G Costa - The Independent Guide to Disneyland Paris 2018

Independent Guide to Disneyland Paris2018

Copyright 2012-2018Independent Guides

All Rights Reserved

Smashwords Edition

Limit ofLiability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

The publisherhas used its best efforts in preparing this book, and theinformation provided herein is provided "as is." Independent Guidesand the author make no representation or warranties with respect tothe accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book andspecifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability orfitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liablefor any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, includingbut not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or otherdamages.

Please read allsigns before entering attractions, as well as the terms andconditions of any third party companies used. Prices areapproximate, and do fluctuate.

CopyrightNotice:

Contentscopyright (C) 2012-2018 Independent Guides. All rights reserved. Nopart of this document or the related files may be reproduced ortransmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying,recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission ofthe publisher, unless it is for personal use. Some images and textcopyright (C) The Walt Disney Company and its affiliates andsubsidiaries. This guide is not a The Walt Disney Company product,not is it endorsed by said company.

Chapter 1

Introduction to Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Parisis Europes most popular destination, having amassed over 300million visitors in 25 years.

The project forthe resort started in the 1980s when Disney executives wanted tobring the magic of Disney theme parks to Europe where the originalstories, which inspire many Disney fairy tales, originated.

They soon decidedon constructing the resort in France due to its central locationand favourable weather when compared to some countries furthernorth in Europe.

The fact that thelocation was less than a two-hour flight from many Europeanlocations sealed the deal - and the French government promising tobuild infrastructure to access the resort.

Disneyland Parkopened in 1992 as a European adaptation of Californias Disneyland.Its design was, however, updated to reflect the local culture andto take advantage of all the land the company had purchased.

In 2002, WaltDisney Studios Park became the second park at the resort, providinga portal for movie fanatics.

As well as the twotheme parks, guests can enjoy the Disney Village area (freeadmission), with shopping and dining experiences that cover a rangeof tastes.

A golf course, acamp-site with an adventure playground, and six themed hotels arealso on site.

Disneyland Parisis not just a theme park or a place to ride roller coasters. Guestscan meet characters, watch shows and parades, make new friends andenjoy an ambiance that no other theme park resort in Europe rivals.Thrill seekers may not find the tallest and fastest rides in Europeat the resort, but the quality of the experiences offered is secondto none.

2018 is afantastic time to visit as the resort continues to celebrate its25th anniversary with new rides and shows.

Disneyland Parisis a place where dreams really do come true for guests every singleday, and you are about to become one of them.

Chapter 2

Planning Your Trip

Planning a trip toDisneyland Paris may seem daunting. You have to think abouttransport, accommodation, food, park tickets, spending money, andmore. This section aims to get you prepared.

Whento Visit

Crowds atDisneyland Paris vary greatly from season to season, and even dayto day. The difference of a single day can save you hundreds ofeuros and hours in queues. You need to consider national and schoolholidays in France and surrounding countries, the weather, pricingand more to find the best time to go. Here is a detailed guide ofthe best times to visit Disneyland Paris, even including a detailedanalysis of weekdays.

Major Holidays (Timesto Avoid):
Late 2017

Weekends inSeptember: and October: Very busy

19th Octoberto 5th November: School Holidays and Halloween

22nd December2017 to 7th January 2018 - Christmas Holidays. 31st Dec is thebusiest day.

In 2018

1st to 3rdJanuary: New Years Day & School Break

18th Februaryto 4th March: French and UK school break

17th March:St. Patricks Day (celebrations mean slightly largercrowds)

8th to 29thApril: Easter Holidays - Particularly busy from 15th to 29thApril.

28th April to1st May: Labour Day weekend

5th to 8thMay: Victory in Europe Day weekend

10th May to13th May: Ascension Day weekend

18th May to21st May: Pentecost/Whit Sunday

15th June to10th September: European School Summer Break. August is by far thebusiest month. July is busier than June. September is less busyfrom the 4th onwards.

14th July:Bastille Day (Bank Holiday)

15th August:Assumption

September andOctober weekends

20th Octoberto 5th November: UK and France school holidays,Halloween

22nd December2018 to 7th January 2019 - Christmas Holidays. 31st Dec is thebusiest day.

TopTip: If a public holidayfalls on a Friday or a Monday, that weekend becomes a pont (a long weekend). If it is on aThursday or Tuesday, many turn this into a 4-day weekend.Avoid ponts as theyare always very busy.

Days of The Week:

The days of theweek that you visit make a large difference to how long you willwait to get on rides. A ride can have a wait time of 90 minutes onone day, and just 30 minutes the next. The most notable differenceis between weekends and weekdays.

The best day ofthe week to visit is Monday, followed by Tuesday, then Thursday,then Wednesday, Friday and Sunday - the busiest day of the week isby far Saturday. Park hours are often extended on weekends tocompensate for the larger crowds.

Doing Disney on a Budget

A visit toDisneyland Paris is expensive it is a premium theme park destination and withtravel, park tickets, accommodation, food and souvenirs, it is easyto see why many families save up for a long time for a visit.However, there are many ways to reduce your spending at the resortyet still have a magical time.

1. Drive Visitors from all across Europe can drive to the resort.Even from the UK, driving is an option - a ferry or Eurotunnelcrossing can cost as little as 50-150 return when booked inadvance for a car and all its passengers. From Calais, in France,is it an easy 3-hour drive. There are about 18 of tolls each wayfrom Calais to Disneyland Paris, plus petrol costs.

2. Budget flights Flights are available from 30/40 each way fromacross Europe to Paris. Charles de Gaulle airport is the most convenient, followed by Orly . Steerclear of Paris Beauvais-Tille Airport, which is actually 120km away from theparks.

3. Take the train TGV and Eurostar trains can get you to theresort. If travelling across France, try Ouigo (www.ouigo.com),which offers cheap travel on high-speed trains from locationsacross France.

TGV advancePrems fares can also be good value. You will arrive at Marne laValle Chessy station.

For UK guests,Eurostar trains start at 72 return if booked in advance. Thosefrom UK regions can book through fares from their home station toDisneyland Paris on Eurostar.com, changing trains at St. Pancras.For example, Manchester to Paris starts at 90 return.

Trains avoid airporttransfers, saving money.

4. Hotels Disney hotels are themed but are also expensive comparedto other nearby hotels, such as the Kyriad, which have offers from60 per night. However, a non-Disney hotel means no Extra MagicTimes, and buying park tickets separately.