Help Me Decide My Days at DLP

[HydroGuy]

I am getting very close to making firms plans to visit DLP. As posted last week I will be on business in Paris the week of June 4 and this trip will be solo. I am a solid Disney veteran (DLR in California many times and one trip to WDW Florida last year) so in general understand how to work Disney parks, use Fastpass, etc., although I am working on understanding all the differences.

Here is where I need help right now: How many days should I plan for DLP? I am going to stay visit the parks for two days or three days. I know everyone says at least three days, but I will be visiting alone and on weekdays.

It appears I will visit Monday/Tuesday June 4-5. DLP is open 10:00-19:00 on those days, just nine hours, but has evening EMH on June 4 and I am going to try to get a Disney hotel which will give me EMH entrance. If I do a third day it will be either Wednesday June 6 or Friday June 8 depending on how my business meeting schedules are arranged.

Compared to the American parks, the park hours in Paris are short. This concerns me. I will get to the parks at opening and stay all day (I have a lot of energy and with the short park hours I think this will be easy for me).

When I think about staying two days, I am quite sure I can see several of the shows I want to see and ride all of the rides I want. Once. But I would like to do some of the rides twice (Space Mtn, Big Thunder Mtn, POTC, etc.) and think two days may not be enough.

When I think about three days I think it may be too long and by the third day I will be a little bored - especially because I will be solo. If I had all or some of my family along then three days would be an easy decision for me.

It is not my goal to see everything at DLP and WDS, but to see most of the two parks.

Since I am touring the DLP parks alone that will allow me to be very mobile and fast from ride to ride. My touring days are weekdays, which I understand in DLP means lower crowds. But how low? I know queues in the morning will be short, but what about mid-day? Will I be waiting 10 minutes for most rides, or 30+?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Wuzefelix]

Hi!

I wish you a wonderful time at Disneyland Resort Paris. Although I have never been to the other Disney Parks around the world yet, I think I can help you making your stay extra magical.

The Disneyland Park seems to be bigger than the Magic Kingdom at WDW. There are many rides waiting for you, but if you will be there on weekdays and if you travel alone, you can do it in a single day. Besides the rides, there is the Legend of the Lion King musical-style show, the brand-new Once Upon A Dream Parade and the wonderful Tarzan Encounter, which might be similar to Tarzan Rocks.
In my opinion, these shows are worth to be seen. Be sure to pick up a free ticket for the Legend of the Lion King. How it works, when and where you pick it up can be found in showtimes folder.

The Walt Disney Studios are much smaller than the American counterpart. Althoug it is a nice park, it is not as magical as the Disneyland Park. Most attractions are like shows: Only at certain times. With a little bit of planning, you can completely finish the Studios in 5 or 6 hours on weekdays.
Be sure to see Cinemagic, Animagic and if you do not already know it from Orlando, the Stuntshow.

2 days for both parks seem to be alright for me. I suggest you visit the Disneyland Park on your first day. On the second day, you could do the Studios and hop over to the Disneyland Park in the afternoon for some more rides.

If you take your time and enjoy relaxed table service meals each day, 3 days will be fine, too. Then you have more time for repeated rides and if you ever feel bored you can watch a show at one of the parks for the second time. But I do not hink that anyone could feel bored at a Disney Theme Park !

There are many nice Restaurants at Disneyland Resort Paris, but expect them to be overpriced. A 3 course meal at a table service will cost you approximately 29 Euros plus drinks and (in europe maximal 10%) tip. The Walt Disney Studios only have Counter-Service, and Counter Service in Disneyland Resort Paris is extremely overpriced and of a poor quality .
Ceck out w*w.dlpfoodguide.c*m
My suggestions:
Walts - an American Restaurant (Mainstreet)
Blue Lagoon Restaurant (Inside Pirates Ride)
Plaza Gardens (Buffet near Central Hub)

or you can visit the Restaurants at any of the Disney Hotels in the evening after the Parks are closed to save time in the Parks. All Hotels are in walking distance to the Parks and to each other but there are also free shuttle busses. Reservations for the Restaurants can be made at the hotels or at City Hall (on your right when you enter the park, at Townsquare).

I you have any additional questions feel free to contact me.
Sorry for the bad spelling, I am german.

Greetings from Europe, Wuzefelix

 

[HydroGuy]

Greetings Wuz, as you gave me a lot of good information on your very first post on DIS!

I have been doing a bit of research over the last two weeks, and I want to see the following shows:

Lion King
Tarzan Encounter
Once Upon a Dream Parade
Candleabration
Cinemagique
Moteurs Action Stunt Show (yes I have seen this once at WDW but I know that WDS has the original)

Six shows in two days is a lot, and for this reason I wonder if I will have enough time for all the rides I want to do, including doing the following twice:

BTM
Space Mtn
Indiana Jones
POTC
Phantom Manor
Rock 'n Rollercoaster

So I am still looking for advice from other experts out there.

 

[Bexx]

Have a look at the show and parade times here on dlrpmagic. It's out of date at the moment (which is unusual) but if you look at any dates from the 7th April they include Tarzan Encounter, and it's very unlikely that timings will change by the time you visit.

If you know the times of the shows, you can make a rough itinerary for your two days. We don't normally do this, but found it a big help for a very short visit we did last year. The timing of your visit should mean that the parks shouldn't be crowded, so I think you'll manage to do everything you want

 

[Ware Bears]

To save time queueing for tickets for the Lion King show you could always combine it with lunch/snack/drink and watch it from the Cafe Hyperion. There are plenty of tables in there with good views of the show ~ obviously not as good as sitting in the theatre itself but definitely the next best thing.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Wuzefelix and welcome to the DIS!

Sorry for the bad spelling, I am german.

Your English is excellent!

 

[Wuzefelix]

Hi!

Thank you very much!
I understand nearly everything when I read texts and I understand most of it in english movies. But writing a text on you own is harder. I keep trying my best and I am glad when I can help you with Information about Disneyland Resort Paris.
This is the least I can do because the DIS-boards gave me so much helpful information about WDW.

Greetings from Germany, Wuzefelix

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Wuzefelix and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here

 

[SammieG]

Wuzefelix mentioned that the Disneyland park is bigger than the WDW Magic Kingdom...

Having visited them both.. I cant be sure.. but WDW feels MUCH bigger than Paris... am i wrong?

IN answer to HydroGuys question... i would think that two and a half days would be perfect - I think if you have the time there is always plenty to see at these parks and in our recent three day trip we ended up seeing the Tarzan show on three occasions..
Also.. even the stuff that is at wdw and California.. its worth doing because its all a little different at Paris..and we enjoy discovering the differences too!

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks everyone for the input. I am going to visit DLP for three full days. While no one came out and said "you MUST do three days" I felt I was going to be rushed over two days - especially with seeing six shows. What helped make the decision for me was that I much preferred the flight arrangements I would have if I returned to the USA one day later, which in turn gave me three days at DLP. I will also have two days in the city of Paris with a business associate, and as I have visited Paris as a tourist on past trips then two days in the city will be about right. I am going to DLP!

 

[SandraVB79]

Wuzefelix mentioned that the Disneyland park is bigger than the WDW Magic Kingdom...

Having visited them both.. I cant be sure.. but WDW feels MUCH bigger than Paris... am i wrong?

IN answer to HydroGuys question... i would think that two and a half days would be perfect - I think if you have the time there is always plenty to see at these parks and in our recent three day trip we ended up seeing the Tarzan show on three occasions..
Also.. even the stuff that is at wdw and California.. its worth doing because its all a little different at Paris..and we enjoy discovering the differences too!

When we talk "resort", WDW is way bigger than DLPR, but if we talk "park with the castle", WDW has the smallest one and DLP the biggest one.

OP, IMHO, I think Animagique at WDS is more "Disney" than Cinemagique. Just my opinion though (Animagique is more like a real life Mickey's Philharmonique)

 

[marcus.ka]

A 3 course meal at a table service will cost you approximately 29 Euros plus drinks and (in europe maximal 10%) tip.

Welcome to the DIS Wuzefelix!

I agree with almost everything that you wrote but I don't think that 29€ for a 3 course meal is overpriced! It is just reasonable.
The food in the real restaurants (Walt's, Blue Lagoon, Auberge, Cape Cod) is very good. And after 3 courses you are really stuffed!
Try to find a comparable 3 courses meal for 29€ at Paris or London or Berlin!
And if you are a Shareholder or AP holder than you get 15% reduction!

 

[SandraVB79]

Welcome to the DIS Wuzefelix!

I agree with almost everything that you wrote but I don't think that 29€ for a 3 course meal is overpriced! It is just reasonable.
The food in the real restaurants (Walt's, Blue Lagoon, Auberge, Cape Cod) is very good. And after 3 courses you are really stuffed!
Try to find a comparable 3 courses meal for 29€ at Paris or London or Berlin!
And if you are a Shareholder or AP holder than you get 15% reduction!

every time I read about the food being overpriced, I think exactly the same.
In Brussels, it's hard to find comparable meals at that price, restaurants are more expensive over here.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,

I think that on your own 3 days is great - and Monday is definitely the quietest. Early on the rides were very quiet last week, and you have picked a quiet week too. Noon can be a busy time though, the parks seem to busy up around then till about 5 so can recommend the shows in the afternoon - Animagique, Lion King etc.

Tessa

 

[HydroGuy]

OP, IMHO, I think Animagique at WDS is more "Disney" than Cinemagique. Just my opinion though (Animagique is more like a real life Mickey's Philharmonique)

With three full days now I will have time for Animagique, so will be sure to see that as well. Thank you for the recommendation.

 

[dlpSteve]

Three full days is what I would have said - that way you'll never be rushed and can soak up the atmosphere without worrying about wasting time, which in a Disney park would be an awful feeling.

Have a great time and be sure to tell us all about it when you get back.

 

[SammieG]

When we talk "resort", WDW is way bigger than DLPR, but if we talk "park with the castle", WDW has the smallest one and DLP the biggest one.

no i realise that Sandra.. we have been to wdw many many times, but I have to say.. it feels bigger to me than Paris.. maybe its the heat!

I agree.. that the far ends of the DLP park are bigger.. where Pirates and Haunted Mansion etc are... but it all seems more compact to me.. and the walkways more narrow..

weird.. thats my perception! I wonder how much bigger Paris is than the Magic Kingdom?

Sammie x

 

[HydroGuy]

no i realise that Sandra.. we have been to wdw many many times, but I have to say.. it feels bigger to me than Paris.. maybe its the heat!

I agree.. that the far ends of the DLP park are bigger.. where Pirates and Haunted Mansion etc are... but it all seems more compact to me.. and the walkways more narrow..

weird.. thats my perception! I wonder how much bigger Paris is than the Magic Kingdom?

Sammie x

DL (DLP Paris)- 138 acres (0.22 sq. miles, 0.56 sq. km)
MK (WDW Florida) - 107 acres (0.17 sq. miles, 0.43 sq. km)
DL (DLR California) - 85 acres (0.13 sq. miles, 0.34 sq. km)