I was back, back in Disneyland Paris, for the first time in almost a year. I missed it. I missed the music and the little drops of magic. I was actually supposed to be back in Disneyworld in Florida in late April for the Cheerleading World championships, but Lady Corona messed that up, the more happy I am to be living so close to France and actually a 3 hour drive away from Disneyland Paris (which is still an hour away from actual Paris, as it´s situated in Marne-la-vallee)
Me and my cousin decided to head there like the day before, I wanted to go for a while but wasn´t able to meet up with friends, so my cousin came with last second. Last second doesn´t mean on the day anymore, but the day in advance, as you have to pre-book your ticket. I bought myself a new annual Pass, and I decided on the Pass Annuel Magic Flex, which allows me free entry for 300 days of the year, plus some discounts on food and in the shops and parking is included. However I was a little sad, when I found out this pass does not have the magical hours included. This doesn´t take my joy away as I usually only head to Disney for one day trips and I ain´t getting up at 5am to get to Disney for 8.30am. I am good entering the parks an hour later. After purchasing the pass, I had to then register myself and add the pas to my account to pick the date of when I wanted to go as, the pass isn´t enough, everyone has to sign up again for the specific date.
Anyway, rules are the usual, wear your mask, wash your hands and keep distance to others. We arrived roughly at 10am and were surprised by how empty the parking lot was aswell as they left a space in between each car, which meant that there were even less cars then of looks.
We then decided to head first to the Disney Studios. The entry into the Disney Village was the same as usual, but bigger line and more space to have bags checked etc. Once through there we went straight to the entry of Studios and got in line. Maybe waited 3 minutes at most, which was still slighlty annoying as it did rain as soon as we left the car. Entering Disney Studios, we went through the big studio building, in which they had Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto dancing and waving welcome to the guests from a stage above the restaurant.
Obviously Aerosmith Rock’n’Roller coaster is still closed due to it being refurbished being part of the new Marvel area aka Avengers Campus (no specific date for the opening has been announced yet) and becoming a Guardians of the Galaxy rollercoaster. I am also super excited for the reopening of the Hotel New York with their new titel Art of Marvel! Will definitely visit it at some point as I am huuge Marvel fan.
We decided our first stop was the Tower Hotel- Tower of Terror. The waiting time was around 20 minutes, which I thought slighlty surprising considering there are no fast passes at all on any rides. When we got in, we didn’t have the usual stop in the first room with the little video, but we just walked straight through. On the floor they always had stickers where you aren’t allowed to stand and even in the outside waiting area, they had plexi glass everywhere between.
When we got to the front of the line, we were put into the usual numbers for this ride, however they didn’t fill every row, only the first and third, which meant there was a row soaced between. This obviously calmed me down a bit as I knew we weren’t pushed into one room. The ride also got an update new video and new drops, which I looooved! Although I did miss the fact that they didn’t mention all those in the elevator, but only the little girl (sorry if you don’t understand, but go watch the 1997 film Tower of Terror and you will!) Defintely rating this ride a 10/10!
After this, we went to have a quick look at the square and saw that Jesse from Toy Story was having a selfie point, where noone was, so we decided to get a selfie. Currently you can’t meet any characters other than with distance, but it’s still better than not being able to see characters. I think this is especially important for kids visiting the park.
Then we went direction Paris to go onto the Ratatouille ride, which again was only a 20 minute wait, which is usually during the summer a 60-70minute wait. The Single rider line was closed here too. For this ride, they asked you to disinfect your hands before taking the glasses you needed for the ride and also only put one group into each mouse. So this left a six seater mouse to me and my cousin alone. I personally love this ride as it’s so special and different to most other rides.
On our way back, we walked through the toystory land and made our way to Crush Coaster! This ride is such a popular one as has usually waiting times during the summer from 70-100minutes, but it was 50 minutes at 11:30am, which is crazy! By that point, we knew there are defintely less people in the parks than usual.
Having riden the wild waves of Australia, we decided to grab some food. I followed Christian, as he’s vegan, which sometimes complicates things. We were able to find a veggie burger with fries (which he turned vegan by getting rid of the cheese, or at least mostly vegan). I got myself the Black Widow burger meal in the ‘Restaurant en coulisse’.
After being full and ready to move, we had a quick look in the shops and went over to the main park. At this point, it was hot and the sun was shining. Ready to head in, we grabbed our tickets.
The number thing you do on entering is obsviously walk down main street and I was already surprised but how empty it seemed, exactly like Studios, the park felt rather empty.
We started our journey through the rides with Star Tours, which I haven’t been on since 2012 (which they also meanwhile refurbished) Really like what they made out of it. I was fun to be inside and they really made sure to have at least 2 seats in between each party and only used every second row. It was amazing how they also asked at each ride to disinfect your hands before riding.
Then I went into the longest line of the day to wait to get my annual passport as an actual card. I waited probably for 30 minutes and luckily they still had all my information in their system as it wasn’t my first annual pass. This made it quite quick at the till and they just used the same picture and printed it out. So that was my passport for the year done.
After this it was finally time for one of my faves! Hyperspace Mountain! I am not really a Star wars fan, but god I love this rollercoaster! So much adrenaline and we just about waited 20 minutes, which is insane considering there are no fast passes! One rollercoaster done, off to the next one!
Next on our plan was Indiana Jones a little rollercoaster with a looping outside in the most back area of the park. it has been closed off most times I’ve been, but I have to be honest it really isn’t my go-to ride. It is nice, but not too much adrenaline and it’s impossible to not hit your head because of the shaking during the ride.
Rollercoaster Number 3 was next, which is just one of the main attractions! Big Thunder Mountain! It was a 15 minute wait!!! Like those who haven’t been during the summer, usually you wait 60-70 minutes over the holiday periods! I was shook tbh! Great ride as per usual! I just love the bit under the water in complete darkness.
Next we went to the haunted mansion aka Phantom manor. Usually you just get into the first room, to get the story explained, here you now had specific numbers on the floor to stand on, to be sure you kept your distance towards the other parties. Then you walked back to the usual waiting line inside to get into your wagon on the ride.
After this we finally went to my mom’s favourite ride, which I love as well, which is obviously pirates of the Caribbean. We had a 5 min wait. Aka we walked through as it takes 5 minutes to walk to the ride, so basically no waiting. Here as well asked for you to hand sanitize before you got on the boat and only seated people in every second row. Which meant lots of space and feeling safe.
Walking back throiugh the park through the castle (with a quick look in the Christmas shop) and then obviously we had to take some pictures in front of the castle. I think it’s impossible to not take at least one picture by the castle in Disney. With our luck it then started to rain slightly so we had a walk through the shops and decided to head to Hyperspace Mountain a second time (told you it’s my favourite ride)
After this we did It’s a Small World and went through the Alice in Wonderland maze. Shortly around 7 pm, we had one last walk through the park as it currently closes at 8 pm without any fireworks or projection show *sad times*. We came by Peter Pans flight, which is usually literally 90 minutes wait form the second the park opens and fast passes are ‘sold out’ within the first 15 mins of the opening of the park. Guess what. We had to wait 15, yes 15 minutes to go on this ride. Personally i never wait those 90 minutes. I would not even wait 40 minutes for this ride. it is really beautiful and definitely worth seeing if you never have as the lighting is stunning flying in a ship over London, Big Ben and even Neverland. However it’s such a short ride and I’ve seen it plenty times, so for me waiting over 20 minutes is personally not worth it. I do enjoyed it though especially that we barely waited.
It was a nice way to end this day. After that we made our way back to the entrance/exit of the park. It was cute as some characters waived good bye on top of the Disneyland Railroad Station and even there staff members asked for people tpo take pictures and wave and then proceed to exist as it created a crowd.
Overall, I was super positively surprised by the experience of Disneyland Paris during COVID times. They really pushed safety and hygiene. It was definitely an amazing fun magical day, although I do have to admit that the shows and parades and fireworks are missed. It does create this magical world that you fall into deeper. I still love Disney and will probably try and be back sooner rather than later, i mean I do have an annual pass now, so why the hell not.
and btw if you don’t know me, Call me Chrissi
Call me Chrissi! 