Ah Disneyland Paris, the place where wonder and magic live, the place where kids smile and laugh and have their dreams come true. Or for many of us, the place where you finally pull out the last of your hair as you try to contain your hyperactive, over enthused, loud, teary and relentless bundles of joy. There are things that we can do to avoid having a trip to this wonderful place spoiled for everyone including you kids by a pet lip or a tantrum.
Plan Ahead
There is so much to do here that it is really important that you plan what you are going to see and do before you get there. The trick here is to involve your children in the decision making process, a lesson in democracy as well!! Disney provide a lot of information about what is inside the park and your kids will be so excited that they will pay attention to the info. My 3 wanted to do different things so we negotiated and arrived at a loose plan, of course the plan may change when you get there but it’s important to have a plan at least. The reason for the planning stage is so that kids know the expectation when they get there so that if they start running off wanting to do everything, they can be reminded of the plan that they helped make.
Set Out The Rules
Now, in addition to planning ahead you must lay out the rules, before you arrive at the park. The night before would be best as this way it may be fresher in the head. Don’t be draconian, remember this trip for them is the stuff of magic, but to avoid tantrums, rules are a must.
Watch What They Eat
Let’s remember that the theme park is a business, and a business that knows that they cater for children. As a result the park is filled with more saturated fats and e-numbers than you can imagine. Sweets, candy floss, lollipops, Ice cream and sugary drinks are everywhere in Euro Disney and if you don’t want your child to go completely crazy then I advise you manage their intake very carefully. The kids will be high enough on excitement as it is without giving them a sugar rush that inevitably leads to a crash resulting in a very tricky trip for the family. Let them be treated by all means but be very careful on how much sugar they take in.
Of course, everyone wants to have a good time and you can’t predict if your child will have a tantrum when they get tired, which trust me they will. However, these steps should certainly help avoid too much anguish and maximise your family fun.