How to have a good time at Disneyland Paris?

Walt Disney Studios Park Paris is the stuff dreams are made of. Whether you’re 5 or 50, you can’t help but be dazzled by the resort where magic may just happen. From the rides to meeting your favourite characters, Disneyland Paris is a fun-filled, action packed ride from start to finish. But when you need some time out from Mickey, Minnie and pals, it is also a great resort to show off your sporting skills.

No matter the time of year, it can always be a winter wonderland on Disneyland Paris holidays. The park’s ecological skating rink can be found at Disney’s Hotel New York, transporting you right to the heart of the Big Apple and Central Park on a cold, crisp winter’s day. Open daily, it is open to children of all ages and sizes and abilities and skate hire is available too.

Whilst you may not be Federer or Murray, you can be your own tennis champ on the on-site, outdoor tennis courts. Show off your back hand, your volley or your serve or simply take this opportunity to play and teach the children this smashingly good game. You never know, you might have a future Wimbledon champion on your hands…

Located just a short drive away is Golf Disneyland, a 27-hole course that’s open all year round – you don’t even need to remember your clubs or shoes as you can hire them both here! No matter your experience or player level, everyone is welcome. Those wanting a shorter game can take advantage of the three nine-hole course that begin and end in front of the Clubhouse. With a fully licensed bar and restaurant, it would be rude not to pop in for one or two.

Although technically not a sport, the Davy Crockett adventure will definitely have you breaking a sweat and bringing out your competitive nature. Swing, jump and climb to the treetops of this fully-grown forest as you discover a whole new world above ground. Try your hand at the swings, trapezes, rope bridges and ladders or stay closer to terra firmer with the less high of activities.

Make like the legend of Davy Crockett for a trek with a pony ride. This is for children only, so watch as your little ones mount a horse for the first time or show off the skills they’ve learnt at home. Don’t be surprised if they grow fond of the horses and beg you to take them horse riding once you’re back home! Encourage their enthusiasm into horse riding and you might see a whole new side to your children.

Give yourself the chills at the Phantom Manor or leave your stomach in the clouds in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Traditionalist chill-seekers will find the Phantom Manor simply irresistible. This dilapidated haunted mansion set in the wilds of Frontierland has spooks and ghouls aplenty, which will smatter your skin in goose pimples if you dare to take one tremulous footstep inside its creaking doors.

In the neighbouring Walt Disney Studio Park, the fear level is cranked several notches in The Twilight Zone. Once you have crept through the cobweb strewn Hollywood Tower Hotel, heart thundering as you approach the perilous elevator, prepare for your nerves to be shredded and buckle your seatbelt. As you slowly ascend the Tower of Terror, climbing an ominous thirteen storeys, chilling thunder rumbles in the distance and the storm crackles overhead. Then suddenly you will feel a lurch in your stomach as you alarmingly plunge into the unknown, hair standing on end and an empty dagger of fear wrenching through your guts. Scarily, the elevator doors even fly open intermittently as you hurtle into the darkness. Disneyland Paris doesn’t get much scarier than this.

Fly to the stars with Space Mountain: Mission 2

Budding astronauts will need no encouragement to jump aboard this breakneck intergalactic voyage to join the latest Space Mountain mission. Climb on the silvery train and nervously wait for the final countdown to blast off, when you will leave Disneyland Paris far behind and be rocketed up Space Mountain by the powerful Columbiad Cannon. As you race past hazardous meteors and stream through galaxies you will find your heart start to race and your palms gather sweat in thrilling trepidation.

Take to the high seas with the Pirates of the Caribbean

Kids with sea-faring aspirations should don their eye patches, raise their cutlasses and head for Adventureland. Here in Paris Disneyland has found you a crew of devilish pirates, lured from the Caribbean comforts of the big screen to this ominous fortress on the high seas. Join this menacing crew through terrifying waterfalls and creepy caverns on a voyage of spine-tingling discovery.