Anyone single parents been to disneyland paris??

Question

hi all, i am booked up to go to disneyland paris in september, its just myself and my 2 kids who when we go will be 6 and 2 (nearly 3)

my question is will it be awkward with regard to rides etc as there is only one adult and 2 kids? i obviously cant leave one kid watching while i ride with the other and also dont want to send them on rides on there own?

it is like a dream trip for the kids, my son loves disney cars and rides and my daughter is mickey mouse crazy but now i am wondering if i have made a mistake?? if anyone that has been as a single parent can offer any advice!!!

many thanks, vikki

Answer 1

I'm not a single parent (or even a parent), but I can still give you some advice.

I don't think you've made a mistake. It's Disney, you're kids are going to be thrilled the minute they see the first sign of the place.

Firstly, as you're going in September, I don't think the queues will be that bad for the rides.

Now, your kids are quite young, so height restrictions may prohibit them from going on some rides at all. Check this on the website, and their heights, (best to check out rollercoasters first then others. Sometimes kids see those big 'uns and beg to go on.)

If they're too small calmly explain to them BEFORE you leave for Paris that they will not be able to go on this ride when you are there. It will save a possible sulk and partly ruined day.

As you said you don't want to do these, it doesn't matter but i'll put them in for clarification. Disney staff will not look after a child while you go on a ride with another. And a child has to be seven/eight before they can go on their own.

Avoid Autopia, it only seats two! No exceptions as far as I've seen. And, again, your kids may be too short to reach the pedals on their own. But if the three of you are quite small, they may make an exception and put the three of you in. But personally, I'd only try this if there was hardly a queue. Also, this ride is closed awfully regularly (I have hardly been on it in Paris and I've lost count of the amount of times I've been there.)

The vast majority of rides will seat two kids and an adult. Some may be a tight squeeze, such as Phantom Manor.

Fanastyland is the place to go to first, more specifically RUN to Peter Pan's Flight. Otherwise you could spend half your holiday queueing for it (seriously, we went on there first once, came back after going on everything else in Fantaysland, about half an hour later, and there was a two hour queue.)

I'd recommend going on it's a small world plenty of times, that ride could keep your kids entertained for hours (my record is thriteen times in one day).

Now advice about specific rides that may be a problem slight or big: (You can find this out from the website, but I thought I'd put it here to be useful).

Star Tours: jerks you about, lots of flashing lights, height restriction (i think).

Spacemountain: rollercoaster, height restriction - as it goes upside down, corkscrew etc)

Honey, I shrunk the Audience! - 3D show - quite scary (snake!) and in your face (and tickles your legs and you may get wet)

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril - rollercoaster, height restriction

Pirates of the Caribbean - skeletons abound! You may get wet

Phantom Manor - dark and can be scary for younger ones, but it is quite funny.

Big Thunder Mountain - rollercoaster, height restriction, but it mild compared to Space Mountain and Indy.

Snow White's Scary Adventures - it's quite frightening and lots of surprising moments. (Although not if it breaks down when you're on it and all the lights come on. Kind of ruined the scariness for me.)

If you're going to the Studios:

Rock and Rollercoaster - obviously rollercoaster, height restriction.

Amargeddon - jerks around, would not recoomedn this have been told by EVERYONE I know who's been on it that it's really boring.

Tower of Terror - new to Paris, but I've been on it in Florida, vertical drop ride, that bounces up and down, height restrition (i think)

Lights, Moteurs, Action! - car stunt show. Not for little ones who don't like loud noises.

Whoa! Overload of information. I hope some of it is useful. If not, then I've had one of my normal rambles.

A good tip is to plan in advance what you really want to do, say the parade for instance, you'll need to get there early and I mean early so that your kids can see.

I hope you and your children have a great time. It really is a wonderful place to be.