Extreme Day Trip to Disneyland Paris from UK – Full Guide + Tips

Is it really possible to do Disneyland Paris in one day from the UK? I decided to find out by attempting an extreme day trip to Disneyland Paris — flying out early, spending a full day in the parks, and heading home the same night, all with a child in tow.

In this guide, I’m sharing exactly how I planned our Disneyland Paris day trip, including travel logistics, timings, costs, and whether it’s actually worth the exhaustion. If you’re short on time, travelling with kids, or just curious about how much magic you can squeeze into a single day, this post will help you decide if a one-day trip to Disneyland Paris is right for you.

Why Do an Extreme Day Trip to Disneyland Paris?

We’re lucky enough to live 25 mins (on a good day) from Gatwick Airport, so decided to make the most of it. With our newly gifted Disneyland Paris Bronze Passes we hopped on a plane, back in October 2025.

With the Bronze Passes, for your first visit, you can only book your first day online (guaranteeing your entry). You can book subsequent days once you’ve scanned into the park. As our next trip was planned in December, I didn’t want to risk parks being full, so we decided to take a day trip from London to Paris to celebrate having an annual pass!

This was how our amazing day trip to Disneyland Paris from the UK went.

It was just me and my son heading on our adventure, and our day was 6am to 11pm door to door. It was such an adventure, and we can’t wait to do more extreme day trips!

Outbound flight and passport control

We parked in Short Stay parking, then had a speedy journey through the family security lane, picked up a Pret for breakfast and headed over to the gate. We were flying with EasyJet, our flight was due to take off at 8am but it was delayed until 9:05am. Our day trip was from London Gatwick to Paris, Charles de Gaulle.

EasyJet Holidays currently have a big sale – add code BIGSALE when you visit the EasyjetHolidays website until 3/3/2026. Ts&Cs apply.

Our flight landed around 10.50, and we arrived at passport control at 11:02am (French time), and were through passport control in 2 minutes, which must be a record, especially travelling with a child!

We arrived in terminal 2B, and it was an 8 minute speedy walk to the train station – I was basically running, so ended up pretty hot on arrival. I’d booked the 11:16 and 12:00 to ensure we could get the TGV, as its only a 10 minute ride from Charles De Gaulle to Marne La Vallée Chessy) – my son was in a carrier so we could be as fast as possible. Arrived at the station at 11:12, but didn’t have time to catch the 11.16, so picked up some lunch at Monoprix at the station and the platform was announced at 11:40 for the 12pm train.

We hopped off the train at 12:14, had a quick pit stop at relay for some extra snacks for the day, and then we arrived!

Our time in Disneyland Paris

The parks were full on our arrival (a Thursday before any of the school October holidays). It was SO busy. There were queues for everything, including the toilets, so we had to be very flexible on what we did.

We managed to successfully do, in the 7 hours we were at Disneyland Paris:

Dumbo (45 min queue)
It’s a Small World (premier access)
Casey Jr Train
Halloween afternoon parade
Cars Road Trip
Snack breaks x 2
Dinner (quick service star nuggets and chips for two, plus two soft drinks – €31 total, so very expensive! )
Spiderman Web Adventures
Carousel

I wanted to try and do as much as possible, but I wish we’d taken it a bit more relaxed. We used the self service machines at the quick service restaurant to speed up getting food and took snacks with us to speed things up there. Plus tried to use some of the more hidden toilets to reduce the length we queued.

The journey home

We hopped off the Carousel at 19.32, and managed to be out of the gate at 19.41 (including a quick toilet break!), getting on the platform to wait for our train by 19.53.

Our train was slightly delayed (causing a lot of stress for me!), but we arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport at about 20.30, through security at 20.45 and through passport at 20.52.

Perfect timing for our 22:15 flight which started boarding at 21:30.

Was it a success or failure?

Everyone I told about the extreme day trip from London Gatwick to Disneyland Paris, with a 3 year old and on my own, said I was crazy to do so!

But, personally, it was one of our most special adventures! Things didn’t go 100% right throughout the day, from a delayed plane, long queues, my son refusing to walk, and a tired meltdown in the queue to board the plane home, but taking a deep breathe at each challenging point meant we could keep on moving from it and we really did have a fantastic time with some core memories made.

Next time I wouldn’t move between parks, and I’d definitely take a buggy. We have the Graco myavo travel buggy and it would have saved my shoulders!

Key takeaways from our Extreme Day Trip to Disneyland Paris with a toddler:

Pack snacks, snacks and more snacks
Be flexible – plan to take the TGV if timings work, but budget for a taxi.
Book the TGV via the SNCF app.
I DO NOT recommend using the Magic Shuttle for a day trip. Read more on my Disneyland Paris travel pros and cons here.
I booked 2 trains to ensure as much flexibility as possible.
Decide if you’re there for the atmosphere, or for rides. For rides it might be best to buy Premier Access passes to ensure you get the rides you like.
Stay in one park – we lost time walking between parks. We know Disneyland Paris really well, but it adds a lot of unnecessary walking – I did over 15km of walking!
With an annual pass, the cost for doing an extreme day trip was probably about the same as doing a one night stay in a non-Disney hotel – but you do lose some flexibilty.
Keep an eye on the EES and Visa rollouts, as this may make passport control lines too long for a day trip.

We love travelling, and Disney! Read about our trip to Walt Disney World Orlando here. Or our trip to Tokyo Disney Resort – both with a toddler!

FAQ for Day Trip to Disneyland Paris from the UK

1. How do I get to Disneyland Paris from the UK?

The most common way is to fly from your local airport to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. You can also take the Eurostar train to Marne La Vallée Chessy via Lille, or Paris Gare du Nord. Or even driving by ferry or le Shuttle.

2. What is the best time to visit Disneyland Paris?

Visiting during weekdays, especially outside of school holidays and off-peak seasons, can help you avoid large crowds. September and October is often a good time as it aligns with pleasant weather and less busy parks, but currently Disneyland Paris seems to be busy all the time!

3. How long does it take to get from the airport to Disneyland Paris?

From Charles de Gaulle Airport, you can take the TGV train which takes about 10 minutes to reach Marne La Vallée Chessy station, located next to Disneyland Paris.

Taking the RER (similar to the overground/local train service), it takes around 1 hour 10 minutes from Charles de Gaulle.

4. Can I take my toddler to Disneyland Paris?

Absolutely! Many attractions cater to toddlers, and the park is family-friendly. Lots of rides and all of the shows are suitable for a toddler, and the look of wonder in their eyes as they meet their favourite characters is worth it! Under 3s go free.

5. What should I pack for a day trip with a toddler?

Pack plenty of snacks, water, a change of clothes, a stroller or carrier, and any necessary items for comfort and entertainment during waiting times.

6. Is it advisable to pre-book tickets and transport?

Yes, pre-booking train tickets (via the SNCF app) and park tickets will save you stress on the day of your trip. Park tickets generally aren’t available on the day, and often the TGV trains are fully booked in advance.

7. What dining options are available in Disneyland Paris?

There are numerous dining options ranging from quick-service eateries to sit-down restaurants. It’s a good idea to pack some snacks to minimize wait times, or collect snacks as you walk through the park, and eat them to keep everyone occupied in the queues.

8. Should I buy Premier Access for rides?

If you’re planning to prioritise rides and avoid long queues, purchasing Premier Access can be beneficial, especially on busy days. However, I would only purchase single ride premier access for any rides that have long queues, on he day., especially as young children are below lots of the height requirements for the fast rides.

9. What are key tips for maximising your visit?

Plan ahead and have a flexible itinerary.
Use the self-service options at restaurants to save time.
Stay in one park instead of switching through both to maximise your time.

10. Are there any travel restrictions or considerations?

Keep an eye on travel regulations and any changes to passport control requirements, especially with the implementation of the EES and Visa rollouts that could impact wait times.