Has anyone used DLP as a jumping off point?

[ducati]

My wife and I are making a whirlwind trip of Europe in a few months, and would like to spend the last 5 days in Paris. The weeks prior we are traveling through Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and often changing hotels.

We're DVC members, and as such could stay at DLP for "free" during our 5 days in Paris. We would like to see DLP park, but probably a quick breeze-through... The other 3 or 4 days will be spent mostly in Paris.

Has anyone used DLP as a jumping off point to explore Paris and the surrounding regions? To tell you the truth, I am attracted to the idea because after changing hotels a zillion times it might be nice to establish a home base of sorts, for the last part of our trip.

I see it is only about 45 mins. to travel via train from DLP to Paris, which makes me think this wouldn't be so bad. Anyone have any positive or negative thoughts about this?

Also, my wife would like to stay at the Newport Bay Hotel, as she fancies some swimming at the end of our trip, and that pool complex looks the nicest. Is this a good choice for a hotel with respect to locale and proximity to the rail lines? Is one hotel better if you will be using the RER a lot?

Thanks kindly for any thoughts!

 

[bavaria]

Closest hotels in order to RER are DL Hotel, HNY, SL, NPB

I don't see using DVC as a good value for DLRP. If you can get your room for less than in the heart of Paris, sure, it's a doable proposition. (I can get a room for 80eu or so at the Cheyenne, but do to my job far less than that at a better hotel in Paris) That may not be possible for others, though

The RER is 40 minutes to Auber and 45 minutes to CDG-Etoile (Champs Elysees stop). Then you would still want to get around by foot, metro, or bus to see more of Paris.

 

[wintergreen]

If you plan to mostly see Paris, then you may want to consider staying in Paris, itself. We stayed for 5 nights at the Newport Bay hotel a few years ago after a week in Italy and 3 nights in Paris. We did venture into Paris again for one day after moving out to DLP, and it is not difficult to get into Paris from there, but it is rather a schlep. However, we felt that 5 nights at DLP was a bit too much (and we even spent a portion of each day there in the parks). If you really want to soak in Paris, I'd recommend staying in the city. It can be difficult finding a decent, inexpensive hotel there, but we had good luck with the Holiday Inn at the Place de la Republique. In any case, the NBH is very nice, the pool is great, and if you use your DVC points (which we did), you get daily continental breakfast and park passes included. Good luck deciding, and have a wonderful trip!

 

[ducati]

Thanks for the reply! I should point out: if we do not use our DVC points for next year, we will either give them away or rent them. We have another trip coming up later in the year that will wipe out my Holiday time for all of 2007/2008!

So really I consider using our points "free" for this trip, as we'd most likely give them away.

I'm wondering if anyone else has used a DLP hotel as a sort of home-base... A 40 min. train ride doesn't sound too bad for that purpose...

 

[ducati]

If you plan to mostly see Paris, then you may want to consider staying in Paris, itself. We stayed for 5 nights at the Newport Bay hotel a few years ago after a week in Italy and 3 nights in Paris. We did venture into Paris again for one day after moving out to DLP, and it is not difficult to get into Paris from there, but it is rather a schlep. However, we felt that 5 nights at DLP was a bit too much (and we even spent a portion of each day there in the parks). If you really want to soak in Paris, I'd recommend staying in the city. It can be difficult finding a decent, inexpensive hotel there, but we had good luck with the Holiday Inn at the Place de la Republique. In any case, the NBH is very nice, the pool is great, and if you use your DVC points (which we did), you get daily continental breakfast and park passes included. Good luck deciding, and have a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the quick reply, Wintergreen! I did not notice the free breakfast. That's a plus

 

[Cyrano]

Hi ducati and welcome to DLP DIS board
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As you have DVC points to use I think this would work for you.
DLP is a lovely park, but Paris has much to offer and I'm sure that on balance a couple of days will be enough for DLP leaving you lots of time for Paris

 

[bavaria]

I'm wondering if anyone else has used a DLP hotel as a sort of home-base... A 40 min. train ride doesn't sound too bad for that purpose...

But remember, that's 40 minute to get INTO Paris. You need to really consider the time to walk/bus/metro to other locations. At the end of a day of sightseeing, that 40 minutes may feel a lot longer. (I used to sightsee in a similar fashion - taking the train from Guildford to London, and it was a really loooooooooong trip home)

I really think that in order to appreciate the city it makes a difference to stay in the city and experience life. At DLRP it is very sanitized and you don't have all the patisseries, etc around you.

 

[wintergreen]

I should point out: if we do not use our DVC points for next year, we will either give them away or rent them. We have another trip coming up later in the year that will wipe out my Holiday time for all of 2007/2008!

So really I consider using our points "free" for this trip, as we'd most likely give them away.

In that case, I would use the points. Also, I forgot to mention that there is a car rental location in the train station. We rented a car one day, and drove to see Versailles. So, renting a car for a day to see something outside of Paris is also an option.

 

[ducati]

In that case, I would use the points. Also, I forgot to mention that there is a car rental location in the train station. We rented a car one day, and drove to see Versailles. So, renting a car for a day to see something outside of Paris is also an option.

Maybe we'll do that, I would like to see the beach where my grandfather landed in 1944.

My wife and I talked it over and we're going to go for it. I do believe the train ride home at midnight could be a little tiring, but overall I think it will be a winner. We're Disney fans so we'd like to see DLP, anyway, so it seems to make sense. Thanks for all the responses!

 

[Cyrano]

Maybe we'll do that, I would like to see the beach where my grandfather landed in 1944.

That's probably about a 3 - 3 1/2 hour drive away I suspect

 

[Pirata]

I’ve done this in my very last trip to DLRP, this last weekend, and me and my wife were very satisfied. I was a sort of mixed business and vacation trip to Paris, as I had a meeting there on Monday. We went on Friday, and came back late on Tuesday evening.

But perhaps my case is a little special, as I go to Paris at least two or three times every year… since the early 80’s. I have brought my wife with me in many occasions, and we have also enjoyed several holidays there, with and without our children. So for us there are few things to discover in Paris.

Finally, I have to agree that those 45 minutes on the train back to DLRP on evenings may be really painful, after a long and exhausting day in Paris.

 

[MorganB]

I personally wouldnt do it. You dont have Paris at your feet. You cant find your favorite cafe near your hotel and sit to watch the world go by. You cant pop into your room to drop off things you may have bought during the day or if nature calls. You cant walk to the sites that are near your hotel, soaking in the city and avoiding public transportation. You are forced to stay in the city from morning till evening with no place to rest. After you've stomped around the city all day and are dead tired it would be much less enjoyable to go out to eat in one of the many fine restaurants in the city. If you can go back to your room you can nap and freshen up to be ready for a delightful dinner.

Sure 40 minutes doesnt sound long but as another poster mentioned, its not really 40 minutes. You dont sleep on the RER platform and you arent going to stay in the RER station in Paris either. By the time you leave the hotel, wait for the RER, get into Paris and THEN get where you are going you will have spend 1h15m to 1h30 mins easily. Its just long. Dont forget the rush hour crowds on the transportation in the AM and PM.

 

[mark&sue]

We have used DVC points for a stay at Disneyland Paris the last time we went.

We are buying a holiday home in Spain and plan to drive there some summers. I was hoping we could stop off at Disneyland Paris and use our points as we will not be going to WDW next year but I think DH would need some persuading as he just wants to drive and check in at a motorway hotel when we feels tired. I think it would be a good use of points in those circumstances.



Susan

 

[Cyrano]

I was hoping we could stop off at Disneyland Paris and use our points as we will not be going to WDW next year but I think DH would need some persuading as he just wants to drive and check in at a motorway hotel when we feels tired. I think it would be a good use of points in those circumstances.

Sounds like you have an excellent plan there Sue

 

[nbodyhome]

Personally, I'd still stay in Paris itself. Maybe a couple of days at DLP - and then the rest in Paris.

 

[woody73]

. . . I should point out: if we do not use our DVC points for next year, we will either give them away or rent them. We have another trip coming up later in the year that will wipe out my Holiday time for all of 2007/2008!

So really I consider using our points "free" for this trip, as we'd most likely give them away.

My first choice would be to stay in Paris. But if I had a "free" room at the Newport Bay Club, I would stay there and take the train to Paris.

Woody