Disney Village Paris Fans

Disney Village Paris Fans

Tuesday, 17 November 2015

Disneyland Paris - October 2015 - Trip Report - Food

Now it wouldn't be a trip to Disneyland Paris without trying any of the wonderful food on offer! I've already mentioned in previous articles about where we eat on our recent trip in October, so I'll be including some reviews for those places as well as telling you about some of the different places you can find food in the parks as well as in Disney Village, and also some of the places where we just enjoyed a drink. I'll also tell you a little bit about how you can use some of the food offers which may be included as part of your Disneyland Paris hotel package. I feel like I haven't written one of my trip reports for a while, so it's nice to get back into the swing of things!

Our trip this October was my first time using any of the Disney hotel food offers. When our holiday was booked we were lucky to have the Standard Half Board meal plan as part of our package. This was great because it would save us extra money on food each day. Another good thing about booking this was that we could both decide on where we would like to use the meal vouchers. I can't tell you exciting it was to look online at all the different places we could eat. Even though I've stayed at some of the hotels before and eaten breakfast in the restaurants, I had never had another meal in them. We wrote a list beforehand of where we wanted to use our meal vouchers and although I've lost that list, I'm pretty sure we eat at all the places we wanted to! We were still planning on where we wanted to eat while on the Eurostar journey to Disneyland Paris! 

La Grange at Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon, Disney Village

Our first meal was at La Grange, which is situated above Billy Bob's Country Western Saloon. Surprisingly being an avid Disney Village fan, I had never stepped foot inside Billy Bob's until this trip. The theming inside the bar downstairs was fantastic. Just like the name, Billy Bob's is themed like a saloon bar right out of the Wild West. La Grange is upstairs and features the same theming found downstairs. We presented our meal vouchers, ordered our drinks, then were shown to our table. I think it's fair to say we made a wise choice choosing this as our first food destination, because the food was delicious! There was a great mix of food, mostly barbecued meats and other Tex-Mex style food, similar to the choices at La Cantina at the Hotel Santa Fe. We were pleasantly surprised by this place, but then again, you don't expect poor food anywhere on a Disney site! My only disappointment with La Grange was the desserts on offer, I personally thought there could have been other choices. Still though, it was very enjoyable! After filling ourselves up, we left in good spirits, then headed back to the Disneyland Park to watch the first Dreams show of our trip. 

Rating: 7/10

La Grange is situated just above Billy Bob's. 

Rio Grande Bar, Hotel Santa Fe

After a very tiring first day, we just wanted to settle down after packing our bags and enjoy a nice cold drink! Instead of buying a bottle of drink in the hotel gift shop, we decided to treat ourselves and go to the Rio Grande Bar. Having never been there before, we really enjoyed it. Okay, it might not have very elaborate theming compared to some of the other Disney hotel bars, but it was still nice, and quite peaceful too. The bar was also showing the Rugby World Cup, which kept a lot of the guests occupied! We didn't visit the bar other than our first night, but we did enjoy it there, and I would definitely go back there on my next trip for a drink.


Rating: 6/10

Enjoy a peaceful drink at the Rio Grande Bar.

La Cantina, Hotel Santa Fe

Our first full day at Disneyland Paris began at our hotel's own restaurant, La Cantina. I had heard negative reviews about this place before we went, but I never really listen to them as I prefer to judge for myself, and I'm glad I did, because we loved it! The setting at La Cantina was great, it was like being in a roadside service station on Route 66, not surprising as the hotel is heavily themed after the famous Route 66 in America and the Cars films. Continental breakfast was on offer each morning, which suited me and my fiancee just fine. I've always thought that it's important to get a good breakfast at Disneyland Paris as it sets you up for the busy days ahead, so we certainly filled ourselves up each morning!

Breakfast wasn't the only times we visited La Cantina, we also eat there twice for dinner. We visited La Cantina for dinner on our second night and fourth and final night. I was interested to see what would be on choice at the buffet as it's not one of the ones that a lot of people mention when talking about the hotel buffets at Disneyland Paris. Just like in La Grange, we presented our dinner vouchers, then ordered our drinks and sat down at a table of our choice. One of the good things with La Cantina is the fact that you can choose to sit where you like. We were really pleasantly surprised with how good it was, hence why we eat there a second time! The food on offer for dinner service is a Tex-Mex style buffet, but there are plenty of other options. I enjoyed the tasty meats on offer, including spicy chicken, as well as roast gammon. As my other half would tell you, I love making wraps wherever I can, and this restaurant was no exception. I cut up a lot of the meat and put it in the wraps, as well as some grated cheese of course! Talking of cheese, one of my favourite things at La Cantina, was the fact that they offered the American style hot cheese sauce, perfect for nachos topping, and I certainly enjoyed a lot of it! The desserts on offer here were absolutely incredible! There were so many different cakes, yoghurts, mousses, fruit, just everything you could ever wish for when it comes to puddings. I honestly think that La Cantina doesn't get the credit it is definitely due. I personally think it's one of the best buffets I've ever had. After two lovely evening meals, I can honestly say that it is one of my favourite places to eat when at Disneyland Paris. Even if we don't end up staying at the Hotel Santa Fe on our next trip, we'll definitely be visiting La Cantina, that's a certainty!

Rating: 9/10

Breakfast out of a truck, quite a novelty!

Hunter's Grill, Sequoia Lodge Hotel

This was one of the hotel buffet restaurants that I had always wanted to visit. We decided to head to the Hunter's Grill at the Sequoia Lodge on our third night in Disneyland Paris. Although it wasn't listed as one of the restaurants on our meal plan, we could still eat there and use the meal vouchers to pay the difference, which wasn't that much. After enjoying another nice day in the parks, we went to change our clothes at our hotel, then headed towards the Sequoia Lodge. We had a table booked for the Hunter's Grill at 6pm when it opened. We queued up with some fellow Brits, who we had a nice chat with. After presenting our meal vouchers, we were seated by our waiter, I can't remember his name, but he was definitely one of the best waiters we had while dining anywhere on this trip. After ordering our drinks, we went up to the buffet, and stuffed ourselves silly! Okay, we weren't quite that bad! We did eat a lot of food though. Now the strange thing with Hunter's Grill is that I wasn't overly impressed with it. I liked it, but I felt it was lacking something. It was one of them sort of places where I thought to myself 'what is all the fuss about?' Don't get me wrong, the food was very lovely, and you could tell that some of the food (meats in particular) were better quality than some of the food at the other buffets. I was expecting a bigger buffet in all honesty. I actually thought it was one of the smallest buffets I'd seen at Disneyland Paris, but then again it makes up for it with the nice quality food. The theming wasn't anything special, I would even say that the theming at La Cantina and La Grange was better. This is my own personal opinion of course, and then again, the food is what matters most! At the end of the day though, we did enjoy our meal at Hunter's Grill, and would probably visit there again.

Rating: 7/10


Hunter's Grill is just inside the Sequoia Lodge on the right.

Planet Hollywood

If you have read any of my other blogs, then you will be well aware that Planet Hollywood is my favourite restaurant in Disney Village. I've always had a fondness for the Planet Hollywood restaurant chain, which stretches back to as far as I can remember. I still have fond memories of visiting Planet Hollywood at Gatwick Airport, which sadly closed quite a few years ago now. I used to love the original Planet Hollywood in London, which has now moved, and changed quite a bit. My favourite Planet Hollywood restaurant (well other than the one at Disneyland Paris) is definitely the one at Downtown Disney in Florida. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this was the first one that I ever visited. It is very similar in appearance to the Disney Village Planet Hollywood. Anyway, I should really talk about the one in Disney Village shouldn't I! Well what I love about the Disney Village Planet Hollywood is pretty much everything, and I mean everything! I love the theming, the food, the service, just everything! Being an absolute film fanatic, this is where I feel at home. I love all of the film props inside the restaurant. It's quite fun trying to guess which films they are from, although I like to think I know a lot of them! This is a great place for families to eat. The menu is primarily American style food, not surprising as it is originally an American chain, partly owned by the likes of Arnold Shwarzennegger and Sylvester Stallone. Planet Hollywood is known for it's tasty burgers. While I haven't eaten one of their burgers for years, my other half Laura has done.

On our trip this year, we decided to go here for my birthday meal, which was also our last day in Disneyland Paris. We came in for the lunch service, and it was pretty quiet, but then again, the parks were quite quiet as well. One of the things that always makes me laugh about Planet Hollywood in Disney Village is that I always get sat near other Brits. I'm not quite sure why this is but my guess would be that it's because they have waiting staff who have better English speaking skills working in that part of the restaurant. As it was my birthday, I thought I would treat myself to a white chocolate milkshake. Words cannot even describe how fantastic it tasted! I've never quite had a milkshake like it, it was just amazing! For my meal, I had the penne chicken broccoli, minus the broccoli! This has been a favourite dish of mine at Planet Hollywood restaurants for a long time now. It always tastes great, and this year was no exception. As I mentioned, Laura had one of the Planet Hollywood burgers, and as she wasn't talking, I knew she was enjoying it, because Laura doesn't tend to talk when she is enjoying her food! It was a very enjoyable meal as it always is at Planet Hollywood.

One thing that always gets to me about Planet Hollywood in Disney Village is the fact that a lot of people simply don't like it and tend to bash it a bit. I'll always defend it, but that's probably because I've been a fan for years. I cannot understand the hatred some people have for this place. Some people say it's dated, but I think the theming works, especially all the film props. The food is also very good, I've honestly never had a problem with food at any Planet Hollywood restaurant. Quite simply, I love this place, and our recent meal was very enjoyable here.

Rating: 10/10

Love Love Love this place!

The Sports Bar, Disney Village

Now we didn't eat here on our October trip or our trip last year but we did visit the bar for a couple of drinks. I personally think that the Sports Bar is a true gem in Disney Village, and not enough people visit it. Okay there may be a more adult vibe here as it is primarily a bar, but it is still very family friendly, and I've seen many families have a quiet drink here to relax after a busy day. There are many drinks on offer here, and it's probably the best place in the Disneyland Paris resort to grab a beer if that's what you fancy! As the name suggests, many live sports are shown on all the television screens inside the bar. There is also a very large screen on the wall opposite the outside seating area. This is one of the places in Disney Village where you're most likely to find fellow Brits. On our trip this year, we visited the Sports Bar twice. Both times were only for drinks, but they were at completely different times. The first time we visited was in the early afternoon, and it was very quiet inside. The bar staff were very efficient and friendly. The next day we came back here in the evening. We hadn't planned to visit again, but when I noticed one of the screens was broadcasting a Liverpool match, I couldn't resist watching my boys and having a pint of beer! I felt like a typical Brit on holiday, watching football and drinking a pint! I have to say there was a very goof atmosphere that evening. We visited during the Rugby World Cup, and the French match was on at the same time as the Liverpool game, so you can imagine how loud and passionate all the French were! It was a really good night!

Although we didn't eat on this trip or the previous trip, I have eaten here a couple of times before, and the food is very good. It's pretty much your typical American burgers and hotdogs fare, although being in Disney, it's better than average! I highly recommend a visit to the Sports Bar, whether it's to grab a quite bite to eat, or just a drink. 


8/10


Enjoy a beer while watching live sport here.

Rainforest Cafe, Disney Village

Now I just had to include this one in a Disneyland Paris food blog! We didn't actually visit the Rainforest Cafe on our October trip (although we visited the restaurant shop) but we did eat there last year, and I have on other trips too. As with Planet Hollywood, Rainforest Cafe is a worldwide food chain, and it's another one associated with Disney. Like Downtown Disney in Florida has Planet Hollywood, it also has a Rainforest Cafe. When talking about Planet Hollywood, I mentioned how they have one in London. Funnily enough, there is also a Rainforest Cafe in London, literally just a five minute walk away from each other! Anyway, enough of me rambling on about London, time to talk about the Disney Village restaurant!

The theming inside the Rainforest Cafe is just like something out of a Disney attraction! As soon as you enter through the entrance, you have animals above your head which move about. To get to the restaurant, you have to walk through the shop first, which is pretty amazing in itself. Although most of the animals inside the restaurant are animatronics, there are also some pretty big tanks with very beautiful and exotic fish. A bit like Planet Hollywood, the menu here is very American in style. My other half Laura enjoyed a burger while I enjoyed a pasta dish with a rather cool name 'Rasta Pasta!' We really enjoyed our meal here, which wasn't surprising as I've always enjoyed my meals at all of the Rainforest Cafe's I've been to. If you have the chance to dine here, then go for it, you won't be disappointed!

Rating: 9/10

Even the theming outside is impressive here!

Plaza Gardens, Disneyland Park

Plaza Gardens has got to be the best place to eat in the Disneyland Park. Other than my favourite La Cantina, I would argue that Plaza Gardens is the best buffet restaurant in the whole Disneyland Paris resort. Sadly we couldn't eat in Plaza Gardens on our October trip because it was going through a refurbishment, but we did eat there for the first time last year. This was our first time eating at a Disney buffet and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but quite honest, I was pleasantly surprised and loved it! I couldn't believe the wide range of food on offer here. There was literally everything you could think of! Meats, pastas, salads, breads, cheeses, desserts, everything! The theming inside was quite reminiscent of the Victorian era, similar to inside the Disneyland Hotel. It was very busy when we visited last year, and it was obvious to see why, with all the wonderful food on offer.


Rating: 8/10

Casey's Corner, Disneyland Park

Casey's Corner is a favourite of many Disneyland Paris fans, and it's very clear to see why. Casey's is very popular for it's famous hot dogs, which I personally love! There are also some other options like chicken nuggets and fries. One of the best things about this place is definitely the location of it. While there is seating inside, there is also seating outside, which many people take advantage of for viewing the evening Dreams show. Casey's Corner is a great place to grab something quick to eat, or something you can enjoy while strolling around the parks. We eat at Casey's a couple of times last year, but on our October trip, we used Casey's as part of our Pause Gourmande (Tea Time Treat) deal, and enjoyed it. One thing I will say though is expect to queue here. I've never seen Casey's Corner quiet, there are always large crowds there. The seating is also very limited, so consider yourself lucky if you manage to get a seat there!

Rating: 6/10

A standard pose for me outside Casey's Corner.

Meal Vouchers/Dining Plan

To finish, I would just like to let you know about our experience with the Disney Meal Plan. When booking our trip for October this year, we were lucky to have the Meal Plan included without any extra charge. We were given the Standard Half Board meal plan, which allowed us both to enjoy one meal per a day at any of the restaurants included. As I mentioned in the little restaurant reviews above, we used the meal plan at La Cantina, La Grange, and Hunter's Grill. It really is simple to use these vouchers. All you have to do is present the vouchers when you enter the restaurants, then your free to enjoy your meal, it's really as simple as that! Like we did at the Hunter's Grill, you can also use the vouchers at other restaurants available on more expensive meal plans, and all you have to do is pay the difference.

Again, I'd like to apologise for the delay in publishing this trip report. It's been a long time, but hopefully you've enjoyed reading this and it's been worth the wait! Thank you again for taking the time to read this, really means a lot to me.

I would also like to pay my respects to all of those who sadly passed away in the Paris tragedies last Friday. It was truly horrible, and I would like to send a prayer to every one of them souls, now resting up in heaven.

Keep sharing the Disney Village Paris love!


Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Disneyland Paris - Readers Questions Interview - Part 1

As any of my readers will know, Disneyland Paris is one of my favourite places in the world. Due to a long held admiration for it, as well as various trips there, I have built up quite a bit of knowledge about the place. It was only until my most recent trip that I decided to start up this blog. I'm so glad I did because I have truly enjoyed writing every post on here and it's very rewarding to know that a lot of my readers enjoy the posts. Recently, I asked some of my readers through social media if they had any questions for me to answer. I had a great response, and a big thank you to everyone that asked me the questions. As promised, here are my answers for all of your questions!


How many times have you visited Disneyland Paris?

To be honest, I couldn't tell you the exact amount of times. I know I first went when I was very young, too young to remember in fact. I would probably say I've been over 10 times.

How many times do you visit in a year?

Only once. Believe me, if I could afford it, I would go at least 3 times a year!

Which is your favourite park at Disneyland Paris and favourite ride within that park?

That's an easy one. It has to be the Disneyland Park for me. Don't get me wrong, I do love Walt Disney Studios as I'm a massive film fan, but I just think Disneyland Park is so much better for many reasons. I'd say Disneyland Park tops it for me because it has much better theming than Walt Disney Studios, and there are better attractions in the park. My favourite ride in the Disneyland Park is easily Pirates of the Caribbean. I've always loved Pirates. In my eyes, it's the ultimate Disney ride in the Disneyland Park, it is though, not my favourite overall attraction, which I will talk about in another question.

What is your favourite attraction within both parks?

As I mentioned above, my favourite attraction in the Disneyland Park is without a doubt Pirates of the Caribbean. Like I said, it's just the essential Disney experience for me. I love everything about it. The queue, the ride, the music, everything! Walt Disney Studios, is actually home to my favourite overall attraction. Being a massive film fan, it's quite fitting that my favourite attraction is none other than Cinemagique. Aside from rides, Disney is well known for putting on fantastic shows, and Cinemagique is one of them, and I've never seen anything better! I could go on for ages about why I love this attraction, so I'll leave that for another post!

What is your favourite thing about Disney Village?

Wow, what a question! Where do I even begin? Without my love for Disney Village, this blog would simply not exist! For many different reasons, Disney Village has always been one of my favourite things about the Disneyland Paris resort. I just love how it's an entertainment complex all dedicated to Disney, yet it's not in your face so to speak. I have many favourite things about Disney Village, but it would probably be the fact that it is home to my favourite restaurant, Planet Hollywood.

What would you say to someone who is visiting the parks for the first time? What tips would you give them?

My biggest tip is a simple one, just relax! I know it can be quite daunting for a first time visitor with so much to take in, but I believe that you will benefit so much more if you relax. Try not to rush to see everything. Maybe a bit of simple planning could help. For example, plan in the morning what attractions you most want to experience and try to head to them first. A lot of people tend to go for a couple of days or 5 days. If you're there for a couple of days, you simply won't have enough time to experience everything, so just make sure you head to what you want experience the most first. If you're experiencing a 5 day trip, then you'll definitely be able to experience everything you want, unless there's any ride closures of course! My other big tip is three words, 'Extra Magic Hours!' If you are staying onsite at one of Disney's many wonderful hotels, then you get the privilege of using the Extra Magic Hours. These allow guests to enter the parks a couple of hours before normal opening time. All you have to do is show your 'Disney Hotel Easy Pass' at the park entrance then you're on your way! Extra Magic Hours are so beneficial because you can beat the crowds on some rides and have the chance of meeting lots of the main Disney characters before the big crowds roll in. The only downside is the fact that only some lands in the park are open for the earlier hours.

Do you have any traditions when you visit Disneyland Paris?

I wouldn't say I had any traditions in particular, but there are always certain things that I always like to do. One of my favourite things I always do is walk around Disney Village before heading back to the hotel. I know I see the same things every night, but I still love walking around all the shops and just taking in all the atmosphere! Another thing I've enjoyed doing on the past couple of trips is leaving one evening to walk around all the hotels and look inside the gift shops and just experience the different atmospheres at each hotel. I mean think about it, where else in the world can you experience the Wild West, the hustle and bustle of New York, the beautiful American pine forests, and the American yacht clubs. There's just nothing quite like the Disney hotels in Paris. I would definitely say the hotels in Paris are better than the Disney hotels in Walt Disney World in Florida!

What is your best experience with the characters?

To be honest, it was only this year that we went out of our way to look for the characters and meet them. I would probably say my favourite experience was meeting Eeyore and Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh because Eeyore is my favourite Disney cartoon character, couldn't resist hugging him could I! Rabbit was also great because he put my trilby hat on one of his ears when I was posing for a photo. My other favourite experience was when I met Peter Pan and Smee. Being a facial character, I had a funny chat with Peter Pan, who kept mocking Smee. It was quite a laugh!

Do you like any theme parks from your own country or other countries, or is it just Disney?

As much as I love the Disney parks, they're definitely not the only ones I like. Being from the UK, we have quite a few of our own theme parks. I've been to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Chessington World of Adventures. While none of these compare to the magic of Disney, I was really impressed by Chessington World of Adventures on my recent visit earlier this year. Another theme park I like is PortAventura in Salou, Spain. I've visited this one twice and I think it has some brilliant theming, but then again, it was made by the Universal company, so you would expect some pretty nice touches! When it comes to Disney parks, I've been very lucky to have visited Walt Disney World in Florida on nearly 10 occasions. Florida really is the home of the theme park. Disney aside, I absolutely love the Universal Studios Resort. As I have mentioned, I'm a massive film fan, so Universal Studios is of great appeal to me. My favourite Disney park in Florida is definitely Hollywood Studios, although you can't beat the Magic Kingdom.

How many attractions are there at Disneyland Paris?

Well in simple terms, quite a few! It depends on what you count as attractions. I would personally include rides, shows, and things to explore in that list, so I count a grand total of 35. Walt Disney Studios has far less attractions and I count 17 in the park. In all fairness Walt Disney Studios is a lot smaller than it's sister park.

What is the most recent attraction?

The most recent attraction is Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquee de Remy, or in English, Ratatouille: Remy's Totally Zany Adventure, although I prefer to just call it Ratatouille! This one officially opened on the 10th July 2014. There haven't been any recent announcements for any new attractions in the pipeline, however, 2016 will see a lot of rides receiving some major refurbishments.

When is the highest attendance at the parks?

It tends to vary, but the busiest periods for the park are definitely the summer holidays, so between July and early September. The Christmas season (November 7th to January 7th) is also another popular time for visitors, especially Christmas week. I have to admit, I would love to spend Christmas Day and Boxing Day at Disneyland Paris!

Do Disneyland Paris put on any special seasonal events and how long do they last for?

They certainly do. The first big seasonal event each year is the Swing into Spring season, lasting from March 1st to May 31st. Swing into Spring typically celebrates the Easter holidays, and you will normally have the chance to have meet and greets with character such as Thumper from Bambi. Halloween season is the next big one. The Halloween Festival lasts from the 1st October to 1st November. I was out there for the start of the Halloween season this year. There is of course a Christmas season. Disney's Enchanted Christmas lasts from November 7th to January 7th. Let me tell you, you haven't experienced Disneyland Paris until you've witnessed it in all it's Christmas season glory! There are also other special events such as St Patrick's Day, Disney's Halloween Party, and New Year's Eve.

Where are the most popular destinations for food at Disneyland Paris?

A majority of these are in Disney Village. However, in the Disneyand Park, the most popular places to eat are Walt's restaurant, and the brilliant buffet Plaza Gardens. In Walt Disney Studios, a lot of people eat at the new Bistro Chez Remy which is situated right next to the Ratatouille ride. You even exit the ride right next to the restaurant. Being the mecca that it is, Disney Village has it's fair share of restaurants, and with so many, you'll find this is the place most people tend to head to for food. Being a worldwide restaurant chain, Planet Hollywood is very popular with visitors. Rainforest Cafe is also another popular choice. The most popular though is Cafe Mickey, where guests can dine with some of the Disney characters, providing a very memorable experience. Another popular place for guests, Brits in particular, is Earl of Sandwich. Like the name suggests, this place specialises in sandwiches, all of which are toasted and made to order. I've quite honestly never had a toasted sandwich as nice as the ones there, okay, maybe in America, home of the toasted sandwich!

What is your favourite restaurant at Disneyland Paris?

Planet Hollywood, no contest! This has always been a favourite of mine ever since I can remember. I've been dining at various Planet Hollywoods around the world for years. The restaurants in Disney Village and Downtown Disney in Florida are definitely my two favourites. It's just the ultimate place to dine if you're a film buff. The food is great too in my opinion. I could spend hours walking around the restaurant looking at all the film memorabilia dotted around the walls of the building.

What are the best dishes that you have tried?

Well my favourite dish I've eaten can be found at Planet Hollywood, and that is the Chicken Penne Broccoli. I ask for it without the broccoli, but the pasta has an amazing creamy sauce and the chicken just adds to it's amazing flavour. It's so nice I have it every single time! I've also enjoyed some lovely burgers at the Rainforest Cafe and Annette's Diner. One of my favourite places to eat though was definitely La Cantina buffet at the Hotel Santa Fe. The food there was just amazing, and such a great choice too!

Have you ever eaten any Mickey Mouse shaped food?

I have, but not in Disneyland Paris. On a Florida holiday I once eat some Mickey Mouse shaped waffles for breakfast, oh my they were delicious!

What is your favourite shop at Disneyland Paris?

Now that is a hard question to answer! I have many favourite shops at Disneyland Paris. My favourite three would be the World of Disney store, The Disney Gallery, and Planet Hollywood Boutique, all inside Disney Village. World of Disney is quite a recent addition to Disneyland Paris, but it's certainly a good one! It's probably the best Disney shop you'll see in your life, other than maybe one of the ones in America. There are just so many amazing things to buy in there that you could easily spend thousands in there! The Disney Gallery is another of my favourite shops because it has some of the best Cast Members you'll find. The staff in there are so attentive and friendly, you won't find better service anywhere else. Oh, and the artwork is out of this world! I could clear my bank account in that shop! I also love the Planet Hollywood Boutique because I love their brand of clothing as well as merchandise. Got to buy a Planet Hollywood cocktail glass!


Once again, thank you to everyone that asked me the questions. I hope you all enjoyed reading the answers. If you ever have any other questions then please don't hesitate to ask me, I'm always happy to help!

A special thanks to Bobbi Christina O'Reilly, Daniel Graham, Jack Rodgers, and Chantelle Woodruff!

Keep sharing the Disney Village love!

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Disneyland Paris - October 2015 - Trip Report - Cast Members

For anyone unaware, the staff at Disneyland Paris are known as Cast Members. This applies to all Disney parks staff around the world. Each Cast Member plays a valuable role in ensuring all guests have a magical experience, and the Cast Members at Disneyland Paris are no different. There has been some bad press about the quality of service provided from the Cast Members at Disneyland Paris, but this is so untrue. I will admit, on previous trips, some of the Cast Members hadn't been overly friendly compared to the ones in Florida, but on our last two trips in November last year and October this year, the Cast Members were absolutely exceptional! Dare I say it, but the Cast Members in Paris were even better than the ones in Florida!

I have had the privilege of visiting Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland Paris, and I love both parks for various reasons. As I mentioned, Cast Members always play a vital role in ensuring a good experience while on site at any Disney property, whether it be a park or hotel. The Americans may be more renowned for their over friendliness compared to the French, but this really wasn't the case on our last two trips to Disneyland Paris. I would honestly say that the trip this year in particular had the best staff service I've ever had from Cast Members. There were a number of reasons for why the Cast Members were so brilliant, but I would have to say it was mostly down to their friendliness.

Phantom Manor Cast Members, love the dapper purple suit!

On trips to Walt Disney World, I've worn many different Disney t-shirts, but I've never had any Cast Members point them out or make conversation about them. On our trip to Disneyland Paris in October though, we had quite a few conversations with Cast Members about clothing. On our first and last day on the trip, I wore a Frozen t-shirt with Oaken and his saying "Yoo-hoo! Big Summer blowout!" On our first day while waiting for the Magic on Parade show to start, one of the Cast Members kept looking at me and I though to myself 'What's she looking at me for?' then all of a sudden she goes "YOO-HOO! I love your shirt!" I said thank you and couldn't stop laughing! It wasn't a bad impression from her in all fairness. A couple of other Cast Members pointed out the shirt and smiled as well as a little girl on our Eurostar train home, bless her. My other half Laura also had some interactions with Cast Members in relation to her Disney t-shirts. One Cast Member at the Pirates of the Caribbean boarding area pointed out Laura's Little Mermaid t-shirt and said how she loved the film. Another day and another Little Mermaid shirt, one Cast Member noticed the shirt, which read 'I'm a real Mermaid' and she asked Laura whether she really was. Playing along Laura said yes of course, and the Cast Member said how she loved the film too. A lot of Little Mermaid fans at Disneyland Paris it seemed!

Yoo-hoo! Have to love that shirt!

Considering the Cast Members are mostly French, their English speaking skills were mostly impeccable! I think there must have only been a couple who could only speak basic English but most of them were fluent in the language. I can't speak a lot of French but I have always said that I think it's important that us English visitors make an attempt to learn some basic French words, I mean it doesn't take much to say thank you in their own language does it! I've always found that the staff always appreciate it when you try to speak their language, even if you get it completely wrong. Some people are put off visiting Disneyland Paris by the fact that the Cast Members are French speakers, but it really isn't anything to worry about, as like I said, most are fluent in English.

Even Pirates like having their photos taken y'know!

One of the things I love most about the Cast Members are the fantastic costumes that they wear. As we all know, Disney is well known for theming, and this includes the Cast Members. All Cast Members have their own costumes depending on which land in the parks they are working at. Many of the Cast Members will wear costumes corresponding to the attractions they are working on. One such example is Pirates of the Caribbean where all the staff wear various different pirate guises. Pirates of the Caribbean is my favourite attraction in the Disneyland Park, and I think the Cast Members add to the amazing experience of the attraction. Phantom Manor is also another attraction where the Cast Members play a vital role, and oh my, they certainly look the part! Every Cast Member is made to feel equal and this is evident by their amazing costumes, even the cleaners look amazing! As I love the Cast Members so much, I asked some of them if they would mind posing for photographs, and they were all more than happy to do so. I have to say the best Cast Member was the guy at Pirates of the Caribbean who after I asked for a photo, said 'Hold on wait a second!' then took out a pistol for the photo. Loved it!

Beware of the Pirates!

It would be quite hard to say which places in the Disneyland Paris complex had the best Cast Members as there were so many, but these would be my pick of the bunch:

Hotel Santa Fe

If you haven't already read my Hotel Santa Fe trip report (http://disneyvillagefans.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/disneyland-paris-october-2015-trip.html) then I must tell you, this hotel had it all for me. I have previously stayed at the Sequoia Lodge, Newport Bay Club, and Hotel New York, so I was very excited to stay at the Hotel Santa Fe for the first time this year. It didn't disappoint! While the theming may not be as grand as some of the other hotels, it makes up for it with other things. One such thing is the brilliant Cast Members, particularly the reception staff. We didn't check into the hotel until late on our first day as we enjoyed as much as we could in the park after arriving on the Eurostar. After walking to the hotel through Disney Village and along the river, we went to the reception, and were greeted by some very lovely staff which gave us our room key card and also our suitcases as we had used the Disney Express service. Our keycard didn't work the first time, but Cast Members helped change my card straight away. The Cast Members on the reception desk were very friendly and provided exceptional service. I also met a lovely Cast Member inside the hotel's gift shop who was very friendly and talkative. The barman we met on the first night was also very friendly. I know I've used the word 'friendly' a lot in this article so far, but the Cast Members really were that friendly, and I think they deserve a lot of credit, which isn't always given.

Thunder Mountain Mercantile Building

This shop in Frontierland provided one of my favourite Cast Member experiences of the trip. When paying for my brilliant Phantom Manor t-shirt, I met a lovely French Cast Member, and sadly, I cannot remember his name. His English was pretty good although he wasn't fluent. We had a great conversation, mostly about me being from England. The Cast Member went on to say how he visited England once, staying in Hastings of all places! I know almost every Cast Member can speak English but the fact this one had stayed in England and liked our culture made it a great conversation, and a memorable one at that. Even though I make the effort to speak a little bit of French, it's nice that the Cast Members make an effort to speak English, even the ones which struggle with the language.

Disney Gallery

This has to be one of the best shops not just in the Disney Village area, but in the whole Disneyland Paris complex. Disney is of course famous for animation, so it's only natural for their to be a shop devoted to Disney art, and the Disney Gallery is just that, although it's so much better. There are so many beautiful things to buy in this shop that you could quite easily break the bank! I had quite a bit of spending money on my recent trip but I even had to limit myself in this shop. They sell so many beautiful ornaments of Disney characters, as well as some beautiful canvases. I did treat myself to a set of 12 attraction posters which I thought were an absolute bargain for 29.99 euros! I'm still deciding what I should do with them, maybe make my own Disney gallery on our bedroom wall. Aside from the beautiful things to buy, you can also use the Disney PhotoPass system there. We had a couple of PhotoPass cards which we wanted to use to print off some photos of meet and greets, so we decided to do it in the Disney Gallery. The lady who helped us was absolutely brilliant. We took our time to decide which photos we wanted and she didn't make us feel rushed or anything. She was so helpful and very pleasant. We also met a few other Cast Members in the shop, all very polite and welcoming. All the shops had lovely Cast Members, but the Disney Gallery would be my pick of the bunch.

Hunters Grill, Sequoia Lodge

We enjoyed using our Standard Half Board meal vouchers for dinner each evening and met some very lovely staff at all of the restaurants, however, the Cast Members at the Hunters Grill restaurant really stood out for me. Hunters Grill was not included in our meal plan, but we could pay the different using our vouchers, so we decided to treat ourselves on the third night. Our waiter was so polite to us and made us feel so welcome, it was just such an enjoyable experience. To be honest, Hunters Grill has the best reviews out of all the Disney hotel buffets, but I didn't think it was any better than some of the others. You could tell some of the meats and fish were much better quality though. I will be sure to write a review for the Hunters Grill, as well as everywhere else we eat.

Overall, the Cast Members were so brilliant this trip that they were probably one of the things which I most remember from the trip. We can't wait to go back to the resort and hopefully meet some of the same Cast Members! The Cast Members at Disneyland Paris really deserve a lot of praise. Thank you to each and every one of them for making our holiday so magical!

Now this guy could definitely looked the part!

Saturday, 24 October 2015

Interview - Jordi from dlrpfans YouTube Channel

I think it's fair to say that we all get a little bit excited on a trip to Disneyland Paris. One such man is Jordi Desaever, the star of YouTube channel 'dlrpfans'. It wasn't until earlier this year that I stumbled onto the channel, and I have been hooked ever since. While cameraman Filip generally stays behind the camera, Jordi loves being in front of the camera, and he really is a funny guy. Some Disneyland Paris video have that feeling of 'well I've seen this all before' but the videos on 'dlrpfans' are completely different. Although speaking Dutch a majority of the time, Jordi sometimes speaks some English, much to comic effect, and making the videos very humorous. Filip and Jordi clearly have a very good relationship together, which rubs off well in the videos. You can clearly see in the videos that Filip and Jordi both love Disneyland Paris, and clearly know a lot about it. Jordi's on screen antics are so funny that it prompted me to make my own video of what I thought were his funniest moments.

On my most recent trip to Disneyland Paris in October, I couldn't quite believe me luck when I met not only Filip, but also Jordi! We had photos together and had a chat together. Both Filip and Jordi were really lovely people. Hopefully we'll get the chance to meet again on my next trip, and maybe even go on some rides together! It really was a highlight of my trip. Very happy to say that I now have two good friends from Belgium!

As we're all friends on Facebook, I asked Jordi if he would be kind enough to take part in an interview, much to my delight, he was more than happy to.

Enjoy the interview.

Jordi and Me.


Hey Jordi!

Thank you for finding the time to take part in this interview. Let's begin. When did you first visit Disneyland Paris?

Hey! My first visit to Disneyland Paris was a long time ago, when I was about 4-6 months or a year old. I know that we have been to Disneyland for my first communion, which was highly likely my 1st or 2nd visit.

How often do you visit Disneyland Paris in a year?

To the degree that I got older, I started to go more and more. First I went with my parents because I was not old enough. When I was old enough to go on my own to Disneyland Paris, I started to go every 2 to 3 months. On this day, it is monthly.

Many people will know you from the dlrpfans videos on YouTube. When did you first decide to participate in the videos and why?

Yeah that's right, at Disneyland Paris, everybody knows me from dlrpfans. In other parks, they know me from my own YouTube channel, Mr.Themeparkfans. To create such videos with Filip, the decision actually went really quickly, because I was all that took part in the experiment. This was on my very first YouTube channel, which is no longer active. 

Do you have any favourite videos from the dlrpfans channel?

I do not actually have a favourite video, I think they are all good. The videos with the most crazy moments I find super, for example, the time I called to Zurg, selfies, Alice in Wonderland, events like the meet and greets where sometimes I do not know what to do. 

What is your favourite attraction in Walt Disney Studios and why?

Hollywood Tower Hotel (Tower of Terror) I find really super. The story is good, the thrill is good, the picture is completely correct.

Do you have a favourite land in the Disneyland Park?

I do not have a favourite land, but if I had to choose, it would be between Frontierland, Adventureland, and Discoveryland, because there are really good attractions. You can find me a ride on Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, but also a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones. Discoveryland, there are attractions I could sit on for hours like Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear. 

What about a favourite land in Walt Disney Studios?

The new Ratatouille part. There is simply everything. A very nice restaurant, attraction, and shop.

Have you stayed at any of the Disneyland Paris hotels?

Yes, I've stayed at the Hotel New York, Sequoia Lodge, Newport Bay Club, and the Hotel Santa Fe.

Do you have a favourite restaurant in Disney Village?

McDonalds and Earl of Sandwich. Those restaurants are not too expensive in terms of price and I think the quality is also very good.

Do you have a favourite shop in Disney Village?

The Disney Gallery, because sometimes you can find things in there that they do not sell in the parks.

I'm a big fan of the music loops in the parks. Do you have a favourite?

Sure enough, the music in Discoveryland.

Have you every visited any of the other Disney parks from around the world, or do you have plans to?

No, never, but I do have plans to travel to another Disney resort.

Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.

Thank you for the interview.


Me with Filip and Jordi. 


Here is a link to the 'dlrpfans' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/filipv

This is a link to Jordi's own channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MrThemeparkfans

This is my own video of Jordi's funniest moments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLzMo_nc-AE

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Interview - Filip, Creator of dlrpfans YouTube Channel

Most Disneyland Paris lovers will watch videos of the park on YouTube, myself included. It wasn't until this year that I stumbled onto the dlrpfans (Disneyland Resort Paris fans) YouTube channel. I fell in love with the channel almost instantaneously. The star of the videos is definitely Jordi, but the man behind the camera, Filip, allowed me to conduct an interview with him. I was very lucky to meet Filip on our trip to Disneyland Paris in October. As well as meeting Filip and his wife, I also met the star of the videos Jordi! Those were moments I'll never forget. Both of them were very lovely and very happy to talk, and the both of them recognised me because we're all friends on Facebook. I have even made my own video of Jordi's funniest moments from the dlrpfans channel, that's how much I love their videos.

Me with Filip, creator of dlrpfans.


Hello Filip! Thank you for taking the time to take part in the interview.

When was the first time you visited Disneyland Paris?

In 1996.

How many times do you visit Disneyland Paris a year?

About 16 times.

Some people will know you for being the creator of the dlrpfans YouTube channel. When did you first decide to make the videos and share them on YouTube?

I have been a member of YouTube since July 2006, and putting videos online, but not many at that time. I also had a small website with pictures of my trips. I was one of the first on the internet with a website with photos from Disneyland Paris.

You appear in some of the videos, but I think many people would say that Jordi is the star of the videos. Why do you think people love Jordi so much?

I think it's because he is funny and his character.

Do you have any favourite videos from the dlrpfans channel?

I like all of my videos. I think that's one of the things that's important, before other people can like your videos, first you have to like what you make, otherwise it won't work.

Which is your favourite attraction from the Disneyland Park and why?

I have several favourites, if I need to choose one, I would choose Pirates of the Caribbean and that's because I love dark rides and I like the pirate theme.

What about your favourite attraction from Walt Disney Studios and why?

Ratatouille is my favourite now, because I love dark rides and the technology behind the attraction. 

Do you have a favourite land in Disneyland Park?

Yes, Frontierland. I really like the cowboy atmosphere. 

How about a favourite land in Walt Disney Studios?

Toy Story Playland for the theming.

Have you ever stayed at any of the Disneyland Paris hotels?

Yes, all of them except the Disneyland Hotel.

Which is your favourite restaurant at the parks and Disney Village?

Rainforest Cafe.

How about your favourite shops in the parks and at Disney Village?

I love the shops at Main Street USA, and at Disney Village, I love the World of Disney store.

I'm a big fan of the music loops at the parks. Do you have a favourite?

Main Street USA.

Have you ever visited any of the other Disney parks from around the world?

Yes, Walt Disney World.

Finally, we were lucky enough to meet each other on my last trip to Disneyland Paris, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Yes I did, I love meeting other Disney fans.

Thank you again for taking part in this interview Filip!



Here is a link to Filip's dlrpfans YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/filipv

Here is my Jordi's Funniest Moments video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLzMo_nc-AE




Sunday, 18 October 2015

Disneyland Paris - October 2015 - Trip Report - Hotel Santa Fe

Welcome to our room!

I'm very lucky to say that on previous trips to Disneyland Paris I have stayed at the Sequoia Lodge many times and also the Hotel New York and Newport Bay Club both on one occasion. It's safe to say that the Sequoia Lodge is a favourite of mine, but I love the other two hotels as well. When booking our October trip, we went for something different and decided to stay at the Hotel Santa Fe. I knew the Hotel Santa Fe is considered as one of Disney's lower budget hotels, but I was more than happy to give it a try, having never stayed there before. In all honesty, I was really looking forward to staying at the hotel. 

Welcome to the Hotel Santa Fe!

As part of our holiday package, we booked the Disney Express service, which allowed us to send our bags to the hotel and then head straight into the parks. After arriving early in the afternoon, we sent our bags on their way to the Hotel Santa Fe and spent a couple of hours in both parks then headed into Disney Village to get something to eat at the La Grange buffet above Billy Bob's. We enjoyed our meal and decided to head back into the Disneyland Park to watch Dreams. After Dreams, we finally decided to head to the hotel. We enjoyed a walk through Disney Village and down the Rio Grande river to the Hotel Santa Fe. Having never stayed at the hotel before, it was very easy to find. First impressions were very good. Many people say the theming is very lacklustre at the Hotel Santa Fe, but I totally disagree. This is no ordinary budget hotel! The hotel is themed around New Mexico with many references to the famous Route 66. The hotel has very recently had a big refurbishment and has been slightly re-themed to add some references to the 'Cars' film series. We checked into the reception area at not lone after 10pm. We then picked up our suitcases and made our way to our room. We were in one of the 'Sally' blocks. Considering some of the negativity about the hotel, I couldn't believe how lovely the room was. Waiting for me was a message saying "Welcome Mr Michael Lambert" and I thought 'thank you very much, it's good to be back home!' The rooms feature some references to the 'Cars' films. I particularly loved the traffic cone lights above the beds, thought they were a really nice touch. After inspecting the room and finally settling down for our first sleep, I thought to myself how wrong some people are about this hotel. Yes, the other hotels might have slightly better theming, but this hotel is by no means, a lower quality alternative. 

Follow the sign!

I didn't sleep particularly well the first night, but I put that down to the excitement of my first full day in Disneyland Paris! The first day provided us with our first trip to La Cantina, the Hotel Santa Fe's buffet restaurant. We made our way to La Cantina at 7am in the morning for breakfast. I quite liked the theming inside the restaurant, it was a bit like being in an American highway gas station. 7am might sound like a crazy time to be up on holiday, but we wanted to eat nice and early and be at the parks for the Extra Magic Hours opening at 8am, one of the best perks about staying at a Disney hotel! The breakfast was continental, but a very nice selection. I stuffed myself away with cheese filled rolls, very tasty! We made sure to fill ourselves up each morning at breakfast as we would not be eating again until the evenings. 

I'd never seen so many bread rolls and croissants in my life!

Other than breakfast each morning, we returned to La Cantina two more times for dinner. The first time we had dinner at La Cantina was the second night of our stay. With the standard half board dining plan, we had the choice of many different buffets, including our own hotel's buffet. We decided to give La Cantina a try as we liked the layout from breakfast and also thought the Tex-Mex food selection was very tempting. After enjoying our first full day in the park, we came back to the room to change for the evening, then headed over to La Cantina for 6pm. That was opening time for dinner service and there wasn't many people waiting for it to open, but then again, it wasn't really crowded anywhere in the whole Disneyland Paris complex. At La Cantina, you order your drinks, then pick them up at the bar. Then you can choose to sit at a table of your choice. We went up in turns to pick our food from the buffet. We were both really impressed with the food on offer. I love making wraps, so was delighted to find some wraps and hot spicy chicken, that was me sorted! Much to my delight they also had a lovely hot cheese sauce, just like what you get in America, so I was in heaven with that all poured over some nachos! The dessert choice was also very impressive. They had cakes of all sorts, ice creams, mousses, so many different things to choose from. Overall, we were quite honestly, pleasantly surprised! We loved it so much that we decided to eat there again on our last night in Disneyland Paris. Both evening meals at La Cantina were very enjoyable!

Cheesy nachos, I'm in heaven!

As with every other Disneyland Paris hotel, Hotel Santa Fe has it's very own bar, the Rio Grande Bar. We only visited this on the first night of our stay because we were so tired that we just wanted to check into our room and relax in the bar with a nice cold drink. I would probably say in terms of theming, the Rio Grande Bar isn't the most extravagant when you compare it to, say, the Redwood Bar at the Sequoia Lodge, or Cafe Fantasia at the Disneyland Hotel. Still, we enjoyed a bit of relaxation which was much needed on our first night! 

Have a quiet drink at the Rio Grande Bar.

As I mentioned earlier, we liked to get up early each morning for breakfast so we could get to the parks for 8am. What I enjoyed most about walking to the parks early in the morning was the fact that we had a nice little walk past the river and through Disney Village before getting to the parks. At that early time, not many people were around, so I managed to get quite a few photos of Disney Village without too many people around. 

Up bright and early and off to the parks!

I'll be writing a full report about the cast members on our trip, but I will say now, that all the cast members we encountered at the Hotel Santa Fe were very lovely and courteous. We were made very welcome when we arrived late at the hotel on our first night. Being an English speaker, I always make an attempt to speak a little bit of French, and the staff at the hotel really seemed to appreciate it. The most notable staff at the hotel (I honestly cannot remember their names) were definitely the two people that helped me check in and also sort out our room keycard, as it didn't work the first time we used it. 

Thank you to all the wonderful reception staff!

I can honestly say that the Hotel Santa Fe highly succeeded my expectations. As much as I love the other hotels I've already stayed at previously, I would definitely stay at the Hotel Santa Fe on my next visit. I loved pretty much everything about it. Our room was amazing, the buffet was brilliant, and staff exceptional. Brilliant hotel!

Goodbye Hotel Santa Fe, but don't worry, we'll be back!

Monday, 12 October 2015

Disneyland Paris - October 2015 - Trip Report - Characters

Giving Mr Mouse a hug!

It wouldn't be a holiday to Disneyland Paris without meeting any characters, and this year definitely didn't disappoint! When we went last year, it was my first time in recent years meeting characters. Other than queueing to meet Anna and Elsa and the Princess Pavilion, we didn't go out of our way to meet characters. This year though, we decided to meet more characters and try to find them, as some of the best characters are in random spots on different days. It wasn't until I got home to print off my photos that I realised how many characters we had actually met! 

The following photos show all the characters we met and how we met them.

Me and Woody from Toy Story.

We expected our first meet and greet would probably be in Disneyland Park, but it was actually in Walt Disney Studios. After arriving at Marne La Vallee train station, we entered the Disneyland Park first to go on some rides. Next, we went to Walt Disney Studios and the first thing we did was have a photo with Woody from Toy Story. He was the only character we met on the day we arrived, but we saw all the characters later on in the Magic on Parade.

                                                 
Laura with Pluto and Goofy.

We met a majority of the main Disney characters on our first full day. As we stayed on site at the Hotel Santa Fe, we were able to take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours, and could enter the parks at 8am instead of the normal 10am. We took advantage of this and as it was quiet, we queued up for all of the characters. Pluto and Goofy were the first characters we met that day. Goofy was hilarious. I was slightly annoyed though because as it was my turn to have a photo, my camera decided to play up, so I had to rely on a nice photo from one of Disney's Photo Pass photographers. Luckily, they took some very nice photos which we brought later in the day.

Laura and me with Mickey and Minnie.

Many people would say that Mickey and Minnie Mouse are two of the most popular, if not the most popular, Disney characters of all time, so we made sure we had a photo with them. After official park opening, we would probably have had to wait for well over an hour for a photo with them, but with the Extra Magic Hours, we waited for less than 10 minutes! We had some great interaction with them. Minnie pointed out Laura's ears and Mickey copied some of the poses of himself on Laura's t-shirt. I think this photo of the two of us with Mickey and Minnie is probably one of the best photos taken on the holiday.

Laura and me with Chip and Dale, or Tic and Tac as they're known in France.

Chip and Dale were next on our list. There was absolutely no one queuing for these two, so again, we took advantage of that and got some great photos with them. These two always make me laugh for some reason. They're quite mischievous and always on the move! 

Laura and me with Donald Duck, one of my favourite Disney characters.

Donald Duck was the only other character for us to meet in the Extra Magic Hours, and surprise surprise, there was hardly anyone queuing again! We couldn't quite believe our luck with how easy it was to get photos with all the main Disney characters. Donald was great and we had some very lovely photos with him. In under 30 minutes, we had queued and had photos with 7 Disney characters, unbelievable! 

Me with Sleeping Beauty herself, Princess Aurora.

Meeting the princesses was a little bit different to last year when we queued for Anna and Elsa at the Princess Pavilion. This year, the pavilion was closed for the first three days of our trip, and princess meet and greets were scheduled opposite the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups and outside the entrance of Plaza Gardens. We decided to queue for the princess meet and greet not long after meeting all of the Disney characters earlier in the morning. We queued for about 45 minutes, but as it was quiet, I got out of the queue to get on some of the rides while Laura happily waited in line. Princess Aurora was very lovely and talkative and we had quite a few photos with her. We even got some Photo Pass photos developed later in the day as a treat for ourselves. 

Me with Cinderella's Mice, Suzy and Perla.

This meet and greet happened purely by coincidence. We were queuing to meet the princesses again on our second day. I needed the toilet so left Laura in the queue. As I was walking towards the toilets near the Bella Notte restaurant, I spotted Suzy and Perla coming out of a backstage area. As they had only just come out, I was very lucky and a cast member happily took a photo of me with them both. After going to the toilet, I ran back to Laura in the line and told her what happened, so she ran off with my camera and had a photo with the two of them as well. Suzy and Perla were very sweet and even blew me kisses. Cinderella was one of my favourite Disney cartoons as a child so there was some nostalgia having photos with these two. These were also the first characters we saw that were just randomly placed in the park. 

Laura and me with Snow White.

We were very happy after waiting a second time for the princesses that it wasn't Princess Aurora again but Snow White this time. She was very lovely and talkative to us and spent a good amount of time talking to the both of us. 

Me with Cinderella's Ugly Stepsister, Anastasia and Drizella.

As it was the Disneyland Paris Halloween Season, there was a new meet and greet show called 'It's Good to Be Bad with the Disney Villains'. Okay, it wasn't really much of a show, just one song and dance, but the best bit of all, the characters walk off the stage and all do meet and greets with the guests. The first time we saw it we really wanted a photo with Cinderella's Ugly Stepsisters, but we couldn't get anywhere near them with all the crowds. The next day we watched the show, we were in the right place at the right time, and we were the second people to have photos with the two sisters, who were absolutely hilarious. I have to say, this really is one of my favourite photos from the whole trip. This is also the first photo with the characters featuring me with my new trilby hat!

Me with Rabbit and Eeyore.

Before we even got to Paris, I kept saying that I was desperate to meet Eeyore, but after a couple of days it was looking highly unlikely we wouldn't meet him. I was wrong of course as the photo above suggests! We were getting ready to leave Walt Disney Studios when we walked through the Front Lot, and we saw Rabbit and Eeyore! I can't tell you how happy I was to have the chance to meet Eeyore! When we got to the front of the queue, I gave him a massive hug as well as Rabbit. As you can see in the photo, Rabbit thought it would be hilarious to take my hat and put it on one of his ears! It was a very funny moment and I couldn't stop smiling! It was a really great character interaction, and was so over the moon to meet my favourite Disney character, Eeyore!

Having a laugh with Smee and Peter Pan.

After the excitement of meeting Eeyore, we decided to head to the Disneyland Park to explore once again. We spotted Peter Pan and Smee near a backstage area in Adventureland, but they were coming towards a break in their meet and greet spot. The cast member with them told us that Peter Pan and Smee would be turning in about half an hour. We decided to go off for a wonder around Adventureland then waited for a couple of minutes and were right at the front to meet Peter Pan and Smee! I had quite a fun chat with Peter Pan, Smee looked upset when Peter Pan said the pirates on Pirates of the Caribbean were scary. After having our photos taken, it was dawning on me how lucky we were to meet so many iconic Disney characters.

Look everyone, it's King Louie!

After another visit to Walt Disney Studios in the same day, we came back to the Disneyland Park. We found ourselves in Adventureland again, and to our surprise, King Louie from The Jungle Book was doing a meet and greet, with a very short line of people. Unsurprisingly, he was hilarious! King Louie proved to be the last character we met. 

Even as I'm writing this, I still can't believe the amount of characters we met, especially in such a short amount of time. The first day was quite unbelievable meeting so many iconic characters. Meeting characters wasn't something I originally intended to do, but after this trip, we'll definitely be doing it again!

I mentioned earlier about all the parades we watched so here are some of my favourite photos from all the parades. Enjoy!

Snow White and her Prince sharing a moment.

Princess Elsa, definitely my favourite Disney princess.

The Mad Hatter really is nuts!

Winnie the Pooh! 

Timone and Pumbaa. 

Look out, it's Captain Hook!

One of the penguins from Mary Poppins.

Bert dancing for joy!

Donald and his nephews. 

Hello Piglet!

Anna and Elsa pleasing the crowds.

The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland.

Smee leading the pirates dance.

Thanks again for reading the post.