Disneyland Paris

[smnslc]

Has anyone used their points to travel to Disneyland Paris. I am wondering what the experience with reservations are? I know that you can't make reservations until 6 months out. How difficult is that? I am also wondering when is a good season (weather) or time of year to go? Would like all the info I can get if you are willing to share.

 

[Pakey]

We did not use points, we paid cash to stay at the Disneyland Hotel. We went in mid September and the weather was great. We had one day where it was cool enough to wear a sweater but the other 2 days were tee shirt weather. Crowds were very low.

 

[living20057]

We just went in April. It was very easy. I made the reservation in March.

 

[Vernoon]

We Just going in mid June. The weather is very cool. I am wearing a jacket.
The crowed in not more.

 

[suzy021372]

Weather in Paris is much cooler than I had expected. I was there in July and wished I had a sweater many times.

Disneyland Paris was great. That and Normandy were my favorite two places in France. After two weeks, I was thrilled to see an American bathroom!!!

 

[aerials friend]

We booked 2 months out and stayed at the Hotel New York as it included a full hot breakfast and very close walk to the village and the parks. The weather was beautiful - warm during the day, sweatshirt cool at night.

 

[Brandis]

When booking with points, you HAVE TO buy length-of-stay passes.

 

[MrShiny]

We went in June 2008. The weather was cool, but not cold - it was a nice break from Rome where we had been the week before.

You do need to get length of stay for everyone when you book through DVC. The point values back in 2007 included that, but they changed it just in time for us! But they made the point costs lower, so it was sort of a wash.

We stayed at Hotel New York as well. It was great (despite the huge Mets and Yankees logos on one part of the floor)! Very close walk to the parks and included breakfast. Also got in early each day to Fantasyland (which is much larger than the current US Fantasyland's).

The Village was nice (especially enjoyed the Chicago themed steakhouse - not the best steak in the world, but enjoyed being greated by a big oil painting of the first Mayor Daley)!

It's also about 45 minutes by train to Paris itself. The trains get a bit crowded at rush hour (especially as you get closer to Paris), but are easy and convenient. We went on to London and took the train direct from Disney Village to St. Pancras right in London via the chunnel. Very quick and cool! Much easier than a plane.

DLP was great. Their rides don't seem quite as lovingly maintained as the American ones, but the detail and differences are very nice.

MS also booked our Buffalo Bill dinner show at Disney Village. We thought the show was cool. It uses some of the mechanics of any horse show (think Medieval Times) but infused enough history and great staging (especially the buffaloes!) to make it very interesting. It is peresented with dialog in both English and French (usually one after the other), probably much like the real Buffalo Bill's shows in Europe.

They messed up booking this and ended up charging us too little, but they said it was their mistake and honored the price (which was great, as the exchange rate was very unfavorable back then!).

 

[smnslc]

Thanks for the info everyone. We are seriously considering this trip and trying to decide if this trip would be worth the money and points.

 

[MrShiny]

Paris itself is pretty much all it cracked up to be and DLP is really charming. The exchange rate to dollars is not crazy now (although it could be better). Do compare booking directly with cash. When we did it, the points were much better than the exchange rate (especially since you don't know what that exactly is until you check out and pay).

If you couple this with a stay in Paris it self, we found a great cheap no-frills hotel in an amazing area - Hotel des Bains in Monteparnesse. I highly recommend it. Very convenient to the metro and a block away from the best creperie in Paris.

Also note that August things tend to shut down a bit across all of Europe as they go on holiday.