4 days in Paris & DLP

[dr&momto2boys]

We're thinking of adding a little time in Paris and DLP before a Disney cruise we're taking out of Barcelona next September. This will be our first trip to Europe and we'll have our 5 kids (ages 3 to 11 with us.) If we only have 3 or 4 days in Paris and want to see both parks plus some of the city, what would you suggest as a rough touring plan. Hotel and transportation suggestions would be great. Money saving tips even better! There are 7 of us total so we don't fit in a standard hotel room. We'll need 2 rooms or alternate places that accommodate us all.
If 3 or 4 days is too short to see enough here, tell me that too and we'll consider just spending more time in Barcelona.
Also it looks like we can't reserve rooms now for September 2016, is that true? We're used to going to WDW where we always reserve 11 months in advance...gosh, dining reservations need to be made 6 months in advance to get the best options there.
Thanks for any and all advice!

 

[mamadragona]

Following. I have 2 kids 8 and 6 when we go and am planning about the same time in Paris. - though I have to say, probably at the worst time of year - mid July (no flexibility - trying to sandwich between conferences). Hotel recs would be great since I would like to potentially have the same hotel the whole time - though I could be swayed. I looked at one hotel said to have quad rooms and they were already booked!

 

[BadPinkTink]

We're thinking of adding a little time in Paris and DLP before a Disney cruise we're taking out of Barcelona next September. This will be our first trip to Europe and we'll have our 5 kids (ages 3 to 11 with us.) If we only have 3 or 4 days in Paris and want to see both parks plus some of the city, what would you suggest as a rough touring plan. Hotel and transportation suggestions would be great. Money saving tips even better! There are 7 of us total so we don't fit in a standard hotel room. We'll need 2 rooms or alternate places that accommodate us all.
If 3 or 4 days is too short to see enough here, tell me that too and we'll consider just spending more time in Barcelona.
Also it looks like we can't reserve rooms now for September 2016, is that true? We're used to going to WDW where we always reserve 11 months in advance...gosh, dining reservations need to be made 6 months in advance to get the best options there.
Thanks for any and all advice!

Im not sure what to tell you about the hotel rooms. The rooms in most of the hotels have 2 double beds. Hotel Cheyanne might be an option for you, they have 1 double bed and 1 set of bunk beds http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/hotels/disneys-hotel-cheyenne
Either way it looks like you will need 2 rooms

Disneyland Paris is like a smaller, more compact version of Disneyland California and far far more relaxed than Florida. Most people book their trip less than 10 months out, even for peak times. In 2013 I booked in August for a stay over Christmas Day. ADR are far more relaxed too, most people only book a few weeks before they go, and I have read many trip reports where people book at Town Hall when they arrive. Although that depends on the time and which restaurant you want. For example if the Princess Meal is a must do, then I would make sure to book that at about 60 days.

As for how many days, most people only do max 4 or 5 day stays. My next trip in February will be 2 nights / 3 days. The two parks are beside each , same as Disneyland California. The second park is alot smaller than California Adventures, most people spend just one day or less there.

 

[mamadragona]

Would you be able to stay at DLP and be able to do things in Paris or would you stay in Paris and fit in a side trip to DLP or do 1/2 in town, 1/2 at DLP hotel?

 

[petals]

If you want to save money on the hotels why not stay at one of the good neighbour hotels? They are all really close to the park and have free shuttle buses to the park and cost less than staying at the Disney hotels. To see Paris you can take the train from outside the Disney park get a ticket for the full day, think it was around 15 euro and then hop on and off the train at whatever attraction you want to see. We did this the last time and it was really easy to follow what train to get to where. Also for transport to and from the airport if you were looking for the cheaper options I would go with RS transport.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Would you be able to stay at DLP and be able to do things in Paris or would you stay in Paris and fit in a side trip to DLP or do 1/2 in town, 1/2 at DLP hotel?

I was thinking staying at DLP and a side trip to Paris. But I don't know the area at all, so any advice is appreciated!

 

[dr&momto2boys]

If you want to save money on the hotels why not stay at one of the good neighbour hotels? They are all really close to the park and have free shuttle buses to the park and cost less than staying at the Disney hotels. To see Paris you can take the train from outside the Disney park get a ticket for the full day, think it was around 15 euro and then hop on and off the train at whatever attraction you want to see. We did this the last time and it was really easy to follow what train to get to where. Also for transport to and from the airport if you were looking for the cheaper options I would go with RS transport.

Very good info! Thank you!

 

[Jansr]

With 7 people I would stay in Explorers hotel. It's one of Disney's affiliated hotels with free shuttle bus and breakfast included. There's a really nice indoor swimmingpool. The rooms can accomodate 4, 6 or 10 people.

 

[beachta1]

So you're hoping to stay by DLP and then do a day in the city? I was going to recommend renting an apartment in Paris and taking the train in, but that wouldn't' work. You can easily take the RER A train into the city if you want to spend some time to see the eiffel tower, take a boat tour on the Seine, walk through the parks, other cool family-friendly Paris activities.

 

[bsj1701]

We stayed at the Kyriad Hotel in Torcy. It was a short walk to the train station and we were able to use that to get directly to DLP as well as Paris. We did this exact thing. 2 days at DLP (both parks) and 2 days in Paris. This is what we did in Paris...

1. Eiffel Tower (Day and Night)
2. Notre Dame and Ammorino Gelato on Ile st. Louis. Also had lunch at a little deli in the area.
3. Sacre Coeur
4. Sainte-Chappelle
5. Versailles
6. Arc du Triomphe

After much consideration we decided to do all of the above (especially Versailles) instead of The Louvre. While there are a few things we would have liked to see there, we felt our time was better spent elsewhere.

Many places offer advance tickets which saved us from standing in line for tickets. I strongly recommend this, especially for the Eiffel tower!

(we actually did this twice - once we did stay at one of the DLP hotels and took the train to Paris also, pretty much the same itinerary. The second time was Torcy due to the cost being much less.)

Lastly, if traveling with children keep an eye on them at all times, it's easy to become separated in crowds. Also, this probably is not unique to Paris, but it happened to me, so I will warn you to beware of pick pockets. I suggest a money belt. Don't keep valuables in your wallet or purse.

 

[dr&momto2boys]

We actually bought our tickets to Paris (super good deal at $410 each!), so this is really happening! We are waiting for a good DLP promo to determine how much time we spend there and where we stay. We're also looking at apartments in Paris. We plan to spend 7 nights altogether although there is wiggle room either way. Then we'll take a train to Barcelona and spend the remaining time there before the cruise.

I appreciate everyone's advice and will continue to research and plan! We already bought our money belt as Barcelona has the worst reputation for pick pockets and we are sunk if we lose our passports. DH is excited about wearing it, but he agreed to and we'll just keep a small amount of spending money in my purse which I always hold tight and close. I'm sure we will look like a pick pockets dream with our 5 little distractions all around us.

I know we could get a better deal staying in an apartment closer to DLP and doing the train everywhere, but I really would like to stay in Paris and walk around a corner to a boulangerie for breakfast each morning...sounds heavenly. If we can't find a good deal on DLP then perhaps we'll stay in Paris and take the train to DLP. (Hoping for a 12 and under free promo!)

 

[tennisfan]

We actually bought our tickets to Paris (super good deal at $410 each!), so this is really happening! We are waiting for a good DLP promo to determine how much time we spend there and where we stay. We're also looking at apartments in Paris. We plan to spend 7 nights altogether although there is wiggle room either way. Then we'll take a train to Barcelona and spend the remaining time there before the cruise.

I appreciate everyone's advice and will continue to research and plan! We already bought our money belt as Barcelona has the worst reputation for pick pockets and we are sunk if we lose our passports. DH is excited about wearing it, but he agreed to and we'll just keep a small amount of spending money in my purse which I always hold tight and close. I'm sure we will look like a pick pockets dream with our 5 little distractions all around us.

I know we could get a better deal staying in an apartment closer to DLP and doing the train everywhere, but I really would like to stay in Paris and walk around a corner to a boulangerie for breakfast each morning...sounds heavenly. If we can't find a good deal on DLP then perhaps we'll stay in Paris and take the train to DLP. (Hoping for a 12 and under free promo!)

You may get lucky and that is offered but that deal is usually offered in the Winter (Jan-Mar) months but as I said you never know

 

[dr&momto2boys]

Do you know what offers are more common for September?

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

If it were me, I would rent an apartment in Paris for three nights, then head to DLP REALLY early and stay one night at Sequoia Lodge. Then, I would take the overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. This would give you until later in the evening on your second day at DLP, so you could do the Studios that day and Disneyland your arrival day. Honestly, it would be enough time to see both parks, not do everything, but experience them both. Taking the overnight train (we took the Thello from paris to Venice in 2014 to catch the DCL there), will save you airfare to Barcelona and a hotel room for that night. If you can find a deal at DLP with at least free half board meals, it would help. Keep on eye on the UK site and French site.

We always travel with my parents, which makes us a party of 7. We found the most amazing apartment in Le Marias through VRBO. 24 Rue Saint-Paul. Check it out...it could not have been more perfect. I wrote about it in my blog, linked below.

Edit: just saw you're doing seven days in Paris, so I change my suggestion to two nights at DLP!