First time at DLP and by myself too!!

[Scripterrs]

After several visits to WDW and DL in the United States; I finally decided to visit Disneyland Paris.

I'm visiting Disneyland Paris from May 22-25th; being my first visit and traveling solo; has anyone got good recommendations ?

I'll be staying at the Castle Club rooms in the Disneyland Hotel. I was thinking about having dinner or lunch at Walt's; Chez Remy and Agrabah Buffet. Any ideas / opinions ?

Thanks!

 

[BadPinkTink]

I did a solo trip in February 2016 and stayed in a standard room at Disneyland hotel

Use you hotel fast passes wisely, other than the block out time, you can use them at any time. I found the best time to use them was when the regular fast pass lane was closed. I just showed the cm that I had a hotel fast pass and they let me to the fast pass lane. That way you really feel the benefit and get straight to the the top of the queue.

Use EMH. Being at DLH I went for breakfast at 7.30am and was in the park for 8.10am. The park really fills at 10am at general opening, so be organised. For example one morning I started queuing at Autopia at 9.45am and was in the first rotation of cars. As I exited the ride, the wait time was already up to 40 minutes, at 10.15am!!

Another morning I did the same with Pirates and was in the first row of the first boat the trick with Pirates is to take the right hand turnstile when you get down to the boat loading area. Everyone seems to take the left turnstile , which loads the second boat. The right turnstile loads the first boat and when I was there, was always the shorter line.

For Ratatouille , they have 3 lines, regular standby, single rider and fast pass. Dont waste a Fast Past, use the single rider line. When I was there, this was always the shorter line.

Depending on the location of your room, it is possible you could be able to see Dreams, the night time fireworks and animation show projected onto the Castle. I had a sideways balcony room and could just about see the higher fireworks and lights and faintly hear the music. While it does not compare to seeing it from Main Street/ The Hub, just for the pure novelty factor you should try on one night to watch from your room. The Castle Club rooms, the standard rooms with balcony's at DLH and a couple of rooms at Hotel New York are the only hotel rooms to have any sort of view of the fireworks so it is a very unique experience that most visitors to Disneyland Paris never have.

 

[Scripterrs]

Hi BadPinkTink! Thanks a lot for your extensive reply.

I will follow exactly your morning routine with the EMH. According to the hotel staff, they're giving me VIP Fastpass, which can be used anytime on any fast-pass enabled attraction.

I am wondering about Crush's Coaster, would the wisest thing be to go straight to it right when the Studios open?

Also, Does Mickey on Meet Mickey has his 25th anniversary outfit? Or the regular one?

Regarding the restaurants, are Walt's, Chez Remy and Agrabah buffet fine choices?

Thanks again!!!!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Hi BadPinkTink! Thanks a lot for your extensive reply.

You are welcome

I will follow exactly your morning routine with the EMH. According to the hotel staff, they're giving me VIP Fastpass, which can be used anytime on any fast-pass enabled attraction.

Cool , I just had the standard room fast pass, which had block times, but the Castle Club ones are even better

I am wondering about Crush's Coaster, would the wisest thing be to go straight to it right when the Studios open?

Yes thats what most people do, Studios open at 10am but people start waiting in line from around 9am

Also, Does Mickey on Meet Mickey has his 25th anniversary outfit? Or the regular one?

I dont know, I wasnt there during 25 Anniversary and I do do character meets

Regarding the restaurants, are Walt's, Chez Remy and Agrabah buffet fine choices?Thanks again!!!!

I havent eaten at any of them, but Walts is table service European style food, Chez Remy is table service upscale steak house and Agrabah buffet is middle eastern. My go restaurant is Blue Lagoon, and I have eaten at Pizzeria Bella Notte, Au Chalet de la Marrionnette, Last Chance cafe, Plaza Gardens Restaurant, Blockbuster Cafe, Restaurant des Stars and in Disney Village Planet Hollywood and Rain Forest Cafe

 

[Scripterrs]

Thanks again BadPinKTink! I will call the restaurants to check availability and will let you know when I'm settled... Despite being a newbie on the board, you have been really kind to me!

 

[micksn]

Chez Remy is very good and nicely themed. Walts is upscale and unique to Disneyland Paris. I haven't been to Agrabah but plan on going next trip. Plaza Gardens buffet is very good so I'm sure it will be too! I'm assuming you don't have a meal plan. If you did then these are all different price ranges and may not be best value. If not then you will be fine.

 

[elena_n2o]

Mickey is wearing his normal outfit in his meet & greet, we're just back from the 25th anniversary celebrations last week

We've stayed in the Castle Club in the past, it's really wonderful. Service there is amazing. Breakfast is yummy, you have a beautiful view over Main Street and the Castle... You can also go back to the lounge in the afternoon for soft drinks and snacks, I really recommend doing it. We found ourselves easily going back to the hotel and our room, to drop stuff off, have a rest... You'll get a key for the Castle Club lift, it takes you directly from your floor to the park entrance.

The VIP fastpass cannot be used all day, if I remember right it was only up to a certain time (something like 7pm, but this was a few years ago) Still, it covers the busiest time of the day, which is the main thing. We did countless rides on Big Thunder Mountain!

You've picked some of the best restaurants. Walt's and Bistrot Chez Remy are the ones to book as soon as you can to avoid disappointment (though you may as well book all restaurants once you call). Blue Lagoon is also really good, but I think it's closed in May (Pirates is closed until July and usually the restaurant closes at the same time). Agrabah is our favourite buffet, we go there regularly, and never had a bad meal. For fast meals, we love Toad Hall in Fantasyland (fish & chips), Cookout Barbecue in Frontierland (ribs....), Hakuna Matata in Adventureland. In the Studios, other than the Bistrot, the only good restaurant is the Cafe des Cascadeurs, if it's open they have some of the best burgers in the resort! If you go to the Disney Village, they've opened recently a Vapiano (italian) and Five Guys (burgers) which are good.

My top recommendation to anyone going is to ride Big Thunder Mountain at night... During the day too of course, but once it's dark, it's even better!! Don't miss Phantom Manor either, and take some time to explore Boot Hill, the little cemetery outside PM (once you exit the ride, turn left to Boot Hill).

I guess you should also ride Space Mountain aka Hyperspace Mountain, it's currently closed and being re-themed with Star Wars (it will reopen before your visit). We're getting new trains so hopefully it will be a bit smoother, but otherwise from what I understand it's very different to the American versions of the ride!

The Studios are... well we'll say they're a work in progress... Nowhere near as nice as the Disneyland Park, but it's getting better. Don't miss Ratatouille (and take some time to admire the whole mini-land around it, it's really beautiful). You can fastpass it so try to get to the Studios early and head straight to Crush (they officially open at 10am but usually they let people earlier, I've seen them queuing for Crush from 9:30am). Also a good show to watch in Mickey and the Magician. I usually spend a bit more than half a day in the Studios (depending of which shows we're watching)

Have a great trip!!