Euro Disney compared to Disneyland?

[lobbity]

Has anyone been to both? Are they fairly similar? And, is it difficult if the kids are not fluent in French? DH is considering Euro Disney, since we'll be spending so much $ anyway. (Actually, he'd just rather take the family to Europe, period.) I'm just concerned that the kids will not get as much out of Euro Disney versus Disneyland due to the language barrier. DH is fluent in French, but the rest of us are not! Thoughts from someone who has been there?

Thanks!

 

[spazzyjazzy]

I have never been. You should try posting your question on the Disneyland Paris board.
http://disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=77
There is an awesome trip report from an American that was just there over the Christmas holiday.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

apparently, I posted the same thing twice.

 

[bradk]

it is called Disneyland Paris now. haven't been but i know people who have. English should not be an issue there. it's said to be one of the most beautiful of the disney parks.

 

[HydroGuy]

Has anyone been to both? Are they fairly similar? And, is it difficult if the kids are not fluent in French? DH is considering Euro Disney, since we'll be spending so much $ anyway. (Actually, he'd just rather take the family to Europe, period.) I'm just concerned that the kids will not get as much out of Euro Disney versus Disneyland due to the language barrier. DH is fluent in French, but the rest of us are not! Thoughts from someone who has been there?

Thanks!

I went to Disneyland Paris Resort (the new name as of several years ago - Euro Disney is no more) last June. Language is not an issue. The resort is biligual - French and English - with English being more prevalent. I speak no French myself and was fine.

I had a great time there. DLP itself was breathtakingly beautiful. Their FantasyLand was incredible. Their castle was incredible too. Lots more detail than either the DL or MK castles. Adventureland was loaded with detail.

Here are some broad observations:

1. As I said, the French know how to make things beautiful and DLP is that.

2. The second gate there - Walt Disney Studios - is very, very weak. People complain about DCA but DCA is light years ahead of WDS.

3. The entire resort is lacking in quality thrill rides - if that is your thing. Their BTMRR was very cool and better IMO than the ones at DL and MK. But their Space Mtn was very different and much too rough. I liked all Disney coasters I have ever been on - until this one. Never again. Their Indiana Jones coaster was a joke. Their RnR coaster at WDS was similar to the one at the MGM/DHS park at WDW but they changed the theme such that it is a weaker experience.

4. DO NOT MISS THE TARZAN SHOW AT DLP. It was the most amazing Disney show I have ever seen. Prior to that Aladdin at DCA was my favorite, but Aladdin is now a close second to DLP's Tarzan. It is hard to describe how they handle the language issues and do it justice, but once you see it you will understand someone did a wonderful job making a show that is langauge independent.

5. They have multiple shows of the Lion King with some in French and others in English. You will need to get advance tickets on the day of the show and just check for which language you want when you get the tickets. I though the LK show was OK although it has a reputation greater than Tarzan - I do not know why.

6. No late FASTPASS usage at DLRP. They have 30 minute windows which are strictly enforced.

7. The most valuable info I found on DLRP was here on DIS on the DLRP forum. It has mostly European partipants and the activity level is not very high compared to the WDW and DLR forums here. But there are a number of very helpful people there - most of them British.

8. DLRP is under tight restrictions from their government so they cannot do regular fireworks shows. There were none the week I was there.

9. If you go in the summer as I did, the higher latitude in Paris meant lots of daylight - until 10PM.

 

[lobbity]

Great info. I'll check into those links.

 

[Danauk]

I have been to DLP numerous times (and am going back in a few months!!), everyone there speaks English! Even when DH and I attempt to speak French to the CM's they always reply in English!!

Hydroguy, I have to respectfully disagree, I think the coasters at DLP are good. I really enjoy Space Mountain, plus the new Crush's coaster is a good ride. I guess different folks like different things though! I agree though that BTMRR is much better, I like the fact it goes under the lake and is on it's own island in the middle of the water. Plus I love the castle at DLP, I like that you can go to the basement to see the dragon plus go inside the castle to see the stained glass windows.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy, I have to respectfully disagree, I think the coasters at DLP are good. I really enjoy Space Mountain, plus the new Crush's coaster is a good ride. I guess different folks like different things though! I agree though that BTMRR is much better, I like the fact it goes under the lake and is on it's own island in the middle of the water. Plus I love the castle at DLP, I like that you can go to the basement to see the dragon plus go inside the castle to see the stained glass windows.

What would the world be like if we all agreed all the time?

Unfortunately Crush's coaster opened the day after my last day at DLRP in June. So I missed that. And back then they thought ToT would open in January (this month) so those two will make WDS more attractive.

I have ridden every Disney coaster at the six American parks at least five times each and love all of them. Uhhh, with the exception of Mulholland Madness at DCA which I rode once and did not like because it was boring. In any case, I rode Space Mtn at DLP twice last June. I liked the launch tube - very cool - but that was all. Apparently there is supposed to be music played during the ride but it was not working when I was there.

For everyone else's sake the Space Mtn there is more like RnR with shoulder restraints and a loop. I thought the ride was very rough. When I got off my shoulders hurt and my head hurt. I just did not enjoy it. It felt too much like a rough Six Flags coaster which I rarely go on anymore. I know some people like yourself enjoy Space Mtn at DLP and I say "too each his or her own".

On the other hand the POTC there is very good - close to DLR's in quality - and the Phantom Manor (equivalent of Haunted Mansion) has some very cool effects. It was quite different from the American versions and nicely done.

When I posted about Phantom Manor on the DLRP forum I found most people there had never noticed the cool effect at the end. So to anyone going to DLP, when you are at the end where they show the ghosts in the mirror so that you can "take them home", pay attention to the ghost, his hands, and to the doombuggy motion.

 

[1Robins]

It was about 5-6 years ago when I took my family to Disney Paris. I do remember eating in the Castle and found the food to be fairly good (as park food can be). The park had a different vibe to it than DLR or WDW, but I remember it being scenic.

I hate to mention this, but the one negative thing I do remember was that Europeans, except the British, don't know how to queue up. We would be standing in line and people would slowly shove their way past you (not to catch up with their party) so they could get to the front of of line. This happed at almost every attraction and it really did bother me.

 

[julieannbabe]

Has anyone been to both? Are they fairly similar? And, is it difficult if the kids are not fluent in French? DH is considering Euro Disney, since we'll be spending so much $ anyway. (Actually, he'd just rather take the family to Europe, period.) I'm just concerned that the kids will not get as much out of Euro Disney versus Disneyland due to the language barrier. DH is fluent in French, but the rest of us are not! Thoughts from someone who has been there?

Thanks!

i have been twice to disneyland paris and twice to disneyland, californina.

the disneyland park is much prettier in paris, than california/florida as it was built in 1992.

big thunder mountain, is better than its american counterparts. but there is no splash mountain in paris - boo.

i thought character interaction was amazing in paris when i came back last november.

the language barrier isn't a problem most of the employees speak english.

the walt disney studios is paris is okay but is not on the same par as MGM in florida - but TOT has recently opened in paris and Crush Coaster is great.

i hope that this bit of info helps!

 

[HydroGuy]

I hate to mention this, but the one negative thing I do remember was that Europeans, except the British, don't know how to queue up. We would be standing in line and people would slowly shove their way past you (not to catch up with their party) so they could get to the front of of line. This happed at almost every attraction and it really did bother me.

The negatives I had heard about and was prepared for at DLRP was people do not follow lines/queues, and lots of people smoke. For me personally over three days I never saw a problem with queues/lines and whatever smoking did occur never bothered me once. I do not remember anyone smoking in a line for an attraction although that is a frequent complaint one hears.