Disneyland At Christmas

If you live in the United Kingdom, then it is only a short and an ideal trip to go on with the kids just before Christmas. They get to meet Mickey Mouse and all the Disney characters they want in France. It is an entertaining break for the whole family that is always exciting and fun.

It is a smaller version than the one in Florida, but it's great too, because it is in Paris where you can visit all those other places that you're hoping to see. The rides are great. There is the star tours ride, which is set as a the spaceship in Star Wars the film and it gives the effect of a simulator ride. There is Pirates of the Caribbean, which is a boat ride through a pirates world. The best of all was the 3D Honey I Shrunk the Audience ride, an animation gives the illusion that the audience has been shrunk. This for me was the best of all rides. The shows are something not to be missed either. There was the Mickey Mouse show which was probably the best of them all.

The Christmas Tree at Euro Disney is the best spot for all your photographs. You can take pictures of all the family whilst standing under this magnificent tree.

From the UK you can either travel by car and boat or fly, but we took the Eurostar train straight into Disneyland Paris, which was brilliant. The Trip from Waterloo in London takes two hours or you can travel from Ashford in Kent which takes three hours. It's a unique service that we found excellent.

The hotels in the resort are an ideal spot for your accommodation. We stayed in The Cheyenne, which was excellent. The rooms have a double bed and bunk beds for the kids, a tv and a bathroom. There are buses too, to take you into the resort, but it's also a short walk which we took advantage of at times. We went in January one year and it was cold so we took the bus. This time, we went in December (just before Christmas) and every day we walked to the resort, because the weather was pleasant and it was not that cold.

It can be rather expensive for a short trip, but it is worth a visit even with the younger children who will appreciate it too.

I can say it was fabulous for us, because we went there with another family and we enjoyed every minute of it. Going for a Christmas break in December was exciting for us all. The kids were excited to see Santa too! Christmas is a perfect time too.

Disneyland - Entertainment at Disneyland

Disneyland always has something entertaining and hold special entertainment nightly during the peak season as well as weekend entertainment during the off-season. Disneyland usually saves special entertainment for occasions like the 4th of July and Christmas.

At least twice each night during the peak season and on weekends during the off-season Disneyland holds a show called Fantasmic. It takes place on Tom Sawyer's Island, and features many characters as well as music and fireworks. I would recommend getting tickets for this well in advance so you can get the best seats possible. Bear in mind that free seating is also available and is included in your Disneyland park admission price.

A show that should not be missed is the musical Snow White which is held in the Fantasyland Theater. If your a Snow White Fan I highly recommend it. Snow White is held several times throughout the day so reservations should not be necessary.

Disneyland holds a parade twice each day called Parade of Dreams which features large colorful floats holding the Disneyland Characters. The parade stops three times a day to do a choreographed show, and most of the Disney Characters are portrayed in the Parade of Dreams.
These are just a few of the shows that are available at Disneyland. Entertainment is always non stop and everyday usually calls for something new. One entertainment that you know will always be at Disneyland And that is their firework shows. The fireworks take place each night just before the park closes for the evening.

If the fireworks are too late for you there is a fairly good chance you will see them from a hotel window or balcony. The absolute best spot for the greatest effect is right in front of Sleeping Beauty's Castle. I absolutely recommend the fireworks on Fourth of July as they are like no other I have ever seen, they are out of this world.

If you are looking for more information or would like to find something specific about the entertainment at Disneyland, visit the website, ask the travel agent you booked with or even call the park as they are always willing to offer assistance. It is a good idea to ask about special events during specific months, so you can determine which one is more to your liking and will suit your travel plans.

Although most the entertainment is provided free of charge and is part of your admission price it is important to make sure there isn't a fee as some events do have special seating, or priority seating that requires a fee. I would check the website or call the park just to be sure.

How To Make Disneyland More Enjoyable For You and Your Child

If you are planning a visit to Disneyland, you surely don't want to carry your child in your arms as you view all the attractions. You won't be able to truly enjoy the Disney experience. In fact, you probably won't even make it through the day without suffering from extreme exhaustion. Furthermore, think of your child as well. Most certainly your child will become exhausted from walking around all day as well. You need a way to get your child around the theme park without either of you becoming completely worn out.

Well, the perfect solution is using a stroller. In fact, strollers are highly recommended for use at Disneyland theme parks. For a reasonable fee, you can even rent one from your favorite Disney resort. Strollers are usually available for under $9 per day and there are discounts if you require multiple strollers.

The strollers available for rental at Disneyland are of course very clean and well maintained. If you do decide to rent a stroller at Disneyland, here is a tip. All the strollers available for rent look exactly the same. You should tie something on the stroller, such as a colored ribbon, so you can easily distinguish it from the other strollers in the vicinity.

Of course, some basic rules do apply whether renting a Disneyland stroller or if you bring your own. First, never leave your child unattended in the stroller. This is just basic common sense and can prevent you from having a potential headache if some misfortune were to happen while you were away. Second, never leave any items of value in the stroller. There are plenty of dishonest people lurking about who will take advantage of an opportunity to take your valuables if given the chance.

Finally, Disneyland is an experience to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. If you are traveling with a young child, do yourself and your infant a favor by either bringing your own stroller or renting one from Disneyland. You will be glad you did.

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Birthdays at Disneyland

Are you planning a Birthday party? Do you want to make it memorable? If your answer is yes then read on to explore the option of a Birthday at Disneyland. Yes, you heard it right, at Disneyland. You can have a blast on an occasion like a birthday at Disneyland.

A birthday is a very special day in a year and if you are young at heart and want to have the most memorable Birthday of your life then Disneyland is the place to be. Disneyland offers you various exciting and fun-filled options to celebrate your birthday and enjoy it.

One important aspect of a Birthday at Disneyland is the Birthday Sticker. It makes the person whose birthday it is to look out of the ordinary and makes sure the person is spotted easily. Some find it a little embarrassing and want to avoid it but really it is the funniest part of the whole event.

With a sticker on, you can be sure to be wished by most of the staff members whom you meet. And they will also make sure that you're enjoying yourself. What else can you ask for when the when the sticker is free.

A special place at Disneyland is the Plaza Inn where you can celebrate the most happening Birthdays. The place offers birthday celebrations at a price of about $10 per person, which includes a cake and few drinks for the guests as well. The special part of the birthday is that the chances of Mickey and Minnie joining you for the party are quite high. And that is really a special gift especially if the guest of honour is one of the kids who are in love with Mickey.

As you must have imagined, a birthday at Disneyland is really a fun-filled outing and the idea is that if you have decided to go for it, you should plan a little in advance and make your reservations early to avoid any stress. Also, it could be a fun filled surprise for your loved one if you make the arrangements in advance and then just bump in the idea on the special day itself.
History Of Disney

Paris Kid's Zone Guide

Paris can be a fun city for kids or teenagers who are history lovers. They will love visiting Versailles, Les Invalides military museum where galore, cannons, mortars, armor, swords,daggers, souvenirs from Napoleon's time, including his hat and sword are exposed, and even the Egyptian section of the Louvre, where children flock to see mummified cats.

Science lovers can't miss the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie at La Villette which as so many special events and exhibitions for kids. They will also be thrilled by the Palais de la découverte's planetarium. Another enthralling museum, particularly for teens, is the Pasteur Museum. Intimately set in his former home, the museum boasts impressive display of Pasteur's most famous experiments. If they like animals take the kids to the Jardindes Plantes' Natural history national museum the permanent exhibitions are amazing and there are great temporary exhibitions too.

The Centre Pompidou has a children's atelier on Wednesdays and Saturdays. And of course, kids will love getting on top of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. An Unusual place to visit is the Sewers museum where a part of Victor Hugo's Misérables took place. Guided tours are organized in foreign languages only in summer. As far as open air activities are concerned, the Bateau-mouchetour on the Seine is great fun for kids. Also check out the Boisde Boulogne, a huge park at the West border of Paris also called the "main lung" of Paris. The Jardin d'Acclimatation, at the northern edge of the park, is for children, with a zoo, anamusement park, and a narrow-gauge railway. Kids will never be starved for entertainment in Paris.

There is the magnificent Disneyland Paris, spread across 1,500 acres, and it is sure to win any red-blooded child's heart. Both kids and adults will also immensely enjoy a tour along the Seine River. Agreat one for sight seeing, this tour is unique in a lot ofways. For one, during the tour the child would get to see the entire overview of the beautiful city of Paris. Sure to kindle nostalgia in adults and unbounded excitement in kids. A visit toNotre Dame, should not be ruled out either, if not for anything else but for its breath-taking size and beauty. On the Right bank one could take a stroll through the Jardin deTuileries while savouring heaps of ice-creams or ride on a donkey back or even attend marionette shows depending on the little prince or princesses' mood. On the Left Bank, one can go to Jardin du Luxembourg to enjoy the same kind of fun. If Puppets are fun for any child, then catch a puppet show anywhere in Paris as they are a great tradition in the city. Don't let any child miss the wax museum at Musée Grevin, which is known for being the number one wax works' museum in Paris. And yes, has one come to the fashion capital of the world and the child is still attired in those normal clothes? There are many fashion shops specializing in children's clothes and also alot of fashion houses have separate outlets for kids. In fact,Paris holds so much enjoyment for the tiny tots, that for once tourists will be glad to have taken the children along for the holiday.
>Disneyland Paris Visitor Tips

Theme Park Paris

Planning a trip to France with the kids but don't know where togo? Looking for theme park excitement in Europe to rival that ofAmerica? Then why not visit Paris - not only is it one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it also has two great theme parks nearby, which kids will love.

Enter the cartoonworld of Gaul at Parc Asterix or mingle with Mickey, Minnie and company at Disneyland Paris.

Parc Asterix

Introduction

This quintessentially French theme park brings to life one of France's most popular comic book cartoons of all time - Asterixde Gaul, a small and quirky warrior living in Armorica in 50 BC,in the only part of Gaul not to be conquered by the Romans. The amusing stories in the comic books focus on Asterix, his kind-hearted and some what rotund best friend Obelix, and the local druid Getafix (Panoramix in French) who prepares magic potions for them.

Location

The park is located approximately 30 kilometres (20 miles) northof Paris, north of Charles de Gaulle airport on the A1 Paris to Lille motorway.

Attractions

There are some exhilarating and hair-raising rides, all loosely based on a classical themes - there's the Thunder of Zeus - the largest wooden rollercoaster in Europe, the swinging Romangalley ship, the Trojan horse and the death-defying Goudurixloop-the-loop ride, as well as flying chairs, log flumes and other popular theme park favourites.

Shows

There's always plenty of entertainment going on when you want abreak from the rides. Meet your favourite characters at the costume parade - they're held several times a day, or go back in time to a Gaulish Village Festival, where there are lots of great activities and funny goings-on daily. The dolphin and sea lion show is captivating, and the Panoramix Magic Show will leave you spellbound. And that's not all - there are severaldifferent stage performances throughout the day, in which Asterix and his friends get involved in great high jinks and adventures.

Restaurants

Being a French theme park, the food here is of course excellent and there's a huge variety of eating places to choose from,whether you're looking for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a snack. There's a great pizzeria, a tasty creperie and a delicious burger bar to name just a few. All the restaurants are themed too - there's a medieval banqueting hall, a circus buffet in a colourful big top tent, a Gaulish tavern and a Roman villa.

Shops

You can get Asterix souvenirs in all shapes and sizes, fromt-shirts and mugs to helmets and swords. There are stalls and boutiques all over the park, so you can get whatever you want,whenever you want. If you're looking for other gifts and souvenirs, there are some wonderful shops selling Egyptian,Roman and Greek themed ornaments, crafts and clothes.

Accommodation

Hotel des Trois Hiboux is the only accommodation within the park itself, but it's a wondeful place to stay and offers great value for money. The facilities in this three-star hotel are excellent- there's a cosy lounge with a roaring fireplace, a games room for children and a bar with a terrace. Nearby hotels include Novotel, Kyriad, Campanile and Mercure, so you'll never be stuck for some where to stay.

Disneyland Paris

Introduction

Disney's only theme park in Europe is very similar in style tothe parks in America. The Magic Kingdom comprises four different lands, all of which converge on Main Street USA - an early 20th century themed street with horses, trams and vintage cars. Fantasyland is a world of fairytales and is aimed at young children. There's Sleeping Beauty's castle, Snow White's house and Alice in Wonderland's maze. Peter Pan, Dumbo and Pinocchio also put in an appearance. Frontierland is a gold rush themed area with Pocahontas Indian Village, a shooting gallery, Big Thunder Mountain and Wild West legends all around. Adventureland sweeps you through marvellous exotic lands from Aladdin's Enchanted Passage to the Pirates of the Caribbean lagoon. Discoveryland is a wonderful area of science and space.

Attractions

All the most popular attractions from the American parks are recreated in Disneyland Paris. There's the terrifying Space Mountain, the Mad Hatters' Teacups, It's a Small World, the Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Shows

No trip to a Disney theme park would be complete without a parade where you can meet your favourite Disney characters. There are parades in various parts of the park all day, so you'll never miss out. Some of the excellent stage show performances include The Lion King, The Tarzan Encounter and Winnie the Pooh and Friends Too.

Restaurants

Every zone has its own range of eating places to cater for all tastes and appetites at any time of day. Some of the best ones are Victoria's Homestyle Restaurant in Main Street USA, which serves wholesome, traditional American dishes such as meat pie and chocolate brownies. The Cowboy Cookout in Frontierland is amouth-watering barbeque restaurant with country music and dancing, while Buzz Lightyear's Pizza Planet serves pizzas in an intergalactic atmosphere.

Shops

You won't have any bother finding a souvenir of your favourite Disney character - there's a huge selection of soft toys in many of the shops dotted around the park, from old classics like Winnie the Pooh to the space-age Buzz Lightyear. The shops in Discoveryland have some weird and wonderful scientific gadgets and gizmos, while Adventureland has exotic gifts and souvenirs from far-flung lands. Budding cowboys can kit themselves out atthe Bonanza store in Frontierland, from Stetson hat to boot spurs.

Accommodation

It's rather expensive to stay in the resort itself, although fora real treat it is very good fun. Disneyland Hotel on MainStreet USA is the most expensive, while Davey Crockett's Ranchis the cheapest option. The cosy log cabins are about quarter ofan hour's drive from the park. Other hotels outside the park include the Radisson SAS, Kyriad, Holiday Inn and Pierre et Vacances Hotel. About the author:Audrey Akeman has resided in Paris for over 20 years. She worksas a freelance writer. Website: http://www.pariscityinformation.info

Traveling To Disneyland Paris

The Wonder That Is Disneyland

It is a very common belief that no time is perfect so today - discover the magic of Disneyland Resort Paris.

The time has come. Visualize an enchanting kingdom filled with fantasy and a world full of make believe characters, these dreams come true at Disneyland® Paris where there are five make-believe lands to enjoy.

Unearth a place so magical that young and old alike will remember it for ever. Treat the whole family to a fabulous break at Disneyland Resort Paris, including the Walt Disney Studios Park where one can discover a magical world of fun and adventure. The Paris Disneyland is a better theme park than the Magic Kingdom in Florida. Disney has learnt from Disneyland, WDW's Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland and has fashioned something rather special in Disneyland Paris.

Besides being actually the largest Park of the four, it has a number of small little paths and hidden corners on much the same lines as those which imbue the Californian park with such charm. The rides are, of course, technologically more recent. It has also achieved a European flavour. Disneyland Paris is divided into five themed areas inside the park, and the Disney Village just outside of the park. In the same way as in any other theme park, there are must-see attractions at Disneyland Paris to reflect on while preparing to say 'bonjour' to Monsieur Mickey.

There are favourites of each and every visitor, but there are some standard places that shouldn't be missed. As soon as one enters there is the Main Street, where the traditional charm of small-town America is brought to life. Jump aboard the Disneyland Rail road for a trip of the park, but one can get off at any of the three train stops - Frontierland, Fantasyland and Discoveryland. While Main Street certainly deserves a stroll, the choice of hiring an old-fashioned car to cruise the street is also available. However there are positive chances that both kids and adults will be eager to get to the rides. One place to begin is the adventure in dreamy Fantasyland at Sleeping Beauty's Castle. This part of the park is a perfect binding of American Disney and European style, with thatched cottages, gabled windows and cobblestone paths.

After visiting with the famed beauty, pursue the stories of childhood favorites Peter Pan, Snow White and Pinocchio while going from one ride to another. Lines are rarely long at the classic it's a Small World, and the carousel should be visited in the evening - when it's illuminated.

Discoveryland gives a new twist on Americas Tomorrowland, paying homage to heroic visionaries of yesteryear, including H.G.Wells. Upon entering this area of the park, make your first stop Space Mountain, as it is the most thrilling Space Mountain of any of the Disney parks. Adventureland is where one can go on the Indiana Jones backward roller coaster. The classic Pirates of the Caribbean, where visitors ride through caves and tunnels amid pirate fights and swashbuckling victory parties. An even smoother experience can be found at the Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin, recreating the story of Aladdin's journey with animated scenes.

Frontierland is as close to the old Wild West as it gets in Paris. With one staying in one of the park's Western-themed hotels which are quite nearby. Disney characters are features offered at various hotels in the Disneyland and are a sure heart winner. Eitherway, after a day at Disneyland Paris sweet dreams of bliss in the heart of France are certain.

Disneyland Paris Rides

Wonderful Rides

Known as DLP by Mouseketeers everywhere, Disneyland Paris is a wonderful array of rides, exhibits, restaurants and much more. In addition, the park has just added a Walt Disney Studio Park to this location.

Located nineteen miles (32km) out of Paris, many of the well known rides from California are included (with a little Frenchflair of course). There is the "It's a Small World" ride and the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride based on the two movies and the most popular show "The Lion King" which always sells out, so you must buy tickets before hand.

Other sites include the Star tours in Discovery land which can be educational and fun at the same time and the Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland is always surrounded by visitors. New and future activities are being added, such as, the SpaceMountain Mission 2 launched in April 2005; the Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, which is an improvement to the version in Anaheim and plenty of rides, that have also been adapted, improved or added since DLP opened in 1992.

You can dine at the numerous restaurants within the park which provide wonderful meals in true French tradition. In the Steakhouse, the steaks are thick, the wine endless and the service efficient. At Chef Mickey's children will enjoy the site of Disney characters dancing about along with the buffet meal. And for the necessary souvenirs and the like, as with all Disney locations, there are exhibits and shops every where you look. You can go to the "Val d'Europe" for additional shopping located not very far from the park. It is a mall of full of stores including a grocery store partly owned by Disney called Aucon. In there, you can purchase a variety of foodstuffs. You may even stop by the local Sephora to get a bottle of French perfume. For those with small children, rental strollers and babychanging facilities are readily available or you may go to theBaby Care Centre on Main USA which has supplies and facilities.

The hours depend on the season, with summer having longer hours and to be able to go on all the rides and restaurants available, it is best to purchase a day pass. You will avoid the long lines this way. Another option is to get a three day pass which gives you access the park for three non-consecutive days, but it is pretty pricey.

To get from Paris, you take the RER Line, A -Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy Station. If you are going straight from Orly or Charles de Gaulle, there is a VEA shuttle service that takes you to the Disneyland Resort Paris hotels. A shuttle comes by every thirty minutes. For more information on the hours, prices and accommodation, goto the website at http://www.disneylandparis.com

Disneyland Paris Hotels