When it came to celebrating my daughter Edie’s 9th birthday, we decided to create a magical experience by spending a day at Disneyland Paris. Our journey began with a flight from Chicago to Charles De Gaulle Airport, landing late in the evening. Though the Hilton Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport hotel is conveniently close to Terminal 3, navigating the steps in the dark after an international flight was a bit daunting. Following the light from the bus stops, however, helped us find our way safely.
We booked the 2 Bedroom Suite King, a sprawling 1,184 sq ft suite located on the top floor of the hotel. For our family of five, it was perfect—possibly even a little too spacious! The free Wi-Fi was a lifesaver for keeping the kids entertained on their iPads.
The Journey to Serris
The next day, we arranged for a car service to take us to our Airbnb in Serris. The care service was perfect – exactly where they said they would be, exactly when they said they would be there, with impeccably clean vehicles and polite and knowledgeable drivers. Unfortunately, the Airbnb fell short of our expectations. Cleanliness was lacking, accessing the house was difficult, and we spent far too much time cleaning up before we felt comfortable settling in. To add to the woes, my sister got locked in her room due to a sticky door.
Despite the less-than-ideal accommodations, Serris itself is a stunning town. Wandering around the Val d’Europe retail complex was a delight, and we couldn’t resist stopping at a charming patisserie, “L’Atelier” for some delicious French pastries.
A Day at Disneyland Paris
The next morning was the highlight of our trip: a day at Disneyland Paris. You can walk from Serris, but with our group we decided to get an Uber. I was particularly nostalgic as I had visited when it first opened as EuroDisney. With a group of ten, including my sister, her son, my parents, and my aunt, we decided to make the most of our day by organizing a VIP guide. This decision proved invaluable.
The VIP guide allowed us to swiftly move between rides and the two parks, avoiding the long queues. This was especially beneficial for our multigenerational group, which included a child in a stroller and an adult in a wheelchair. The guide made the entire experience much smoother and more enjoyable. We also had a special area sectioned off for watching the parades, which saved us the hassle of finding a spot amidst the crowds.
The Rides and Highlights
The rides were a big hit with the kids, with their favorites being Crush’s Coaster, Big Thunder Mountain, and Phantom Manor… and I can’t let this post go by without mentioning how big of a hit the Frozen sing-a-long was! My only disappointment was not being able to convince anyone else in my family to join me on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror!
A Marvelous Birthday Dinner
After our fun-filled day at the park, we headed to The Downtown Restaurant at Disney’s New York – The Art of Marvel for a delightful buffet dinner complete with a birthday cake for Edie. The Downtown Restaurant offers multiple food stations and serves Chinese, American, and Italian cuisine, and all of it was very good for a tired family! While the restaurant was a bit of a trek from the park, it turned out to be a great choice. Unfortunately, our initial in-park reservations at Bistrot Chez Remy were canceled due to the park closing early, leaving us with limited options. Though it was quite a long walk for our group, the delicious food and the special birthday celebration made it worthwhile.
I do wish we could have dined at Bistrot Chez Remy, located in the park, but we’ll save that for our next visit!
Wrapping Up
After another night in Serris, we prepared to head to our next destination, Rouen, which I’ll detail in another blog post.
Despite some hiccups with our accommodations, our day at Disneyland Paris was a magical and memorable celebration of Edie’s 9th birthday. The joy on her face and the excitement of experiencing the park with our family made every moment worthwhile.
Katy x
Lo+Mo 
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