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AIBU?

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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:
Floralnomad · 15/01/2016 13:49

The back end of 2015 and 2016 DLP is being 'done up' for the anniversary year (2017) , it is definitely possible to do most of both parks in one day . What I will say is that they have started to clamp down on the smoking and when we were there in November I saw several people told to stop smoking or advised where the smoking areas are .

rookiemere · 15/01/2016 14:01

I'm sure one day will be fine, but make sure you get there very early.

It may be a pain but that way your DCs will get to go on the rides they want before the throngs of people arrive and it gets really busy and horrible. I don't know how fast passes work in Paris but it may be worth booking a couple in advance if you can.

I think it's nice you are taking them. Some friends with DCs went to Paris and I was surprised that they didn't go there for one day. I agree holidays should be about balance and they are highly likely to really enjoy it. Maybe do it towards the end or the other attractions will pall ....Grin.

PaulAnkaTheDog · 15/01/2016 14:06

I never found it 'grubby', maybe dated? Not sure if that's the best way to describe it. Confused

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 14:20

Op this is what puts me off for the price,

Look at The Efteling, the reviews maybe one in 100 will say a bad word about it.

look at DLP and some people have a very bad time there, with staff or dirt etc.

I am def going at some point I love disney but I am glad thru MN to have found the efteling, charm personified, cheap and beautiful and wonderful Grin

OP another lovely play area and carasel by the eiffel tower ( altouhgh play area slightly marred by gathering of men, drinking,smoking and pissing right in the dc play area Hmm

RaskolnikovsGarret · 15/01/2016 14:21

One day is more than enough, there's just not that much to do. DDs enjoyed our day there, but equally enjoyed the rest of Paris, especially the jardin d'acclimitation. So much to see and do in Paris, even when they are young.

Original poster
Whoatemyunicorn · 15/01/2016 14:33

Will, oooh! Never heard of Efteling till you mentioned it!

Please tell me about your holiday there? Did you just do the theme park or more?

OP posts:
TheSconeOfStone · 15/01/2016 15:47

YANBU at all. At least the DC can say they've seen it and if you like it more than expected you could always go back in a couple of years.

We went in for 2 days in August after a week in Belgium so the kids had been to Brussels, Antwerp, a car museum in Eindhoven (it was a very wet day and DH loves cars) and Paris so DLP was the kid focused bit of the holiday. They enjoyed everything we did on holiday though. DD1 was nearly 8 and she told me she preferred the Belgian campsite lake and play areas to DLP (they were awesome). The adults enjoyed DLP far more than we expected and we're heading back for a couple of days in May half term to do the bits we missed, and Paris again of course. I expected to hate it and was pleasantly surprised.

Planning on Belgium and Holland next year to revisit the fab campsite in Belgium and Efteling. Sounds lovely.

TheSconeOfStone · 15/01/2016 15:54

Just re-read your OP. If your DC don't like rides a day will be enough. My two like them, the 8 year old will go on anything her height will allow and she's tall for her age. The younger one is more cautious but many of the rides are very gentle. DD1 really enjoyed exploring Adventure Isle while I took DD2 to the Frozen sing a long show (hilariously so bad it was good and a real 'Disney' moment on her 5th birthday). They were there a good hour and even my very grumpy DH was impressed.

3littlefrogs · 15/01/2016 16:03

We have done one day before - admittedly it was off season so schools not on holiday. It was ample time to do everything we wanted.

It would probably be ok in the summer as long s you got there very early.

TheWitTank · 15/01/2016 16:16

Efteling is fantastic -far outclasses Disney Paris IMO and the kids definitely preferred it. Was immaculate, beautiful setting, we had a wonderful time there. I thought Disney was a little rough round the edges and untidy in places, there were a lot of rats running around by the lake/water where McDonald's is (unsurprising perhaps with the amount of food on the floor). I think it's being tidied up though.

Patapouf · 15/01/2016 16:19

I've managed both parks in one day, no DCs though and strategic with order of rides/avoided crowded small DC friendly ones so I suppose that's not much help.
As an aside, I don't think Paris is that interesting for a kid unless you are taking them to the jardin des plantes, cite des sciences, parc d'Acclimatation (which is a poor mans Disneyland anyway) so it might be worth using up two days at Disney, there is loads to do there..

AndNowItsSeven · 15/01/2016 16:28

Texas yes my dc love museums, my point was like a side the op talked of the rest of the holiday being adult centred not based on activities museums or otherwise that the op would enjoy.
Yes I enjoy sunbathing at sightseeing but it pales in co paradigm to the pleasure I get seeing my dc have a great time.
Children aren't children for long that is the compromise.

NickiFury · 15/01/2016 16:58

I don't think one day is enough either. You could manage it but you'd be charging round. It's really good fun in spite of all the snobbery surrounding it.

ZanyMobster · 15/01/2016 17:36

I didn't find it grubby at all and never experienced smoking issues although a few of my friends have commented about this. It really is lovely and we would go every year if we could. We find it magical and I guess we approach it for what it is, I love Disney as do the DCS so we find it fabulous, really can't find any fault with it other than how expensive food is. We took mini bottles of squash and filled up using the water fountains and took stuff like breadsticks and biscuits with us so it wasn't an issue. We also used the free fast tracks for all the rides we could.

ZanyMobster · 15/01/2016 17:47

Efteling is great actually, but Disney is so special. When 2.5 yo DS met Donald Duck for the first time it was awesome, he ran right up to him and I was really choked up, amazing memories.

I must say we have always stayed in a Disney hotel and the staff both there and in the parks have been brilliant, really attentive so maybe we have just been lucky.

We will wait till after the refurbishment and till all the rides are open next year before we go again and it'll be the 25th anniversary then I guess we'll save for Florida.

gastropod · 15/01/2016 17:58

Another Efteling fan here. It was the theme park that actually gave Disney the idea to do something similar back in the 50s.

It's charming, clean, green, spacious and not designed with the sole aim of getting you to buy tat before and after every ride. I love it. And the food is decent. And there are picnic tables if you want to bring your own stuff to eat.

Oh, and the Efteling holiday village in the woods is gorgeous.

Washediris · 15/01/2016 18:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PeridotPassion · 15/01/2016 18:21

No, I wouldn't go for one day only. We went for four days and didn't even see/do everything we wanted!

Mia1415 · 15/01/2016 18:23

I think you will struggle to do even half of it in a day. I love Disneyland Paris though & have been about 10 times over the years. With my ex DH, friends & my 2 year old DS. Loved every single visit. If you are only going for a day, plan it!

Hulababy · 15/01/2016 18:26

If they don't want to go on rides than one day will be plenty long enough to walk round the two parks.

However, as soon as you want to go on a ride, watch shows, meet a character, watch parades, etc then it will eat into your time - queuing, riding/watching, etc. There are two parks so I'd say two days is better ideally as you then don't have to rush round.

waskediris - there are always going to be some rides closed at theme parks - they will do reforms and ride changes/land changes on a rolling programme. Its pretty normal to have some ride closures at theme parks.

KERALA1 · 15/01/2016 18:45

It's really really disappointing - totally emperors new clothes. Whole place tired and old felt very 90s. We went for one day and spent rest of time in Paris. One day more than enough. Kids were 5 and 7.

Washediris · 15/01/2016 18:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WillBeatJanuaryBlues · 15/01/2016 19:44

You have never heard of Efetling!!

Op!

Neither had I actually until a thread about DLP and so many pp mentioned Efteling I checked it out.

I then booked and went last year. Op its stunning.

Its very very old, about 60 years and its all based round fairy tales. It has two parts really, the rides, theme park, which is beautifully, beautifully themed. Good variety of rides/types/thrills etc very lovely to walk around.

But for me the main - stunning part is the fairy tale wood. Its a real wood and dotted around it are scenes from fairy tales. Each done in a different way, some move, some do other things, each one stunning. You can go in and out of them.... Its the soul of the place. We wandered round on a summers night, its was amazing. Then that area has its own square, which is probably one of my most favourite places in the world...the colours, the way its done....its a dream for children, a dream.

I thank MN for so many things but I have to say I would have been utterly gutted to have found out about this place when DC much older.

I am so glad I have been able to take them to this land of magic while they are still young.

AND I am going back again this year!!! Grin

It started out as a wood ( for miles surrounded by woods) so its real, the flowers and planting are beautiful, its spotlessly clean and the dutch are very laid back and friendly.

We stayed end of August in a very sweet apartment in Efteling for three nights, ( 2 adults 2 children) and it was about £400. The food was decent, everything was cheap, friendly, laid back....lots of variety....I am a really picky fussy person, and my expectations were exceeded.

All the people there visiting were polite and lovely too...( unlike lego land)

My DH is a dry science type person....ie not creative, romantic, poetic. HE was carried away with the whole thing and even insisted we got the dc some eftleing umbrella with frills he liked Blush Grin HE LOVED IT.

we took the ferry and drove -stopped in bruges on route and found it very easy and accesible.

Holidayrash · 15/01/2016 21:02

Efteling is amazing!

I did DLP last year and had enough of the queues very quickly. Do your children want to meet the characters if they aren't interested in rides?

I'd go for the day and book Cafe Mickey or the Princess lunch/ dinner or both. It means they come to your tables to meet you. It's expensive but means you aren't standing in queues to meet characters.

I'd also head straight to get the fast pass for ratatouille as that's by far the best ride there and the queues are ridiculous (up to three hours).

The place is a money pit but the DCs loved loved loved meeting the characters and the Ratatouille ride.

Most other stuff wasn't anything you could get elsewhere.

Holidayrash · 15/01/2016 21:02

Couldn't not could!