How to get to Disneyland Paris from the UK: Eurostar, flying and driving compared
Getting to Disneyland® Paris from the UK gives families more choice than it first appears. Eurostar remains a popular way to travel, flights can make excellent sense from regional airports, driving gives you complete flexibility, and coach breaks take care of the journey for you. The best option is the one that fits where you're starting, who you're travelling with and how you want the holiday to run.
Eurostar no longer runs directly from London to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, so travelling by rail now involves a connection at Lille or through Paris. That changes the journey, rather than taking rail off the table. For many families it still means travelling from city centre to resort without airport check-in or needing a car when they arrive.
Which way of getting to Disneyland Paris suits your family?
Families starting in London or the South East may find rail particularly convenient, while a direct flight from a regional airport can make flying the easier start from elsewhere in the UK. Driving gives you control over luggage, timings and stops along the way. Coach breaks work well for families who'd rather board near home and have the longer journey organised for them.
Option | Works particularly well for | Arrival | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
Eurostar via Lille | Families who want to avoid airports and cross Paris as little as possible | Connecting TGV arrives at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy beside the resort | Compare the connections available on your travel date |
Eurostar via Paris | Families who want a wider choice of London to Paris services | RER connection to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy | Allow enough time for the change in central Paris, especially with luggage or a pushchair |
Flying | Families with a convenient regional airport or flight time | Charles de Gaulle or Orly, followed by train, shuttle or private transfer | Compare the flight and onward transfer as one journey |
Driving | Families wanting luggage flexibility, their own car or a longer French holiday | LeShuttle or ferry, then drive from Calais to your accommodation | Allow for the crossing, fuel, tolls and current French driving requirements |
Coach | Families who prefer an organised journey from a regional pick-up point | The transport is arranged as part of the coach itinerary | Journey times vary according to where you join the coach |
Getting to Disneyland Paris by train from the UK
Rail still has plenty going for it, particularly if you'd rather leave the car at home. There are two main routes, one changing at Lille and another travelling through Paris. Changing at Lille keeps you outside central Paris, while the Paris route gives you a wider choice of Eurostar services from London.
The Lille connection is particularly appealing with children and luggage. Eurostar takes you from London St Pancras International to Lille Europe, then a connecting TGV continues to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. Disneyland Paris says the whole rail journey can take around three hours depending on the connection. The best bit comes at the other end: the station is right beside the resort, so there isn't another transfer between you and the Disney Parks.
The Paris route gives you more choice of Eurostar services. Trains arrive at Gare du Nord and one public transport route is the RER B to Châtelet-Les Halles followed by the RER A to Marne-la-Vallée Chessy. Allow around an hour from Gare du Nord for this part of the journey. Châtelet-Les Halles is a large interchange, so giving yourself a comfortable connection makes the journey easier with a pushchair, cases or younger children.
The standard Metro-Train-RER Ticket now covers journeys across Île-de-France outside airport journeys, so the old advice about buying a separate Zone 5 ticket is out of date. Fares and ticket rules can change, so check the current transport information shortly before travelling.
Rail can be useful when you're taking more than cabin luggage too. Eurostar doesn't use an airline-style weight allowance, although you do need to be able to handle your own bags. If you're connecting onto an SNCF train at Lille, check the luggage rules for that service as well. Our Eurostar to Disneyland Paris pages have more detail on routes and booking.
The EU Entry/Exit System is now operating at Schengen borders, so eligible British travellers are registered as part of border control. Children under 12 aren't fingerprinted, but they are still subject to the system. Eurostar gives an advised arrival time for each service, which makes it straightforward to build the border formalities into your travel day.
Flying to Disneyland Paris from the UK
Flying can be an excellent option when a convenient regional airport gives you an easier start than travelling into London. MagicBreaks offers flights from a range of UK airports, with availability varying by date, airline and departure point, so there can be useful options for families well beyond the South East.
Charles de Gaulle has the quickest direct rail connection to the resort. TGV and OUIGO services from the station at Terminal 2 can reach Marne-la-Vallée Chessy in around 9 to 12 minutes on current timetables. Once you've collected your bags and reached the station, it can be a very quick final leg.
You can also take the paid Magical Shuttle, which links Charles de Gaulle and Orly with Disney® Hotels and a number of Disney Area Hotels. MagicBreaks currently advises an approximate journey time of one hour, although exact timings depend on the service and hotel stops. A private transfer is another convenient option if you'd prefer to go directly from arrivals to your accommodation.
Orly can be a good fit when the flight time, fare or regional departure works better for your family. The onward journey is different from Charles de Gaulle, so it helps to compare the flight and transfer together rather than looking at either in isolation. Our flights to Disneyland Paris section has the current airport and transfer options.
Driving to Disneyland Paris
Driving gives you the most freedom over how the journey runs. You choose when to leave, where to stop and how much luggage comes with you. Pushchairs, snacks, spare coats and everything else a family manages to accumulate can stay in the boot rather than being moved between trains or checked onto a flight.
LeShuttle runs between Folkestone and Calais, with the Channel crossing taking around 35 minutes. A ferry gives everyone the chance to get out of the car for a while, with Dover to Calais typically taking around 90 minutes. From Calais, allow roughly three hours to reach the Disneyland Paris area depending on traffic and your accommodation.
Look at the journey as a whole when comparing driving with rail or flying. The Channel crossing, fuel, French motorway tolls and any parking that applies to your accommodation or package all belong in the calculation. For larger families, having one vehicle for everybody and all the luggage can also add a lot of convenience.
Before leaving home, check the latest French road rules and GOV.UK guidance for your vehicle. Requirements can include safety equipment, a UK identifier depending on your number plate, headlight adjustment and low-emission rules if your route enters a restricted area. Checking shortly before departure means you're working from the current rules rather than an old checklist.
Having a car can be useful once you're there as well. Val d'Europe and its shops are easy to reach, and you have more freedom to explore beyond the resort if Disneyland Paris is one part of a longer stay in France.
Going to Disneyland Paris by coach
Coach breaks take much of the organising out of the journey. You don't need to drive, plan a Channel crossing or work out train connections, and regional pick-up points mean many families can begin the trip closer to home.
MagicBreaks offers coach holidays from departure points across England and Wales, with the journey arranged as part of the itinerary. Overall travel time varies depending on where you join, but for families who would rather settle into their seats and let somebody else handle the route, that can be part of the appeal. You can compare the current Disneyland Paris coach holidays and pick-up options separately.
Getting from Paris to Disneyland Paris
Combining Paris and Disneyland Paris in the same trip can work very neatly. The RER A links central Paris with Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, with the train itself taking roughly 35 to 40 minutes from some central stations. From Gare du Nord you'll need a connection onto the RER A, so allow longer.
If you're enjoying Paris first, check the evening timetable when planning your Disney day. Knowing which train you want home means you can enjoy the later part of the day without having to work it out as everyone is leaving the Parks.
Make the most of your arrival day
On a three or four-night break, your arrival time can make a noticeable difference. An earlier service may give you usable time in the Disney Parks on the first day where your package includes admission from that date, while a later departure from home can make the travel day more relaxed. It is worth comparing the timetable as well as the fare.
If your room isn't ready when you arrive, Disney Hotels and many Disney Area Hotels offer luggage facilities, although arrangements vary and there are exceptions. Disney Express luggage service can also be added to eligible stays, letting you leave your bags at Marne-la-Vallée Chessy and head towards the Parks while they are transferred to your hotel.
MagicBreaks offers transport-inclusive packages using Eurostar, flights, ferry, coach and LeShuttle. Comparing the whole break rather than pricing the journey, hotel and tickets separately can make it easier to see which combination works best for your family. You can compare current hotel, ticket and transport options on our Disneyland Paris holidays pages.
Before you choose how to travel
Is there a direct train from London to Disneyland Paris?
Not currently, but getting there by rail is still straightforward. Travel from London St Pancras to Lille and connect to a TGV for Marne-la-Vallée Chessy, or take Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord and continue towards Disneyland Paris from there.
Is Lille or Paris easier with children?
Lille keeps the connection outside central Paris and can be particularly convenient with luggage or a pushchair. Travelling through Paris gives you a wider choice of Eurostar services. Check both for your dates and choose the connection that gives your family the most comfortable journey.
Which Paris airport is easiest for Disneyland Paris?
Charles de Gaulle has the quickest direct rail connection, with some trains reaching Marne-la-Vallée Chessy in around 9 to 12 minutes. Orly can still be the better fit when the flight from your local airport or its timings suit you more, so compare the complete journey.
Do we need a car at Disneyland Paris?
No, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the resort without one. Rail, flights with transfers and coach holidays can all take you there without driving. A car adds flexibility if you're carrying more luggage, staying somewhere where you'll use it regularly, or combining Disneyland Paris with other parts of France.
Written by Emily
Last checked: 7 October 2026