If you plan on visiting Disneyland Paris anytime soon and like snapping awesome photos, you should plan ahead and know where to go to find the best spots to photograph the Disneyland Paris castle. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, or Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant as it is called in French, is the same type of castle as the one at California’s Disneyland, but this version is even taller, at nearly 60-meters.
As the centerpiece of the park, this gorgeously crafted, pink and blue castle can be spotted and photographed throughout the park. During your visit, it will be hard to resist the urge to snap a photo of this building, which simply begs to be photographed.
This article will walk you through eight locations found within the park that allow a perfect view of the Disneyland Paris castle as well as providing photo tips on how to capture the best photo possible. These are great Instagram locations as well and are sights sure to make everyone back home jealous of your magical day at one of the happiest places on earth!
Disneyland Paris opened in 1992 as the second Disney park outside of the United States after the Tokyo Disney Resort opened in 1983. To date, it is the most visited amusement park in Europe, with about 12 million people flocking to the grand park each year. Set up in a similar style to Disneyland in California or Magic Kingdom in Florida, this park holds magic around every corner. So, slap on some Mickey Mouse ears and get ready for a great time!
8 Best Views Of The Disneyland Paris Castle
From Main Street: The Classic View
Once you step into the park, you will find yourself on Main Street U.S.A., where you will immediately be swept into the happiness and excitement only a Disney park can provide. With plenty of cute shops and delicious restaurants, this short street is full of things to see.
Through the crowds no doubt clogging the street, you will get your first glimpse of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. It is actually our Top Ranked Disney Castle Around The World!
Take a moment to pause and pull out your camera for this classic shot, the image that first comes to mind when you think of Disneyland. With all of the joyful people milling around and the brightly colored buildings lining the street, you are sure to capture a photo that looks like it could be an ad for the park with the Disneyland Paris castle easily drawing in the eye.
Photo Tip: One drawback of Main Street is that it is almost always crowded. To cut out the people, try finding a different angle. This could simply mean raising your camera lens up a bit. Also, make sure to get some of the great buildings on Main Street in the shot, too, so you can add some context.
During the Parade: The Fun Photo
Make sure to return to Main Street in time for Disney Stars on Parade. Not only will you want to see the intricate and awe-worthy Disney floats and beautifully costumed, dancing characters, but it is the perfect opportunity to take photos of the Disneyland Paris castle, which acts as the backdrop for the parade. Also, since the street is cleared off before they start the parade, it is the perfect opportunity to snag a photo of Main Street without all the people.
Photo Tip: Make sure to check the program for the parade’s start time and stake out the perfect spot before all the good viewpoints are taken. The spot directly at the start of Main Street and in front of the gazebo will be roped off for media only and you will be asked to move by Disney employees if you step inside.
However, you can sit on the curb, right next to this area, which is where these photos were taken. This view will help you avoid the tops of heads in front of you and give you a straight sight down the street.
From the Roundabout: The Simple Shot
If you take no other picture of the Disneyland Paris castle during your trip, try to take at least this one. Once you make it to the end of Main Street, you will come to a small roundabout with plant landscaping. Here, you will have a close-up and direct view of the castle isolated against the sky. This shot does not take any effort and can be snapped quickly before you keep walking.
Photo Tip: If you want to add an extra foreground element to your shot, crouch down and include the plants in your shot. If you are at the park in the warmer months, there should be plenty of flowers to add some color.
From Frontierland: The Nature View
A few steps in any direction from the roundabout will be the entrances to each of the four “lands” in the park. For this next picture you want to move towards Frontierland, but do not go inside quite yet. Pause next to the Native American teepees found near the entrance to Frontierland. Through the trees here, you should be able to find a good view of the nearby Disneyland Paris castle.
Photo Tip: Use the trees and other plants to frame the castle and block out everything else. This composition will almost make it seem as if you are not standing within a giant amusement park, but instead have wandered across a fairytale castle in the woods on the set of a real-life Disney movie.
Between a Restaurant and a Trashcan: The Artsy Photo
It might not be the most luxurious place, but you have to do what you have to do to get the shot, right? Just ignore the possible stares of passersby as you sit on the ground next to a trashcan to get this magical photograph.
To find the right spot for this view of the Disneyland Paris castle, first, walk through the castle to the backside. Not far on the other side, there is a restaurant to the right called Auberge de Cendrillon with some flower beds curving around the entrance. On the far side of these flowers, there may or may not be a trashcan. Either way, there probably won’t be a bunch of people vying for this spot along the wall provided by the flower bed.
Depending on the time of year you visit Disneyland Paris, you will hopefully find plenty of flowers to add some natural beauty to your image. Meanwhile, the rooftops of the surrounding buildings will add a touch of charm.
Photo Tip: The key here is to take a low angled shot, hence having to sit on the ground. By doing this, you can use the flowers in the foreground to block out any people on the other side of the flower bed. This is a tip you can easily use at most of the photo spots mentioned here.
Next to Sir Mickey’s Boutique: The Whimsical Shot
Now, just behind the last photo location, you will see Lancelot’s Carousel, full of armored horses and the smiling faces of the kids riding them. Take a turn on the ride if you want, but once you get off, do not forget to grab this next picture. To the right of the carousel is a shop called Sir Mickey’s Boutique which has a giant beanstalk next to it twisting into the sky.
Compose your shot so the top of the building and beanstalk are in the foreground of your photo of the Disney Paris castle. It is possible from this location to have the top of the carousel in the photo as well as or instead of the beanstalk.
Photo Tip: Try to plan it so you are on this side of the park in the afternoon as the light will be better and aiming towards the castle. The golden hour, right before the sun starts to set is a gorgeous time in the park for photography as the light really adds an element of whimsy and beauty to an already pretty destination.
From Within Alice’s Curious Labyrinth: The Moody Shot
The last two photos on this list of the best places to photograph the Disneyland Paris castle can be found within the confines of Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, located at the back of the park. Plunge into the hedges, but do not worry about getting lost—you might just find more views of the castle!
As you wind your way through this faux garden you will find plenty of characters from Alice in Wonderland as well as many varying views of the castle. It seems that with each turn in the path, you will be presented with a slightly different look at the castle. While the castle itself will look about the same, it is the foreground elements found within the labyrinth that are important to pay attention to for your photos.
Photo Tip: This ride, if it can really be called that, is pretty popular, so try to go when there are not a ton of people. This is more a courtesy to the others, so you do not block them in the narrow maze as you stop to take photo after photo.
From Atop The Queen of Hearts’ Castle: The Panoramic View
Once you make it to the heart—no pun intended—of the labyrinth, you will come across the Queen of Hearts’ castle. The oddly shaped and vibrantly colored castle is a wonder to look at, but it does not hold the sophisticated grace that can be found in Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
As long as you are not afraid of heights, make your way to the topmost point of the Queen’s castle in order to get one of the best views at Disneyland Paris. From here, you will get not only the sight of Sleeping Beauty’s castle but also a panoramic view that looks out over all of Fantasyland.
Photo Tip: If it looks like there will be a good sunset the day you are at Disneyland Paris, this location could be a good place to go to capture the vivid colors as they paint the sky. Who wouldn’t want to end a wonderful day overlooking a beautiful and magical land?
How to Get to Disneyland Paris
If you are staying in Paris, then the Disney park makes for a great day trip from the French capital, especially if you have kids who want to get out of the city. Or even if you are just an adult who appreciates some Disney magic. One of the fastest and cheapest ways to get to the park is by taking the train, which is just about a 40-minute trip. Simply board the RER A train in the direction of the Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy Station and ride to the end of the line. From the train station, it is a very short walk to the park’s entrance.
Train tickets can be bought at any metro or RER train station. A one-way ticket will set you back about 8 Euro.
If you are coming to Disneyland Paris straight from Charles de Gaulle Airport, then take the TGV train. This will be a 45-minute journey for about 18 Euro. It is also possible to take a shuttle bus from the airport.
Where to Stay at Disneyland Paris
If you plan on a full out Disney getaway and want to stay right on the property, there are plenty of hotels to choose from. If money is no object, you can book a room at the Disneyland Hotel, a 5-star hotel which is found right at the entrance to the park. However, if you want a more budget-friendly option so you can spend more on delicious treats in the park, you can look into Hotel Cheyenne, an American Old West themed hotel a bit farther from the park.
For something a little more fun, you could check out Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch. About a fifteen-minute drive from the park, this campground provides guests with cabins in a quiet, wooded area. There is also a restaurant, swimming pool, video arcade, tennis court, and a number of other outdoor activities and shopping available.
Disneyland Paris is truly magical, so prepare yourself for an amazing time! Make sure you take plenty of pictures of the Disneyland Paris castle using the tips learned here while you are there, too, so you have a lot of pretty and unique content for your Instagram feed!
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