Whilst the majority of visitors to DLP are French, Disneyland Paris tourism statistics from 2016 state that 17% were from the U.K., larger than any other country. People from other European countries may have more experience – for a start, they all drive on the right in mainland Europe – but here are the three different ways you can get to Paris from the U.K. In this article, we will look at driving.
The main advantages of driving are that you have your car to come and go if there are other places you intend to go on your trip, and that you can bring as much stuff as you like. If you have small children, bringing the piles of bulky stuff they need may be easier than public transport. You may also feel more relaxed. However, you are not free from having to use other forms of transport – to get to Calais, you will need to either take the ferry from Dover or the Eurostar from London St Pancras, which terminates at Coquelles, near Calais. Prices for both can vary considerably depending on the time of year, day of the week, and time you travel. There are ticket options that allow a period either side of your booking, should you want to change your arrival or departure times.
The good news is that parking is free for all resort guests. If you are not, it is 30 Euros per day. Larger vehicles will be subject to higher charges. You also get free parking if you are a DLP pass holder or if you are staying at a partner hotel if you booked it through Disney. There is plenty of parking (remember the lane number and character on your row so you can find your car!) And then it is a few minutes walk at the most to the security gates. There are moving walkways along here. You can already hear the music and start to feel the magic as you walk from the car park.
A great thing offered by DLP is that for 15 Euros per night (no exclusions), you can leave your camper van there overnight. There are no shower facilities available, though.
Be aware that summer is the most likely time for strike action to occur at Calais, with either or both of these services becoming subject to often substantial delays. This cannot be predicted, unfortunately, but you can keep an eye on the websites and news to see if there are any on your travel days.
There are a number of items you should have in your car that are a legal requirement when driving in France. rac.co.uk has a comprehensive list (other websites are available) and also lots of very useful information, such as the driving laws in France. Some companies have kits you can order that contain all essential items, although you should check the contents to make sure they cover all the bases. You can buy magnetic GB stickers, which you may prefer to having it stuck to your car. Also, some newer vehicles can change their settings, so you do not need to purchase Headlamp Beam Deflectors.
The drive to DLP from Calais is the best part of 200 miles (roughly 320km). It can be quite tiring, especially if you have a long journey in the U.K. to start, and on the way back, you have Disney exhaustion too!