If UJ had a spirit animal, we’re pretty sure it would be Minnie Mouse – a bit of sass, fun loving, and seriously stylish (Miu Miu, Gucci, Louis Vuitton… she’s been dressed by all). And then there’s the rest of them – Mickey, Goofy, Donald and Daisy – we love ‘em, too. So when the chance to meet the gang at DISNEYLAND PARIS came our way, well, just try to stop us.
About the Park
We love a good theme and, well, Disneyland is a theme park – on steroids. Add Christmas into the equation and things get serious. Snowflakes, lights, baubles, gingerbread men, frozen princesses, Christmas trees. And we haven’t even left Main Street yet. On your first day, we say do a couple of rides but concentrate on exploring the park – from the Wild West steak houses and saloons in Frontierland and Adventureland, to fairy castles in Fantasyland, and space travel in Discoveryland, it’s total sensory overload, in a very, very good way. Plus, strolling the pavement is how you’ll run into childhood icons. We loved how here, these are the celebs (with Mickey and Minnie causing Brangelina like hysteria). Think cameras, bodyguards, and kids with autograph books.
Rides
Rollercoasters, space mountains, and free falls… they’ve got them all, from the typical (think Indiana Jones, Finding Nemo, Toy Story), to the more random (our fave – the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster blasting Aerosmith jams…why not?). But enough about the adrenaline packed rides. Try some down-tempo ones, too. We loved newbie Ratatouille: The Adventure – Think Parisian rooftops, a 3D ride and even some olfactory tech thrown in. And then there are the classics – our vote goes to “It’s A Small World” – playful, camp and kitsch.
Hotels
There are seven hotels, and yes, most are Americana themed. Log cabins, Route 66, country clubs, ranches. We stayed at Rockefeller Centre, aka Disney’s Hotel New York, and just like the real deal, there’s an ice rink out front. Plus, being a five minute walk from the park makes it a great option for those who take their Disney seriously. But otherwise, it’s a hotel for functionality: clean rooms, room service, pool (nice for a time out). Alternatively, go for a day trip (20 min by train). Disney by day and Paris by night. Win!
Top Tip
Make sure to get a FASTPASS® ticket, available to all guests. It will save you hours of queuing.
Details
Prices for a two-night/three-day package including return travel with Eurostar start from £1,322.20 based on a family of four sharing (children aged 3-11).
Eurostar operates a daily direct service in each direction to Disneyland Resort Paris.
Fares are from £69 return (adult) £49 return (child aged 4-11 on day of travel) and children under 4 years-old travel free (not allocated a seat)
