Disneyland Paris’s 20th anniversary celebrations: my top tips

Jenography is never known to miss a party, and Disneyland Paris’s kickoff of its 20^th anniversary celebrations were no exception. My daughter and I were among a contingent of bloggers and journalists to the launch of the park’s year-long celebrations, which feature a gussied up Main Street, a new parade and a dazzling evening light and fireworks show.

When Disneyland Paris opened in France 20 years ago, there were many cries of “Zut alors!” and speculation that Mickey Mouse and the land of fromage just didn’t go together. Twenty years later, the park is a standard stop on family breaks to the Paris area, whether it’s a once in a lifetime trip or a regular favourite.

This was our second visit and the special events and touches the park is putting on for its anniversary definitely make it worth scheduling a trip over the next 12 months.

We went over on the Eurostar, which is always so civilized, with the departure from St Pancras International station, the comfortable seats with power outlets, the bar car (ahem). (We sat opposite English Mum and her charming son (pictured right), tweeting each other from across the table. Why talk when you can social media?)

From there, a quick transfer to the New York hotel, which is about a 7 minute walk from the gare, to drop off our bags, then onto the park.

I was quite nervous about not having developed a “strategy” in advance. While Disneyland Paris is smaller than Disneyland in Orlando, there are still tricks you can employ to get the most out of a short visit. We quickly picked out rides we wanted to experience and for the next three days ticked them off our list. (See my recommendations for 8-year-old visitors below.)

When my daughter said there was a ride she “really really” wanted to go on or something she was “desperate” to see, we went back to the list to see what it would replace. As a result, there were no tantrums or tears about missing out, even though we could have spent three more days exploring.

Without a doubt, there were three 20th anniversary highlights that I recommend for any visitor:

1. The new daily parade. All the Disney characters have new duds for the anniversary and the Disney Magic on Parade put them all on display. It incorporates new music (I defy you to stop humming the tune afterward), includes Rapunzel and Flynn Rider for the first time, features fun choreography and a new final float. I actually got choked up at the pageantry and excitement. Disney Magic on Parade takes place every day (check for timings). TIP: Go early with snacks, and bag a good spot with a clear view.
2. Meeting all the characters and getting pictures with their 20^th anniversary outfits. My 8-year-old is if not jaded, then at least savvy to the fact the characters are just people dressed up (oops, hope I didn’t spoil anything) and that there are quite a number of them all around the park. Even so, she loved getting their signatures and giving the camera a thumbs-up with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto (her favourite) and many others. There was much debate about who we should approach as the number of available pages in her official 20th Anniversary autograph book dwindled. With the characters wearing their special 20^th anniversary costumes, this book will be a real one-time keepsake. TIP: When staying at an official Disney hotel, take advantage of the scheduled appearances there. They’re incredibly convenient and the lines are MUCH shorter.
3. The Disney Dreams “sound and light spectacular” in the evening. This is no run-of-the-mill firework show with a bit of laser light. Disney created it using a special scale model of the park’s Sleeping Beauty castle, projecting an image of a castle onto the castle to be able to create wraparound effects. Nevermind the technical side of it: 30-foot walls of water with characters on them, synchronised fireworks, leaping flames so dramatic you can feel the heat on your face – and all of it featuring favourite Disney songs and characters. (My daughter liked the Louis Armstrong number from The Jungle Book; I preferred the “baddie” section, featuring The Shadow Man from The Princess and the Frog.) TIP: Bundle up; wear comfortable shoes; if you need to, take a nap in the afternoon so the kids can stay up late but DON’T MISS IT. Truly impressive.

My tips for visiting the park with an 8-year-old:

1. Make the most of fun rides: My daughter was more interested in fun rides rather than hair-raising ones. She recommends Pirates of the Caribbean, It’s a Small World, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Big Thunder Mountain (a coaster for slightly braver kids), Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Phantom Manor, Orbitron and Autopia.

2. Don’t miss Tower of Terror. The combination of spooky Twilight Zone story and scream-inducing ride made it my Top Ride. (Possibly a bit too scary for some 8-year-olds.)

3. Eat at Cafe Mickey. I can’t vouch for the food but everytime we passed by this restaurant, situated in Disney Village, there were characters inside, making the rounds and posing for pictures. Why go to them when they come to you?

4. Buy an official autograph book and get signatures. I can’t stress this enough: hunting for characters and getting autographs became one of the highlights of the trip, and when we got back as a family we spent a couple of hours printing out the pictures, putting them into the book and – most importantly – admiring it.

5. Stick to a “one souvenir” rule. My daughter knew from the beginning that she was only allowed one thing from a Disney store to take home. That meant we could browse through the shops, admiring the weird and wonderful things, without begging or whinging. On our last day, she was certain what she wanted and the whole shopping experience had been fun, not trying.

6. Stay in Disneyland hotel. This is more of a wish on my part than a tried and tested recommendation. On both visits we’ve stayed at Hotel New York, which is very comfortable if a bit tired. But Disneyland hotel, just next to the entrance to the park has a beautiful lobby, stylish lounges and looks frankly marvelous. Book a room and tell me if it lives up to expectations.

 

During the 20th anniversary celebrations at Disneyland Park, prices for a two-night, three-day package including return travel with Eurostar in April 2012 start from £856 for a family of two adults and two children (aged 4-6 years).  Price includes return travel with Eurostar, two nights’ accommodation at the Hotel Santa Fe and three day hopper tickets with unlimited access to the Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park and is based on two adults sharing.

For longer stays, Disneyland Paris is offering guests up to 40% off Disney Hotels and park tickets as well as kids under 7 visiting for free.  For more info call 08448 008 111 or visit www.disneylandparis.com.