Disneyland Paris… the dream vacation for Disney lovers big and small! As a lifelong Disney fan, taking my little ones to the Motherland was a dream come true. And guess what? I even managed to convert my husband—who (brace yourself) doesn’t like theme parks or Disney films. Yep, miracles do happen!

But let’s be honest… a Disney trip can cost a small fortune. So, how much are we talking?

Well, it depends on how long you go for, but even a mini-break (a couple of nights) will set you back a few hundred pounds at the very least. But don’t panic! I’m here to tell you that you do not need to re-mortgage your house to experience the magic. ✨ Here are my tips on saving money while still having the most magical time at Disneyland Paris!

✈️ Getting There

If you’re flying, aim for Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport—not Paris-Beauvais. Paris-Beauvais sounds like it should be in Paris, but it’s actually 1.5 hours away, and no one wants to start their holiday with a long trek!

Cheap flights to CDG are easy to find if you check Skyscanner regularly. Being northerners, we fly from either Leeds or Manchester (Manchester usually being the cheaper option). If you’re willing to trek down to London, flights can be even cheaper (we personally cannot be bothered with that extra faff, though!).

Flying with little ones? Most airlines allow you to check in a pram, travel cot, or car seat for free. I highly recommend taking your own pram—it saves on rental costs in the park and doubles as a handy luggage carrier when your stubborn toddler inevitably decides they don’t want to be in the pram. 🙃

For short trips, you can also save on baggage fees by squeezing everything into hand luggage—and yes, I shamelessly stuff my kids’ free cabin bags with as much as humanly possible. Packing efficiently is a skill I’ve mastered over the years (after making the rookie mistake of taking everything but the kitchen sink on our first trip). I’ll write separate blog posts on flying with kids and also packing for going away with kids… watch this space!

Now, what about driving? 🚗 We’ve looked into it, but by the time you add up ferry costs, fuel, and travel time, flying almost always works out cheaper (and soooo much quicker—it’s only a one-hour flight from Manchester to Paris!).

🎟 Booking Park Tickets

Okay, this is where things start getting pricey. While you can find return flights for under £100 (sometimes even £40!), park tickets are usually pretty non-negotiable—and they aren’t cheap.

You can sometimes find small discounts on sites like attractiontickets.com, but don’t expect huge savings. The best way to get the most bang for your buck is to go for multiple days—the more days you buy, the cheaper the daily rate. And if a sceptical partner needs convincing, remind them that a Disneyland Paris ticket is often the same price or even cheaper per day than many UK theme parks… and trust me, it is far superior!

💡 IMPORTANT: Do not wait around hoping for last-minute deals on park tickets! As soon as you’ve booked your flights, lock in your tickets. There are only limited tickets available for each day, you don’t want to end up with flights booked but no way to actually go to Disneyland (ahem, looking at you, Mum… 🙃).

🏨 Where to Stay

This is where you can save BIG. I have no doubt staying in a Disney hotel is dreamy, but dreamy the price is not! Instead, we stay in Bussy-Saint-Georges—a lovely, quiet area that’s just 7 minutes away from Disneyland by metro. Other budget-friendly options nearby include Torcy and Chessy.

💰 Let’s talk numbers:

For a family of four, staying 3 nights in August:

Airbnb in Bussy-Saint-Georges: £300 + £600 park tickets (2-day, 2-park tickets for 2 adults + 2 kids)
Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe ("budget" option!): £1,600 (hotel + park tickets)
Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel: £2,400 (hotel + park tickets)
Disneyland Hotel: £3,700 (hotel + park tickets)

Even though the Disney hotels include 4-day park tickets, if you’re traveling on Day 1 and returning on Day 4, you might not actually get much use out of them!

The Airbnbs tend to be quite basic, so if you need your luxuries then they probably aren’t for you. Personally, I don’t mind given we never spend much time in them- we spend as much time as possible in those parks! I check the reviews and as long as they are clean and the hosts are easy to get hold of, I’m sold!

Even better if you go with a group of you and split the cost of a large apartment. We went with my parents in October and stayed in this Airbnb ( it was great!) :
https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/730128460806235228?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=27b53a20-5f03-4b58-abb1-39fa1aa652a2

🚇 Getting Around

With it being so easy to get into Paris- it would be rude not to!

Public transport is cheap and easy! Metro tickets from Bussy-Saint-Georges are around €2.50 to Disneyland and €5 into central Paris.

Getting from CDG Airport to Bussy-Saint-Georges

The train station at CDG is a maze (seriously, prepare yourself). If you’re not confident in French, queue up at the ticket desk to avoid getting the wrong ticket!

🛤 Transport options:
✔️ TGV train: Fastest! (€30, 20 min)
✔️ RER A train via Chatelet Les Halles: Cheapest (€10, 1 hr 20 min)
✔️ Bus: (€30, 30 min; cheaper options take forever)
✔️ Private transfers: (€120–€200)

If you can, I’d splurge on the TGV—it’s quick and stress-free! It’s direct from the airport to Disney, then 7 mins metro from Disney to Bussy-Saint-Georges.

🍔 Food & Drink

💡 Good news: Not many people realise this, but you can bring your own food and drinks into the parks!

Pack a refillable water bottle—there are free fountains throughout Disneyland. And for food? There are several supermarkets in Bussy-Saint-Georges so it’s easy to prepare yourself a packed lunch. If you can’t be bothered, head to the Pâtisserie Maison Marteau (next to Bussy-Saint-Georges station) for delicious sandwiches, baguettes, pizza and cakes. Their pain au chocolat is déliceux.👌It was our go-to each morning!

🎁 Disney Merch (without the Disney prices)

Disney merch in the parks is expensive. You can get adorable Disney outfits from:
✨ Next, Zara, Gap, Matalan, George, H&M
✨ Vinted! (Second-hand = cheaper + more sustainable)

Also, Mickey ears and bubble wands (the kids LOVE them) are much cheaper online! The ones in the park are around £35—save your money and grab one online before you go.

💰 What Is Worth the Splurge?

🎟 TGV train from the airport—worth every penny for speed and ease.
🍽 Plaza Gardens restaurant (Disneyland Park)—€45 for adults, €25 for kids, but it’s all-you-can-eat with steak, seafood, salads, pastas, and desserts (and it’s actually good quality!). We really enjoyed it. If you are wanting to treat yourself to a meal in the parks, I’d recommend this place!

🎉 Ready to Go?

If you’ve been dreaming of a Disneyland Paris trip but have been hesitant given the large price tag, I hope you have found this post useful. Take this as your sign to get it booked! You really can do it on a budget without missing out on the magic.

See you on Main Street USA, Mickey ears and all! 🐭✨

Love, Katie x

How to do Disneyland Paris on a budget ✨