Hello and welcome to our special Early Entry strategy guide for Disneyland Paris, where you’ll stay at a Disneyland Paris Resort and (hopefully) wake up at 6am to enjoy some of the most popular theme park rides in Europe.
As the name suggests, this guide will help you form a strategy for enjoying both Parc Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park for a whole hour before the gates officially open, giving you the chance to experience some of the best rides with minimal wait times.
Before we move on, remember that you can always contact us with any questions about Disneyland Paris, from rides to hotels, park strategies, and more. Contacting us is free, and better yet, booking through us does not cost you a dime extra. You might even save money thanks to special deals available to our travel agents. We also have experts from Europe who are Disneyland Paris aficionados and can give you excellent tips about the parks, including their top favorite rides.
This guide will analyze three different Early Entry Park Strategies:
- Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Parc Disneyland
- Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Walt Disney Studios Park
- Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Disneyland Paris in one Day
But before we get to that, let’s ask some important questions.
What is Early Entry at Disneyland Paris?
Early Entry is an exclusive perk for Disneyland Paris Resort guests (and a few select annual passholders) that allows you to enter Parc Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park one hour before the official opening time. Since both parks usually open at 9:30am, Early Entry gives you access starting at 8:30am, perfect for getting a head start on some of the most popular rides.
Do keep in mind that Disneyland Paris actually calls the Early Entry perk “Extra Magic Time” or “Extra Magic Hours”, but it’s still widely known by guests as Early Entry.
Is Early Entry only available to Disneyland Paris Resort guests?
Yes, Early Entry is a perk available only to guests staying at one of the seven official Disneyland Paris Resorts. It is not offered to Disney Partner Hotel guests.
Is Early Entry always available at Disneyland Paris?
In short… yes. Although the official Disneyland Paris website says “on select days,” Early Entry is essentially available every day at Parc Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios Park. Still, it’s always a good idea to check the official app to confirm or ask the hotel staff.
Are all rides open during Early Entry at Disneyland Paris?
No, not all rides are open during the one hour Early Entry period. In fact, most of the rides are closed during that period, and it can be hard to track which rides are actually open. Most of the time, though, these are the rides open during Early Entry:
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (Parc Disneyland)
- Peter Pan's Flight (Parc Disneyland)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Parc Disneyland)
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (Parc Disneyland)
- Orbitron (Parc Disneyland)
- Big Thunder Mountain (Parc Disneyland)
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Crush’s Coaster (Walt Disney Studios Park)
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure (Walt Disney Studios Park)
Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Parc Disneyland
One of the best rides usually open during Early Entry at Parc Disneyland is Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, so that’s where we’ll start. Arrive at the park about 15 minutes before Early Entry begins and head straight to Discoveryland.
Let’s check our Early Entry strategy now. Rides highlighted in green are must sees, while you can skip the others based on preferences and time. Our idea here is to ride Big Thunder Mountain (probably the best version of this ride ever) just before Early Entry ends.
We’ll kick things off with…
General Early Entry Ride Strategy at Parc Disneyland
Early Entry
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (48′′; roller coaster; Discoveryland)
- Re-ride Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (Shooting gallery, Discoveryland)
- Big Thunder Mountain (40′′, Roller Coaster; Frontierland)
Normal Opening Time
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril (55′′; Roller coaster; Adventureland)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
- Phantom Manor (Haunted house dark ride; Frontierland)
- The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands (show; Frontierland)
- It’s a Small World (Charming dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Les Voyages de Pinocchio (Pinocchio dark ride, Fantasyland)
- Eat at Agrabah Café if you have a reservation. It is one of the best restaurants at Disneyland Paris. It is a sit-down buffet, perfect if you want to take your time. If you prefer quick service, try Hakuna Matata in Adventureland or Toad Hall in Fantasyland.
- Walk through and explore Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Fantasyland)
- Disney Stars on Parade (parade; Fantasyland; usually at 5:30pm daily)
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (40′′; motion simulator; Discoveryland)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic (3D indoor theater; Discoveryland)
- Autopia (31′′, Car Ride; Discoveryland)
- Disney Tales of Magic (fireworks, Main Street USA)
Early Entry Ride Strategy at Parc Disneyland - Focused on Small Children
Early Entry
- Peter Pan's Flight (Peter Pan dark ride, Fantasyland)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Spinning Ride; Fantasyland)
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (Shooting gallery, Discoveryland)
- Orbitron (Spinning ride, Discoveryland)
Normal Opening Time
- It’s a Small World (Charming dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Alice’s Curious Labyrinth (Explore a labyrinth; Fantasyland)
- Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Casey Jr. – le Petit Train du Cirque (Small train ride; Fantasyland)
- Les Voyages de Pinocchio (Pinocchio dark ride, Fantasyland)
- Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups (Spinning tea cups; Fantasyland)
- Le Carrousel de Lancelot (Carousel; Fantasyland)
- Walk through and explore Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Fantasyland)
- Eat at Agrabah Café if you have a reservation. It is one of the best restaurants at Disneyland Paris. It is a sit-down buffet, perfect if you want to take your time. If you prefer quick service for your children, try Hakuna Matata in Adventureland or Toad Hall in Fantasyland.
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
- Frontierland Playground (Fun playground for younglings; Frontierland)
- The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands (show; Frontierland)
- Phantom Manor (Haunted house dark ride; Frontierland; can be a bit scary for younglings though)
- Disney Stars on Parade (parade; Fantasyland; usually at 5:30pm daily)
- Autopia (31′′, Car Ride; Discoveryland)
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic (3D indoor theater; Discoveryland)
- Disney Tales of Magic (fireworks, Main Street USA)
Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Walt Disney Studios Park
Walt Disney Studios Park is a bit tricky for Early Entry, if I’m being honest. Most of Pixar Land is closed during that time, and Avengers Assemble: Flight Force is often unavailable.
Here is how your Early Entry Park Strategy should look.
General Early Entry Ride Strategy at Walt Disney Studios Park
Early Entry
- Crush’s Coaster (42′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Tower of Terror (40′′; Drop tower; World Premiere Plaza)
- Re-ride Tower of Terror
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure (Shooting gallery; Avengers Campus)
Normal Opening Time
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force (48′′; Roller coaster; Avengers Campus)
- You should now definitely pay attention to shows. Watch either Mickey and the Magician or Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure… or watch both of them. Both are great shows that take place on the World Premiere Plaza.
- RC Racer (48′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Eat at Bistro Chez Rémy in Worlds of Pixar if you have a reservation, or try Stark Factory at Avengers Campus if you want a quick-service option.
- Cars Road Trip (car ride mixed with show; Worlds of Pixar)
- Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Dark Ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin (Spinning ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Frozen: A Musical Invitation (show; World Premiere Plaza)
- Re-Ride your favorite rides and watch the remaining shows.
Early Entry Ride Strategy at Walt Disney Studios Park - Focused on Small Children
Early Entry
- Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Dark Ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Ride Crush’s Coaster if your children are tall enough (42′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure (Walt Disney Studios Park)
Normal Opening Time
- Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop (32′′; small drop tower; Worlds of Pixar)
- Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin (Spinning ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- You should definitely pay attention to shows. Watch Mickey and the Magician,Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure and the Frozen show. All of them are great shows for children that take place on the World Premiere Plaza
- Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (tea cups ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Cars Road Trip (car ride mixed with show; Worlds of Pixar)
- Eat at Bistro Chez Rémy if you have a reservation, or try Stark Factory at Avengers Campus if you want a quick-service option
- Les Tapis Volants - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah (Spinning ride; World Premiere Plaza)
- Re-ride your favorite rides and watch the remaining shows.
Step by Step Early Entry Strategy for Disneyland Paris
If you plan to visit both parks in one day, start with Walt Disney Studios Park. The reason is simple: the daily parade at Parc Disneyland usually takes place around 5:30pm, and arriving early at Walt Disney Studios Park gives you a better chance to catch the first shows of the day, like Together and Mickey and the Magician.
Before heading out, be sure to check the show times in the Disneyland Paris app, as they’re key to planning your strategy.
Early Entry at Disneyland Paris
- Start with Walt Disney Studios Park
- Crush’s Coaster (42′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Tower of Terror (40′′; Drop tower; World Premiere Plaza)
- Re-ride Tower of Terror
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure (Shooting gallery; Avengers Campus)
Normal Opening Times
- Avengers Assemble: Flight Force (48′′; Roller coaster; Avengers Campus)
- Watch the available shows, prioritizing Mickey and the Magician and Together.
- RC Racer (48′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Eat at Bistro Chez Rémy in Worlds of Pixar if you have a reservation, or try Stark Factory at Avengers Campus if you want a quick-service option. You can also choose to eat later on at Parc Disneyland.
- Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Dark Ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin (Spinning ride; Worlds of Pixar)
And then we head to Parc Disneyland. Try to arrive around 1:30-2pm:
- Big Thunder Mountain (40′′, Roller Coaster; Frontierland)
- Eat at Casa de Coco (quick-service Mexican restaurant; Frontierland) or Agrabah Café (buffet).
- The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands (show; Frontierland)
- Phantom Manor (Haunted house dark ride; Frontierland)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril (55′′; Roller coaster; Adventureland)
- Disney Stars on Parade (parade; Fantasyland; usually at 5:30pm daily)
- It’s a Small World (Charming dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Walk through and explore Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Fantasyland)
- Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (48′′; roller coaster; Discoveryland)
- Star Tours: The Adventure Continues (40′′; motion simulator; Discoveryland)
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (Shooting gallery, Discoveryland)
- Disney Tales of Magic (fireworks, Main Street USA)
Early Entry at Disneyland Paris - Focused on Small Children
- Start with Walt Disney Studios Park
- Ratatouille : L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy (Dark Ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Ride Crush’s Coaster if your children are tall enough (42′′; Roller coaster; Worlds of Pixar)
- Spider-Man WEB Adventure (Walt Disney Studios Park)
Normal Opening Times
- Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop (32′′; small drop tower; Worlds of Pixar)
- Slinky Dog Zig Zag Spin (Spinning ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- You should now definitely pay attention to shows. Watch either Mickey and the Magician or Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure… or watch both of them. Both are great shows that take place on the World Premiere Plaza. Another option is Frozen: A Musical Invitation if your children are big fans of the movies.
- Cars Quatre Roues Rallye (tea cups ride; Worlds of Pixar)
- Cars Road Trip (car ride mixed with show; Worlds of Pixar)
- Les Tapis Volants - Flying Carpets Over Agrabah (Spinning ride; World Premiere Plaza)
- Grab a Pizza at Stark Factory. Yummy.
And then we move on to Parc Disneyland. Make sure to arrive around 1:30-2pm:
- Eat at Toad Hall in Fantasyland
- It’s a Small World (Charming dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs dark ride; Fantasyland)
- Casey Jr. – le Petit Train du Cirque (Small train ride; Fantasyland)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Spinning Ride; Fantasyland)
- Les Voyages de Pinocchio (Pinocchio dark ride, Fantasyland)
- Le Carrousel de Lancelot (Carousel; Fantasyland)
- Walk through and explore Sleeping Beauty’s Castle (Fantasyland)
- Disney Stars on Parade (parade; Fantasyland; usually at 5:30pm daily)
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
- The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands (show; Frontierland)
- Phantom Manor (Haunted house dark ride; Frontierland; can be a bit scary for younglings though)
- Autopia (31′′, Car Ride; Discoveryland)
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast (Shooting gallery; Discoveryland)
- Disney Tales of Magic (fireworks, Main Street USA)
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