Hi again
we are going to Disney on the 22 Aug for 3 nights and my daughter and nyself will be travelling with our son/ grandson who is 4 years old.
Can you recommend a DO list as we don%26#39;t wish to waste time while we are there.
will the 4year old we able to go on Buzz Light Years and what other rides and attractions will be suitable.
We are staying at the Santa Fe and hope to book the early breakfast.
Once again thanks
ps your knowledge of Disney is invalueable.
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Hi - this is a guide I did for a friend who went recently - its not a day by day kinda thing but it contains some of my tips. I would recommend going on the official disney site and taking time to look at the park maps - this gives you an idea of the layout and where things are so you can best plan your day. …disneylandparis.co.uk/disneyland-park/index…
…disneylandparis.co.uk/disneyland-park/index…
DISNEY VILLAGE
Get the shuttle bus to the parks – its one drop off point for everywhere. If you get off the bus and head to the left you will find the Disney village. In here there are lots of shops (cue cries of %26quot;Mum can I have%26quot;….etc), restaurants and a bowling alley/amusements. At the far end of the village there are some toy boats and a lake you could have a wander round.
Restaurants in the village:-
Annettes Diner (on the left as you enter the village) – waitresses on rollerskates/50s style diner. When we take the kids they really like the kids meals here – do fish and chips, hot dogs. Adult fish n chips and salads are really nice too. Do fab milkshakes here.
Planet Hollywood – more pricey than Annettes – nice food though.
King Ludwigs castle – never been in here
Mcdonalds – pretty self explanatory
Café Mickey – you can book to have a character meal here or queue up and take your chances – gets good reviews in terms of characters – meals are pretty much fast foody.
Rainforest café – Lots of animatronic animals – over priced. Kids will love it!
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS
This doesn%26#39;t have as much to do as the main park. The advantage of having a hopper ticket is that you can go in here and then go to the main park if you are bored.
As you enter the park there are often some characters around the entrance. You then walk through a big building which has lots of food things in – burgers etc. As you come out there should be a little cart showing you what time the shows are on and park maps.
If you head to the right you will see Animagique (stage show – really good and kids will love it)
Also Flying Carpets of Agrabah (sometimes you can get a fastpass for this but not always)
Studio Tram tour if its running is OK but if you run out of time give it a miss.
Also to the left the new Crushs roller coaster and cars ride - I heard recently that the queues were 1.5 hours for a 4 minute ride so be prepared for those.
Head to the left you will find Armageddon (this is a walk on %26quot;experience%26quot;) not suitable for the girls – guys like it though. The Moteurs Action stunt show is really good – massive stadium so don%26#39;t worry you won%26#39;t get a seat – you will!
Rock n Roller coaster – zero to 60 mph in 4 seconds – adults only. As soon as the ride starts most people say )(*)(*)( $%%26amp;%26amp;!!
There is a food place opposite the exit of the rock n roller coaster – they do lovely Croque Monsieurs (or veggie ones) and kids pizza and its reasonable value.
There are also a couple more shows – I think Disney Animation is one of them – we%26#39;ve never done these.
The parade is on once a day – worth seeing if you have a couple of days in the parks. You could always head out of the main park one day just to watch the parade and then go back into the main park.
MAIN DISNEY PARK
As you head towards the entrance everyone naturally funnels towards the middle – try to head to the edges and go through one of the smaller arches as the queues are smaller.
There should be maps in holders as you pass underneath the railroad tracks as soon as you enter the park – grab a couple there also show info …disneylandparis.co.uk/disneyland-park/shows…
As you enter the park the station is ahead of you – DON%26#39;T get the train here – its manically busy and you will wait and wait. Get it at one of the other lands. Discoveryland is the quietest station (the station is behind Star Tours ride) or Frontierland.
On the left as you enter Main Street there is a meet and greet – usually Minnie or Pluto. At the end of Main Street there is another – usually Mickey. There is a professional photographer there but you can stand by the ropes and take your own pics – they also do autographs. The pics are very good quality so worth having a look at if you want a souvenier.
Halfway down on the right is a deli – good for sarnies/coffees etc.
At the bottom on the right is the Plaza Gardens restaurant – its all white with plants outside – you can do the afternoon tea here – you might need to book this in advance. You can do that at the Town Hall building (on the left as soon as you get to Main Street square)
Also just here there is usually an info board showing what times the Lion King/parades/other shows are on.
FASTPASSES
These enable you to come back to a ride at a preappointed time and join a shorter queue. They only give out so many of these a day. Rides that have these are Peter Pan (Fantasyland), Big Thunder Mountain (Frontierland), Indiana Jones (Adventureland) Buzz Lightyear, Star Tours, Space Mountain (Discoveryland)
You queue up at a fastpass machine with the tickets for the people who want to go on the ride – put them in and it gives you a special ticket and a time to come back at. As you approach the fastpass there will be a banner above showing what time it is giving tickets out for so you can plan your day. You can hold more than one fastpass at one time as long as the times do not overlap i.e. you have a fastpass for between 11.30 – 12.00 for Peter Pan. If you go to another machine and it is offering them at 11.45 – 12.15 you cannot have another – if its offering 12.00 – 12.30 you can.
PeterPan and Buzz are the busiest of the fastpass rides – make sure you go early to get these as they run out by lunchtime usually.
You can always get more fast passes than you need (for rides that only the adults are tall enough for) and if the queue is pretty quick you might be able to go back on the ride within the half hour space.
BABY SWITCH
This allows you to go on the adult rides whilst the kids are supervised in the station area by one parent whilst the other rides, and then visa-versa. Basically say in Big Thunder mountain, one of you goes in the normal entrance (or if you have got one the fastpass entrance). The other one then heads round to the exit point of the ride (near the shooting range) walk through here (people coming the opposite way to you coming off the ride – keep to the right) and as you go through you see a Cast Member and say baby swap. As the first person gets to the front of the queue he says baby swap and points to you. The first person then does the ride and when it comes back round they gets off and has the kids and you go on the ride.
PARADE
My recommendation for the main parade is to watch it by the large gates to the right of It’s a Small World ride in Fantasyland as its less busy and as soon as its left that area the rides are quieter. And there is a lovely ice cream parlour just opposite it!
CASTLE
You can explore different areas of the castle –theres a dragon inteh basement so go there at your own risk! There are often Princess meet and greets by the entrance to the castle and sometimes a show at the stage to the right of it.
FANTASYLAND
I think you will be spending a lot of time here! All the rides have a notice saying how long the queue is from a certain point – these timings are usually pretty accurate.
Snow White ride – quite dark and features the witch quite a bit
Dumbo – you queue for ages for this one and its over really quick so get there early or– if you can dissuade the kids from going on it then do!
Pinnochio – quite dark and features the darker side of the story i.e. the whale and him turning into a donkey
Peter Pan – get a fastpass for here as soon as you enter the park
Carousel – queue moves quite quick
It’s a small world – queue moves quite quick and the worlds most annoying song.
Spinning tea cups - queue moves quite quick
Casey Junior train and Boat ride – this is down the right side of where the Cheshire cat maze is if its open – doesn’t usually have massive queues.
Fantasyland stage – often has some show on it worth seeing.
Food in here – we usually eat at Café Bella Notte which is by Small world – does pizza, lasagne, garlic bread etc.
Just to the left of Peter Pan you move into Adventureland
ADVENTURELAND
Pirates of the Caribbean – based on the film. Long queue but keeps moving – once you get indoors its quite dark in the queing area but not spooky. Sometimes has a guy dressed as Jonny Depp at the photopoint – he%26#39;s kinda fit and has a sexy French accent!
Then round to the left is the Pirate ship and play area and then Swiss Family Robinson house (unless you are desperate to climb up this, give it a miss)
Indiana Jones is towards the back of this land – you can hear it from the screams – its really rattley so if you have a bad neck then don%26#39;t ride this.
I think this is the most boring of the lands.
You can then cut through to Frontierland
FRONTIERLAND
Most popular ride here is Big Thunder Mountain. Get a fastpass as the queues are usually around 60 mins.
Phantom Manor – haunted house ride – bit dark at first you go in a room where the floor starts to move and then the lights go out – hold tight to the kids as its fine after that. No fastpass for this one.
River boats – big paddle steamers take you on a ride round the lake.
Pocahontas village and other stuff at the far end of here too.
Cowboy cook out does nice bbq chicken and chips – they also have a stage show usually going on at the Chapperal theatre.
DISCOVERYLAND
This is where the Lion King show is. Its held in Videopolis which is a big building past Buzz Lightyear on the left. Don%26#39;t queue for tickets for the show – there are loads of seats and big screens so you can see wherever you go. The fast food (chicken strips in particular) aren%26#39;t bad in here and the kids meals are big enough for an adult (well maybe not for the blokes)
Buzz Lightyear – fab ride – kids will love it – busy all the time – get your fastpasses for here as soon as you enter the park.
There is also the Orbitron (like circling rockets) – you queue for ages for this ride and its over really quick – if you can dissuade the kids from going on it then do!
Space Mountain mission 2 – goes so fast it makes your eyes water – one for the adults
Car ride (never been on this as the queues have always been massive)
Star tours – like a simulator ride – think its suitable for the kids
Honey I shrunk the audience (3 d so you wear glasses for it) – bit slow to get going as they put you in a holding area before you go into the auditorium – kids might get a bit bored but the show itself is good.
Buzz Lightyear Pizza planet – this restaurant is meant to be quite good.
SHOPPING
God there are so many shops you will be pestered to death! The ones in the Disney village pretty much sell the same ranges as in the park.
Inside the castle as you go up the draw bridge on the left there is a glass shop selling blown glass – quite nice to watch them doing that. On the right there is a Christmas shop selling decorations.
Phew think thats it.
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Hi Maisysmum
Buzz Lightyear ride is great for kids, he will love it.
Ring Disney with you booking reference and ask if you can book the Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast in the park, it doesn%26#39;t cost anymore and is well worth it, you can go to the park for 8 with your extra magic hours and have breakfast between 8.15 and 10 (i think) we found it much more relaxing, the Santa Fe is a bit of a bun fight in the morning
Have fun
Pinky
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