Lake Buena Vista

Lake Buena Vista is an artificial lake at the heart of Disneyland Paris, in the town of Chessy in the Seine-et-Marne department, right next to the Disney Village entertainment quarter. Named after the lake at Florida's Walt Disney World, it is an entirely separate stretch of water built specifically for the French resort.

Where is the lake located?

The lake sits between Disneyland Paris's two theme parks - Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park - and the resort's Lake Buena Vista hotel district. Its coordinates are 48.868889, 2.7875. A wide pedestrian path circles the water, giving views of the surrounding hotels and the resort's giant tethered balloon.

What activities are available on the water?

A marina called Marina del Rey rents out a range of watercraft: pedal boats, water bikes, jet-skis, small Optimist-class sailboats, rowboats, and motorboats or electric boats. Visitors who prefer to explore on land can rent Rosalie family quadricycles, pedal cars, or Segways to tour the shoreline instead.

What is the balloon floating over the lake?

A large helium balloon called PanoraMagique hovers on a tether above the water. It lifts visitors around 100 metres into the air for a panoramic view over the whole Disneyland Paris resort and the surrounding Ile-de-France countryside - one of the few spots in the area offering an aerial view of both parks at once.

How does the lake connect to Disney Village?

One section of the lake, marked off by a footbridge, extends into Disney Village, the resort's ticket-free entertainment district. Here the water borders the Key West Seafood restaurant and the Hurricanes nightclub. Disney Village itself adds shops, a 16-screen Gaumont cinema, a bowling alley, and free open-air concerts throughout the year to the mix.

What is nearby?

Lake Buena Vista lies in the commune of Chessy, next to Marne-la-Vallée, roughly 32 km (20 miles) east of central Paris. Unlike its Florida namesake - a small municipality within Walt Disney World - the French lake has no municipal identity of its own; it exists purely as a landscaped, recreational feature of the Disneyland Paris resort.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free to visit the lake? Yes. The promenade around the lake and views of the PanoraMagique balloon are free, since they sit within Disney Village, which does not require a park ticket. Charges apply only for renting watercraft or riding the balloon.

Can you rent a boat on the lake? Yes, the Marina del Rey rents pedal boats, water bikes, Optimist sailboats, rowboats, motorboats, and jet-skis, letting visitors get out on the water independently during their stay at the resort.

Where does the name Lake Buena Vista come from? The name references Lake Buena Vista in Florida, known for the Walt Disney World resort, but the French lake is a separate artificial body of water created specifically for Disneyland Paris, sharing only the name with its American counterpart.

What can you see from the PanoraMagique balloon? The balloon rises about 100 metres above the lake, offering a panoramic view of both Disneyland Paris theme parks, the resort's hotels, and the surrounding Ile-de-France region.

Can you rent a land vehicle instead of a boat near the lake? Yes, alongside watercraft rentals, visitors can rent land vehicles to tour the lakeside area, including Rosalie family quadricycles, pedal cars, and Segways.