I need to be honest with my friend and admit that her 50th birthday outing will be too much for me, but feel bad saying it!

[Winterysun]

I'm only two years older than her, am sociable, enjoy going out and I work - BUT I also need 'recharge' time, as I'm more introverted than her.

The planned day is Disneyland Paris, which will mean getting on a coach at 6 am, arriving mid-morning and not getting home until midnight/1 am. I've done Disneyland Paris before when my children were young, and loved it but we stayed for long weekends, rather than rushing around in a day!

I've done similar things before, but feel wiped out by the afternoon after such an early start, and with a lively group I won't have that 'chill time' to get my energy back for the evening (meal & probably a lot to drink)!

I'd love to still celebrate with her, ie, theatre, lunch & sightseeing, local restaurant etc but don't want to disappoint her! Would any of you admit you don't fancy it, or go anyway and possibly struggle to keep up?

See I sort of think a 1 day trip to Paris for lunch at be okay.

But I live in London. I'd do Eurostar so journey is comfortable, starting at say 8ish and have a chilled lunch then head beck tea time. That maybe fun for a one off.

Disney 1 day ticket would be £100? I'd also feel sick on a coach particularly after boozing or big dinner!

If my friend posted this as a suggestion, I would honestly think it was a wind up.

Disneyland for a 50th!

Are you sure it isn't a wind up ? 😂

I am a massive extrovert and this would be much too much for me. I just couldn’t do it (the early start, the long queues, the boozy lunch, the long journey back) I wouldn’t be entertaining this idea.

I would be honest if it’s a close friend op. Others may pull out as well. Why not stay overnight? Or organise something else for her.

There comes a point when we start to prioritize comfort and rest.

It’s a no from me - sounds awful

It sounds like a brilliant way to celebrate a birthday! I'd go for it, but perhaps take an hour to yourself in the afternoon where you can sit quietly with a drink on your own.

I can't get past people wanting to go to DLP without kids. However it's your friend and a special birthday, I'd go along with it.

Posted this on another thread asking what you can't live without in winter and it's somehow appeared here! I'm so sorry OP! Total glitch in the matrix!

Have you ever tried to have a ‘quiet’ drink in Disneyland? 🤣

M&S long sleeve Heatgen thermal tops. I live in them. Warm and stylish!

Actually quite handy if the OP does go.

That's what I'd do.

It's your friends 50th. So you go, it's not about you.. I have loads of health issues and often can't go out. But for my friends big birthdays, I make sure I am there, however I am and whatever I am doing. If you need some recharge time mid afternoon then take it, but I wouldn't duck out altogether because of this.

I'd meet them there and fly Gatwick to Paris. I'd probably stay over night too, so fly in, meet them, do the park then have a night to myself to decompress from the busy busy day and way too many people, then fly home the next day.

she sounds 50 going on 5 yrs old. I mean WTF - Disney L Paris???

Anywhere else and I'd make the effort but not for Snow White et les sept nains. NON merci!

I'd feel like a right tit going there without under 5s TBH. The woman is nuts.

Now if it was a day trip to Boulogne or similar to have baguettes,vino and cheese all day and laughs a minute I'd be first in the queue.

Personally I'd hate to arrive at a Disney park mid morning- you've wasted half the day and will queue more! I'd be too annoyed to enjoy myself.

But that's not what you were worried about sorry

If I had to go to France for the day I’d rather make it food focused not wandering around a theme park. A gastronomic day in France, now you're talking. Rollercoasters, junk food and long queues, no thanks.

Drinking and eating cheese? NON merci!
Isn't it funny how we all like different things?

I'm mid 30s and think the same as you 😅

I can't even find a coach package for this sort of trip! I have seen overnight ones.

It will be an awful day as you won't actually get in any rides unless you buy express passes. (I would hate it as miss out on so much and I have done all 4 Disney world parks in one day "for fun" around my 50th.

So even as a huge Disney fan this would be such a waste of money with so many downsides. So just decline now really. Say you get coach sick.

I know what you mean. I'd hate it but I'd probably be able to get through the day. My preference would be for a hotel at the end of the trip rather than the beginning. No complex arrangements to meet up at the beginning of the day, and no worrying about feeling queasy on the coach home after a big boozy dinner.

If you need time out in the day for quiet, offer to do a coffee run or something and find a huge queue to stand in and read your book / phone.

I think we can forget it’s actually ok to politely decline an invitation, particularly if you offer an alternative celebration for the birthday. “It’s not really my thing Samantha, but I’d love to take you for afternoon tea sometime soon”

If she is a good friend, she will understand why you don't want to come and offer to take her out for a meal at home instead.

It seems like an insanely long and expensive day and arriving mid/late morning means the parks will be at their busiest when you get there.

If I did such a trip I can see me being snappy on the way back, and I have never managed to sleep while travelling.

I'm on the introverted side but I could easily cope with a full day like that. But Disneyland? No way, except for my children, though they were never bothered about going, fortunately!

I’m guessing you live near Dover?! I’m wayyyy up north so just getting to Dover would be a full day for us!

Well personally I could never enjoy myself if my friends were 'sucking it up' for me, I don't get that at all

It's not like asking someone to come across town it's a 20 hour trip!

pp said "you're 52 not 82"

not relevant. My mum would have done this up to about 75 for sure. At 80 she'd have called it a bit much but her brother would certainly have done it.

I couldn't do it at 22. I can do a work day that long because it doesn't involve constant brain gear change. But even in my 20s I'd find that far too long a trip for a day, and too packed.

I like Disney. Never been to the Paris one so don't know what it's like. But I'd probably stay the night before. If you don't like Disney then it's not worth either option. I'd just offer to take her out separately. I wouldn't want people doing stuff they wouldn't enjoy just because it's my birthday.