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Original poster

Disneyland Paris for a weekend

18 replies

BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 07:03

Hi,

I’ve just noticed that my kids have a random inset day on a Friday in the middle of October (not attached to a half term).

It happens to be my daughter’s 10th birthday and I was wondering if it would be possible to do Disneyland Paris for a weekend.

We live about an hour away from London but obviously the kids will be at school on the Thursday. I was thinking that Friday would be quieter in the park but would it be possible to get there on Friday night without arriving too late (I have a 5 year old).

Any tips or recommendations of companies/hotels or is this a crazy idea?

OP posts:
Original poster
BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 07:15

I meant get there on Thursday night not Friday night!

OP posts:
Luckymummytoone · 17/08/2022 07:27

Do it 😁 what a lovely surprise for them! I think the smaller size of DLP definitely makes it doable for a long weekend!

justanotherlaura · 17/08/2022 07:36

I would have a look and see how busy the park is that weekend, we did Disney easily in 2 days but we're not really a fan of most of the rides. If you're queuing 3 hours for each ride and want to go on all of them you'll maybe be disappointed but if you want to go on a couple and just experience the park you'll be fine, or if it's a quieter weekend

Original poster
BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 08:28

How would I find out how busy the park will be? The kids aren’t into really big rides but would want to go on the smaller ones.

OP posts:
abovedecknotbelow · 17/08/2022 08:33

We did three nights it was more than enough, last day the kids didn't even want to fo in the park, but stay in the pool at the hotel

abovedecknotbelow · 17/08/2022 08:34

Assume it will still be busy, we went October half term and the queues were mad, also a five and ten year old are going to be different in terms of what they can actually go on. Will you be going with Husband / partner? You may have to split up

Bernadinetta · 17/08/2022 08:39

I took my then 5 year old to DLP in 2019, we arrived one afternoon and checked into hotel. Went for evening meal at Cafe Mickey, which is not inside the parks so don’t need tickets but has Mickey and three other characters come round the table. Spent the full next day in the Park, including lunch booking at Auberge de Cendrillon where the princesses come round the tables, see the parade and the fireworks, rides such as the Alice in wonderland tea cups, the carousel, dumbo flight, Casey Jr train, Peter Pan flight and Pirates of the Caribbean. We then traveled home to next morning. We flew from Edinburgh to Charles de Gaulle. I mean, it was a quick trip and obviously we didn’t get to do/see everything (she wouldn’t have wanted to do big rides anyway). But she had never been to any other Disney, or anywhere like Alton Towers, legoland etc and so she didn’t know any different. She is 8 now and still remembers the trip very fondly, we have framed photos in her bedroom of her with the characters etc. Yes a week long trip would be great but a day/couple of days can be magical too!

Original poster
BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 08:43

Thank you! That’s really useful. The 10 year old doesn’t like big rides and is very happy going on the smaller ones with her brother. Yes my husband will be coming (although he has no idea!) so we could
split up if we needed to.

my youngest would love all the characters etc.

Do you book a package all together with hotel, travel and tickets or is it best to do it separately?

OP posts:
AverageJoan · 17/08/2022 08:47

You can book packages on the DLP website including Eurostar or flights but I find if booking flights it's usually cheaper to do it separately. Worth shopping around and seeing what works best ☺️
I also think a weekend is more than enough time, hope you have a great trip!

Flamingmentalcats · 17/08/2022 08:59

We have just done 2.5 days and that was enough even with the wait times for the rides. October will be Halloween in the park. We have been then too and it's amazing. The Disney villains were out in the park. He mindful it does get dark quick and the lighting in the park wasn't the best I thought.
But, am sure your children will love it, it's Disney!

Bernadinetta · 17/08/2022 09:00

BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 08:43

Thank you! That’s really useful. The 10 year old doesn’t like big rides and is very happy going on the smaller ones with her brother. Yes my husband will be coming (although he has no idea!) so we could
split up if we needed to.

my youngest would love all the characters etc.

Do you book a package all together with hotel, travel and tickets or is it best to do it separately?

If they’d love to see and meet the characters but you’re doing a flying visit (my DD had the autograph book for them to sign) then do consider booking a character meal- as I mentioned Cafe Mickey which has Mickey and three others (we got Donald, and Pinocchio and Gepeto who were actually lots of fun) and Auberge de Cendrillon which has the princesses. I believe you can also book character breakfasts. It’s a bit pricier but saves sooo much time- the queue to meet Winnie the Pooh was so long we abandoned it and on the all the wait time for the Princess pavilion was over 90 minutes. You have to eat anyway, so you get lunch or whatever meal plus a more relaxed environment in the middle of your busy day, where the characters come round to you rather than a queue or bun fight to get close.

OneCup · 17/08/2022 09:27

French school holidays are October 22nd- November 7th according to Google. Were you planning on going the week before?

Fivemoreminutes1 · 17/08/2022 09:48

In reality, what’s the earliest that you could arrive at St Pancras after school on Thursday?

Original poster
BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 15:48

@OneCup the inset day is 7th October so looking at that weekend.

OP posts:
Original poster
BigEaredBob · 17/08/2022 15:52

@Fivemoreminutes1 if we were super organised we could arrive at St Pancras by 5pm.

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Retrievemysanity · 17/08/2022 16:04

We did similar a few years ago at the same time of year (Halloween is a brilliant theme at Disney) although we went on the Friday early morning and were at the park by lunchtime. We flew from Birmingham and then got the train. We went straight to the park and left our luggage there.

Queues were ok although we did get a pass to go to the front in most things as eldest DD has a disability and we did everything we wanted in the time available. We stayed at a hotel just outside the park. I think it was called magic castle. It was great, kids loved the theme and it had a pool which they went in loads. One of our favourite things was a Wild West show at the park where you got tea included-a friend recommended it and I was glad she did!

I can’t remember exactly but I think we also got a deal like 3 days park entry for the price of 2 which was great especially as we weren’t there the whole of the Friday. Have a great time!

Rapunzel91 · 17/08/2022 16:32

We had 3.5 days in Disneyland Paris this year with 3 kids and 2-3 days would have been enough.

we regretted not taking the Eurostar as they go all the way in to the park so that would have saved on travelling time as we were queuing for 2 hours at the airport each time plus driving.

kitcat15 · 17/08/2022 16:39

We have always done Eurostar....as soon as you arrive you drop your luggage at station Md go straight to park...same for pick up on last day....otherwise you waste 2 days travelling then transferring to hotel...checking in...then travelling back to park....and reverse on last day ....we've always done 3 nights and then get to enjoy both parks plus the pool facilities at the hotel

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