Exploring Disneyland Paris

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There are Disney days… and then there are Disneyland Paris days. We headed into Disneyland Paris determined to “take it easy” and enjoy the atmosphere. Which is adorable in theory, but extremely difficult to do when the crowds are all rushing past you to get to their favorite rides.

Try telling Mr. Magpie to slow down, it’s virtually impossible for him – he automatically speed walks everywhere leaving the rest of us in the dust. This trip has also been about Mike learning to saunter instead of gallop and he is slowly getting there. It’s the North American culture to rush and he has to really work on slowing down and strolling but he’s almost there!

And listen, I have been to Disney parks so many times over the years, but Disneyland Paris is just different. The castle looks like it belongs in a storybook. The landscaping is gorgeous. Even the snacks somehow feel more sophisticated. You can literally grab a Mickey-shaped treat and then casually look at a European castle in the background like this is a perfectly normal Tuesday.

It’s not.

It’s spectacular.

The first thing that completely stole my heart? Phantom Manor.

Now if you’ve been to the Haunted Mansion rides in the North American parks, you might think you know what to expect. You do not. Disneyland Paris took the haunted house concept and gave it a moody Victorian gothic romance novel makeover and honestly? I’m obsessed.

Phantom Manor sits tucked into Frontierland looking genuinely eerie, with peeling paint, crooked architecture and the kind of atmosphere that makes you immediately say, “Yep, ghosts definitely live here.” The ride has a darker storyline than the classic Haunted Mansion attractions, tied into the legend of Thunder Mesa and the mysterious Ravenswood family. (Disneyland Paris)

And the music? Incredible.

The entire ride feels cinematic and haunting in a way that somehow still works for families. One minute you’re admiring dusty chandeliers and ghostly portraits and the next you’re rolling through a ghost town full of dancing spirits wondering why you suddenly want to redecorate your house in “haunted chic.”

Honestly, I could have ridden it three more times.

Actually, I should have ridden it three more times.

But then there was the brand new Frozen area calling our names.

And wow. Disney absolutely went all in on this one.

The new World of Frozen at Disneyland Paris is basically stepping straight into Arendelle. The Frozen Ever After ride is the centerpiece and it’s gorgeous. You board a boat and drift through scenes from the films with incredibly lifelike animatronics, glowing ice effects and all the songs that will immediately become trapped in your head.

But the ride itself genuinely surprised me with how immersive it feels. The lighting, the music, the snow effects. It was super fun and very cool.

The best part of Disneyland Paris, though, isn’t just the rides. It’s the atmosphere. One minute you’re wandering through Fantasyland eating pastries, the next you’re watching the castle sparkle while hearing five different languages around you and realizing how wildly cool it is that Disney magic translates everywhere.

Also, important note: comfortable shoes are not optional.

I repeat.

NOT OPTIONAL.

By late afternoon we had reached the point where we were aggressively calculating whether another ride was worth the walking distance. (Spoiler: it always is.) By the end of the day, my feet were so fried I had to skip the metro and take a car back because I was scared to try to walk another 600 metres. But hey, it was worth it.

Would I go back tomorrow? Without hesitation.

Would I sprint directly back to Phantom Manor? Absolutely yes.

And would I ride Frozen Ever After again while pretending I wasn’t singing along? No promises. ✨