Finding Disney - Part Un

Thirteen years ago (to the days), G and I went on a coach trip from Liverpool to Disneyland Paris. It was a graduation present and a trip that we’ve never forgotten. Last night G, our 3 kiddies and me flew back from a 3 day stay. Life has been rather difficult this year (etc etc etc) and a family break was very much needed.

We stayed in the Disneyland Hotel, which is found within the Magic Kingdom. It was luxurious on so many levels, reminding me of journeys, of full circles and of dreams coming true. The hotel was exquisite, clean, fresh and full of character. The concierge was helpful, taking care of our many needs (including losing the keys for our luggage and having to have the locks cut off). But for me, and for the kiddies, the central location meant earlier starts, longer days and a nipping back to our room for a change of shoes and a cooling down.Staying on the park takes away some of the stresses of travelling with children, as well as making you feel like you’re part of the ‘show’.

Breakfasts in the Disneyland Hotel saw Disney characters signing autographs and being available for photo opportunities. This saved us from having to join the very long queues in the park (you can queue for up to 2 hours to see the most popular characters). Middlest is now the proud keeper of an autograph book full of his favourites and my camera is packed with photos of them all with characters.

As many of you know, Littlest is now 6, Middlest 9 and Eldest 11 and I think they’re possibly the ideal ages to enjoy the wide spread of rides and activities on offer. Eldest was past the age where a character autograph was needed or wanted. He embraced the rides that his younger siblings wanted to experience. But for him, he liked Thunder Mountain (a twisting, turning runaway mine train, the (ridiculously terrifying) Twilight Zone of Terror (where you’re in a thrilling elevator ride that plummets faster than the speed of gravity) and the Indiana Jones looping roller-coaster. Middlest preferred Space Mountain: Mission 2 (a blast off spinning roller-coaster) (that made my head hurt), Thunder Mountain and the Star Tours (a fun spaceflight stimulator into the Star Wars Galaxy). And Littlest loved Thunder Mountain (she giggled all the way around), the Mad Hatter’s (spinning) Tea Cups and ‘It’s a Small World’. I think we managed to go on most of the rides, over the 3 days and Thunder Mountain became a firm favourite for us all. We went on 9 times (and yes, I felt ridiculously queasy by the end of it all). And me, well I loved ‘It’s a Small World’ boat ride, because it is. Isn’t it? I was told to stop singing by Littlest, as it was distracting her.

On day 2, Littlest walked around the park in her Minnie Mouse outfit. Each and every staff member acknowledged her and many called her Minnie. This made Littlest feel special (if not a little confused initially). She smiled, each time. The discipline and this attention to the moment and to the small child, made Littlest feel part of the park. That day, we both wore mouse ears and no one seemed to mind.

Fastpass (a ticket selected from specific rides to cut down queuing times) is clearly an excellent way to avoid queues and is worth a moment of organisation and planning, as is getting there early and queuing for favourite rides while still feeling fresh and excitable. But one thing I hadn’t realised was that to get a good seat for the final parade (at 10:30pm), people were lining the Main Street from 9pm. We had a bit of a rubbish spot and big people came and stood in front of the kiddies at the last moment. But saying that, the kiddies were fine and didn’t feel that they’d missed out (although they probably had).

And for balance, some negatives. It was hot, water in small bottles cost €2.50, so buying for all of us soon added up. There is a shop within the railway station where you can buy huge bottles of water for €1.20 but I think that’s a secret (sssssh). Another negative was the fact that I couldn’t buy a t-shirt with Goofy on it, which clearly was a serious need and want. And some of the staff were a bit grumpy. On the Star Tours ride, one member shouted at some children to ‘shut up or get off’ the ride. That wasn’t very Disney. And my only other negative was that people were smoking whilst walking around the park. In a busy environment with small children at cigarette level, I really did wish that smoking had been banned or designated to specific areas. Littlest had her most favourite top burned by a cigarette, but thankfully not her skin.

For me, I think the magic of Disneyland comes from the people who go there, those who embrace the moment and all that Disney has to offer. Some of the rides have narratives, they tell the stories that many of us have grown with. I am still left slightly uneasy after the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves ride into the dark and scary forest. When you believe in the stories and in the characters, then the emotions are stirred. That is the beauty of Disney, the unleashing of the imagination. Where else could I sing along to the music whilst wearing Minnie Mouse ears?

In Disneyland Paris, I could be me. And that me got to giggle with my kiddies and love every single minute of the experience.

Coming soon - ‘Finding Disney - Part deux’, ’Believing’ and ‘When Caroline meets Goofy’.

**sorry about the back-photos of my kiddies, but for very personal reasons I am having to protect their identities.