10 Brilliant Ways to Enjoy Disneyland Paris on a Budget

Without a doubt, Disney is more expensive than ever before. And with the rising cost of living, it has become ever more popular to do Disneyland Paris on a budget in 2024.

But is Disneyland Paris still magical without spending loads of money? You bet it is! Walt Disney’s theme park where adults relive the magic of childhood can be affordable for everyone – if you follow these budget-friendly tips.

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To Experience Disneyland Paris on a Budget Follow These Super Smart Tips

1. DIY Your Trip

If you are short on time, booking a package holiday for Disneyland Paris makes sense. You can use a travel agent like Magic Breaks or get a quote from Disneyland Paris directly.

However, if you have time but your budget is smaller, consider organising it all yourself (aka The DIY Holiday).

A DIY budget holiday for Disneyland Paris means booking your tickets, hotel and travel separately.

The advantage of booking your holiday separately is that you can weigh up the cost of each part individually:
👉 The cheapest travel options (train, car or flight)
👉 How many days of park tickets you want
👉 The price of the hotel you can afford
👉 Getting more flexibility with your arrival and departure times

Most of all, you can try different combinations of travel, hotel and ticket costs until the total is the price you want to pay.

🤔 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO TO DISNEYLAND PARIS? If you want to peek at DIY prices right now, Skip to Step #10 to see how a family of four can spend 3 days at Disneyland Paris for only £500 per person (spending money included!).

2. Earn Money Back with TopCashback

A great hack for saving money is using TopCashback for your everyday online purchases. This is a free cashback service.

Depending on how much shopping you do, this could add up to enough money for Mickey snacks or enough for another night in your hotel. (That’s a FUN way to do Disneyland Paris on a budget!)

It works like this:

Step 1 – Go to TopCashback.com (use my affiliate link for a bonus). Once there, sign up for a FREE ACCOUNT.

Step 2 – Use their website to search for any retailer you want to buy from.

✏️ TIP The online shops I use most often are H&M, Argos, LookFantastic and Hotels.com (for all my travel). But you can search for any shop you want, including Disneyland Paris! At Christmas time, your cashback really adds up with all the gifts we buy!

Step 3 – Click on the retailer link, and you will be sent to that website (i.e. click on M&S, and it will track your visit from TopCashback to M&S). Make your purchase as normal, and TopCashback will email that your cashback has been tracked.

Step 4 – Sit back and wait till your money back gets deposited. Every retailer has different terms; it can take a few weeks or (in rare cases) a few months to see the money in your account. Once the money is in your TopCashback account, you can withdraw it (seriously, right into your bank account!). 

Or, trade your balance for a bonus amount on a gift card worth a bit more. For example, you might be able to buy a Pizza Express gift card with your TopCashback earnings and get an additional 12% on your voucher (for free!).

👱🏻‍♀️ MY EXPERIENCE In two years, I made over £1000 with TopCashback. I used that money to pay for my solo trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. A trip to Disney World for nothing? It’s a no-brainer – I can’t recommend it enough.

Here’s your link to TopCashback in case you missed it. Once you try it, and the money adds up for your next Disney trip, you will wonder why you didn’t start using it before!

3. Buy Discounted Disneyland Paris Park Tickets 

A great way to do Disneyland Paris on a budget is to get the cheapest park tickets.

My favourite discount ticket outlet is Attraction Tickets, but I will always do a quick comparison with Disney direct. 

In this example, a 3-day/2-park ticket for one adult going August 2024 costs:
– DisneylandParis.com: £288.86
– Attraction Tickets: £264.00
Savings from Attraction Tickets = £24.86

⁉️ Why use Attraction Tickets for cheaper Disneyland Paris tickets?

I have been booking my theme park tickets with Attraction Tickets since 2015 for these reasons:

Reason #1 – Money Back

I can use TopCashback (see above) to get money back on my Attraction Tickets purchase. For a Florida trip, we got £30 back. This money is handy when you’re doing Disneyland Paris on a budget!

Reason #2 – Great Customer Service When There’s a Problem

Attraction Tickets has always given me outstanding customer service. Whether your flights get cancelled or you have any questions before you make a purchase, they have friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you at Attraction Tickets.

Reason #3 – Free Gifts and Discounts

Different promotions are running all the time, so check to see what is being offered currently. For example, in the past, I’ve bought adult tickets at kid prices. I also got a very cute document wallet for Disney World and free PhotoPass pictures for Disneyland Paris.

4. Consider Low-Season Dates

Travelling off-peak will help you do Disneyland Paris on a budget.

The prices above are for Summer Holiday tickets. But let’s compare the current prices for a 3-day 2-park ticket in the low season!

In this example, a 3-day/2-park ticket for one adult going January 2025 costs:
– DisneylandParis.com: £186.09 (price in August = £288.86)
– Attraction Tickets: £171.00 (price in August = £264.00)
Savings in January: Over £100 cheaper than in August!

⁉️ When is the Cheapest Time to Go to Disneyland Paris?

Not only do tickets cost more, but travel is more expensive at popular times. The most expensive time to go to Disneyland Paris is during the holidays at Christmas, Halloween, and Easter. But watch out for school holidays in France, Spain and the UK. These tend to be for around 12 weeks of summer mid-June to mid-September), two weeks at Christmas, two weeks at the end of October and two weeks around Easter.

If you are restricted to school holidays, you may find the cheapest way to do Disneyland Paris on a budget is to go during the February half term. ➡️ Check out our February Half-Term Trip Report for how we spent our 2-days at Disneyland Paris.

5. Book the Cheapest Hotels

📌 I have an entire post dedicated to saving money on hotels, so I recommend checking out How to Book the Cheapest Accommodation for Disneyland Paris.

Here are some highlights of that article.

Off-Site Hotels

While staying in the heart of the magic in a Disney hotel is really nice, staying off-site can be magical, too! Disney partner hotels and other local hotels will help you save money on your Disney holiday.

Disney Partner Hotel: Grand Magic Hotel

My favourite off-site family hotel for Disneyland Paris on a budget in 2024 is the Grand Magic Hotel. Last year, this partner hotel was beautifully refurbished. It offers many of the same amenities as a Disney hotel including a Disney gift shop, free wifi, free parking, and a free shuttle to the parks.

Local Hotel

My favourite hotel for an even smaller budget is Residhome Val d’Europe. It’s not only very economical (sometimes as little as £67/night), but you can get a mini-suite with a cooker and refrigerator. Being able to prepare your own food also helps cut the cost! You don’t get a shuttle to the parks, but it is only one stop away on the Metro train.
➡️ Check out my full review of Residhome Val d’Europe.

Disney Value Hotels

If your budget can stretch a bit further, get a quote for a Disney value hotel. Disney Hotel Cheyenne and Disney Santa Fe are within walking distance of the parks. They are Disney-themed hotels with a restaurant, Starbucks, gift shop and free parking.
➡️ Not sure which Disney value hotel to choose? Check out my post on Disney Hotel Cheyenne vs. Santa Fe – Which is better?

6. Consider All Modes of Travel

Like hotels and tickets, travel costs will vary based on how popular your dates are. If your dates are fixed, try comparing all modes of travel to save money.

– Travelling to Disneyland Paris Solo

I often visit Disneyland Paris by myself. For one person not tied to school holidays and based in London, it works out cheapest for me to travel by Eurostar.

🤓 GOOD TO KNOW Back in June 2023, Eurostar ended their direct train service from London to Disneyland Paris. You now need to change in Lille. The indirect service has been running for as long as I can remember (at least 15 years!), and it is usually quick and easy.

But to save more money, consider the cheaper train to Paris Gare du Nord instead of Lille. Then, take the Metro train to Disneyland Paris for about €5. ➡️ Check out my full guide to Taking the Train from Paris to Disneyland Paris.

– Travelling to Disneyland Paris as a Family

Taking my husband and two kids to Disney can be pricey on the Eurostar. In the summer, I had a quote for over £1000! So instead, we drive to Disneyland Paris from London. ➡️ Check out my post on how we used the Eurotunnel.

🚗 There are different costs associated with driving, which will depend on your vehicle.
But to give you an idea, for my family, driving to Disneyland Paris in August cost us:
– Fuel: £100
– Tolls: £44
– Eurotunnel: £319.00
– RAC European breakdown cover: £32.00
Total = £495

💡 Don’t forget you need a European driving kit to drive legally in France.
➡️ Also, check out this Disneyland Paris Packing List that includes a handy Driver’s Checklist.

7. Pack More Fun into a Shorter Trip  

How long do you need at Disney?

In my recent article, How Many Days Do You Need for Disneyland Paris, I have a breakdown of what you can see at Disney in a short trip (1-2 days) and in a longer trip (4-5 days). If you need help deciding how many days you want to go, that article is perfect for you.

On a really tight budget? Consider taking a 1-day trip to Disneyland Paris! I have 3 amazing itineraries to inspire your 1-day trip:
– 1 day in Disneyland Paris Park (the main park) here
– 1 day in Walt Disney Studios (second park) here
– 1 day in both parks here here

8. Follow These 3 Tips to Keep Meals Within Your Budget at Disneyland Paris

Food at Disney is an area of your budget where you can be mindfully frugal or wildly extravagant!

It is a great idea to save money by bringing snacks and eating at counter-service restaurants. You might also consider the Disney meal plan.

Tip #1: Consider if the Disney Meal Plan Saves You Money

If you are staying at an official Disney hotel, you will be eligible for the Disney meal plan.

The advantage of the Disney meal plan is that you pre-pay for your meals leaving you not to worry about how much everything costs once you are on your holiday.

Does the Disneyland Paris meal plan save you money?

✔️ It can save you money if you are planning to eat in a sit-down restaurant for every breakfast and dinner during your trip.

In other words, if your trip is all about trying the different Disney restaurants, then you should buy the meal plan because it offers an overall discount if you take full advantage of it.

❌ But, if you think you might mix it up with quick service options, or if you want to grab a coffee and a muffin from Starbucks instead of a full buffet breakfast, you will be better off without the meal plan.

Tip #2: Take Advantage of Quick-Service Dining

If you want to do Disneyland Paris on a budget, consider counter-service restaurants.

There are many fantastic quick-service dining options in Disneyland Paris. These do not require a reservation and will give you complete freedom with your plans. Quick-service dining is cheaper than table-service dining.

Don’t worry, not having a Disney dining plan will not limit you in any way. You can still book Disneyland restaurants and pay on the day. ➡️ Follow my guide on How to Book Dining at Disneyland Paris.

Tip #3: Bring Snacks With You

Another way to save money on food at Disney is to bring snacks with you. You can bring most types of food from England into France, but not dairy, fresh fruit or meat.

➡️ Not sure what to bring? Check out this full list of Snack Ideas for Disneyland Paris.

If you don’t have room in your luggage, you can also buy snacks from the shops inside Chessy train station (next to the park). Or, if you catch the RER metro train from Chessy to Val d’Europe (one-stop), you can visit Auchan, a supermarket with a huge food selection.

9. Buy Souvenirs Before You Go

A medium-sized Stitch toy costs €40 at Disneyland Paris. If you have two kids, you’re looking at a lot of pocket money!

But to do Disneyland Paris on a budget, remember that similar Disney toys are available in the UK. Primark has authentic Disney clothing, toys and stationery. Shop Disney UK frequently has sales – check out mouse ears, collector pins, Christmas ornaments and more.

Another great way to do Disneyland Paris on a budget is to buy your kid’s Disney costumes from Amazon. They have authentic Disney princess dresses and Marvel Avengers superhero outfits for much less than at the Disney parks.

💡 Finally, looking for a cute gift your kids will always treasure that won’t break the bank? Get an autograph book to collect character signatures! ➡️ Check out these 21 Ideas for Disney Character Autographs.

10. Set a Budget and Stick To It

Trust me, there’s nothing worse than coming home to Disney Blues and a whopping credit card bill. No matter how exciting a Disney trip is, it’s not worth your mental health or getting into unmanageable debt.

Avoid this by sticking to your budget from the very beginning. Work out how much you can reasonably save every month. Then work out when you want to go.

For example, let’s say you can save £250 a month, and you want to visit in 8 months. That would mean you have £2,000 to spend, or £500 per person for a family of four.

⭐ How to Do Disneyland Paris for £500/Person

With a £2,000 budget, a typical family with two kids under 12 years old, travelling from the UK in mid-March could reasonably spend the following for Disneyland Paris:

With this smart budget, your family will get the full ‘Disney Experience:’ dining with characters, treats with Mickey ice cream, having Mickey pizza for dinner and staying in a beautifully themed hotel.

And YOU will have priceless memories to treasure for a lifetime.

Over to You…

I hope this article inspired you to do Disneyland Paris on a budget. Do you think you will use any of these budget-friendly tips? Let me know in the comments below! 👇

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If you enjoyed these 10 Best Budget Tips, you might also love:
🩷 Make your Disneyland Paris Trip 10x Better for Kids With This Packing List
💜 How to Save Money on EVERYTHING at Disneyland Paris
💙 The Secret to Getting the Cheapest Tickets (and for How Many Days!)
🩵 21 Unique Ideas for Disney Character Autographs