Tips for enjoying Disneyland Paris
For many American Disney fans, a trip to Disneyland Paris is more like a pilgrimage than a vacation. Here are some suggestions for enjoying the park.
Stay at the Resort – The Disneyland Paris Santa Fe Hotel is everything that you could want from an economy-rated hotel. The beds are comfortable. The staff is friendly and efficient. The signature Mickey-Mouse shampoo comes in the room. The breakfast bar in the morning is available through the checkout day and includes:
Extra Morning Hours – Disneyland Paris opens its doors 2 hours early for resort guests. At the time of my visit, there were 6 attractions available to experience including:
Eat Well – I haven’t actually done the math on this, but I am guessing that Disneyland Paris has more restaurants per acre of land than any other Disneyland Park with the exception of Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival in October. In the land of food, it is a good idea to eat well. Just expect for the meal to take longer than what Americans are used to and use the time to enjoy each other’s company. Walt’s on Main Street, U.S.A. has a great view from the second floor, and Bistrot Chez Remy has awesome food if you stay away from the brie.
Get the Meal Plan – Half Board or Full Board, it pays to get the meal plan. Our Half Board included one meal and a free afternoon coffee pause. You will want to make reservations in order to take full advantage of the plan. While certificates can be used to pay for less expensive meals than the value of the vouchers, it only makes sense to do so if you will not use the certificate at another time. Special hint: the vouchers can also be used to get a discount equal to the value of the voucher at the spectacular Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
See the shows – Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is one of the best dinner shows at any of the Disney parks in the Western Hemisphere (The old Tahitian Terrace show was better, but it is gone.) Disney Dreams the nightly fireworks extravaganza paints and pins itself to the castle with the fireworks tightly contained. Moteurs… Action! is the stunt car spectacular that has made its way across the ocean to Hollywood Studios in Florida; it was first made for the French market.
The best of the best – The best attraction is the highly innovative Ratatouille at Walt Disney Studios. The trackless ride seems like a ballet with elements of theater and motion that are not seen anywhere else. This is the signature ride of Disneyland Paris and requires more than three or four return visits because it is so enjoyable. The dragon under the castle is still amazing. It has resided there since the park opened, and it still has all of its magic.
Stay at the Resort – The Disneyland Paris Santa Fe Hotel is everything that you could want from an economy-rated hotel. The beds are comfortable. The staff is friendly and efficient. The signature Mickey-Mouse shampoo comes in the room. The breakfast bar in the morning is available through the checkout day and includes:
- Rolls
- Croissants
- Chocolate Croissants
- Muesli
- Crème Fraiche, which is like yoghurt
- Fruit Salad
- Coffee
- Juices
- Toast
- Cheese
- And cold cuts – it’s a European thing
Extra Morning Hours – Disneyland Paris opens its doors 2 hours early for resort guests. At the time of my visit, there were 6 attractions available to experience including:
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Le Carrousel de Lancelot
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Space Mountain: Mission 2
- Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast
Eat Well – I haven’t actually done the math on this, but I am guessing that Disneyland Paris has more restaurants per acre of land than any other Disneyland Park with the exception of Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival in October. In the land of food, it is a good idea to eat well. Just expect for the meal to take longer than what Americans are used to and use the time to enjoy each other’s company. Walt’s on Main Street, U.S.A. has a great view from the second floor, and Bistrot Chez Remy has awesome food if you stay away from the brie.
Get the Meal Plan – Half Board or Full Board, it pays to get the meal plan. Our Half Board included one meal and a free afternoon coffee pause. You will want to make reservations in order to take full advantage of the plan. While certificates can be used to pay for less expensive meals than the value of the vouchers, it only makes sense to do so if you will not use the certificate at another time. Special hint: the vouchers can also be used to get a discount equal to the value of the voucher at the spectacular Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.
See the shows – Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is one of the best dinner shows at any of the Disney parks in the Western Hemisphere (The old Tahitian Terrace show was better, but it is gone.) Disney Dreams the nightly fireworks extravaganza paints and pins itself to the castle with the fireworks tightly contained. Moteurs… Action! is the stunt car spectacular that has made its way across the ocean to Hollywood Studios in Florida; it was first made for the French market.
The best of the best – The best attraction is the highly innovative Ratatouille at Walt Disney Studios. The trackless ride seems like a ballet with elements of theater and motion that are not seen anywhere else. This is the signature ride of Disneyland Paris and requires more than three or four return visits because it is so enjoyable. The dragon under the castle is still amazing. It has resided there since the park opened, and it still has all of its magic.