If you’re heading out to Disneyland Paris for a few days, you would be well advised to take a look at a map before you leave home.

We’re not talking about a map telling you how to get there though (although it would be a good idea if you have never been before). We’re talking about an actual map of the park itself. This is one huge place after all, and if you leave the exploration until you get there you could find yourself spending lots of time wandering around getting overwhelmed.

We’re not suggesting you plan a precise route on how to get round Disneyland Paris. But even if all you do is familiarise yourself with where the different lands are, you’ll be much better placed to start enjoying the park when you arrive.

For starters, take a look at the various different parts of the park. Main Street USA is the main section that leads you right into the centre of the park. From this point you can branch off towards any of the remaining four areas. These are Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland, going round in a clockwise fashion. Main Street USA sits at the bottom of the map with Frontierland to the left and Discoveryland to the right.

Obviously each area has its own range of rides and attractions to enjoy. If you want to see the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle you’ll need to head up Main Street and keep going. It won’t take long for you to spot it.

If you bear this basic map in mind, with the locations of each part of the park, you will be able to make the most of the park when you get there. You will soon get used to which rides are in which section, and you’ll know which parts you can go back to as well, depending on where your favourites are.

You can probably see that studying the map is a great way to get motivated and excited about your holiday. It also has the double advantage of preparing you for going in the right direction when you arrive.