Undoubtedly one of France’s most popular attractions, Disneyland Paris is regarded by many as a theatre of dreams. Made up of two theme parks as well as countless dining and retail facilities, this is the place where children (and adults!) can see their favourite stories and characters come to life. The 55-hectare site was built in 1992, following the huge success of Disneyworld in Florida, and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

The resort is located in Marne-la-Vallée , around 32km from the centre of Paris and only eight minutes from Premiere Classe MLV – Saint Thibault des Vignes Hotel. Though now one of the most visited attractions in Europe, the resort was not always so successful, with protests taking place during construction and low visitor numbers in the early years.

A two-day break:

Two days in Disneyland Paris is just enough to explore the resort. Premiere Classe Meaux - Nanteuil les Meaux Hotel is only 10 minutes away, leaving you with as much time as possible to enjoy everything Disneyland has to offer. Day one could be spent at Disneyland Park, with five magical lands offering rides suitable for thrill-seekers as well as the more faint-hearted. A day in the park would be incomplete without a meet and greet with real-life Disney characters, who will sign autographs and pose for photos with you. Spend the evening watching one of the shows or parades that take place on the resort’s Main Street.

A week-long stay:

A longer break gives enough time to fully immerse yourself in the magic of Disneyland Paris. Take a look at the history and secrets behind Walt Disney with a visit to the Walt Disney studios park, which offers interactive tours of studio lots as well as more thrilling attractions. A week also means a day could be spent visiting Paris itself, the Premiere Classe MLV - Bussy Saint Georges Hotel, easily accessible from Paris on the A4 or by RER A, and only 6km from Disneyland Paris and the TGV/RER train station Marne-la-Vallée Chessy.

A family holiday:

It is hard to think of a place more perfect for a family holiday than Disneyland Paris. Young children will never forget meeting their favourite characters, and with five lands to choose from there is no chance of running out of things to do. Fantasyland is perfect for younger children, with Frontierland and its Big Thunder Mountain and spooky Phantom Manor a favourite with the older members of the group. Meal times will never get boring, as you can choose from dining with Mickey and the gang at Café Mickey or enjoying a dinner-time show at Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Transport:

Disneyland Paris can be reached directly by Eurostar from London (St Pancras) in under three hours, where you arrive two minutes' walk from the parks. You can also take the Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord, which is then an hour by train to Disneyland. Alternatively, fly to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport and take a shuttle bus to the heart of the action.

Gastronomy:

Though it does not offer the usual fine French food, eating out at Disneyland Paris is still a wonderful experience. Themed restaurants fill the park, offering less formal options such as Café de Cascadeurs, an authentic American diner, to restaurants such as Agrabah Café, a Mediterranean-style buffet. Other popular eateries include Café Mickey, where you can mingle with the characters while enjoying a meal, and Buzz Lightyear’s Pizza Planet, in the 3D world of Toy Story.

Events:

One of the star attractions is the Stunt Show Spectacular, where you can watch motorbike stunts and a car chase on a village set. For an extra-special trip, visit the resort in December, when the characters get into the Christmas spirit. The park is transformed into a winter wonderland, with Santa Claus in his toy workshop and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle turned into an ice palace.

Interesting Fact:

Disneyland Paris was originally called Euro Disneyland, but this was changed to its current name when the CEO Michael Eisner realised that the term Euro was seen in a negative light by many Europeans, as it was too closely associated with politics. He believed this may have had a negative impact on the number of visitors to the site.

Useful links:

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk