If you’ve been to Disney parks in the U.S., Disneyland Paris will feel familiar, with a few notable differences.
Disneyland Paris offers significant savings for military families and a wide range of accommodations. It blends familiar favorites with attractions unique to the park, all in a streamlined visit that fits into a shorter timeline and a tighter budget.
Guest contributor and Navy spouse Katie McDonald breaks down how to get discounted military tickets, where to stay, and how the European version of Disneyland compares to its American counterparts.
Military Ticket Pricing at Disneyland Paris
Unlike in the U.S., you don’t purchase tickets on base. Instead, you buy discounted tickets directly through the Disneyland Paris website or app.
All active duty and retired service members are eligible for discounted 2-Day/2-Park tickets, which give you access to both parks at Disneyland Paris: Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World (formerly Walt Disney Studios Park). You can purchase up to five adult and five children’s tickets (total of 10).
On the first day, you present your e-ticket along with your valid United States Uniformed Services ID card to activate your pass.
Prices vary by date, so check the calendar before booking. A small shift in travel dates can cut your cost significantly. My husband and I saved about 50% during our June 2025 visit. Here’s another example:
- Regular price (June 2026 weekend): about $248 per adult
- Military price: about $124 per adult
We also saw January 2027 dates as low as $84 per adult with the discount (vs. $167 for the same dates without the discount).
We ran into a hiccup activating our tickets, but the staff patiently worked out the problem while we checked into our hotel. Every employee we met spoke fluent English.
| Related Reading: How Military Travelers Can Save Money on a Disney World Vacation
Compared to Walt Disney World, which offers multi-day ticket tiers and Military Salute options, Disneyland Paris keeps it simple with one main ticket type. Given the park’s smaller size, two days is enough to enjoy the magic without feeling rushed. It also results in an overall cheaper and less time-consuming visit.
Where to Stay (and How to Save Money)
Disney-Owned Hotels
Disneyland Paris has seven themed hotels. They are the most convenient (and expensive) options. Disneyland Hotel at the entrance to Disneyland Paris is the most luxurious. If more space is important, choose the Davy Crockett Ranch, which offers 2-bedroom cabins a 15-minute drive from the parks.
The other five hotels are just a 10–20 minute walk through the Disney Village, the Disneyland Paris dining and shopping district. You can also use the free shuttle service to reach the parks.
Staying on property includes:
- Early park entry (an hour of Extra Magic Time)
- Free parking
- Character encounters (except Davy Crockett Ranch)
Important note: Disney-owned hotels automatically bundle their stays with tickets, so if you’re planning to stay in the “Disney bubble,” booking a room through a third-party website is the only way to take advantage of the military discount rate for tickets. Also, third-party sites often offer discounts.
During our June 2025 trip my husband and I booked a 2-night stay at the Disney Newport Bay Club (equivalent to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn in Disney World) through Booking.com and purchased the military discount rate tickets separately, which saved us hundreds of dollars.
Here’s an example using dates in June 20206:
- Disney Newport Bay Club package with Superior Room for two adults and 2 Day/2 Park Tickets: $1,010.
- Same hotel and room through Booking.com ($486) + discounted military tickets ($248): $734
- Savings: $276
Taking advantage of the military discounted tickets requires an extra step, but the savings are significant.
Partner and Off-Site Hotels
Disneyland Paris also partners with several nearby hotels to offer free shuttles and parking. Many are more affordable than the Disney hotels, including:
- Hotel l’Elysee Val d’Europe
- Staycity Aparthotels Paris Marne-la-Vallee
- Ki Space Hotel & Spa
- Aparthotel Adaagio Val d’Europe
- B&B Hotel
Les Villages Natures Paris is a lakefront eco-village that also has access to Extra Magic Time and features a water park, gardens, a farm, an outdoor play area, bowling, a spa, and a kids’ club. These apartment-style hotels have fully equipped kitchens as well as access to multiple restaurants, a supermarket, and a farmers market.
Getting to Disneyland Paris
If you stay in Paris, the “RER A” regional train takes about 40 minutes from Châtelet Station. You arrive at a train station conveniently located within the Disney Village.
Other options include:
- Disneyland Paris Express shuttle coach service (same-day, round-trip rides from five different stops in Paris).
- Magical Shuttle service between Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airports and the hotels, parks, Partner Hotels, and Les Villages Nature Paris.
If you find a better hotel deal in Paris, commuting is straightforward. The Disneyland Paris website has more information about these transportation options.
What to Expect at the Parks
Rides and Shows
Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World have many of the same classic rides that are offered in Disneyland (California) and Disney World (Florida), but the audio is primarily in French.
Many familiar rides have a more thrilling or intense element than the American parks. For example, Big Thunder Mountain includes a unique dark element as your runaway mine car travels underground to return to the launching point. Similarly, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, their version of Space Mountain, includes three inversions, while the American ride has none.
While American Disney parks have a handful of “walk-through” attractions—highly themed areas that guests can explore at their leisure—Disneyland Paris really excels in that department. A perfect example is Sleeping Beauty’s castle, which features a full-sized dragon animatronic in the basement and beautiful stained glass and tapestries in the main viewing areas.
There are rides unique to Paris, such as Crush’s Coaster, a turbulent, spinning coaster themed off the movie, Finding Nemo, and many familiar rides that have slightly different theming than their American counterparts (like the aforementioned Space Mountain alternative). Whether you’re traveling with young children or adrenaline junkies, there’s enough variety in the rides to please everyone.
One of the most exciting changes is the recent expansion of Disney Adventure World. The new additions include Frozen Ever After (a musical boat ride based on the beloved movie), a spinning teacups-style ride themed off Tangled, a princess dining experience, and a new Frozen-themed show featuring the main cast of characters.
The park also has a new nighttime show, Disney Cascade of Lights, that includes fireworks, drones, and water screen projections on Adventure Bay. Broadway-style shows, fireworks in front of the castle, and a parade full of characters give you multiple opportunities for entertainment throughout your day.
Park Layout and Navigation
Disneyland Paris is set up with the familar “hub and spoke” layout used at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Four “lands” connect to a central hub and Main Street USA: Fantasyland, Discoveryland (Tomorrowland equivalent), Adventureland, and Frontierland.
Walt Disney Studios Park has been rebranded as Disney Adventure World and includes World Premiere Plaza, Worlds of Pixar, Marvel Avengers Campus, World of Frozen, and Adventure Way.
Disneyland Paris and Disney Adventure World are just a short walk from one another, making park-hopping easy and hassle-free.
Even if you don’t speak French, you will not have trouble navigating the park. The Disneyland Paris app is a great resource to check maps and wait times, read menus, and book dining reservations and Disney Premier Access (their paid fast-pass program).
We found English throughout the parks and all the employees we encountered spoke English. I relied on the park’s Wi-Fi while my husband used cellular data on his international plan.
Dining at Disneyland Paris
Overall, meal prices are similar to U.S. parks, but the exchange rate can make Disneyland Paris slightly more expensive.
For example, Disney World’s Cinderella’s Royal Table, a table service character dining experience, is $89 per adult plus tax and gratuity and $54 per child. The Regal View Restaurant and Lounge, the new table service princess dining experience at Disneyland Paris, is 100 euros ($115.42 at the time of writing) for adults and 50 euros ($57.71 at the time of writing) for children.
When it comes to quick service lunches, Disney World’s Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café has a 1/3 lb Angus cheeseburger with fries and a fountain beverage for just over $18 while Paris’s Café Hyperion offers a premium cheeseburger, fries, and a drink for 17 euros ($19.62 at the time of writing).
Lower tipping expectations in France result in about 5% gratuity rather than the 20% American standard, which offsets some of the cost.
From picky to adventurous eaters, there’s something for everyone at the Disneyland Paris parks. Classic American favorites are plentiful, but you can also find a Middle Eastern buffet, Tex-Mex counter-service, Caribbean table service, French fare, and a variety of vegan and vegetarian offerings.
Regional French foods and beverages are seasonally available in stalls outside the Ratatouille ride, and snack stands are scattered throughout both parks. The portion sizes were generous, and the food quality was either decent or above average for a theme park.
The Disney Village and Disney hotels offer additional dining options outside the parks. We were hungry after the Disneyland Paris fireworks display and picked up food at the McDonald’s in Disney Village It was packed with a crowd who all had the same idea. If you’re looking for familiar American chains that are quick and affordable, there’s also a Starbucks, Earl of Sandwich, and Five Guys in the Disney Village.
Disney hotel guests also have the option to purchase a Meal Plan to prepay for their dining. You can choose to include one, two, or three meals per day, making it easy to customize for your family’s needs and budgets.
Ready to Add Disney to Your European Vacation?
If you’re planning a trip to Europe, Disneyland Paris is an easy addition that doesn’t require a full week or a major budget. The combination of discounted military tickets, manageable park size, and unique attractions makes it a practical and worthwhile stop.
Before you book, check the ticket calendar. Prices vary by date, and shifting your travel window even slightly can lead to significant savings.
If you visit Disneyland Paris, don’t forget to tell us about your experience!