Posted by Tina | Disneyland Paris | June 2026
My earliest Disney memory is Bambi. Specifically, the bit nobody warns you about, his mum, a hunter, a gunshot you only hear, and then a forest fire for good measure. I was about six. It was a lot. This set the tone for my entire relationship with Disney.
I am not a Disney person. I have never seen Frozen and I couldn’t tell you Elsa from Anna if my life depended on it. Disney c
astles don’t excite me and I didn’t grow up dreaming of Disneyland.
And yet. Here I am. Writing a Disney blog post.
For our fourth wedding anniversary my husband Darren suggested Disneyland Paris. I said yes.
If you read my planning post you’ll know I went in with zero expectations, terrible motion sickness and a lot of nerves about the Tower of Terror. Here’s what actually happened.
This is my honest account of what happened. My experience is not everyone’s experience. But it is mine. And I promised you honesty when you found this blog.
Passenger Princess — Getting There
We made our way to Val d’Europe by road through France in 38 degree heat. We travelled Portsmouth to Caen which was a smooth crossing. However, travelling Portsmouth to Le Havre adds only 30 minutes to the ferry journey but reduces the drive by around 2 hours. We know this now.
I was the passenger princess. This is the only princess role I can truly carry off and I carried it magnificently. French drivers are something else entirely. They take chances that would make a Portsmouth roundabout look positively civilised. Darren navigated all of it with the precision of an accomplished driver.
The Moxy Val d’Europe — Quirky, Inclusive and Missing a Kettle
The Moxy Val d’Europe is not your standard hotel. It’s fun, colourful, laid back and leans heavily into inclusivity, which I genuinely loved. The staff were warm and helpful. Check in happens at the bar as you walk in, which sets the tone immediately.
The breakfast was good, lots of choice, plenty of highly efficient staff. At 25 euros per person though, a breakfast hobbit can only eat so much before a full day at Disney. There’s only so much value you can extract from a buffet when you’re heading straight into a theme park.
What the Moxy does not have! on the lower floors at least, is a kettle in the room. Apparently from floor 3 upwards you’re in kettle territory. We were not on floor 3. I cannot stress enough how much this matters to a British woman at any point in her day.
The corridors were actually quiet, it was the rooms themselves that weren’t. Children jumping, doors slamming, all the sounds of families having the time of their lives travelling through walls that had clearly not been briefed on the concept of soundproofing. I refuse to be the grumpy woman who complains about children being children. As long as parents take responsibility, let them be kids.
We spotted a hotel nearby with a pool for slightly less money. We’re filing that away for next time. 💛
Disneyland Paris — What I Actually Expected
When I imagined Disneyland Paris I imagined a tingle. The sights and sounds and smells washing over me. The magic landing.
What actually happened was a sea of Mickey ears, the smell of suntan lotion and the pure anxiety of not knowing where anything was. Do we follow a path? Make our own way through the crowds? We scurried past photographers capturing their special moments and missed the same photo opportunity they were capturing.
Within approximately four minutes of entering the park we were in the first shop buying hats. Thirty euros each. Darren chose Star Wars, obviously! I wanted to embrace the Mickey ears but needed actual sun protection so I compromised with a hat that had fluffy bobble ears. In a park where headwear ranged from full character costumes to homemade creations we barely registered. Everyone had something on their head. It was practically a rule.
The queues were 45 to 60 minutes for most rides, which honestly wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. We took regular breaks inside wherever there was air conditioning, drank enormous amounts of water from the free refill stations and wore our new hats like the sensible people we are.
Beneath the castle lives a dragon. Not terrifying, just a lovely touch with impressive animatronics. Nearby a queue of children were attempting to pull the sword from the stone like tiny King Arthurs. I considered joining them. I had already been stuck on the floor once that day. I decided against it.
The magic was there. I just hadn’t expected to have to find it rather than feel it land. 💛
A note on timing: We visited during the hottest temperatures recorded in decades. Monday night (22 June 2026) was reportedly the hottest night on record. Several outdoor rides closed due to heat. Pirates of the Caribbean was closed for maintenance. The French government banned fireworks during the heatwave. Characters couldn’t wear their full costumes. We missed the parades. Your visit may be entirely different.
The Rides — What We Actually Did
Tower of Terror: 30 minute wait. Worth every minute. The drop down was brilliant. The rise back up made me queasy. I would absolutely do it again and I cannot fully explain that logic. 💛
Frozen Ever After: The highlight. I have never seen the film. I still don’t know which one is Elsa and which is Anna. None of that mattered. From the moment the queue entered the indoor section it was like stepping inside the set, old fashioned skis, ice picks, beautiful detail everywhere. At one point one of the characters entered through a side door into the queue and every single child in the vicinity completely lost their mind. It was genuinely joyful to witness.
The ride itself was a cool respite, literally. A water ride through beautiful scenes with songs from the show. The cold air in the snow section felt like the greatest gift anyone had ever given my face. There were drops but nothing alarming, perfect for smaller children. The animatronics were impressive enough to make me unexpectedly emotional about a film I have never seen. I recorded the whole thing for my grandkids. I forgot to press record.
Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast: You shoot targets throughout the ride and accumulate points. Darren scored 60,000. I scored 20,000. We don’t need to discuss the gap. 😄
Haunted Mansion: I expected fear. I got spooky fun. Brilliant for children and adults who want to feel slightly unsettled without actually being frightened. I loved it.
It’s a Small World: The animatronics are genuinely impressive. The music will live in your head for approximately three to five working days. You’ve been warned.
Nautilus: We stumbled upon this entirely by accident while looking for shade, which is exactly how the best discoveries happen. A walk through experience based on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Cool, shady and completely unexpected. Highly recommend finding it.
The Riverboat: A gentle cruise around the park, a welcome contrast to the more intense rides and a lovely way to see parts of the park from the water. Perfect for resting your feet whilst still feeling like you’re doing something. In 38 degree heat this was an unexpectedly good decision. 💛
Star Tours: 3D glasses, thrown about, my eyes simply could not keep up. Made me queasier than Tower of Terror despite Tower of Terror involving actual drops. My body is a mystery. Darren rode it twice. I did not.
Rides we missed: Big Thunder Mountain closed for heat just as we finished the steamboat ride. Pirates of the Caribbean was closed for maintenance. Indiana Jones was initially closed and by the time it reopened we were physically done for the day. The rides will be there next time. Our bodies were not negotiating.
The Champagne Moment
On our second day we treated ourselves to a glass of champagne in the park. Twenty euros for a glass of brut — lovely taste, beautiful glasses. Plastic. But beautiful. Worth every euro as a souvenir of the trip. 💛
A Practical Note About Maps
Get a paper map from the stands around the park. They have them in English, French and German, dotted throughout, not just at the entrance. The app is helpful but a physical map is worth having. Trust me on this one. 💛
The Real Magic — Nothing To Do With Disney
Here’s the thing about going to Disney without small children. You are not the target audience. And that’s fine. You can still have a wonderful time. But the magic? the real magic that people talk about, that comes from watching it through a child’s eyes.
Without that you have to find your own magic.
Mine came from offering to take photos for people who were struggling with selfies. A young mum with a buggy was using a timer on her phone trying to get a shot of herself and her children. I offered. I took a few. She was so grateful. I got stuck kneeling down and couldn’t get back up. Another woman looked at her photo and said “that’s so professional.” A woman who cannot get off the floor. Professional? cute!
That’s the magic I found at Disneyland Paris. Making other people’s moments a little bit better. 💛
What I’d Do Differently
The rail ticket: One stop from Val d’Europe to Marne la Vallée Chessy, directly on top of Disney. Buy a day pass for the line rather than a return. That way you can go back to the hotel for a siesta in the hottest part of the afternoon and return in the evening when it cools down. We are not too old for Disney. Our bodies have simply started sending strongly worded letters about our schedule.
Clothes: Comfort over fashion! absolutely the right call. Longer shorts to prevent chafing. Better quality vest tops. I won’t be switching sunscreen brands for the price again — my face paid for that decision.
Face mist and wet wipes: Left in the car. In 38 degrees. We move on.
Val d’Europe: Give it at least half a day. We gave it an hour and barely scratched the surface. Far cheaper than the parks for gifts and souvenirs.
One day in Paris by train: Next time. Non negotiable. 💛
Would I Go Back?
Yes. One day. For the rides we missed and a proper crack at Val d’Europe. But next time the itinerary looks like this:
📅 Day 1 — Val d’Europe shopping centre
📅 Day 2 — Disney park — morning, siesta, evening
📅 Day 3 — Paris by train 💛
The Closing Thought
I went to Disneyland Paris not as a Disney princess, I think we’ve established I’m not that! but as a 54 year old woman from Portsmouth with sore ankles, a tendency to get stuck on the floor at inopportune moments and a very strong opinion about the importance of hotel kettles.
I didn’t find the tingle I expected. I found cold air in a Frozen ride that made me unexpectedly emotional about a film I’ve never seen. I found a young mum who needed someone to take her photo. I found that places become part of you and your history whether they tingle or not.
And I found that I am deeply, unshakeably committed to my role as passenger princess. It’s the only princess title I can truly carry off.
And honestly? I’ll take it. 💛
Have you been to Disneyland Paris? I’d love to hear your experience — especially if you found the magic I missed! Leave a comment below or come find me on Instagram @travel.me.anywhere 💛