Where to celebrate a 2 year old's birthday in Paris?

[mrsgboring]

Feeling slightly guilty that we're going to be in Paris on DS2's second birthday. Can anyone recommend a good place to celebrate the day?

DS1 is 5. Both boys are quite well behaved and very restaurant-trained but not splendid eaters and DS2 has the attention span of.... well a two year old, so nothing too challenging. We're staying in central Paris.

TIA

Disneyland?!!?

Disneyland, jardin DES planted (kiddy zoo tree playground carousel and its not too far from Latin quarter( or my personal gave and dd is the jardin d'acclimation(sorry link here- iPhone won't let me spell it animals play parks paddling area great for picnics.

If the weather is good there are heaps of places for a birthday Picnic- if not try and book tickets at kids museum in galerie d'evolutuon Pariswww.mnhn.fr/museum/foffice/transverse/transverse/accueil.xsp

I dont live there all time so bonsoir Anna o someone prob better on indoor venues etc

Also disneyland wouldn't be my first choice- the character are fine but there are relatively few rides for little one and they don't always have patience or want to watch the shows

That should be jardin DES plantes

Tbh if the weather is nice, I would just have a picnic in Bois des Vincennes. There are ponies for kids to ride on, boats you can hire to row on the lake and also there is an amusment park next to it now (til the end of summer I think) so plenty of things for kids to do.

But hardandsleazy I don't think you can sit anywhere on the grass in Jardin des Plantes- they have a few tables, but they are often taken iyswim.

Start off by going up Eiffel Tower. Get there early to avoid the long queues.

After trip to the top, head towards Trocadero, there is a traditional carousel at the foot of the Trocadero gardens. Ds2 will live it.

Then walk up the Trocadero gardens, towards Place Trocadero. Pleasant little walk, there's a little kids play park with slides etc on the left (if you have the Eiffel Tower behind you).

At the top, there's a fantastic view of Paris, down towards Eiffel, Champs de Mars, over to Invalides, the whole of Paris befor you.

On Place de Trocadero, there is a semi circle of brasserie / cafe places to eat. All with terraces outside if sunny. Most are great for eating with kids, as they have classic, brasserie fare (steak hache + frites, omelettes, croque Monsieur, spagetti bolognaise) which goes down well with kids. Our fave is Cafe Trocadero but frankly they are much if a muchness so just choose the one you fancy / one with a nice table outside with no eating. NB there is one place (Le Coq, you can't miss it, it is very red) which is best avoided as it is a very hip, very expensive lounge bar and whilst fun for a grown up dinner, too expensive for a family lunch.

Voila.

Ds2 will LOVE it (the carousel) not live it.

Winnybella
I think yours is a lovely suggestion if you live locally and can bring picnic kit, but if you are just visiting, I think a picnic can be an awful faff and can end up being expensive because you end up doing crazy things like buying a sharp knife to cut the wonderful saucisson you have just bought and wishing you had a roll of kitchen roll with you when the inevitable spillages happen!

Anyway, the OP will advise on whether she will have picnic kit with her!

Winnybella
I think yours is a lovely suggestion if you live locally and can bring picnic kit, but if you are just visiting, I think a picnic can be an awful faff and can end up being expensive because you end up doing crazy things like buying a sharp knife to cut the wonderful saucisson you have just bought and wishing you had a roll of kitchen roll with you when the inevitable spillages happen!

Anyway, the OP will advise on whether she will have picnic kit with her!

Oh all good ideas. We are staying in a Citadines apartment so will have basic kitchen equipment for picnicing but we all like cafes and restaurants very much too... Greythorne, I take it you're a local with your very helpful and detailed hints?

We are NOT planning to do Disney as neither child even knows it exists at the moment and we'd like to keep it that way [deluded emoticon]

Yes, Paris Lifer (DH French and unwilling to uproot.)

And I note that I managed to avoid the word "thank you" completely in my reply. For which I apologise.

And thank you everyone for your replies

Hmm. I feel like the point of doing Eiffel Tower might be a bit lost on a 2 yo, although definitely fun for 5 yo.

Which Citadines are you going to stay in?

I personally love Bois des Vincennes and often see people having bday parties with baloons etc, but I realize it may be a bit of faff if you're visiting for just a few days. OTOH OP will be able to go to cafes etc anyway (I'm presuming here) but for 2 yo sitting in a cafe is not that much fun- I mean DD likes going to a cafe and having a grenadine, but a lovely picnic plus ponies plus boating plus the fair with carousels etc and candy floss seems like a nice idea.

But perhaps a bit of a PITA for OP, I agree.

Btw they have a nice playground at Jardin de Luxembourg- you have to pay a few euros, but it's big and has something for kids of all ages-it really is rather fabulous. Next to it there is a little restautrant (next to the playground, right in the park) with an outdoor sitting that serves decent food. Could be nice on a lovely day.

If the weather's nice, I'd go to the Luxembourg gardens... they can splash in the paddling pools, hire a (toy) wooden yatch and sail it on the boating pond, have a pony ride and then run off lots of energy in the adventure playground.

Birthday lunch for a two year old? I'd stop at Bon Marche to pick up some of the most delicious bits and pieces Paris has to offer for a picnic lunch...

Great minds, winnybella...

Winny
I do take your point about the Eiffel Tower but I took mine aged 4 and 2 and they both loved it, perhaps not getting what an adult would get out of it, but they loved rushing around at the top and we took some lovely photos of them which will be nice for posterity.

Plus, the nice thing about Trocadero is that there IS stuff which is prefect for kids (a carousel and a kids' park,) and it is all pedestrianised, so kids can run about freely (just taking care to avoid the street sellers :)) so it could be a whole morning's excursion followed by lunch.

I don't disagree with your suggestion of either Jardins de Lux or Bois de Vincennes, BTW, both good ideas.

He's 2. Unless he is very special, he can't read a calendar.

Do what you want to do in Paris, whatever will make all of you the happiest, then have a special birthday day for him when you get back and are in familiar what-to0do-with-a-2-year-old territory.

playmobil park

ohmeohmy
gulp
have you ever been to Playmobil Park near Paris?

The picnic opportunities are starting to sound idyllic...

We're definitely going to take them up the Eiffel Tower at some point in our stay as DS1 will enjoy it, but I am having kittens at the very thought. I know they can't fall off. But my blood still runs cold whenever I think about it. However, it will be nice to say we did it and have the photos.

Winny, we're staying in the Citadines at Republique.

Trillian, DS2 won't know but DS1 will know and will care so we have to do something. Though attempting to concoct a birthday cake with candles in the Citadines is almost certainly beyond my capabilities As it is, I can't think of any suitable present that I'm willing to schlepp on the Eurostar.

Wow, I didn't know there was a Playmobil park, that is fab (although I am by far the biggest Playmo fan in our house.)

mrsgboring
A word of caution re Playmobil Park...

You need a car to get there and it is bloody miles quite far from Paris.

Plus, it is on a very unlovely retail park with a very small and cramped carpark (cue queues to get in the carpark)

Then once you are in Playmobil Park itself, whilst tonnes of fun to be had for 2 and 5 year olds, it can get extremely quite busy.

Finally, the only food to be had in the place itself is rank basic (nuggets and chips style). It would be a real shame to be in Paris for a short break and end up eating a single meal in Playmobil Park Cafe.

Greythorne (aka Not A Big Fan Of Playmobil Park)

Hi,
Just to give you a little more info about Disneyland....
There are very few rides there which kids over 1 yr cannot go on. Only a small number in both parks have a height restriction - parents/ adults can go on everything with or without kids.
There are some lovely theatre shows which young children love like Playhouse Disney, Stitch Live, Animagique. There are play areas in Frontierland and Adventureland, and more than enough for small children to do in one day.
You will no be able to see/ do everything in both parks in just one day, but you can read about the shows and attractions online and plan your priorities.
Kids of all ages usually enjoy the parades and shows, and meeting Characters.
Booking a Character meal is the best way to get photos,video, autographs and personal time with each Character without queueing in the parks. There are various restaurants for this, and you can arrange a birthday cake to be brought to the table lit for ? 25. The staff and Characters will sing Happy Birthday.
You may be able to buy cheaper weekday tickets for ? 30 online. Sometimes they have special offer tickets for 1 adult plus 1 child free.
Weekends and school holidays are obviously very busy.
It takes 40 mins on the RER line A4 train from Paris ( Chatelet Les Halles ) to Marne La Vallee Chessy ( Disneyland ). When you exit the station, it is only a few mins walk to both parks and the Disney Village.
Both my sons have always loved DLP and still go even though they are now adults! We also love Paris, and spend a day there when we are staying in Disneyland.
IMO, this would be a real treat for both your sons.
For more help and advice concerning Disneyland see the Trip Advisor Marne La Vallee forum. You can read trip reports from people who have taken very young children there and had a great time.

This is the link for the Marne La Vallee / Disneyland Paris forum.

www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowForum-g226865-i2224-Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html

I like the jardin d'acclimatation for a special treat but if you're just visiting then Luxembourg is lovely too (although check there isn't some bizarre event in Lux before you go or they block everything off, you can't play with boats and it's nowhere near as fun).

Disneyland=hell IMO.