Disneyland Paris - any advice welcome 😊

[Inyourwildestdreams]

We want to take DS to Disneyland Paris. We would like to stay in a hotel on site. He will be 4. We would like to avoid school holidays ideally and make the most of the last chance to go during term time. First half of next year.

DH and I have been once, about 10 years ago. I remember us getting a decent deal which involved a free half board meal plan. Do these still crop up at certain times of the year or are we as well just booking up just now and adding the meal plan?

Is there a particular time of year you would recommend visiting? Any hotels that you would recommend/avoid?

Any other tips/tricks/advice is welcome!

I see you're staying 4 nights which will probably be enough, but maybe plan to stay in a hotel off site for a night so you can enjoy your full last day? Hotels are so much cheaper just outside the park so seems a shame to have to leave early etc.

Also, I found the buffet food good. Only had a buffet at downtown and thought the quality was great. Also, so much easier with kids. I found the menu restaurants food a bit too fancy for my kids! Also went to Annette's diner which was really good too.

In studio Park there are a lot of shows going on, so maybe check out the app to see what's on and when so you can make a rough plan of things to do a part form rides. Sometimes I wish I had done first time round etc!

Avoid the Santa Fe, it’s grim. Not clean and contracted food poisoning from the buffet.

I'd recommend the Ratatouille restaurant, can't remember its name. But was nice but difficult to book as v popular

We stayed at the marvel hotel. It was amazing. If you look on the Facebook group Disneyland Paris for brits it's pretty helpful.

I'd echo take plenty of snacks for home and maybe some fidget toys for the kids in queues.

The ratatouille restaurant is lovely.
You can book a royal banquet at the Disneyland hotel where you see mickey, Minnie, Donald and daisy. Otherwise you can get the character dining at the plaza which is sweet.

You will have a lovely time I'm sure.

@CocoPlum Thank you! Great tips 😊 I’ve taken note of them.

@shivbo2014 Sounds amazing 😍 I can’t wait!

@ObsidianTree DH and I visited in March the only other time I’ve been but it was 11 years ago so I feel like it’s all brand new 😊 I’ve been trying to talk myself out of a couple of Loungefly purchases for a few weeks but I might need to go for it lol

@ObsidianTree Staying offsite on our last day isn’t an option unfortunately 👎🏼 The flights don’t work for us the following day. We arrive Sat morning and are staying nearby on Sat night so we can get an early night with DS then arrive at the park nice and early Sunday to make the most of our first day 😊 Then flight from CDG at 6.30ish on Thursday evening.
Im looking forward to the shows 😊

Bring insulated water bottles (and squash super concentrated drops if your dc object to water) plus snacks, queues for food are horrendous. We stuffed ourselves at breakfast snacked then ate in the evening. You have already booked meals I think, we are at McDonald's some of the time as it didn't require reservations. We found from about 4pm things did get a bit quieter in the parks, having older kids who moved fast, this have us a couple of hours where we could really dash around rides or rather they dashed about I went to the German themed bar in Disney village

@MathsFiend @Newuser75 Aww, we did have the Ratatouille one booked but I cancelled it because kept reading awful reviews!
Will definitely pack some snacks and toys 😊

@mitogoshi Thankfully he’s currently 3.5 and has yet to discover juice 😂😂 he’ll be absolutely fine with the water so definitely planning our own bottles.
Half board booked so planning to have a decent breakfast then grab a quick snack/take snacks from home for over lunch etc if anyone wants something. Most meals we’ve booked as first dinner slot or late lunch slot so that should be enough to tide us over I think 😊

Book the fireworks reserved area if you’re going at a busy time - its so worth it when you have little ones.

Marvel is fab, it’s one of my favourite hotels onsite . They have a met and greet for guests that you can book 7 days before your stay.

Your restaurant choices are great. My kids like Downtown and PYM. We have annual passes so they’ve tried most places!

I would always stay at hotel New York art of Marvel every time.

Did you book lunch or dinner at Royal Banquet? Donald and Daisy only do one sitting (dinner at minute I think but they can change it around), it’s Pluto and Goofy as the other with Mickey and Minnie at both. Thought it was worth mentioning as saw your little one was a Donald fan!

Magicbreaks is great - I booked a coach trip with them to Paris with a boat cruise and time to explore/go up Eiffel Tower
Sequenia lodge - cant remember spelling but really easy to walk into park and nice swimming pool you can use without booking slots. I would definitely stay on site if I went again.
I'd say full board only because it's expensive either way

@WhereDoBrokenHeartsGo Thank you 😊 Glad to hear the restaurant choices are good 😊🤞🏼 It’s a late lunch we have booked for the Royal Banquet. DS loves Goofy too so I’m happy just to take our chances on who we get 😊 He won’t know about it until we go anyway so won’t know that it could have been the other pair if that makes sense 👍🏻

Thanks so much everyone for all the tips and tricks 😊 So excited to be able to take our little guy! It was my absolute dream as a child and I was never able to go so I feel grateful to be able to make it happen for him 🥹
Hoping to make a very loose plan for our days to try and make the most of our time there then just really go with the flow and take it at DSs pace 😃