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- Disneyland Park, Paris
- Pride06's review
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| Value for Money | 7.1/10  |
|---|---|
| Reviewer Rating | 7.9/10 |
| Overall Rating | 7.2/10  |
By Pride06
on 9th Dec 2006
| Date of visit (month/year) | December 2006 |
|---|---|
| Ages suited for | Under 12 |
| Other info / Tips? | Not supplied |
| Value for money | 8/10 |
| Overall value | 8/10 |
 Pride06's recommendation | |
Everything that you would expect from Disney, fantastic rides, lots of fun, great atmosphere, excellent service, totally overwhelming!
Food was horrendously expensive and pretty grim! Very limited healthy options but you don't go to Disney for the food!
This was our first experience of Disney and we went with our nieces aged 5 and 8 in addition to other adults, our party was a total of 7. Having read and heard plenty of opinions I was quite confused and apprehensive about Disney, it seems like you either love it or hate it, there's no middle ground! My husband and I fell into the love it camp. From the moment we arrived in the park on a wet and cold Saturday night in December we were captivated and to be honest I'm not easily pleased!
It rained for the first two days of our visit and with two little ones we thought we were doomed but quite the opposite! We were in Disney to have fun and that's what we did! The rain doesn't stop the rides or the fun!
Over the weekend the queues for the rides were about 70 minutes long and even with fast passes it didn't really make any difference. However, on Monday and Tuesday we could walk straight onto most rides without waiting, so I would suggest going during the week if possible. Waiting for rides does seem to bring out the worst in some people, with many people just pushing to the front, so be aware! Both our nieces enjoyed the rides, although the youngest was a little short for a couple of them. The height restriction differs from ride to ride which was a little confusing and upsetting for the little one but there were so many other rides that the odd one or two wasn't a huge problem.
My husband is on crutches and we decided to hire a wheelchair for 6.5 Euros per day with an additional deposit of 150 Euros, refunded on safe return of the chair. At City Hall, just inside the main gates, disabled visitors can obtain a blue card which allows up to 4 people to enter the rides through the exit to save battling with the turnstiles. This doesn't jump you to the front of the queue but just makes waiting more comfortable. Some of the rides can be ridden whilst remaining in the wheelchair but the majority require you to get out of it and into the ride carriage. The small print on the card says that, access to Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Peter Pan's Flight is only permitted to those who are able to evacuate the attraction by walking unaided. It also states that there is an obligation of the disabled guest is to be accompanied by someone able to help in the event of evacuation procedures. My husband enjoyed all the rides and was excluded from nothing. However, do be aware that it's a long walk from the station and the hotels to the place where wheelchairs can be hired, opposite City Hall.
The shops within the park are lovely, do take some time to have a really good look, especially at the shopping arcades hidden behind Main Street. The merchandise rarely differs from shop to shop and as expected nothing is really very cheap. However, it is all really nice stuff and there are some lovely souvenirs to be had. All the shops were pretty much wheelchair accessible but we were a little wary of going in the china and crystal shops with the cumbersome chair. There were plenty of drop curbs to make getting around easier.
The Disney characters were fun and always willing to pose for photos but sometimes in such great demand that it was quite tricky to get a few moments with them. However, I am now the proud owner of some very embarrassing photos of Mickey Mouse hugging me in a room filled with people!
Lunchtime in Disney seems to run from around noon until 2pm, weather dependant, so everywhere is busy at these times. Try to have a good breakfast so you're not forced into buying rubbish at scary prices. You can't avoid the high prices and as noted there are signs forbidding picnics!
The parades were wonderful, although we did witness grown adults actually fist fighting to get to the front. Just make sure you get there in time, at least 30 minutes before and do not plan anything for at least 20 minutes after as the crowds are so great that movement is limited. Try to see all the parades, they really are enchanting!
In summary, the children loved it, as did the adults, however the children will have outgrown it in a year or two. There really is such a small window of fantasy, even the 5 year old announced that Mickey was just a man in a costume!
Go with an open mind and an open purse and you'll have the time of your life!
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