Thinking of Paris & not sure where to start!

[Torontogal]

We are thinking of going to Disneyland Paris next summer but not sure where to start. We want to see Disneyland as well as some sites around Paris. We are also considering going to London. I would love to hear any trip planning advice from anyone who has already been there. We are thinking of going around 2 1/2 weeks. I think we would like to rent a car and drive around Paris but not sure what driving is like there.
We are also DVC members and would like to stay at one of the DVC hotels. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi, I'm not a DVC member but I have picked up on others saying that using their DVC points to stay at DLRP is not very cost-effective.

If you are planning on hiring a car then it will open up your options of where to stay. Driving is fine around DLRP but I would advise against driving in Paris and to use the RER/Metro instead. Do you wish to do a split stay with a hotel at DLRP and another in Paris? There's info on all the Disney hotels plus other off-site ones in a sticky at the top of the page, also this thread may interest you.

As for London, you can either fly to the UK or else take the Eurostar train which runs direct from DLRP every evening. How long did you wish to spend there?

 

[Torontogal]

Thanks Ware Bears. We haven't started any research yet - just talking about it. We plan to go around 2 to 2 1/2 weeks.
I will read the other threads and take soem notes...sounds like a lot of fun!

 

[id@53]

Driving is fine around DLRP but I would advise against driving in Paris and to use the RER/Metro instead.

I would just like to add my opinion that I wholly concur with what Ware Bears has said. I fly into various parts of France regularily with my job (I'm in the wine trade) and driving in France, for the most part, is relatively straightforward. But driving and parking in Paris is a complete nightmare and the local transport system (here's a link to a map of the Metro or subway system - you can see Parcs Disneyland at the eastern end of the RER A line) is so good.

Enjoy the trip and planning.

 

[scrappinmom]

Hi there - While I haven't BEEN to Paris or London - yet! I've been working on planning a trip for next April for a month or so now. You will have more time than we will so you may not need to be as rushed as I will.

In a nutshell - here's what I've learned.

- Easy to take the train from Paris to DLRP.

- Mon & Tuesday - each day has something closed in Paris...so we're using those 2 days for DLRP

- The Euro-tunnel ride to London only takes 2 1/2 hours

- Driving in Paris is ok, parking is expensive and a big huge pain. If you're just going to see DLRP and Paris use their public transport, seems so much better.

- Driving in London - forget it...I think if I did that, I might just get run over!

My plan is pretty condensed..but here's mine - still a work in progress

Leave Chicago Tuesday night - arrive in Toulouse, France Wed am

Wed - Toulouse
Thursday - Toulouse & Carcassonne
Fri & Sat - 2010 Theatre on Ice World Championships (thus the real reason for this trip)
Sunday - Leave for Paris (not sure yet whether we fly (quick) or train (6 hours)

Monday - DLRP
Tuesday - DLRP - although I think we will stay in Paris
Wed - The Louve, Arc, NOtre Dame, St Chapell
Thurs - Eiffel, Orsay museum, & Versailles (if we get up early enough)
Friday - leave for London early, (perhaps do a bus tour) Westminster, Tower of London, Eye
Saturday - Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge -
Sunday - leave London - fly home to Chicago.

Obviously that's still a rough plan. But I've learned:
Buying a Museum Pass for Paris saves time and money
Buy a carnet of tickets for rail instead of one by one
The Batobus company does a nice land/Seine river tour
TheLouve is closed Mon & THe Orsay closed Tues

The changing of the guard happens at 11:30 daily except when I'm going, it's every other day...so I'llhave to plan that still.

London duck tours looks fun for the kiddos

the tube stop for Abbey Road is St Johns Wood

I literally have a legal pad with oodles of notes...Rick Steves has a nice website with a lot of information.

I hope I helped a little!

happy Planning!

 

[Ware Bears]

Chris, I've done the Duck Tours and it's great fun for grown-ups as well as kiddos!

I see you're planning on visiting the Tower of London ~ did you know that you can write and apply to witness the Ceremony of the Keys? We did this one year and I would definitely recommend it.

 

[A Small World]

Hi there - While I haven't BEEN to Paris or London - yet! I've been working on planning a trip for next April for a month or so now. You will have more time than we will so you may not need to be as rushed as I will.

In a nutshell - here's what I've learned.

- Easy to take the train from Paris to DLRP.

- Mon & Tuesday - each day has something closed in Paris...so we're using those 2 days for DLRP

- The Euro-tunnel ride to London only takes 2 1/2 hours

- Driving in Paris is ok, parking is expensive and a big huge pain. If you're just going to see DLRP and Paris use their public transport, seems so much better.

- Driving in London - forget it...I think if I did that, I might just get run over!

My plan is pretty condensed..but here's mine - still a work in progress

Leave Chicago Tuesday night - arrive in Toulouse, France Wed am

Wed - Toulouse
Thursday - Toulouse & Carcassonne
Fri & Sat - 2010 Theatre on Ice World Championships (thus the real reason for this trip)
Sunday - Leave for Paris (not sure yet whether we fly (quick) or train (6 hours)

Monday - DLRP
Tuesday - DLRP - although I think we will stay in Paris
Wed - The Louve, Arc, NOtre Dame, St Chapell
Thurs - Eiffel, Orsay museum, & Versailles (if we get up early enough)
Friday - leave for London early, (perhaps do a bus tour) Westminster, Tower of London, Eye
Saturday - Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge -
Sunday - leave London - fly home to Chicago.

Obviously that's still a rough plan. But I've learned:
Buying a Museum Pass for Paris saves time and money
Buy a carnet of tickets for rail instead of one by one
The Batobus company does a nice land/Seine river tour
TheLouve is closed Mon & THe Orsay closed Tues

The changing of the guard happens at 11:30 daily except when I'm going, it's every other day...so I'llhave to plan that still.

London duck tours looks fun for the kiddos

the tube stop for Abbey Road is St Johns Wood

I literally have a legal pad with oodles of notes...Rick Steves has a nice website with a lot of information.

I hope I helped a little!

happy Planning!

I would say driving in Paris is horrendous and wouldnt advise anyone to try it