The Journey: Edinburgh to the Magic in Minutes

We flew from Edinburgh with EasyJet, arriving at Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) after a surprisingly quick flight. Usually, a taxi is the go-to, but we decided to give the train a try this time—and I’m so glad we did!

The TGV from the airport to Marne-la-Vallée took only 9 minutes. The boys loved the novelty of a double-decker train, and for us adults, it was a total breeze. Once we hopped off, it was just a short, secure walk through the village and straight toward the parks.

Our Forest Retreat: Disney’s Sequoia Lodge

We stayed at Disney’s Sequoia Lodge, which has a wonderful, rustic "forest" feel. We shared a room with two double beds which worked perfectly for the four of us.

• The Vibe: The rooms are Bambi themed, which is adorable. They do feel a little dated, but it actually fits the cozy, woodland lodge aesthetic quite well.
• The Food: We opted for a breakfast-only plan. While the food was lovely, we did find dinner at the hotel quite expensive when we tried it once, so we explored other options for the rest of the trip.
• The Pool: A huge highlight! It’s in a separate building and felt so peaceful. It has a flume, a jacuzzi, and waterfalls that the kids could climb behind.

Navigating the Parks

Disneyland Paris is made up of two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios. Both were about a 15-minute walk from our hotel through the Disney Village—a great stretch of shops and restaurants.

Travel Tip: Accessibility & Neurodiversity

If you are travelling with someone who has neurodivergent needs, head straight to City Hall with your evidence. They provide a pass and a time-sheet system. This is a game-changer as it allows you to avoid long physical queues; you simply get a return time and can go enjoy other parts of the park in the meantime.

Birthday Magic at Disneyland Park

We spent a full day exploring all five lands. We started on Main Street, which is modeled after Walt Disney’s hometown. Our first stop was City Hall to collect a birthday badge for Jack, who was celebrating turning 7!

• Character Breakfast: We booked a character breakfast which was a hit, meeting 5 or 6 characters while we ate. My only small gripe? No Mickey or Minnie that morning!
• The Parades: Disney’s Splash of Colour was great fun, but the Disney Electrical Sky Parade over the castle at night was truly phenomenal. It was one of those "goosebumps" moments.

Thrills at Walt Disney Studios

This park was all about the shows and the big hits.

• The Shows: We saw Stitch Live! (which was surprisingly hilarious) and the Mickey the Magician show.
• The Rides: The Spider-Man ride was the clear winner for Alex and Auntie Irene—they went on it multiple times!
• A Fair Warning: Then there’s Crush’s Coaster. I took a travel sickness tablet beforehand and still struggled. Alex loved it, but the rest of us were ready to lie down in the middle of the pavement afterwards. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Top Tips for Your Trip

• The Breakfast Hack: Since we only had the breakfast dining plan, I highly recommend packing a little extra from the buffet into a lunchbox. Park food is pricey, so having those snacks on hand is a lifesaver.
• MCD’s to the Rescue: We chose to eat at the McDonald’s in Disney Village a few times to keep costs down and keep things simple for the kids.
• Wear Comfy Shoes: It is a lot of walking. Even with the magic, little legs (and big ones!) get tired, so make sure to build in time for rests.

Having been to Disney World in Florida before, I wasn't sure if this would feel "smaller" to the kids, but I needn't have worried. Seeing that look of pure wonder on their faces reminded me that no matter which park you're in, Disney magic is universal.