American Disney pro but..

[theffaddict]

One more question.. Is there pin trading (or something similar to it) at DLP? That's something I really enjoy to do at WDW.

 

[Vala]

One more question.. Is there pin trading (or something similar to it) at DLP? That's something I really enjoy to do at WDW.

Yes. But there's some differences. You'll mainly find lanyards with CMs working in the shops. In Disneyland Hotel sometimes you'll see CMs at the concierge desk too and I've seen a CM with one at Hotel New York at the character photo stop, but those are exceptions.

Also be prepared that it may not quite work the same way you are familiar with. Paris CMs are notorious for making up their own rules. The most popular one is probably that they insist to choose from your lanyard. Others will flat out tell you that they can't trade some of the pins on their lanyard because they belong to them. I've also had it happen that someone claimed you could only trade for a pin of the same size.

Paris does have special cast lanyard pins that are really nice. The trouble is worth it for them.

At the moment Harringtons (one of the Main Street stores) does have a pin board coming out in the evenings. But it doesn't happen every day, so you are best off asking in store if the board is coming out that day.

 

[theffaddict]

That's great. Thanks for all of that.

So if you don't want to trade your best pins, then keep them at home? Lol. So then they won't ask for that one!

Also, is the place you mentioned the only one with a pin board? It seems like it may be a lot more fun/challenging this way then it is at WDW. Again, thanks for the insight!

 

[Vala]

Well it depends on how much you are willing to talk. I usually have some pins I like on my lanyard, but I tell them "no" then and offer alternatives - that is if they have something worth the discussion, otherwise I will walk away after a "thank you." I like keeping some special pins on my lanyard because I have friends in California and hence get California pins quite easily, including cast pins. That's something the CMs in Paris don't get to see often, so usually the characters (I am a character nut) are all over it. The easy way would definitely be to keep the lanyard full of traders.

There is a pin store called Pueblo Trading Store (near Cowboy Cookout). When it's open on the weekend they sometimes have a board out too, but the opening times are very hit and miss. Besides that Harringtons is the only place with a board, yes.

 

[chanson2]

Just back last month, so thought I'd mention a few thoughts while they are fresh in my head! What time of the year are you going? Being there in July - it was crowded! DLP uses fast pass for several rides (altho ALOT of people have no idea how it works - we saw so many people get their fast passes then try to use them immediately...) However the Studios has no fast passes for any of the rides, which made it alot harder to get thru. We spent 2 days at the parks. One in DLP, then the 2nd at both the Studios and DLP. The studios closed at 7 every nite, but DLP was open till 11 (at least in July). We skipped several rides just because of the hour-long wait times at the Studios. The Studios seems alot smaller that HS in FL, so with better planning, we would have been able to see more. Get there early! 2 days were enough to see most, but 3 will allow for all the parades and shows, which we were not able to catch this trip.

We ended up travelling from DLP to Versailles, which I hadn't planned on originally, but it was the only time available - lots more efficient to go from Paris. We used the RER and it was about an hour travel. Versailles was beautiful, and also so busy! We saw only a portion of the palace, before we opted to go out and see the grounds. Marie's village was charming, as were the smaller palaces on the grounds.

We stayed at the Marriott Vacation Club while at DLP. It was a wonderful property, and loved the staff and all the space. However, if doing it again, with only a few days at DLP, I would def. stay onsite. I felt there was too much wasted time traveling between hotel and parks. We also went straight to DLP from Charles DeGualle using the high speed train, but that was expensive and altho very fast when on the train, we had to wait an hour for the train, and it wasn't set up well for luggage. Would probably use the DLP Express bus from the airport or take a taxi (yes, about $120 for taxi but the high speed train was $95 for 4 of us and took more time than I had thought it would)

Hope this helps! Happy planning!

 

[MissP]

In Studios you can get fast passes for Tower Of Terror, Rock N Roller Coaster and Flying Carpets over Agrabah! Did you not see the machines when you went?

 

[Carrie_Cat]

However the Studios has no fast passes for any of the rides, which made it alot harder to get thru.

The Studios has FP's on ToT, RnRC and Flying Carpets over Agrabah for future reference

 

[MissP]

The Studios has FP's on ToT, RnRC and Flying Carpets over Agrabah for future reference

Haha great minds think alike Carrie

 

[theffaddict]

I didn't know that Hollywood Studios had no fastpasses.. Maybe that will change before I go in a little under two years? I plan on going right after school goes out, so likely the beginning of June. I will probably stay at Santa Fe or Sequoia, on site.

P. S. It says on the DLP site that Rock N ROller Coaster, ToT and FLying Carpets all have fastpasses at the studios park? Did you miss that?

 

[chanson2]

We did miss those! Mostly because we were in the Toystory part (so cute!) plus waiting for Crush's Coaster - which could really use a FP!

My mistake...

 

[theffaddict]

On fastpasses..Regardless of what time it says to come back, can you still get a new one in two hours just like at WDW? Is the fastpass system the same? Sounds like there are some of the classic rides there, but a lot of news rides there that I'm so excited to try but I don't want to have to wait in line forever!

Also, is there any water ride like Splash Mountain at DLP? Or at the studios?

 

[markpsych]

Oh I will visit Marie's estate! I learned all about it in history class this year! It's so interesting! However, what **** was Marie doing. That couple was so dumb, and Marie was a *****. While the people of her country suffered she created this mansion just for HER! I don't even know what she was thinking. Anyways, I will go there!

lol, history was never my strong point....but the setting and architecture are something else : http://myrubberboots.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/marie-antoinettes-estate-the-farm-wordless-wednesday/

 

[MazdaUK]

No water rides as its often colder in Europe! I love Walts - fine dining - but also good value and good food are the buffets like Park Plaza (Disneyland park) and Restaurant des stars (Studios). We don't tend to do counter service as its not as good as US. We find a good breakfast buffet and a late lunch are enough to keep us going. If you can get shares and be a shareholder the discounts are well worth it but wait til nearer your trip. dining pland not worth it IMHO.

I think the vibe is closer to California and WDW (not that I've been to california recently) and be prepared for the differnece it makes being in France - if you can master a few basic phrases ("Parlez vous Anglais", "merci" , "s'il vous plait", "bon journee") it will help immensely!

 

[theffaddict]

What I worry about the breakfast is getting to the parks late. I like to go to the parks for almost the entire time that the are open, and a breakfast might not be the best way to go about that. I do plan on staying away fromcounter-service, I've heard it's not very good. How can I (or my parents, I suppose) become shareholders and want are the benefits?

How can I learn basic French saying like that? Is there an android app or book you would recommend? I'm already learning Spanish in school.

 

[Vala]

On fastpasses..Regardless of what time it says to come back, can you still get a new one in two hours just like at WDW? Is the fastpass system the same?

The Fastpass times are enforced in Paris just like WDW is doing it now, no using them after they expired. Besides that it's the same.

Regarding breakfast, the earliest slot is 7 AM. That's usually enough to get to the park for EMH.

 

[theffaddict]

Thanks for the insight.

For breakfast: If we reserved the earliest, or close to it, it may work. I assume that the parks open up at 9 am right? That should be enough time. You figure 30-45 minutes for breakfast, and then the walk to the park like 15 minutes (tops). That should be good! Thanks again! You guys are helping me learn so much!

 

[HFJohnson]

The Disneyland Park opens at 8am for Extra Magic Hours, which run through until 10. The Studios park opens later at 9.30 or 10. You might not feel the need to do EMH every day. If you're not staying at the DLH it's nice to have breakfast there one morning before heading over to the Studios for opening time.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Thanks for the insight.

For breakfast: If we reserved the earliest, or close to it, it may work. I assume that the parks open up at 9 am right? That should be enough time. You figure 30-45 minutes for breakfast, and then the walk to the park like 15 minutes (tops). That should be good! Thanks again! You guys are helping me learn so much!

Just a thought - you may not need to rush to the Parks so early - check the opening times - I think with a resort package you will get EMH - but honestly when I had them I didn't use them as much as I thought I would. You'll have to decide what is best for you. From what I remember DLP wasn't like WDW where a huge mass of people may be crashing the gates at 8:30 for a 9:00am opening (believe me I was at HS this week and it was NUTS) - I seem to remember most people arriving around 10:00am or 11:00am - just might be something that will be different than what you are expecting.

The one thing I did like about EMH was being able to ride Buzz several times to up my score - of course crowd levels will differ depending on when you'll be going. I also remember there being almost no wait for Space Mountain during EMH - if you like coasters this is much more intense than the WDW variety with loops and corkscrews.

 

[theffaddict]

On the EMHs: Do they change everyday just like WDW? What are normal park hours?

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

On the EMHs: Do they change everyday just like WDW? What are normal park hours?

Check out dlrpmagic.com for park hours and schedules and loads of other good information.