I remember it like it was yesterday.
15th April 1992.
I was a boy of 11, and my parents had sprung on me and my brothers the surprise that we would be visiting Disneyland Paris the following weekend.
The park, which was at the time (if memory serves) called Euro Disney, had opened on April 12th, and it was the dream of any kid in the UK to be able to visit.
I still wonder how my parents managed to afford the trip (or put up with three overexcited young sons and a baby daughter for a weekend with Mickey Mouse).
We drove down from London, getting the ferry across the English Channel, and then drove through the night from Calais to Disneyland on the outskirts of Paris.
It was cheaper than flying, but the cost of several tanks of petrol must have added up.
It's worse today, though.
In recent years the price of petrol has risen dramatically in the UK and Europe.
In fact, last time I was in the UK (in early 2011, visiting the folks) a litre of petrol cost £1.
25.
It was painful to fill up the tank in advance of a trip around the UK to visit old friends.
If you wanted to drive to Disneyland Paris from London today you could expect to fill up at least twice along the way, and probably three times or more.
When you add in the cost of the cross Channel ferry it suddenly doesn't make much sense to drive.
Fortunately, in the years since my visit the UK has become much more closely linked to Europe.
The Channel Tunnel links up Folkestone to Calais, and it's now possible to cross to the continent without setting foot on board a boat or plane.
In fact, the Eurostar express train that links St.
Pancras station in central London with Gare du Nord in central Paris actually passes by Disneyland Paris.
The train stops at Marne-la-Vallee/Chessy station, conveniently located by the gates to the theme park, at with tickets on sale from just £69 return (£49 for kids), it may make sense to leave the car at home and simply hop on the train.
The total journey time to Disneyland Paris from central London is just 2h 15m - considerably less than the drive.
So, if your plans this summer include Disneyland Paris you should consider the train.
Flying is an expensive waste of time, and the taxi fees alone will put you in the red.
The petrol costs and journey time make driving a trial, and the ferry books up well in advance during the summer.
The train just makes sense.