Disneyland in the USA has always been a popular holiday destination for Australian families with both kids and adults alike happy to spend a day or two in their own ‘Fantasyland’ but since 1992 the Disneyland name has also become synonymous with Paris. Originally called Euro Disney, the Disney Corporation built one of the finest parks of its kind, taking its lead from the original Disneyland in California.
Disneyland Paris is home to almost all the famous attractions of the Californian version including Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World and Big Thunder Mountain, but all with a slight French influence. And best of all for the kids, they can meet all their favourite characters, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Daisy, as they wander through the park.
Under its new name, Disneyland Paris Resort, the park consists of two separate theme parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios, as well as three on-resort hotels, but for those preferring to stay in Paris itself, the resort is easily accessible by public transport. A 35 minute ride on the RER A4 take passengers from central Paris to the Marne-La-Vallée/Chessy station, right in front of the main entrance to the Disney Parks and close to the Disney hotels.
With so much to see and two parks to discover, it’s always hard to know how much time to allow for a visit to Disneyland Paris Resort, but there are options to suit everyone. You can get a 1 day/2 Park Discovery ticket or 2 night/3 day packages including on-resort accommodation and a 3 day ticket
Mid-July until mid-September are definitely the busiest times at Disneyland Paris Resort, so to make the most of your time and to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the main attractions, a Park Hopper pass and a FASTPASS are a great idea. A Park Hopper pass allows you to jump between the Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios parks whenever you want. This is especially useful if you only have one day to spend at Disneyland, as the best of both parks can be sampled.
FASTPASS is a free service that allows you more convenient access to the main attractions by reducing the waiting time in line at a number of the most popular rides including Indiana Jones™ and the Temple of Peril, Space Mountain: Mission 2, Big Thunder Mountain and Peter Pan's Flight. To obtain your FASTPASS, you simply insert your admission ticket into the FASTPASS machine at the entrance to each particular attraction. You will be issued with a FASTPASS ticket indicating a return time so you can go off and enjoy other activities in the Park and return in time for your scheduled ride. This eliminates the need to queue up for long periods of time – definitely a good option with children. Only one FASTPASS ticket per person can be issued at a time so you’ll need to use your first FASTPASS before you can obtain another for a different attraction.
Don’t be put off by the fact that Disneyland Paris Resort is in a non-English s peaking country. The park is well prepared for English speaking guests with most staff speaking English and all attractions signposted in English as well as French.
If your kids have always wanted to visit Disneyland but you are lured by a European holiday, a visit to Disneyland Paris Resort could be the answer. You’ll still get to see all the famous icons of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, but you’ll also have the added bonus of seeing the kids’ eyes light up as they wander down Main Street. A family holiday to suit everyone – now that’s what dreams are made of!
Tips for a family friendly visit to Disneyland Paris Resort
- Want to avoid the big crowds? Try going when the kids are in school on a weekday if you're able to. Most British and European families only visit on weekends and during the school holidays, so try to schedule your visit for a Monday to Thursday wherever possible.
- Buy your tickets in advance – they are usually cheaper and it will save you valuable time at the Park as you won’t need to queue at the gate to purchase your tickets. Your BYOkids consultant can arrange this for you.
- Arrive as early as possible to avoid the biggest crowds and the hottest part of the day.
- Get a FASTPASS for Big Thunder Mountain (one of the Park’s most popular rides) as soon as the park opens so you don't have to wait in the long lines which can be long even a few minutes after opening.
- Bring plenty of snacks to keep the kids happy, and remember to drink plenty of water. Even on a relatively mild day the sun reflecting off the concrete can increase the temperature substantially.
- Save money by taking your own lunch (be French and bring your own baguettes!) as the cafes and stores inside Disneyland Paris Resort can be quite expensive. Article courtesy of www.holidaystoeurope.com.au
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