Disneyland vs Lapland

[Mumsanetta]

… for a family of 3. If you could choose either Disneyland Paris or Lapland as a holiday which would you go for? Any ideas of cost (all in) for a 3 night visit staying in 4*/midrange accommodation? I tend to think everything is expensive so helpful to know how much others generally pay.

This would be for next year when DD is almost 6 if that makes a difference.

YABU - Disneyland Paris
YANBU - Lapland

We were around £2000 for Disneyland Paris for 3 nights staying in the Newport Bay hotel for a family of 3. Full meal plan and to be honest I was surprised at how little we spent once we were there but we did take snacks in to the park.

I was getting quotes for thousands of pounds for a day trip to Lapland so it's a guess but I would say Disneyland would be cheaper.

Lapland for four of us was very expensive, although I can't remember exactly how much. We went to Levi for a week in Feb. It was incredibly cold. We're skiers so we're used to wrapping up and going up mountains in the middle of winter, so we're not wusses, but OMG I was frozen, even in my skiwear, thermals, etc. It was a unique experience though. As they're so different as experiences I'm not sure I can vote. We enjoyed both, but they're not comparable holidays. One is a theme park and the other is a once in a lifetime type adventure.

Lapland without a doubt.

Lapland! Magical

We paid £2k for 3 termtime nights at Disney, no food included, inc. flights.
That was May though - what time of year? Disney is cheaper when it's not either summer or Christmas.

Neither!

Have you considered Copenhagen?

Tivoli at Christmas is magical.

Quick (cheapish - £80) flight, reasonable hotels and great public transport. Train from Airport to city centre in 20 mins and Central station is right opposite Tivoli (which is the theme park that inspired Disney)

I think Tivoli was about £18 entrance for adults and can stay all day for that. Great foodhall no more expensive than any other City

Hotel for 3 nights in city centre cost about £400 for 3 of us. We booked early and got good deal but there are plenty to choose from.

Lapland £3k for a weekend many years ago but worth any penny. Go Lapland while child young enough to believe in Santa. It’s magical.

We booked Disneyland for a family of 3 and had the extras such as character breakfasts etc. due to Covid we couldn’t go, so we asked magic breaks if we could switch to a Lapland holiday which worked out exactly the same price.

lapland was absolutely phenomenal. Best holiday I’ve ever had

Lapland for 2/3 night would be my choice.

We've done both. DD was 10 when we did Lapland which was too old for her to still believe, but she still claims it to be the most wonderful experience ever. (She's now 16)

She also loves Disneyland. But that will be fabulous at any age.

I did lapland when mine were 8 and 10 and it was fantastic - so different to anything else we'd ever done.

It helps that mine don't like rides or people in costumes, but even so, I think that the real experience of things like temperatures of -30 and seeing Santa and Reindeer and visiting the ice-hotel and stuff was SO MUCH BETTER than going to a theme park.

When were you thinking of going? We went to Lapland for 3/4 days over Christmas when my dd was 6 and it was the perfect age.

It was magical from the start, the elves at the airport when we landed meant the fun started before we even got our suitcases. We had a visit to Santa, saw reindeers, drove huskies, rode a snow ski, tobogganing and snow walking being amongst the highlights.

The snowsuits they kit you out with at the start kept us warm.

Disney I feel you can go anytime, at any age.

Lapland. Do Disney when she’s 8-10

Thanks all. I had costed Disneyland at £2k and Lapland at £4k which seems right for Disneyland but perhaps a bit of an overestimate for Lapland. It’s all just so expensive! I’m leaning towards Lapland as I know DD probably only has 1-2 more years of believing in Santa. Just have to make sure the weather isn’t too cold. It might also be a bit cheaper but still magical at the end of November rather than at Christmas.

I would make the choice efteling and lapland and go from there. Efteling is better than Disney if we are talking Disney Paris

I would perhaps prioritise Lapland if it's important to you as she will grow out of that quicker, Disneyland is great at that age too but you could do that as well in a few years and she'd still love I'm sure.

Lapland is amazing. It’s incredibly beautiful, the activities you can do like husky rides, reindeer sledding, snowmobiles etc are pretty unique and if your kids still believe going to visit Santa is magical. Also have amazing memories of sledging for hours. Yea it’s cold but that’s what the special clothes are for.

Compared to standing in queues for mediocre fairground rides and people in costumes, no contest for me!

We are doing Lapland with our DD who is 6 in November for 4 nights. With activities and food I'm expecting it to be about 3000. Cheap flights and an Airbnb. The activities are the expensive bit but will be worth it. Never been so excited for a trip 🎅🏼🎅🏼

Lapland no doubt. It's beautiful in a way that Disney will never be. You also stand a good chance of seeing some dramatic northern lights. I grew up near the Swedish lapland and we saw the northern lights multiple times a month growing up. We have also been going through a cycle of more frequent northen lights the last few years.

Compared to standing in queues for mediocre fairground rides and people in costumes, no contest for me!

You know it's not really Santa and real elves in Lapland right?

Lapland.
I detested Disneyland Paris though so I'm biased!