Do we want to do this?

[thewelts]

We have a 3-night layover in Paris in July 2015. I'm trying to decide if we should spend our time in Paris (proper) or Disneyland Paris.

We love Disney... 5 trip to Disneyland in 5 years plus a trip to Aulani and DisneyWorld. We went to Paris in 2008 when my son was 4. We loved it.

How would you spend your 3 nights (We don't want to split our time -- it has to be one or the other)?

Thanks for your reply!

 

[tennisfan]

I know you said you didn't want to split your time but maybe consider doing you stay at Disney and having a day in Paris, its only about a 40 minute ride to Paris from Disney

 

[cazspence]

Disneyland Paris without a doubt lol.

 

[HFJohnson]

I think you might be in the wrong place to get an unbiased response to that question

Seriously though, if it were me I think it would depend on whether I'd seen Paris before vs how much I wanted to visit DLP. If you've never been to Paris before and aren't likely to have a chance to in the foreseeable future then I would probably plan to visit it for at least one day, just to take in some of the sights if nothing else. It is a very easy journey into the centre from DLP.

However, if you really don't want to split your time then I'd be going for the Disney option!!

 

[Chlo83]

I would say also consider how old your son/any other children are going to be. We stayed in Paris and did a day in Disney when DSD was 6 and it would have been much better the other way round. She liked 'seeing' the Eiffel Tower but the waiting around to go up/museums/notre dame etc. not so much.

If you just have your son who is older and hasn't seen Paris he might find this really interesting? If you have more/smaller kids I think staing at DLP and doing a day trip to Paris might work better

 

[GrandBob]

I think I'm as big a Disney fan as anyone. But to my mind, without a doubt the right answer is Paris! I mean, you can always take more trips to WDW and DLR; but when will you get back to Paris? You can't pass that up! If necessary, you can always take a day trip to DLP via the train. But stay in Paris.

In fact, we're taking DGD to Paris next June, and that's what we plan to do. A week in Paris, and we'll probably hop the train to DLP for a day or two.

-Bob

 

[thewelts]

Thank you all for your feedback and suggestions...

I should mention that we always allow 3-4 nights for our trips to Disneyland (Anaheim). This is because we normally travel during school holidays so the crowds are larger. The longer stay allows for more down time and we enjoy escaping the park for an afternoon by the pool, etc.

I've read that DL Paris is VERY crowded -- and we will be there over July 4 weekend.

I should mention that my son will be 11 when we travel. We spent time in Paris when he was 4, so I know we would all enjoy some time in the city. Yet, this is probably the only chance we will have to go to Disneyland Paris in the next decade or so.

Would this make sense...
Arrive at CDG at 4 PM (We are flying from Italy, not the US) and take the train to the Disneyland Hotel. Check into a suite for one night (I read that suite guests have special fast pass access). Spend the night in the park -- We love the nighttime shows best. Enjoy the park for the day on July 5 and take the train back to Paris that evening to check into a hotel for 2 nights.

Thanks again for your suggestions!

 

[Jonjo]

If you had younger children I would stay in Disneyland Paris and go on the train into Paris for a day trip after Extra Magic Hours and then leave Paris to get back to DLP see Dreams! in the evening. You can get a day trip ticket for the RER and travel in central Paris from the train station at DLP and the journey time is around 50 mins.

The 4th July weekend in DLP should be fine, the park gets very busy a week or so later on the 14th July for Bastille Day.

But as your son is 11 and if he enjoys museums and seeing the sights, your suggestion would work with a split site holiday.