We all need food
Wait, really? We’re still not going to deal with the rides and shows and such?
Nope.
If we’re building up the different aspects of the Parks, we want to set ourselves up so that we can have success, or the greatest success that we can, at all times. And if you’re anything like me or the Expansion Packs, that means being well-fed and watered at all times. One of the Expansion Packs, who shall remain nameless to protect his identity, is especially vulnerable to becoming ‘hangry’ if he doesn’t have enough food in him. For that reason, we want to make sure we have food options before we need them!
Food is important, so we should talk about it.
If you or your loved-ones happen to be particularly picky eaters, which is not all that uncommon with us neurodivergent folks, it might be a good idea to take a look at the app map ahead of time to look at the options available in the Parks and have a conversation or two about what options might work for you.
For us, we didn’t always eat food from the same places as each other, but we tried to find things close together so we could sit and eat together. You can also bring your own food into the Parks, which is especially helpful for those among us who have specific dietary needs.
You aren’t allowed to have full-on picnics in the Parks, however, so be aware that if you try that, one of the Cast Members will ask you to pack it up. If you do have your heart set on picnics in the Parks, however, I’ve got some good news for you. While we can’t picnic in the Parks, picnics are allowed in the area between the Parks. There are benches and shade there, and since tickets to the Parks allow for multiple entries for each day they are valid, we can go in and out for picnics!
If we know we need regular feeding and watering, how do we get it?
Well, from some sort of food-store, naturally. There are three main types of food-stores at Disneyland Paris, each with different levels of commitment: stalls, quick-service restaurants, and dining experiences. Dining experiences are fancy (and expensive), so they get italics. We’ll talk about each of these food-stores individually.
Do you remember how we talked about the app earlier? Well, the app map is back!
One of the activities you can choose to search on the app map is food. Well, they call it “restaurants,” but they really mean food-stores. I recommend looking at some food-stores on the app before you visit the Parks, as they helpfully include not only their location, but also their menu! Keep in mind, though, that the menu does change throughout the year, mostly around holiday celebrations, so check back in with the app closer to your visit if the food of choice is likely to be a temporary offering. Words like “winter” or “scary” are dead giveaways that whatever the food thing is, it isn’t going to be around forever. This might sound tedious to some of you, but trust me, if stress is cumulative (and it is), we don’t want to have built up a dinner or lunch offering over the days (or weeks, or months) leading up to the trip, only to have it not be there when we are. That is stress we can do without! And this guide is all about making our lives as easy as possible.
Think ahead. Order ahead.
One sneaky secret about food-stores and the app map is that some food-stores will let you order on the app itself so you can just go and collect it at a specific time!
Well, I’m calling it a sneaky secret because it took me a really long time to figure it out.
Now, not all food-stores let you do this. In fact, most of them don’t. But you can easily tell which ones do let you order in advance, as they will have (in the app, that is) a symbol on their location that looks like a smartphone. They will also have the words “click and collect” in there somewhere. One example of a food-store that lets you order in advance is Casey’s Corner in the Disney Park.
Be careful, though. There are a lot of other people in the Parks, and most, if not all, of them have the magical ability to summon food from thin air in the same way. So, we must ensure that our food-summoning happens far in advance of our need for food, otherwise our food-summoning skills will be wasted. Basically, if you do want to order food to pick up at one of these places, be aware that you probably will have to do so hours in advance of when you actually want the food. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though. If you or your loved one needs to eat on a very specific schedule, having the ability to order food for when you know it will be needed can be a big stress-reliever.
Plan to eat before you’re hungry.
One last note before we jump into the three different types of food-stores. And that is about when to get food.
“Oh Virgil,” I hear you say, “you get food when you’re hungry, of course!”
No. This is not the way of it.
If we wait to get food until we get hungry, it will be too late for us. Because getting food in Disneyland Paris takes time. More time than we have once we realize that we, or our loved ones, are close to the edge of hangry. The only possible exception to this, and it does vary, so don’t rely on it, is that both the food stalls and the restaurants are reliably less busy when there are parades and spectacles happening. It might not be as fast as we need, but it will certainly be faster than going at other times.
Oh, and the flip side of this is true as well: all food places will be much, much busier once the parades and spectacles end. Everyone seems to realize they are hungry at the same time, and the food-stores are flooded. This is not a good time for us. If you do end up in the situation of needing food right after a parade, I recommend walking some distance from the parade route (or going to the Studios Park!) to avoid the flood of food-seekers.