Disneyland Paris

Growing up I did not have access to anything like Disney so for a weekend I too was a kid again and love it :). I loved the rides and I really loved the parade. Both the kids and us were mesmerized by the colors and music. I recommend going during the off season and on a week day. That way the lines are really short and the waiting time is not more than 10 minutes.

Who says Disney is for kids only? We recently visited the park to celebrate my daughter’s third birthday. While there were plenty of kids in the rides but I noticed a very large number of adults enjoying them just as much. Some of them were ridden by adults only. I love seeing adults who are kids at heart. It was a big difference since we went there last time.... it was a weekend during the summer season, very busy and with waiting periods of up to 3 hours. This time we listened to friends and went off season and during the week. Far better and recommended. It was far less crowded and the lines waiting time waw nowhere near as long, five, ten minutes at the most. We had front row view at the parade so the kids got to really enjoy it all, and so did we :).

Fear not of traveling Europe with kids as there are plenty of fun places for them to enjoy. One of them is Disneyland Paris. I have no term of comparison since it’s the only one we’ve been to but our kids go crazy every time we tell them we are going. Going there off season is definitely best. There are many more deals, the lines are a lot shorter, and a lot less people than in the summer months. Going there during the week is also better rather than a weekend. There are rides, food, and of course, our kids’ favorite, the Disney parade. We went off season and for the first time we had front row seats and we really enjoyed it. The range of Disney hotels varies from cheaper to very expensive so take your pick.

Sure, everything Disney is iconic American but French kids grew up with Mickey Mouse and all the other Disney characters too. Back in 1992 the Disney brand came to Paris and since then has been going from strength to strength. They have just about everything that the American Disney parks have (between the Disneyland and Disney Studios) but without the sunny winter weather and the English language. Most come to Paris for the French experience but if you’re traveling with children, give them a break too and take them to see Goofy and Mickey and Buzz Lightyear.

Located on the outskirts of the French capital of Paris is little America, aka Disneyland. I had been to the California and Florida Disney parks in the winter months and wore just shorts and a t-shirt. In the Paris one in December it is definitely a good idea to bundle up because the sun does not always shine on French Mickey Mouse.