Disneyland Paris Resort

In May 2011 I was fortunate enough to experience Disneyland Paris Resort. May is a good time of the year to go as the weather is pleasant, without being too hot and the parks are not as busy as in the summer months. I arrived by Eurostar from St Pancras station in London after a journey that took around 2 hours 45 minutes. This was my first time through the channel tunnel and my first time on Eurostar. I really enjoyed the experience and believe that if you are not too far away from London then this is definitely the way to go. It is far more relaxed than flying, with fewer restrictions on luggage and more comfortable seating; if you are taking small children then this is definitely the best option in my opinion.

The train arrives at Marne la Vallee - Chessy Station right outside the park gates and your luggage can be left at the station and delivered straight to your Disney Hotel room leaving you time to go and play straight way. Likewise, at the end of your break your luggage can be delivered straight to the station for you to collect on your way home. I was in the park on the last day until 6.15pm and the train left at 7.30pm, allowing me to squeeze every last minute of Disney time into my break.

I stayed at Disney’s Newport Bay Club, which is a three star hotel about a 10 minute walk to the park gates. The hotel is good and is worthy of its three stars but it’s not luxurious and serves as a good base at a reasonable price. I was able to visit some of the other Disney Hotels whilst I was there to see how they compared. The two star Hotel Santa Fe and Hotel Cheyenne are the best value hotels and personally I preferred The Cheyenne from these two. If you would like a little more luxury and to be nearer to the park then the four star Hotel New York would suit. But if money is not a problem and you really want the wow factor then you must stay at the Disneyland Hotel. This is right at the entrance to the Park.

The Disneyland Paris complex is divided into three main areas, Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios, and The Disney Village. The Disneyland Park is where the magic happens and the dreams come true. From Sleeping Beauty’s’ Castle to Space Mountain there is something for everyone, with shows and parades going on throughout the day and into the evening. Based along the lines of Disneyworld in Florida, but on a smaller scale, the park has enough to keep children of all ages entertained.

The studios next door are also similar to Disneyworld Florida but again on a smaller scale. All the usual favourites are there such as the Tower of Terror, the Rock and Roller Coaster and the Studio Tram Tour! If you are interested in Finding Nemo, then Crushes Coaster will appeal to you. It’s a family roller coaster ride in the dark!

When you are ready for a change of pace then the Disney Village is the place to go. Here you can shop and dine and even go to the cinema. If you are feeling hungry then why not eat at Annette’s Diner where the staff are on roller skates, or watch a Wild West Show at Buffalo Bill’s with Mickey and Friends!

I have to say that I did see the characters more often in the Paris parks than when I was in Florida - probably because it is not as big. If this is important to you and you have small children you won’t be disappointed. All in all, a trip to Disneyland Paris would be well worth it for anyone, but especially for families with young children. I stayed for 2 nights but in all honesty I think that 3 nights are needed to see everything properly. Paris itself is easily accessible from here so if you wanted to see some of the sights of the city then perhaps extend your break to a 4/5 night and soak up some of what else Paris has to offer one day.