Disneyland Paris is doing my head in

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Okay after much tooing and froing online and discussing with my husband we have decided that staying off-site might be the best option for us price wise. I just can't seem to justify the nicer DLP hotels and the cheaper ones are similar pricing and location to some of the offsite places.

I've been over to the Paris section of the Dis and read alot about the major 4 off-sites and I believe that Explorers is the place for us:-

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=12563245#post12563245

It gets mostly good reviews and I think the room configuration would work well for our family with grandma added in.

I;m thinking the Crew6 room will be perfect:- http://www.explorershotels.com/us/bedrooms-hotel.php.

I've searched lots of different booking sites and I believe I can get this room for our 2 nights in April for $495 AUD total. This price includes a free continental breakfast and we can upgrade to a cooked breakfast for 4 euro a head if we want to. Free shuttle to the parks and this hotel is first to pick up and first to drop off of the shuttle.

I've just looked for ticket prices and the best deal I found was $932.07 AUD in total. I did find one site where we could get the tickets for $722.38 which is a dream but I'm not sure they ship the tickets to Australia so I have an email question in to them to see.

So worst case scenario would be approx. $1427.07AUD for 2 nights/3 days which sounds like alot of money but apparently for a family of 5 wanting to visit DLP, it's not

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

If someone wants to have a play with my dates, 20-22 April for a family of 5 with 2 kids aged 14 and 11, feel free. I welcome your cheaper prices

 

[shushh]

The problem is that you're going on the weekend at the end of the school holidays, that's why prices are so high.

Just check the times of the shuttle for the offiste hotels. If you want to be there right on opening, it might not work. From memory, the first shuttle arrives after the gates have opened, but I need to double check on this. Also, you are probably used to the orderly (mostly) lining up at WDW. From my reading, it appears that quite often there is a scrum for the shuttles. But I haven't been there so this is all just from the DLP subforum!

One of the cheaper Disney hotels has just been recently refurbished. It will also hopefully get you in 1 hour extra on one of the days to get a jump on the crowds.

I'm not trying to convince you one way or another by the way, although it sounds like I'm pushing you towards a Disney resort! I'll see if I can find my links to cheaper tickets.

 

[shushh]

Francilien tickets

booked at least 5 days in advance for a fixed date

Francilien 1 day 1 park on a weekday - 35 euros
Francilien 1 day 1 park on a weekend,public holiday or school holiday - 41 euros

Francilien 1 day 2 park on a weekday - 45 euros
Francilien 1 day 2 park on a weekend,public holiday or school holiday - 53 euros

They can be bought from

http://www.fnactickets.com/recherche/rechercheRapide.do?search=disneyland+paris

These tickets are all only up to Mar 27 though. If buying from FNAC, it can either be an e-ticket or you can pick up at one of their stores. I believe there is one close to the apartment you're renting.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

The problem is that you're going on the weekend at the end of the school holidays, that's why prices are so high.

Just check the times of the shuttle for the offiste hotels. If you want to be there right on opening, it might not work. From memory, the first shuttle arrives after the gates have opened, but I need to double check on this. Also, you are probably used to the orderly (mostly) lining up at WDW. From my reading, it appears that quite often there is a scrum for the shuttles. But I haven't been there so this is all just from the DLP subforum!

One of the cheaper Disney hotels has just been recently refurbished. It will also hopefully get you in 1 hour extra on one of the days to get a jump on the crowds.

I'm not trying to convince you one way or another by the way, although it sounds like I'm pushing you towards a Disney resort! I'll see if I can find my links to cheaper tickets.

The shuttles start at 6am and finish at midnight from what I've read on the Disney Paris forum but I would need to double check that.

Yes I probably am assuming there will be an orderly line up for the shuttle hahaha. Yikes, I don't know why people can't just wait their turn. The place I was thinking of is first pick up going to the parks and first drop off coming home. Plus I understand it is a 25 minute walk from the Village if we wanted a stroll.

I have ruled out Santa Fe as it looks quite basic and would be more expensive than one of the offsites and they are only 5-10 minute walk from each other. Would prefer a nicer room I think.

Hotel New York is the only place that would tempt me at this point I think , just sooooo expensive though. Arggghhhh.

 

[Beee]

So worst case scenario would be approx. $1427.07AUD for 2 nights/3 days which sounds like alot of money but apparently for a family of 5 wanting to visit DLP, it's not

that sounds much better than the nearly $3000! and here I was thinking DLH at DLR was expensive at $2000 for 5 nights!

 

[aussietravellers]

it appears that quite often there is a scrum for the shuttles.

This is not just at the shuttles. I was shocked daily by the pushing in, pushing, shoving and complete lack of lines, bowling down of children by adults to get ahead . Forget lining up for a character, it's just everyone in where you can. I initially would stand back to wait our turn but really I would end up having to push DS in just like they did or we literally would never see a character.

I remember lining up at Lucky Nugget Saloon for their birthday tea one afternoon. When the doors opened, there was another family and I (who were at the front too, but near the open door), that had our kids crushed by this crowd that once the doors opened, everybody was just trying to get in, no queueing at all!

Then on the Buzz ride, this group of teenage boys just pushed passed everyone, pushing people to the side!

The scrum is just unbelievable. But if you are expecting it, it may not be as bad or maybe they may have done something to fix it now

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

that sounds much better than the nearly $3000! and here I was thinking DLH at DLR was expensive at $2000 for 5 nights!

This does include the park hoppers and breakfast and it's for 5 people and 2 rooms. I guess that's my issue, the 2 room requirement is killing me.

Who knew that inviting Grandma along was going to be such a headache

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

This is not just at the shuttles. I was shocked daily by the pushing in, pushing, shoving and complete lack of lines, bowling down of children by adults to get ahead . Forget lining up for a character, it's just everyone in where you can. I initially would stand back to wait our turn but really I would end up having to push DS in just like they did or we literally would never see a character.

I remember lining up at Lucky Nugget Saloon for their birthday tea one afternoon. When the doors opened, there was another family and I (who were at the front too, but near the open door), that had our kids crushed by this crowd that once the doors opened, everybody was just trying to get in, no queueing at all!

Then on the Buzz ride, this group of teenage boys just pushed passed everyone, pushing people to the side!

The scrum is just unbelievable. But if you are expecting it, it may not be as bad or maybe they may have done something to fix it now

That doesn't sound like much fun. Yuk. My DH will hate that

 

[aussietravellers]

That doesn't sound like much fun. Yuk. My DH will hate that

I have seen some recent reviews and it's still the same apparently. But if you are prepared for it, it may not be so bad or a shock. I wasn't expecting it after only being at WDW a few months before. It was a shock.

Also the smoking! Walking along, swinging their cigarette holding hand as they go, not caring what child or person they collect as they push their way through. I also found smoking the in ride lines a touch annoying too. I do hope they have stopped that now. They do have a law in france, with no smoking in public places, however when we were there, this was not enforced by Disneyland cast members. With a bit of luck they have clamped down on this.

 

[Oz-kateer]

Oh the smoking. Standing in line for ToT was memorably unpleasant. But it was ToT so I guess I could stand it.

DLP is very different in atmosphere to DW or DLR. It's also MUCH smaller.

We were there a few weeks ago at the very end of Sept and were surprised at how much was closed. Food stands, restaurants and rides. The Phantom Manor was closed much to my DS's dismay, as was Autopia.

However the queues were very short for just about everything.

The two park entrances being absolutely right next to each other was also quite a surprise!

If you're staying in Paris, a day trip out to DLP is a doddle. Catch the train, it takes less than an hour and the station is right next to the park entrances. The DLP Resort hotels can be very expensive.

There's no WiFi at Disney or the resort hotels - free or otherwise - so if you need some your best bet is to head to the Disney Village - read: Downtown Disney, again, right next to everything - and hit Starbucks or McDonalds.

Merchandise is quite expensive and the selections for adults (t-shirts especially) was much more limited than I was expecting, we ended up buying nothing (believe it or not).

 

[aussietravellers]

Merchandise is quite expensive and the selections for adults (t-shirts especially) was much more limited than I was expecting, we ended up buying nothing (believe it or not).

When I was there, they didn't have mickey ears!!!! NO MICKEY EARS! At all, they had beanies with ears, they had earmuffs with ears. But no mickey ears! I was very distressed as I collect them.

Bought some placemats instead

 

[cola]

I was going to mention the queues and smoking earlier but thought it was abit whiney

Mid-week November last year, the parks were empty, almost everyone at the parks were eastern European and the queues were hell - this was an empty park mind you, virtually walk on to everything. The older rides seemed to have ridiculously narrow space between the rails (eg Snow White) seemed to be so there was not enough room for people to push past you (but they tried), the newer rides, it was a complete free for all once you got through an extremely narrow turnstile, ok, I am on the larger size, but I could not walk through a single turnstile facing forward, I had to go through sideways. Crush Coaster was the worse, go through turnstile and you then went up some wide stairs, people were just pushing past up the stairs, I'm sure it doubled the wait time for me because so many people pushed in front (and I'm pretty territorial in a queue!!!!)

Smoking was a pain, and again, this was in a practically empty park.

 

[aussietravellers]

It might be a bit whiney but hey, I like a good whine

Cola, I am pretty territorial in the queue too . I queue jumpers so it really bugged me. I think it's good that people hear about it beforehand though so it isn't a big surprise. You can then as a family in line, try to block the way through (although that won't stop all of them, they will just push through regardless). But it seems just to be the way they are. It doesn't seem to worry them as that's what they are all like It's just a bit different for us, when we are used to waiting our turn, waiting patiently.

 

[Caroline NZ]

It might be a bit whiney but hey, I like a good whine

Cola, I am pretty territorial in the queue too . I queue jumpers so it really bugged me. I think it's good that people hear about it beforehand though so it isn't a big surprise. You can then as a family in line, try to block the way through (although that won't stop all of them, they will just push through regardless). But it seems just to be the way they are. It doesn't seem to worry them as that's what they are all like It's just a bit different for us, when we are used to waiting our turn, waiting patiently.

I haven't been to Europe yet. But I love the fact that ( for the most part) the queing in the USA is so polite.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Be careful with annual passes. They are good value but you need to be aware of the conditions eg

IMPORTANT: Passeport Annuel Francilien, the lowest-priced pass, cannot be used on the two days following its purchase, meaning it cannot always be used instead of a regular 3 Day Ticket. For example, if you bought this pass on a Monday, you would not be able to use it on the Tuesday and Wednesday immediately following that specific Monday.

If you are in Paris a week you could manage to buy it at the start and then use it later in the week I presume-I looked into this and decided it wouldn't work for us. Blockout dates for this pass in April 2013 are 4, 6 and 9th. Also you need passport photos and go to a booth when you arrive to get your pass issued though think you can buy a one dayer and convert once you are inside-all the guff is on the website I have listed.

http://www.dlrpmagic.com/planning/booking/annual-passports/

This site (where I got the info) has lots of useful info btw and explains all the passes etc in depth. I am annoyed i didn't pay the winter 2012 price with 15% off but I wasn't sure of dates. As of last week only the UK site had released spring and summer early bird dates so far - 2 days and nights for free if stay 2 days and nights - so yes no use to you but also still dearer than the price was with only 15% discount so prices have gone up heaps. I keep hanging on hoping for a deal with another European country so can pay for it in euros with the better exchange rate might be better off but worried UK deal will sell out before that (we are going mid May) and may not get one as good as that as UK (and sometimes Irish and Dutch markets) get the best deals so may bite the bullet and buy this week anyway. At one stage I costed off site and decided with extra cost of ticket purchase we would come out just ahead (but only 2 of us going) to stay at the cheapo's on-site (Cheyanne) than off site+tickets. I also had Explorers shortlisted though and one in Val D'Europe (and catch train one stop). I also wouldn't discount just catching the train out from Paris while you stay in your apartment but appreciate you not keen/able to do this. This trip we plan on just visiting Paris for a day and having 2 days at DLP but its not our first trip to Paris.

Good luck.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Aussietravellers and Cola - thank you so much for all of the information on what we can expect. It's such a big help having these tips before going there.

Aussie Wendy - that is great feedback re the tickets. I too am kicking myself about the 15% off because I was hoping for a better deal. I'm annoyed with myself.

Glad to hear you had Explorers shortlisted too, that makes me feel like I may be on the right track if we go offsite.

Staying in Paris isn't an option so it really comes down to whether the cost saving will make up for not staying at a Disney resort. I think it will somehow but I'm still debating.

And only visiting Paris for one day doesn't seem like much but one day is better than no days I guess, and as you say, you've been before.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Just had a look, you can get a family room at Santa Fe for just over 1500 Euro.

Aussietravellers - I can't seem to find the "family room" at Santa Fe. Would that accommodate 5 people?

 

[aussietravellers]

Aussietravellers - I can't seem to find the "family room" at Santa Fe. Would that accommodate 5 people?

It should because I entered 5 guests in the one booking/room and the only options it bought up was DL hotel and Sante Fe in a "family room". I'll look again. I think I was looking from the UK area.

 

[aussietravellers]

Aussietravellers - I can't seem to find the "family room" at Santa Fe. Would that accommodate 5 people?

Yes, just looked again. I did a search for your dates, 3 adults, 2 kids (just made up the birthdates, one born 1998, one born 2001). It came up with DL hotel, Santa Fe and the Crocket Ranch or whatever it's called, LOL. And the family room is for 6 people. I've taken a screen shot, will post it.