Disneyland Paris with Little Kids: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before We Froze Our Butts Off

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Thinking about heading to Disneyland Paris with a baby or toddler? Keep scrolling for my best tips for Disneyland Paris as a Paris day trip.

This post about fun things to do in Disneyland Paris was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.

Look, I'm not gonna lie to you. Our first trip to Disneyland Paris in 2017 was kind of a disaster.

We lost our tickets within the first hour (more on that nightmare later), I underestimated how FREEZING it would be in November, and my 3-year-old melted down approximately 47 times.

But we went back in 2022 because apparently we're gluttons for punishment, and you know what? It was SO much better.

Because by then I'd figured out what actually matters when you're dragging little kids to a European Disney park.

So before you book that adorable Disneyland Paris hotel room and start planning your perfect family vacation, let me tell you what actually happens when you take babies and preschoolers to Disneyland Paris.

The Stuff Nobody Tells You (That I'm About to Tell You)

1. Walt Disney Studios Park Is Getting a Massive Makeover (And It's Opening March 29, 2026)

Okay, this is HUGE and changes everything about how you should plan your trip.

Starting March 29, 2026, Walt Disney Studios Park is officially becoming Disney Adventure World.

They're opening this massive World of Frozen expansion with an actual life-size Arendelle village, Elsa's Ice Palace on top of a 118-foot North Mountain, and a Frozen Ever After boat ride.

If your kids are Frozen obsessed (and whose aren't?), this is the time to go. Like, book your trip for late March or April 2026 and you'll get to see it right when it opens.

They're also adding Adventure Way - this whole new promenade area with 14 new restaurants and the first actual bar inside a Disneyland Paris park.

Plus a new nighttime show called Disney Cascade of Lights that apparently uses 379 drones. My kids would lose their minds.

Just know that if you're going in early 2026 before March 29, you'll be visiting right before this huge change. Studios Park is still great (Marvel Avengers Campus is really cool), but Frozen World isn't open yet.

2. Tickets Are Expensive and Super Confusing

Let me just save you some time: buy your tickets directly from Disneyland Paris. Don't try to be smart about it like I did the first time.

Right now in 2026, tickets start around €56-62 for low-demand weekdays but can jump to €105 if you buy them AT THE PARK on a busy day. That's insane. Book ahead.

You need to decide:

• 1 park or 2 parks per day (hopper)
• How many days
• Dated tickets (cheaper, locked to specific dates) or undated (more expensive, more flexible)

For little kids, honestly? One park per day is plenty. They're gonna be exhausted anyway. We did 2-park hoppers our first trip and my 3-year-old was just...done by 2pm.

My recommendation: Get dated 2-day tickets, spend one day in each park. If you're going after March 29, 2026, you HAVE to do Disney Adventure World to see Frozen.

You can check current prices and book through Expedia, Viator, or Get Your Guide, but honestly the official site usually has the best deals for hotel packages.

3. FastPass Doesn't Exist Anymore (Welcome to Premier Access)

Remember free FastPasses? Yeah, those are dead.

Now it's called Disney Premier Access and you PAY for it. There are two options:

Premier Access Ultimate: One price (€90-€190 depending on the day) gets you one-time access to like 16 major attractions across both parks. No time slots, just scan and go when you want.

Premier Access One: Pay per ride (€5-€18 per person per ride). You get a specific time slot.

Is it worth it? With little kids... maybe?

If you're doing a one-day trip and your kids are tall enough for most rides, Ultimate might save your sanity.

We didn't buy it in 2017 and waited 90 minutes for Crush's Coaster while my baby screamed.

In 2022, we splurged on Ultimate for one day and honestly? It was kind of awesome.

But if you're doing multiple days and your kids are too small for half the rides anyway, save your money. Just get there at rope drop and hit the big stuff first.

4. Getting There from Paris Is Easy (Until Your Kid Has to Pee)

The RER A train from central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy takes about 40 minutes and drops you RIGHT at the park entrance. It's stupid easy.

The problem? There's no bathroom on the train. And the bathrooms at some of the Paris RER stations are... rough.

Also, that train gets PACKED. Like, uncomfortably packed. We had a stroller, a diaper bag, two kids, and approximately 400 other families with the same idea. It's not fun.

If you can swing it, stay at a Disney hotel or nearby hotel in Marne-la-Vallée. You can walk or take the shuttle and skip the RER madness entirely. We stayed at Explorers Hotel the second time and it was so much less stressful.

Find hotels near Disneyland Paris on Expedia

5. November Is Beautiful and Also You Might Freeze to Death

Our 2017 trip was mid-November and I swear I've never been that cold in my life.

I'm from Seattle. I KNOW cold and rain. This was different. It was like 35°F with this damp wind that cut right through our jackets. We were miserable. My baby's hands were ice cubes even with gloves.

If you're going in winter, layer like you're going to the Arctic. I'm talking:

• Base layer
• Fleece or warm sweater
• Waterproof jacket
• Hat, gloves, scarf for everyone
• Extra socks in your bag
• Hand warmers (buy them before you go, they're expensive in the parks)

The upside? Shorter lines. We basically walked onto Pirates of the Caribbean. In July? You'd wait an hour.

6. Bring a Stroller Even If Your Kid "Doesn't Use Strollers Anymore"

I don't care if your 4-year-old walks 5 miles a day at home. Bring the stroller.

Disneyland Paris is HUGE. You're going to walk 7-10 miles in a day easily. Your kid will be done by noon, and then you're stuck carrying a 40-pound child who's having a meltdown because they're tired but won't admit it.

We brought our double stroller in 2017 even though my 3-year-old insisted she didn't need it. By 1pm, both kids were strapped in and passed out. Best decision we made.

Plus strollers hold all your crap. Jackets when it warms up, snacks, water bottles, the stuffed animals you just bought, that second jacket you need when it gets cold again...

7. The Baby Switch System Is Actually Pretty Great

If you have a baby or toddler who can't ride the good stuff, use Baby Switch (called Rider Switch in some Disney parks, but same idea).

Here's how it works: Adult #1 waits in line and rides while Adult #2 stays with the baby. Then Adult #2 gets to go through the Premier Access line without waiting again. The baby doesn't have to wait in line twice, nobody misses out.

We used this for Big Thunder Mountain and it was seamless. Honestly one of the better systems Disney's come up with.

8. Character Meet-and-Greets Are WHERE THE LINES ARE

Everyone thinks the rides will have the longest waits. Nope. It's the characters.

Want to meet Mickey? Cool, that'll be 60 minutes. Elsa and Anna (once Frozen World opens)? Probably 90 minutes.

The character lines are brutal, especially for toddlers who don't understand why they can't IMMEDIATELY hug Minnie Mouse right this second.

Here's what worked for us:

• Go to character meets first thing in the morning before lines get crazy
• OR go during parade time when everyone else is watching the parade
• Set expectations with your kids about waiting ("We have to wait a little bit, but then you'll get to hug Mickey!")
• Bring snacks and your phone loaded with games

Also worth knowing: Character dining exists!

You pay more, but characters come to your table while you eat. Way less waiting, and your kids are contained in high chairs with chicken nuggets. Book character dining directly through Disneyland Paris.

9. The Food Situation Is... Fine

Disney food is Disney food, you know?

It's not gourmet. It's chicken nuggets and burgers and pizza. But my kids ate it and didn't complain, which is the bar I'm working with.

What IS nice: Disneyland Paris has actual table-service restaurants with real French food if you want it.

We did Bistrot Chez Rémy (the Ratatouille restaurant in Studios Park) and it was genuinely good. Like, I would eat there even without the kids.

There's also a bunch of quick-service places where you can mobile order through the app and just pick it up. Game changer with little kids.

Pro tip: Bring snacks from outside the park. Disneyland Paris lets you bring in food (unlike some other parks). We packed granola bars, fruit pouches, and crackers. Saved us so much money and so many meltdowns.

10. Small World Is the Best Ride for Babies (And Also You'll Want to Die)

If you have a baby or young toddler, It's a Small World is your friend. No height requirement, indoor, peaceful, you can hold your baby...

It's also 15 minutes of that SONG on loop and you'll be singing it in your nightmares for weeks.

But your baby will love it! Ours stared at all the dolls with this look of pure wonder. It was cute as hell.

Other good baby-friendly rides:

• Dumbo (classic, though the wait can be long)
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (dark ride, fun for slightly older toddlers)
• Le Carrousel de Lancelot (pretty carousel in Fantasyland)
• Casey Jr. Circus Train (gentle train ride)

11. The Parade Is Actually Worth It

I'm not usually a "stop everything for the parade" person, but the Disneyland Paris parade is really good.

The floats are huge, the costumes are gorgeous, and if your kids are into Disney characters, they'll lose their minds. We caught it by accident in 2017 and my daughter still talks about it.

Just stake out your spot like 20 minutes early if you want a good view. Or don't stress about it and just let your kids see it from wherever you are. They're three. They'll be thrilled either way.

12. The Lost Ticket Disaster (And What to Do If This Happens to You)

Okay, story time.

On our first day in 2017, I had everyone's park tickets in my jacket pocket. We got through the entrance, walked about 100 feet, and I reached for them to check something.

Gone.

I IMMEDIATELY panicked. These tickets cost like €200. I ran back to the entrance, retraced our steps, checked every pocket 47 times...

Nothing.

So here's what you do: Go to Guest Services/Guest Relations right inside the entrance. Tell them what happened. They'll ask for your confirmation email or booking info (KEEP THIS ACCESSIBLE ON YOUR PHONE).

They can reissue your tickets. It took about 20 minutes and they didn't charge us. I almost cried with relief.

Lessons learned:

• Take photos of your tickets/confirmation
• Have your booking confirmation saved offline on your phone
• Maybe use a lanyard or keep tickets in a zippered pocket?

13. The Disney Hotels Are Nice But You're Paying for Convenience

We didn't stay at a Disney hotel in 2017 and regretted it. The commute with little kids was exhausting.

In 2022 we stayed at the Disneyland Paris Hotel. It's like a 5-minute walk to the parks. It has a pool (kids loved it) and breakfast included (we actually ate it, which saved money).

The official Disney hotels are beautiful and you get Extra Magic Time (early park entry), but they're expensive. Like, $300-500/night expensive depending on which one and when you go.

If you have the budget, Hotel Cheyenne or Hotel Santa Fe are the "cheaper" Disney options (still not actually cheap) and they're themed really cute. Kids love them.

Or do what we did: Stay nearby, save money, and use that savings for Premier Access or character dining or that €40 Elsa dress your kid is gonna beg for.

14. Download the App Before You Go (And Fully Charge Your Phone)

The official Disneyland Paris app is actually useful:

• Real-time wait times for rides
• Mobile food ordering
• Interactive map (lifesaver)
• You can buy Premier Access through it
• Character meet-and-greet locations

My phone died at 2pm our first day in 2017 and I felt SO lost. Bring a portable charger.

15. Lower Your Expectations and You'll Have a Better Time

Here's the truth: Disneyland Paris with babies and preschoolers is not going to be like your pre-kids Disney trips.

You're not going to ride every ride. You're going to spend 30 minutes in a bathroom because someone had an accident. Someone will cry because you said no to a $50 stuffed Olaf.

You'll probably argue with your partner about whether your toddler really NEEDS a nap or if you can "just power through."

And that's okay.

The magic is in the moments between the chaos. It's your kid's face when they see Mickey for the first time. It's sharing those overpriced Mickey-shaped waffles. It's the way your baby falls asleep on your shoulder during the parade, totally exhausted and happy.

It's not perfect. But it's pretty great.

Planning Your Trip? Here's What I'd Actually Do

If I were booking a Disneyland Paris trip with little kids right now, here's exactly what I'd do:

When to go: April-May 2026 (right after Frozen World opens) or September-early October (better weather, smaller crowds)

How long: 2-3 days. One day per park minimum, three days if you want to slow down and not rush.

Tickets: Book dated tickets directly from Disneyland Paris or through Viator. Get 2-park hoppers only if your kids are older than 4.

Premier Access: Skip it unless you're doing a one-day trip or going during a super busy time (summer, Christmas, school breaks).

Hotel: Stay within walking distance of the parks. Check hotel options here. Budget option: Explorers Hotel or B&B Hotel. Splurge option: Disney Hotel Cheyenne or Newport Bay Club.

Travel: If you're coming from Paris, take the RER A train or just stay in Marne-la-Vallée and skip Paris entirely. It's easier with little kids.

Want More Help Planning?

Look, planning a Disneyland Paris trip can be overwhelming. Especially if you're also trying to figure out Paris itself.

I have a whole 5-day Paris with kids itinerary that includes Disneyland Paris as day 4. It's honestly the easiest way to combine both.

Or if you want someone else to do the planning FOR you, check out my free Paris planning email course. Five days of emails walking you through exactly how to plan your trip, what to book when, how to avoid tourist traps, all of it.

Because you don't need more blog posts. You need someone to just TELL you what to do. So that's what I do.