Disneyland Paris with a baby

[tigertummy]

We are thinking of taking our 5 year old to Disneyland Paris. At the time that we are hoping to go, we will have a 6 month old baby.

Are we completely bonkers for thinking this is a good idea? Has anyone done this? Any tips?

Don’t see why not. Put baby in a sling; one of you take the five year old on the rides whilst the other has the baby.

They also have parent swap, one of you can go on with your 5 year old, then swap without queuing again!

Depends entirely on the baby’s disposition! If you have a calm placid baby, no problem. If you have a baby like my DS was there’s no freaking way on earth!!

Probably easier taking a 6 month old in a sling than an 18 month old/2yr old who is toddling but can’t walk long distances and tantrumming/potty training etc

The baby is pretty calm so far and is happy enough in the sling and in the buggy so that's a plus! I didn't know about the parent swap thing! That's a great tip!

There’s a ‘Baby Care Centre’ in both DLP parks. In Disneyland it’s on Main Street near the Plaza Gardens Restaurant. In Walt Disney Studios it’s behind Studio Services. They’re both warm and quite, have bottle warming, changing facilities breastfeeding chairs and nappies and baby food for sale. Almost every set of toilets had changing tables.

How’s your 5 year old at queuing? When we went some queues were 1.5 hours. That’s a lot of standing around. I had older kids so was fine, but it make me think it could potentially be quite stressful with small kids.

If you’re going out of the school holidays it won’t be an issue though as queue lengths won’t be anywhere near as long. We were there at one of the busiest times of year and I just remember lots of over tired, over stimulated small children having melt downs.

As far as the baby goes that’ll depend on the babies own temperament. It may be fine and happy to sit in the buggy or sling. Or it may scream the place down for a good portion of the time (hopefully not). But it would probably be easier with a 6 month old than a 2 year old.

This is what I keep thinking. It will be much harder when the baby is on the move so while he can be strapped in somewhere it seems like a better time to go. We tried to do Harry Potter Studios with a toddler and it was a bit of a disaster as he just wanted to walk and it was too busy to keep an eye on him and enjoy it all

I had a five year old and a five month old when we went, it was fine!

Oh...go somewhere else....did a trip with the school....security were awful and rude and heavy handed...bag searches etc and everyone looked so miserable....the food is all junk and over priced...not allowed to bring any thing in as they check bags etc....worst 3 days ever we had there...!!

@ElleGettingBetter thanks! Any tips?

Definitely the parent swap on rides, we didn’t know about this until the last day!

Are you staying in a Disney hotel? We stayed in Davy Crockett, they’re self contained so baby didn’t disturb other guests and we had room for their things, plus there’s a lovely pool on site. If you are in a Disney Hotel make use of the magic hours - you get to go in to the parks before they open to other guests meaning you’re not queuing as long.

Definitely take a pushchair. They’re not allowed in queues but there are places to park them throughout the parks. If it’s a nice one, take a bike lock.
It’s worth checking what rides you can go on with your little ones and plan accordingly. There’s actually lots of rides they can do, including Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, Small World and Ratatouille to name but a few.

@ElleGettingBetter we will definitely stay in one of the hotels. We haven't booked one yet though. Still trying to decide if it's a good idea but your post has made me think it is so thanks!

Thanks @Fivemoreminutes1 - hadn't considered a bike lock

9.5 and 5

Much better ages
Real value for money then

@Whatayear81

9.5 and 5

Much better ages
Real value for money then

I totally agree.

I’d even be tempted to wait until 11.5 and 7 as they’ll both be big enough to go on pretty much everything. Much better value for money and much less whinging. Unless you’re planning to go multiple times. They actually get more out of it when they’re a bit older. Though some 11.5 year olds may find the concept a bit babyish. Most will
Love it once they’re there.

My best tip is : practise. Make sure the baby is really used to being out all day, able to sleep in a reclining pushchair.

Are you flying or driving?

Is the weather likely to be hot?

I took mine as tots to California, they loved it but we only went for one day, it was enough. They loved princess story time the best, literally Cinderella reading Disney stories, more than any ride. Dumbo, the carousel and the flying carpets were all ages as was small world. Did Paris more recently and the queues were horrendous but was fun, we stayed at the Newport hotel last time, food is good inside the park if you pay for the proper restaurants but it's £££ and you need to book ahead

I went when my first was 9 months then when my second was 6 months and first 2years. It was utterly magical. Some of my most treasured memories come from Disney as they have grown up. They are both teens now, veterans of very many visits and total disney nerds.

YY to sling. You'll probably find a lot you can go on without needing baby swap (at that age we purposefully spent the whole time with the kids), but baby swap works remarkably well (I still do it as DS(14) has SN and cant be left alone but cant ride everything Dd(16) can). I took a bike lock on occasion but never bothered with it but then I took a battered old maclaren strollers (I had one that would lie flat).

I found staying on site was best for us. We do most of our ride riding in extra magic hours and before lunch and then shows and parades after lunch. Our favourite hotel is the Sequoia lodge because it is a beautifully chill hotel, the right balance of walk to the parks (personally I'm not a fan of shuttle buses) and price for us. But I think all the Disney hotels have their own benefits so it depends what you want really. We didnt find the actual Disneyland hotel inherently magical but the location inside security the whole holiday and the room service breakfast definitely is!!! I have heard good things about the santa fe and Cheyenne but they are too far for us to walk (I'm pushing a wheelchair). Newport bay is very bright and offers room service breakfast. People tend to either be Sequioa lodge people or newport bay. Newport bay people tend to appreciate the airiness and find Sequioa a bit old fashioned and fusty. Sequoia lodge people tend to find NPB a bit brash and wonder what the extra cost is about. I'd love to try the new marvel hotel but it's the wrong room layout for us.

Some people return to the hotel after lunch but at that age I'd put them down for a sleep in the buggy while we got a good space at a show or parade. We pick off peak times when the parks close earlier knowing that we value the early mornings and end up too knackered doing both ends of the day!!

Food is awesome. Even the fast food has improved in recent years. If you can get character dining do it but it's been suspended during covid so far. I have some incredible photos of the kids growing up in Cafe Mickey. We do the full board meal plan which some people say is too much food, but is pretty incredible value for money, we like a break at the middle of the day and you get to eat in some of the most beautiful Disney themed restaurants. Also If you eat at buffets it can be quicker than the counter service if you catch them at the wrong moment.

Dont plan to do the evening show every night, your extra magic hours in the morning are too precious!! Once is enough.

Watch some key Disney stuff before you go. Definitely include something Mickey mouse (probably clubhouse), toy story (1&/or2), lilo and stitch (stitch live in the studios is beautiful), Ratatouille, peter pan, any of the starwars (the cartoons are good), cars. It can be fun to set up a weekly disney movie evening.

You need at least 3/4 extra magic hours. If you stay close by first night you can get extra magic hours on your first full day (so 4 extra magic hours for 3 nights stay)

The second time we went, DS1 was 8 months. We just slinged him and it was fine.

@earsup we always take snacks in with us as DD is rather a fussy eater. Never had a problem.

Yy you definitely have to book ahead. Especially if you want to eat at some of the popular themed places or character dining. Disney release restaurant bookings roughly 2 months in advance (although last year in covid times different restaurants released at different times). The app is best for restaurant bookings. In fact the app is very useful for lots of things.

And book direct but book transport seperate. The zen guarantee is pretty handy atm. Dont forget travel insurance

Unless you’re planning to go multiple times.

Noone starts off planning to go multiple times...... it just happens that way 🤣🤣🤣

@RussianSpy101

The second time we went, DS1 was 8 months. We just slinged him and it was fine.

@earsup we always take snacks in with us as DD is rather a fussy eater. Never had a problem.

It sounds as if its all changed a lot....we had the most miserable 3 days there....took students for an animation conference.....awful burger food....princess nuggets...that sort of crap....we went out all day to local places to eat and just be out of the place....but guests all looked unhappy....it was some years ago.

My first visit was a year after it opened, my last was December. Since the kids were little the longest gap between visits was a covid induced 22 months. In all of my visits most people are smiling.... maybe not 100% of the time we personally have had the odd over tired tantrum (adult and child), head split open injury, joint dislocation, telling off french queue jumpers in french, but those memories aren't the ones which stick. Well I remember the french queue jumpers but only because I was proud of my french, the kids look at me blankly on that.

But I would say on any theme park visits chances are the school/brownie/etc groups have the worst time. (Unless they have someone who knows what they're doing on board). They invariably rock up after opening, sometimes even an hour or so after opening, with little plan what they're doing and therefore land straight into the worst queues!!! You're stuck in the counter service restaurants, because you really cant shepherd that many kids through any other restaurant with so few adults. And probably not the best counter service ones because you'll go for the most obvious convenient ones. As a teachers You're not going to march a brownie troop up to the top of legoland hill just for lunch because that's where the awesome lego brick shaped chips are or tell you students to walk to colonel hathis from the other end of DLP for lunch simply because is so spectacular their 16 year old future self can describe it despite not having visited it for 8+ years. As a parent who has done a bit of research beforehand you just might.

It's also not the same as visiting as a family. I remember DS at a non verbal 18 months communicating independently his joy at Mickey by making Mickey ears with his hands and a few years back filming DS bopping to a tacky parade only to realise my too cool DD was also mouthing the words in the background. You're not going to get the same joy supervising other people's children who you have professional responsibility for keeping safe.

The food I'll take direct issue with. I've gone whole Disney's without touching a chip, burger or nugget. Its possible nowadays even in the quick service (less so 8+ years ago) but always been easy if you (have a full meal plan and) eat buffet level or above. That said theres nothing wrong with burgers at Disney, especially if they are at Walts or Annettes🤩🤩🤩

Thanks everyone!!

@NotTheGrinchAgain that's a great tip. Will definitely do some longer day trips in preparation. He's already great at buggy and sling naps so will take both.

We are thinking Easter holidays so not too hot or too cold hopefully. The plan is to drive which might be wild but we can do plenty of stop offs on the way down.

@Caramellatteplease this is so lovely to hear and SO HELPFUL!! Thank you!! We are big disney fans and my husband and I have been many times and we will definitely go again over the years but our 5 year old is the perfect age for the "magic" and is obsessed with Mickey Mouse so it's time for his first trip. We are definitely going to stay in a Disney hotel but sadly some of them are closed for refurbishments so the closest one that's open is the newly done up marvel one. Thanks for the food tips. Definitely lots to consider there with small people who need feeding constantly.