Have you ever wanted to visit the magical Walt Disney World in Florida with your children or grandchildren, but the thought of flying for eight hours on a transatlantic flight isn’t your idea of fun and is putting you off? If that’s the case, you shouldn’t miss out on an exciting and thrilling trip which they will love. There are alternatives that are much closer to home which you should consider, such as the Disneyland Paris Resort.
If you are going as a couple, family or four or in a large group, this trip has everything you will need and still has the Disney magic of the other resorts.
One of the main advantages of Disneyland Paris is that you don’t have to fly if you don’t want to as you can take a direct Eurostar train to the resort – only taking 2 hours 40 minutes from London St Pancras. Bare in mind that if you took a flight to Florida, you would need to be at the airport 3 hours before departure. So, if you are concerned with how they will behave on the journey, it’s a great trial run should you want to visit Walt Disney World, USA soon.
If you choose to take the Eurostar, the journey is very straightforward with plenty of room for luggage – which is not restricted by weight or liquid allowance. There are also less reasons for claiming on your travel insurance by using a train as you practically keep all your belongings with you for the entire journey. As it’s not far to travel you can fit in a trip to the parks as soon as you arrive, which you would likely miss out on if you are spending nearly a day travelling to the US.
You can fit in plenty of time to go into the parks on your arrival by arranging the Disney Express luggage service for an additional fee. This will allow you to check your cases in at a desk in the train station, which is then taken to your hotel for you to pick up when you have finished in the park for the day. This service is also extended to your last day so when you check out of your resort your bags will be waiting for you at the train station, so you don’t have to carry them with you all day.
Advantages of going to Disneyland Paris
- Quick journey to the resort
- Less luggage restrictions
- Mobile phone date roaming included
- No jetlag to contend with
- Easy to acclimatise to the weather and time zone
- Inexpensive
- Great selection of attractions
- Great quality food
Are the rides better in Florida?
To a degree, yes, they are. There are more parks to visit in Florida, but this is reflected in the price of admission. An adult ticket at Disney World will set you back around £400. There are six parks at Disney World, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach (last two are waterparks), so the number and quality of rides are spectacular. But that doesn’t take away from the rides on offer at the two parks at Disneyland Paris (Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park)
Main rides in Disneyland which are also in Disney World
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- ‘it’s a small world’
- Star Tours
- Space Mountain – Star Wars themed in Paris (right)
- Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
- The Haunted Mansion (closed for refurb)
- Aerosmith Rock’n Roller Coaster
- The Twilight Zone’s Hollywood Tower Hotel
- Mad Hatter Teacups
There are also some rides which are completely exclusive to Disneyland Paris giving you an extra reason to go:
- Ratatouille: The Adventure
- RC Racer (From Toy Story)
- Crush Coaster (From Finding Nemo)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril
Many of the rides are high-octane so there will be limitations for little ones (height restrictions) and those with any pre-existing medical conditions, so take extra care and seek advice before you queue up.
If rides aren’t your thing then you will be pleased to know that there are some great attractions in the park as well as themed dining venues and shops in the Disney Village. Spa’s and fitness centres are also available in the hotels, so you don’t have to be constantly on your feet for your entire stay.
Where should you stay?
If you are looking for something with a distinguishing theme, luxury or have a reduced budget, there are plenty of hotels to suit your needs.
The most expensive hotel is Disneyland Hotel, which is right next to the park and only 5 minutes’ walk from the lobby to the park gates. It has stunning views of the evening lightshow and firework displays (providing you have a north facing room). This hotel is best suited to couples, those who are looking for luxury during their stay or those looking for a quieter experience.
The Hotel New York and Newport Bay Club hotels which are four stars compared to Disneyland Hotel’s five-star rating. These hotels are suitable for all ages and group sizes and are almost identical in price, so you just have to decide which theme you would prefer, beach or city. Both are within walking distance of the park and opposite each other.
The Sequoia Lodge, Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe hotels are the cheaper on-site hotels but offer exceptional value for money and would be best suited to those on a budget who want to remain in walking distance of the park.
Finally, the Davy Crockett Ranch is ideal for those on a limited budget and don’t mind a 15-minute drive to the park each morning as there are no public transport routes or shuttle busses provided. Rather than being a hotel, the ranch is made up of cabins, both standard and premium and sleeps up to six.
There are numerous room choices within each hotel from standard rooms to presidential suites, so you can spend some time reviewing what is best suited to your needs. All hotels have meet and greet with Disney characters which is ideal for families with young children. This is something that Disney partner hotels do not offer so do consider this when booking your hotel.
How much is this going to cost?
There are some amazing packages available to our customers who would like to book a trip to Disneyland Paris. Our team of holiday experts can find the best package to suit your budget requirements. Whatever offer you see on the Disneyland Paris website is what we can offer to you too, such as additional days, discounts and inclusive meal plans. Park tickets are offered as part of the package and additional dining plan upgrades can be added to the package which can be a ideal way to save money on the food prices.
Plan your adventure and enjoy this great offer on packages arriving between 21st March to 6th November 2018.** Save up to 25% Off on your Hotel and Park Ticket Package, + get a Free Half Board Meal Plan!
Contact our team of holiday experts who will be happy to answer any questions your may have about Disneyland Paris bookings on 01243 213 213. Don’t forget to take advantage of our FREE TRAVEL INSURANCE offer when booking with us. This is something you will not get booking directly with Disneyland Paris.
(Save up to -25% off Hotel & Park tickets + Free Half Board Meal Plan" is valid for new bookings made by 25th April 2018 for arrivals from 21st March to 6th November 2018 (**excluding Disney's New York Hotel which is arrivals until 29th September 2018 only)
