Bonjour!
Welcome to planDisney, Marianne! Thanks for bringing your question over to us today. We are so happy you stopped by! It looks like next summer is going to be an exciting time for you and your family, enjoying a European cruise and then heading over to
Disneyland Paris!
I have been lucky enough to visit all of the Disney Parks around the world, and I love every moment I spend at Disneyland Paris - you are sure to love it too! It feels familiar, yet unique in so many ways. My top picks to experience are:
Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain – this is not what you are used to at Disneyland Resort! It’s a completely unique take on the original, where, after being launched into hyperspace, you’ll enjoy multiple inversions!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – this will be a familiar reminder of the attraction that used to be at Disney California Adventure, but the Paris version has been updated to include a much creepier storyline. And although this is just my opinion, it feels to me to be the most intense version of the ride system found in any Disney Park!
Big Thunder Mountain – another take on the classic attraction, but this time, the ride takes place on an island in the centre of the Rivers of the Far West. You’ll travel through tunnels (at high speed) under the water to reach the island, where you really feel like you’re on an out-of-control runaway mine train! It really is the wildest ride in the wilderness!
I also highly recommend
Crush’s Coaster at Walt Disney Studios Park, my family's favourite, which takes you under the sea with the characters from Finding Nemo. This spinning rollercoaster is much more thrilling than it looks and is unlike anything you’ll find at the US parks!
Now, entertainment is another area where Disneyland Paris truly excels. During your visit, I highly recommend checking out Mickey and the Magician, a Broadway-style show that takes you through many of the great Disney stories, and Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure, another show unique to Disneyland Paris based on favorite Pixar films, featuring brand-new music to help tell the story. Also, make time for
The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands at Frontierland Theatre. This version of the show much more closely resembles the production found on the West End than the versions seen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom or Hong Kong Disneyland - it is my husband's favourite show in any Disney Park!
By the time you visit, it’s very likely Walt Disney Studios Park will have transformed into Disney Adventure World, which will include World of Frozen and a brand-new nighttime spectacular over Adventure Bay. Whilst we don’t yet have all the details, we do know it’s due to open in Spring 2026.
Phew - talking about all of that has
made me want to book my next trip to Disneyland Paris! If you have any further questions as you plan your visit, please
reach out to me. I’d love to help!
See you on Main Street, Paris!
Matt