Going to Disneyland Paris ALONE for the First Time? Here Are the 5 Best Tips for Solo Travellers
While I have been many times with friends and family, there is something quite freeing about going to Disneyland Paris alone. Freedom to do exactly what you want – when you want. And freedom to rest and refresh when you need to, without letting anyone down! If you like adventure without the pitfalls, then this is the blog post for you. These are my 5 best tips for Disneyland Paris solo, including recommendations for dining, attractions, meeting characters and enjoying yourself to the max.
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TIP #1: Prepare for Your Solo Disneyland Paris Adventure
If you’re still in the pre-booking stage, let me give you a 3-part checklist of what you need to do to plan your solo trip.
STEP 1: Get Your Solo Trip Booked
Unless you have a Disneyland Paris Annual Pass, you’ll need park tickets. You’ll also need accommodation and travel.
The first step in planning your solo trip to Disneyland Paris is to compare a holiday package with buying accommodation, tickets and travel separately. I have a handy Budgeting Sheet that will save time, help you keep track of your costs and compare like-for-like holidays.
For package holidays, you should compare the price of booking Disney directly with booking it through a trusted travel company like Attraction Tickets.
If you’re booking separately, try Hotels.com for hotels and attraction tickets for the parks. I like to travel by Eurostar on solo trips. It’s such an easy journey from London, you often can get a seat by yourself and it’s more budget-friendly for solo travellers. Check out my full guide to taking the Eurostar to Disneyland Paris for the First Time.
✂️💰 BUDGET TIP Use a Free Cash Back Service
Before you book your Disney holiday, I highly recommend signing up for TopCashback, the free service that earns you money back on all your purchases. I’ve earned enough to pay for my solo Disney Florida trip, just with everyday purchases and travel! The way it works is easy:
1) Sign up for an account
2) Click on any retailer you use (I use H&M, Hotels.com and Shop Disney for example)
3) Make your purchase as normal
4) Wait for Topcashback to send you your earnings!
Check it out here: TopCashback
STEP 2: Make Your Disney Dining Reservations
Once you’ve booked you can celebrate! You’re going to Disneyland Paris!
The next step is to make a list of any table-service restaurants you want to dine at.
Secondly, you may consider a Disney Meal Plan if you’re staying at a Disney Hotel. I don’t usually buy a meal plan for my solo adventures because it rarely saves me money and I don’t want to eat a fancy meal every day on top of a buffet breakfast. But it might suit you, so check that out on the Disneyland Paris Website.
Use the Disneyland Paris app to make all your table reservations. But if you’re struggling with restaurant availability, check out my post on Getting Sold-out Dining Reservations.
STEP 3: Start Dreaming of Your Magical Time in the Parks
With tickets, accommodation, travel and dining sorted out, you can start planning all the wonderful things you can do at Disneyland Paris solo!
My favourite things to do at Disneyland Paris solo
- Wander around Chateau du Belle Dormant. The upstairs has a stunning recreation of Sleeping Beauty’s story told in stained glass, tapestry and parchment-papered books. It’s a fairy tale come true. Under the castle, a dark path will take you to meet the emerald-coloured dragon trapped in the dungeon.
- Eat a gooey chocolatey crepe while waiting for the parade in front of the castle. Paired with a steaming hot chocolate it’s the stuff dreams are made of. (An experience so good I named this blog after it)
- Meet characters! My children are older now and not as keen as I am to meet all the enchanting characters in the parks. Travelling solo means I can have selfies and cuddles with Tigger and Eeyore. Or comparing bows and having a chat with my BFF Minnie. And Stitch is always a mischievous delight! When you’re by yourself, it can sometimes get a bit lonely. But meeting characters is always a pick-me-up.
- Enjoy the shows. Sitting in a theatre and being absolutely engrossed in a delightful show is all part of the magic of being at Disneyland Paris alone. I highly recommend Mickey and the Magician, The Lion King and Frozen.
- Sample the gourmet food and wine in Walt Disney Studios’ gourmand district. Near the Tower of Terror, you will find carts that sell European and Asian delicacies and delicious wine. There are also stalls near Ratatouille with savoury crepes, vegan appetisers, wine and even mulled wine in the winter. And so much more! Sample what you like, find somewhere to perch and take in the Disney vibes.
TIP #2: Dine Solo at Disneyland Paris With Confidence
There are two types of restaurants at DLP, quick-service and table service. Here is my advice on dining at Disneyland Paris when travelling alone.
🍔 Quick-Service Restaurants
The only time it’s challenging being by yourself at a quick-service restaurant is when it is extra busy. As one person, it’s impossible to save a table at the same time you’re queueing to order. If this happens, I take my tray outside where there’s more seating. If the weather is bad outside, I just hover near a table that appears to be packing up.
✏️ PRO TIP Bring antibac hand wipes and you can clean up that sticky table in a jiffy!
🍽️ Table Service Restaurants
Dining alone in restaurants might sound daunting, but trust me, once you’ve done it, you’ll see there’s nothing to worry about. The concierge will treat you like just another party. Feel free to tell them if you don’t like where your table is and wish to be re-seated. All the other guests are engrossed in their own meals. They won’t take any notice of you, so don’t be shy to eat by yourself.
My Favourite Table Restaurants to Dine Solo at Disneyland Paris
- Walt’s An American Restaurant. Treat yourself to this very ‘adult’ meal which celebrates Walt Disney’s life, achievements and favourite foods. And check out the 10 Secret Details to look for at Walt’s.
- Downtown. Located in the Art of Marvel Hotel, Downtown offers a delicious New York-inspired buffet. The food quality is amazing (especially the desserts!) and I love trying a few bites of dishes I wouldn’t normally have ordered.
- Plaza Gardens Character Breakfast. The breakfast dishes are pretty good, my favourite is the Mickey waffles. But I really come here for the characters! You can usually meet Tigger, Eeyore, Pinocchio, Ghepetto, Capt Hook and Mr Smee or similar.
🐭 Character Meals
Character meals are fun for doing Disneyland Paris solo! You will get great interaction as they are focused on you.
If you are worried about being awkward, bring something for the character to sign, it gives you something to do together. Check out these 21 Unique Character Autograph Ideas.
If nothing else, you can always talk to characters about the food. I once asked Capt Hook at Plaza Gardens if they kept the good rum in the back for him. (He confirmed that they do!) Here are 50 Questions You Can Ask Disney Characters.
TIP #3: Don’t Miss These Must-Do Attractions (Plus My Secret Tips and Tricks!)
Doing Disneyland Paris alone allows you to do all your favourite things. So, of course, your list of must-dos will be individual to you. But here are the best in my opinion.
⭐ Best Attractions for Solo Travellers at Disneyland Paris
- Meet a character. I mentioned this earlier in park planning, but meeting characters is essential for me. Every trip I try to meet a different one, and some of my favourites have been Rapunzel, Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, and Alice & Mad Hatter. Check out 10 Places to Find Disneyland Paris Characters
- Big Thunder Mountain. I never go home before I’ve done BTM at least once! It’s a different experience in the daytime and at night, so I recommend you do both.
- Le Pays des Contes de Fees (Storybook Boats). They always let me have a row in the boat to myself, and I find it the most relaxing little ride in a very scenic part of the park.
- Phantom Manor. You will get a ‘doom buggy’ all to yourself so this ride is particularly enjoyable on a solo trip (if you don’t mind ghosts and ghoulies).
- Peter Pan’s Flight. Another Disney attraction that’s great if you’re solo, you will get your own ‘flying’ ship.
- Alice’s Curious Labyrinth and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups. Being a huge Alice fan, I thoroughly enjoy wandering the curious maze and then spinning in my private tea cup. Wonderland ice cream at March Hare Refreshments is another must-do!
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast. This is great fun even when you’re solo. Try to beat your own highest score if you do it each trip. You’ll be seated in your own spaceship.
- Les Voyage de Pinocchio and/or Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White). I always ride one if not both of these nostalgic dark rides. Pinocchio has the slight edge as it’s been more recently refurbished, but they are both so lovely and capture Disney fairytales at their best.
🎢 8 Attractions That Offer a Single Rider Queue
One of the BEST perks about being alone at Disneyland Paris is skipping the queue – for free!
On several attractions, you can use the single-rider queue which saves you a lot of time. You’ll be sat next to another party (but you would have done that in the standard queue anyway).
Here are the attractions with single rider:
- Crush’s Coaster
- Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop
- RC Racer
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
- Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
- Avengers Flight Force
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
💡 3 Hacks for Long Lines at Disneyland Paris Solo
What about standing in queues alone when there’s no single rider option? Here are three ways to avoid being bored.
- Buy Premiere Access for those rides beyond your waiting threshold. These are usually Crush’s Coaster, Big Thunder Mountain, Web Slingers, and HyperSpace Mountain. (I wouldn’t bother with buying it for Peter Pan unless you’re a fan as it’s a very short experience.)
- Make friends in the line. If you happen to be in a queue with some friendly people you could always chat to make the time go faster. I’ve met people from all over the world and traded invaluable Disney tips with them. It’s not always possible because of a language barrier, but it never hurts to try.
- Bring an activity with you. There are no rules at Disney! Bring your Kindle or tablet with a great book to read (don’t forget a spare power bank like this) or load up some gaming apps on your phone or a digital puzzle on your iPad. You could even spend the time organising photos into albums (my favourite activity!) or emailing your friends and family.
TIP #4: Make Safety Your Priority When You’re Solo
It’s awful to think of someone doing something very un-magical at Disney. But we’d be foolish not to look out for pickpockets.
✏️ PRO TIP Two areas where solo travellers are most vulnerable are watching the fireworks and boarding the shuttle buses at night. Both times it’s hard not to be distracted in these dark crowded places. So be extra vigilant.
5 Ways to Make Sure Your Valuables Are Kept Safe
- Keep everything you don’t need on your person in the hotel safe. ID, emergency credit cards and extra cash are better off locked away.
- Get a lock for your luggage. Unfortunately, there are reports of belongings being stolen – even from expensive Disney hotels! Keep your larger valuables like expensive purses, Loungefly backpacks, Minnie Ears and souvenirs locked in a suitcase.
- I highly recommend getting a Rope for Your Phone. This has been the BEST thing I have bought for my Disney trips. Wearing your phone makes it a difficult target for thieves and is invaluable in situations where your attention is split.
- Use the inner zipped pockets of your bag or backpack for money and credit cards. Or consider a Neck Wallet or Money Belt.
- You could also try a small padlock for your backpack if it can be locked. Or even a safety pin. Anything to make it harder for an unscrupulous person to put their hand in your bag in dark, crowded places.
Protect Your Passport When You Are Going to Disneyland Paris Alone
Most people don’t realise that French law requires international visitors to carry a passport, even in the Disney parks. And, while most thieves are not interested in stealing your passport, it still makes sense for solo travellers to keep it stored safely away.
An important safety tip for passports is to leave a photocopy in your suitcase. It will be much easier to replace a passport if you can provide a copy.
Hotel and Travel Safety for Solo Travellers
General safety rules apply at Disney the same as they do for all hotels when you’re travelling by yourself.
5 dos and dont’s
- DON’T tell strangers where you are staying. Similarly, don’t announce it on social media.
- DO always be aware of your surroundings. Tuck your phone out of sight, perhaps under your jacket if it’s on a rope. DON’T leave your in the front pocket of a backpack or even in your clothing pockets.
- DON’T forget to listen to your instincts. For example, If you’re taking a taxi, be sure it’s a registered one. If you have any inkling it’s unsafe, don’t get in that car.
- DO make sure to book a reputable hotel. Read reviews that mention solo travellers.
- DO use Google Maps ahead of time to work out the route to your accommodation. Download your map so you can view it offline.
💖🏨 My Favourite Hotels When I’m Travelling to Disneyland Paris Alone
If you’re looking for hotel recommendations, these are the ones I use regularly that feel the safest.
- Any of the Disney hotels, even Hotel Cheyenne and Hotel Santa Fe. You can safely walk from the parks to these hotels along well-lit pathways and even at night there are usually lots of other people doing the same thing
- Hotel BnB, The Grand Magic and Explorers Hotel. You can take the hotel shuttle, but be aware of pickpockets
- Residhome Val d’Europe (➡️ Check out my review) and both Ibis hotels at Val d’Europe. Take the RER A train 1 stop and these 3 hotels are a minute’s walk from the station in a well-lit area.
TIP #5: Embrace the Adventure (And Know What to Do if Anything Goes Wrong)
A final tip to make the most of your adventures is to try and let go of your self-consciousness and preconceptions. What does your inner child truly desire? Walt Disney created a place where we can ALL believe in the magic!
Also, remember that things sometimes go wrong, and expectations don’t always match with experience. So when that happens, take a break, breathe deep and remember: Your adventure is not an adventure if nothing exciting happens! Travelling solo is also about building your resilience. Everything is figure-out-able. You can do this.
Follow my solo traveller tips for Disneyland Paris attractions, characters, dining and keeping safe – and make memories you can hold on to for a lifetime.
What Do You Think..?
Are you excited about your Disneyland Paris solo trip? Is there anything I didn’t cover? Leave me a comment below👇.
➡️ READ NEXT If you liked this Guide to Disneyland Paris Solo, you should check these out:
💛 Themed rooms and a view of the parade – here’s how to get the best table at Walt’s Disneyland Paris Restaurant (highly recommended for solo travellers)
🧡 Have you done everything you need to do before going to Disneyland Paris? Here’s a Complete Checklist so you don’t forget anything.
❤️ Weather can be tricky in Paris. Here are the clothes I Pack for My Solo Disney Trip.
