A Few Days in France

Eurostar Adventures 

I met my sister at London Heathrow the morning my classmates were heading back to the USA. We all had several hours of travel ahead of us! The tube was surprisingly empty for a Tuesday morning. We rode the Piccadilly line all the way from Terminal 3 to King's Cross St. Pancras. Fifty-five minutes on the tube can be exhausting, but we had to wait another fifty-five minutes to board our train to France! 

Something I didn't know before taking an international train was that you go through customs before you even board the train! A new stamp on my passport before we even left the station. We took two different trains to get to France. London St Pancras International  to Lille Europe and Lille Europe to Disneyland Paris! After a month of sunshine in London, it was kind of shocking to see how wet and rainy it was in Paris! 

Searching for the Eiffel Tower

After checking into our hotel, we changed and headed onto our very next adventure... taking another train to Paris city center to see the infamous Eiffel Tower. It probably took us another hour to get where we needed to go, but it was so worth it to see bits and pieces of France. Marne-la-Valle - Chessy to Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, then boarding Metro 6 and getting off the train at Bir-Hakeim. After spending a month learning the tube lines in London, it wasn't too hard to figure out Paris!

Visiting the Eiffel Tower was so beautiful! The area was packed with people looking at the Eiffel Tower and all of the Olympics construction around it! As the sun set, we grabbed some freshly made crepes from a nearby stand. They were warm, buttery, and filled with Nutella and bananas, the perfect treat while watching the tower sparkle for the first time that evening. The glittering lights against the Parisian night sky were magical, a sight that photos could never do justice! 

Bistrot Cafe Eiffel

After soaking in the view, we wandered to a charming little bistro nearby for dinner. The atmosphere was cozy and quintessentially French, with the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air. We shared a meal of burger et frites, chatting about how surreal it was to finally experience Paris together.

Before heading back to our hotel, we made time to pick up a few souvenirs—a miniature Eiffel Tower, some postcards, and a magnet to commemorate the day. By the time we made our way back to Marne-la-Vallée—Chessy, our legs were so tired, but we were so excited to see more of France! 

It was a long day filled with new adventures, countless train rides, and memories I’ll treasure forever. From the hustle of navigating train stations to the tranquility of watching the Eiffel Tower light up, it was the perfect start to our journey in France. 

DISNEYLAND PARIS

As a former Disney cast member, there was no way I was going to visit Europe and not make it to Disneyland Paris! We had two full days to explore both parks, and despite the rain and non-stop walking, it was absolutely worth it.

Our first day started bright and early in Disneyland Park. Walking through the gates and down Main Street, U.S.A., felt familiar yet different, with its European flair and the stunning Sleeping Beauty Castle at the center. The castle itself is like something out of a storybook, complete with dragon animatronic lurking in the dungeon below. It was such a fun and unexpected detail that isn't in the US parks. We made a plan to hit all the classics—Big Thunder Mountain, which is uniquely located on an island, was an absolute highlight, and of course, we couldn’t leave without hopping on Pirates of the Caribbean, which was slightly different from its American counterparts but just as enchanting. By lunchtime, the rain was coming down hard, so we took a break to enjoy some Mickey Mouse-shaped Pizza at a cozy restaurant in the park. Rain ponchos became our best friends, but honestly, the weather couldn’t dampen the magic. 

Day two was all about Walt Disney Studios Park. The highlight? Without a doubt, Tower of Terror! I’ve ridden this attraction countless times at Hollywood studios in Orlando, but the Disneyland Paris version had something extra. The eerie atmosphere, the plunging drops, and the storyline all felt even more thrilling and immersive. The way the elevator shuddered before the big drop? Chills! It was the kind of ride that had me screaming and laughing each time we rode, and that was six times!

Despite the weather, the magic of Disney never faltered. The rain persisted, but we made the most of every moment, from thrilling rides to meeting Disney characters and having the sweetest Mickey-shaped treats! Visiting Disneyland Paris as a former cast member felt like coming home but with a delightful twist. Two days, two parks, countless memories. It was everything I dreamed of and more!

Headed Back to the 901

We searched for the Olympic rings all over Paris but finally saw them on our shuttle back to Charles de Gaulle Airport! Flying back to Atlanta and then to Memphis, it felt like the longest part of the trip by far! Ten hours on a flight is definitely exhausting, but I wouldn't change this experience for anything. I cannot wait to go back!