Driving to Disneyland Paris from the UK means a Channel crossing and then a drive of a few hours. DFDS has a page on exactly this trip, and it names the same three crossings I'd look at: Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk and Newhaven to Dieppe.
I've put those three side by side below, using DFDS's own pages as they were when I checked on 13 November 2026. Then there's what Disneyland Paris's official site says about parking and the motorway, and what GOV.UK and the French government say about driving in France.
Which DFDS crossing for Disneyland Paris?
DFDS says: "The best way to get to Disneyland® Paris with DFDS is via our Dover to Dunkirk or Dover to Calais ferry crossings, where you'll arrive in France in under 2 hours." It puts the drive from there at 3.5 hours. For Dieppe it says: "our Newhaven to Dieppe route offers a chance to experience even more of France, with a 4-hour drive from Dieppe Port to Paris".
| Route | Crossing time | Sailings | "From" fare (one way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover to Calais | 100 minutes | Up to 30 a day | £114 per car + up to 5 people, including ETS |
| Dover to Dunkirk | From 2 hours | Up to 22 a day | £114 per car + up to 5 people, including ETS |
| Newhaven to Dieppe | Around 4 hours (5 on some overnight sailings) | Up to 6 a day, depending on the season | £73 per car + 4 people |
Those are the lead-in fares on DFDS's route pages when I checked. They depend on date and availability, so treat them as a starting point, not a quote.
In short: the two Dover routes get you across fastest and, going by DFDS's Disneyland page, leave a 3.5-hour drive. Dieppe is a longer crossing and a longer drive, so it only makes sense if Newhaven is much closer to you than Dover.
In short: the two Dover routes get you across fastest and, going by DFDS's Disneyland page, leave a 3.5-hour drive.
Dover to Calais
DFDS calls Dover to Calais "our fastest crossing between the UK and France". Its page lists 1 hour 40 minutes, with up to 30 sailings a day. The first ferry leaves at 00:10 and the last at 21:10. The fare was "£114 for car + 5 people", which DFDS says is a one-way fare for a standard car carrying up to 5 passengers, including the ETS charge.
DFDS was also advertising "Book early and save 15% on your 2027 crossing". The page didn't give an end date.
Only vehicles are allowed on this route. DFDS's words: "Only vehicle travel is permitted on our Dover - France routes. Foot passengers are not permitted."
Dover to Dunkirk
DFDS's Dunkirk page lists up to 22 sailings a day and a crossing time "From 2 hours", with the first ferry at 02:00 and the last at 23:59. The fare was the same £114 for a car and up to 5 people, one way, including ETS. It is also vehicle-only.
DFDS contradicts itself on the number of Dunkirk sailings. The Calais page's FAQ mentions "a further 24 sailings a day on our Dover-Dunkirk ferry route". I've used 22, from the Dunkirk page itself.
Newhaven to Dieppe
DFDS says it is "the only cross-channel ferry operator on this route". Its route page says crossings "take around 4 hours and 5 hours on certain overnight ferries to France", and that the route "operates up to 6 daily sailings between England and France depending on the season". The same page also says its ferry "departs twice daily", so I'd check the timetable for your date.
The headline fare was "From £73 per car + 4 people one way", based on "a standard car carrying 4 (2 adults + 2 children) passengers". The page's FAQ says crossings "currently start from £117", so the price you're offered may not match the headline.
DFDS offers 20% off this route for seniors over 60, students aged 18 to 27 and passengers with a disability. The lead passenger has to show proof at the port, and those bookings must be made by phone or at the terminal.
For more on the route, see my Newhaven to Dieppe page and my guide to Ferry to Paris, which covers the Paris end of these crossings in more detail.
Parking and the motorway at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris's own site says the parks are "approximately 45 km from the center of Paris" and that "the motorway towards Disneyland Paris from central Paris and from Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports is free".
On parking, the official FAQ says: "You may park in the Guest Parking outside the Disney Parks. A flat rate per day applies." It doesn't give the rate, so check the site before you go.
Hotel guests are treated differently. The FAQ says that if you are staying at a Disney Hotel or a selected and associated hotel near the parks, "you may park your vehicle for free in the hotel car park". The Getting There page adds that guests in Disney Hotels or Les Villages Nature Paris can use free parking at their hotel and in the Disney Parks by showing the check-in card.
For everyone else, the same page says "two paid car parks are available: one a few minutes' walk from the Disney Parks entrance and the other at the Disney Village entrance". It also encourages guests to use "the free Disneyland® Paris shuttle service to get around".
What to carry in the car
DFDS lists these must-haves for driving in France:
- Headlight converters and a UK sticker, unless the registration plates have the UK logo on them
- A valid UK driving licence
- Car registration documents
- Proof of car insurance
- A breathalyser kit
- A warning triangle
- A high visibility jacket or vest, stored within reach of the driver
GOV.UK says you can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in France. If you still have a paper licence, you may need to update it or get the correct international driving permit as well. It also says France's legal alcohol limit "is a third lower than the limit for England and Wales", and that police give on-the-spot fines for driving offences, including speeding.
Travelling with children? DFDS says "children under 10 must travel in an approved child seat suitable for their age and size, and they may not travel in the front seats of a vehicle".
The Crit'Air sticker and Paris
If you plan to drive into the city as well as the park, GOV.UK says: "All vehicles driving in central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble must display a pollution sticker from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Checks can happen at any time, depending on pollution levels." It adds that some older vehicles "do not qualify for a sticker at all due to their high emissions" and must not be driven in central Paris during those hours.
DFDS says failing to display the sticker, "known as a Crit'Air vignette, could result in on-the-spot fines". I couldn't find an official source that says whether Disneyland itself is inside the zone, so I can't tell you either way.
Order the sticker from the official French government site, certificat-air.gouv.fr. For a vehicle registered outside France it lists €3.11 plus €2.00 postage, €5.11 per vehicle in total. The site warns you to beware of intermediaries and fraudulent sites, and says you can tell it's the official one because the address ends in .gouv.fr.
Tolls on the way
DFDS says "tolls are common on French motorways, so carry some cash or a credit card for payment". It names the motorways you'll mainly use from the ports as "the A1, A16, or A13, depending on your starting point". It also warns: "Expect heavy traffic in Paris, especially during rush hours."
Some French motorways have no toll barriers. The French government's public services site, service-public.fr, says this "free-flow" tolling is in place on the A13-A14 between Paris and Normandy. Gantries work out what you owe and you then have 72 hours to pay, online on the motorway company's website or by card or cash at a tobacconist or newsagent with the Nirio system. If you have a toll tag fitted, the charge is taken automatically.
If you don't pay in time, service-public.fr says a fixed €90 charge applies, cut to €10 if you pay within 15 days. After 2 months it becomes a €375 fine.
Questions about driving to Disneyland Paris
Which ferry is best for driving to Disneyland Paris?
DFDS says the best way to get to Disneyland Paris with DFDS is via Dover to Dunkirk or Dover to Calais, arriving in France in under 2 hours, then a 3.5-hour drive. Newhaven to Dieppe is DFDS's other option, with a 4-hour drive from Dieppe to Paris.
How long is the ferry to Disneyland Paris?
DFDS lists Dover to Calais at 1 hour 40 minutes and Dover to Dunkirk at from 2 hours. Newhaven to Dieppe takes around 4 hours, or 5 on certain overnight sailings.
Is parking free at Disneyland Paris?
Not for everyone. Disneyland Paris says a flat daily rate applies in the Guest Parking, but guests staying at a Disney Hotel or a selected and associated hotel near the parks can park free at the hotel.
Do I need a Crit'Air sticker to drive to Disneyland Paris?
GOV.UK says all vehicles driving in central Paris must display a pollution sticker from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. I couldn't find an official source on whether Disneyland itself is in that zone. The official site, certificat-air.gouv.fr, lists €5.11 per vehicle for a car registered outside France.
Is the motorway to Disneyland Paris free?
Disneyland Paris says the motorway from central Paris and from Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to the parks is free. DFDS says tolls are common on French motorways, so carry cash or a card for the rest of your route.
Can I go to Disneyland Paris as a foot passenger on the Dover ferries?
No. DFDS says: "Only vehicle travel is permitted on our Dover - France routes. Foot passengers are not permitted."
