Euro Disney

As requested by my most faithful (non-family member) reader Julie.  

Brian and I threw together a last-minute surprise trip to Disney in Paris for the kids over Christmas break.  Everything fell into place beautifully, especially the part about the free tickets, thanks to friends here who just about threw away their season passes that would expire a week later.  We found a suitable hotel...suitable for children who love water slides really, not so suitable for adults who enjoy calm and comfort on their vacations.  

The kids were so taken with the pool and water slides that they failed to recognize they were at Disneyland.  The posters, the decor, and even the gift shop didn't give it away for the sharp Bender kids.  Matthew clued in at one point and stated that the hotel must be sponsored by Disney, because there was an awful lot of Disney stuff in there.  Yes!  We are getting somewhere, or so I thought.  Nope, back to the business of getting to that pool.  Cut to the chase...we finally had to tell them we were at Disneyland, and the next morning we'd get to go to the park for the day.  Yay!  No, they wanted to stay at the pool.  Of course they came around when the time came to get up and go.  Oh, but that night after swimming all afternoon we pulled out all the stops and took them to Planet Hollywood at Disney Village or whatever it's called.  Um, wow.  I know people must think we are fools to spend time or money on an American chain restaurant when we are in France, but come on, when you live here you sort of crave that familiarity from time to time.  Or at least you think you do until you are in it. We had to give our name to a hostess, wait in a giant crowd of people, get ushered to our table (crammed in between hundreds of others in a basement), order from our large menu with lots of pictures, and wait an entire ten minutes for our food.  Our food that they tried to make look like an enormous American portion by putting it on tiny plates.  Really, a little tiny hamburger and a handful of fries on a plate about the size of the plastic ones we have from IKEA.  For 18 euro.  Ouch, not American prices, nor free refills on drinks.  They aren't going to go that far for the sake of authenticity.  

Fast forward to the park. Disneyland USA is classic, Disneyworld is over the top, and Euro Disney is pretty.  I am classifying these by their park entrances as they all look the same to me once inside.  The rides were the same, the wait times the same, the ridiculously overpriced food basically the same.  It was great.  I love Disney though, not like one of those moms who wears Pooh Bear chambray shirts or stalks Disney chat forums online, but I love that it takes me back to being a kid in a way other amusement parks simply can't.  Happiest place on earth!