Any DVCers go to DLP and the D Day Beaches in Normandy?

[bobbiwoz]

Our EBTA DCL cruise ends in Copenhagen. I would very much like to fly to Paris, then go to the D Day bleaches. Maybe we will do DL Paris.

I found this tour and company:
http://tours.france.com/normandy-to...rip-from-paris-by-train-885-tour#.U5MS0tq9KSM

Does anyone have any experience about doing a trip like this?

Thank you.
Bobbi

 

[cheryl.UK]

Coming from the UK, we travel to France quite a lot and have visited DLP about 10 times. The main park is beautiful, especially their version of Tomorrowland which has a Jules Verne Twist. Don't miss Space Mountain, it's awesome. However, don't expect the same standard of service you get at WDW. As Lumiere says, 'This is France'. The character meet and greets are the worst. It's a complete free for all. Many european countries don't have a culture of queuing so be prepared for line jumpers. You develop good strategies for blocking entire lines with members of your group.

A tour is a good idea. Normandy, where the beaches are, is a very rural area and transport around there is limited. But there are good guide maps available (in English) to help you get to the main areas. Be sure to visit the US cemetery. It's a beautiful, peaceful place.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Coming from the UK, we travel to France quite a lot and have visited DLP about 10 times. The main park is beautiful, especially their version of Tomorrowland which has a Jules Verne Twist. Don't miss Space Mountain, it's awesome. However, don't expect the same standard of service you get at WDW. As Lumiere says, 'This is France'. The character meet and greets are the worst. It's a complete free for all. Many european countries don't have a culture of queuing so be prepared for line jumpers. You develop good strategies for blocking entire lines with members of your group.

A tour is a good idea. Normandy, where the beaches are, is a very rural area and transport around there is limited. But there are good guide maps available (in English) to help you get to the main areas. Be sure to visit the US cemetery. It's a beautiful, peaceful place.

Thanks for the info! DH and I will probably not be in lines for meet and greet. We will use our points, is there a preferable resort. I have limited walking ability. Is there an ECV service as in WDW?

I am getting excited about this add on trip after the TA cruise!

 

[dvc_john]

I've done both, although it's been awhile since the last time.
Stayed at both Newport Bay Club hotel and Hotel Cheyenne. Also Marriott's Village d'lle de France timeshare nearby. The most convenient hotel would be the Disneyland Hotel right over the front gates. But it's also the most expensive.

For Normandy, we didn't take a tour as we had a rental car. Normandy and the D-day beaches, museums, cemetery are all well worth seeing. Also, well worth seeing in the area is Mont Saint-Michel. It is, however, about 150km (90 mi more or less) from Omaha Beach.

 

[badbrad25]

We did something similar after the 2013 EBTA. Couple days in Paris, with a trip to Normandy & then a couple days at DLP. We went on this tour of Normandy:
http://www.pariscityvision.com/en/normandycaenmemoriallandingbeachespickupdropoffhotel

We really enjoyed it, got to spend a good amount of time at each stop, tour guide was very good. I'd use them again.

 

[DisneyHeather]

I'm looking at going to DLP after that cruise as well

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've done both, although it's been awhile since the last time.
Stayed at both Newport Bay Club hotel and Hotel Cheyenne. Also Marriott's Village d'lle de France timeshare nearby. The most convenient hotel would be the Disneyland Hotel right over the front gates. But it's also the most expensive.

For Normandy, we didn't take a tour as we had a rental car. Normandy and the D-day beaches, museums, cemetery are all well worth seeing. Also, well worth seeing in the area is Mont Saint-Michel. It is, however, about 150km (90 mi more or less) from Omaha Beach.

We did something similar after the 2013 EBTA. Couple days in Paris, with a trip to Normandy & then a couple days at DLP. We went on this tour of Normandy:
http://www.pariscityvision.com/en/normandycaenmemoriallandingbeachespickupdropoffhotel

We really enjoyed it, got to spend a good amount of time at each stop, tour guide was very good. I'd use them again.

I'm looking at going to DLP after that cruise as well

These are all good to read! I will check out your trip badbrad25!

We have been to Mont St Michel from a cruise excursion a few years ago. I agree it is also worth seeing.

My DSis just checked out the price for the EBTA, and prices have risen again! They would be paying more, about $1000 more for an outside cabin, they we are paying for a veranda! They are going to decide today if it is worth it to them.

 

[zavandor]

Points required for DLP hotel are awful. There are great offers on the european websites and they are not restricted by country at all.Just call the UK call center and ask to book wathever offer you saw on any contry website (they vary A LOT, make some research).
The DLP planning forum has many tips about good offers over time.
When comparing paying cash and use points, consider that cash packages include tickets for length of stay, while points don't.

The Disneyland hotel is gorgeous, it's similar to the GF but pink instead of white (to better match the often cloudy sky in Paris). But I've never stayed there for its cost. I cannot justify it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Thank you. We will check out packages.

Now if we we want to add Sainte Mere Eglise to the tour, any experience with going there?

 

[bwvBound]

We did both in Sept 2001 related to EB trans-Atlantic on the SS Norway. It was to be her "farewell" journey before 9/11 changed the plans. From La Havre, we visited Honfleur and Deauville via a port excursion. Following the cruise termination in South Hampton, we took the EuroStar through the Chunnel into Paris. Air travel back to the States was still on hold so we visited DLP on a strangely quiet, drizzly day while the world was yet in disbelief.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We did both in Sept 2001 related to EB trans-Atlantic on the SS Norway. It was to be her "farewell" journey before 9/11 changed the plans. From La Havre, we visited Honfleur and Deauville via a port excursion. Following the cruise termination in South Hampton, we took the EuroStar through the Chunnel into Paris. Air travel back to the States was still on hold so we visited DLP on a strangely quiet, drizzly day while the world was yet in disbelief.

Wow...eerie. Certainly memorable.

 

[saintrob]

I've visited DLRP six times and as others have said, the Disneyland Park is very scenic. The Studios, although very different to Orlando is also worth a visit. I've stayed in both the Newport Bay Hotel and also the Disneyland which although expensive is superb. It is so different to WDW but well worth the experience.

I've also visited Normandy on several occasions, both on an organised tour. Arromanches is a delightful town and the mulberry harbours are still visible. The Commonwealth cemetery at Bayeux together with the American cemetery are very poignant and there are numerous sites of historical interest to visit. The memorial at Pegasus Bridge is not to be missed as is the Merville gun battery.

Normandy is very rural and if not on an excursion a car is essential.

 

[amym2]

Thanks for the info! DH and I will probably not be in lines for meet and greet. We will use our points, is there a preferable resort. I have limited walking ability. Is there an ECV service as in WDW?

I am getting excited about this add on trip after the TA cruise!

It has been many years since we did a Normandy tour, but it is definitely worth a visit. I'd caution you that with limited walking ability, you'll want to speak with the tour facilitator about how much you'll be able to see. Sites in Europe are not always ECV/wheelchair friendly. I believe the tour we took left from the museum in Caen (definitely worth a visit). It was supposed to be a group tour, but because we were there in Feb, DH and I were the only ones on the tour. We stopped at Pointe du Hoc, the harbor at Arromanches, the landing beaches, and an American cemetery, if I remember correctly.

 

[Anal Annie]

Points required for DLP hotel are awful. There are great offers on the european websites and they are not restricted by country at all.Just call the UK call center and ask to book wathever offer you saw on any contry website (they vary A LOT, make some research).
The DLP planning forum has many tips about good offers over time.
When comparing paying cash and use points, consider that cash packages include tickets for length of stay, while points don't.

The Disneyland hotel is gorgeous, it's similar to the GF but pink instead of white (to better match the often cloudy sky in Paris). But I've never stayed there for its cost. I cannot justify it.

I agree that the point cost at DLP is horrific. You can most definitely find a cash package for a better price. You can go to the Disneyland Paris website and sign up for email specials. That's what I did and we got a 30% off deal. Note that they don't book as far out tho...maybe 6 months max. We transferred half of our points to another member and used the money for a package. I would NOT recommend the same property to you tho. We were only there for 1 night / 2 days so we booked a value hotel then we moved hotels into the city to do our sightseeing. I WOULD recommend our hotel in Paris tho. It was a real antique Parisian gem. (I spent a lot of time on the DLP forum board...helpful folks over there helped me find a reliable shuttle to use for our transfers etc.)

We flew to Paris for 4 nights before we went to Barcelona for our Med cruise. With only 4 nights we did not have time to visit Normandy tho although that would have been awesome. I think you will love Paris too so add a few nights in the city too. Don't try to commute between DLP and the city. The cost for the train adds up and it is at least a 45 min. ride each way. I still have a link in my siggie to my trip report....lots & lots of details & pics if you want to check it out!! I wish we could go again...trip of a lifetime!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I agree that the point cost at DLP is horrific. You can most definitely find a cash package for a better price. You can go to the Disneyland Paris website and sign up for email specials. That's what I did and we got a 30% off deal. Note that they don't book as far out tho...maybe 6 months max. We transferred half of our points to another member and used the money for a package. I would NOT recommend the same property to you tho. We were only there for 1 night / 2 days so we booked a value hotel then we moved hotels into the city to do our sightseeing. I WOULD recommend our hotel in Paris tho. It was a real antique Parisian gem. (I spent a lot of time on the DLP forum board...helpful folks over there helped me find a reliable shuttle to use for our transfers etc.)

We flew to Paris for 4 nights before we went to Barcelona for our Med cruise. With only 4 nights we did not have time to visit Normandy tho although that would have been awesome. I think you will love Paris too so add a few nights in the city too. Don't try to commute between DLP and the city. The cost for the train adds up and it is at least a 45 min. ride each way. I still have a link in my siggie to my trip report....lots & lots of details & pics if you want to check it out!! I wish we could go again...trip of a lifetime!!

Thank you for your thoughts. We did find out by calling DP that for Americans, they are only booking this calendar year. For people from GB, we could have had a package for our dates! They thought we were calling from GB, and gave the price to us in pounds. DH is signing on to the website now, to get the news of deals you mention.

My sister did book the cruise. We are planning 3 nights in DP, getting there on the day we leave the ship. Then we will move to Paris for most likely 2 nights with the tour of the Normandy cemeteries. We want to be near the airport for our return date.

I must admit that each year we have been lucky enough to take "vacations" of a life time! This year we were in FL, DCL's Panama Canal cruise, then 2 National Parks in California and we ended with 3 nights in VGC!

Bobbi

 

[Anal Annie]

Thank you for your thoughts. We did find out by calling DP that for Americans, they are only booking this calendar year. For people from GB, we could have had a package for our dates! They thought we were calling from GB, and gave the price to us in pounds. DH is signing on to the website now, to get the news of deals you mention.

My sister did book the cruise. We are planning 3 nights in DP, getting there on the day we leave the ship. Then we will move to Paris for most likely 2 nights with the tour of the Normandy cemeteries. We want to be near the airport for our return date.

I must admit that each year we have been lucky enough to take "vacations" of a life time! This year we were in FL, DCL's Panama Canal cruise, then 2 National Parks in California and we ended with 3 nights in VGC!

Bobbi

IIRC I think we were able to book our package at DLP in February for our trip in August. I still get emails from them. Their resorts are all definitely a step below what we are used to here so i think you would be happier to book at least one of their deluxe resorts. The food is also very different (and expensive). In Paris you will have to decide on an area to stay in. Based on a friends experience who spent a month there we picked the Saint Germaine des Pres section. WONDERFUL choice. Felt very safe. Very charming. LOTS and LOTS of cafes. Within walking distance to a couple of metro stops + Notre Dame & the Seine as well as the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Pantheon. Loved it. Felt very immersed in the city.

This summer we are hoping to FINALLY get to DL and Aulani which will be another special trip, although it's not Europe. That's the plan anyway. Of course that was our plan for last summer too (then DS had a medical emergency 8 days out and we had to cancel the whole trip). Have fun planning!! It's so much fun!!