Ok, at this point you’ve confirmed you have the necessary documents to qualify for a Priority Card (and, if you’re anything like me, you’ve set about 15 different alarms and reminders to actually bring the documents with you). Now to actually apply for the thing.

There are a few different ways to apply for a Priority Card, but they all lead to the same destination. There is no better or worse way to apply, just ones that may be easier for your individual situation. There are four different ways to apply: online, through the Disneyland Paris app, in the Parks, or in a Disney hotel. Let’s start with the online methods. Note that if you are applying online, you can do so up to 30 days before the first day of your visit to the Parks.

Applying Online

You can apply for a Priority Card online (https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-usd/guest-services/priority-card/) or through the official Disneyland Paris app. If you choose to apply through the app, you can find the relevant link under the “Account” tab in the bottom right corner. Then, simply scroll down until you see the link titled “Request a Priority Card.” At this point, the online and the app processes are identical, so I’m just going to talk about them together.

We already know that we have the necessary documents, so we can move on to the second step of the process: selecting our dates to visit. This date is the first day that we will be visiting the Parks, and so it is the first day we have Park tickets for. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to pick up a Priority Card the day before our visit, so we will just plan to do that first thing in the morning on the first day. So far, so good. We’re doing well!

The next step in the application process is perhaps the most confusing. You will need to answer several questions about the mobility of the card-holder (when I applied for EP1&2, I answered based on what they could do, not on what I could do). The reason that you are asked these questions is because Disney staff members need to know how you are able, or not able, to move independently. This is important not only for accessing the rides, but also for being able to use the ride evacuation procedures for each ride. More details on what level of mobility is required for a ride evacuation for each ride can be found in the Blue Booklet. This way, the staff members can be sure that they have enough people nearby to assist guests with mobility needs for each ride.

The only effect of answering these questions is that, based on your answers, you will be assigned a colour in the bottom right corner of your card. For individuals with no mobility challenges, you will be issued a card with a green corner. For those of us with mobility challenges we may be issued a card with another colour.

An Important Clarification

This part is really important, so I’m going to pause and take a breath here: there are no ‘tiers’ of Priority Cards, there is just the one card.

One colour of card is not superior to another in any way. The questions that you are asked are based solely on your (or your loved one’s) ability to independently get into and out of the rides, and for any other mobility accommodations that will make it possible to fully enjoy the rides. It is really important to answer these questions correctly. These questions are for your safety, and the safety of the other guests on the rides. So please answer these questions honestly.

There is no need or benefit to ‘gaming’ the system to obtain a green coloured card. It doesn’t get you anything that the other coloured cards don’t also get you! It also takes the stress out of answering these questions, as you don’t need to try and figure out what the “right” answer is. You just have to answer based on what you know!

Nearly there…

Then, after answering all these questions (I think there are three or four? Not many, in any event), you need to upload a ‘passport’ photo of yourself (or, if you are applying on someone else’s behalf, then their photo!). It doesn’t have to actually be a passport photo. They just say this because actual passport photos have all the features that are required for a Priority Card. You can use a picture that isn’t an official passport photo, so long as it follows the following rules: the photo must be of your full face, you must not be wearing a hat (in the photo), it must be in portrait format, and it must not have any filter applied to it. That’s it! Just upload your photo, fill out some contact information, and you’re done! 

Then, on the first day of your visit to the Parks, head over to the City Hall (for Disney Park), Guest Relations (the Studios Park), or at the reception desk of a Disney hotel (if you are staying at a Disney hotel, that is). Because of all of the reminders you set, you will have remembered to bring along your original documents!

Applying In-Person

Applying in person is basically the same process as applying online, so that’s easy! This time, we head to one of the three spots where we could pick up our card in the previous example: the dedicated desk at the entrance to the Disney Park, the designated desk at the entrance to the Studios Park, or the reception desk at a Disney hotel (if you are staying there as a guest). As before, you can ask one of the Cast Members at the entrance to the Parks to direct you to the correct desk. We just go to one of those locations, ask to speak to a staff member about applying for a Priority Card, and they’ll help you out.

When applying in person, we need the same documentation as we would if we were applying online. So, all that stuff we learned before about what documents from our home country will be accepted stays the same. Phew! As we’re applying in person, we’ve got one of those documents with us when we apply.

Here, the staff members will ask you how long your visit is, so they can make sure the Priority Card is valid for your whole stay (or for seven days, whichever is shorter). Then, the staff will ask you the same mobility questions as we would be asked online. As we applied in person, we were able to ask a few clarifying questions (which we had, unquestionably, overthought), which made the process a little easier for us. After answering the questions, the staff members will then take your (or your loved one’s) photo for the card. As the cards were being printed, the staff member kindly told us all about the cards and how they could be used. Though if you’ve made it to this point in the guide, you will likely be an expert already!