Payment Methods

How to pay for all those little pieces of magic...

It's an unfortunate side-effect of enjoying Disneyland Paris that all too soon you'll probably find yourself picking up a souvenir or two. Or three. And then treating yourself to that special table service meal.

Euros are the only currency accepted for payment at Disneyland Paris but as to how you hand them over, you've got a few choices. For small purchases and snacks from kiosks, Euro coins and notes may be the best way to go. For that expensive souvenir you just had to have, however, you might want to fall back on a credit or debit card. Alternatively, if you'd rather put off the bill for everything until you leave, the Disney Hotel Easy Pass is a free and simple way to easily combine your Disney purchases.

Euro coins and notes

Euros have been the standard French currency since 2002, making Disneyland Paris the only Disney resort to have been through a national currency switchover.

  • Banknotes come in seven denominations — €5, €10, €20, €50 €100, €200 and €500
  • Coins come in eight denominations — 1c, 2c, 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, €1 and €2

Disney cashiers usually won't mind if you use a large value banknote for a smaller transaction, but it is always greatly appreciated by Cast Members when you can hand over the extra change to make up the amount. For example, handing over a €20 banknote and 20 cents in coins to pay for a €10.20 purchase.

You can withdraw more money whilst you're at the resort using Cash Dispensers (ATMs).

Credit and Debit cards

The easiest way to pay these days is probably to use your credit or debit card.

The following cards are accepted across the resort:

  • Visa
  • MasterCard
  • Maestro (Switch)
  • American Express
  • Carte Bleu
  • EuroCard

As is standard in France, you'll need your Chip and Pin number to complete the transaction (if applicable to your card).

Remember, though — if you're using a foreign (ie. non-French) credit or debit card, your bank may well charge you a fee for every transaction, which can really add up. Consider using the Disney Hotel Easy Pass or withdrawing cash less frequently to pay for purchases instead.

Before you go, check the foreign purchase fees on your cards — some from the same bank can impose hefty fees, while others are fee-free.

Disney Hotel Easy Pass

If you're staying at a Disney Hotel, Disneyland Paris has a great way to pay for any shopping or dining at Disney locations across the whole resort — simply charge them to your room bill.

Upon check-in, you're given a Disney Hotel Easy Pass card, which also functions as a quick charge card for almost every location throughout the parks and beyond. Every time you make a purchase, hand over the card and the amount is added to your hotel bill. You then simply pay off the whole amount in one go before you leave, meaning that (especially if you're using a foreign bank card) you might also probably pay less in card fees.

To set this up, simply ask when you check-in, and you'll be required to fill in the relevant information on your hotel registration form.

Pre-Paid Travel Money Cards

Many banks and financial providers now offer convenient Travel Money Cards, allowing you to pre-load a fixed amount of money to spend abroad. The exchange rate is usually fixed when you buy the currency, so this is a good way to avoid fluctuations or poor exchange rates.

This is a much safer way to carry travel money than cash, but there will likely be some kind of small fee or condition appended.

These cards are usually linked to a card provider such as MasterCard or Visa and are accepted across Disneyland Paris just like a normal credit card.

Note that some businesses may not accept these cards, notably car hire firms and some petrol stations and road toll booths.

Travellers' Cheques

Travellers' cheques are definitely becoming less widely used, but could be an option for some travellers for their security and piece of mind, allowing you to carry less cash around with you. Make sure you make a note of each cheques' reference number in a separate place to the cheques themselves.

You can also visit the Currency Exchange desks to cash in your cheques as and when required, but note that the exchange rate is unlikely to be particularly preferable. You're usually better off exchanging your money into Euros (either to banknotes or a pre-paid card) before you leave your home country, especially when travelling from the UK.