Yes, this marks our third Disneyland blog post! Previously, we traveled to Disneyland twice by coach. However, this time, we opted for the Eurostar for the very first time, and, well, it was quite an experience, to say the least.
First, let’s discuss the prices. Here’s what I paid: Since my little girl is under 4, I didn’t have to pay for her ticket. However, she was required to sit on my lap, which turned out to be a bit of a nightmare! But I’ll circle back to that in a moment, LOL!
Total: £76
As I mentioned earlier, my daughter had to sit on my lap during the Eurostar journey. The lack of legroom was quite uncomfortable, and unfortunately, I wasn’t aware at the time that I could have selected my seat to potentially sit in a more spacious area with an empty seat or a table. Lesson learned—I wouldn’t repeat that mistake again. If we travel before she turns 4 in the future, I’ll opt to pay for an additional seat.
While you can catch a direct train from St. Pancras to Disneyland Paris, I couldn’t find one available during my search. Therefore, we had to make a transfer at Lille Europe. With over an hour until our next train, we took the opportunity to do some shopping at the nearby Westfield right outside the station. It’s worth noting that there’s a Primark there in case you forgot anything at home, and there’s also a small play area to keep your little ones entertained for a while!
Time flew by, and before we knew it, our next train was ready for boarding. It was a double-decker train with ample seating and luggage space, much to my delight, as Little Miss didn’t have to sit on my lap this time around! Despite everything being in French, I found it relatively easy to understand where to go. A tip: always check the train number against the one displayed on the departure board to avoid any confusion. I’d recommend giving yourself plenty of time to navigate the station—mistakes happen, and you wouldn’t want to miss your train!
The train journey passed quickly, and soon enough, we arrived at Disneyland! Our first priority was to drop off our heavy bags, so I booked a Kapten ride to our hotel. For those unfamiliar, Kapten is similar to Uber and operates in both France and London. The ride cost just over €6. While the hotel was within walking distance, the scorching heat and exhaustion made the short walk challenging.
This time, I opted not to stay at a Disneyland hotel and instead found a budget-friendly alternative: Séjours & Affaires Serris Rive Gauche.
I discovered this accommodation on Booking.com, a website I adore because, most of the time, you don’t have to pay anything until you arrive at the hotel, and there’s often a free cancellation period.
Now, let’s delve into the highlights of the hotel, or rather, the apartments! Here are the key features:
- Proximity to Disneyland Paris: It’s just a quick walk away from DLP, making it incredibly convenient.
- Excellent WiFi: The WiFi connection was reliable and fast, ensuring we stayed connected throughout our stay.
- Adjacent to a Large Shopping Center: Being situated next to a huge shopping center provided ample opportunities for shopping and dining.
- Mini Apartment Amenities: We enjoyed the convenience of having a mini apartment, complete with a fridge and a microwave, allowing us to store and prepare meals as needed.
The only drawback was that it didn’t seem like the cleaning was done to the highest standards, but a few wipes easily sorted that out!
After dropping off our bags and grabbing a quick bite to eat, we returned to Disneyland Paris. To get back, we caught the number 19 bus from a bus stop not far from the hotel. The ride cost €2 and required cash payment.
This time, I opted to purchase an annual pass due to its fantastic benefits, and I have plenty of trips planned to Disneyland Paris between now and next September.
What is a Disneyland Paris Annual Pass ? A DLP Annual Pass is a special park ticket which lasts for 365 days from activation. There are 4 levels of Annual Pass, each with special benefits according to price. Annual Passes offer discounts on restaurants, parking, special events, shows & even hotel stays.
I opted for the Infinity pass due to its fantastic benefits! With this pass, I can visit Disneyland Paris as many times as I like within a year. Some of the perks that appealed to me include:
Extra Magic Hours: Access to the park at 8:30 am instead of the usual 10 am opening time.
Photo Pass: The Annual Photo Pass, which usually costs €69.99, is free for Infinity pass holders.
Discounted Guest Tickets: I can purchase extra tickets for family and friends for just €35 each, up to 20 per year.
Guest Storage: I can store up to three items of baggage for free.
These are just a few of the benefits that caught my attention! You can purchase an annual pass over the phone, on the French Disneyland Paris website (use Google Chrome for automatic translation), or directly from the ticket offices at Disneyland Paris. The Infinity pass costs €36 per month after an initial payment of €60, or €449 in total.
Despite arriving at Disneyland Paris in the late afternoon, we still managed to make the most of our time. While we didn’t stay until the very end due to exhaustion, we had a fantastic time. We were able to enjoy three awesome meet and greets with beloved characters and experience three wonderful rides. It was a fulfilling day despite our fatigue!
Day 2
Day 2 began bright and early with Extra Magic Hours. Our initial plan was to head straight for the Princess Pavilion, but upon arrival at 8:40 am, the queue was already unreasonably long. Not willing to waste 90 minutes waiting, we opted to enjoy a few rides instead. Throughout the day, we were able to experience 7 rides, attend 7 shows, and participate in 4 meet and greets, which was absolutely fantastic. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Timon’s Matata dance, a performance we enjoyed so much that we couldn’t resist doing it twice!
The Jungle Jive, the parade and the Lion King show were also amazing! We had the best day!
Of course, we concluded our day with the most magical experience of all— Iilluminations. I’m certain I’m not the only one who gets incredibly emotional while watching it! 😅
Day 3
We rose bright and early, checked out of our accommodation, and headed straight to Disneyland Paris and their luggage storage service. Opening at 8 am and conveniently located right by the entrance, it made storing our belongings hassle-free.
Today was the day we attempted the Princess Pavilion again, and it was a bit of a madhouse. I had to literally run there, but thankfully, I managed to get right to the front of the queue. However, it became so chaotic that we found ourselves caught between two families physically fighting over queue jumping. Needless to say, I think next time we’ll skip it as it’s just not worth the hassle. On the bright side, we did manage to capture some lovely photos!
Day 3 was filled with even more magical moments! Little Miss meeting Mary Poppins was a delightful highlight, as was encountering Chip and Dale.
Disneyland truly is a magical place, and we’re already counting down the days until our next trip! I’ll be writing one more blog post about Disneyland, as next time we’ll be traveling by plane. I want to showcase the various ways to get there. Unfortunately, driving there isn’t an option for me—I just can’t wrap my head around driving on the other side of the road! 🤣
I hope you’ve found this post informative, and feel free to ask any questions in the comments. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram! 💋
