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Original poster

Disneyland Paris

56 replies

Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 07:18

I'm a single parent taking my 7 year old to Disneyland Paris in early July. We've booked a hotel nearby but it's outside the park (no meals included). We'll also need to get a taxi from the airport to the hotel, then trains to the park.

Can anyone give me tips about what to expect etc? Also the two day park tickets we have are emailed as a square orange box with a QR code. Is this normal (got a deal on wowcher from best holidays UK, and so far not impressed with their service)?

We're flying with easy jet but the agent is now saying we only have hand luggage (not what he said before).

Is anyone else going in July (particularly single parents) that we could meet up with the share the fun?

Any tips or advice will be most welcome!

OP posts:
Wouldlovetobeinthesun · 14/05/2023 07:35

Haven't been for years but I would say don't worry about trying to meet up with others. Going with good friends is one thing because you know each others interests but you won't know a stranger's. There's so much to see and do that you definitely won't want to wait around for them when there's something you'd love to do elsewhere. There's a great online Disney forum called The Dibb that will give you lots of advice and tips and you can ask questions too. We loved it there. Have an amazing time!

Original poster
Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 07:45

@Wouldlovetobeinthesun thank you very much for this advice, you've put my mind at ease! I keep thinking that my son will be bored without other children to share the experience with.

OP posts:
Wouldlovetobeinthesun · 14/05/2023 07:52

Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 07:45

@Wouldlovetobeinthesun thank you very much for this advice, you've put my mind at ease! I keep thinking that my son will be bored without other children to share the experience with.

Exhausted at the end of the day but definitely not bored! Get him to look at the rides etc online before, unless it's a surprise, so you can see the things you'd both love to do. Lots of queuing so you do need to try and plan but the Dibb will hopefully help out with that as others will have asked the same thing.

TheIsleOfTheLost · 14/05/2023 08:13

There are a few facebook groups with loads of hints and tips. Just look up disneyland Paris and join a couple. There is loads of info and people saying what they found good.

SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 14/05/2023 08:20

Download the Disneyland Paris app - it has an interactive map of the parks with live waiting times for rides and if you look at the app at different times throughout the day before you go you can get an idea of the lulls for queuing.

Original poster
Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 08:25

Thanks so much! I've had a look at the dibb. I'm not on Facebook but I'll see what I can find out from other social media platforms. I'm going to try and bring a fold up chair for him to sit on in ques. This is all very helpful, thank you!

OP posts:
SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound · 14/05/2023 08:43

I think fold up chairs are banned in the parks but there wouldn’t be any point really anyway, very few of the queues are stationary long enough for you to sit down. They move constantly and they’re really well designed so there’s plenty to look at while you queue.

Endofteatherandthensome · 14/05/2023 08:43

Ooh youll have an amazing time. I'm jealous. I personally wouldnt worry about the fold up chairs. While the lines are long they move at a steadyish pace so you wont really have time to sit. Lots of the queues have interactive elements or things to see. We did lots of i spy and what would yo do if...

If its july and peak season it will be veeery busy so make sure you prioritise the rides you really want to do then take everything else as it comes. The shops and beautiful and theres lots to run around and look at that doesnt involve rides.0

You mentioned no meals include so if you want a sit down meal then you 10000% need to book ahead. I actually recommend the buffets. We found them lots of fun.

Are you buying the fast pass things? We didnt but went massively off peak. Id suggest searching disneyland paris vlogs on youtube. They help you with top tips and familiarising yourself with how it works.

In summary really plan and set realistic expectations. The people i know who didnt enjoy it, without fail they just turned up and had no plan in place.

timetochangethename · 14/05/2023 09:01

I wouldn't try and take a fold up chair I don't even think they'd let you in with it. Where would you put it when you're on rides? The entrances and exits to rides are different places.

You can buy fast passes for rides. Because you are not staying in the park you won't get the extra magic hours but as you are going in summer the parks will have long opening hours.

I also recommend the dibb and having a plan in place.

Download the app, look at restaurants in advance. Have a good idea of ride waiting times so you can plan your days.

timetochangethename · 14/05/2023 09:06

When you say taxi from the airport what airport are you flying into? It may be much cheaper and easier to go by train depending on the airport.

Hand luggage with easyJet may well just be a small backpack that fits under the seat in front of you. Not sure how long you are going for but maybe worth adding speedy boarding (this also gets you a booked seat on the plane so you will be sitting together and a cabin sized suitcase each). If they have already paid extra to book your actual seats then maybe just add 1 checked hold bag that you can share between you. you should be able to book this direct with easyJet even tho the flights were booked elsewhere. Your agent should be able to give you the booking reference to do so, I have done it before.

Original poster
Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 10:07

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound that's a shame about the chair, now I'm worried about when he gets tired with all that walking. It's not exactly a fold up chair, it's a picnic chair that goes over your shoulder. You know the type they sell in tesco's.

OP posts:
Original poster
Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 10:11

@Endofteatherandthensome I had a look at the utube vlogs, so just heard about the fast pass. It depends on the price for me. Already I'm regretting not booking a hotel in the park itself (i wanted to save money) and I can now see how much easier eurostar would be if we had a hotel on site. I'm sure we'll still have fun and this is good information for next time! Thanks for the advice!

OP posts:
GCWorkNightmare · 14/05/2023 10:11

Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 10:07

@SpinMeRightRoundBabyRightRound that's a shame about the chair, now I'm worried about when he gets tired with all that walking. It's not exactly a fold up chair, it's a picnic chair that goes over your shoulder. You know the type they sell in tesco's.

Security won’t let you in with that.

Been taking DD since she was 3.5. She’s never needed to sit in queues but did have buggy naps up to the age of about 5 to keep her going. A 7 year old without additional needs should be absolutely fine. Queues are a great time for snacking.

GCWorkNightmare · 14/05/2023 10:13

The fast pass is about £170 per person per day at peak times. Only gives one ride on 12 or 13 specific rides so may be better to pay as you go.

I doubt the queues will be hideous in early July, to be honest.

HappiDaze · 14/05/2023 10:20

There's a McDonalds tucked away around the corner just before you get to the park gates. We ate there loads esp as the food is slightly different

There is loads to do in the parks that doesn't involve queuing for rides

It's open till 11pm so we did stay till it shut and there were no queues at all so we went on all our favourite rides

Do go on 'it's a small world' it's a such a lovely ride

There's a lovely play park in the middle which mine loved when they were little

In the nearest train station is a shop (sort of newsagents ) that sells fresh patisserie and baguettes etc so go in there on your way in

There's a non stop huge cinema too in the middle which is great to just rest a bit and chill etc

You'll have a great time enjoy

Original poster
Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 10:21

@timetochangethename I can't remember the name of the airport, but it starts with Charles lol. Apparently it's 15 min drive to our hotel and the hotel is a short train ride to the park. The flights were cheaper than the euro star, but now I can see why for next time. I will definitely try to book the restaurants in advance. My son is a fussy eater with lots of allergies so it's a pitty the Mc Donalds is outside, as I know he'll eat their fries. We are spending 2 days in the park and 1 day in Paris to see the Effiel Tower before coming back to the UK. This is for his 7th birthday!

Thank you so much for your advice about the luggage, I will call easy jet tomorrow about the luggage as ive never used them before.

Also we got two vouchers for the park. One has my name on it and just says adult (doesn't also say child) and the date we want to go. The other voucher has no name on it and the same date as the previous voucher and also just says adult. I asked the agent if both tickets should say 1 adult and 1 child and if both should have the actual dates we're using them on. The agent says it doesn't matter as it says 2 days on it. I'm not sure about this. Has anyone seen this before?

OP posts:
HappiDaze · 14/05/2023 10:21

It's open till 11pm so we did stay till it shut and there were no queues at all so we went on all our favourite rides

By this I mean around 9pm the queues evaporate

HappiDaze · 14/05/2023 10:23

You can leave the park and go back in as there are 2 parks right next to each other so you have to leave anyway

So you can do this to go to McDonalds

HappiDaze · 14/05/2023 10:24

Obvs check before you walk out in case you have a weird ticket that won't let you back in for some reason

GCWorkNightmare · 14/05/2023 10:40

Howandwhy · 14/05/2023 10:21

@timetochangethename I can't remember the name of the airport, but it starts with Charles lol. Apparently it's 15 min drive to our hotel and the hotel is a short train ride to the park. The flights were cheaper than the euro star, but now I can see why for next time. I will definitely try to book the restaurants in advance. My son is a fussy eater with lots of allergies so it's a pitty the Mc Donalds is outside, as I know he'll eat their fries. We are spending 2 days in the park and 1 day in Paris to see the Effiel Tower before coming back to the UK. This is for his 7th birthday!

Thank you so much for your advice about the luggage, I will call easy jet tomorrow about the luggage as ive never used them before.

Also we got two vouchers for the park. One has my name on it and just says adult (doesn't also say child) and the date we want to go. The other voucher has no name on it and the same date as the previous voucher and also just says adult. I asked the agent if both tickets should say 1 adult and 1 child and if both should have the actual dates we're using them on. The agent says it doesn't matter as it says 2 days on it. I'm not sure about this. Has anyone seen this before?

It’s about 45 mins from Charles De Gaol airport to DLP, so you must be staying a fair bit out. Where are you staying? How will you get back there if you stay till the 11pm illuminations?

GCWorkNightmare · 14/05/2023 10:41

Are they 2 park 2 day tickets? You won’t be able to park hop if not.

NeedToChangeName · 14/05/2023 10:49

If he likes to dress up, get him a disney costume in advance, so he can wear it to Disneyland

Brown2010 · 22/05/2023 14:49

Hey sorry to jump on this post planning on a Disney trip to Paris not staying onsite .. I’m just wondering about how much spends to take per day 3 adults 1 child xx

purpleboy · 22/05/2023 15:29

Brown2010 · 22/05/2023 14:49

Hey sorry to jump on this post planning on a Disney trip to Paris not staying onsite .. I’m just wondering about how much spends to take per day 3 adults 1 child xx

As advised to the OP go onto the dibb website. There is loads of information including budgets.

Download the Disney app and you will be able to see prices for all the food places in the parks. This should give you an idea. If you want to budget you can take in your own food and drinks. There are water fountains to fill up bottled water. So it's as expensive or cheap as you make it.
We were in DL Paris last summer I think it was about £10 for burger & chips type meal, £5 per ice cream, similar for drinks and other snacks sit down meal about £35 per person, character meals about £50 per person.

stayathomer · 22/05/2023 15:31

Eating there is crazy crazy expensive- if you do want to eat out would Recommend The Rainforest cafe both for the price and how crazy cool it is, or McDonald’s. Don’t meet up with anyone, you’ll get to do what you want and will always be entertained there by yourselves! Enjoy!!

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