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Why we really, really hated it – Disneyland Paris review

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This is my review of our painful day at Disneyland Paris aka EuroDisney.

Are you allowed to dislike Disneyland?  I don’t hear many people giving it a hard time.  Although, in retrospect, I realised that not many of the people we know have actually been to the Paris one.  Perhaps that should have been a warning.

It was a truly painful experience that I doubt we will repeat.

For background, the weather last Saturday was perfect and we were there with a 6-year old and a 3-year old. It started OK.  We got an RER train outside InterContinental Le Grand and in 40 minutes were deposited literally outside the gates of the park.  It could not be easier. Then the trouble started.

We had got our tickets from Avios as a redemption.  They did not send us actual tickets – we got a voucher which needed to be exchanged at the Guest Relations desk (shockingly long queue) or the ticket office (shockingly long queue).  As Disney could not be bothered to open all their ticket windows, it took 45 MINUTES to get to the front of the ticket queue. I mean, 45 MINUTES?  What sort of place that charges over £200 for a family of four would make you wait for 45 minutes to buy a ticket?!

It is also hugely self defeating.  Saving €15 per hour on an extra ticket office staffer costs them hundreds of Euros in lost income from spending inside the park.  You can’t spend much money in a queue.

Buying food was even worse.  We noticed fairly quickly that most people had brought sandwiches.  Smart move.  We managed to keep the kids going until 2.30pm with some popcorn but they had to eat in the end.  We picked a quiet corner with a McDonalds-style takeaway.  It took ONE HOUR to get served.  Of course, one third of all of the counters were closed.

They were also astonishingly inefficient.  A similar sized queue in a real McDonald’s would have been dealt with in a fraction of the time.  It was also disturbingly expensive, but I was expecting that.

The length of the ride queues is also farcical.  If you want to go on the Space Mountain etc roller coasters for adults, you can use Fast Pass and walk straight on at the appropriate time.  You can’t do that with the little kids rides.  We had to queue for 50 MINUTES to go on a flying elephant ride which lasts about 5 minutes.

There was even a lengthy queue for a simple carousel ride – not helped by the fact that they force everyone to wear a seatbelt (ever worn a seatbelt on a carousel?) which the staff enforce – see photo below.  They also play a safety warning before the ride.  For a carousel.

Max Burgess

For little kids (ie 6 and 3 years old, like ours) it is a complete waste of time.  The quality of rides is genuinely no better than you get at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park every Christmas – where there are no queues for the kids rides – or even at the funfair that occasionally pops up in Battersea Park.

We arrived (ie got off the train) at 11.30 and left at 6pm after the parade.  Of the 6.5 hours inbetween, we spent at least 4 hours in queues.  The combined time on rides was, in all seriousness, under 15 minutes.  I felt sorry for my 6-year old daughter who was so happy to be going and who got so little out of it.  (We made up for it on Sunday with a fun day in Paris.)

They even managed to screw up something as simple as a ‘Frozen Sing-A-Long’ in one of the auditoriums.  There were a couple of hundred kids there, but all Disney bothered to serve up to lead it were two drama students (English girl, French boy) aged about 18 who were wearing their standard clothes.  How hard would it have been to have someone dress up as Anna and Elsa?

There is even graffiti inside the fairy castle.  And the pavements and footpaths have more potholes and cracks than your average London street. Honestly, give it a miss.  It really isn’t worth it – even if you don’t pay for your tickets.

(PS. For the record, this is how we structured the trip:

Eurostar – booked via Eurostar Frequent Traveller, with 100% of the points required coming from Amex Membership Rewards

Hotel – 2 rooms for 2 nights at InterContinental Le Grand funded with two 2 IHG Premium Visa free night vouchers and 2 x 50,000 point redemptions, with the points coming from the last ‘Big Win’ promotion and credit card spend

Disney – redeemed 34,000 Avios via avios.com for four tickets

Transfer to/from St Pancras – Uber using referral credit

The mini Eiffel Tower my daughter wanted as a souvenir was bought for cash!)

Category

Club Eurostar, IHG One Rewards

Comments (146)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Skip Cravens says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:13

    You are complaining about long lines at Disneyland? I think you missed the boat on this one. Reminds me of the Geico commercials…”yeah, everybody knows that”. You went on the cheap, trying to do everything for free with your points and perks. I think your perspective was way off on this one. I’ve waited in line for 45 minutes at Disney World in Orlando for a hot dog. That was because I went there over Spring break when everyone goes there.

    You are a blogger who passes out great tips for travelling and using points & miles. Why didn’t you read any Disney blogger sights about how to do the same to make your experience at Disneyland more enjoyable?

    • Rob says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:21

      I thought I would do it like a ‘normal’ person and see where it got me. I could have got in touch with the Disney PR people and got myself special treatment, but I didn’t. You shouldn’t have to pay £1,000 a night for a family of 4 in the ‘smart’ onsite hotel (which has terrible reviews, I would have paid the money if the hotel had been fantastic) or get your kids up at 6am to make the most of it. Similarly, the idea of turning up at 7pm doesn’t really work with a 3-year old who struggles to stay awake beyond that. 95% of people who visit will do it my way and that is what I wanted to cover.

      • Paul says:
        16 Sep16 September 13:25

        If you have to stay nearby, I would recommend the Radisson Blu which is a 5 minute drive from the car park entrance. You get to cut most of the queue to the entrance as you pull in at the last on-ramp before the entrance.

      • Andrew says:
        16 Sep16 September 18:30

        I can’t believe people are bashing you here to be honest, you gave your opinion – thank you. It exactly how I suspected it would be, others have made similar comments to you.

        • Rob says:
          16 Sep16 September 20:52

          I fully accept that, strategically, I did not do it the right way. However, the way I did it is the way that 95% of visitors to Disneyland Paris will do it, and that is what I was writing about.

          How you can ‘hack the trip’ to do it better is a discussion best suited to sites like DIBB.

          Even if you did do it ‘properly’ (ie stay in a cheaper park hotel for 2 nights), you would be looking at around £2,000 for the weekend including Eurostar tickets and food. And, frankly, it isn’t worth that with little kids, even if you could jump in early and see some fireworks (which, at 10pm, my kids would have missed as they’d be asleep). It really isn’t. Take your little kids to Birmingham for a day at Thomas Land.

        • Bob says:
          17 Sep17 September 10:04

          I don’t understand as well.

          Whether or not you pay with points or stay in an on site “hotel” is irrelevant. You paid entry and expect a magical Disney experience.

          I went to DL Paris in August, mid-week was there from opening until closing and queues all day on all rides – I expect queues but queues of over an hour every ride isn’t really the Disney experience. Increase the price of tickets and limit numbers.

          Food thankfully no queues but we did have lunch at like 10am and was quite good considering prices in Paris in general.

          Disneyland Hong Kong although smaller I feel is better value. Have been twice. First time was free entry and hated it and second time paid and loved it but generally very short queues especially off season you can just stay on rides like space mountain again and again!

      • Tom says:
        16 Sep16 September 21:24

        What a funny reply… PR treatment? Yes, you have a good blog, but its a blog at that. I doubt that Disneyland would have been extremely interested in entertaining you and your family, then detailing to all how to recreate your trip on the cheap. If you pay cheap and dont research correctly what do you expect?

        Poor post.

        • Tessa says:
          16 Sep16 September 22:02

          I agree. I went to Disneyland Paris and I had a lot of fun. You know what to expect, you prepare and make the most of it. Besides, with so many people there, you would have to queue, like everyone else. What were you expecting? VIP reception and red carpet?

        • Rob says:
          16 Sep16 September 22:13

          You should see what I am offered these days … I have even accepted one offer next month!

  • Jon Easthope says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:20

    Slightly OT – thinking of Disney in USA for our next trip (family of 4 – kids 9 and 6) – but which would the good folk on here recommend; Florida or California?

    • Jason says:
      16 Sep16 September 22:14

      What can you book in advance with fast pass+?
      Have a trip booked next month, staying at the Grand Floridian, in a concierge room. I think I remember reading somewhere that we get magic bands. Never been before. Only Disney experience was a cruise last year.
      Any tips gratefully received.
      I suspect I need to start booking. Have booked a my perfectly princess tea party and the bibidi bobidi boutique.
      Need to buy some park tickets!

      • Joe Kizlauskas says:
        16 Sep16 September 22:23

        Booking is a must for Disney. Register on their website and pre book all the attractions. The wifi in the park can be patchy so deffo use the wifi in the resort you are staying at.

        The magic bands don’t offer anything other than a money making way to get you to part with accessories for them. Magic Band or normal plastic ticket. Fast pass + is free.

        • Jason says:
          17 Sep17 September 06:54

          Thanks Joe for the advice.
          Are you saying you can book individual rides over a month in advance?
          I’ll have a look at US magic my way.

          • Joe Kizlauskas says:
            17 Sep17 September 07:34

            I am not sure how far out you can book them. I booked all mine a couple of days ahead, hence the need for accommodation with wifi. I got a fast pass for everything I wanted. Also more rides have been added to the fast pass system since fast pass plus was introduced, it was launched in April of this year and now includes rides that toddlers would enjoy and shows have been added too.

            Paris is still using the ticketing system rather than the electronic system.

            By Disneys admission Paris was a mistake, their first park outside of the USA. They didn’t repeat the same mistake with Hong Kong. Income tax is inrecedibly high, complex employment law, an over unionised workforce where even Snow White is a member, none of it good for a service industry. If you are poor at what you deliver nothing can be done by the employer. Hence I saw cast members openly smoking on Main Street.

            All of the above is true by the way. I was speaking to a British girl who spoke French and was Snow White in the parade. Also had the horrible privilege of a few hundred French protesters randomly descending on the Paris traffic and taking great delight in rocking my car and banging on the window. All with a terrified 2 year old and a virtually full term pregnant wife in the car. When I pointed this out they didn’t give a hoop.

            Disneyland Paris is a fake imitation of the two US parks. Disney USA is awesome if planned, I hate queues btw. If you can’t stand theme parks, stay away from any Disney Resort. You will hate it.

    • Darrin says:
      17 Sep17 September 08:49

      California. There is far more to do in California outside of Disneyland and the amusement parks. If you are going purely for the rides and attractions then Florida would probably be cheaper. Everything you can do in Florida you can do in California and much more.

    • jas says:
      17 Sep17 September 08:55

      Just come back from 2 weeks in Florida over the last 2 weeks of Aug kids 11/9/7 did virtually every ride the longest q ride was 35 mins. It takes some planning but happy to share if it would help

    • Jason says:
      17 Sep17 September 09:46

      Anyone know the difference between, magic my way tickets and the Disney ultimate ticket- if there is a difference!

  • Rob says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:24

    Jon, Florida for your age kids.

    • tony says:
      16 Sep16 September 13:36

      +1, but that place is soooo busy now. As noted above, research to excess, read all the blogs, plan it like a military operation and you’ll manage. If you don’t do that then you can expect to have a miserable time. If that level of planning doesn’t sound like your bag then you might want to reconsider. My kids (similar age) love Disney but places like Seattle & Singapore are up there too…

      • Jon Easthope says:
        16 Sep16 September 16:19

        Thanks all 🙂 Was planning a West coast trip (Seattle, San Francisco, LA) with Disney thrown in but if Florida is so much better/bigger, I may have to reconsider. Is the California Park so much smaller/inferior?

        • Joe Kizlauskas says:
          17 Sep17 September 07:43

          I have been to Florida five times and but still like Anaheim. Florida is soooooo big that it takes an age to get there and we where staying a five minute drive away. By the time you have driven on to Disney property, then drove the 30mins to the car park, then got the train to from the car park to the entrance, then got the boat across the lake you finally arrive at the gate. From hitting downtown Disney it is a good hour to getting in the place.

          All of it ran with military precision though, a genuine warm smile on the staffs face, even happy security guards (who would think eh) in Mickey gloves high fiving the kids.

          • Jon Easthope says:
            17 Sep17 September 08:03

            Thanks Joe. So, Anaheim is still worth it but if you are after the FULL Disney experience, Florida is better?

          • Joe Kizlauskas says:
            17 Sep17 September 09:17

            Anaheim has Hollywood and Magic Kingdom. Florida has those two plus Animal Kingdom, Epcot and two water parks. It depends what you want.

            I got a City Pass when in California which gets you into both Disney. Parks, Universal and Sea World San Diego, Legoland San Diego and San Diego Zoo for about the same money as just a Disney Pass.

            You can kind of get Disneyed out in Florida. I know there are other theme parks to Florida as well. I kind of feel that Disney is so big that if you try and fit the others in you don’t get value for money. Some friends we met up with out there spent £10K on their holiday and only saw 10% of Disney. My advice would be if you go to Florida, especially with young kids just get a two week Disney Pass and go easy. Then do the other stuff when the kids are older.

          • Joe Kizlauskas says:
            17 Sep17 September 09:18

            Forgot to mention. The city pass also gets you into Universal as well.

      • Adey says:
        16 Sep16 September 16:46

        Stay on site (as others have recommended) – easy to come and go as and when the kids are tired etc and you get the extra benefit of early/last visiting.

        We stayed at the contemporary resort – not cheap – but was a godsend with our three year old. 5 minute walk to Epcot entrance, plus the monorail has a station inside the hotel. Rooms have kitchenette w/microwave, fridge etc (no oven or hob).

        Also the walkway between the two parts of that hotel is a great vantage point to watch the fireworks.

        Adey

  • Georgie says:
    16 Sep16 September 13:45

    Shame it didn’t work out Rob, as your kids are an ideal age for the Magic Kingdom type Disney stuff.
    You keep mentioning a £1000 a night suite in a Disneyland Paris hotel as though that is the only option i.e. 5* in a suite, maybe because that is all you ever stay in?

    You don’t have to stay in the best hotel to have a good time, maybe connecting rooms in a more modest hotel like Disney’s Newport Bay for a couple of nights would have served you better. Your kids would have got to soak up the Disney atmosphere, you could have got in and out of the park quickly (had lunch in the hotel not macdonalds) plus going at a weekend the queues are horrendous midweek and spread over two days is so much better.

    The Dumbo ride is no quicker to get on in Florida from what I can remember. Horrendous queues and they actually have signs saying adults must be accompanied by a child to stop adult idiots who are ‘Doing Disney’ from going on what basically is a child’s ride on their own and jamming the queues up even more than is absolutely necessary, sitting in Dumbo on their own like a saddo so they can get it off their tick list ! !

    • Rob says:
      16 Sep16 September 15:01

      My wife would rather pull her finger nails out with a pair of pliers than stay one minute longer than necessary in a theme park!

    • Steve says:
      16 Sep16 September 16:11

      I don’t know how recently you were at the MK, but in the last couple of years they relocated Dumbo (to the new Storybook Circus area, near the Barnstormer) and installed a second Dumbo to double capacity. Also the waiting area is now an indoor air-conditioned children’s play area, rather than a queue. You get given a ticket, hang out or play until you are called, and then hop on to Dumbo. By all accounts, the change has led to much reduced waiting times, plus the wait is more pleasant (especially on a hot day!).

  • Chris says:
    16 Sep16 September 14:02

    I agree 100% with this review. We found exactly the same situation, my kids are 2 & 3 years old,
    although we did stay at the Sequoia Hotel & had 8am hotel Guest access, which meant that the kids got to go on a few rides without too much queueing. The comments re the restaurants being run inefficiently with limited choice but expensive menus ( 1 starter choice, 3 mains & 3 cold prepared dessert choices) are spot on. You have to book a park restaurant table 2 or 3 days in advance. If you are only going for a long weekend, then this is hopeless. We did manage to book one resort restaurant at 5.45pm for Dinner, ( the only available Time) and when we arrived, I estimate that less than 50% of the restaurant tables were not in use. When we left an hour or so later, the restaurant was still only 60% full. My wife had read the blogs prior & we had prepared sandwiches, and we were pleased that we had done so, given the limited onsite options.
    If you a queuing with a toddler, you need sandwiches to eat in the queue. We also found it strange that groups of adults were queuing 40-50 minutes for the Dumbo, Carousel and Mad Hatters Tea cup rides, not to mention for over 90 minutes to meet Mickey Mouse!!!

    We will not be going back to Disneyland Paris.

    • Rob says:
      16 Sep16 September 15:00

      I didn’t mention that in my article, but it was also a problem. At Thomas Land there is a strict ban of unaccompanied adults entering that entire part of the park. Here we had grown adults queuing up to go on rides for children. It is just stupid. There were 15 functioning cars (and 1 non functioning one) on the flying Dumbo and I would estimate 2-3 per ride were taken by adults who were clearly not with kids.

  • Phil says:
    16 Sep16 September 14:40

    Queuing a WDW in Florida is worse IMO than Paris. We have been in May, June and August and its typically 60-90 mins for most of the big rides. However optimal use of fastpass can improve things and this is not really any difference to my weekend trips to Alton Towers

  • Phil says:
    16 Sep16 September 14:42

    Also in Florida you can go to Universal which has the better rides for more grown up kids. It is definitely worth staying in a Universal Hotel (there are 3 onsite to choose from). As unlike Disney when we went you can just show your room key and go to the front of the queue….. well worth the dirty looks you will get

  • Scottrick says:
    16 Sep16 September 14:52

    Having visited the original Disneyland several times in Anaheim, I can tell you that everything but the lines is pretty unusual. Yes, you’ll wait to enter, but not 45 minutes. And inside the park if you drop a piece of trash it’s gone before you turn around. We also hear lots of bad things about Disneyland Paris.

    I’m not sure if they have FastPass in Paris, but it saves a ton of time waiting in lines in Anaheim. Usually we get a pass for one ride and it’s far enough in the future that we wait in line and finish another ride before it’s time to head back for a shorter, ~10 minute wait in the first line. Showing up first thing in the morning also helps. I once rode Space Mountain five times in a row!

    • Rob says:
      16 Sep16 September 15:03

      Only on 4 rides, 3 of which are adult rides and the 4th (Peter Pan) I thought too scary for my 3 year old. This is the crazy thing – you can buy an adult ticket and use FastPass to easily get on the 3 ‘big’ adult rides. You may consider you got your moneys worth. You pay the same price for an adult ticket if you take your kids and you can’t FastPass anything for toddlers.

      See you Friday!

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