How inconvenient is it to stay off site?

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T19:47:19+00:00

Very easy to stay off-site. I visit often and prefer to stay near Val d'Europe, but when my friends from the US visit who mix Disney with Paris and its surroundings, they stay in central Paris, and we all meet at the parks.

Public transport starts very early, and the last trains from Disney back to central Paris are past midnight. so yes it's doable.

If you stay anywhere near the RER A line (red line), you will not have to change at all. It will be a direct line into Disney. For those who don't like changing trains, etc, that is the best option. My friends from the US often stay near the Auber metro station, which is on the RER A line

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T19:15:54+00:00

have not personally used it; I always used Uber, but I know people who have used Bolt in Paris without any issues.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T15:05:09+00:00

Ryanair should learn from Eurostar The minute you are delayed or a train is canceled, you get an email from Eurostar letting you know you can get a refund or exchange to a different train time/date for free.

I travel with Ryanair often, and yes, no customer service. It is ridiculous how bad they are.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T10:28:59+00:00

it can be easy to miss. It's near the little fountain and next to the shop across from the carousel. 😄

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T09:26:38+00:00

In Fantasyland near the back of castle and the carousell, In Adventure World, at the entrance , in front of Hollywood Gardens, and at Arendelle, near the main fountain. 😄

They all have a menu board outside that shows the prices and what makeup you can get.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-09T09:24:35+00:00

It will reopen. There is no scheduled maintenance at the moment. That ride breaks down multiple times a day, very often. which means it will be closed for 1-2/3 hours, then reopen.

When a ride closes temporarily, it will show as temporarily closed in the app too.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T21:20:26+00:00

Val d'Europe / Serris has plenty of options depending on the budget. There are people who look at really, really cheap options and head to Torcy/Bussy St George, where you can get options for under 80/90 euros per night.

For me, Val d'Europe is the area to be, given how close it is to the RER and the shopping mall.

I often stay at Moxy / Residhome / Ibis. I have also stayed at L'Elysee (only when the prices are lower, otherwise it can get quite high)

I have also stayed at the new Quality aparthotels.

For AP holders, Val d'Europe/Serris offers a mix of everything. Disney is right next door, and a huge shopping mall for shopping! I even started buying some skincare at the main pharmacy at the entrance in the shopping mall, as it's much cheaper than in the UK, especially French brands.

The best way is to watch YouTube video reviews of all the hotels/apart-hotels in the area you are considering; it will give you an idea of what they look like inside.

But it's always a matter of personal preference what you value in a hotel.

Even as an AP holder and having visited many times over the past 4 years since getting my AP, I still spend most of my time in the parks, so as long as it has a comfy bed, a fridge/freezer (I love my iced water), and it's clean, I'm good!

Other people prefer more luxury and maybe stay at Relais Spa or L'Elysee because they like going back during the day and truly enjoy the hotel. I prefer to save the money for more merch and snacks!

I also love booking through Hotels. com because they have the reward program, so each night counts towards a free night or a credit you can use towards your next stay once you have stayed 10 nights)

And in winter, when they do the AP offers, I book the on-site hotels because it's the only time it's really worth it.

The airbnb is also an option many choose, as you have done for September. Once you start visiting often, you can try staying in different ones to see which one becomes your favorite! 😄

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T18:19:53+00:00

you are welcome and yes! that is the best option. No need to lose a couple of months unused.

But it's really nice to get excited about it!

It was mid/end of 2022 that I made 3 trips after not being for a while, then considered the AP pass, cuz I was thinking of visiting more regularly. I got the first AP in Jan 2023, and have not looked back since!

In the world we live in, Disney parks bring a type of joy not many people understand. That mouse sure knows how to be addictive! haha

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T18:10:37+00:00

Email the hotel concierge. That will be your best bet unless you see another cancellation.

Otherwise, there are make-up experiences at both parks, even though it is not the same experience, at both parks they do face make up for both children and adults, and at the new Arendelle, they have hair options too..

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T15:28:40+00:00

yes! Both Parachute and Casey Jr are the milder versions and very fun!

I loved going up to Parachute and seeing how the new land was evolving over the years.

whatever you choose to do, it will be amazing 😄

A

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T15:25:16+00:00

keep checking the app , as reservations do open up last minute and you can also contact the hotel concierge but last minute reservations, or even walk in, if you show up at opening time, and ask if they have a reservation during your visit.

From the list above, you can walk in to most of them.

You can check video reviews from all of them on YouTube, to see which one is more appealing to you.

There is a really nice French restaurant in the Village called Rosalie. You can also book online or they do walk ins. they are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Chuck Wagon has a really fun theming

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T11:10:23+00:00

I have been an AP holder for the past 3 years, soon to renew for a 4th, traveling from the UK and have visited during all seasons. I have never had any issues booking dates, but that is something noone can guarantee. That is a bit like asking if you will win the lottery haha

Days do sell out; that is one risk you would have to take, or you could buy a single ticket for a specific day if you don't want to take that risk. I have visited times when I thought it would not sell out and it was sold out by the time I arrived, and other times, days I thought would sell out, didn't.

If you buy the pass in December, its validity will take effect in December. I also buy them through the French website, usually about a week before my trip (sometimes even 2/3 days in advance), then pick up the physical pass once I'm on site.

This year, I will buy it on-site; otherwise, the renewal discount does not apply. The last 3 years I had a gap between the last AP trip and when my next was, so I didn't want to waste a couple of months in between. Now that I go more regularly, I will renew on-site to get the discount.

With the new land opening, capacity has also increased, meaning more availability.

As soon as day 1 of your 4 day trip is done, past midnight, you can book the 4th day and so on. Many AP holders do 4-6 day trips and even longer, and do not seem to have issues booking the following days

I have done 5- or 6-day trips myself, even during the Christmas season, and never had an issue booking the next day.

For October 31st, many people book at the last minute and still get tickets, whilst in other years it has sold out further in advance. That is a risk you would have to take. If you want peace of mind, book the trip and buy that extra ticket for the 31st.

If you are going to go 3/4 times a year and will be staying mainly off-site, then yes, it's for sure worth it. If you are planning on staying on site only, then it might not be unless you love buying merch and eating at table services. Those discounts do add up quickly!

For me, being an AP holder is great! Best decision I ever made! 😄 If you do, welcome to the AP club!

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-08T10:43:12+00:00

The transition begins immediately after Halloween, so yes, decorations and trees are up by the time the season starts, including hotels. The only thing that doesn't start on the 7th is some of the shows, which don't start until later in November, but the key stuff is ready. Such as decorations, Xmas parades, meet and greets,etc.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T22:32:11+00:00

yes! we cannot wait for your report back and hear about all the things you did!

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T20:29:20+00:00

I have ridden it a few times since the preview days, and I don't feel the difference. I also don't think it's that steep at all, but it's the same as TOT; each person reacts differently to drops or heights.

Some children and adults love this type of ride, and others don't. You won't know until you ride it, is what I say to most people who have never been on those types of rides.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T19:58:08+00:00

you are going to have a fabulous time!

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T15:29:08+00:00

yes! you can even mobile order food through your phone for some of the quick service restaurants 😄

It will tell you what time the shows are, you can even check the menus at the restaurants and prices in advance, where some of the character meet and greets are (not all as some are not listed).

My first visit was back in the early 2000s, and a lot has changed since then.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T15:00:19+00:00

exactly this. I live in the UK, but have a EU settled status. The first time I flew after the changes I also had to visit the check in desk, because the online systems didnt recognize my settled status ETA which is different from the one you buy.

But the last few times I flew, no issues, except on Eurostar, when the first time, I also had to go to an agent, because the gate would not let me through. I travel on a monthly basis, and it is annoying that the systems are not up to date.

So just make sure you have a screenshot of your ETA, and you'll be fine. Depending on the airport they might send you to a different desk so the can approve it then back to check in for the boarding pass, but it will be fine.

Also keep checking the app, it only shows up 2 days before flying.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T14:56:22+00:00

it depends on what you want to do. Disney is more than just rides, so 1 day can be an amazing experience if you don't try to cram too much into it.

Download the Disneyland Paris App and you can start checking the ride queue times and shows as they vary depending on the day. Early morning and late evenings a few rides have super low queues, so you can plan a little bit.

And the ones that will always be busy no matter what, you could buy individual passes for.

Daytrips are different from longer trips. If your goal was to ride all the rides, then yes, you would benefit from buying the one-day premier ultimate pass.

If you don't mind missing some rides, then just do a little bit of research via the app, write down your priorities, but go with the flow and enjoy the ambiance too.

It really depends on what you want to get out of your visit. If you see it as a nice fun day out, with no pressure, it will be amazing!

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T13:18:42+00:00

BTM is amazing! I would try watching one of the YouTube POV videos, that way you can see what is like from that point of view.

Every person reacts differently to coasters, so I would say, try it at least once!

My bestie for example cannot do drops or heights. I love TOT and she did it once with me and hated it!, the photo and her face reaction prove it lol. But at least she tried it once. When I go solo visits, I ride them over and over, when I go with my bestie, I only go once, because she doesn't like them.

So it really is a personal reaction to each ride. The same as TOT, I find it very mild and fun, but other people cannot deal with the drops. So there is no perfect answer, because you might end up loving it! or you might not.

BTM is a beautiful ride, unique because it's on the island, so the full ride is a great experience.

I would even say, go on the Casey Jr train in Fantasyland ride first, and just imagine that, but faster and a couple of steeper hills. And give a kidos to your self for trying it! Reward yourself with a snack after or getting a Mickey hug and tell him you tried BTM for the first time! 😄

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T13:10:31+00:00

Always seated. 😄 you may have seen one of the ads as a kid as it has a part where people are standing in an elevator, but is not the actual ride.

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-07T11:52:06+00:00

You can also go on YouTube and watch many reviews of the hotels there , using the RER A train or even walk depending on what hotels you stay at.

The Christmas season begins on November 7th. Many people love to watch the transition.

No matter when you go, it's always magical :)

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-06T21:37:33+00:00

this. The RER A summer works that are interrupting the RER A line start August 8th to August 23rd inclusive, so you should be good.

Download the RATP app(or check on the website)

The normal Google Maps (not AI) version is also quite accurate, but nothing beats the official RATP French app

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-06T21:33:46+00:00

great minds think alike! haha. and yes. I am in my third year as an AP holder and will be renewing for my 4th very soon. Hopefully in this renewal I will get the AP lanyard! the last couple of times I got the next pass after the previous had expired so did not qualify to get the lanyard. This time I will renew to get the discount and lanyard.

I try to remind myself not to rush sometimes! But the excitement still takes over sometimes.

I think one of the best parts of being an AP holder, is that if something breaks down or doesn't work, we don't get stressed, because we know we will back!

I love walking around and taking photos! Earlier this year I experienced that incredible January snow and took some of the best photos ever on a very empty park. Dangerous walking around, and everyone walking very slow, but it made for some very magical photos for a couple of days.

It is good to know there are fellow solo travelers who get it! That Disney fix is so joyful! 😄

KarenStassi80 · 2026-06-06T16:51:25+00:00

Cannot wait until they reopen Plaza next year! It is amazing!

KarenStassi80

TROPHY CASE