Following up on our recent post about travel preparation tips, we are now focusing on accessible transportation options for individuals with disabilities travelling from the UK to Disneyland Paris.

To support you in creating your own accessible Disney adventures, we have partnered with Chronically Jenni, Inkfire, and Mali & Me. Our goal is to help everyone find a suitable travel solution tailored to their specific needs.

By Plane:

Several airlines offer flights from various UK airports to Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY) in Paris. All airlines are required to assist passengers with disabilities, and both airports offer standard accessibility services.

While this form of travel is ideal when things go smoothly, I’ve found that unexpected challenges can make it quite stressful. Specifically, I’ve encountered difficulties with in-flight oxygen arrangements, rebooking assistance due to delays, and wheelchair damage.

From the airport, you have several options to choose from, including taxis, private vehicle transfers, the Magical Shuttle, or regional trains.

I’ve found that direct vehicle transfers offer the most convenient door-to-door service, although they can be costly. The Magical Shuttle is not wheelchair accessible unless an adapted vehicle is pre-booked, but rescheduling due to delays or cancellations was challenging, leaving us stranded at the airport. While regional trains are accessible, coordinating passenger assistance proved difficult due to language barriers. Unfortunately, during my last journey in 2023, I was injured, and my wheelchair was damaged by staff.

By Eurostar:

Travelling from London St Pancras International to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy (Disneyland Paris) no longer has a direct route. While Eurostar offers excellent accessible facilities, assistance for passengers with disabilities, affordable tickets, and fewer luggage restrictions, a platform change at Lille Europe onto a regional train is now required. The only other downside is that the onboard toilet is not very accessible, but the journey is now shorter, providing more opportunities to use the toilet at each station.

For years, Eurostar was my preferred way to  reach the heart of Disney directly. However, due to the issues with the additional regional train transfer mentioned earlier, I no longer use it. To ensure that necessary passenger assistance is arranged for both parts of the journey, I recommend booking both legs directly through Eurostar.

By Car:

Driving via Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle) or ferry (P&O) offers maximum flexibility and charges per vehicle, not per person. The Eurotunnel journey takes 35 minutes, whereas a ferry journey typically takes about 1.5 hours. Both the Folkestone and Calais Eurotunnel terminals are one level, equipped with Changing Places facilities, provide priority boarding, and have minimal luggage restrictions.

Since my first drive in 2024, the Eurotunnel has become my preferred transportation. Even when travelling from the North East to the port and then to Disneyland Paris, I find the flexibility of travelling at my own pace and stopping at service stations without timing concerns incredibly convenient.

Our Experience:

During our trip, seven of us travelled in two vehicles. Lauren, Felix, and Fliss were in one vehicle, while Imali, Jenni, and others were in the second. Between us, we packed a manual wheelchair with a power attachment, two powerchairs, a walker, a shower stool, suitcases, medical supplies, an oxygen concentrator, a dog bed, and more.

Considering the amount of equipment and our mobility needs, travelling by train or plane wasn’t practical and raised safety concerns about transporting everything. Our personal cars were also too small. As a result, hiring Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) from Lewis Reed (for Lauren, Felix, and Fliss) and Allied Mobility (for  everyone else) was the most practical option.

Check out Chronically Jenni’s corresponding video and stay tuned for the next instalment in our Disney travel tips series! We’ll be sharing why we chose to hire Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles from Lewis Reed and Allied Mobility.