Whether you’ve never been or you’ve been a dozen times, Disneyland Paris truly is one of the happiest places on earth. Arriving from near or far one simply can’t help but get a little giddy when you drive through the entrance knowing what is waiting just inside. There are many companies to choose from when planning the essentials for a vacation and the one that saved us the most money was Gatwick parking with Holiday Extras. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly and the service was quick, almost as if they knew we were in a hurry to be on our way!
There are five Disney theme parks around the world and when you walk through their gates everyone’s inner child comes out to play. It’s no wonder that millions of people visit the parks yearly and we were no different.
There are hundreds of places to stay on or near Disney and many of them offer very attractive packages. We chose to stay on site at the Disney’s Sequola Lodge. It was cozy and reminded me of a mountain lodge. The giant fireplace that roared each night was a great way to end a day at the park.
We stayed in the Golden Forest Club. It was beautifully decorated with warm cozy furniture and the surroundings reminded me of a lodge at a ski resort. The staff was exceptional and provided us with every amenity whenever we asked. We asked to be moved from our original room because it was a little too close to the smoking rooms and the on duty manager was happy to accommodate us. We were even given an upgrade! Okay so we were there off-season so that might have something to do with it, but the genuine care the staff took to accommodate us was exceptional.
Our first night we were thoroughly exhausted and decided to have dinner in one of the hotel’s restaurants. We tried the Hunter’s Grill. It was an amazing open-air buffet with hearty country style cuisine. They also had American cuisine for those that weren’t so adventurous. Needless to say we tried everything.
After a wonderful night’s rest and a fantastic breakfast that was included in the price of the room, we packed up and headed out to the park. A word of advice…get there as soon as it opens or a little before, even during off season the park is packed with guests all hoping to be the first one in line! If you can afford it, I’d invest in the Fast Pass tickets or expect to wait, sometimes hours, in lines for attractions. Since there are literally thousands of rides, attractions, shows, and eateries, I would suggest that you plan on staying at least 2 days to take it all in!
As with all good things our time came to an end at Disney. Somehow I felt like I needed a vacation from my vacation! With the walking, laughing, and attractions, I was exhausted. But the memories we made are irreplaceable and as much traveling as we do, there truly is no place like Disney! Driving away from the happiest place on earth and tucking in my inner child I couldn’t help but feel a little bittersweet. We’d had another fantastic visit to Mickey land and already I’m excited about our next visit!
