Rain, wind, or shine, any trip to a Disney park is likely to be a magical one - and with Disneyland Paris not only being the closest park to Walt Disney's original Disneyland in California in terms of all the intricate and immersive details, but also being less than an hour from one of the most beautiful cities in the world, there is little not to love.
After having the most amazing trip to DLP recently, I compiled a list of tips for anyone thinking of, or looking forward to their own trip. These tips look to maximise the magic throughout your trip, whether you are travelling with a friend, with family or even on your lonesome.
For anyone who has never been to any Disney park before, regardless of location, there are a few things you need to know before you go;
1. Wear comfortable shoes, 90% of the day is spent on your feet.
2. The parks are expensive. There's no beating around the bush, from food to merchandise, Disney is expensive. Be prepared.
3. Make use of the Fast Pass system, I'll go into more detail below.
4. Buy a park hopper pass - there is much more to see when the day is split in two.
For Disneyland Paris specifically, here are my top tips to make your Disneyland Paris trip practically perfect in every way;
1. PRIOR TO BOOKING CHECK THE ATTRACTION CLOSURES AT THE TIME OF YOUR TRIP.
- By far the biggest mistake made from my trip a few weeks ago, was not reading the LIST of refurbishments. The closures included Rock 'N' Roller Coaster, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours, Dumbo, Peter Pan's Flight and tons more, including various shops, restaurants, and walk through attractions. Although these refurbishments are likely to continue into early 2017, they are likely to clear up over the course of next year as the park gears up to celebrate it's anniversary. Still, the amount of closed attractions was hugely disappointing, and we may not have booked had we read over them beforehand.
2. If staying in a Disney hotel, be sure to GET A MEAL PLAN.
- The standard, most basic meal plan (although above the basic hotel restricted one), allows you breakfast, a 'tea time treat', and dinner. Due to the prices inside the parks, and of the restaurants for dinner, the meal plan is by far the best option - especially as at certain times of year, offers become available for the plan.
- Breakfast is a buffet of continental options such as pastries, cereals, and an albeit limited range of fruits at your hotel. Your 'tea time treat' allows you a small drink and a mini ice cream from various places around the park. Dinner allows you a buffet style meal at either the Plaza Gardens or the Agrabah Cafe in the Disneyland park, and Restaurant des Stars in the Studios park.
- Various different kinds of meal plan exist, look into them and decide what one would be best for you and/or your party.
3. Make the most of BREAKFAST.
- If you have opted for a hotel breakfast, be sure to book for between 7-7.30am and BE THERE ON TIME. There is a huge difference in queue in only a matter of minutes after this time, and will hence delay your getting to the park.
- Despite the 'no picnic' signs in the parks, no one will stop you for bringing in your own food. Bring sandwich bags for your trip, and at breakfast, fill them with a few pastries to see you through until lunch.
- Similarly, stock up your bags with condiments like jam, butter and nutella. If you miss breakfast for any reason and decide to purchase a pastry in the park, none of these are likely to be available.
4. Make the most of your MAGIC HOURS.
- If you are staying at a Disney hotel, you will be given a pass at check in that allows you access to the park Magic Hours, where the Disneyland park opens to hotel guests at 8am, which is 2 hours before the public opening at 10am.
- Meet characters during this time. They usually send out more than they do during the day, and it wastes less ride-time during the day.
- Only a select few rides are open during the Magic Hours, so be sure to ask which ones before making a plan.
5. Arrive at the Studios park at least HALF AN HOUR BEFORE OPENING.- MAGIC HOURS DO NOT APPLY TO THE STUDIOS PARK. It is stated to open at 10am. However, as this park contains most of the rides with the longest wait, be sure to be there between 9 and 9.30am, in order to get close to the front of the crowd.
- The Studios park also has a habit of opening before the stated time to ease crowds, so the earlier you're there, the better.
- When you enter the park, head directly to Crush's Coaster. The line will become much longer later in the day, and for some reason, Fast Passes are unavailable.
6. Make the most of the FAST PASS SYSTEM.- As soon as you exit Crush's Coaster, head direct to Ratatouille, and get your Fast Pass. The line for Ratatouille (and even the queue to get a Fast Pass as soon as the park opens) can be seemingly miles long.
- While waiting for your Fast Pass, visit the attractions throughout the rest of the park. Personally, I didn't mind waiting in a long queue in between times (for example, the rides in Toy Story Land), because it meant you almost get two big rides in for the price of one wait.
- This can also be used in the Disneyland Park, but due to the closures and refurbishments, we didn't find it as necessary.
7. If a ride breaks down, WAIT IT OUT.
- Not only will the line diminish as people begin to leave, but if you wait long enough, a cast member will give you a special Fast Pass to use on the ride when it starts back up again later on in the day.
8. Pack for ALL WEATHERS.
- Unlike most other Disney parks, the weather is unpredictable.- Everyday of our trip in early June, we had a taste of all weathers. We had hot. We had cold. We had sun. We had rain. We had wind. We had a thunderstorm.
- Pack sunglasses, layers, and a poncho. You'll thank me later.
9. DO NOT EXCHANGE CURRENCY within the Disney complex.
- Going with the same theme of Disney being very expensive, so is their exchange rate.
- The exchange rate is so poor it would be worth changing currency at the airport on your way, or taking a trip to Val D'Europe if you really need to grab cash.
10. DO NOT COMPARE DISNEYLAND PARIS TO OTHER DISNEY PARKS. (!!!!!!!)
- Countless times when I was little, I was told that "now that [I] had been to Disney World, Disneyland Paris would be a disappointment". Nevertheless, in 2008, I was taken to DLP and proved my mum and dad wrong, finding the same magic there as I found in Disney World.
- Do not go in with the attitude that you are going to be disappointed, or you probably will. - This park may be smaller, but the attention to detail is truly outstanding and immersive. It is a beautiful park in it's own right.
- This is a different park, and should be treated as such, and you will really see how magical the whole experience is.
Whether you take these tips on board or not, Disneyland Paris is always going to make a wonderful holiday. The parks and area itself are beautiful, the lines for rides are generally shorter, and for many people around Europe, it is all the magic of Disneyland/Disney World in the US only a couple hours flight away, and for people travelling from North America, it is that same magic you know and love, with a French twist.
