Welcome to my blog! I’ve set this up to keep all my Trip Reports of my visits to Disneyland Paris in one place. I love to read other people’s Reports, so I thought mine might be of some use too.
To start off, I thought I would do a general introduction by answering a few questions about DLP. These have been doing the rounds on blogs and vlogs as ‘The Disneyland Paris Tag’. Here we go!
1. What year did you first visit DLP and how old were you?
I was lucky enough to go on a trip to EuroDisney just one month after it opened, in 1992. I was 9 years old and I remember it vividly. I fell in love! I’ve had 6 more trips since then, with more in planning.
2. Which of the Disney hotels have you stayed in, if any, and do you have a favorite?
I’ve stayed in Santa Fe, New York and the Disneyland Hotel. I’ll be staying at Cheyenne on our next trip. My favourite has to be the DLH, where I stayed with my husband and then 3 year old son in 2012. There’s so much I love about it: the decor, the smell, the lobby, the restaurants, the bar, even the Cast Members Uniforms! I haven’t stayed there since, but I do have to sneak in a few visits to it on every trip now, usually to Inventions restaurant for lunch or dinner, and Cafe Fantasia for a drink and snack. Oh and the lobby for some wifi! 😀
3. Let us in on where the best places to eat within both parks and the Disney Village are.
Well I’ve already mentioned two in the previous question! Inventions is a very fancy buffet in the Disneyland Hotel. It’s the nicest buffet I’ve ever eaten at! I usually have two rounds of starters, skip mains, and then have two rounds of desserts! It’s a character restaurant too, so 4/5 characters come to your table, which is great fun.
Cafe Fantasia is the bar in the DLH. They do fabulous cocktails (as do all the hotels, but I think there’s a more extensive range here), and also some nice snack food like cakes and sandwiches. It’s fairly pricey but it’s a lovely way to relax for an hour or two on a busy park day.
Another favourite restaurant is Blue Lagoon, which is part of the Pirates of the Carribbean ride. It’s indoors, but they way they have themed it, you really feel like you’re outdoors in the Carribbean! It’s nice to watch the boats go by as you eat. There’s some lovely seafood on the menu and it’s a great place to have a light-up Glowtini cocktail.
Lastly, I’ve only been here once, but it’s definitely worth a mention, is Bistro Chez Remy. It’s in Walt Disney Studios, beside the Ratatouille ride. It’s worth visiting this restaurant just to see the theming alone. As you walk through the door, you are shrunk down to the size of a rat, and all the furniture inside is made from things like Champagne corks, cocktail umbrellas etc. The food is pretty good too!
4. Where is your first port of call when entering the Disneyland Park?
A hop, skip and a jump down Main Street USA, soaking in the fabulous atmosphere! After that, I usually try to get a Fastpass for a ride; Buzz Lightyear’s Laser Blast, Peter Pan or Big Thunder Mountain.
5. Do you have a favorite ‘land’? If so why?
Main Street USA is my favourite land in the park. I always try to spend as much time as I can there. I love the smell, the music, the shop windows, the vehicles, and all the little details. I find new things every time! There’s a fabulous atmosphere there.
6. Which ride could you ride over and over and never tire of?
Probably Big Thunder Mountain, or the newest addition, Ratatouille.
7. Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios park?
Disneyland Park. The Studios were a great addition but you can’t beat the magic of the main park.
8. Tell us about your favorite character meeting ever at DLP.
I’ve had a few really magical moments with characters, it’s hard to pick one! They have all been on trips with my kids.
One was in the lobby of Hotel New York, where Goofy came along and started pushing our double buggy with the two boys in it. They didn’t notice for ages! Then Goofy tried to get into the buggy! It’s such a pity that characters have been removed from hotels.
Another one was our first visit to the Princess Pavillion. On the previous DLP trip, we had been to Auberge De Cendrillion for the Princess meal, where my older son had taken quite a liking to Sleeping Beauty. It became a bit of an obsession! Anyway, when you go to the Pavillion, you never know which princess you are going to meet, but we were lucky enough to meet her again! He was so thrilled and we got some great photos.
9. What is a parade/show from any year that is most memorable to you?
Swing into Spring, its first year (2014). It had fabulous colour, music, costumes and energy. We had one particular moment that I will always remember. It was my younger son’s 3rd birthday and he got a birthday badge from City Hall. Some of the Main Street USA residents (from one of the shows) came up to him and started singing Happy Birthday! In harmony and everything! It was truly magical. I wish I had gotten a video of it.
10. You can only ride one – Mad Hatters Teacups or Dumbo the Flying Elephant?
I love both, but probably Dumbo because you get great views of Fantasyland from it.
11. What do you think is the best attraction in the Walt Disney Studios park?
Ratatouille, hands down! It’s such a great addition to the park. It’s so different to anything else there, so clever and very well done. A very immersive experience.
Before Ratatouille, my favourite was Tower of Terror. It’s so well themed (it’s worth seeing the beginning of it, even if you take the chicken exit!) and very thrilling! They do a tour of it, which I would love to do some time.
12. Describe your happiest Disneyland Paris memory of all time.
Just being there makes me happy. Nothing beats that feeling of walking down Main Street and seeing the castle. I’m lucky that I have been to DLP seven times. Here’s to many more!
Dee's Disney Dreams 