Disneyland & the City of Paris
In November 22, we surprised our daughter Jessica for her 9th birthday with a trip to Disneyland Paris. We had lost my dad suddenly earlier in the year so this trip could not have come at a better time to lift our spirits.
After the big surprise was revealed, off we headed to Dublin airport with our Mickey Mouse ears and flew to Charles De Gaulle airport where we were met by private transfer and brought to The Newport Bay Disney hotel. This is an onsite Disney hotel that is a 5 - 10 minute walk (depending on little legs) into the parks so no shuttle bus required. This hotel has had a full refurb since we were there so I’m looking forward to return as I believe it is even more amazing. We arrived late so the next day we were up at the crack of dawn to hit the parks.
On day 1 we did the Walt Disney Park, which is a sensorial overload including Toy Story, Avengers, Ratatouille, (my personal favourite ride) Cars, and many other rides to keep you busy. One point I wish I knew before going was that the themed restaurants book out months in advance so as soon as you book your stay and if this is something you want to include make sure you get it booked in as there is no way you can just walk in as we found out at the Bistrot Chez Remy.
On Day 2, we hit the main Park and when you first catch a glimpse of the castle it really does take your breath away. It was Jessicas birthday that day and Joe queued for quite some time at the town hall for a birthday badge, but it meant she got extra attention from the characters which she really loved. Be prepared to walk the legs off yourself but the excitement of it all keeps you going. There are parades and character appearances throughout the day so make sure you do your research, so you don’t miss anything. That night then we experienced the fireworks at the castle which is an unforgettable evening for any age.
The next morning, we reluctantly checked out and caught the train which is so handy straight into the centre of Paris. We booked our bags into a hotel hold as we were not flying until later that evening. That day we explored Paris, starting with the L’Arc de Triomphe and then onto the Eiffel Tower where we climbed to the 2nd level, my legs have never been so wobbly, I swore then that my next trip up the Eiffel Tower would be via the lift. The kids loved Paris more than we expected so I would advise adding on a night or two if you can to take in more of the city. We then took a taxi to the airport and off we went home. A trip we will never forget.