Disneyland Paris: My Latest Visit, Top Tips & What’s New

Three nights, two very different hotel experiences

For our first night, we stayed at Dreams Castle, just outside Disneyland Paris. This was actually my first time staying off-site at Disneyland Paris, so I was really interested to see how the experience compared.

Dreams Castle is a beautiful hotel with impressive grounds, a large outdoor pool and a shuttle service that gets you to the Disney Parks in a few minutes. For families looking for an alternative to a onsite Disney Hotel, it can be a really good option.

We then moved on-site for two nights at Disney Newport Bay Club, a hotel I have stayed at before and really enjoy.

Having now experienced both options on the same trip, I have to say that I personally still prefer staying on-site. For me, one of the biggest benefits is simply being able to walk between your hotel and the parks. I love having the freedom to nip back to the hotel during the day, have a little break and then head back into the parks feeling refreshed for the evening.

That can be particularly useful when travelling with children, when trying to fit in a full Disney day from morning until fireworks can be a lot!

During the trip, we also spent time inside Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel and Disney Sequoia Lodge, giving me another opportunity to compare the different hotels, locations and styles.

One thing I always explain to my customers is that there isn't one "best" Disneyland Paris hotel. It really depends on your budget, who you're travelling with and what matters most to you. Having now experienced both on-site and off-site stays myself means I can give an even more balanced recommendation.

Stepping into Arendelle – World of Frozen

One of the biggest highlights of the trip was getting to experience the incredible new World of Frozen.

Walking into Arendelle really does feel like stepping straight into the film. The attention to detail is incredible, from the scenery and buildings to all the little touches that bring the land to life.

And of course, I couldn't visit Arendelle without sending a postcard home!

It's those little Disney details that I love. World of Frozen adds a completely new experience to Disneyland Paris and is definitely something families will want to factor into their park plans.

We had plenty of time across both Disney Parks, experiencing the attractions old and new and, naturally, squeezing in as many rides as possible!

Making the most of Disney Premier Access

During the trip we used Disney Premier Access, which meant we could maximise our time and experience far more of the attractions without spending as much of our day queueing.

Being able to experience Ultimate Access myself is really useful because it's something customers often ask me about.

Is it worth it? Do you need it? Should you buy it for every day?

The answer really depends on when you're travelling, how busy the parks are, which rides are important to your family and how much time you have.

It's another example of where first-hand experience makes such a difference. I can help my customers decide whether it's worth adding rather than simply assuming everybody needs it.

Princess dining and plenty of Disney food!

We managed to fit in some very different dining experiences too.

We ate at Rosalie for dinner in the Disney Village, enjoyed a more casual lunch at the Sports Bar, a few quick service meals including the infamous Mickey shaped pizza, and one of the real highlights was our special dining experience at Regal View.

Here we met a few Princesses during dinner before heading out to experience the magical new night time show, Cascade of Lights. The storytelling, projections, fireworks and drones all come together so beautifully that it genuinely gave me goosebumps.

Character dining can be such a lovely addition to a Disneyland Paris holiday, particularly for families with children who have a favourite character or Princess. It gives you the chance to enjoy those interactions as part of the experience rather than spending precious park time waiting to meet characters elsewhere.

And then there are those Disney evenings...

Standing in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle watching the fireworks illuminate the sky is one of those moments that never loses its magic.

No matter how many times I visit, I'll always stop and watch.

Pure Disney magic.

A full day behind the scenes with Disney

It wasn't all rides, Princesses and fireworks!

An important part of this particular trip was a full day in conference with Disney, learning about the latest developments, what's coming next and important updates across Disneyland Paris and the wider Disney offering.

As a Disney Ambassador for Travel Counsellors, keeping my knowledge current is a really important part of what I do.

Disney holidays can feel overwhelming when you first start planning. Which hotel? How many nights? Which tickets? Do you need Premier Access? Where should you eat? What needs pre-booking? What extras are actually worth paying for?

That's where trips like this become so valuable.

I'm not simply reading about these things online or looking at a brochure. I'm staying in the hotels, walking the routes, eating in the restaurants, trying the rides and experiences and learning directly from Disney about the latest developments.

It means when a customer asks me a question, there's a very good chance I've experienced it myself.

My top tips for Disneyland Paris

1. Choose your hotel based on how you'll actually use it.
There are some fantastic off-site options, as I discovered at Dreams Castle, and they can offer excellent value and facilities. Personally, though, I love staying on-site for the convenience of being able to walk to and from the parks.

2. Don't underestimate the value of a hotel break.
Disney days can be long! Being able to nip back to your hotel for a rest, swim or change of clothes before heading back out for dinner, rides and fireworks can completely change the pace of your holiday.

3. Know your must-do attractions before you travel.
You don't need to plan every minute, but have an idea of the rides and experiences nobody wants to miss. You can then build the rest of your day around them.

4. Use Premier Access strategically.
You don't necessarily need it for everything. Depending on when you're travelling, your priorities and the length of your stay, it can be really useful for maximising your park time.

5. Book special dining experiences in advance.
If meeting the Princesses or enjoying a particular restaurant is important to you, plan ahead. These special experiences can become some of the most memorable moments of the whole trip.

6. Give yourself enough time for both parks.
Disneyland Paris has so much more to offer than Sleeping Beauty Castle. With World of Frozen, newer attractions and experiences alongside all the Disney classics, you'll want time to explore properly rather than rushing from one thing to another.

7. Stay for the evening magic.
Even if it means having a break during the afternoon, try to make it back for the night time entertainment. Seeing the castle illuminated and watching the fireworks is such a special way to finish a Disney day.

Why first-hand experience matters

These trips are invaluable to me as a Travel Counsellor and Disney Ambassador.

Of course, I love Disney personally, but from a work perspective, every visit adds another layer to the advice I can give my customers.

I've now experienced Disneyland Paris both on-site and off-site, stayed in and visited several of the hotels, tried different restaurants, used Premier Access, experienced World of Frozen and the newest attractions, enjoyed character dining and spent time learning directly from Disney about what's happening now and what's coming next.

It means I can help you plan a Disneyland Paris holiday based not just on what's written in a brochure, but on genuine personal experience.

Because no two families will experience Disney in exactly the same way – and there isn't one perfect Disney holiday that suits everyone.

My job is to help you find your version of it.

Three nights, two parks, two very different hotel stays, plenty of rides, Princesses, Arendelle, fireworks, lots of food and a full day learning what's next for Disney.

I came home with even more knowledge, even more enthusiasm and plenty of ideas for my customers' next magical adventure.

And really… is there such a thing as too many trips to Disney? (I  hope not as I am off there again in a couple of months' time!)