Packing for my next Disneyland Paris trip, I couldn't decide how much bottled water to bring with me. And then it hit; why not drink tap water instead.
Being chronically ill, I try to travel as light as I can. Any extra weight or bulk consumes energy I would rather spend enjoying my vacation. As I was stuffing bottles of water into my suitcase, occasionally lifting it to check the weight, I thought of how ridiculous it was that I was packing more water than clothes.
So I decided to check online if the tap water at Disneyland hotels is drinkable. If it was, I could take one or two bottles with me, and simply refill them as needed. I didn't expect to find a lot of info, but apparently I wasn't the first person unwilling to travel with a suitcase full of bottles of water (or too much of a scrooge to buy bottles locally).
Within seconds of entering my search in Google, I learned that not only is the tap water at DLRP and France in general drinkable, many people seem to agree it tastes better than the water in their home town (must be the Disney magic).
There are drinking fountains in the parks where you can fill an empty bottle, so you could get by with just one half liter bottle all day. I have to admit, though, I'm a little concerned about hygiene when it comes to drinking fountains. Probably unjustified, and a result of having never used them (they only started popping up in Belgium a couple of years ago). Note; the drinking fountains are turned off during the winter months to prevent the lines from freezing.
If you're dining out, you can order free tap water and save quite a bit, assuming you're okay with drinking plain old H2O. During my last trip, my friends and I ordered 2 bottles of water instead of separate glasses each during our buffet dinner, making the drinks no more expensive than at a Belgian restaurant. To save even more, ask for "une carafe d'eau" and you'll get a jug of tap water for free. You can watch a short video of the Sequoia Lodge buffet here.
People with a highly sensitive stomach may experience some discomfort the first day or so, because the composition is different to what they're used to. Everyone else should be fine, though.
A few people commented on the water tasting like chlorine. If you can leave the freshly filled bottles open for a while, that should get rid of the worst of the chlorine taste/smell. Alternatively, you can bring some squash (flavoured syrup) to change the taste to your liking.
Budget tip: if you prefer bottled water, it's supposedly cheaper at the train station and at the petrol station near Santa Fe. If you're staying outside of the resort, or don't mind leaving the magic for a bit, you could also go to the supermarket at Val-d'Europe (the Auchan supermarket has a budget section).
Conclusion; all tap water at Disneyland Paris and surrounding area, unless clearly marked otherwise, is safe to drink. Whether it tastes good, well, as they say in French; des goûts et des couleurs, on ne discute pas.
