Are you wondering what you need to pack and bring for Disneyland Paris? For every Disney fan, a visit to Disneyland Paris is something truly special. Since 1992, the European Disney parks have been among the best attractions in Europe thanks to their numerous rides. But when the time comes, you often face the big question: What should I wear? What should I bring? I’ll give you the best packing tips + checklist of what you absolutely must bring to Disneyland Paris.
With this checklist for Disneyland Paris, I want to offer you tips and tricks about what you should definitely pack in your backpack or suitcase. These include important and essential things, but also items you might not immediately think of. In fact, these are exactly the things I always bring on all my Disneyland and Disney Parks trips worldwide. The great thing is: This list is universal and can of course be applied to all kinds of other theme park visits. Naturally, it can be individually expanded according to your personal needs and taste!
The Perfect Clothing for Disneyland Paris
A very important point regarding the packing tips for Disneyland Paris is clothing. To perfectly prepare your clothing for your visit to Disneyland Paris, you should check the weather forecast beforehand. Let’s be honest: Who wants to stand in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Bermuda shorts while it’s pouring rain? If rain is forecasted for Paris, you should probably pack a waterproof rain jacket. Rainy days in Marne-la-Vallée are actually no joke. In winter, with temperatures between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius, a layered look helps with an additional top, cardigan, tights or leggings under your normal clothing. A warm hat, a scarf, and gloves are essential for a winter in Disneyland Paris. This way, you can fully enjoy the Disney parks even during winter.
At Disneyland Paris, you can and should show what a big Disney fan you are. Therefore, shirts and other accessories with Disney motifs are almost mandatory for a Disneyland trip. And don’t worry: Most visitors also like to show their love for Disney characters. For the girls and women among us: Minnie Mouse ears are the absolute hit there. And where else are you allowed to wear Minnie Mouse ears without being looked at strangely? Don’t miss this opportunity. You’re not a fan of Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck? Then T-shirts featuring Marvel and Star Wars are also very popular. Spider-Man will certainly be happy during a meet & greet in the Walt Disney Studios Park when he discovers himself on your T-shirt.
Comfortable Shoes for Disneyland
The biggest mistake many people make during their first Disneyland visit is often poor footwear. When choosing your shoes, you should focus on weather suitability and especially comfort and ease. Many people underestimate the distances in Disneyland Paris: You’re actually not taking a small walk, but covering double-digit kilometer distances in no time at all. At the latest in the evening in your hotel room, your feet and legs will painfully remind you of a bad shoe choice. This really doesn’t have to happen! Flip-flops? Leave them at home! High heels? Maybe suitable for going out, but certainly not for Disneyland…
My personal favorites are light sneakers from the brand Skechers, because the soft Memory Foam sole works true wonders especially for long walking distances through Disneyland Paris. The comfortable sneakers from Nike’s Internationalist series are also perfect shoes for Disneyland Paris for me, especially from autumn to spring. In winter, comfortable boots with not too high heels and not too thick lining can also work. Consider additional insoles to increase your walking comfort. Important: Your shoes should also be able to withstand water reasonably well in rainy weather. You certainly don’t want to walk around in soaked shoes all day, do you? A small pair of spare socks in your backpack will help you if your shoes unfortunately can’t withstand the constant rain.
Practical Backpack or Bag for Disneyland
No matter what you’re taking with you: You’ll need to carry and store your most important items while on the go. Therefore, I recommend a backpack or practical bag for Disneyland Paris where you can stow everything. Think ahead about what exactly you want to take with you. This will logically determine the size of your backpack or bag.
For years, I used medium-sized bags. Meanwhile, I’ve switched to medium-sized backpacks (approximately 30 cm high). Why? With a backpack, you have an even distribution of weight on your shoulders and spine. Your back will thank you after a long day at Disneyland.
Food and Small Snacks for In-Between
A day at Disneyland Paris can be long and tiring. To counteract possible energy lows, it always helps to have a few small snacks with you in the Disney Parks. Cookies, granola bars, nuts, and fruits are true heroes for theme park visits thanks to sugar and vitamins. Especially in waiting lines, a few grapes or Hanutas help against appetite during the wait. I also love nut mixes and trail mix because they’re healthy and provide quick energy. This keeps your energy level at a good point in between so you have plenty of power for all the Disneyland Paris attractions.
You should note, however, that this satisfies small hunger in between but doesn’t replace an entire meal. Therefore, make sure that besides your small snack breaks, you don’t just have breakfast. For your circulation during a long park day, it’s important that you also have at least one larger meal a day at Disneyland Paris.
Drinks
Besides snacks and food, drinks are among the more obvious but important packing tips for Disneyland Paris. Especially in summer, you should make sure to drink enough. Depending on your bag and backpack size, you should always bring a bottle of 0.5l or ideally even larger that you can refill again and again (the environment will thank you!).
You can refill your water bottle for free at numerous water dispensers in the park. But beware: French drinking water is not comparable to our German drinking water. Unfortunately, a certain chlorine taste cannot be avoided there. In any case, mineral water and soft drinks are also available for purchase in the park, albeit at a higher price than you might be used to from a German supermarket.
Enough Money for Disneyland Paris
Something you should definitely pack for a Disneyland Paris trip: Your wallet and, of course, money. Perhaps many will think: “Pff, money, of course I have that!” Depending on how passionate you are about Disney and the associated characters like the Disney Princesses, Star Wars, and Marvel, your heart will open up in the shops of Disneyland Paris. And that’s very much to the detriment of your own wallet. Disney merchandise and products have their price. Therefore, you should plan a fixed budget for souvenirs in advance.
You should definitely have cash in Euros with you. To be on the safe side, I always have my credit card and debit card with me as well. Tip: Your Maestro debit card usually works in France too. You can pay with it in Disneyland Paris without any problems.
Other Important Things
Replacement Masks: At Disneyland Paris, masks are mandatory throughout the entire resort due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These masks must comply with French guidelines; homemade cloth masks are officially not permitted. You’ll be safest with classic surgical or FFP2 masks. These can typically be used for a maximum of one day, or may even need to be changed after a few hours. Therefore, you should have 2-3 spare masks per day at Disneyland Paris in case they get wet, tear, or you lose one.
Disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer: Even without the COVID-19 pandemic, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizers have become essential items on any travel packing list. These help when you want to eat something or clean your hands without access to washing facilities. Of course, you shouldn’t use them too frequently as this could compromise your body’s natural defenses. However, good hygiene reduces the risk of catching something during your trip.
Umbrella: A small, lightweight folding umbrella in your bag or backpack protects you from sudden rain showers. Depending on the weather, a transparent plastic poncho or simple raincoat can also help. It might not look stylish, but it serves its purpose and keeps you dry. It’s best to purchase a raincoat or poncho before your departure (e.g., from online retailers like Amazon) so you have it ready.
Smartphone: You don’t actually need a smartphone at Disneyland Paris – after all, it keeps you too connected to reality. Nevertheless, a smartphone can be very helpful in Paris, especially in larger groups when you want to meet up later. If you DO decide to bring a smartphone to the Disney parks, you should download the official Disneyland Paris app for iOS or Android. This gives you not only a digital park map but also real-time overviews of all waiting times in the parks.
Power bank: Are you fully digital during your Disneyland vacation? Do you love taking extensive photos of Sleeping Beauty Castle? Then you definitely need a power bank. If you take a lot of photos, videos, or use the Disneyland Paris app, your smartphone battery will drain quickly. A power bank ensures your iPhone doesn’t die just when you want to capture a special moment. I personally have been using Anker power banks for years and am extremely satisfied.
Headphones: Actually self-explanatory, but so important. For the journey to and from Disneyland Paris, headphones provide the best musical preparation for your trip. To get in the mood for your Disneyland journey, check out my Disneyland Paris Travel Playlist on Spotify. Additionally, headphones help you fall asleep better in your hotel at night if it’s too noisy or you’re having trouble sleeping.
Hair tie: Nothing is more annoying than riding Disney roller coasters like Space Mountain with long hair. That’s why for years I’ve always had at least one hair tie with me during every Disneyland visit to ensure optimal visibility during faster rides. If you’re sometimes as forgetful as I am, take several hair ties.
Sunscreen and sunglasses: On warm and sunny days, both items are extremely important for Disneyland Paris. Sunglasses protect your eyes from excessive UV radiation in bright places, such as the Central Plaza in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Additionally, some queues are outdoors and partially uncovered. A small tube of sunscreen in summer and on warm days works wonders to protect you from sunburn.
Cap or hat: This is also an important clothing item that you should pack for Disneyland Paris in summer. On hot days with strong sun, you could definitely get sunburn on your scalp. To protect your head from overheating, a cap like a baseball cap or other hats provide valuable shade and protection.
Fan or mini-ventilator: Summers at Disneyland Paris can get very hot. If you’re unlucky, there won’t even be a light breeze. In this case, a folding fan that you can take along helps in hot moments. I bought an inexpensive plastic fan in Japan that I’ve taken on all my Disneyland trips since. If you want more power, you can also take a small portable mini-ventilator. These are now available from many online retailers in Germany at fair prices.
Magnesium tablets: This might initially seem like the strangest item on the Disneyland Paris travel checklist. But you can’t imagine how much walking you’ll do at Disneyland Paris. It’s not unusual to walk 50-90 kilometers on foot during your Disney trip over three or four days. With a fully packed and sometimes heavy backpack on your shoulders. This can quickly lead to tension and muscle soreness, especially if you have to sweat a lot in summer. Magnesium tablets give your muscles the necessary energy back and help with your tension.
Mosquito repellent / Bite-Away: Do you know that you’re a true magnet for mosquitoes during the summer months? Then it certainly can’t hurt to take mosquito repellent to Disneyland Paris during the warm months. Want to be completely safe in case you get stung? And not just by a mosquito, but maybe even by a wasp? Actually, this has happened to me before. A wasp sting in the thumb, right in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. It was absolutely not nice. Then you might also want to take a Bite-Away stick against insect stings if you want to be on the safe side.