EXTRA MAGIC TIME AT DISNEYLAND PARIS

FULL GUIDE: HOW TO USE EXTRA MAGIC TIME AT DISNEYLAND PARIS

Disneyland Paris Tips & Guides: Everything you need to know to be PRO

Extra Magic Time Guide at Disneyland Paris

Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Paris: Full Guide, Tips & Strategy

Our Extra Magic Time Disneyland Paris Guide Tracker: We’ve used Extra Magic Time on multiple Disneyland Paris trips in both parks, experiencing EMT as Disney Hotel guests and through our Gold Disneyland Pass. Our recommendations are based on what we’ve actually done during EMT, including attraction strategies, character experiences, park photography and different ways of using the early-access hour.
Page Last updated: 11 August 2026

If you’re heading to Disneyland Paris, Extra Magic Time (EMT) is one of the best perks to make the most of if you have access to it. It gives eligible guests the chance to enter the parks a full 60 minutes before the standard opening time, giving you a valuable head start before the main crowds arrive.

We’ve used Extra Magic Time in both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World across multiple seasons, including Halloween and Christmas. We’ve experienced EMT as Disney Hotel guests and through our Gold Disneyland Pass benefit, so this guide combines the official information with what we’ve actually found works during our visits.

There isn’t one perfect way to use that early hour. Our approach changes depending on the park and what we’re hoping to achieve that day. Sometimes we’ll prioritise popular attractions with traditionally longer queues, while on other mornings we’ll use the quieter park for photos or fit in a Disney Character Meet. The key is deciding what matters most to you before you arrive, then using EMT to get a head start on those priorities.

In this guide, we’ll explain what Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Paris is, who can use it, when it starts and which attractions and experiences are available. We’ll also share our strategies for both parks, including which attractions we prioritise, where we’d head first and how we’d use the early access depending on your plans.

Whether it’s your first visit or you’re returning to Disneyland Paris and want to make better use of those early hours, we’ll show you how we approach EMT and what we’ve learned from using it across our trips.

Extra Magic Time Explained

What Is Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Paris?

Extra Magic Time (EMT) at Disneyland Paris gives Disney hotel guests (and Gold Passholders) access to both Disney Parks 60 minutes (1 hour) before the official opening time, allowing them to enjoy selected attractions, character encounters and quieter areas of the parks before the main crowds arrive.

The early-access period can be particularly valuable because you have the opportunity to get ahead of some of the attractions that can build longer queues once the parks are fully open. In our experience, that’s one of the biggest reasons to make a plan for EMT rather than simply wandering into the park and seeing what happens.

We’ve used Extra Magic Time in both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, and we have different plans depending on which park we are starting in. The trick is knowing which attractions to prioritise and where to head first, which is where the two parks require slightly different strategies (more on that later!)

The Gold Disneyland Pass is currently the only Disneyland Pass tier that includes Extra Magic Time, making it a particularly useful benefit for Passholders who visit regularly.

Who Gets Access to Extra Magic Time?

Disneyland Paris state that Extra Magic Time is available to guests staying at a Disney Hotel, guests staying at Les Villages Nature Paris, and Gold Disneyland Pass Holders will get access to Extra Magic Time. These guests can enter one or both Disney Parks before the official opening time, although the park or parks included, start time and duration can vary by date.

For Disney Hotel guests, Extra Magic Time is part of the benefits included with your stay. Each eligible guest receives a MagicPass, which includes access to Extra Magic Time where applicable.

Annual Passholders

If you’re visiting regularly rather than staying in a Disney Hotel, the Gold Disneyland Pass is currently the only Disneyland Pass level that includes Extra Magic Time. The current Pass benefits show EMT included with Gold, but not Bronze One, Bronze Max or Silver.

What About Other Guests?

Guests visiting with standard day tickets don’t have access to Extra Magic Time. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a great start to your day, but you’ll need to wait until the regular park opening time to enter the parks.

Which Disney Hotels Get Access to Extra Magic Time?

If you’re considering staying at a Disney Hotel partly because of Extra Magic Time, the good news is that the benefit isn’t limited to the more expensive hotels. Guests staying at the Disney Hotels and Les Villages Nature Paris can use Extra Magic Time during their stay.

Extra Magic Time applies throughout your stay, including your arrival and departure days. This is particularly useful if you’re planning to make the most of your first or final morning at Disneyland Paris.

If you’re arriving early, you don’t necessarily have to wait until your room is ready before making use of the parks. You’ll need to follow the current check-in and ticket arrangements for your booking, but it’s worth planning your arrival with EMT in mind rather than assuming your first day starts once you have access to your room.

When Does Extra Magic Time Start?

Extra Magic Time starts one hour before the official opening time of the park and is available every day for eligible guests. The exact start time depends on the park’s scheduled opening time for your visit, so it can vary throughout the year. For example, if a park opens at 9:00am, EMT will usually start at 8:00am. If the park opens at 9:30am, EMT will usually start at 8:30am.

We recommend checking the park opening times for your specific dates before you visit. We publish the official Disneyland Paris opening times a few months in advance, which makes it easier to work out when your Extra Magic Time will begin and plan your morning.

When Should You Arrive for Extra Magic Time?

If your EMT starts at 8:30am, we’d aim to be heading towards the parks around 30 minutes before it begins. This doesn’t mean you’ll be inside the park half an hour early. Instead, it gives you time to get through security and join the correct entrance queue so you’re ready to go when EMT starts.

For an 8:30am EMT start, security will usually open around 8:00am. Guests staying at the Disney Hotels around Lake Disney can sometimes get through a little earlier, around 7:50am, giving you time to walk through Disney Village and reach the park entrances for around 8:00am.

You can arrive earlier if you want to be towards the front of the security queue, but arriving much earlier doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get through security earlier. You’ll generally be waiting until the security gates open before you can continue towards the parks.

Which Entrance Queue Should You Join?

Once you reach the park entrances, you’ll normally see different queues for different types of guests. You may see a queue for Character Breakfast guests, a dedicated queue for Disney Hotel guests with Extra Magic Time access and another for standard park guests.

Make sure you follow the signs and join the EMT queue. It’s an easy detail to overlook when you’re arriving early, particularly if you’re visiting for the first time, but you don’t want to spend your valuable early start standing in the wrong queue.

Our approach is to arrive with enough time to get through security, find the correct EMT entrance and be ready to move as soon as the park opens for early access. That way, when the gates open, you’re thinking about which attraction you’re heading to first rather than still trying to work out where you’re supposed to be.

Which Parks Offer Extra Magic Time?

Extra Magic Time is available in both of the Disneyland Paris parks: Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World. This means eligible guests can choose between the two parks when planning their early start, although what you prioritise during EMT will be quite different depending on which park you visit.

Disneyland Park: the castle park, home to attractions including Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight and many of the classic Disney rides.
Disney Adventure World: home to attractions and experiences including World of Frozen, Crush’s Coaster and Marvel Avengers Campus, including Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure.

In the following sections, we’ll break down what we’d prioritise during Extra Magic Time in each park, including the attractions we’d head for first and when it may make more sense to use the quieter hour for photos or character encounters instead.

Is Extra Magic Time Worth It?

In our experience, absolutely.

Extra Magic Time is one of those Disneyland Paris benefits that can make a noticeable difference to your day, particularly when you have a plan for how you want to use it. We’ve used EMT on every trip, in both parks, and we’ve experienced it both as Disney Hotel guests and through our Gold Disneyland Pass. Over time, we’ve found that the biggest benefit isn’t simply getting more rides done. It’s having more choice over how we start the day.

The full 60 minutes of early access gives you a useful head start before the main crowds arrive. You can use that time to tackle a popular attraction while the wait is still low, get photos around the parks before they’re busy or, depending on what’s available during your visit, meet Disney Characters with shorter queues.

For us, the difference is particularly noticeable when we have a clear priority. In Disneyland Park, we might use EMT to get Peter Pan’s Flight or Dumbo completed early before spending some time around Sleeping Beauty Castle. In Disney Adventure World, we’re more likely to make a decision between Frozen Ever After and Crush’s Coaster and build the rest of our morning around that choice.

We’ve also found that EMT doesn’t have to mean racing from one attraction to another for the entire hour. On some visits, we’ll ride two attractions and meet a character. On our best-ever EMT morning in Disneyland Park, we managed five experiences in the hour, including Big Thunder Mountain, Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Peter Pan’s Flight, Dumbo and a Stitch meet-and-greet. We’ve also had Disney Adventure World mornings where we’ve used the early access to ride Frozen Ever After, meet Anna and Elsa and explore World of Frozen before heading to a 9:45am Princess Breakfast.

That variation is important. You shouldn’t judge a successful EMT morning purely by how many attractions you manage to tick off. Getting one popular ride completed early, meeting a character you’ve really wanted to see or getting those quieter castle photos can all be a great use of the hour.

When Might Extra Magic Time Matter Less?

While we think EMT is a fantastic benefit, it won’t have the same value for every visitor.

You don’t enjoy early mornings. If getting up early is going to make the rest of your day miserable, there’s little point forcing yourself into the parks simply because you have EMT access.
Your must-do attractions aren’t part of EMT. Attraction availability can vary, so check what’s operating during your visit before deciding how important the early hour will be to your plans.
You’re visiting for several days. If you have plenty of time at Disneyland Paris, you may feel less pressure to maximise every available minute. EMT is still useful, but it doesn’t necessarily need to dictate your entire morning.
You aren’t particularly interested in rides. If your priorities are dining, shows, shopping, characters or simply enjoying the atmosphere, you may prefer a slower start rather than treating EMT as a race to the attractions.

We wouldn’t say that Extra Magic Time alone justifies the cost of staying at a Disney Hotel. There are plenty of other factors to consider when comparing the different accommodation options. However, it is certainly one of the benefits we take into account when looking at the overall value of a Disney Hotel stay.

You’re getting more than somewhere to sleep near the parks. You also have the opportunity to start your park day before the main crowds arrive, and we’ve found that can make the morning feel much more relaxed. Instead of spending the first part of the day joining a long queue for a popular attraction, you may already have one of your priorities completed.

The same applies to our Gold Disneyland Pass experience. Having EMT access means we can deliberately plan around that early hour when we visit, rather than simply arriving at the parks whenever we happen to be ready.

So, if you’re already booking a Disneyland Paris Disney Hotel, we’d definitely recommend making use of EMT. If you’re comparing your accommodation options, it’s worth including Extra Magic Time in the overall value you’re getting from your stay rather than treating it as just another small hotel perk.

And if you have access to EMT through your Gold Disneyland Pass, we’d use it. You don’t need to achieve our best-ever morning to make the hour worthwhile. Even getting one or two popular attractions, a character meet or some quieter photos completed before the main crowds arrive can make the rest of your Disneyland Paris day feel easier.

What Attractions are open during Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Paris?

Important Note Disneyland Paris does not publish an official list of EMT rides, and availability can vary by day. Some rides may not open right at the start of EMT and may come online during the hour, so flexibility is key. That said, there are consistent patterns we’ve seen over many visits.

Extra Magic Time gives eligible guests the chance to enjoy selected attractions before the parks officially open, but not every ride operates during EMT. The attractions available can also change, so we always recommend checking the official Disneyland Paris park hours and attraction information for your specific date. Disneyland Paris confirms that the park or parks included, opening time and duration of EMT can vary, with details published up to three months in advance and subject to change.

We checked the Disneyland Paris app during our most recent visit to confirm which attractions were showing as available during Extra Magic Time. The list below reflects what was available when we checked, but attraction availability can change.

Big Thunder Mountain
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Crush’s Coaster
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Frozen Ever After
La Reine des Neiges: Frozen Ever After
Rapunzel Tangled Spin
Orbitron
Peter Pan’s Flight
Ratatouille: The Adventure
Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

However, don’t treat this as a guaranteed list of rides that will all be running from the moment EMT begins. Attraction availability can vary by day, and we’ve found some rides may open a little later during the early-access period and others not listed may also open early, such as the Mad Hatter Teacups of the Carousel.

We’ve found that this is important when planning our own mornings. Rather than trying to tick off every possible attraction during EMT, we look at what’s available and then decide which ride will give us the biggest advantage by doing it early.

And that’s where the two parks need different strategies. In Disneyland Park, our priorities tend to centre around the attractions that can develop significant queues later in the day. In Disney Adventure World, Crush’s Coaster and Frozen Ever After will split the crowds.

We’ll break down our priorities for each park next, including which attractions we’d head for first during Extra Magic Time and which ones we’d be happy to leave until later.

Extra Magic Time Attractions: Disneyland Park

If you’re using Extra Magic Time in Disneyland Park, we’d prioritise the attractions that are likely to develop longer queues later in the day. This is the castle park, and there are plenty of tempting things to do first thing in the morning, so having a plan makes a real difference.

For us, Big Thunder or Peter Pan’s Flight is the main question. These are both firm favourites with families and Disney fans, and its queue can become substantial once the park gets busy. Getting them done during EMT can free up a useful chunk of your day later on. Whichever you decide to do first, head straight to the other one soon after.

Attractions which are usually open during EMT at Disneyland Park are:

Big Thunder Mountain
Peter Pan’s Flight
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Orbitron

Extra Magic Time Attractions: Disney Adventure World

During Extra Magic Time at Disney Adventure World, a selection of the park’s most popular attractions can be available before the official park opening. The current attractions to look out for include:

Frozen Ever After
Crush’s Coaster
Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Raiponce Tangled Spin
Ratatouille: The Adventure

Can You Meet Characters During Extra Magic Time?

Yes, but the character experience is quite different between the two parks. Disneyland Park usually has several character opportunities available during EMT, while Disney Adventure World takes a different approach with a dedicated Virtual Queue opportunity for Anna and Elsa.

Characters During Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Park

One of the things we particularly like about EMT at Disneyland Park is that you can often meet two characters during the early-access hour, giving you another way to make the most of the quieter park before regular guests arrive.

The characters available can change depending on the season, but we’ve seen characters including Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Donald Duck and Max at the Boarding House near the top of Main Street, U.S.A. We’ve also seen characters such as Stitch, Donald Duck, Mary Poppins and Disney Princesses meeting guests around Casey’s Corner.

It’s worth checking the Disneyland Paris app during your visit to see which characters are scheduled, as the line-up isn’t fixed throughout the year.

There’s also a lovely photo opportunity that doesn’t involve joining a traditional meet-and-greet queue. During EMT, you can often see Mickey Mouse waving from the balcony at Main Street Station. We love this as a quick photo opportunity because you can stand underneath the station and capture Mickey waving from above, with much less of the usual Main Street crowd around you.

If meeting characters is high on your list, we’d definitely consider using part of EMT for this rather than treating the hour purely as a ride strategy. Getting one or two character experiences completed early can free up the rest of your day for attractions, shows and other experiences.

Characters During Extra Magic Time at Disney Adventure World

Disney Adventure World works differently. There isn’t a standard character meet-and-greet schedule in the park during EMT in the same way as Disneyland Park. However, there is another advantage for eligible EMT guests if meeting Anna and Elsa is a priority.

A special Virtual Queue for Anna and Elsa opens at 8:45am for guests with Extra Magic Time access. This gives you an opportunity to secure a place to meet them without having to spend your EMT physically waiting in a traditional queue.

We particularly like this option because you can secure the Virtual Queue and then use your early access for something else. It also gives you a better chance of fitting more character experiences into your day through the Virtual Queue system rather than having to spend your morning waiting to meet Anna and Elsa.

On one of our own Disney Adventure World EMT mornings, we combined this approach with a visit to World of Frozen. We rode Frozen Ever After, met Anna and Elsa and explored the shops before heading to our 9:45am Princess Breakfast.

So, if characters are important to your trip, don’t overlook EMT. Disneyland Park gives you the opportunity to meet characters directly during the early hour, while Disney Adventure World can give eligible guests an early Virtual Queue opportunity for Anna and Elsa. Whichever park you’re visiting, check the Disneyland Paris app for the latest character information and timings during your trip.

Extra Magic Time Strategies

Extra Magic Time (EMT) at Disneyland Paris gives you a full hour in the parks before the main crowds arrive, and with a little planning, you can make that hour count.

We’ve used EMT across multiple trips, in both Disneyland Park and Disney Adventure World, and our strategy has changed depending on which park we’re visiting and what we want to achieve. Sometimes the priority is getting a popular attraction done before the queue builds, while on other mornings we’ll use the quieter time for photos or character encounters.

Here’s how we recommend making the most of Extra Magic Time, based on our own visits, the queues we’ve experienced and what has actually worked for us, rather than simply following a plan that looks good on paper.

Park	Your priority	Where to start	What we’d do next
Disneyland Park	Younger children / families	Fantasyland	Peter Pan’s Flight → Dumbo → castle/photos → stay nearby as more Fantasyland attractions open
Disneyland Park	Thrill rides	Big Thunder Mountain	Hyperspace Mountain → Buzz Lightyear → Fantasyland or Adventureland
Disney Adventure World	Frozen Ever After	World of Frozen	Frozen Ever After → continue through the park; save Crush’s Coaster for later
Disney Adventure World	Crush’s Coaster	Crush’s Coaster	Ratatouille or Spider-Man → continue through the park; save Frozen for later
Disney Adventure World	Neither major priority	Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure	Tower of Terror → Tangled → Ratatouille → Toy Story Playland as attractions open

If You’re Heading to Disneyland Park…

If you’re heading to Disneyland Park during Extra Magic Time, having a plan can make a big difference. The best route depends on who you’re travelling with and what you want to get done, so here’s how we’d approach the morning for families and thrill seekers.

Families

Arrive at the park entrance around 30 minutes before EMT starts. The security and entrance procedures take time, and arriving too early doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get into the parks sooner. You’ll simply find yourself waiting at the security area before it opens. Our aim is to be there with enough time to get through the entrance process and be ready to make the most of EMT.
Head towards Fantasyland. If you’re travelling with younger children, we’d make this our priority. Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant are two of the attractions we’d look to tick off early if they’re operating during EMT. Fantasyland can become considerably busier later in the day, so getting these popular family favourites done early can save you a much longer wait.
Take advantage of the quieter castle area. Once you’ve completed your priority attractions, don’t feel you need to immediately rush somewhere else. This is a great time to take photos around Sleeping Beauty Castle and enjoy the quieter atmosphere before the main crowds arrive.
Stay nearby as regular park opening approaches. Once you’ve completed your EMT priorities, staying around Fantasyland puts you in a good position to see what else is opening as the park moves into its normal operating hours. Rather than crossing the park unnecessarily, you can continue with the attractions in this area as they become available.
Have a backup plan. If your first-choice attraction isn’t operating when EMT begins, don’t waste your early hour waiting around. Check the Disneyland Paris app and move on to another attraction that is available.

Thrill Seekers

If your priority is getting the bigger attractions done before the queues build, we’d take a different route through Disneyland Park.

Start with Big Thunder Mountain. This is one of the attractions we’d consider prioritising early, particularly if it’s operating when EMT begins.
Move on to Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain. Once you’ve completed Big Thunder Mountain, head towards Discoveryland and tackle Hyperspace Mountain while you’re already in the area.
Use Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast as a change of pace. After the two bigger rides, Buzz Lightyear can be a good option if the wait is still low. It’s also close by, so you aren’t wasting time travelling across the park.
Then decide where you want to go next. If Peter Pan’s Flight is on your must-do list, make your way towards Fantasyland. Alternatively, you can head into Adventureland and look towards attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril as the park moves towards regular opening.

Don’t Forget Fantasyland and Castle Photos (best for Families!)

If you’re visiting Disneyland Park with younger children, we’d recommend spending much of your Extra Magic Time around Fantasyland and Sleeping Beauty Castle. You don’t have to spend the whole hour rushing from one attraction to another. In fact, this is one of the times when slowing down a little can make your morning much more enjoyable.

Once you’ve ridden your priorities, we’d stay in the area and make the most of the quieter park. Extra Magic Time is a great opportunity to take your castle photos, particularly if you’re visiting during the summer months when the earlier light and quieter surroundings can make for much nicer photos. You’ll have more space around Sleeping Beauty Castle and along Main Street, U.S.A., before the main crowds make their way into the park.

For families, this also gives you time to enjoy Fantasyland itself rather than immediately moving on to another part of the park. As more Fantasyland attractions begin to open around the start of regular park hours, you’re already in the right place and ready to join the queues before they build further.

We particularly like this approach because it takes some of the pressure out of the morning. Get Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo ticked off, take your castle photos, enjoy the atmosphere and then be ready for the next Fantasyland attractions as they open. You don’t need to treat every minute of EMT as a race.

For families with younger children, that can be one of the best ways to use Extra Magic Time at Disneyland Park. You get some of the most popular family attractions out of the way, enjoy the castle while it’s relatively quiet and put yourself in a good position for the rest of Fantasyland once the park fully opens.

If You’re Heading to Disney Adventure World…

If you’re heading to Disney Adventure World during Extra Magic Time, your first decision is a big one: Frozen Ever After or Crush’s Coaster? These are two of the biggest attractions in the park, but they’re at opposite ends of the resort, so we’d strongly recommend choosing one rather than trying to do both during EMT.

If Frozen Ever After Is Your Priority

Head straight to World of Frozen. This is where we personally go when we’re using EMT, as Frozen Ever After is one of our priorities.
Get Frozen Ever After done early. Once you’ve ridden, you can then decide whether to continue exploring the area or make your way back through the park.
Take photos and explore the stores in World of Frozen whilst the crowds are low
Don’t rush straight to Crush’s Coaster. It’s a long walk from World of Frozen, and trying to cross the park during EMT can eat into the advantage you’ve gained. We’d rather return to Crush’s Coaster later in the day when its wait time may have fallen.
Use the rest of the morning efficiently. Once you’ve finished in World of Frozen, check the Disneyland Paris app for current waits and decide which nearby attractions (such as Rapunzel Tangled Spin) make sense rather than immediately walking across the park.

If Crush’s Coaster Is Your Priority

Head straight towards Crush’s Coaster. Many guests will make the same decision, so don’t hang around at the entrance deciding where to go.
Once you’ve ridden Crush’s Coaster, keep moving. Rather than heading straight across the park towards World of Frozen, we’d make Ratatouille: The Adventure or Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure your next stop.
Choose between Ratatouille and Spider-Man based on the current queues. Both can be good options after Crush, and you’re continuing through the park rather than wasting valuable time crossing back and forth.
Leave Frozen Ever After for later. Frozen Ever After is a long way from Crush’s Coaster, so we’d rather use the rest of EMT to take advantage of the other attractions with low waits. You can return to World of Frozen later in the day when the queue for Frozen Ever After may have eased.

If Neither Frozen Ever After Nor Crush’s Coaster Is a Priority

This is where you can potentially get a lot done during EMT. On our recent trips, we’ve found that several other attractions can have very low waits while most guests are heading towards Frozen Ever After or Crush’s Coaster.

We’d work through the park in roughly this order:

Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Raiponce Tangled Spin
Ratatouille: The Adventure

This route allows you to keep moving through the park rather than doubling back on yourself. Depending on the exact waits and attraction availability, you could potentially complete several rides before the main crowds have properly arrived.

Once you’ve worked your way through these attractions, look towards Toy Story Playland. As more of the park comes online around regular opening, you may be able to add Slinky Dog Zigzag Spin, RC Racer or Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop to your morning.

The biggest lesson we’ve learned from using EMT at Disney Adventure World is that you don’t need to chase every major attraction at once. Pick your priority, follow a sensible route and use the early hour to your advantage. For us, that means Frozen Ever After first, while accepting that Crush’s Coaster can wait until later. For other guests, the exact opposite may make more sense.

Which Park Should You Choose for Extra Magic Time?

If you only have one morning to use Extra Magic Time, there isn’t one park we’d recommend for everyone. The better choice depends on which attractions are most important to your group.

We’ve used EMT in both parks and approach them quite differently. For families with younger children, Disneyland Park can be particularly useful, especially if Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo the Flying Elephant are on your must-do list. You can get those popular Fantasyland attractions completed early, then take advantage of the quieter park for castle photos before the main crowds arrive.

Disney Adventure World can be the better choice if Frozen Ever After or Crush’s Coaster is a priority. These are two of the park’s biggest draws, and their queues can build considerably as the day progresses. The important thing is to choose between them rather than trying to do both during EMT, as they’re at opposite ends of the park.

If neither Frozen Ever After nor Crush’s Coaster is particularly important to you, Disney Adventure World can still be a very productive choice. On our recent visits, we’ve found that attractions such as Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Raiponce Tangled Spin and Ratatouille: The Adventure can give you plenty to work through while other guests head towards the park’s biggest priorities.

So, if you’re trying to decide between the two parks, we’d start with one simple question: which attractions would you most regret missing or waiting a long time for?

Peter Pan, Dumbo and classic Disneyland Park experiences? Choose Disneyland Park.
Frozen Ever After or Crush’s Coaster? Choose Disney Adventure World.
Younger children and lots of Fantasyland priorities? We’d lean towards Disneyland Park.
You want to make a dent in several attractions beyond the two biggest draws? Disney Adventure World can work very well.
For characters, choose Disneyland Park as you’ll have a meet and greet by the Boarding House (top of Main Street) and another meet and greet by Casey’s Corner.

Ultimately, the best park for Extra Magic Time is the one that matches your priorities. There’s little benefit in choosing the park with the theoretically best strategy if the attractions you’re most excited about are in the other one.

Our Extra Magic Time Examples: What We’ve Actually Done

We’ve used Extra Magic Time across many Disneyland Paris trips, and while we always have a plan, our results aren’t identical every time. That’s worth remembering when you’re planning your own morning. Some days you’ll get through several attractions and experiences; on others, you’ll find that two rides and a character meet are a perfectly good use of the hour.

Our Best-Ever EMT at Disneyland Park

One of our most successful Extra Magic Time mornings was in Disneyland Park. Within the hour, we managed to experience:

Big Thunder Mountain
Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain
Peter Pan’s Flight
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
A Character Meet with Stitch

That’s a lot to fit into a single hour, and it’s still the best EMT we’ve managed across our visits. It also shows what’s possible when the attractions are operating well, the queues stay low and your route around the park works in your favour.

We wouldn’t use this as the expectation for every visit, though. Most of the time, we’re more likely to ride two attractions and meet one character during EMT. The point isn’t to try to recreate our record every time. It’s to use the early hour to get some of your priorities out of the way before the main crowds arrive.

Disney Adventure World: Frozen, Characters and a Princess Breakfast

On another visit, we used Extra Magic Time rather differently in Disney Adventure World. Our priority was Frozen Ever After, so we headed straight to World of Frozen and although Frozen Ever After was initially down, we managed to get a Virtual Queue for Anna and Elsa, explore the shops in World of Frozen, and then the attraction reopened allowing us to enjoy Frozen Ever After. From there, we were ready to head to our 9:45am Princess Breakfast.

We particularly like this example because it shows that EMT doesn’t have to be about cramming as many rides as possible into 60 minutes. You can use the early access to get one major priority completed, enjoy an experience that matters to you and still have time to make an early dining reservation.

What Should You Do When Extra Magic Time Ends?

Don’t think of Extra Magic Time as ending the moment the regular park opening time arrives. One of our favourite strategies is to use the final part of EMT to position yourself near an attraction or Character Meet & Greet that is due to open shortly afterwards.

Rather than finishing your last EMT attraction and then deciding where to go, check the Disneyland Paris app and look at what’s opening next. If there’s an attraction you want to experience that isn’t yet operating, make your way towards it and wait nearby for it to open.

This can work particularly well when an attraction is close to where you’ve just finished your EMT priority. Being there ready to go means you can often join the queue as soon as it starts operating, rather than arriving a few minutes later with the rest of the park guests.

The same approach can work for Character Meet & Greets. If a character is due to start meeting guests around the end of EMT, positioning yourself nearby can put you towards the front of the queue when the experience begins.

We like this approach because it effectively extends the benefit of your early start. You might finish EMT having already completed your main priority, then quickly tick off another attraction or character experience as regular park hours begin. From there, you’re ready to move straight on to your next priority while many other guests are only just deciding where to start.

Just remember to keep an eye on the live information in the Disneyland Paris app, as opening times and attraction availability can change. The aim isn’t to spend the final minutes of EMT standing around waiting for something that may not open. It’s to use the information available to make a smart decision about where you’ll get the most value from those first few minutes of regular park opening.

Tips for Making the Most of Extra Magic Time

Extra Magic Time can give you a valuable head start, but simply getting through the gates early doesn’t automatically mean you’ll make the most of it. We’ve used EMT in both parks on multiple trips, and a little planning can make that extra hour much more useful.

Arrive Before Extra Magic Time Starts

Don’t aim to arrive at the park entrance exactly when EMT begins. We’d recommend getting to the entrance around 30 minutes beforehand, particularly on busy days. This gives you time to get through the security and entrance procedures so you’re ready to head into the park when EMT starts.

There’s little benefit in having a carefully planned first attraction if you’re still making your way through the entrance while everyone else is already heading towards theirs.

Know Your First Attraction

Decide where you’re heading before you arrive. Extra Magic Time isn’t the moment to stand in the middle of the park trying to work out what to do.

Our priorities are different in each park. In Disneyland Park, we tend to head towards attractions such as Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo, while in Disney Adventure World we make the decision between Frozen Ever After and Crush’s Coaster. Having that first decision made means we can get moving as soon as we’re through the gates.

Don’t Try to Do Everything

It’s tempting to look at the list of attractions available during EMT and try to tick off as many as possible. We’d recommend prioritising the attractions that will save you the most time later in the day.

Getting one particularly popular attraction completed early can be more valuable than rushing across the park to squeeze in another ride. Think about what’s most important to your group and build your morning around that.

Use the Disneyland Paris App

We use the official Disneyland Paris app during EMT to check live wait times and attraction availability, rather than relying solely on a plan we made before arriving. You can check live attraction wait times, see what’s operating and adjust your plans if your first choice isn’t available.

We wouldn’t obsess over the wait times every few minutes, but having the app ready means you can make a quick decision if something changes. It’s also worth checking the attraction availability for your visit before you travel so you have a realistic idea of what’s likely to be operating during EMT.

Have a Plan B

Don’t assume that every attraction will be running from the moment EMT begins. Some attractions may open later, and availability can change. If your first choice isn’t operating, don’t waste your valuable early-access time standing around waiting for it.

Have a second option in mind and be prepared to change direction. A flexible plan is much more useful than a perfect plan that doesn’t survive the first five minutes in the park.

Families: Make the Most of Fantasyland

If you’re visiting with younger children, Fantasyland is a great area to concentrate on during EMT. We’d prioritise Peter Pan’s Flight and Dumbo if they’re operating, then take advantage of the quieter surroundings around Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Fantasyland can become much busier later in the day, so getting your main priorities completed early gives you more flexibility once the park fills up. You can also stay in the area and be ready for other attractions as they begin operating around regular park opening.

Don’t Forget the Characters and Photos

EMT isn’t just about rides. The quieter parks are one of the biggest advantages of being there early.

If meeting Disney Characters is important to you, check what’s available during EMT and consider making the most of the shorter waits. We’ve also found this is one of the best times to take photos around Disneyland Park, particularly around Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A.

During the summer months especially, we like using some of this early time for photos while there are fewer people around. You don’t have to spend every minute queueing for attractions.

Choose Your Disney Adventure World Priority

Our biggest tip for Disney Adventure World is to choose between Frozen Ever After and Crush’s Coaster. Both are major attractions, but they’re at opposite ends of the park.

We personally head to World of Frozen for Frozen Ever After. If Crush’s Coaster is your priority, head there instead. Trying to do both during EMT can mean spending too much of your valuable early hour walking from one side of the park to the other.

Once you’ve completed your priority, move on to other attractions with shorter waits and return to the other major attraction later in the day when its queue may have fallen.

Keep Moving, But Don’t Race

If neither Frozen Ever After nor Crush’s Coaster is a priority, Disney Adventure World can be particularly productive during EMT. On our recent trips, we’ve been able to work through several attractions with low waits, including Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Raiponce Tangled Spin and Ratatouille: The Adventure.

The key is to follow a sensible route through the park rather than repeatedly crossing from one side to the other. Once you’ve worked through your priorities, you can look towards Toy Story Playland as more attractions come online.

Remember That EMT Isn’t a Race

This is probably the easiest tip to overlook. You don’t have to spend every second of Extra Magic Time in a queue.

We’ve used EMT to ride popular attractions, but we’ve also used it to take photos, meet Characters and simply enjoy the parks before the main crowds arrive. If you’ve completed your priority attractions, take a few minutes to enjoy the atmosphere.

Our best advice is to go into EMT with one clear priority, a sensible backup plan and an idea of what you’d like to achieve with the rest of the hour. That gives you enough structure to make the most of the benefit without turning the first hour of your Disney day into a military operation.