First Time from the USA! Any tips?

[elphie101]

Hi everyone!

Well, I'm starting early in planning our first trip to DLP! We (DH & I, as well as another couple) are planning on going to DLP next summer (specifically June 30-July 3) as part of a larger London-Paris trip. Dates a pretty set in stone, as I work at a university so we have to travel over the summer, and my birthday in July 2, so what better way to spend it than in Disney! This is the first time I've planned overseas travel (though DH and I have each been to London and Strasbourg respectively, so we're a little familiar with traveling abroad) so I have plenty of questions, and a lot of the sticky threads don't seem to have been updated in awhile, so I thought I'd start a new thread.

- Is 4 days enough for DLP for first timers? Is it too much? We'll probably have 7 or 8 days in Paris/DLP combined.
- Building off of that, would anyone recommend doing Paris before or after Disney? I think I read somewhere that the week we're looking to be in Disney is the last week of school in France
- We'd really like to stay onsite since we don't know when we'll be back, and we're thinking about Newport Bay Club or Sequoia Lodge, probably in the cheapest room available. Would you recommend one over the other for four 20-somethings? I know Newport is currently in the middle of renovations.
- Is there any particular guidebook or website anyone would recommend? I was hoping the Passporter would do but that hasn't been updated since 2012.

Any other tips would be wildly appreciated. Thank you!

 

[SWofDisorder]

DLP is lovely but so very different from WDW. I would suggest Paris first and DLP really only takes 2 days or 3 a the most. It is smaller more like DL in Cali. The attention to detail in the castle and buildings is wonderful, some rides are better in DLP.

You don't really need a guide book as it is very straight forward, take advantage of EMH, go where the crowd isn't and try to go when the kids are in school. The sequoia is beautiful and like a lodge at Yellowstone. It is moderately priced hotel with the Hunter's grill being very good.

Enjoy your stay and welcome.

 

[BagOLaughs]

so I have plenty of questions, and a lot of the sticky threads don't seem to have been updated in awhile, so I thought I'd start a new thread.

I hope I can help here:

- Is 4 days enough for DLP for first timers? Is it too much? We'll probably have 7 or 8 days in Paris/DLP combined.

I think 4 days is just about right personally. That's usually the amount of days we go for (UK based) It means that you don't have to rush and can just take things at a leisurely pace.

- Building off of that, would anyone recommend doing Paris before or after Disney? I think I read somewhere that the week we're looking to be in Disney is the last week of school in France
I always leave Disney for last, because then its something to look forward to! If it is the last week of School for French kids then try and avoid this, but if you can't that's another reason for doing 4 days and not 3.

- We'd really like to stay onsite since we don't know when we'll be back, and we're thinking about Newport Bay Club or Sequoia Lodge, probably in the cheapest room available. Would you recommend one over the other for four 20-somethings? I know Newport is currently in the middle of renovations.
I'd choose Sequoia Lodge personally. However I'm basing that opinion on when we most recently stayed in Newport Bay. The room was really outdated :S They're both around the same distance from the parks (walk able). I would however say the Newport Bay has the better pool - maybe something to consider?

- Is there any particular guidebook or website anyone would recommend? I was hoping the Passporter would do but that hasn't been updated since 2012.
I tend to buy "the brits guide" for DLP. It should be useful for an American too!

A couple of other points:

• DLP is currently going through a major referb some some of the rides you may want to go on could be closed. Best check other threads on here and google.
• Watch Dreams!

I hope you have a lovely trip! Don't forget to say hello to the Dragon under the castle!

 

[Danauk]

I would also say that 4 days is just about right. We usually like our trips to be 4 nights as that way we don't have to rush things, especially in the summer months when Disney Dreams isn't on until 11pm. This way some days we make EMH, some day we get there for 9am to make sure we are first in line at the Studios gate (for opening at 9:30) so we can get to the front of the Crush queue or some days we have a lie in and get there a little later.

For hotels I would probably choose Newport Bay as by then the renovations will be complete so you will definitely have a recently updated room. I also wouldn't recommend any guidebook, they are all too out of date. I often use websites such as DLPguide to look at restaurant menus, ride closures etc. As a previous poster has said there will be several ride closures next year as many of the rides are having long refurbishments at the moment ready for the parks 25th anniversary in 2017.

 

[SWofDisorder]

I still can get it all done at a relaxed pace in 2 with the 3rd being our day for hightlights of favourite rides. But we also have a different access that does make a difference.

 

[elphie101]

Thanks for the tips! Not going to lie, when I saw all the ride closures and the fact that the 25th anniversary is just another year off I almost considered pushing the trip back, but why wait? (Though man, am I bummed to be missing Big Thunder!)

 

[BagOLaughs]

That is a shame, not to brag but DLP Big Thunder, in my opinion, is the best one! haha.

But there's still a lot of stuff to do over here which is great fun. Crush's Coaster in WDSP is super fun! We've also got Phantom Manor which is a really unique take of the Haunted Mansion. In fact the whole "frontierland" or "Thunder Mesa" as its called over here is the best.

Discoveryland is also a great version of a "futureland" type area. If you like steam punk stuff its really fun.