things to do at disneyland paris

You see it on all the adverts: Disneyland Paris is the dream family holiday, where mums and dads can bask in the glow of their precious offspring while little kiddies and older siblings are enjoying themselves in perfect harmony.

Sounds great, but it doesn’t always work out like that!

While teething babies and toddler tantrums are just an accepted part of parenting life, it can be trickier to know what to do when it comes to the terrible teens. They’re not quite old enough to be left at home yet, so you drag them along on the family hols to Disneyland Paris and think, surely, you can’t go wrong. It’s the happiest place on earth, right?!

Many teenagers and adults love Disneyland Paris, but there are many elements that are, obviously, aimed at little’uns. Your teenager is probably more interested in their phone screen than anything else and would rather be watching YouTube than posing with Mickey Mouse and sailing through It’s A Small World.

But there are plenty of ways to keep teenagers entertained at Disneyland Paris without making them suffer through things that they’re simply “too old for” these days. Check out some of my top tips!

1. Bigger rides = bigger thrills

So, they might dig their heels in and refuse to be seen on the Mad Hatter’s Teacups, but I’m pretty sure most teenagers can be tempted into cracking a smile on some of the bigger attractions in the park.

Let them prove just how big and brave they are by daring them to ride The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain, RC Racer and Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain while the “wimps” wait on the sidelines.

2. It’s a family show

The shows put on by Disneyland Paris are, of course, suitable for children. However, just because younger audiences can enjoy them doesn’t mean they isolate the older generations.

We’ve seen some incredible shows at Disneyland Paris that, while family-friendly, aren’t at all childish. The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands during the Lion King & Jungle Festival earlier this year was simply spectacular and performed in very cool, sophisticated way that wasn’t cheesy or hammed up for the kids. The Jungle Book Jive was a highlight of this season, too. We’ve also seen seriously awesome Star Wars projections during Season of the Force, jaw-dropping stunt shows like Moteurs… Action! and, of course, the nighttime fireworks.

3. In a galaxy far, far away…

Alright, so we’re still waiting on Galaxy’s Edge here at Disneyland Paris (and probably will be for quite some time…) but there are some decent themes in the park that will appeal to teenagers, probably even more than they would other generations.

We’ve had Season of the Force (Star Wars, obviously) and Marvel Season of Super Heroes, which I would’ve loved as a teenager. These seasons celebrate characters and films that small children might not have even seen before, so it’s definitely something aimed at older audiences. You’ve also got rides like Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours The Adventures Continue, plus a whole new Marvel land with superhero attractions coming soon, to go along with these more adolescent themes.

*The Incredible Hulk statue from Marvel Season of Super Heroes*

4. Shop ’til you drop

There are loads, and loads, and loads, and LOADS of shops at Disneyland Paris – and they aren’t just full of stuffed Goofy toys and Elsa and Anna dressing up costumes!

You can find plenty of grown-up clothing that looks really cool, and some gorgeous women’s clothes too that would suit teenagers down to the ground. Not only clothes, but you can also pick up some great fun snacks, accessories like bags, wallets and jewellery and homeware like mugs and bedroom decorations – definitely not for kids!

If you enjoyed this post, check out the following:

VIDEO: My Top 10 Rides at Disneyland Paris

How to Enjoy Disneyland Paris If You Aren’t Really That Into Disney

So, you don’t like Disney, huh?

Well, that’s okay. There’s no judgement here. Even though we love Disney here at ThisGirlEats (obviously!), we also know that it’s not necessarily your cup of tea and not everyone gets that magical Disney feeling.

If you aren’t really a Disney fan and yet somehow find yourself being roped into a trip to Disneyland Paris – perhaps it’s a special holiday for the kids or a loved one is begging you to go – it doesn’t have to be a total wipe-out for you.

You don’t have stand next to characters posing with a cheesy grin or wear Mickey Mouse ears around the park all day if you don’t want to. There are plenty of other ways to enjoy Disneyland Paris without feeling like you’re trapped inside the Disney bubble!

Rides and attractions

If you strip away all the characters and movie references, at heart Disneyland Paris is just like any other theme park when it comes to rides and attractions. If you’re usually a bit of a thrill-seeker then the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith are really fun, exhilarating rides involving big drops and inversions.

If you aren’t quite ready for white-knuckle rides, there are plenty of other great attractions in the parks. Many of these are Disney themed, like Peter Pan’s Flight or Ratatouille: The Adventure, but Big Thunder Mountain and Crush’s Coaster are awesome mid-level coasters that don’t rely too much on those Disney references. I’d also recommend Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Orbitron and Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop as fun, tamer rides that aren’t too cutesy, if that’s not really your thing.

*Toy Story Playland at Disneyland Paris featuring the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop ride*

You can also find some walkthrough attractions like Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, La Cabane des Robinson (Swiss Family Treehouse) and Les Mysteres du Nautilis (Captain Nemo’s Nautilis) that are interesting, entertaining and can be enjoyed for what they are, with or without the Disney themes.

Check out our ‘Top 10 Rides at Disneyland Paris’ video!

Park themes

Maybe you think that you won’t enjoy Disneyland Paris because of the theming. It’s true that most of the parks are, obviously, full of references to Disney movies and most visitors really love that – but not everyone. However, when you get to the park you might find that some of the theming throughout Disneyland Paris is actually really cool.

So, you don’t love the classics like Beauty and the Beast or even more modern favourites like Frozen – that’s fine! But maybe you’re a fan of Star Wars, Marvel movies, the Indiana Jones franchise, old TV shows (love you Twilight Zone!), western movies or Hollywood blockbusters – the themes here go WAY beyond Disney!

And if you’ve got a keen eye you’re sure to appreciate the amount of detail that goes into every inch of the parks, from the traditional American stylings of Main Street to the pirate caves mapped out through Adventureland and the incredible nighttime show projected onto the castle. You might not be into Disney yourself, but it’s hard not to be impressed by the world they’ve created inside those gates.

*Incredible Hulk statue during Marvel Summer of Super Heroes season at the Walt Disney Studios Park*

Shopping

If you don’t fancy the rides and aren’t really all that excited by the decor, then retail therapy is absolutely an option at Disneyland Paris.

Of course the shops in the park sell an awful lot of Disney merchandise (and Star Wars and Marvel too!) but you’ll also find some unique shopping experiences throughout the park that could interest you. You can purchase jewellery, crystal and glass ornaments, sweets, kitchenware and even Christmas decorations – yep, that’s open all year round!

*Shopping options in the World of Disney shop in Disney Village*

If these stores still have too much Disney going on for you, venture out into Disney Village where you’ll find a Lego Store, an art gallery and even some of the restaurants – Rainforest Cafe and Planet Hollywood – have their own merchandise shops too.

Don’t forget that you’re in Paris (well, just outside, but you know what I mean) so much of the merchandise will be souvenirs of the city, not just Disneyland.

Shows and events

Alright, so the parade and the nighttime shows are awesome and definitely worth watching, but they are pretty Disney heavy so might not appeal to you. But that’s okay, because Disneyland Paris puts on plenty of other events in the year for everyone to enjoy.

We’ve had Season of the Force which saw an incredible Star Wars projection show, Jedi training classes and stormtroopers patrol the parks, and this year’s Marvel Season of Super Heroes put on multiple indoor and outdoor stunt shows every day. Also coming up this summer is the Lion King & Jungle Festival, which promises a musical show inspired by Broadway and outdoor African drumming sessions.

Don’t forget the holidays! Disneyland Paris really goes to town for Christmas and Halloween, so if these are your favourite times of the year then you won’t be disappointed with how the parks pull them off.

*Meeting Santa Jack Skellington during the Christmas season*

If you’re not visiting during any special “season”, Walt Disney Studios Park also hosts the Moteurs … Action! Stunt Show Spectacular each day, which is a great stunt show incorporating various vehicles and a few death-defying moments which would wow just about anyone!

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How to Keep Teenagers Happy at Disneyland Paris | #ThisGirlEats