I'll be home for Christmas

Ph. by me and Nick Zijlstra

"If your heart is in your dream, no request is to extreme. When you wish upon a star as dreamers do."

There is only one thing in the entire world that makes me happier than being in Disneyland Paris and that's being in Disneyland Paris at Christmastime. I start listening to Christmas songs as soon as November and my highlight of the year exists of finding the biggest tree there is, decorating it while singing mushy carols and baking cookies afterwards. Sometimes I secretly think I might be Santa's long lost child- or cousin at the least. Being a huge lover of all things Disney, being in the park during the most wonderful time of the year is like a utopia for me. 

I've been coming to Disneyland Paris in winter ever since I was a little girl and the memories are still as vivid as they were back then, when I was watching Mickey and Minnie light up the enormous Christmas tree on Town Square while sipping on hot chocolate. And to be honest: not much has changed since. When I walked through the gates in Main Street USA a few months ago and caught a glimpse of that humongous tree with the pretty castle right behind it I still felt butterflies in my stomach. I can't explain it really, this place just does something to me- I guess this is just what happens when you put a Disney princess back in her original habitat ;).

We had the best day gazing at all of the beautiful decorations, doing our favorite rides (Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, Peter Pan's Flight, Space Mountain and It's A Small World for the win!), meeting Duffy (a dream come true), having lunch at Colonel Hathi's Pizza Outpost (the lasagne is amazing) and ending our day watching the Tree Lighting Ceremony and the absolutely stunning show Disney Dreams! Of Christmas (it has Elsa!). The best part of the day? Skipping down Main Street to get a hot chocolate, just like I did when I was a little girl.

So, I know Christmas is miles away now, but a girl can dream right? After all, it was Walt Disney who said: "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

A huge, huge thanks to Disney and especially Cathalijn, Marike and Manon for making this possible.