information about the Disneyland Paris' Express can be found here.
• By Private Transfer. If you're a large group with a lot of luggage, a private transfer may possibly make for a smoother journey. We have used Prestige Private Transfer a number of times and would recommend the company. A one way journey from Paris costs around €80 and bookings can be made online. Make sure to read the latest reviews of any company you choose before booking to make sure you've chosen a reputable company.
• By Car. We would only recommend driving to Disneyland Paris from Paris if you have taken your own car to France, or if Disneyland Paris is one stop on a driving holiday in France. Hiring a car can be a hassle, driving in Paris can be stressful and you shouldn't need a car whilst you're at Disneyland Paris. A private transfer or travelling by train are much simpler options and we would highly recommend both over driving.
From The UK
Disneyland Paris is popular with Brits. It's our closest Disney resort and is very easy to get to. If you're travelling from the UK, there are a few different ways to get to the magic.
• By Plane. Flying is one of the most popular ways to get to Disneyland Paris. Budget airlines offer great deals on flights and depending on where you are travelling from in the UK it can be the quickest method too. London and Manchester offer a high number of daily flights to Charles De Gaulle airport (CDG) but flights also depart daily from Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol. When we fly to CDG, we fly from Manchester with EasyJet and have been able to find tickets from as little as £25 per person per way. Note: Once you arrive at CDG, you will need to arrange a transfer from the airport to Disneyland Paris (more on transfer options below)
• By Train. Eurostar is a popular choice for those travelling from London to Disneyland Paris and is the easiest option on the list. Eurostar offers a direct service from London St Pancras International to Marne-la-Vallée station (which takes you right outside the theme park's gates) in 2 hours 39 minutes. By taking you directly to Disneyland Paris, there is no need to arrange a transfer which will save you both time and money. This service can be expensive, so we recommend booking your seats as early as possible for the best price. This option can be expensive if you're travelling from further north in the UK, as you'll need to arrange transport to London first. But if you're travelling from London or the south of England, we would highly recommend.
UPDATE: From 7th June 2023, the direct line from St Pancras International to Marne-la-Vallée station will be suspended until the end of the year (at least) and all passengers will need to change at Lille. When making your booking, pay attention to the journey time and don't get caught out by the longer transfer times.
• By Car. We have driven to Disneyland Paris a number of times and would highly recommend if you're a confident driver. The journey is long (especially if you're coming from the north of England) but we love the flexibility of driving and being able to take as much luggage as we need. A crossing on the EuroTunnel is affordable if booked in advance and takes only 30 minutes from Folkestone to Calais. Or you can take the ferry from Dover to France but this will take a lot longer. Once in France, the drive is straightforward and takes about 3 hours 30 minutes on the toll road.
The toll road ticket machines are very easy to use. You simply take a ticket at the first machine. When you arrive at the second machine at the end of the toll road, you put the ticket in the first slot (on the left) and either use the contactless payment option or insert your bank card in the second slot (on the right).
There is free parking at all the Disneyland Paris hotels too. (Read about our latest journey and full review of the Eurotunnel here)
• By Coach. Travelling by coach is a cost-effective way to travel to Disneyland Paris. Depending on where in the UK you're travelling from, it can be a long journey, but is a good option if you're on a budget and not a confident driver. Magic Breaks is a reputable UK based company offering coach package holidays that depart from 180 locations in England and Wales. We haven't taken a coach trip to Disneyland Paris, but we have booked hotels and tickets through Magic Breaks before and would recommend them as a company.
From Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG)
If you're travelling by plane from the UK or the US, you're likely flying into Charles De Gaulle airport (CDG). Charles De Gaulle is about 25 miles north of Disneyland Paris, so you'll need to arrange a transfer to the magic. There are a few options to choose from:
• By Private Transfer. Our favourite option from CDG is to book a private transfer. After the stress of the airport, it's nice to have someone take over and get you to where you need to go. We have used Prestige Private Transfer before and would recommend the company. A one way journey costs around €70 per vehicle (at the time of writing) and bookings can be made online. Make sure to read the latest reviews of any company you choose before booking to make sure you've chosen a reputable company.
• By Train. The express train (TGV) is the quickest option from CDG, taking about 15 minutes to arrive at Marne-la-Vallée station (which is a 2 minute walk from the park gates). We have found the TGV trains do not run frequently, however, with some trains being more than an hour apart. At the time of writing, tickets must be purchased in advance and then picked up at the station. Tickets cost between €17.50 and €30 and must be purchased in advance. The TGV to Marne-la-Vallée departs from the Terminal 2 train station, so you may need to take an airport shuttle if you're arriving at Terminal 1 or Terminal 3.
• By Bus (Magical Shuttle). There are a number of companies offering shuttle transfers from CDG to Disneyland Paris, but Magical Shuttle is the only service approved by Disneyland Paris. Tickets cost €23 per adult per way and the journey will take about 1 hour depending on which hotel you're staying in. Shuttles run at least once per hour but don't run 24/7, so may not be a good option if you have an early or late flight. Find out more information and book your tickets here
• By Car. We hired a car from the airport on our first ever Disneyland Paris trip, but would not choose this method again. We would only recommend driving to Disneyland Paris from CDG if you plan on doing a lot of driving in France, as you will not need a car whilst you're at Disneyland Paris. You can hire a car from the airport and the journey to Disneyland Paris is fairly straightforward. A private transfer or travelling by train are much simpler options however and we would highly recommend both over driving if possible.
From Orly Airport (ORY)
If you're travelling by plane from elsewhere in Europe, you're likely flying into Orly airport (ORY). Orly is about 25 miles west of Disneyland Paris, so you'll need to plan a transfer to the magic. There are a few options to choose from:
• By Private Transfer. Our favourite transfer option from the airports is to book a private transfer. After the stress of the airport, it's nice to have someone take over and get you to where you need to go. We have used Prestige Private Transfer before and would recommend the company. A one way journey from Orly costs around €80 per vehicle and bookings can be made online. Make sure to read the latest reviews of any company you choose before booking to make sure you've chosen a reputable company.
• By Train. If you're familiar with the train system in Paris, then the train is a great way to travel between Orly and Disneyland Paris. It will require a Zone 1 - 5 ticket and few station changes, so we wouldn't recommend this method for first time visitors. The journey will take around an hour, so it's not the quickest, but it may work out cheaper then the other options.
• By Bus (Magical Shuttle). There are a number of companies offering shuttle transfers from Orly to Disneyland Paris, but Magical Shuttle is the only service approved by Disneyland Paris. Tickets cost €23 per adult per way and the journey will take about 1 hour depending on which hotel you're staying in. Shuttles run at about once per hour but don't run 24/7, so may not be a good option if you have an early or late flight. Find out more information and book your tickets here
• By Car. We would only recommend driving to Disneyland Paris from Orly if you plan on doing a lot of driving in France, as you will not need a car whilst you're at Disneyland Paris. You can hire a car from the airport and the journey to Disneyland Paris is fairly straightforward. A private transfer or travelling by train are much simpler options however and we would highly recommend both over driving if possible.
Thank you for reading! We hope this guide has been helpful in helping you choose the best mode of transport for your trip. If you're planning your first visit to Disneyland Paris, we have lots of other planning posts on the website here or drop us your questions in comment box below.
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