An American in (Disneyland) Paris

I keep seeing friends registering for this year's Disneyland Paris race weekend, and I can't help but be jealous! Our trip last year to run the 5k and half marathon in Paris was so amazing! I wish we could do it every year, but, yeah...you know, life, bills, work. It all gets in the way of Disney!

I know many of you have never taken the trip to checkout Disneyland Paris, and if you're planning your first visit for September (or even a non-running trip sometime soon) I though it would be good to share some of the things that were different from our Disney Parks here in the states (and there are some big ones that were not so magical, so take notice).

Food was okay, Highchair was awesome!

Food: Maybe the biggest difference is in the food. Or maybe that's just because I really like to eat my way through Disney! When you visit DLP, expect to see a lot of theme park food. Things like sandwiches, burgers, and fries are staples and there aren't many options beyond that, especially in the parks. There are some great restaurants in the Disney Village and in the hotels, but if you spend the whole day in the park you'll have limited options at  quick service venues. That being said, we had such great meals at Walt's in Disneyland and at Chez Remi at the Studios.

Smoking: People in Paris smoke. A lot. All the time. Everywhere. It just permeates the air and you can't get away from it. I'm super sensitive to the smell of smoke, and it got old really quick! There's not much you can do about it, so just be prepared. Yes, Disney has smoking areas and people aren't supposed to smoke just wandering around the park, but that rule was not enforced at all.

Dressing: Yes, we are the geeky family who had matching shirts, and in the U.S. you'd see that all over the place. Here, nope. Even the cast members kept mentioning it to us. If you're the type of person that likes to blend in, matching Disney shirts is probably not the best idea.

Overall Feel: There is a difference. It's noticeable. It just lacks a little of the attention to detail that makes DL and WDW extra special. Some people probably would never even notice it, but I'm that person that will zero in on the piece of trash that stayed on Main Street for 15 minutes. I say that not to be critical, but just as an observation. If you follow some of the Disney buzz, I think this is a main reason Disney as a company is trying to regain control over this park. There is a lesser standard than the American counterparts, and I think Disney wants to bring Paris up to par.

This post is kind of whomp whomp, huh? Not my usual peppy self! All this being said, GO! I have zero regrets, and we've visited Disneyland Paris twice. Not only is it a great Disney park, but you also are in Paris. It's the most amazing city and we love everything from the sites to the food to the people. Don't let any negative Nancy deter you from this amazing experience. I wish we could do it every year!

Are you planning on running the 2017 Disneyland Paris races?