Disneyland Paris

Holidays by Destination Europe France Disneyland Paris 

Why go to Disneyland Paris rather than sunny Florida? Paris is closer, just a three-hour journey by direct Eurostar. The Paris park is also smaller so, although there are plenty of attractions (within a year or two there should be close to 100), you can feel you've had the full experience without exhausting yourselves.

If well prepared, willing to pick and choose, and determined, you could see everything you wanted to in a day: and because it's 30-40 minutes by train from Chatelet-Les-Halles metro stop in the centre of Paris, it would be easy to combine a visit with a stay in the city [see the report on Paris].

The weather of course is not as warm as in the US, but if you are only there for a day, that's not so important and the cooler temperatures may in any case suit British children better than the heat and humidity of Florida. April, May and June the weather is generally good enough for the park to stay open to 8pm and in July and August to 11pm. Evening lights add sparkle to the experience.

On the other hand some families love the Christmas and New Year razzamatazz when, though potentially cold, there is an extra sparkle because of the holidays.

Though there are leaflets in English, French is the dominant language, both on the Disney TV channel and signage in the park, though where important there are English translations. Disney tunes may be in French, English Italian or German and shows are generally in French, then sometimes English. English sub-titles for example in the studios, explaining how animated films and special effects are created, will require a good reading age in children.

There is debate about the best age to take children. Some parents report that younger is better because the children still believe they are seeing the characters themselves, rather than actors representing them. Other parents feel that it is only at around 7 that children will begin to get the most out of the range of options from shows to rides. It is true that if your child is liable to be frightened, only some rides will really suit. It is certainly true that because of the time constraints on getting around with little ones, if you have one in the party you will be lucky to fit in more than three or four rides a day.