There are some moments in parenthood you know you’ll never forget, and taking our daughter to Disneyland for the first time is way up there.

Watching the little miss step onto her very first flight, full of wide-eyed excitement and nerves, was also one of those – this was definitely a trip full of firsts. So I hope you’re sitting comfortably, this posts a long one!

Preparing for the First Flight

Like most parents, we had a mixture of excitement and nerves about how the flight would go, especially as this was my first time doing something this big since before COVID and becoming a mother. Not only did I have to manage my own anxieties but I also had to put them aside to manage hers. Would she be anxious? Would we have enough to keep her occupied? Would she love it or hate it?

We packed plenty of snacks, colouring books and pencils to keep her entertained for the short flight, and her favourite comforter “Bun Bun” for reassurance. To our surprise (and relief!), she took it all in her stride – from security to boarding, she was more curious than worried.

When we were getting ready to board, we found that we needed to go on a coach to get us to the plane, something she found hilarious. It was just me and her on the first coach due to capacity and I had nothing to hold onto, it was like surfing all whilst trying to keep hold of her and our hand luggage. She thought it was amazing, kept saying “Is this a rollercoaster” and making other passengers laugh. We were also kindly supported by a young couple who held her hand and smiled to help me keep her balanced, such a simple but big act of kindness for me as they had no idea I was silently having a panic attack.

On the plane, and the crew were so incredibly kind and thoughtful, they made sure I was ok and spoke with the little miss about how excited she was and where she was going. During take off she was full of giggles and saying “we’re in the sky!”, but my favourite quote of the flight was “I can see the whole world” and showing Bun Bun – the sweetest and simplistic moment that’s made a core memory.

Before we touched down, the staff came to check on us and gave the little miss a card signed by all the crew congratulating her on her first flight and wishing her well for her trip. They even gave her a mini passport to record all her flights moving forward – such an unexpected and thoughtful touch.

Touchdown in Paris ✨

The look on her face as we landed was priceless. She pressed her little nose to the window, trying to spot castles and magic from above. And, in her mind, she wasn’t too far wrong – because she knew we were one step closer to Disneyland Paris.

Passport control was pretty good and the little miss was so patient, I wasn’t sure how she was going to do with queuing and had been trying to prepare her in the weeks before our trip, but she was taking each moment in her stride. We went and got our hire car, filled it to the rafters with our luggage (in hind site we should have got a slightly larger vehicle) and headed off to our accommodation.

Our Stay at Davy Crockett Ranch – The Good and the Not-So-Good

We chose to stay at Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch, and while there were some positives, our experience was very mixed. When we booked, we knew we were choosing to stay at the budget end of the resort so didn’t expect all the bells and whistles of a hotel but what we got didn’t feel worth the price tag – this is such a shame as we had spoken to friends and family beforehand who had rated the site, perhaps we just got them on a bad week?

On the plus side, the facilities on site were fantastic: the swimming pool was a big hit, the restaurant and bar had a lovely atmosphere and worth the money, and the staff we met were warm and welcoming. Plus booking with a Disney hotel meant we got tickets for both parks for the duration of our stay which included magic hours so that’s a big bonus.

But, honestly, the accommodation itself let us down badly. We understood the site was under refurbishment, but what we found was more like basic camping than the Disney standard we’re used to. In our lodge, we dealt with:

– Broken furniture and a shower that felt like it was going through the floor

– Curtains that didn’t fit the windows properly

– Missing kitchen equipment

– Slugs on the ceiling (yes, really)

– A complete power cut that lasted nine hours, with no help available.

– Someone else’s dirty laundry just left outside our cabin and never removed (despite ours being opposite the staff centre and us notifying them)

– Beds that felt so stiff and like foam with bedding and towels that were worn in need of repair. We ended up having to hand wash some of our bedding as the little miss had an accident one night and we were not allowed additional bedding (despite there being a forth bed available for use in our cabin)

For the cost, it was disappointing, and not the magical start or end to our Disney days we were hoping for. I think next time we would do more research and opt to stay at one of the other hotels, it hasn’t put us off Disneyland Paris that’s for sure.

Highlights of Our Disney Days

On with the wonderful parts of our trip!

There’s something extra special about experiencing Disney through your child’s eyes. Some of our favourite memories included:

My Royal Dream – This was worth every penny, a magical princess makeover where she chose Snow White. There are different priced packages to suit your budget and a range of outfits to pick from (I think this is going to have to be its own blog post to showcase how great this really was!)

Meeting Mickey Mouse and other characters – her smile said it all. We used the virtual queuing system for the first time for this, I had no idea this was a thing! Can you imagine if you had gone all that way and not met the main man himself? We also opted to do a character breakfast, again that’s another story for another blog post.

Hidden photobooths & little details – those tucked-away corners that make Disney so full of surprises. One of the most magical moments we had was the first time entering the castle and seeing Minnie Mouse on the balcony waving to everyone and then taking a moment to share a special moment just with the little miss, this made the trip!

Parades & the Castle – she was mesmerised, waving along like she’d been waiting her whole life for that moment. She especially loved the little shows that happen such as Mary Poppins and her band (who told her she was practically perfect in every way – and also Minnie and her marching band – and don’t forget to pay a visit to the dragon living under the castle.

Rides – I can’t get over how many rides myself as a plus size woman and the little miss as a first time rider were able to go on, I don’t think there was anything that we wanted to go on that we couldn’t. Plus it turns out our little one is somewhat of a thrill seeker, she loved her first roller coaster with thunder mountain, the pirates ride was a huge hit (5 times!) and believe it or not, apparently she found tower of terror awesome!

Tips for Parents Planning a First Flight + Disney

If you’re preparing for your child’s first big adventure, here are a few things we found helpful:

– Pack familiar snacks and drinks (airport food isn’t always little-one friendly).

– Keep a small bag of entertainment (colouring, stickers, tablets with headphones).

– Always carry a spare outfit in hand luggage – accidents, spills, and excitement happen.

– At Disney, think comfort first: lightweight backpack, comfy shoes, and layers for the weather.

– If you can, book PhotoPass+ – worth it for capturing every magical moment without stress. They average at 17 euros a print and I came home with 76 photos for 85 euros.

– Travelling with a disability? Don’t forget that you can apply to Disney for a pass that helps you with your trip. We had this for my mother and it was invaluable to help make her trip the best it could be with her limitations. The pass gives priority access for her and one other for parades and shows and allows up to 5 guests to access rides easier and with support.

The Magic Through Her Eyes

For the little miss, this was a holiday of firsts – her first flight, her first trip abroad, first rides and her first Disney adventure. For us, it was a reminder that those firsts are just as magical for parents as they are for children.

Seeing Disney through her eyes brought back the childlike wonder we sometimes lose as adults, especially as my first trip to Disney was at the same age and the hubster had never experienced it before. And as we headed home, tired but full of joy, we knew this was a trip that will stay in our hearts forever.