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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that 100 Euro's is a bit steep for a crappy meal in Disneyland Paris just to meet Cinderella with my 4 year old?

34 replies

peachcake · 21/03/2013 14:34

We are off to Disneyland this weekend and my youngest daughter is a big fan of Disney princesses, have done some research and looks like the only way to meet them is to have a 3 course meal in one of the restaurants which looking at reviews on Trip Advisor food sounds dreadful! There are also 7 of us in the family so we will have to split for the day as could never afford 65e for adults and 35e for kids with that many of us!!

Just wondered if anyone has managed to meet one of the princesses in any other way for a autograph and photo, or do I have to pay this amount to be sure my little one gets her wish? I know it sounds tight but we have had to go all out to pay for this trip in the first place!

Any advice most welcome :-)

OP posts:

gordyslovesheep · 21/03/2013 14:36

erm well it's your choice isn't it - you don't have to pay it

yes it's expensive - like all most things Disney it's over priced and crap but you chose to go to Disneyland - surely you're not suprised !

QuietNinjaTardis · 21/03/2013 14:37

Sure.y the characters wander around the park don't they? You might to know which characters you'll see but you're bound to see a couple of princesses.

eosmum · 21/03/2013 14:38

We were there a few years ago and we met them in the park, near alice in wonderland teacups. The queue was massive. It could be all changed now though.

Scholes34 · 21/03/2013 14:38

Of course it's expensive and whilst people continue to pay that amount, Disney will continue to charge that amount.

Manchesterhistorygirl · 21/03/2013 14:40

We went in 2011 and they had little areas near small world set up to meet the princesses. Disneyland is not crap btw, just expensive.

moogy1a · 21/03/2013 14:40

yabu to go to disneyland

bdbfan · 21/03/2013 14:40

There's a princess place now, think its next to its a small world, where you can meet 3 princesses, long queues unless you get there early, and no guarantee of Cinderella as they swap them round every half hour. But cheaper than the meal

NationalLottie · 21/03/2013 14:40

We had dinner at Mickey's Diner last year which might not be quite as expensive and does characters (not princesses though) . However there is the Princess Pavillion in the park where you do queue to meet a princess (they don't guarantee which one). It might be an hour queue, however it is indoors which might be useful if the weather is chilly.

INeverSaidThat · 21/03/2013 14:41

Do all 7 of you have to go to the meal? Perhaps just one adult could go with her.

Otherwise, I would give it a miss as it sounds a bit grim.

CloudsAndTrees · 21/03/2013 14:41

Everything about Disney Paris is overpriced.

If you are staying at one of the hotels you can use their concierge to find out where else Cinderella will be and take your chances. The characters go round the hotels and its often easier to see them there, but I think Cinderella is probably one of the harder to find ones.

The character breakfasts/lunches at cafe mickey are cheaper, but I've never seen any princesses there.

Sallster · 21/03/2013 14:41

We did the Princesses meal when we were there and believe me, the look on my two niece's faces made it worth every penny!! The meal wasn't too bad.

SaidFlorence · 21/03/2013 14:42

We met Cinderella outside the castle - we just happened to be passing at the right time. Got near the front of the queue, but it was still at least a half hour wait. She did spend a few minutes with each child though and posed for photos and signed books.

Omnishambolic · 21/03/2013 14:44

This is this week's schedule for Disneyland Paris, which shows Meet a Princess every day all day from 10.30am at the Princess Pavilion by It's a Small World. Wouldn't she be happy with a princess full stop? She'll see Cinderella in the parade if you watch one of those anyway. If you don't tell her there's a meal option with Cinderella, she won't know and she'll be perfectly happy.

fancyabakeoff · 21/03/2013 14:47

We did this for my daughter's 9th birthday (three years ago) and yes it is expensive but as a birthday treat we felt it was worth it. You get a photo with Cinderella as you walk in and usually a toy of some kind at the end of the meal. The meal we had was absolutely delicious and all the princesses come around the tables at some point to chat and take photos. If you time it right you also get to see the prince and princess dance together. My daughter thought it was magical and so did we.

We also paid extra and had a birthday cake which was brought out to our table and everyone sang happy birthday. Something we will never forget.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/03/2013 14:48

You do know it's a crap actress in a polyester dress, right? The blissful state of having a 2yo who doesn't give a crap about Disney Princesses yet.

akaemmafrost · 21/03/2013 14:48

I've been told repeatedly that Disney Paris is run down and rubbish, don't know how true it is though.

Those that say YABU to go at all, have you been? Is that why you say that because you've been and it's crap?

We're going to Florida to do Disney this year but I had to save long and hard to do it. I love America and honestly didn't see the point of Paris.

specialsubject · 21/03/2013 15:18

what was that about 'no' being a sentence?

never too young to learn the value of money.

somewhereaclockisticking · 21/03/2013 15:25

We accidentally met Princess Jasmine and my DD3 was just so thrilled but have to admit we missed most of the character meet ups. I decided to queue for Mickey in the Studio Parks instead of the Crusha's Coaster and really wished I hadn't as the rides had only just opened but then after the photo we had to queue for an hour!! Best ride in the park though. Disneyland is wonderful but the food has gone downhill dramatically since we went in 2004 and the prices for a meal are unbelievable. Worked out at about £40 for 3 adult burgers with fries and drinks and one kids meal but have to say that at least was edible. Everything else about the trip was fabulous except the food. Your DD will love the holiday so to be honest, why waste the money on the meal with the princess - I've heard you don't get alot of time with them anyway.

somewhereaclockisticking · 21/03/2013 15:26

oh yes it's looking abit more tatty than years ago but that's to be expected - kids who have never been before won't know the difference.

cumfy · 21/03/2013 15:45

Don't go to the ball.

Cabrinha · 21/03/2013 15:50

We went in January this year, with 4 year - actually on her birthday.
It's so hard to say if it was worth it, because it totally depends on how much you can afford, really.

The food was overpriced. We had better food at the hotel (Newport Bay) and tbh, for the price and claim to fine dining, it was a disgrace. Huge amount of veal, for those that had that! But it was cold, and just not that great. My daughter barely ate hers - partly excitement, but it didn't help that it wasn't obviously child stuff. The starter was salmon, and though I did BLW and tried my best, I'm embarrassed to admit, she won't touch salmon mousse. Glancing around, not many did!

We were in there for two hours though, and she met, cuddled and chatted to the princesses several times. Poses for photographs, and dancing with them too. It was full though - a snowy term time January when several facilities were shut - so deals on.

It was Cinderella and Belle and Aurora (and Prince Philip) when we were there - all a hit.

What I didn't like, was that you see more of Suzy and Perla - two mice (from Cinderella?). My 4yo didn't know those characters, but likes anything in a costume! But I thought that as you are booking it for princesses, and it costs them the same, it'd be better to have two more princesses!

We also queued at Princess Pavillion. Even on a quiet day, getting their 10 mins before opening, we queued 20 mind first time, then straight back round and 30 mins next. They say hello, sign book, pose for photo. But you get maybe 1 minute - total production line. But at 4 years, I think the memory of just having met them was great - so she didn't feel the diffence between 1 minute there, and 15 minutes at the meal, I think.

I don't like that (to keep it all moving I guess) they won't tell you which princesses are in each room (two rooms when we were there). If I queue for 30 mins, I want to pick her favourite of the two!

All in all, I am glad I paid for the dinner - the food was more disappointing than anything else. But I wouldn't again. I would trade down a hotel star, to enable the dinner, if that helps to quantify it.

She will love it all though! I was surprised how much I liked it - though ice meant lots of rides were closed for us.

And my 4yo is DESPERATE to go back!

LIZS · 21/03/2013 15:57

You can queue up, usually in the castle courtyard. I wouldn't take a 4yr old for the meal. It is a very particular style of food and unlikely to be eaten due to the distractions. W took dd there for her 7th bday meal and they ran really late despite our arriving in good time for the table and having confirmed the booking during the day.

dixiechick1975 · 21/03/2013 16:08

I took dd when she was 3 just me and her.

It was a nice meal and included a couple of glasses of wine plus she met several princesses without having to line up.

I would go as a 2 not all 7 of you.

If you do not want to do the meal you will be able to line up to meet a princess.

Gigaflops · 21/03/2013 20:19

Hi OP - I was there Mon - Weds last week with my almost-4yo so know how you feel!

For me, booking the restaurant was a no-brainer. Yes, it's pricey, yes, the food isn't that fantastic (although my quail starter was vv yummy!) and the kids won't eat much BUT it was the only way DD would get any time with the princesses - which was our sole reason for going!!

The queue for the Princess Pavilion was never shorter than 90 mins (NINETY mins in a queue! With a toddler! No thanks!!) so I would have paid pretty much any amount of money to avoid that particular hell... we met Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and of course Cinderella and her Prince - we saw them dancing, they all signed her book, we have the sweetest pics of DD with a slightly stunned look of awe on her face next to each of them... for her, it was the most magical experience and that made it worth it for me.

Having said that, there is no WAY I'd spend £££ taking the whole family - especially if they're older - this could be the perfect time for the big ones to go on a few rollercoasters while you and DD have some girly bonding time a deux! DO it, but just you two... and have fun!

Twattybollocks · 21/03/2013 21:26

We did this in December last year. The meal was nice but not outstanding and not child friendly particularly. It was worth it though as we met snow white Cinderella sleeping beauty and the mouse one whose name escapes me.

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