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Paying at Disneyland Paris: Cards, Cash and Euros
For us it is almost entirely card and Apple Pay. The important bit is knowing what your own bank charges.
We barely use cash
We pay for virtually everything by card or Apple Pay. The only cash we normally have is euros that family members have given the children as spending money or a little money left from another trip.
There is nothing wrong with carrying cash if you prefer it. It just is not central to how we manage our Disneyland Paris spending.
Why it helpsUse the payment method that makes the budget easiest for you to control.
Foreign transaction fees matter more than the logo on the card
We use Starling because our card setup does not charge us an additional foreign transaction fee for normal card spending. That is one of the reasons the account works well for our travel.
Do not assume your own debit or credit card is the same. Check the current overseas spending terms before travelling. A percentage fee on every coffee, meal and merchandise purchase can quietly add up across a family holiday.
Why it helpsThe best travel card is the one whose current fees and terms you have actually checked.
We choose euros
If a card terminal offers to charge us in pounds or euros, we choose euros.
Choosing pounds can mean accepting the conversion rate offered through the merchant or payment provider. With a fee-free travel card, we would rather make the purchase in the local currency and let our own card provider handle the currency conversion.
Check your own card terms, but do not automatically press GBP because the number looks more familiar.
Why it helpsAt Disneyland Paris, think in euros at the till even if you track the overall holiday budget in pounds.
We keep Disney spending separate
We save towards the trip through the year. Before travelling, we move the spending money into a separate bank pot or space and use a linked or virtual card where our bank supports it.
That gives us one clear balance for the holiday and makes it much easier to see what is left without mixing Disney spending into the normal current account.
Why it helpsSeparate money is easier to enjoy and easier to keep an eye on.