Any help for some one from the states?

[MPHARJ]

I am seriously looking into planning a trip to DLRP for next year or the following. I have no idea what I am doing, we have never been out of the United States. So a few questions and any help would be appreciated.

When is the best time to go to DLRP for nice wether but small crowds?
Who is the best to try to plan this through? Disney's site direct?
How far and hard is it to get to Paris from there for a few days?
Last, I think for now, how hard would it be to travel to or from Germany as we would like to visit there as well.

We would love to see all of Europe, but a little at a time for us. I am of German decent and want to see the country and would also love to go to DLRP.

Thanks for any and all suggestions.

 

[marcus.ka]

The best time would be June or September. (nice weather and no school holidays in France)
I would use Disney to book the DLRP part of your trip as this is not only a DLRP trip.
You need 35 minutes with the RER (kind of City-Train) from DLRP to the center of Paris. So it would even make sense to have your hotel in DLRP and make a day trip to Paris.

It is not hard to travel from Germany to DLRP. A flight from Munich, Hamburg, Nuremberg, Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt takes between 1h and 1h30. By car you would need 7h from Nuremberg, 8h from Munich, 5h from Stuttgart.
And since last year there are also many fast-train connections from some German cities. So if you are in south or middle Germany it would also make sense to use the train.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi MPHARJ and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here, DIS posting guidelines can be found here.

Have a look at The Very Useful Info sticky at the top of board

 

[RoosMomKanga]

Hi Kate, and hello PA! Nancy from Pittsburgh here. The folks here are GREAT and can tell you a lot. I've been on other WDW boards for years, but I found this one looking for DLRP info. and it's definately the best!!! We're taking our first family trip to Paris this May (kids have never been out of the country and I've been to Paris once). I see you've been to WDW (we just returned from POFQ- Anniversary trip), so you know the ropes, but there's some major differences. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong, and I've only been planning this a short while, but here's what I've heard:
- Unlike US, some of their holidays are long, like three weeks- so treat these like you would WDW at Spring Break time---BUSY! Spend some time researching the different country holidays (not just France) as they seem to effect the crowds a great deal (they have good info. here). We picked a week in May (Paris is beautiful in May!) with no holidays and hopefully light crowds.
- Unlike WDW, the off-season has VERY short hours. May 19, our day will be 10-7 (without early morning hours). So we only have 9 hours to see both parks. So weigh off season vs. park hours also.
- Read all the "Sticky" info. at the top like I did.
- Unlike WDW (which is somewhat effected certainly), weekends sound like MUCH heavier crowds here, so avoid if possible, expecially Holiday weekends.
- Paris is an easy daytrip on the train. We're staying in Paris and taking a daytrip to DLRP (12.50 Euros RT on the train/metro "Moblis" pass). Yes, I said daytrip (wish it could be more, but this was really an add on to our Paris trip...DLP is impossible to do in a day so plan for several days).
- We bought our tickets online, but if you're staying book direct for package deals. Read up here first if you're staying longer amounts of time. There's AP passes, stockholder info., deals to be had...I didn't review since we've only got a day.
- I bought the book suggested by everyone here "Brit's Guide to Disneyland Paris 2008-2009" (eBay, also available on Amazon, but make sure you get the 2008 version). It's a good book. I'm a detail person, and I've been getting more details here. I'd highly recommend the "Rick Steve's Paris" book for touring Paris and he has a website where you can post questions on their traveler helpline as well.
- I'm no help with Germany, although I'm all German too. My DH grew up there in Ramstein (Army brat) so we hope to go there next trip!

Have a blast planning...you'll make good friends here!

 

[MPHARJ]

Thank you all so much of the few responses it has been very helpful in where to start. It is great to know that we can make a day trip to Paris, being so close. I am getting excited of the thoughts of planning this. Also a nice easy flight to Germany, although I am not quite sure what area we would like to go to. Wish I could afford to take several months and explore all of Europe, but I guess a little at a time. Thank you all again!

 

[MazdaUK]

Also check out French public holidays - we went end May once and had brilliant weather and low crowds until the last day, when it was PACKED. Also, when its considered "low season" you find a lot of the eateries close. There is generally a sign telling you where the next eaterie is, but sometimes that is closed too The queus for snacks can be long, so refill your bottles at the water fountains (perfectly drinkable) and if you're the sort of person who has to eat when you need to eat carry an apple os cereal bar for emergencies!

And don't expect to rely on the weather - we are going tomorrow and its pelting snow! Most unusal in April!!!

Oh, and bring a TON of money - the Euro is very strong at the moment and meals in the parks are not cheap. But you don't need to book them so far ahead as WDW

And I second what everyone says about the Brits Guides - brilliant!

 

[marcus.ka]

I can onyl confirm what RoosMomKanga said about the weekends. Try to avoid them if possible. The crowds are on weekends.
Is this different in WDW?

 

[RoosMomKanga]

I can onyl confirm what RoosMomKanga said about the weekends. Try to avoid them if possible. The crowds are on weekends.
Is this different in WDW?

Yes, it is! WDW- Most people travel in/out from WDW on the weekends and aren't using the parks on their travel day so this helps to keep the crowds down some. It varies depending on which website you use which parks are busier on which days, but I haven't seen anyone say Sat./Sun. are the busiest days. WDW attendance is much more effected by which park is EMH that day or special event at the park like Pirate/Princess Party. I haven't been yet, but everyone here seems to say Sat./Sun. are crazy busy at DLRP; maybe it would be different if EMH wasn't every day there.

And Kate...maybe by the time you go the dollar will recover some...my first trip to Paris in 2004 it was even, now we keep watching it devalue more and more and more $1.57 We've been saving for this family 'trip of a lifetime' for years, hope it's enough!

 

[MPHARJ]

Thank you all again, I think we will look more towards another year or so and pray the exchange rate evens out. I will have plenty to do just trying to plan this!

As for WDW it really does vary when you go as well. I avoid the summer if at as possible except for the few years I didn't have a choice. MK is usually the busiest on Saturday's with locals and schools coming in. We usually make that an off day or visit another park. Epcot is usually good for Sundays. I enjoy the fall when kids are back in school. Again though it does vary depending on time of year and events taking place.

 

[marcus.ka]

This is how the resort can look on a Saturday in June. This is outside the DL park 30 minutes after park opening. (10:30)



DLRP is crazy bussy on weekends even in February and November. The reason for this is that 12 Million people live in the region around Paris. So they need less then 1h to get to DLRP.
And as you need only 1h by airplane from the UK or Germany to get to DLRP many guests only come for a weekend visit.

And it would not make a difference not to do EHM on Saturday and Sunday as EMH are only in the DL park (and never in the Studios) and it has no effect on the number of visitors if DL park has EMH or not.
It only has an effect on the hotel occupancy because more quests will book a Disney hotel instead of an off site hotel.
And in DLRP the two parks are only 2 minutes walk (!!!) from each other. So it is not unusuall to start your day in the DL park, switch after two hours to the Studios, and another two hours to switch back to the DL park.

 

[MPHARJ]

This is how the resort can look on a Saturday in June. This is outside the DL park 30 minutes after park opening. (10:30)



DLRP is crazy bussy on weekends even in February and November. The reason for this is that 12 Million people live in the region around Paris. So they need less then 1h to get to DLRP.
And as you need only 1h by airplane from the UK or Germany to get to DLRP many guests only come for a weekend visit.

And it would not make a difference not to do EHM on Saturday and Sunday as EMH are only in the DL park (and never in the Studios) and it has no effect on the number of visitors if DL park has EMH or not.
It only has an effect on the hotel occupancy because more quests will book a Disney hotel instead of an off site hotel.
And in DLRP the two parks are only 2 minutes walk (!!!) from each other. So it is not unusuall to start your day in the DL park, switch after two hours to the Studios, and another two hours to switch back to the DL park.

WOW! I am looking more for weekday trips, thankfully! How mnay days do you all suggest for the 2 parks, that is all right just the 2? I have been trying to do research but find myself easily distracted looking at the hotels and other things on the site.

 

[Cyrano]

WOW! I am looking more for weekday trips, thankfully! How mnay days do you all suggest for the 2 parks, that is all right just the 2? I have been trying to do research but find myself easily distracted looking at the hotels and other things on the site.

At least 2 days for Disneyland Park and 1 day for Walt Disney Studios

 

[Inkmahm]

WOW! I am looking more for weekday trips, thankfully! How mnay days do you all suggest for the 2 parks, that is all right just the 2? I have been trying to do research but find myself easily distracted looking at the hotels and other things on the site.

There's a thread on the DVC board about Disneyland Paris and I asked the same question of WDW veterans. The answer was you can do both parks easily in two days as there isn't that much at the studios compared to what we are used to in Florida.

I have 3 days at the end of May, beginning of June. Two will be used for the parks and one for going in to Paris to sightsee (I've done that before, but never have taken time for Disneyland before.) I think I have to go to Disneyland on Sat May 31 because I want to see their version of the haunted house and I believe it is closing on June 1 for rehab. Maybe I'll save Monday June 2 as the second day in the parks and go sightsee in Paris on Sunday June 1. Hopefully things in Paris would be open on a Sunday? I know the last time I was in Germany many things were closed on Sundays. But if the crowds are THAT different on weekends at Disneyland, I'd rather have Monday for a park than Sunday!

 

[Inkmahm]

Also check out French public holidays - we went end May once and had brilliant weather and low crowds until the last day, when it was PACKED. Also, when its considered "low season" you find a lot of the eateries close. There is generally a sign telling you where the next eaterie is, but sometimes that is closed too The queus for snacks can be long, so refill your bottles at the water fountains (perfectly drinkable) and if you're the sort of person who has to eat when you need to eat carry an apple os cereal bar for emergencies!

And don't expect to rely on the weather - we are going tomorrow and its pelting snow! Most unusal in April!!!

Oh, and bring a TON of money - the Euro is very strong at the moment and meals in the parks are not cheap. But you don't need to book them so far ahead as WDW

And I second what everyone says about the Brits Guides - brilliant!

What public holiday is at the end of May?

 

[RoosMomKanga]

WOW (pic)...30 min. AFTER opening and it still looks like that?! I don't go in the summer to WDW, but that looks like a BEFORE opening photo on the busiest day I've ever been to WDW (and it's never looked that bad at EMH, just reg. late opening)! I hope people don't stay for long weekends...we're doing a Monday (see how much this board helps)!

 

[marcus.ka]

The answer was you can do both parks easily in two days as there isn't that much at the studios compared to what we are used to in Florida.

This is not true anymore. Since last year there are 4 new attractions in the Studios(ToT, Crush, Stitch and Cars) All of them are very very popular with long waiting lines. (Crush sometimes has more than 90 minutes)
So you now need at least 1,5 day for the studios and 2 days for the DL park if you also want to see the parades and the Shows in both parks. (Tarzan is a must!)