Disneyland Paris
I arrived at Marne-la-Vallee Station which is located right in the heart of the park. Shuttle buses take guests to the off-site hotels but a short walk took my to one of the on-site Disney hotel - the New York.
There are 7 Disney-owned themed hotels and 7 associated hotels to choose from. I stayed in a standard room at the Hotel New York – a 4 star Disney property with a New York theme!
The room was a standard 4* room, fairly spacious with 2 double beds....perhaps an upgrade to one of the new Empire Tower rooms may provide more of a view and a wow factor – unfortunately they were not finished during my visit so I was unable to inspect them myself however a client has stayed in one and approved it!
A short walk from the New York hotel took me to the Disney Village where there are numerous restaurants, cafes, the Night Club and of course the first wave of gift shops. Another 5 minute walk and I had arrived at Disney Park and the Studios.
Most of the original rides are written in French however the characters speak for themselves! Instructions are given in both English & French. The new rides are all in English, and the shows are in different languages at different times so language is never a problem.
I don’t generally like rides but I was brave enough to take a trip on the ‘Hollywood Tower of Terror’ and ‘Crushes Coaster’ (don’t be fooled by the adverts depicting a gentle ride through an aquarium!). Both rides were exhilarating in their own way. The Peter Pan and Buzz Lightyear rides are a must for young ‘flyers’.
Be prepared for a deluge of fast food…there is very little else to choose from in the Park itself….and it is not terribly fast!
I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of off-site hotels. ‘Explorers’ is great for families on a budget and has an ‘Aquaplay’ pool for end of day fun! Rooms are compact and functional and adjoining rooms can hold up to 10 people – great for extended families or friends travelling together. Dream Castle and Holiday Inn are both themed with family rooms. Holiday Inn’s bunk beds have their own TV in the curtained off area. Kyriad although only a 2* is a very clean and fresh property with a comfortable atmosphere and perhaps suited to groups of adults, couples or families with older children with little interest in Disney themes – great value. For the more discerning client the Radisson SAS was bright and spacious, a calm atmosphere with its own spa and gym and plenty of comfortable seating areas, inside and out. The restaurants are smaller than the other hotels with soft lighting to give a romantic feel. All the off-site hotels offer disabled rooms, a Disney shop and a shuttle bus.
A quick peek at the Disneyland Hotel left me wishing my daughter was there with me! It has Princess written all over it – from the decor to the playrooms – and little girls can be a “Princess for the Day”.
Disneyland Paris is perfect for families with young children wanting their first Disney experience or for a short break Disney experience without a long haul flight. With hotels to suit all budgets and the option to take the train or fly from all over the UK it is accessible to everyone!
Top Tips Check out the fast pass times and plan your day around them to avoid queuing.
Travel by Eurostar if you possibly can: it is fast, comfortable and hassle free.
Pay the supplement for the Disney Express service – your luggage is taken directly to your hotel so that you can go straight into the park and enjoy yourselves from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.
Take nappies, baby foods and milk with you if you can – they can be hard to find!