I go to Disneyland Paris every year on a budget… here are my SIX tips to save cash and why you should avoid park hotels
A holidaymaker who visits Disneyland Paris every year on a budget has revealed her six tips for saving money.
Disney fanatic Portia Jones has offered advice on some costly aspects of visiting Mickey and Minnie, including why visitors shouldn’t stay in theme park hotels.
She also revealed the cheapest way to travel to Disneyland and how expensive eating at the park’s restaurants and shops can be.
Read on below for her top tips to help you enjoy a magical experience at Disneyland.
Disneyland Paris is a destination that attracts millions of tourists every year, and is one of the most popular theme parks in the world (File image)
Visit Disneyland Paris when it is quieter
Writing for WalesOnline, Portia said her first tip for saving money would be to book out of peak season.
She warned that this would mean traveling during the week in the quieter months, such as September to January, when the weather may not be as favorable.
However, she said you can benefit from lower prices and shorter lines if you go when there is less demand.
Avoid staying at Disney hotels
Moving on to her next tip, the Disney veteran said it would be best to stay somewhere other than one of the main Disney hotels on site – as these can be significantly more expensive than others due to their convenient location.
Instead, she recommended staying in nearby towns such as Serris or Chessy, while also recommending the budget-friendly Moxy Paris Val d’Europe hotel – which is just one stop away on the RER train that serves Disneyland Paris.
Use the RER to your advantage
Speaking of the RER, Portia said it’s a great budget-friendly way to get to Disneyland Paris because it connects central Paris to the park.
Staying close to the theme park also means you can avoid exorbitant parking fees and the stress of having to drive – along with the fact that an RER fare pales in comparison to the cost of a Disney hotel.
Try not to spend too much money on food at the venue
As usual at other event locations, food prices at Disneyland Paris are high, with many dishes costing well over €20.
To save further, the Disney fanatic recommends packing your own food and drinks, which she says can be useful to have on hand when there are long lines.
Disney veteran Portia Jones said it would be best to stay somewhere other than one of the main Disney hotels on site. In the photo: the Disneyland Resort Paris Hotel
Stay away from the temptations of the gift shop
Another tip concerned the temptation of gift shops and their high price tags, which can leave you feeling ripped off.
Instead, Portia suggested purchasing Disney-themed souvenirs before your trip, which she noted, “could save you a small fortune’.
Plan your day to avoid unnecessary expenses
Portia shared her final tip: ‘One of the easiest ways to avoid spending too much money at Disneyland Paris is to plan your day in advance.’
With this in mind, she said it would be best for visitors to download the Disneyland app to view ride wait times, show schedules, character breakfast bookings and restaurant menus.
She went on to say that this will help you plan your day more efficiently, “avoiding overpriced sit-down meals and long lines.”
The Disney superfan also said you should consider starting your day early and taking advantage of shorter lines in the morning to fit in more rides and save money on extra snacks since you won’t have to wait as long.