Disneyland Paris in spring
February 20, 2012 67 Comments
My husband and I love to travel but before our daughter came, theme parks were off our radar screen. It is amazing how parenthood changes perspective. The places that we avoided then are the places that we seek out now. We’ve gone mainstream!
It was early spring last year when we went to Disneyland for a long weekend. Actually, going there was a last minute decision that crystallized after our little girl hinted of Mickey Mouse and Goofy. We were supposed to head south of The Netherlands for a 2-night stay in a castle close to Maastrict but cancelled that in lieu of Disneyland. We were able to find a good deal for 4d/3n stay in a 4-star hotel inclusive of the 3-day pass to Disneyland and Walt Disney Studio.
Spring blooms
Trees in bloom
The journey to France took a bit over 5 hours including the short rest room break that we took for Francesca mid-way. Spring is already very much on its way as we drove south. From Belgium to France, the sights of trees and shrubs exploding in pink, white and yellow blooms are simply enthralling.
We spent the first day of our French sojourn just relaxing a bit considering that Siefko did all the driving. He actually enjoyed driving through the French motorway (peage) because the speed limit at 130 kilometers is just great for those who love a bit of speed and hate the traffic jams that’s so common to small countries like Holland.
The hotel turned out to be nicely situated in the middle of a sprawling golf course. We simply loved the greens as European hotels are normally cramped and located in busy areas while this one turned out to be quite secluded.
We had a very pleasant stay at the Radisson Blu and will definitely chose it again next time that we go to Disneyland.
Radisson Blu @ Disneyland
Playing at the hotel's sprawling ground
Running around and hiding
Playing hide and seek at the hotel grounds
At the hotel's bar for drinks
The ever enthusiastic little dancer trying some of her moves at the hotel 
Some of the buffet breakfast choices
Some of the buffet breakfast choices on my plate
The little girl at breakfast
In entering Disney, Francesca was immediately impressed by the princess outfits that many girls were wearing. Those dresses became an obsession that we ended up getting a princess gown for her too. That would be the only stuff that she would wear in the coming days.
First glimpse of Disneyland
Disneyland
Carousel ride
Carousel ride
Train ride
Train ride
My castle obsession did not go away altogether. From Disneyland, we also made a side trip to the stately Chateau de Fontainebleau which was a mere half hour’s drive. (This beautiful chateau will be a subject of my next post).
Our little princess at Chateau de Fontainebleau
About Malou
I had to smile when I got to part about your daughter and her princes dress. I live in Florida, not far from Disney. So when my grand daughter went to disney, she too discovered the princes dresses! To this day… 4 weeks later, she still begs her mom each morning to let her wear her “Princy dress”!
Ha, ha, ha! Girls will always go through this princess stage. My daughter is still into this princess stage even after a year.
I love how our vacations change and become all about what suits the kids!! I have done many of those over the years and now my kids are growing up and it has changed again… teens are more about water parks, cool golf, beaches etc. Pretty soon I am wondering if my hubby and I will be back to traveling alone! Enjoy it all while it lasts!!!
You’re right there. I also love that having our daughter is giving us a glimpse of other places which we would never have gone to. Disneyland, Movie Park Germany were on our itinerary last year. I’m looking forward to Legoland in the coming years.
I went with my teens 2 years ago as part of a whirlwind week in France, Belgium and Germany. I love how your vision is vastly different from mine yet equally magical!
I grew up in a developing country and can only dream of going to Disneyland as a child. There are times that I am still amazed that all these places which used to be just in my wild imagination are actually for real.
That last photo! Ha! A Princess in front of her very own castle! Cute! I know what you mean about amusement parks. My husband and I say if you want to drive us insane, make us go to an amusement park, of course, now we are grandparents and we can see that it would be a wonderful (what am I saying???) experience with the Grandkids… I think.
Thanks a lot, Joy. She felt so at home in that castle as you can see in that last picture and in my next blog about Chateau de Fonteinebleau. I’m sure that even if you and your husband don’t like amusement parks, with grandkids you will take an exception.
Charming. Simply charming. Looks as if you all had a really great. time there.
Thanks a lot. Yes, we had a nice time out there.
She is so pretty … a real little princess! That blue dress – every little girls dream. Been to Disney in Paris too … a work mission – don’t have to be a small girl in blue dress to enjoy. Even big girls – have fun., without princess dress. It was in the early spring too – but the weather so warm and nice. Lovely photos again.
It’s fun to see little girls in princess dresses. This blue dress is still a favorite till now. Good that it still fits her though a bit shorter now. She insisted on being a princess again in last week’s carnaval affair in the school.
God, bless her !!! She suit so well in that blue color.
This is a walk down memory lane for me, Malou. Enjoy it! It will pass very quickly. I am thinking that the next time we go to any Disney place, I will likely be a grandmother. From the way my daughter sounds with all the things she wants to do, be, see, etc., I will be waiting a long time!
Enjoy the pre-granny era, Mary Ann. You are still young and can go all the nice things first like traveling and all that before having the grandkids to pamper and spoil. We’re also enjoying these lovely moments as parents. You are right, time is passing by so quickly. We still think of her as a baby but she keeps on reminding us that she is now a big girl.
I loved Disneyland Paris! I live in Southern California, so it was really interesting to see this part in another country. I have to say, the fact that they have Skull Rock [from Peter Pan] had me running around like kid.
Thanks for sharing this!
I guess Disneyland Paris is small compared to the one in the US. My husband and I are not very much into theme parks but I’m sure that we’ll be back when the little girl can appreciate the rides more.
I”m so glad I read this! When my daughter was a youngin’ we took her to Disney in Florida. She too, insisted on a princess dress and refused to wear anything else for weeks! Disneyland Paris looks as fun as the two here in the states. Thanks for taking us along with you!
I guess it is so difficult for little girls not to fall for the princess trap when in Disney.
Oh my gosh – her pink puffy skirt! So cute!
And the princess dress! Glad you had such a good time!
Seeing this place through her eyes was fun even though we’re not theme park people.
Malou! I love your action shots. So pretty! In the Chateau de Fontainebleau shot, she looks like she’s flying! Fontainebleau has always ben one of my favorites Royal hotspots. Such interesting history and gossip, too. It was one of Marie Antonette’s favorite country palaces. Rumor has it that she once gambled there for 36 hours straight! Oh, la la! Looking forward to your next post! Theadora
Thanks a lot, Theadora! I always love the royal gossips, far better than the Hollywood ones, ha, ha, ha!
Lovely photos, I went to Disney World Paris the year it opened. My daughter was 7. It was such a lovely trip. (Twenty years ago). Your photos brought back good memories for me.
Glad to know that this post brought back happy memories for you, Sandra.
I love the photo of your daughter holding the balloon, where she seems to be floating in the air! I suppose one day I’ll have to go mainstream too, and head over to Disneyland Paris.
It looks like you had such a lovely time!!
Thanks a lot, Michi! I can tell you that for sure, you’ll go mainstream where there’s that little one who wants to go to Disney or the playground. Even the holiday plans get redefined by the needs and whims of the little one. On the other hand, it is also wonderful to see the world through their eyes and get a completely different perspective.
If you’re ever traveling in Italy you may want to stop at Pinocchio Park in Tuscany for the author of Disney’s inspiration.http://www.pinocchio.it/eng/pinocchio/
Thanks a lot for the tip, Pamela.
I don’t think I would be able to say no to disneyland or a princess outfit if I had a little darling like that, either! Fantastic pictures.
Ha, ha, ha! It is funny to see the world of fairy tales and fantasies through her eyes.
What a lovely vacation for your little girl. And as always, your photographs are vivid and make me feel as if I am there. I love the one of the windmill that you traveled all that way from Holland to see! Great post.
Thanks a lot, Dor. Funny thing about that windmill.
I should post about the famous Dutch windmills then. We used to live within cycling distance from the world-famous windmills of Kinderdijk.
Growing up in the 50s, teen in the 60s, one of my goals was to get to Disneyland in California -the only Disney Park back then. In my early 20s, before marriage, I flew to CA to visit my then-penpal Billie and she drove us down from Berkeley, along the Big Sur, to spend a couple days in Anaheim – going to Knotts Berry Farm and then spending a long day in Disneyland. I always tell people that I think they built DisneyWorld in Florida so I’d have another goal to reach (which happened when we could finally afford to take our two kids to there in the mid-80s). Bill and I even spent a couple days there by ourselves in early 2010 – at the hotel complex built at DisneyWorld strictly for U.S. military families and veterans. I am such a big kid that I could have just as much fun without the kids in tow! Would love to see the Paris Disney park but it’s not likely, not unless we hit the lottery! By the way, I still have my stuffed Cheshire Cat that I bought at DisneyWorld in the 80s, so I loved seeing that photo! Love CC: when you keep smiling, people always wonder what you’re up to! Great photos – bring back memories.
What an amazing story you have about Disney! I never thought that I would ever get to see Disneyland one day. Growing up in the Philippines, there was just the Tokyo Disneyland in my youth and Japan being very expensive, there was simply no way that I could have gone there. Paris Disneyland is just a few hours drive for us now which is great. We’ll definitely be back when our little girl can appreciate it much better than at the moment.
I hope you’ll be able to add Disneyland Paris to your list of conquered Disneyland locations.
It’s a magical place!
True.
Love the pics of your little girl and the one where she is sitting with her father in the ride.
Thanks,
Vic
Thanks a lot, Vic. She’s very much a papa’s girl.
Your pictures are fabulous. Thanks for sharing about Disneyland in Paris. Not what I usually think about when thinking of Paris.
Thanks a lot. Paris is oftentimes associated with the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, etc. but there are many nice places around this lovely city which are worth visiting.
I took my girls when they were small, it was wonderful.
Lovely pics again and your daughter looks like a real little princess, beautiful
Thanks a lot, Jo.
My husband and I planned on suprising the kids with a trip to Disney in Florida next spring. Never thought about Paris. We both love to travel so maybe we need to keep this in mind!
You can also try Disneyland Paris. Other than Disney, there are many nice places out there to see as well.
Your daughter is the cutest little beauty queen!
Thanks a lot, Alyna.
Your daughter’s mid-air picture is precious! Glad you all had fun!
Thanks a lot, Sarahlynn!
Your daughter is sooo cute!!! Love the pics!!
Thanks a lot, Mambo.
Wow.. Even though the Disneyland in Paris looks vastly different from the one I visit in Florida, it still looks amazing and fun
. Your daughter looked like she had a ball 
. I know I would’ve. I am a theme park person even in my 30′s lol. Wonderful photos
The Disneyland parks in the US must be bigger and with far more advanced rides compared to the one here in Europe. I’m not much of a theme park person and the rides are not my thing. I easily get dizzy so I am happy to just watch my daughter and husband in the rides they took.
The little one is just adorable!
Thanks a lot, Saad!
What a lucky little girl your daughter is! You are raising her to appreciate the best qualities of many cultures – including, now, the U.S.A. institution of Disneyland.
Thanks a lot, Pat. It is amazing how influential Disneyland is to children.
It looks like you, your husband and your daughter had a great time! How wonderful that you could take her. I love Disneyland. I worked at Disneyland in Anaheim for 2 years when I was in college and I had an amazing time. I need to get to Disneyland Paris one day!
Wow! So you are a Disneyland insider. It must be fun to be there everyday.
Great shots throughout your blog…you seem to have an awesome life!
Thanks a lot. We live a very simple life which revolves around family and making every day special.
While I love France, and castles are fascinating, I have to say that you have a very beautiful daughter – some gorgeous shots of her in her princess dress. I have enjoyed my visit to your site – I’ll be back. Thanks for checking mine out.
Thanks a lot, Lynne. Hope to see you around.
Disneyland – What an exciting place!The moment one get’s the gate pass..the only expression on everybody’s face-YEAH! great pics…Need to visit ‘ Paris ‘..hmmm…
Thanks a lot. Besides Disneyland, there’s retail therapy there as well.
i like the pic’s where they playing hide and seek and she is havin Carousel ride, very CUTE smile….
DADY’s little girl!!!!!!!!!
Pam
Thanks a lot, Pam. She is very much a papa’s girl.