Our Best Family Holiday

Sat at the computer trying to write my Childminding policies, I found myself flicking through snaps of the children when they were younger and I happened across our Euro Disney photographs.

This is the only holiday abroad we have ever been on as a family and I was quite shocked to find that it was all the way back in 2003.  Believe it or not we went for hubby’s 30th Birthday (not that he is a big kid or anything *ahem*)

Disneyland Paris

I cannot remember all the minute details, but I do remember struggling on the train from Bournemouth to Waterloo with numerous suitcases, three very excited children and a buggy.  The sheer annoyance in London that stations and tubes are not particularly child friendly (especially when travelling with a buggy) and the relief when we finally got on the rather packed Eurostar.

The train journey was uneventful and fairly fast and then we were there!  We were shown to our Wild West rooms at the Hotel Cheyenne, which were small but perfectly formed.  Of course we couldn’t wait to get exploring, so off we went.

The sheer wonder on the children’s faces as we reached the main park will stay with me forever.  One of our first stops was to a shop to buy autograph books and then off we went!

Disneyland Paris

Day One was spent getting to know the park.  Kian, who was 2 at the time, discovered his favourite ride – It’s a Small World.  We had to endure this ride on numerous occasions over the three days we were there, but I for one secretly enjoyed it every time!
Day Two we explored the Studio’s Park.  This was almost certainly my favourite.  The shows were amazing and captivated our young audience, with the exception of the Stunt show.  Callan, who was 6, hated every single minute of it.  He screamed, he cried, he hid and just generally made a fuss as he was scared of the noise that the cars and motorbikes were making.  Now he is a strapping almost 15 year who is car and bike mad!
Disneyland Paris


Everything about Disney caters for the family and I was most impressed that I could get to ride the roller coasters too, without having to queue a second time.  This was unheard of in the UK at the time, but I went off with the little ones whilst hubby and Abbey queued and then we swapped at the exit.  My favourite was the Rock N’ Roll Coaster.  The ride is exhilarating – being shot from a catapult from 0-60 in just a few seconds, it’s certainly not one for the faint hearted!  The Indiana Jones one was great too, as not only did it send you round the right way, you then went round the same course backwards!

Of course, the kids adored meeting the characters more than anything else.  Stitch was Kian’s favourite at the time and I have found this picture of him dancing at one of the parades!
Disneyland Paris
Euro Disney did have it’s downfalls.  The on site restaurants were all very similar and not particularly good.  Disney Village had some lovely restaurants but these were mostly very expensive and we missed Buffalo Bill’s Wild Wild West Show as it booked up very quickly.
Disneyland Paris
We went for 3 nights but next time I would love to go for longer next time as I really don’t think that we covered it all. 
I would not have missed this experience for the world.  It really was the perfect family holiday and I cannot wait to do it all over again for hubby’s 40th now we have two more little ones to introduce to the delights of Disney!
This is my entry into the Tots100/Al Fresco Holiday Competition.  If you fancy a chance to win – enter here:  http://www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk/

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