With reports of unrest in Paris causing disruption across parts of the French capital, some holidaymakers may be wondering whether it is still safe to visit Disneyland Paris.
Well, we’re currently at Disneyland Paris, and our experience here has been very different from the situation reported in the city centre.
Everything has been fine during our visit, and we’ve not experienced any problems at the Disney resort.
However, we have had to make a disappointing change to our own holiday plans after deciding to cancel a long-awaited day trip into city centre Paris.
So, what is happening, is Disneyland Paris affected, and what should UK families know if they are planning a trip?
Our experience at Disneyland Paris during the Paris riots
We’re currently staying near Disneyland Paris, and so far, everything has been fine.
The reports coming out of central Paris have understandably raised questions for visitors who are due to travel to the resort, particularly families who may be worried about whether their holiday could be affected.
But based on our own experience, we’ve not had any problems at Disneyland Paris during our visit.
The parks have been operating as normal, with opening hours unchanged and we’ve felt completely safe and secure.
However, if you’re travelling to the area you should continue to check official updates before your trip.
We cancelled our planned day trip to Paris
Although our Disney holiday has been going well, we had planned something rather different for today.
We’d been looking forward to a day trip to Paris for months. We’d booked tickets for the Louvre and planned to finish the day with a meal at a brasserie overlooking the Eiffel Tower, giving us the chance to see the famous landmark illuminated after dark.
Unfortunately, the Louvre announced it would be exceptionally closed on Saturday 24 October, with the museum confirming that tickets booked for the day would be automatically refunded.
With reports of demonstrations, restrictions and potential disruption to transport in the city, we also had to consider whether travelling into central Paris was worth the risk of getting caught up in further disruption.
We’d looked carefully at Metro routes in and out of the city, to ensure we weren’t changing trains in or around the curfew area.
However, in the end, we decided not to go.
It was frustrating to lose a day we’d planned for so long, particularly when we had made reservations and arranged everything in advance. However, we felt it was better to change our plans than risk a difficult journey into the city when the situation was uncertain – particularly as we were travelling with our young family.
For anyone who has booked a similar excursion from Disneyland Paris, it’s worth checking directly with attractions and restaurants before travelling, as opening arrangements can change at short notice.
Cancelling our dining reservation was thankfully very straightforward and we will return to Paris in the future once things have stabilised.
Is Disneyland Paris affected by the unrest?
Disneyland Paris is located in Marne-la-Vallée, east of the French capital, rather than in central Paris.
That distinction matters when considering reports of demonstrations, road closures and transport restrictions in the city.
During our visit, we have found things at Disneyland Paris to be completely business as usual, and we have not experienced the disruption that led us to cancel our own day trip.
However, this does not mean that every journey between Paris and the resort will be unaffected. Visitors travelling through the capital, using particular Metro stations or planning excursions into central Paris may face different circumstances from those spending their time at the Disney parks.
If you’re travelling to the parks via Eurostar, getting across the city by public transport could be affected by temporary security restrictions.
During the recent unrest, for example, Châtelet–Les Halles and other central stations were closed in the evenings as a security precaution.
You can check live travel information for Metros and RER trains here.
What should Disneyland Paris visitors do?
If you’re travelling to Disneyland Paris in the coming days, there are a few practical steps worth taking:
Check official travel advice. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises travellers to remain aware of their surroundings, avoid areas with large crowds or a significant police presence, and follow instructions from local authorities.
Check transport before leaving. If you are travelling between central Paris and Disneyland Paris, check live information from the relevant transport operators before setting off. Demonstrations and temporary restrictions can affect particular stations, routes and connections.
Check attractions directly. If you’ve booked the Louvre (as we did), another museum or a different Paris attraction, check its official website for the latest opening information. Do the same for any restaurants or other timed bookings.
Allow extra time. If you do need to travel through affected areas, allow additional time and be prepared to change your route if necessary.
Keep an eye on updates. Follow official Disneyland Paris communications, local authorities and the latest UK government travel advice rather than relying solely on social media reports.
You can find the latest guidance here:
- UK Foreign Office France travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france
- Official Paris visitor information: https://parisjetaime.com/eng/
- Louvre opening information: https://www.louvre.fr/en
- Eurostar travel updates: https://www.eurostar.com/us-en/travel-info/travel-updates
Should you cancel your Disneyland Paris holiday?
Based on our experiences, the Disney parks are operating as normal and everything feels safe, relaxed and as magical as ever – meaning there’s no reason to cancel your trip.
Our own experience has been fine at Disney, even though we decided to abandon our plans for the French capital.
However, your route, travel dates and plans outside the resort may all make a difference, and the situation can change – so if you’re due to travel soon, check the latest official advice and your transport arrangements.
If you’re already at Disneyland Paris, as we are, keep checking for updates about any trips to or through the French capital and make decisions based on the information available at the time.
Our overall view
We’d been looking forward to seeing the Louvre and enjoying dinner with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and cancelling those plans left us pretty disappointed.
For now, though, our experience at Disneyland Paris has been magical, with the only disruption caused by the occasional rain shower, and we’re continuing to enjoy our time here.
We’ll keep an eye on developments and update this article if anything changes during our stay.
If you are visiting Disneyland Paris soon, keep checking the latest travel advice and transport updates before travelling, particularly if you are planning to visit Paris as part of your holiday.
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