DVC Disney collection France

[LakeAriel]

I don't know where the best place to get info about this is so I'll start here! I would like to take my family to Europe in 2008. Several days in Ireland and then France. If I book and borrow DVC points I can get two Newport Bay rooms. Any advice? Is there transport to the heart Paris? We would only go to the parks one or two days. I've never been out of this country and may never get another opportunity so want to do research on all options.
Thanks

 

[bavaria]

Lots of good info on the stickies here; plus lots of Americans posting lately about going out of the US for the first time.

check out www.ratp.fr for transportation - the RER red line goes from DLRP to Paris; about 40 minutes. Get off at Auber for the department stores, or CDG Etoile for Champs Elysees

 

[Cyrano]

Hi LakeAriel 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, posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here

NBC is popular with a few here on the boards and although a very large hotel is a nice walk of 5 minutes to the parks

 

[LakeAriel]

Thank you both..I will be lurking and posting frequently. I thought of doing this this year but am doing Universal/wdw instead. I wondered about doing a swap but DVC doesn't have accomodations in Paris other then the Disneyland hotels so I'll look into this. It seems like the best bet, I may find out otherwise. Some people would rent their points and then stay independently but I need to be organized organized organized! The Newport Bay looks very nice to me..Figuring out restaurants alone will be at least a few months!
Fortunately I have a passport already (two actually) even though I have never left the country... backwards I know, I know. I wanted to get an Irish passport before Bush clamped down any further.

 

[bavaria]

I own DVC, but would recommend booking directly or via www.expedia.de - using points for DLRP is not a good use of points.

You can book room only or room and tickets package on the various websites - DLRP for packages, www.expedia.de for room only.

It doesn't really require any additional organization to book this way - the only thing you would need to manage is if you were going to rent out your points to get a cash return.

 

[disneylandkids]

Hello! I am one of those Americans who have been posting frequently about planning a trip to DLP.

I don't have DVC, but I agree with another poster who said it might not be the best use of your points.

All that said, one of the things you mentioned was getting two rooms at the Newport. Is that because you have a large family? If so, the Newport has rooms that will fit six people; they're called family rooms and are on the Admiral's Floor (concierge) level. The DLH also has family rooms but those are *not* on the Castle Club (concierge) level.

We have 2 adults, 3 kids in our family, so we needed a family room (or two rooms). We are spending five nights in France, to see DLP and Paris. After a *lot* of contortions and whining and hand-wringing, I have booked two nights at the Newport Bay hotel and then three nights at the Explorers Hotel, which is one of the hotels near DLP. In late March, those nights will cost us just under $1900, and the stay at the Newport includes park admission for all of us. Believe me, that was the best price I could find.

So far, I am highly impressed with the suites staff at the Newport because they have been in touch with me via email regarding various aspects of our stay. They have booked some dining reservations for me and have arranged for balloons in the room for my daughter's birthday (thanks to all the kind people on this board who gave me all these ideas!!).

We chose the Explorers Hotel because of the good feedback it's received here on the boards. It's also close enough and has shuttle service to the parks that moving base from the Newport shouldn't be too terribly difficult. They have rooms that will accommodate our family, and we didn't want to pay Disney prices for the days we're going to be sightseeing in Paris.

We did not move to hotels in Paris because we are taking the Eurostar to/from London on round trip from the DLP station, and again, the difficulty in finding lodging for a family of 5. The Explorers' rates were very reasonable and my son is especially keen on the hotel's themeing. Their staff has been very responsive via email as well.

Hope this gives you some ideas of other options besides DVC!