The Best Restaurants to Celebrate Your Disneyland Paris Half Marathon

 

Bienvenue runDisney fans and Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary celebrants! One thing runners do better than anyone is to kick up their heels post race. Though this French Disney park offers fewer “signature” dining venues, that doesn’t mean you’ll be denied. I have previously made a listing of An American’s Top Picks for Dining, the following is special occasion-specific. The following are The Best Restaurants to Celebrate Your Disneyland Paris Half Marathon.

Celebration Brunch:

If you are looking to feed the tiger (that’s you) after your post-race shower, then Inventions is your place. Though each of the on-property hotels will serve a late breakfast to runners, you made need MORE. Overlooking Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant in the Disneyland Hotel, this character dining spot offers a full brunch experience. And a sommelier!! Seating and serving stations are located in both Inventions and the attached California Grill restaurants. Happily, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, and Daisy make the rounds for photos. (Keep those medals at the ready!) Sunday Brunch costs 65 Euro for adults and 35 Euro for children 3-11 years of age.

Lunch Celebration:

This restaurant remains my property favorite. Walt’s- an American Restaurant is a full homage to Walt Disney, and offers a fine dining experience atop Main Street, U.S.A.. This beautifully-themed restaurant (each room mirrors the Lands of Disneyland Paris) gives diners a choice of several prix-fixe menus, and of course, a full wine list.

Unfortunately, this establishment’s serving hours are limited, even during this race weekend. I had two sublime lunches during my last stay, but dinner hours are extremely limited. (The latest seating was at 6 pm on a Saturday night.) Of course, lunch is less expensive, so n’est pas important!

As you can see, the food is presented beautifully and has a taste to match. The menu here has a distinctively American feel (that’s turkey, stuffing, and mashed sweet potatoes on the left above), but absolutely prepared with a French hand. Service is attentive and polite, and Cast Members are more than willing to allow you to take a look around the restaurant. (Which I wholeheartedly recommend!) The three-course menus range in price from 59.99 to 69.99 Euro.

Celebration Dinner:

Blue Lagoon Restaurant is my choice for dinner. Modeled after the Blue Bayou, this restaurant also overlooks the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. However, this spot boasts a Caribbean rather than Louisiana bayou vibe. Fittingly, fish is a primary option, though beef makes a showing as well. As you see, there is a full bar menu with specialty cocktails available for your “runner’s toast.” The three-course menus range in cost from 37.99 to 54.99 Euro.

Auberge de Cendrillon is a secondary choice. If you’d like a Disney Princess photo op to show off your new medal(s), this is a good option. The food is classic French and the characters are very attentive- in any language!

Lastly, try Bistrot Chez Remy. This is a novel restaurant, situated overlooking Ratatouille: The Adventure. Unfortunately, the menu struck us expensive and uninspired.

Because you will be in the culinary epicenter of the world, I just must include the ultimate Parisian celebration venue; Le Jules Verne Restaurant, located in the second-floor of the Eiffel Tower! This Alain Ducasse destination, featuring contemporary French cuisine, is open for lunch and dinner and has earned a famed Michelin star. A meal (experience) here will cost between 105 and 230 euro, but c’est la vie- you’re eating IN the Eiffel Tower. The RER train (situated within Disney Village) ride to the city will take you about forty minutes. At some point during your stay, you must venture into the city for a true taste of Paris.

After-Hours Celebration:

If you miss out on one of these coveted reservations, or if low-key celebrating is more your speed, I suggest Disney’s Newport Bay Club, Captain’s Quarters. Though the bar menu is limited, I had the best Croque Monsieur of my life here. Do it!

Additionally, Disney’s Sequoia Lodge offers a comfy place to sit and sip by the fire at its Redwood Bar and Lounge. (This spot is especially fitting for large groups of runner pals to congregate and tell their tales from the trail.)

Celebration Need-To-Knows:

These best restaurants in Disneyland Paris may be booked sixty days in advance by calling the Dining Reservation Service. (+33 1 60 30 40 50) To avoid race weekend disappointment, I suggest paying the international call rates and not wait until you are on property. The hotel concierges can assist you with dining, but not if the venue is overbooked. Because the venue choices are limited, they will fill up.

Most everyone I spoke with waited an hour or more for their dinners on the evening of the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon; Paris, meet runDisney!! I suggest you not arrive at your restaurant too hungry…

Celebrating is expensive. Celebrating here more so. Luckily, at present the dollar to euro exchange rate is almost even, so the pain isn’t as acute as it was during our trip in 2011. Plan accordingly and either have those euros ready, or use a credit card that does not charge transaction fees.

Just remember, every mile and euro is magic!!