Darren and I have been talking about Florida for years. It was meant to be our honeymoon. We were supposed to get married in 2020, but Covid had other ideas and the wedding got pushed back to 2022. By the time we finally had our big day, Florida wasn’t on the cards. The budget had taken enough of a battering, so we honeymooned in Liverpool and Blackpool instead. A few days in each, the Shankly Hotel, the Anfield tour, Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Absolutely no complaints, and a story for another post entirely.
I’d still love to go to Florida , but by the time we have saved enough we will be too old to enjoy it. Darren has already done Florida and loved it, and he wants me to understand why. Euro Disney feels like his way of giving me a taste of what he experienced. A way in, without the price tag that makes Florida feel permanently out of reach. Paris is closer, cheaper, and felt like the version of the dream we could actually make happen.
How We Built The Trip
I started with the dates. June felt like a good shout. Warm enough to enjoy it, but hopefully missing the absolute madness of the school holidays.
We have gone for two days and two parks. I love walking, but I have heard that two days of Disney standard walking is a whole different challenge for your feet, so I’m mentally preparing for the step count. We ruled out flying pretty quickly. Once we had done the maths, the ferry worked out cheaper for us, and honestly it felt like the right start to a trip through France.
The Stay: I checked the cost direct from Disney for park access and hotels, and the prices were a bit of a shock. So I went hunting off-site and found the Moxy Val d’Europe. It has great reviews and it is only one train stop away from the parks. To be honest, once I saw the breakfast photos, I was sold.
I am a total hobbit when it comes to hotel breakfasts. Pre-breakfast, first breakfast, second breakfast… as long as there is a buffet and plenty of coffee to wash it down, I am a happy woman. I have a funny feeling I may have forgotten to actually add the breakfast onto my booking. I am choosing not to think about that too hard until we arrive.
The Tickets: I ended up booking through AttractionTickets.com as it came out cheaper for a two day, two park Park Hopper. It is definitely worth doing your research and finding what works for you. Everyone’s situation is different.
Hype vs Reality
I am trying to go in with zero expectations. No military itinerary or a spreadsheet. I just want to see what all the fuss is about.
The one thing Darren has been banging on about since we met is the Tower of Terror. He has talked about it so much that I feel like I’ve ridden it a thousand times already, but I am ready to actually feel that stomach flip for myself.
One thing I am a bit wary of is the crowds. Being only 5ft 2, so I do not really navigate theme parks. I just get lost in a sea of backpacks. I have already warned Darren that I will be holding his hand for dear life so I do not disappear into the masses.
The Motion Sickness Situation
I should probably give a bit of a disclaimer here. I have terrible motion sickness. Specifically anything that spins. It peaked when I was a teenager at a travelling funfair on the Waltzers, and I will never, ever go on them again.
The funfair was right next to a canal. When I was sick all over my favourite white denim jacket, I leaned over and tried to rinse it off in the water. It didn’t help. I ended up leaving the jacket, wet, discoloured, and stinky, under the ride and just walked away. I never saw it again.
You will not catch me on anything that spins. That includes the teacups. I have seen what spinning does to me and a perfectly good white denim jacket, and I will not be revisiting that experience in the shadow of a fairytale castle.
I will also be the one on the ferry finding a corner of the floor by a window and just accepting my fate. No shame here.
The Road Trip (Passenger Princess Mode)
Technically I have been through France before. Once. Years ago, long before Brexit, with a friend who was doing all the driving while I sat in the passenger seat paying absolutely no attention to anything useful. So let’s call this my first time doing it properly.
The drive from Caen to the hotel is looking like it will take about 3.5 hours. Darren is the designated driver, which suits me perfectly. He has driven through Europe before, so I will be fulfilling the only kind of princess role I am actually suited for. The Passenger Princess. My only responsibilities are snacks, music, and trying to stay awake to keep him company.
Since I cannot exactly claim to know what I am doing, I have had to do a bit of homework on the boring but very important legal bit:-
Driving in France
The Kit: You need one high vis jacket per person in the car, kept inside the vehicle and not in the boot. You also need headlamp beam deflectors for your lights (some newer cars have a continental mode in the settings that do the same job, so check your manual first), and a warning triangle for breakdowns. Don’t forget a UK sticker too (unless you have it on your number-plate) I picked up a kit on Amazon for under £20.00.
The Documents: You need to have these physically in the car. The French authorities like actual paperwork, not a screenshot on your phone. That means your driving licence, passport, motor insurance certificate, and your V5C logbook. It is rarely asked for, but not having it can technically result in a fine or even impoundment, so just bring it.
The Sticker: I ordered a Crit’Air sticker today. It may not be strictly necessary depending on your exact route, but it was less than six euros and lasts for the lifetime of the car, so it felt like a no brainer. To apply for it, you will need your V5C to hand as they ask for details like your VIN number. One important note: there are a lot of sites out there offering to sell you one, but go straight to the official website. Some third party sites charge several times the actual price. Order well in advance as it can take a few weeks to arrive, and you cannot buy one for a UK registered car once you are already in France.
The Tolls: The motorways (Autoroutes) have tolls. They usually take both cash (Euros) and card (Visa and Mastercard are usually fine), but we will be making sure we have plenty of Euro coins in the glovebox just in case the machines are being temperamental.
What I Am Actually Looking Forward To
The hotel breakfast (assuming I remembered to book it). The French countryside from a car window with a bag of snacks and no agenda. And finding out whether that Disney Magic actually lands on someone who is far more at home with a proper adventure than a fairytale castle.
I will be writing a follow up post once we are back to let you know if I survived the Tower of Terror or if I left another stinky jacket under a ride in France.
Have you been to Disney Paris? If you have got any tips for a first timer, especially on navigating the crowds when you are short, or navigating motion sickness drop them in the comments!