NEW YEAR @ Disneyland Paris - any tips?!

[MusicalJules]

Hey there,

I'm taking my little girl to Disneyland Paris for new year celebrations and would love any tips or advice, in particular

* Newport Bay Hotel - We will be staying on the admirals floor. I've heard some bad reviews so I'm a little worried.

* Spending money - How much to take? (it's just me and my dd who is 6)

* What 'extra magic' activities would be good for a six year old (e.g princesses tea, wild west show)

* Where is the best place to sit for the parade and any other activities (new year fireworks etc) ?

* What are the best rides for a 6 yr old?

* What are the best restaurants?

* I'm planning this as a surprise for my daughter but I'm not sure when its the best time to tell her...!

and any other information you think would be helpful, I'd really appreciate it - this will be the first time that I've gone on holiday on my own with my daughter so I'm a little nervous.

Thank you in advance!

 

[dlpfan]

ive been to newport bay club last march. we didnt stay in the admirals floor , we had just a normal room. i had read several bad reviews before i went and was really worried. however when we checked in to our room i was surprised as it was all very nice and up to standard. so dont really worry about it and the staff were very nice and helpful to us.
advice: request an early breakfast before 8am. we always had breakfast early and by the time we were finished there was such a long queue waiting 2 be seated.
every morning there are characters at the hotel where u can take photos with them. check which character will be there in the morning and at what time on a noticeboard in the main lobby.

tip: if u need to buy any snacks, sweets, drinks, water etc there is a shop between the disney village and entrance to the parks , in the train station where everything is much cheaper than disney. helpful with a child

 

[dlpfan]

something i would suggest doing which both u and ur child will enjoy is to have breakfast/lunch or dinner at cafe mickey in disney village.
i loved the food here, staff were very friendly and the characters come around every table where u can ask for autographs and photos with them.
it is best to book this when u arrive at ur hotel at the concierge desk or else call restaurants reservations before u leave home.

 

[gemmybear83]

Make sure you reserve your restaurants before you go, as I understand its gets very busy! There is thread on here showing restaurant reviews and piccies.

Also I have heard there are going to be new years eve fireworks in the Disneyland park and Walt Disney Studios, the ones at Walt Disney Studios are at aimed at older kids/teens so I would say the ones at the Disneyland park are a better bet!

Every day at 4pm characters come out and dance with the children at the disneyland hotel, this seems to be a great (and free) way for children to meet the characters without a scrum (and it will be nice and warm inside!).

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi MusicalJules,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the DLP DIS board

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
DIS posting guidelines can be found here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

New Years Eve is likely to be very very busy at DLRP, so you should factor in that you will have to queue for rides, and you should reserve your meals as soon as you can.

 

[marcus.ka]

* Newport Bay Hotel - We will be staying on the admirals floor. I've heard some bad reviews so I'm a little worried.

NPBC is great. We have stayed there several times also on New Years Eve 2003/2004. Don't forget to take earplugs with you. When we were there in 2003/2004 there was a Disco in the lobby of the hotel until 4am! And even though we were on the 4th floor we could hear it as if the Disco would have been in the room next to us.

* Where is the best place to sit for the parade and any other activities (new year fireworks etc) ?

As others have said it is very very very very bussy on New Years Eve. Maybe it is a little bit different this year as they are also open the Studios for the first time until 1am. But when we were there in 2003/2004 it was just horrible. Form 10pm onwards you could not walk on Mainstreet or in the arcades. People were standing and LYING everywere. If you want to have a good spot on New Years Eve for the parades you should be there at least 90 minutes before the event starts. The fireworks at midnight were the worst (in terms of the crowds). As Fantasyland and Adventureland need to be closed for the firweworks there were about 20000 people on Mainstreet. If your dogther or youself should suffer from any kind of agoraphobia this is not going to be fun. After the fireworks 20000 people will leave the park at once and you can do nothing but follow the crowds.

* What are the best rides for a 6 yr old?

Everything at Fantasyland. But as New Years Eve is the most crowded day of the year you will experience waiting times of 2h and maybe more for the most popular rides.

* What are the best restaurants?

There are many. But on New Years Eve the Hotel Restaurants are only open for Hotel quests. So for you it would only be the 2 restaurants at the NPBC.
But remember that in the evening hours almost all restaurants at the hotels and in the park offer special "seetings". The first seeting is until 6pm ~ 9pm and the second seeting is from 9pm - after midnight. The prices for first and second seeting are out of this world.
According to the German catalogue: 1. Service/ 2. Service Child
Yacht Club at NPBC 119€ 159€ 19€ 39€
Walt's 139€ 179€ 19€ 39€
Blue Laggon 119€ 159€ 19€ 39€
Colonel Hathis's Pizza Outpost (usually a snack outlet but on New Years Eve a "real" restaurant 119€ 159€ 19€ 39€.