Everything you Need to Know About Driving to Disneyland Paris

There are 3 different ways you can travel to Disneyland Paris - fly, on the Eurostar, or by car. We have now travelled by Eurostar and driven, and both Jack and I agree that driving was the better and easier option! Of course driving in France can seem a little daunting and scary at first, but honestly it's nothing to worry about as long as you do a little bit of research first.

The Benefits of Driving to Disneyland Paris

Of course the first positive of driving to DLP, is that it is a lot cheaper! The Eurostar can be incredibly expensive, whereas you can get Eurotunnel or ferry crossings from as little as £66 each way. Parking is free is you're staying in a Disney hotel for the duration of your stay too.

Taking your own car means you also have no restrictions when it comes to packing, and shopping while you're at Disney! We filled up our car with a huge suitcase, a buggy, plenty of food and lots of entertainment for the children (and still had lots of room for the souvenirs and giant Mickey balloons we bought on the way home).

Self driving means you are also on your own schedule. The drive from Calais to DLP takes roughly 3 hours, but you don't need to worry about rushing or it taking longer. The route has plenty of rest stops (a mixture of both service stations and picnic areas), so you can stop whenever anyone needs the loo or you want to stretch your legs. If you pick the latest tunnel / ferry crossing back you can also make the most out of your time in the parks too, as Eurostars tend to leave a lot earlier!

What you Need to Take (in the Car)

The laws in France are slightly different to that of the UK, so make sure you have everything you need before setting off. There are certain items you legally need to carry, which are:

Your driving licence
Your passport
Your V5C certificate
Your insurance documents
Green Card (Brexit dependent)
GB sticker / GB numberplate

Plus a recovery kit* that includes:

A warning triangle
Reflective safety jackets (for each passenger)
Breathalyser
Headlight beam deflectors
Spare bulbs

Important Information to Know

The route between Calais and DLP is incredibly easy to follow. You take the motorway most of the way, until you reach huge signposts that tell you Disneyland Paris is near! You'll join a toll road quite early on along the route where you take a ticket. Just keep on the road and you'll reach the end where you use the ticket to pay for the toll - this costs €22.50 (each way) which you pay with card or cash - the machines do give change if you choose to use cash.

Remember that your speed is measured in km/h not miles in France, and keep an eye on the speed limits, as they are very strict about speeding. Speed limits also vary depending on the weather conditions too:

• Motorways - 130 km/h in normal conditions, 110 km/h in rain, 50 km/h when visibility is under 50 metres.
• Dual carriageways or inner city motorways - 110 km/h in normal conditions, 100 km/h in rain, 50 km/h when visibility is under 50 metres.
• Other roads - 90 km/h in normal conditions, 80 km/h in rain, 50 km/h when visibility is under 50 metres.
• Urban/built-up areas - 50 km/h in all conditions.

Another couple of important rules to remember are that if you are the driver, you cannot use headphones or headsets at all while driving. You must also switch off are speed camera alerts if you're using a sat nav, as these are not allowed in France.

It does seem daunting at first, but hopefully this post will have helped settle some of your worries. Feel free to ask any questions if there's something I've not included though, I would be happy to help!

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