Has anyone ever been? Disneyland Paris

[poppop]

DW and I are thinking about going to Disneyland Paris in August 2003 for our 10 year anniversary. We will be there 7-10 days.

Has anyone been there before and do you have any suggestions for where to go, what to see?

Should we use our points to stay at one of the Diney Hotels and use that as a base camp for sightseeing or should we combine 2-3 nights at a disney hotel with a week at a II exchange?

Which Disney Hotel?

I have Lots of questions and I appreciate everyone's input

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Try posting on UK DIS as well
http://www.wdwinfo.co.uk/boards/

The UK is just a short train ride away from DLP and more people posting on that board will have visited there.

And NO, I haven't been there. Florida = Disney, Frrance = Paris!

Andrew

 

[normr]

Yes we've been there, we first stayed in London on points and then took the Eurostar train right into DLP, the train station is right between the DLH and the Disney Village, so it's very easy to grab the train if you want to explore for the day, we had a great time, it's about 45 minutes to Paris, we did a bus tour in Paris one day too.

if you need anymore info feel free to e-mail me.

 

[CarolA]

Fair warning! I believe DLP will be packed in August. August is national vacation month in France (yes, they all take vacations at the same time) That said. I would stay in Paris for the majority of your trip. Paris is a WONDERFUL city and you can spend several days just doing museums and shopping. Then move to DLP for a few days. I did this in December of last year. At that point DLP was EMPTY! (I am serious!) and I managed to see everything in one day. In August and with the addition of the studios it will probably take longer.

 

[slindamood]

We visited Disneyland Paris for a day in July a few years ago. We took the train directly from the airport, then left by train that evening. One day was enough to see everything. One night at a DLP hotel might be nice, but any more is not worth it. The park is not that large and is not particularly convenient to anything else.

There are far better hotel bargains in Paris (many small charming family run hotels for far less money than DLP.) I do not think that it is a good use of points to book a Paris hotel, since there are many bargains available.

There is so much to do in Paris and the train connections are so good to DLP, that if I had to choose one place to stay, it would be in Paris. Take a daytrip to DLP.

 

[darner]

The Disney Studios will be open by then so there's an additional park to see...

We spent 2 nights at DLP Hotel in Oct. '98 and loved it! We used DLP as a conclusion to a week's long tour of Normandy, Loire Valley, & Paris.

I'd suggest DLP not be your home resort, there are so many lodging options in and around Paris that'll be more convenient to sightseeing and much more cozy and romantic... But I'd also suggest that when you do get out to DLP, stay on property... the DLP Hotel is very grand! and Worthy of a 10th Anniversary stay!

Good Luck, you'll have plenty of time to plan a perfect trip!

 

[disneykins]

We're planning on doing DLP this July. I think if you stay at Disneyland hotel on points you get free theme length of stay passes so this may make the cost more reasonable. If we exchange points for this ressie, is there a $75 charge? Also if we cancel what happens to the points? Do they go into a holding account? We've been members 10 years and have always done OKW so exchanging points is something we're not too sure about. We're thinking 2 nights at DLP and then 2 nights in Paris and back to London.
Tony

 

[LibertyBelle]

We went in February this past year and stayed at the Newport Bay Club. We (as you put it) used this as our home base. We did go into Paris and some other local places, but pretty much stayed near the park. The hotels offer a really good City tour which we took. I have to say that DLP is my favorite Disney Park hands down... (haven't been to Tokyo yet but hear it is even better

Another side note, All DLP resorts that accept point include the park admissions (they are Length of Stay passes and breakfast ) SO I would figure that into the equation too...

 

[RobDoc]

If we exchange points for this ressie, is there a $75 charge? Also if we cancel what happens to the points? Do they go into a holding account?

There is no $75 charge for DVC or other Disney resorts- even DLP.

If a non-DVC resort reservation is cancelled, the points will go into a holding account if cancelled within 30 days. Otherwise they are returned to your regular account in reservation status.

Reservation status means they may NOT be used at DVC resorts- but may still be used for non-DVC reservations.

 

[MickeyMcMouse]

Hi Poppop,

We have been to DLP 4 or 5 times, but flying from Scotland makes it slightly easier. We usually only go for 3 nights as the timing of the flights to CDG means that you get there mid day and leave mid morning.

We usually stay at the Disneyland Hotel which has a superb location, being right over the entrance gates to Magic Kingdom. If your lucky, you can get a seat at breakfast overlooking main street.

DLP (without the new park) is really only a couple of full days visit.(tops) but the rides have been upgraded from florida. Space mountain is awsome ! We are usually there march time which is not that busy, but not that warm either.

DLP is very different from florida, but maybe the french culture has a lot to do with it. Any questions, give me a shout.


David

 

[vernon]

I've stayed on DLP using points and I thought with the passes and breakfast included it was a reasonable dea. I wouldn't stay at DLP for your whole trip (7-10 days) as there is SOOOO much to see other than DLP. August is likely to be busy, due to European school holidays. AS has been said there are a lot of fans of DLP on the UK site and I'm sure they will give you some ideas on other things to do in France/Europe. IF you are travelling from London to DLP or PAris in general the train is by far the best way to travel.

.

 

[poppop]

Thanks for everyone's input. We might rethink the August trip and opt for September instead.

 

[slindamood]

September in Paris would be great - fewer tourists, nice weather. Two nights at DLP and a few nights in Paris sounds perfect.

Even though we did DLP as a day trip before, and were quite happy with that choice, after reading these posts, have decided that next time in Paris, we will try two nights at DLP hotel. The hotel over the entrance is striking, and would be a great splurge. But once on Space Mountain Paris is enough for a lifetime - never again for me!!

Have a great trip, and have fun planning!!!

--Suzanne

 

[PKS44]

1) Ive never been but it bears repeating that if you stay at one of the 3 on site hotel your stay includes passes to the parks this is one of the if not the best values on point exchange in existence...

2)No way should you stay all 7 to 10 days at DLP...Paris, daytrips to Chantilly or Versailles, or travel to Normandy, or Loire valley or Brittany,etc...

3) Paris has many hotels, nice ones, for under $100 a night, try www.parishotels.com for starters, there are many other websites...

4)September may not be a busy time for DLP but I am told that is a PEAK time for Paris as the cultural season gets into full swing...that is what Rick Steves says (PBS Eurotravel expert)

Paul

 

[PKS44]

1) Ive never been but it bears repeating that if you stay at one of the 3 on site hotel your stay includes passes to the parks this is one of the if not the best values on point exchange in existence...

2)No way should you stay all 7 to 10 days at DLP...Paris, daytrips to Chantilly or Versailles, or travel to Normandy, or Loire valley or Brittany,etc...

3) Paris has many hotels, nice ones, for under $100 a night, try www.parishotels.com for starters, there are many other websites...

4)September may not be a busy time for DLP but I am told that is a PEAK time for Paris as the cultural season gets into full swing...that is what Rick Steves says (PBS Eurotravel expert)

Paul

 

[PKS44]

so I will try to bounce it into the system

 

[Cinderella]

September might be nice but, springtime - especially May would be a great time to visit.

I would definitely only do 2 or 3 nights at DLP. We stayed at Sequoia Lodge on points and liked it. But, it was quite a hike to the park and if I went again I think I would definitely go for hotel New York, or the Disneyland Hotel, if I had plenty of points.

Ooops - forgot to add that it was just advertised before that Disney Studios is opening at Disneyland Paris so u might want to tack on an extra day.

We prefer WDW but, Disneyland Paris has its own attributes. The castle is pretty and the Big Thunder Mountain ride was much better than the one at WDW. Have fun.

 

[wayno]

I did a trip to DLP in January of 1995. It was a little cold, but a lot of fun regardless. We actually used our DVC points and stayed the Sequoia Lodge. The real benefit as others have said is that you get the Length of Stay admission included, as we did back then as well. For that trip, I actually stayed at DLP for two nights and at another hotel in downtown Paris for three nights. This approach worked out really well as we got to see everything we wanted to in the 5-6 day time period with out excessive travel times, or even renting a car at all. Then before and after the trip we rode the Eurail train from London. Incidentally, the train stopped just outside of the tunnel in each direction. They had just opened the tunnel a few months before and were still working the bugs out I guess. We were given vouchers for free trips in the next year, for both outages, but that didn't help, since I haven't been back to Paris or London in the six years since.

Thanks,
Wayne