Disneyland Paris with an 18 month old

[Mommabear20]

DH and I are planning a trip to Disneyland Paris next year, our DC will be 3 & 18 months. While we've been before, we've never been with kids.
Any advice on going with such young kids? Would you recommend it or not?

[Anordinarymum]

As a person who has been to Disneyland Paris eight times with children of various ages from three onwards.............. go to somewhere relatable such as the Peppa Pig place and leave Disneyland until they are a bit older. Less hassle with travel for one thing.
If you go, you will enjoy it, but they won't remember it as well as 'Peppa and George'..LOL

[Bunnycat101]

Floralnomad You’d think so wouldn’t you! I was shocked when they said the DLH was out for 2 years.

[Floralnomad]

I’d take the opening for closed / refurbished rides / castle with a heavy pinch of salt the railroad was closed for way longer than anticipated when that was refurbished as was Big thunder mountain . We normally go every year but are now holding off until the Disneyland hotel reopens which is also being redecorated . You would think they could have really cracked on with these things in all the months they were closed .

[L1ttleSeahorse]

We went when they were small and did 4 days in the parks and a day in the middle in Paris and plan to do the same again! We won't be able to go back again so want to do as much as we can.

We went Janaury before but Jan 2022 wont have the castle open hence next Autumn as we won't go in Summer (heat/crowds.)We will have a green card but I've not used that before.

One of my children is thene park obsessed so we have had Merlin passes for the last 2 years. We easily have 3 days at Alton Towers! And they would like to get autographs/see shows/go on everything...

[Floralnomad]

@L1ttleSeahorse you really don’t need 5 days at DLP unless you are going to be doing other things as well like a day or two in Paris , it’s really not that big , lovely, but not huge . If you don’t want crowds January and feb ( before half term in the uk ) are generally the quietest times and better to avoid weekends or make the first day a Sunday .

[L1ttleSeahorse]

It will be a "twice in a childhood" thing for us. We're costing up a 5 day trip and by going in term time think we can get it down ti 2 to 2.5k but that's pretty much with wanting to buy some souvenirs/ disney ears on top.

That for us is a lot! We are going to Alton Towers again this year and for 3 days including petrol/food/everything will be under £300 (as we have a merlin pass.) Pre merlin pass a trip to legolamd would be A Big Day Out which we'd do once a year but only had the cost of the tickets. Disney the food is extortionately expensive as people tend to stay onsite with kids and the themed restaurants are part of the experience for lots od people.

We're thinking of going mext Autumn. We really dont want to go without the disney castle being finished (thought to be next April) and also currently no meet and greets or fireworks/light display. Again things our kids would like as part of it.

We dont do crowds on a bug scale or heat so not next summer... so it looks like autumn 2022! Id love to go now.

If you're going to go lots of times I sthink going with your ages would be fine (albeit hard work) but if it not leave it a couple of years.

[Bunnycat101]

We’ve booked next year for a 5 and 3yo and I’m a bit dubious about the younger one. If the parades and character dining aren’t on I’ll cancel as it is really about the princesses for us rather than the rides.

The things that make Paulton’s park work well with little ones is that although there are queues for the small rides, there are just a ton of playgrounds and things you can get on instantly. Im not sure that DLP has that same set-up. I’m a little bit daunted by the prospect of massive queues at DLP for everything. You also have to factor in the travel, then being out of routine, different food etc and the fact that those sorts of things turn some toddlers into grumpy buggers. Taking my older one to places is far easier then the little one.

[Abraxan]

@Spiderseatpants

We went with an 18 month old who was ill over 20 years ago. We needed to buy nappies but Disneyland didnt sell such supplies

You can get them nowadays, and for a while now, at the baby care centres in the parks.

[Mommabear20]

Thanks everyone for the replies!! 😊 DH and I both love Disney so it certainly won't be a one off trip. Will maybe just do a last minute booking so can judge more accurately how they'll both be at the time 😊

[yourestandingonmyneck]

@NuffSaidSam

'I thought euro Disney was quite cheap'

Cheap is subjective isn't it?

I'm not sure how the price of a one day entry ticket compares to Chessington or Peppa Pig, possibly it is the same/similar.

But, assuming the OP is based in the UK she needs to factor in travel, hotels/accommodation etc. If she's going all that way you want to be there for more than a day so additional park tickets. Food at Disney is extortionate and you're not bringing a packed lunch from the UK to France, so it all ads up.

If the OP goes to her nearest park (Chessington or Peppa Pig etc.) it's the cost of travel (presumably less than going to Paris), one day ticket, no hotel and you can bring lunch for one day so avoid the cost of theme park food.

So, overall I think it's safe to say it will be cheaper. Obviously, this depends on specifics. As pp have said if you're already in France camping then a day at Disney is cost effective.

Yes, of course, sorry that is what I was getting at. Of course cheap is subjective.

I was just meaning that, for many, Disney in Orlando is a once in a lifetime thing. I wasn't sure Euro Disney was quite up there with that, even when accounting purely for the difference in air fares to Paris / Florida.

Also, I find Alton Towers etc quite expensive so was wondering how Euro Disney compares in comparison.

[NuffSaidSam]

'I thought euro Disney was quite cheap'

Cheap is subjective isn't it?

I'm not sure how the price of a one day entry ticket compares to Chessington or Peppa Pig, possibly it is the same/similar.

But, assuming the OP is based in the UK she needs to factor in travel, hotels/accommodation etc. If she's going all that way you want to be there for more than a day so additional park tickets. Food at Disney is extortionate and you're not bringing a packed lunch from the UK to France, so it all ads up.

If the OP goes to her nearest park (Chessington or Peppa Pig etc.) it's the cost of travel (presumably less than going to Paris), one day ticket, no hotel and you can bring lunch for one day so avoid the cost of theme park food.

So, overall I think it's safe to say it will be cheaper. Obviously, this depends on specifics. As pp have said if you're already in France camping then a day at Disney is cost effective.

[SparkyBlue]

We took two year old DD and it was wonderful. She absolutely loved it. We have fabulous photos and memories

[Floralnomad]

We took ours from that age but we all like Disney , to me it doesn’t matter if they remember it because I have the memories , photos etc . I suppose it does matter if it’s the one and only time you will go though .

[Hoppinggreen]

We took DD when she was 4 and her baby brother stayed at home with Grandma

[Username7521]

Against the grain yes I would. The 3 year old will love it. There are loads for them to do and the awe at that age is amazing. Honestly she had the best time. There were loads of 18month old there.
Also, when I asked about taking my three year old I was called all sort of things for saying we were doing it without a pram. It was absolutely fine.

Also everyone going on about how expensive it is, entrance was cheaper than us going to legoland. We were already in France and camped so that helped (at the most awesome awesome campsite with a big lake and water activities!)

I would say you know what works for you and just go with your gut.

[gogohm]

I took mine to California Disney at that age, was brilliant but you need to have different expectations. Dd1 spent the day chasing for autographs and went to both Snow White and Cinderella story time (they read other stories for 15 mins) plus they liked the shows. We went on a weekday in term time in September and it was quietish

[PoshWatchShitShoes]

Agree with PP. A day at Peppa Pig World is perfect at that age. I'd save Disney till the youngest is at least 3.5

[RavenclawsRoar]

I wouldn't! But then I have a friend who's taken her ds to Disney every single year since he was born (not last year obvs) and they always seem to have a great time - even when he was a toddler. I'm waiting until mine are around 6-8yo and can actually do/enjoy most of the stuff on offer.

[Findahouse21]

Price wise it completely depends. Once you've paid for park entrance (about £90ish if you just rock up at the gate) then everything else can pretty much cost from 0-millions of pounds!! So it depends if you want cheap or convinient/luxurious or somewhere in the middle. For instance we stay in the Disney hotel ss Castle club because the perks make it well worth it. We also invested in an annual pass because over 2 trips (1st one staying at a nearby centerparcs due to large group) made it worth it.

[TerribleCustomerCervix]

We took the dc when they were 18 months and 3 months- fucking nightmare!

There’s a sweet spot of taking a baby- under 1 is fine as they’re generally happy to sit in the pram and look around them, light enough to carry on your arms when necessary. Sister took her 6 month old to Florida just before lock down and they had a great time.

Then they turn into emotional terrorists toddlers and want to walk everywhere at the rate of a snail, want to touch everything and set the route of travel. Not worth it.

We’ve got it booked for DS’s 3rd birthday next year and I’m still uncertain about how successful it’ll be as he’s absolutely loses it if he’s tired.

[BeingATwatItsABingThing]

@yourestandingonmyneck

To all those that have been before, how does Euro Disney compare to the US ones? I was under the impression it was a much cheaper option, or is that purely due to the distance?

Just wondering as I see posters suggesting doing somewhere cheaper - I thought euro Disney was quite cheap, as in on a par with Chessington / Alton Towers etc and not in the same league as Orlando? Or have I got that wrong? Is it expensive as well?

I have been, as a teenager, with friends, but remember next to nothing. Although if it had been expensive I'm not sure I would have been able to afford it. Which is part of the reason I thought it was quite inexpensive?

It is expensive but so are Alton Towers/Legoland… It’s not on par with Orlando because there aren’t as many parks and I think America do it a bit better but Paris is good for younger children. The weather is too hot in America for us as we’re very pale. It’s also a really long flight and they cost a fortune.

[scaffoldingtheworld]

I’d say wait and I go most years bar last year and probably this year. That said if you know for sure that it will never be a one off and you fancy a break then go.

If it’s in anyway likely to be a one off then wait.

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Mine were terrified of people in the big costumes at that age. Luckily discovered at a local event, not an expensive theme park.

Wait a couple of years. They will have more fun.

[SingingInTheShithouse]

No, definitely not, it will be way too overwhelming & therefore knackering for you.

We took our DD at 7, 4 upwards seems a good age, so I'd say wait til they are older & spend a bit more on tea parties etc. We did the Disney princess one with DD & her friend. Expensive, but well worth it as the whole thing was beautifully done & the food was amazing too. Plenty of boys in there enjoying it too

[yourestandingonmyneck]

To all those that have been before, how does Euro Disney compare to the US ones? I was under the impression it was a much cheaper option, or is that purely due to the distance?

Just wondering as I see posters suggesting doing somewhere cheaper - I thought euro Disney was quite cheap, as in on a par with Chessington / Alton Towers etc and not in the same league as Orlando? Or have I got that wrong? Is it expensive as well?

I have been, as a teenager, with friends, but remember next to nothing. Although if it had been expensive I'm not sure I would have been able to afford it. Which is part of the reason I thought it was quite inexpensive?