Easing into the journey: Premier Inn Folkestone

With children, a brutally early start is never fun. To make things easier, on 3 June we drove down and stayed at the Premier Inn in Folkestone.

It was the perfect way to break up the journey:

• No middle‑of‑the‑night wake‑ups.
• A relaxed evening arrival.
• A proper night’s sleep for everyone before the excitement really began.

Waking up just a short hop from the Eurotunnel made such a difference to how fresh and ready we all felt the next morning.

 

4 June: Eurotunnel & an easy drive to Disney

On 4 June we headed over to Folkestone for our Eurotunnel crossing. I have driven this route before and honestly, it is super easy.

You simply:

• Load the car up with snacks (and the kids!).
• Drive onto the train.
• Sit back and relax for the crossing.

From Calais, it is around a three‑hour drive using the toll roads to reach Disneyland Paris. The roads are straightforward and well signposted. In no time at all you are spotting the first Disney signs and the excitement in the car hits a whole new level.

 

First night: Staycity Aparthotel – space, comfort & handy location

For our first night we stayed at the Staycity Apartments, a Disney partner hotel about a 10‑minute drive from the parks, and I was genuinely impressed.

What worked so well for us:

• Free shuttle bus to Disney Village that only services Staycity, so no endless stops at other hotels.
• Onsite facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, Starbucks, a mini shop and an arcade, which made it so easy to keep everyone happy.
• Spacious rooms: we stayed in a family studio and it felt much bigger than most studios we have used before.
• Perfect for larger groups: the property has apartments and villas with up to 5 bedrooms, ideal for extended family visits or multi‑generational trips.

That evening we took the free shuttle over to Disney Village for our dinner reservation at Billy Bob’s (Tex‑Mex). It was fab:

• The food was absolutely delicious,
• There was loads to choose from,
• The atmosphere was fun and lively, perfect for our first night.

After dinner we browsed the shops, then stopped for a drink at The Royal Pub before heading back to our apartment.

The beds were really comfy and the kids loved their single pull‑out sofa beds. Everyone slept brilliantly, which set us up perfectly for our first full Disney day.

 

5 June: Checking into the magic – Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel

On 5 June we moved over to Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel for our three‑night onsite stay. This hotel blows me away every time. Even the smell as soon as you walk in is incredible and instantly tells you that you are somewhere special.

Staying here comes with some fantastic perks:

• Exclusive access to the Super Hero Station: we met Black Panther and had such fun taking photos with the many props and themed sets.
• Early Magic Entry: as Disney hotel guests we could enter the park before official opening. We made full use of this to go on Big Thunder Mountain without the huge queues, which felt like such a win.

The Marvel theming, artwork and details throughout the hotel make it an absolute dream for Marvel fans, but it still feels stylish and grown‑up for adults too.

 

Extra‑special experiences we booked

To make the trip extra magical, we booked a series of special experiences.

Royal Makeover
My daughter was in her absolute element. The experience included:

• Around 15 minutes browsing and choosing her costume,
• About 20 minutes of hair and make‑up,
• A 20‑minute photoshoot.

Watching her transform into a princess and seeing how proud and excited she was will stay with me forever.

Lightsabre building at Star Traders
While my daughter and I were at the Royal Makeover, my husband and son headed over to Star Traders in Discoveryland to build their own lightsabre. This was a huge hit and such a special Star Wars‑themed memory for them to share.

Super Hero Station at Marvel hotel
As guests of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, we enjoyed the exclusive Super Hero Station, where we met Black Panther and captured some brilliant themed photos.

Lunch at Royal Banquet
Here we met Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and Goofy. The food was excellent, with so much choice, and the character interaction was constant and full of fun. The desserts, in particular, were a big “yum” moment.

Breakfast with Princesses at Royal Régal View Restaurant
We enjoyed pancakes and a really good breakfast while meeting Aurora, Belle, Ariel and Merida. The interaction with the princesses was wonderful: relaxed, generous and very memorable.

Tales of Magic reserved viewing
We secured a Tales of Magic reserved viewing slot, which gave us a great viewpoint for the evening show. These do go quickly, but even if you do not manage to get one, you can still:

• Find a fantastic spot to watch the fireworks, or
• Stand further back down Main Street and enjoy the projections on the buildings.

 

Shows we watched

We really tried to make the most of the entertainment, and managed to see:

• A Million Splashes of Colour: an amazing, colourful parade down Main Street.
• Disney Stars on Parade: starting in Fantasyland and heading towards Main Street, packed with characters, music and magic.
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic: an incredible 4D production that the whole family loved.
• Pixar’s Together show: a heart‑warming performance featuring much‑loved Pixar characters.
• Disney’s Tales of Magic: the stunning night‑time spectacular of projections, fireworks and music.
• Cascade of Lights in the new Adventure World: a beautiful lakeside show with lights, water and effects.

 

Cascade of Lights: beautiful and relaxed

Cascade of Lights quickly became one of our favourite experiences. It takes place around the lake in the new Adventure World and is completely enchanting.

A big bonus is that you do not need a reserved viewing spot. You can watch from many locations around the lake, which makes it feel more relaxed and less pressured. You simply choose your viewpoint and let the show unfold around you.

 

Where we ate

We enjoyed a mix of table‑service and quick‑service restaurants:

• Billy Bob’s (Disney Village) – brilliant Tex‑Mex, generous portions and a fun atmosphere.
• Downtown (Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel) – great variety and a lovely setting.
• PYM Kitchen (Avengers Campus) – playful “shrunk” and “supersized” dishes inspired by Ant‑Man and the Wasp, very fun for kids and adults alike.
• Bella Notte Pizzeria (quick service) – perfect for a tasty, comforting pizza when we needed something quick between rides.

 

Snack highlights

We took our snack game very seriously and made it part of the fun:

• Large Mickey beignet on Main Street
• A Million Splashes of Colour doughnut
• Nutella crêpes
• Classic Mickey ice creams
• Monsters, Inc. biscuits
• Snowy beignets in Nordic Tavern, World of Frozen
• Olaf ice cream

The children still talk about the colourful doughnut and Olaf ice cream, and for me these little treats are a big part of the Disney magic.

 

Rides we rode (and the ones that got away)

Over the course of our stay, we managed to ride:

• Big Thunder Mountain
• Phantom Manor
• Ratatouille
• Star Tours
• Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
• …and many more!

Our top family favourites were:

• Big Thunder Mountain for the thrills and the fantastic views.
• Buzz Lightyear for the competitive fun with the laser scores.

The one big ride we missed out on was Frozen Ever After. The queues were long every time we checked and, in the end, we just ran out of time. I am choosing to see this as the perfect excuse for another visit… right?

 

A relaxing drink & a touch of sparkle

We also made sure to carve out some calmer moments:

• We enjoyed drinks in the Régal View lounge, a lovely, relaxing bar area that gave us a bit of breathing space away from the buzz of the parks.
• I treated myself to my first Champagne merch flute, which has come home with me as a very special souvenir.

 

Character meets with virtual queues

The virtual queue system worked brilliantly for us and really cut down the time spent standing in line. Using it, we met:

• Elsa & Anna
• Darth Vader
• The Mandalorian
• Spider‑Man

Each meet felt well organised but still magical, with plenty of time for photos and interaction. The kids came away absolutely buzzing.

 

Final thoughts

Our June 2026 Disneyland Paris trip was everything I had hoped for and more:

• Smooth, family‑friendly travel,
• A great combination of offsite and onsite hotels,
• Amazing shows and rides,
• Special experiences and incredible character meets,
• Plus all the little foodie treats and magical moments in between.

If reading this has got you imagining your own Disneyland Paris escape, I would love to help you plan it: from how to travel and where to stay, to which experiences to book to make it truly unforgettable for your family.