I had the opportunity to visit Disneyland Paris as a personal side excursion while on a business trip last month and it was nothing short of magical! Full disclosure, I did NOT plan my day at the park (due to lack of notice and too many things to prepare in a short period of time) and it definitely impacted my experience. This post will provide an overview of the visit, general lodging/transportation info for the surrounding area, and what I will do differently next time.
First, Paris is E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!! You're probably thinking I'm a dummy for stating the obvious, but I really had no idea how much $$$ it would be until I was shelling out 35 Euros to catch a 15-minute train ride to the airport. If you're thinking of visiting Paris - and more specifically, Disneyland - do yourself a favor and get as much of the financial planning figured out as you can! Don't let the sticker shock be your lingering memory.
I only had 24 hours in Paris so I had to make it count. I was traveling from London and would have loved to take the Eurostar train but it was far more expensive than flying - at least $100 more. Definitely check both options if you have more than four weeks of notice for your trip because I think the train would be a lovely experience. My airfare was purchased with Air France and their service was fantastic; they provided ample snacks for the short flights (both ways) and didn't skimp on the pleasantries. Transportation from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport is a bit of an issue; we took a cab from the airport to our hotel about 20 miles away and the total cost was over 60 Euros. There are a couple of train options, one of which I mentioned above - the TGV; you can also take the RER train, which I've heard is cheaper but may not go to the exact destination that is required. I don't have experience with the RER train from the airport but you can check the
Disney Tourist Blog for his input.
We stayed offsite in an aptly titled "aparthotel", which is a lot like a studio apartment. There is a bathroom, sitting area, separate bedroom, dining, and small kitchen. The cost was about $98USD for one weekend night and the room could sleep four people comfortably. It wasn't fancy, but it was practical and clean. The front desk is only staffed for about 10-12 hours a day and the after-hours check-in is super easy to use. I felt very safe in this location and wouldn't hesitate to stay here again. If interested, check out the Sejours et Affaires Serris Rive Gauche. It's very close to the Val d'Europe RER A line, which is just one stop away from Disneyland. If you search for any location within 1/2 mile of this train station then you'll probably be fine.
My traveling companion is a military spouse and Disneyland had no issue with providing a fantastic military discount - it's normally 99EUR per day for a ticket for one park but we secured 2-day 2-parks for 75EUR each. Snag this discount if you can get it! One military ID will work to get tickets for up to four people.
The Disneyland resort is divided into two parks: Parc Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios park. The first thing I noticed about Parc Disneyland is that it felt HUGE. It took quite a while to walk between lands, which meant that the crowds weren't noticeable until I needed 1) a bathroom, 2) food, or 3) to wait in line for a ride. Food was especially difficult to obtain because most kiosks and quick-service restaurants in the park appeared to be closed before 11am. I finally found a kiosk near Adventureland that sold donuts but at 10:30am he told me that I was his first customer of the day. If I could go back, I would have carried a granola bar into the park with me or taken advantage of the breakfast provided at the hotel.
Lunch was an equally unruly beast because it seemed like most park attendees flocked to the restaurants at 11:30am - and this was different than the US parks because Paris is not well-suited for food lines. There were only a couple of cashiers at each location and the wait in line was just as long as the wait for some attractions! We hadn't made dining reservations before the trip but I really wish I had. We tried securing last-minute reservations at table-service restaurants and were told it would be a couple of hours before they could get us in (totally understand, didn't expect them to have same-day openings at all.) We actually turned to Disney Village (Paris' version of Downtown Disney) and waited about 20 minutes for a table at Planet Hollywood. In a word - gross. Definitely don't wait for a meal here, in fact, you can probably avoid this option completely. The service is terrible and the food is only sub-par. The most disgusting part of the restaurant is the bathroom, which looked and smelled like it hadn't been cleaned for weeks. If I had to make a recommendation, I would probably point someone in the direction Earl of Sandwich or Rainforest Cafe in Disney Village.
The attractions are pretty great although we were only able to experience Pirates of the Caribbean, Ratatouille, and Tower of Terror because most other options were either down for refurbishment or were intermittently available that day due to maintenance issues. However, there were a lot of other fun side experiences in the parks that I really hope the US parks will adopt. Most notably, the Alice in Wonderland hedge maze is so cute! It's a lot of fun for both kids and adults and there are several opportunities for photos.
Ratatouille is hands-down my favorite unique attraction at Disneyland Paris and I would return if only to experience this ride again. The exit from the ride also featured glimpses into the Bistrot Chez Remy restaurant and it's definitely now on my bucket list! Speaking of food, there weren't many interesting snacks in the parks but we snagged a 25th anniversary candy apple and it was probably the best candy apple I've ever had!
Souvenirs were also somewhat difficult to find, especially unique items branded with the Disneyland Paris logo. They seem to have a shortage of t-shirt prints compared to the US parks and they don't have much Star Wars gear at all despite the store being completely packed with shoppers. I settled for an R2-D2 Disneyland Paris mug for my husband and a Christmas ornament and magnet for myself.
Lastly, I'll end on the language barrier. I didn't meet any person, cast member or otherwise, that could not speak English. Some of the spoken directions on the trains and other locations were in French but most people were happy to accommodate English. If you're learning or familiar with French, like myself, then you may find it a fun learning experience to test your knowledge and find your way around the parks.
In summary, I had a blast at Disneyland Paris! It's a beautiful park with a lot of interesting nuances and I will definitely return. I wish I had planned my meals and transportation in advance but I don't have a single regret about the experience.
