QUICK QUOTE - BOOK YOUR RIDE
There’s a misconception that Paris is a city built for adults. Made for having long lunches, quiet museums, cobbled streets meant for wandering without a schedule. Parents traveling with children hear that reputation and start to worry a little. Will the kids be bored at the Louvre? Will the metro be a nightmare with a stroller? Where does Disneyland Paris fit into all of it, and how do you actually get there without spending half a vacation day standing in a train station?
We've put together this guide on how to explore Paris with kids. After years of moving families around Paris and out to Disneyland Paris, we will inform you about what actually works. You'll find the attractions kids genuinely enjoy, a breakdown of Disneyland Paris family transport options, and a full walk-through of how to book family transfer Disneyland Paris trips so the whole day goes smoothly from the moment you arrive at the airport.
A family itinerary in Paris isn't a smaller version of an adult itinerary. It's a different trip entirely. Kids get tired faster, meals need to happen on a schedule rather than whenever you have an empty stomach, and a 20-minute metro ride with two suitcases and a stroller can eat up an hour once you count stairs, transfers, and a toddler who's decided the platform is a good place to create a tantrum.
The families who enjoy Paris the most tend to do three things differently: they group attractions by neighborhood instead of chasing the "must-see" list across the whole city, they build in downtime between big activities, and they sort out transport in advance, especially when it comes to a Disneyland Paris trip, which usually comes right after a long flight when everyone is at their least patient.
The Eiffel Tower draws the whole attention, but the real win for families is the Champ de Mars. Kids can run; there's space to sit down for a picnic, and you can decide on the spot whether anyone has the patience for the elevator queue or not.
This is the park locals actually bring their own kids to. There are vintage toy sailboats you can rent to push around the central pond, a carousel that's been running since the 1800s, and playgrounds tucked into the corners. It's shaded, it's calm, and it's a good place to slow down after a museum morning.
An hour-long boat ride solves two problems at once: kids get to move around and watch the city go by instead of sitting still in a museum, and parents get to see most of the major landmarks without walking between them. Evening cruises, when the bridges and monuments light up, tend to hold a child's attention even longer than the daytime ones.
Skip the idea of "doing" the Louvre with young children. Pick three or four pieces worth seeing, like the Mona Lisa; the Egyptian antiquities wing usually holds attention well, and treat the rest of the visit as optional. An hour and a half is plenty.
For most families, this is the actual centerpiece of the trip, not a side excursion. It's roughly 40 kilometers east of central Paris, and getting the transport right on both ends makes a bigger difference to how the day feels than almost anything else on this list.
Once Disneyland Paris is on the itinerary, families usually choose between one of four ways to get there.
RER A Train. This is the budget option, running directly from central Paris to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy station, a short walk from the park entrance. It's cheap, but it also means navigating ticket machines, platforms, and a train that can get crowded, all while managing luggage and children. It works fine for a Day trip from a Paris hotel, but it's a harder sell straight off a long-haul flight.
Disney Express Shuttle Bus. A shared coach service that runs from a handful of pickup points in central Paris. It's more comfortable than the RER but still involves waiting for other passengers and doesn't run directly from the airports.
Standard Taxis. Available at the airport taxi ranks, but pricing isn't fixed in advance, wait times vary, and child seats aren't guaranteed unless you specifically arrange one ahead of time.
Private Family Transfer. A pre-booked car or van that takes you directly from the airport, train station, or Paris hotel to Disneyland Paris. For families with young kids, stroller bags, and more luggage than seems reasonable in hindsight, this is usually the option that actually saves the trip's first few hours from being stressful.
The rest of this guide focuses on that last option, since it's the one families ask us about most, and the one where booking it correctly matters.
Booking a private transfer sounds simple, and it should be, but a few details make the difference between a smooth pickup and a frustrating one. Here's how to do it properly.
Step 1: Decide your route.
Most families are either arriving from CDG, Orly, or Beauvais airport or coming from a Paris city hotel. Each route has a different price and travel time, so know your starting point before you request a quote.
Step 2: Enter your passenger count.
Family transfer vehicles are sized by group, from standard sedans for up to three or four passengers up to vans that comfortably seat larger families or two families traveling together. Getting the count right up front means you're matched with a car that actually fits everyone plus luggage.
Step 3: Request a child seat if you need one.
This is the step families forget most often, and it's the one that matters most. Mention your child's age and weight when booking, and a properly fitted booster or infant seat will be ready in the car before you arrive.
Step 4: Choose one-way or return.
If you're doing a round trip, say, flying into CDG and later needing a ride back, booking both transfers at once locks in your return pickup and saves you from arranging it again later in the trip.
Step 5: Add your flight or train number.
This lets our Private Paris chauffeur track your arrival and adjust for early or delayed landings, so you're not standing around the arrivals hall waiting on someone who's still circling because your flight came in ahead of schedule.
Step 6: Confirm and get your booking details by email.
A proper transfer booking sends a confirmation with reservation details.
That's genuinely the whole process. It usually takes about two minutes from start to finish, and it's worth doing before you leave home rather than trying to sort it out at the airport with three tired kids in tow.
French law requires children under a certain height to use an appropriate car or booster seat, and it applies to transfer vehicles the same as any other car on the road. A few things to know when arranging a Disneyland Paris transfer with a child seat included:
◆ Mention the child's age and approximate weight at the time of booking, not on the day. Seats need to match the child, and arranging it in advance means the right one is already fitted when the car arrives.
◆ If you're traveling with more than one young child, request a seat for each. Most family transfer providers carry infant, toddler, and booster seats and will fit more than one on request.
◆ Confirm the seat is included in the fare rather than an add-on. Some standard taxi services charge extra or can't guarantee availability; a dedicated family transfer service typically includes child seats at no additional cost.
◆ If your child has a specific seat they're used to, and you'd rather bring it, most drivers are happy to fit a seat you provide instead; just note it in the booking so the driver knows not to bring one of their own.
Getting this sorted ahead of time means you're not standing at the curb trying to install a seat with a fussy toddler and a flight's worth of fatigue behind you.
A few practical notes that make the process smoother, gathered from the questions families ask most often before a Disneyland Paris trip:
Book earlier than you think you need to. Private transfers fill up fast during French school holidays and the summer season. Booking 24 to 48 hours ahead is a safe minimum, but during peak weeks, a week or more out gives you the best pick of vehicle and pickup time.
Check what's actually included in the price. A fixed fare should cover tolls, meet-and-greet service, a reasonable waiting window after your flight lands, and luggage handling. If a quote looks unusually low, it's worth checking whether those extras are bundled in or billed separately.
Match the vehicle to your group, not just your headcount. A family of five with two large suitcases and a stroller needs a van, not a sedan technically rated for five passengers. Mention your luggage when booking so you're not trying to wedge a fold-up stroller into a trunk that's already full.
If you're doing a return trip, book it in the same reservation. It's one less thing to arrange mid-trip, and it locks in your pickup time from the park at the end of the day, when everyone's more interested in finding a seat than making phone calls.
For families splitting time between the city and Disneyland Paris, a schedule like this tends to work well:
◆ Morning: Champ de Mars and the Eiffel Tower, followed by a slow walk or a short metro ride to Jardin du Luxembourg for playground time and the toy sailboats.
◆ Midday: Lunch near the Latin Quarter, then a short Louvre visit focused on two or three highlights rather than the whole museum.
◆ Afternoon: A Seine river cruise, timed for late afternoon light.
◆ Evening: Head back to the hotel, pack, and get an early night ahead of the Disneyland Paris transfer the next morning.
Having Transport pre-booked for Disneyland Paris means that morning starts with a driver waiting outside the hotel rather than a scramble to find a taxi with two kids and all the luggage from the trip so far.
How do I book a family transfer to Disneyland Paris?
Choose your pickup point (airport, train station, or hotel), enter your passenger count and travel date, request a child seat if needed, and confirm with your flight or train number. Most bookings take about two minutes and can be done online or by phone.
How far in advance should I book a Disneyland Paris transfer?
At least 24 to 48 hours ahead for most of the year. During French school holidays and summer, book a week or more in advance to get your preferred vehicle and pickup time.
Is a child seat included in Disneyland Paris transfers?
With most dedicated family transfer services, yes the child and booster seats are included at no extra cost when requested at booking. Standard taxis may not guarantee this, so it's worth confirming before you book.
How long does a CDG to Disneyland Paris transfer take?
Around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on traffic on the A1 and A4 motorways. It's the shortest of the three airport routes.
What's the difference between the RER train and a private transfer to Disneyland Paris?
The RER A is cheaper but requires navigating tickets, platforms, and a shared train with your own luggage in tow. A private transfer picks you up directly, includes luggage help, and gets you to the park without any transfers along the way.
If you're planning the Disneyland Paris trip, Paris Eagle Cab runs fixed-fare family transfers from CDG, Orly, Beauvais, and central Paris hotels, with free child seats, flight tracking, and a driver waiting for you by name at arrivals.
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