CDG vs Orly for Disneyland Paris —
Which Airport is Better for Families?
Updated April 2026 · 8 min read
You're planning your Disneyland Paris trip and you have a choice of arrival airport. Both Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly serve Paris — but they're very different in terms of distance to Disneyland, available flights, and family experience. Here's the complete comparison.
Quick Summary
Distance and Transfer Time
Both airports are roughly 50 km from Disneyland Paris, but in different directions — CDG is north-east of Paris, Orly is south. In terms of pure transfer time by private van, they're virtually identical: approximately 45 minutes from CDG and 40–50 minutes from Orly, depending on traffic conditions.
By public transport, Orly has a slight theoretical advantage because the Orlyval + RER A connection is marginally simpler than CDG's RER B + RER A change at Châtelet. In practice, both options are time-consuming and challenging with young children and luggage.
Available Flights
CDG (Charles de Gaulle)
CDG is Paris's primary hub and serves more destinations, particularly:
- ✈️ Long-haul international routes (Air France hub)
- ✈️ Major US, Canadian, Asian and Middle Eastern connections
- ✈️ Connections requiring a Paris stopover
- ✈️ Most UK airports (Heathrow, Manchester, Edinburgh via British Airways)
Orly
Orly is increasingly popular for European and domestic routes:
- ✈️ Strong easyJet, Transavia and Vueling presence
- ✈️ Many UK routes (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted via easyJet and Ryanair)
- ✈️ French domestic connections
- ✈️ Mediterranean and European leisure routes
💡 For most UK families: you'll often find better prices and more direct options to Orly from London Gatwick, Luton or Stansted. If you're flying from a regional UK airport or coming long-haul, CDG will usually be your arrival point regardless.
Airport Experience with Children
CDG: Large and Complex
CDG is one of the largest airports in Europe, with four main terminal zones (T1, T2A–T2G, T3). Navigating with a stroller and luggage requires planning — terminal changes sometimes require a shuttle bus between buildings. The airport has good facilities (nursing rooms, family lanes), but the sheer scale can be overwhelming on first visit.
Orly: Smaller and More Manageable
Orly is significantly more compact and generally easier to navigate. Baggage claim tends to be faster, and the walk from gate to arrivals is shorter. For families with young children, the reduced complexity is a genuine advantage — less time walking, fewer opportunities for things to go wrong.
Which Airport Should You Choose?
In most cases, you won't have complete freedom of choice — your flight options and airline will largely determine which airport you use. But if you do have flexibility:
- 🌍 Coming long-haul from outside Europe → CDG (no choice in most cases)
- ✈️ Flying from the UK or within Europe → Orly if available, slightly simpler experience
- 💶 Budget is the priority → Compare both airports on your travel dates, Orly routes are often cheaper
- 👨👩👧👦 Young children + lots of luggage → Orly's smaller size is an advantage
Transfer Prices: CDG vs Orly
TransferDisneyland operates from both airports at comparable prices:
- 🚐 CDG → Disneyland Paris: from €89 (private van, up to 7 passengers)
- 🚐 Orly → Disneyland Paris: from €99 (private van, up to 7 passengers)
Baby seats, booster seats and flight tracking are included on both routes at no extra charge.
Transfer from CDG or Orly — Same Easy Service
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