Disneyland Paris Planning Tips for People Who Hate Planning

If planning stresses you out or sucks the joy out of things, this post is for you.

💬 Feeling Overwhelmed? This One’s for You.

You want to take the kids (or yourself, no judgement) to Disneyland Paris, but your brain feels like it’s been through a spin cycle, and you don’t even know where your other shoe is. Sound familiar? Good. You’re in the right place.

I’ve been to DLP more times than I can count… and I still forgot my poncho on my last trip. So let me tell you: you do not need to be perfect to have a brilliant Disney holiday. You just need a few smart tips, a little help from yours truly, and possibly some Mickey beignets.

This is planning for people who can’t even with planning. No 87-tab spreadsheets. No fancy apps. Just what you need to get it sorted—quickly, easily, and without crying in the stationery aisle at WHSmith.

🎟️ Step 1: If You’ve Not Done it Yet – Book These First (So You Don’t Cry Later)

Before you start Disney outfit-planning or pin-hoarding, sort out these essentials first:

• 🎟️ Park Tickets: I recommend Attraction Tickets—great prices and you get 10 free PhotoPass pictures included. TIP: If you’re booking a hotel + ticket bundle, Attraction Tickets offers a bigger gift card incentive than Disney direct. Highly recommend.
• 🏨 Hotel: Of course, staying in a Disney hotel is going to make your life super easy. It’s always worth the money to be right there on-site and have first access to restaurants, fireworks tickets and My Royal Dream (if you need those things). But if you’re watching the pennies, I’d suggest an off-site hotel like B&B or Adagio. They’ve got free shuttles (a bit hectic at night, fair warning), or you can grab an Uber if you’re peopled-out.
• 🚗 Travel: Eurostar, plane, ferry, flying carpet—just book something to get you there and back. If you’re going last-minute or need a bit more flexibility, driving to Disneyland Paris might actually be the easiest option.

🔗 Budget Help: Wondering what all this is going to cost you? My Cheapest Way to Do Disneyland Paris post breaks it all down, from budget hacks to clever booking tricks.

🧳 Step 2: What to Pack (Hint: Not Stress)

I beg of you: don’t overpack. You do not need three ‘just in case’ outfits when you want to plan lazy-girl style (take it from someone who’s done it before!). You do need:

• Two pairs of comfy shoes to alternate (your feet will send thank-you notes)
• Layers – mornings can be chilly, afternoons toasty, evenings unpredictable
• A poncho – don’t learn the soggy way like I did
• A backpack – snacks, water, lip balm, power bank, tissues for parade tears

🍽️ Step 3: Don’t Overthink the Food

Listen, you will eat. Don’t turn it into a spreadsheet unless you really want to. Here are my go-tos:

• Grab & Go

1. 🍗 Cowboy Cookout – Generous portions, good for families, usually quick
2. 🍕 Colonel Hathi’s – Get the Mickey-shaped pizza (pictured above). It’s iconic. Job done.

• Sit-Down Meals Worth Booking

1. 🧪 Pym Kitchen (pictured above) – A Marvel-themed fun, quirky, fussy-eater-friendly buffet in Disney Adventure World, and usually easier to snag last-minute
2. 💖 Plaza Gardens Dinner – Character dining with Mickey, Minnie or their pals (tip: dinner has better availability than breakfast!)
3. 🐭 Bistrot Chez Remy’s – The food is just okay, but the theming? Chef’s kiss. You feel like you’re in the movie.

Book one nice meal if you care. Or just eat nuggets and call it a cheat day. Repeat as necessary.

🎢 Step 4: A Rough Day Plan = Sanity Saver

You don’t need a minute-by-minute itinerary. Just a vague idea of what you’d like to do and when.

Suggested Park Order

• Day 1: Disneyland Park
• Day 2: Disney Adventure World
• Day 3 (if you’re lucky): Revisit your favourites, catch anything you missed, and slow down a little

Tip: If you’re a morning person and staying on-site, don’t forget about Extra Magic Time—ideal for hitting a few headliners before the park gets busy.

PRO TIPS: Want to Feel Extra Relaxed About Your Trip?

• Check out my Must-Do Disneyland Paris Attractions list and jot down a few faves.
• Use the day planner page in my Kawaii-style Disneyland Paris Planner (pictured below) to sketch out a soft plan.
• Or skip the planning entirely and follow the crowd to the parade like a happy little duckling. The ultimate in go-with-the-flow.

💖 Disneyland Paris Planning Tips – Made Even Easier!

This easy-breezy five-page printable Kawaii Disneyland Paris Planner is for people who want the shortcut version of having it together.

It includes:

• ✅ A ready-to-go packing list
• ✅ Attraction checklists – one for each park
• ✅ A soft, pastel day planner page (no pressure!)
• ✅ A cover page that makes you feel a tiny bit smug
• ✅ And yes, it’s cute enough that you’ll actually enjoy using it

You can grab it in my shop. And don’t forget to grab a freebie when you join my VIP Club—which also comes with money-saving tips, subscriber exclusives, and weekly DLP magic straight from me.

👱🏻‍♀️ My Personal Must-Do’s

• 📸 A castle photo (obviously)
• 🍩 A sensational Mickey-shaped snack—like the beignets at Cable Car Bake Shop
• 🤗 A hug with a character—bonus points if it’s Chip and Dale (two hugs for the price of one!)
• 🚂 Big Thunder Mountain in the day and in the dark
• 🌈 ‘it’s a small world’ (a song that will last in your head even longer than this holiday)

🏁 You’ve Got This (No, Really)

If all you do is book your tickets, show up, and stop by Cool Post in Adventureland for a stack of Mickey Waffles (thank me later), you’re winning.

You don’t need the perfect outfit. You don’t need the perfect plan. You need laughter, memories, a Goofy kiss, and possibly ice cream for lunch every day. 🍦

This isn’t about doing it all. It’s about making a few smart choices now, so you can relax later. Probably with a churro in one hand and a sleepy child draped over your shoulder while your arm goes numb (and you wouldn’t have it any other way).

You’ve got this. And I’m cheering you on—go have the best time! And if you forget the poncho, you can always buy one while you’re there. 💕