DISNEY IN A DAY- CHRISTMAS AT DISNEYLAND PARIS

So what's better than Disneyland paris? Disneyland paris at christmas!...

For my christmas present last year josh veryyyyyyy kindly made all my dreams come true and took us both to Disney Land Paris for the day. I had never been before, and if you know me, you know that this was going to be the best thing to ever happen to me in life so far. (Bit of an exaggeration but not really kidding...)

We did the whole trip in one day. Yeah, we took the first train there, did everything we could squeeze in TWO parks, and then got the last train back to london. We were exhausted but it was so worth it. Before we went, I was researching everywhere for tips and tricks to help us make the most of the day but i couldn't really find that many things for people going for just a day. Probably because no one is crazy enough to go for a day lol. But we did! And it was the best. And if you're planning on going for the day you might find some of this post useful. And if not, here's some pretty pictures for you to look at...

We went on a tuesday at the end of November before the schools had broken up for the christmas holidays and so it was pretty quiet for most of the day. Obviously quiet for Disney is still busy for most, but not as hectic as on a weekend (Sundays are their busiest days apparently) and definitely not as busy as it would be closer to christmas or in the summer. Definitely choose a week day if you are choosing to go for just the day.

I don't know why i love the movie Ratatouille so much, because i hate rats, but this part of the park (Walt Disney Studios) was one of my favourite parts. Even though we were in france and pretty close to actual Paris, this little corner of the park was so sterotypically parisian with its lamp posts and Buildings that it felt like you were in the film. Definitley check out this part if you like the film and want a more fancy resturant as the Bistrot here will be right up your street. Its beautiful at sunset too, and one of the quieter sections.

The Parades! This was one of the best parts, adn they have so many during the day you're bound to catch one of two. They loop all around the main section of Main street U.S.A so as long as you're stationed around the castle or down the street, you will get to see your faves' singing and dancing and being cute. Also this is definitely a good time to go on some rides if you're not bothered about the parade. We stood near the start so we saw all we wanted to see, and then made our way to the 'It's a small world' ride whilst the parade was still making its way around. We didn't have to queue at all for the ride, and seeing as though its one of the more popular ones, it saved to much time. Also made us feel preety good about life when we got off the ride and there was a 20 minute queue...

The castle! So iconic and pretty. Of course this is the most iconic scene in DisneyLand, and once you've visited its clear why because it's even cooler in person. Inside the castle are a few shops which are pretty cute, but you can get some of the best views of the park if you climb up the tower (sleeping beauty's of course) and out on to the balconies. There is also a staircase underneath the castle, and i won't spoil it for you, but if you wondered where the dragon went that gaurd's sleeping beauty's tower, you're probs gunna find out if you go.

You can grab a programme at the start of the Park which will basically be your holy grail of the day to optimize time and make sure you see what you want to. We weren't too fussed about going to frontier land for the rides, so a quick look around was all we wanted to do and we stuck to the main section and adventure land. You can meet loads of the characters in the park. Most of them will be in different areas and these are on the maps, but Mickey and Minnie and the Princesses have their own place for meet and greets. We didn't want to queue because it was looooong but we managed to see Minnie and Mickey in their festive get up in Walt Disney Studios a bit later on in the day.

Food! There are tonnes of places to eat in disney, but of course, its really expensive, Definitely recommend looking up the restruants you want to go to beforehand, and locate where they are so that you don't spend money on food you don't really want to eat. We ate at Casey's diner which was a really cute Pizza and pasta place in Fantasy land. And i mean, if the packaging wasn't already convincing enough, the food was pretty good as well.

Walt Disney studios was probably one of my highlights from the day. We headed there in the late afternoon after we had eaten, and it wasn't too busy. You could get on the tower of terror in just 5 minutes waiting time (unheard of apparently) and most of the other rides had no queue at all. When you walk through the entrance, which is cool enough and pretty much one giant store, you come outside to the studio park which is designed to refelect the actual studios in USA with vintage memorbillia and original disney animation film posters. Right near the entrace to the Animation studio tour (which we didnt do, but will definitely revisit at some point) there was this iconic statue. The sun was setting behind it when i took these photos, and it looked so magical. May have teared up a bit. It had been a long day haha!

Pretty much everywhere you look in disneyland there is something cute and perfectly placed so that you feel like you're in a disney movie, Kind of the point i suppose but it was still so surreal. It was honestly the best trip i've been on with Josh (and that's saying something because he is the king at fun surprise trips) and by the end of the day, even he suggested we make it a christmas tradition forever. I mean, if he insists....