“That’s the real trouble with the world. Too many people grow up”. – Walt Disney
In this post I thought I’d share my first trip to Disneyland Paris with you all in celebration of my 21st birthday which was a few months ago.
I have always dreamed of going to Disneyland Paris for as long as I can remember. My Grandma promised me when I was thirteen years old that in my 21st year she would accompany me to Disneyland as my holiday buddy/carer…..
Well….. what can I say, it was in the words of Rapunzel from Tangled BEST TRIP EVER!!! We travelled via the Eurostar from London St Pancras int’l station with the Disney Express travel package, which gave us breakfast onboard. Also provided was an express luggage service from the station in Disneyland which allowed our luggage to be taken straight to our hotel, meaning we could explore the parks straight away. We arrived and walked through the park entrance, it was a beautiful sunny day and the sky was an amazing blue. I walked and all I could hear were the soundtracks and scores from all the Disney and Pixar films and the classics playing over the speakers. I said out loud “ahhh I’m home and I’m breathing it all in.”
Our first stop in the park was the information desk (“City Hall” which gave an impression that Disneyland is like a proper city). Here we collected our green disability card which meant we didn’t have to stand in long queues. We were also provided with a map showing us the best access and eligibility for those with special needs on the various rides.
After that we watched the Jungle Book jive show which had all the film’s characters – Mowgli, Baloo, King Louie along with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald, Daisy Duck and Chip and Dale. I especially liked the fact that we could hear Goofy, Donald and a french speaking Mickey over the speakers introducing the show.
I decided I’d look in the shops around the park for souvenirs for my family and friends, whilst there I came across a plushie of Oswald the Lucky rabbit which I thought was very fitting as I hadn’t seen a plushie of him anywhere in England…. I guess I now know why and where he gets his name from teehee😂😂😂😂
We ended our first day by going to Casey’s Corner for a hot dog and chips after a physically tiring day of travelling and working out how to navigate the Disneyland parks.
Day 2 was fantastic. We started off with a stomach busting buffet breakfast which included cereals, a full English with round potato chips, french bread, pastries and fruit with yogurt etc. etc. So much for my healthy eating!!!!
My first actual rides that day were on the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Pinocchio attractions. I wanted to go on the famous Peter Pan’s flight which I was so excited for as I love the Disney classic, as an adult it has become one of my favourite animated films. Sadly, due to my cerebral palsy I can’t climb ladders and this was a health and safety requirement. This was a big disappointment for me. However, onward and upward, I was in Disneyland— next stop Pirates of the Caribbean. Wow it was amazing as we went sailing along past taverns and all sorts of pirates’ paraphernalia. We even saw Captain Jack Sparrow looking very happy with himself, he actually spoke to me but as I only parlez anglais I can’t tell you what he said teehee
After all the excitment at pirates I thought I’d pay Mickey Mouse a visit in his dressing room in the hope he’d calm me down. Little did I know that Mickey would have the opposite effect. As you can see I was one very excited and happy Gaby. I asked where Oswald was lately which I think may have offended him as he wasn’t very forthcoming with his reply.
At 5pm every day there is an amazing parade of all the most loved Disney and Pixar characters. I watched this in full on day 2 from the disabled area. I took as many photos as I could, mainly focusing on the characters that my nieces love the most, but the parade was very fast moving.
Following on from the parade I went shopping again and found some toys of the classic Disney princesses for my nieces and saw two figurine sets for my minature collection, one of which was a set I’d never seen before in the UK Disney store online or physically when I looked in there.
The third and final day was as amazing as the other two . I went to meet Snow White in her palace which was a lot of fun. She complimented me on my wrist watch and said that she was going to ask her prince to buy her one as a Christmas present. My grandma spoilt the magic by saying that she should have stuck with the dwarves as they had a diamond mine never mind a cheap watch. I never met the prince, my grandma said he was probably at the bookies. I ignore these remarks and stay in my fantasy world.
We spent the rest of the final day in the Walt Disney Studios park, I had a lot of fun at the Stitch live show. I thought it would be somebody dressed up but Stitch was more technical than that! He was on a cinema screen and was somehow able to interact with the audience. He managed to get a man who was watching the show with his teenage children, to get up and dance.
The final stop on day 3 was the ratatouille ride which was my favourite of all the attractions on the trip. The ride was amazing, we wore 3D glasses and seemed to shrink down to the size of a rat and zoomed round and round and up and down in Gusteau’s restaurant. We saw all the characters including the lovely Remy, Emille and Gusteau all the while hearing the soundtrack and french music. Let’s just say it was a magical experience and I loved, loved, loved it so much that I was squealing with excitment the entire time
This is a picture of my old Remy which I have had for so long. He’s lost an eye along the way but I wouldn’t change him, he’s disabled like me.
Before I end this post I’d just like to say a massive thank you to my grandma for making my biggest dream come true by accompanying me and sharing the experience. Here’s to more experiences just like this and more joyful times to come….
BeingGaby 
This is brilliant!!!
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