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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just go to Disneyland Paris for one day?

93 replies

Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 10:02

DC really want to go as all their friends have been but none of us like Disney.

This summer planning Paris for a week, museums, Eiffel tower, parks etc.

And then Disneyland Paris in the middle. For one day only.

Aibu unreasonable weighting activities in favour of adults or should I submerge myself in theme park horror for at least two days!

DC don't like rides. Just think they want to go to say they've been

DC will be 7 and 2.5

OP posts:
Pootles2010 · 15/01/2016 11:41

OP when are you going? Will it be when kids are on holiday? We went during term time, loved it. I'm not sure i'd love it in holidays, judging by reports of queues etc.

AndNowItsSeven · 15/01/2016 11:55

Paul but on a family holiday the enjoyment for adults is seeing their dc happy.
Yes Texas I agree their is far more for kids in Paris than Disney. However the op talked of the rest of the holiday being adult centred.

PennyHasNoSurname · 15/01/2016 11:57

I cant imagine my 2.5yo would prefer seeing the Eiffel Tower and being puschaired around an art gallery rather than seeing Mickey/Parades/Fireworks and funfair rides.

Do two days.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/01/2016 11:57

No its bloody well not! Not unless you're a mummy martyr. Yeah it's nice to see the children happy but my enjoyment is sightseeing and sunbathing. My happiness isn't solely based on my child. He gets what he wants, I get what I want. Compromise with none of the nonsense.

AuroramovestoTexas · 15/01/2016 12:15

My kids love going to museums and art galleries and have done since with were much younger that 2.5yo.

You get out what you put in. If you just 'push chaired' them round a gallery then no doubt they will be bored but if you get them out of the buggy and talk to them about what they are seeing, teaching them about art and history and culture and firing their imaginations they will have a wonderful time.

Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 12:26

My kids also love museums and parks! I will be doing kid friendly Paris.

Will def only do one day. No one enjoys a queue

OP posts:
SuperCee7 · 15/01/2016 12:35

Do the one day. Yes there is a lot to see and no you won't be able to explore both parks fully but you're in Paris! There are so so many other things you can be doing, you're not going to be able to explore all of it.

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 12:42

The Jardin d'Acclimatation is a children's amusement park

op this is probably no substitute for disney however, its a lovely old amusement park, you buy a tab of tickets for rides, they are beautiful, laid out spaciously, lovely wild life etc....very cheap to get in and very close to central paris ( about two stops from arc de triomphe) we loved it.

TheWitTank · 15/01/2016 12:47

We went and stayed at one of hotels for 5 days/nights. We really enjoyed it, but you can easily do the parks in a day if you go on a fairly quiet day. It's not a patch on Florida, but we found it fun. The only downsides for us were the expensive (but shit) food/food choices, expensive merchandise, rudeness, and the fact that Disney do not enforce non smoking around the park/have smoking areas. I got fagged twice, we breathed in a tonne of smoke walking round and in lines (yes, people smoked in the queues too! Angry). Loads of people mention the smoking thing on TripAdvisor, it's horrid. Rides were good though!

Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 12:49

Thanks for tip, Will!

OP posts:
PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/01/2016 12:50

If we're giving tips I'm saying Parc Asterix again! Amazing!

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 12:52

And of course the only kind of Parisian holiday children could enjoy would be at Disney? You're short changing your children if you believe that.

Op there are so many beautiful childrens play areas in all the parks,. I took then 6 and 2 year olds.

I did not do euro Disney ( couldn't afford) however I did research all the lovely children's play areas like in tuilleris ( i think) huge trampoline area....as well as play area and in Jardin de Luxembourg, GORGEOUS play area, all enclosed with one entry, oldest carousel in paris where they have to go round with a stick to hook off wooden rings....

as well as that in between the art galleries etc we also spent an afternoon at jARDIN acclamation.

My DD highlights were the fire show ( by street performers) outside the notre damn one night... AND the teeny tiny play area behind notre damn, near bright to ill saint louis. it had a spining disc and dd adored it! and supremely pleasant for the adults to sit and watch.

we managed a fabulous mix between walking, playing and culture.
i adore disney, adore efteling but cant understand this idea that unless specific amercian fodder is laid on, or arranged activities then dc wont enjoy!

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 12:52

paul parc asterix is on my list too.

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 12:54

jardin acclamation is not a theme park just a suped up, much nicer play park really its very Parisian and very charming. but has little rides, small roller coaster - etc.

Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 13:04

Will, your holiday sounds like my idea of heaven! Old carousel?!!! Do they let adults on?

I do know what my kids would rather enjoy, and I think it will be parks, Eiffel tower, etc... eurodisney is so expensive for what you get.

And then theres the merchandise!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 13:06

My parents have taken me to both Disney, Paris and Florida! (Spoilt only child disclaimer) Am grateful they did this but preferred beach and city breaks, etc.

Now I am poorer, I am keen to get best experience for money.

OP posts:
Radiatorvalves · 15/01/2016 13:12

I took DSs in Feb half term when they were 3&5. It was not a success. We had a day in Paris (Eiffel a Tower and boat trip) that they loved and still remember years later, as well as a day at aged aunt's house. Disney was not the highlight.

We've since been to Florida and some of the Disney stuff was ok, but Cape canaveral was the highlife followed by universal. They didn't want to go to the Magic Kingdom!

YANBU.

LookARandomName · 15/01/2016 13:12

I'd love to go to Parc Asterix - it's on my list of parks to do at some point.

Forgot to mention in my previous post - I'm unsure as to what I'd do and whether I'd go to Disneyland Paris for two days, or just try to do everything in one day. I do like my parks, but we whizzed through everything.

In any case, look at www.dlpguide.com/ - it's a good, unofficial website. See what's closed and what's open. Look at a park map and decide what attractions you think your kids would do, and what they wouldn't. Then I guess you just need to decide whether you can fit this into a day or not - it may be busier than you expect.

Quick tip - Disneyland Paris has a "free" fast pass system. You can go to machines scattered throughout the park and pick up a free fast pass for a particular ride, which allows you to go through the fast pass queue - but only at a certain time, and only once. So you could do what we did, which was get a fast pass for Big Thunder Mountain for 10:30, then ride the riverboat and Phantom Manor, and when 10:30 came about it was straight on (well, nearly).

Though, as was pointed out before, Big Thunder Mountain and the riverboats (in fact that whole area I think) are closed.

I would love to recommend doing the Catacombes in Paris, but I don't think that would be suitable for your kids.

SirChenjin · 15/01/2016 13:16

Parc Asterix is much better than Disneyland imo

PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/01/2016 13:23

It's amazing. Pretty much every theme park I've been to is better than Disney.

ZanyMobster · 15/01/2016 13:29

Personally I don't think 1 day is enough. We go for 5 days at a time and the DCS still want to do more. There is a lot of walking and queuing. There are shows to see also so it's hard to cram in. You could always go for a day but plan that you could go back for a 2nd instead of something else.

My DCs absolutely love it, they are now 9 and 7 and have been several times since they were 2 and 5 months.

Each to their own I guess and all children are different. My 7 yo would hate going round Paris, we went to Venice a couple of times and he said it was boring. My eldest would be fine.

JimmyGreavesMoustache · 15/01/2016 13:33

i'd do two days TBH.
Yes, you might just about be able to go on the main rides in a day, if you plan very well indeed, but we all really enjoyed the shows at both parks(animagique especially), and I think these are especially magical for the younger ones

also while Paris has loads of museums and galleries, plenty aren't wildly child friendly, and so you probably won't be in them for the same length of time as you would when visiting without DC. Either that or I'm approaching art galleries all wrong, as my 5yo will still probably only happily tolerate a 60-90 minute gallery visit, whereas pre-dc I'd be there all day.

Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 13:40

I hear Disneyland Paris is a little grubby too. Is that other people's experience?

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 15/01/2016 13:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ijustwannadance · 15/01/2016 13:47

I went last year and it wasn't grubby at all. Just a bit worn around the edges. They are trying to sort it slowly though and some of the rides are past their best. They can't afford the upkeep! And yes, the thoughtless people who smoke in queues full of children are very annoying.