DLP 14th-18th Sept 2023: Trip Report with 2 adults & 2 kids (11 & 8)

[Ourdaybydesign]

We have just got back from our surprise September weekend trip to Disneyland Paris. Our schools get the Friday / Monday off so was a perfect time to go! We hadn't told the kids till we were on our way to the airport and they were delighted, I made them a ticket and itinerary for the long weekend and put in autograph books and new ears, stitch earrings for my daughter and a Groot funko for my son.

This wasn’t our first time, so this trip wasn’t about doing everything but a chance to see the end of the 30th Anniversary and do the new rides and shows and the one ride we have never ever done!

I first went back in 1993 for the first anniversary when it was still called Euro Disney and returned for day trips with the school on a French exchange in 1996 then with my now husband on a trip to Paris in 2004. We then had a break before taking our son in 2014 at 2 when we stayed at Santa Fe; in 2016 for his 4th birthday when our daughter was 1, also at Santa Fe. We returned in 2017 to see the 25th Anniversary where we booked to stay at Santa Fe for 5 nights but got upgraded to Newport Bay. We then went back in 2019 for our daughter’s 4th birthday when our son was 7 and we stayed at Cheyenne. 4 years later it was time to go back! We surprised the kids in 2016 and 2019 for their birthdays and got a massive surprise in 2017 when my sister met us there from Dubai! So of course, we had to do the same this year which I posted on our way to the airport on Thursday!

5 days ☀
4 nights 🌙
2 hotels 🏨
2 Bolt rides 🚙
100k steps 👣
944 photos 📷

✈️ We flew from Edinburgh to Charles de Gaulle with EasyJet on Thursday night. We surprised the kids by picking them up from school and driving right to the airport! We just had hand luggage as we paid for the second bag so didn’t need to worry about checking or waiting for bags. The flight was on time and once we landed and went through passport control, we waited for the hotel shuttle.

🏨 We spent the first night at the Premiere Classe Roissy - Aéroport Cdg - Le Mesnil Amelot so we could make the best use of the 3 nights at Disneyland & get the full 4 days in the park. The hotel is about a mile away from the airport, included breakfast and has its own shuttle which was €7 each and runs until 11.30pm.

🚙 After breakfast we ordered a Bolt to take us to Disneyland. It came quickly and would have cost €55.90 but I had a 20% discount for signing up with the app so only cost €44.70. We got picked up at 8.36am and dropped at Sequoia at 9.24am. We checked in to get our park tickets which didn’t take long and our room was ready so we were able to drop our luggage in the room.

🏨🌲 We booked 3 nights / 4 days at Sequioa Lodge this time in a lodge room as we hadn’t been to this hotel before and wanted a change. The rooms seemed slightly bigger than Santa Fe / Cheyenne, but the main difference is the pool and the tea / coffee facilities in the room. We stayed in Big Sur Lodge which is the closest one to the pool building and to the path to get to the parks. We were on the first floor.

🍽 We added the half board meal plan as we knew we wanted to try the new marvel buffet and have a decent breakfast at the start of the day. We booked the character breakfast for the first morning, had breakfast in the hotel second morning then did the princess breakfast our last day. For our meals we went to Walt’s the first afternoon, Downtown on the Saturday night then PYM Kitchen on Sunday.

🏰 Day 1: Disneyland Park
10 🎢 / 1 🐭 / 1 🎭 / 5 🛍 / 1 🍽 / 1 🍴

After checking out our room we walked to the park through Disney Village and picked up our photopass in World of Disney.

Our first stop in the park was Discoveryland for Buzz followed by Autopia, Hyperspace Mountain and Star Tours before catching some of the Dream… and Shine Brighter! 30th parade. My daughter won’t do Hyperspace so we got a rider swap when they came off and I went back on with my son. Our next stop was Fantasyland for Small World, Tea Cups, Alice’s Labyrinth then the kids tried the sword in the stone and we saw the dragon under the castle. Then it was time for our meal at Walt’s at 2.30pm, we have never been so wanted to take advantage when we had the half board. We got a table by the window and were able to watch the dream parade when it went past and again just as we left the restaurant. I had the waldorf salad, arctic char and the 30th cake all of which was really nice. The kids weren’t keen on the starters but enjoyed the macaroni and mickey cake.

We headed round to Phantom Manor next then to Pirates where my daughter met Captain Jack before we went back on Pirates again.

It was getting very hot & humid by now, so much that the last 2 dream parades the characters didn’t get off their floats so after a late night and early start we headed back to the hotel for a swim. The kids really liked the pool especially the slide, the outside area and the bubble pool. We all had a go off the slide and my husband got told off for going too fast! After getting changed we didn’t want to go far for food so just went into the McDonald’s in the Disney Village for dinner then went into some shops on the way back. I managed to get the Euro Disney 1992 pandora charm as it was on offer for only €35.

🏰🎬 Day 2 - Disneyland Park / Walt Disney Studios
6 🎢 / 12 🐭 / 3 🎭 / 5 🛍 / 2 🍽 / 1 🍴

Early start this morning to get to the park for Extra Magic Time as my daughter was desperate to meet Stitch. Mickey was out at the train station while we were on our way in.

Mission accomplished we managed to meet Stitch, but it did take all magic time as by the time we were finished it was time for our character breakfast at 9.45am. We met Pinocchio, Pluto, Captain Hook, Geppetto, Eeyore & Tigger which the kids loved.

We ran into the Stormtroopers on our way to Star Tours and my son got a photo with them.

After Star Tours we went to get a spot in front of one of the central stages so we could get a proper view of the 30th parade characters dancing. We all loved the parade and the stages are the perfect place to watch them. The songs are fab and you get to see all of the characters as they move between each stage.

We made our way to Adventureland and met Chip and Dale before going on Pirates. We got mickey pizza for lunch at Bella Notte then did some shopping.

I managed to get a 30th Christmas decoration in the castle shop and my son got the jiminy cricket shoulder plush. It was getting really busy now as it was Saturday afternoon so we made our way back to Main Street so I could get my 30th glass with the champagne which I drank in front of the castle while the dream parade was going on then walking towards the exit.

We hopped over to the studios park and ran straight into Lightning McQueen driving around. It wasn’t quite as busy in the studios but we went into Avengers Campus and did the Spider-man adventure using single rider which is perfect once your kids are both over 7 which mine are. Afterwards my husband and son went on Flight Force and me and my daughter caught the Avengers out by the Quinjet and on the roof then saw Ant-Man wandering around.

I managed to get an online slot to meet Spider-Man so we went there once the boys had come off the rollercoaster.

He is always a fab meet and we got some great photos. We made our way to Toy Story Playland to go on Slinky then round to Cars road trip followed by Ratatouille. My son couldn’t find the remy shoulder plush he wanted but my daughter got a massive munchling. We left the Studios and walked through the village stopping at World of Disney for the kids to both get the Xmas groot shoulder plush before our reservation at Downtown at Hotel New York. We really enjoyed the buffet especially the desserts and I enjoyed the dim sum.

My son wished we had stayed in the hotel but maybe another time. We hadn’t managed to see D-Light or Dreams last night so headed back to the main park to see them. It was really busy, but we at least saw it and the drones were great. The Dreams show is the same as it was last time we came so it didn’t matter we didn’t have the perfect view. We made our way out via the side arcade and popped back into Disney fashion to get my friend a pandora charm on the way back to the hotel.

🎬 Day 3 - Walt Disney Studios
11 🎢 / 7 🐭 / 4 🎭 / 1 🛍 / 2 🍽 / 1 🍴

We had breakfast in the hotel this morning so didn’t quite make magic time after our late-night last night. We went to the Studios this morning and managed to do the Flying Carpets, Cars Rallye, RC Racer and Parachute Drop in a short time. RC Racer is the only ride in the park we have never done. My daughter wasn’t keen, so my husband took her back on Slinky at the same time. We got a photopass video photo in front of the partners statue at some point which has the 30th frame on it. We had just missed the start of the Frozen show but an English Stitch Live! was about to start so we managed to see that for the first time too. It was funny and great for the kids. Lightening McQueen was driving past when we came out then we saw the first show of Together, the Pixar musical which was brilliant. Loads of unusual characters in it so definitely worth seeing. We went back to Avengers Campus and did Spider-man adventure using single rider again then got an online slot for a superhero encounter which was Captain Marvel. She was great with the kids and got lots of pictures.

When we came out Black Widow, Black Panther and Spider-Man were doing their roof show then not long after all the Avengers came out by the Quinjet again. Feeling peckish by now we got some snacks at some of the Le Render-Vous Gourmand de Disneyland Paris stands, I had some paella and churros from España. We quickly did single rider on Ratatouille before the kids got chocolate marshmallows and strawberries from the La Bonbonnière stand then I got my Race Track Magnum at Ice Cream Creations while my husband tried the Snowflake Bliss Magnum. While we ate we saw Mr & Mrs Incredible on their scooters.

We had missed two showings of Frozen as they were full so we went much earlier this time and enjoyed a rest in the queue. The show was brilliant and so glad we went, another one we had never done.

We have seen Mickey and the Magician before so didn’t bother with that. We just managed to get into the queue to meet Olaf afterwards which was perfect timing.

Me and my son went on Flight Force and saw Spider-man on the roof again on the way. Still as bumpy a coaster as it was when it was the previous ride, but the theming is well done. Loki and Thor came out to do a mini show as we came out so managed to watch then not long after the Avengers were all back out on the roof. Another ride on Slinky then single rider for the parachute drop before it was time for our reservation at PYM Kitchen. We all really enjoyed it the theming is great and plenty choice for the food.

Since we hadn’t managed to do Crush’s Coaster this morning we then just had to queue for it but it was only about 35 minutes which was the lowest it had been all day. My daughter was not impressed but she did it. Managed another ride on Cars Rallye before finding a spot to watch Avengers: Power the Night. The drones are brilliant for this and the projections on the tower are so well done, it’s worth seeing.

We only made a quick stop at the Lego store in the village as the kids wanted to do the custom mini figures then it was back to the hotel for our last night. We got most of the packing done before we went to bed.

🏰 Day 4 - Disneyland Park
8 🎢 / 6 🐭 / 1 🎭 / 3 🛍 / 1 🍽 / 1 🍴

We got up and dressed, packed the last bits the dropped the cases off at the left luggage. We saw Donald in the hotel, but the queue was quite big so didn’t wait to meet him as we wanted to catch the end of magic time. Me and my son went on Thunder Mountain but couldn’t convince my daughter, so we got a rider switch for my husband for later on as it was time to head to Auberge de Cendrillon for our Princess breakfast. My daughter Eden got changed into her Jasmine pink outfit in preparation. We really enjoyed the breakfast and thought it was tasty and such a difference not having to run for the buffet between characters. We saw Cinderella, Merida and Aurora which was lovely. Merida was funny as we are Scottish too and my daughter has very curly hair, so she said she knew our area well and maybe Eden was her cousin.

We went on Pinocchio then Small World again. Belle walked past us then we saw Goofy and Pluto at their meet while we queued for Small World. We hadn’t gone upstairs in the castle yet so took the chance now then took some photos by the castle while the Dream parade passed again. We went back to Buzz then got some lunch at Café Hyperion. We had a third go on star Tours, we got a different sequence every time which was good. The Stormtroopers were out again when we came out and Eden got called up to line up then they both got a photo with one of them. It helped mine had matching t-shirts with their names on today so they knew they were together!

There was a sudden downpour as we ran to Frontierland and just made it to the Phantom Manor queue. As it was our last day we wanted to see the main parade so we found an early spot on main street to sit down while we went on a snack hunt. We got macarons, marshmallows and the shortbread mickey from the Boardwalk Candy Palace while my husband got a celebration muffin from the Cable Car Bake Shop.

We sat and enjoyed them until the parade began. It was as good as we remembered from last time and great to see all the characters. I had Ariel ears on and she noticed while passing which was cute.

We went back to Thunder Mountain after the parade and finally managed to persuade my daughter to go on it. By then we knew our flight was a bit delayed so there was no rush and we got someone to take our photo in front of the castle.

One thing I wish Paris did better was have more photopass photographers out. We did our last bits of shopping in the emporium as I still needed a 2023 pin and a magnet then we walker back through Disney Village only stopping for candy floss then photos of the 30 sign. Then it was time to head back to the hotel to pick up our cases.

🚙 Once we had repacked and changed at the hotel, we called another Bolt for the journey back to the airport. We did have to walk just to the main gate at Sequoia but that wasn’t a problem . This time the journey would have cost €56.70 but with the discount it was €45.40. We got picked up at 8.18pm and arrived at the airport at 8.55pm.

✈️ Our flight home was the last one back to Edinburgh so it was delayed by an hour and a bit but we finally took off just before midnight. Think we all slept all the way home, but the flight was only 1 hour 20 minutes. It was 2am before we got to bed so kids wangled a day off school, and I started work a bit later than usual! Charles de Gaulle is useless for food that late, so we wished we had ate before we went through to departures but thankfully we had had loads of snacks during the day so made do with crisps etc from the vending machines.

🛍 We didn’t buy loads of souvenirs but still managed to have €371 of receipts on our SkipTax app between me and the 2 kids. We had put money on the under 18 revolut cards for them as they can then use them for any holiday. I got the barcode generated then scanned at the airport tax refund station and should hopefully get the refund soon. I got the 30th plastic champagne glass which I plan to use in my camping box, a 30th Christmas decoration, 30 earrings, the 30th coin, a 2023 pin, a stitch magnet, Minnie ears keyring and the Euro Disney Pandora charm. I also got a Marie macaron munchling as Holden got it in his surprise box so I then had to buy one which thankfully was the Eeyore one he wanted!

So that’s our trip over and who knows when we will return. We have never been near Christmas so would like to do that maybe in a few years. We went to Disneyland California at Easter last year and have been to both Walt Disney World and Hong Kong Disneyland so would also love to return to Florida as we last went there in 2015.

✨ Any questions just ask and hope you all have fabulous trips when it’s your turn! ✨

[Serenitedisney]

Beautiful trip report, thank you, I enjoyed reading it! We’ve Paris coming up soon so it’s lovely to ‘be there’ through someone else’s eyes

[flo-tinka]

Just read in run up to our trip later this month, thanks for sharing your holiday
Interested in Bolt as I have never used that rideshare. How did you get the discount voucher please?