We ended Fall Break with a few days at Disneyland Paris. It was as magical as I imagined! In this post, I’ll walk you through our interest in visiting, where we stayed, and what to know to have a successful time in the parks.
Why Disneyland Paris?
The Walt Disney Company has several international parks: Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disney Resort, and Disneyland Paris. My goal is to visit all of them.
I always knew we’d tack on a visit to Disneyland Paris the next time we visited Belgium. It’s super easy and relatively inexpensive to transfer via train. As a Disney-loving family, there’s always this pull to see how other countries interpret something you know and love. And I must add that Disneyland Paris knocked it out of the park!
Disney’s Newport Bay Club
Disneyland Paris has seven beautifully themed hotels to choose from. Had the Disneyland Hotel been open during our time there, that would have been my number one choice. (It reopens January 25, 2024.) Think of it as Walt Disney’s World’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, or Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.
After waffling between Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, and Newport Bay Club, I ultimately decided on Newport Bay Club. Who could resist a seaside mansion designed with charming 1920 nautical details, nestled on the shores of Lake Disney? I’ll also admit I have a particular fondness for Yacht Club Resort which it reminded me of.
There are so many amenities to enjoy at this hotel, you’ll hardly have time for them all. Disney characters can be found in the lobby, the Nantucket Pool is a heated indoor/outdoor pool, Bay Boutique has the cutest items unique to Disneyland Paris (and awesome pins for trading!), and multiple dining venues which are super convenient. There’s even the Little Captains’ Corner for the littlest guests.
Best of all, the hotel is a short walk from the parks and Disney Village. The website reads 15 minutes, but we timed it, and it usually took us 10. Our dates were considered high season, and it was much faster to walk than wait on a bus.
Compass Club Family Room
The room features traditional Disney theming. I know dark wood is not everyone’s favorite, but the room itself was spacious, and each teen had their own bed. I loved the bathrobes and slippers provided to use during your stay. Such an elegant touch! Keep reading to learn more about Compass Club Amenities.
Compass Club Amenities:
- Private check-in and check-out
- Access to the Compass Club Lounge for complimentary breakfast (7-11 AM), soft drinks (noon-10 PM), and afternoon tea (4-5:45 PM)
- Luggage Service
- Assistance with dining reservations
Was it worth it? For us, absolutely! The staff was very attentive and helpful. We breezed through check-in and check-out, while the lines in the lobby were a mile long. We were able to zip back to the hotel to fuel up when needed. The hotel is fairly large and the lobby area was always very busy regardless of the time of day. Breakfast in the lounge was a nice, relaxed way to start the day.
The Parks
Disneyland Paris has two parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. To me, Disneyland Park most resembled Magic Kingdom with the castle and fairytale lands, while Walt Disney Studios Park most resembled Hollywood Studios with World of Pixar and Tower of Terror. Some attractions are the same or similar, but there are unique ones like RC Racer, and Crush’s Coaster which was our collective favorite. The overall footprint of the parks is very manageable, and very easy to navigate. And with the help of Premier Access (skip the line feature), you can zip through the eligible attractions with ease.
At Disneyland Paris, guests are able to explore the inside of the castle. There’s an upstairs viewing platform with amazing views of the park. Pay attention to the stained glass on the second level. It tells the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Of course there’s a dragon being held captive underneath the castle! And you can find him through one of two secret entrances. Unfortunately this area was closed for renovation during our visit, but here’s a special peak:
The bronze statues around Central Plaza are the cutest. I hope they become a permanent installation.
Characters perform freely throughout the parks and will often invite guests to be a part of the show. Some of the most entertaining are at Avenger’s Campus in Walt Disney Studios Park. The shows, along with attraction pre-shows, are in a combination of French and English. It’s easy to follow along even if you don’t speak French.
The parades and nighttime shows in both parks are brilliant!
My Favorite Things
There are several key items that elevate the guest experience at Disneyland Paris. When you book your room/ticket package through Disney, your tickets are good for the length of stay. We were there for three days, and able to enjoy the parks for all three days. Park hopping included.
With Premier Access (the skip the line feature), there was no selecting entry times in the app. You just walk up to the eligible attraction, and enter the Premier Access line. It utilizes demand-based pricing and can be rather expensive. But its worth it if your party is attraction-focused.
Disney Studio 1 in Walt Disney Studios Park is a very cool concept. Imagine having an entire climate controlled “street” to shop and eat. Finally, when you book your package – whether it’s two or 10 months prior – you can begin making dining reservations in the app. Simple, yet effective, no?
As with all Disney parks, onsite guests can take advantage of Extra Magic Time. This is an hour every morning reserved exclusively for onsite guests. If you don’t purchase Priority Access, you definitely want to take advantage of this to beat the general crowd.
Final Thoughts
With all of the similarities, it is very easy to make comparisons with the US parks. But as much as they are similar, there are major differences. And these should be celebrated. Try the cuisine, after all this is France. Appreciate another country’s interpretation of an attraction. Make an effort to understand cultural differences. It makes for a successful visit.
Our time was up far too soon. I would go back again in a heartbeat. And I would love for you to experience Disneyland Paris for yourself! If you’re a Disney-loving family like us, and interested in trying something new, let’s discuss a visit, with time allocated to see all the major sights in Paris’ city center.
Fall Break: Gent and Brussel / Fall Break: Paris / Fall Break: Disneyland Paris
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