Help me plan my disney Paris break!

[Dollyrar]

Hi guys. My girlfriend and I are on a serious downer after spending 3 glorious weeks at the house of mouse in Florida just over 3 weeks ago. I really want to cheer her up, so I'm starting to plan a trip to Disney Paris later this year in October/November. We've never been to Paris or Paris Disney before.
I've had a good old scout around, and would like to avoid the weekends there for definite, and want to know if what I am planning is going to be ok.
The problem is that we only have 5 days holidays left with work, and it is a long way to January, so we want to spread them out a little.
My idea is to finish work on a half day Wednesday, fly to Paris from Manchester that afternoon and check-in at the hotel, then have a full day at one park on the Thursday, and a full day at the other park on the Friday. I'd then like to spend Saturday and Sunday exploring Paris (she's wanted to do this for a long time)
Can somebody tell me if Thursday/Friday would be a good idea for the parks, and also which park might be better for which day?
Has anyone done anything similar to this before?
Would it be better to stay at a hotel in Paris for the duration of the trip and commute to disney for the 2 days, or the other way round do you think? (not really interested in changing hotels for only a 4 day trip.
I look forward to your answers, and thanks in advance! x

 

[torsie24]

I know you said you aren;t keen on it, but I think it would be best to stay in 2 diffrent hotels, as it is quite a big commute, and if you stay in paris you then have to pay for park tickets, and if you stay at DLP you are paying for park tickets you don't need....

 

[fixiepixie]

i agree
i spend 10days in paris a couple of years ago and commuted to dl from the centre of paris by metro - i had to take 2 to get there and 2back
i also done it for 2days. i felt i missed alot as i didntget there early enough and had to leave early to get back to the hotel(metro at night =scary if ur not used to it)
so the next time we went to dlp we just wentfor 2days andstayed onsite.
so id also recommend a split stay. its not that much hassle- itd be more hassle transferring on all those metros in and out of centre of paris.
also friday would be busier than thursday in the land, friday is quieter in the studios.
hope this helps and dont wory you'll have a great time no matter what
xxx

 

[Ware Bears]

Why not stay at one of the offsite hotels, ie Explorers, Holiday Inn (there are links to websites to book through in The Very Useful Info sticky), and buy park tickets just for the two days you want to visit Disney rather than a package? It's very easy to get to Paris on the RER, you could either commute there for the non-park days and continue staying at DLRP, or else move to a Parisian hotel.

 

[miamivice]

if you want to see paris i would suggest two seperate hotels - it just saves on the hassle of having to commute

i usually select a hotel within walking distance of at least one of the sights i want to see, then it is only a trip to any other sites.

 

[Dollyrar]

Thank you all so much for your help! I am thinking that the 2 hotel route might be the way to go, staying in a hotel off-site of disney paris for Wed, thurs and Fri night, then getting up early and spending a night in a Paris hotel before flying off home Sunday evening.
I studied so religiously (and obsessively!) for our Florida trip, and found the brits guide and Unofficial guide invaluable (particularly the UG touring plans), as well as the disboards. Can anyone advise me of the best place to look/best book to buy for similar touring plans to get the most of our 1 day at each of the parks? I know it's not everyones cup of tea to be a theme park commando, but I love to get my moneys worth!
Thanks again guys! x

 

[dixonsontour]

There is a brit's guide to disney paris - i'm reading it at the moment to plan for our first trip to DLP next week. I also have used the orlando one and would recommend the paris one.

There are a couple of suggested iteniaries in the back but not the detaied american tour plans.

I'm also planning for Florida Dec 08 and had to make dining reservations this week for then but was told i could only make the Paris cafe mickey one this sat for next weeks trip!

I'm hoping paris will be less busy and more relaxed than florida - we'll see

 

[Ware Bears]

I'd also recommend the Brits Guide although you're right in thinking DLRP will be a lot more relaxed than WDW, dixonsontour, there isn't any need for quite such frenetic planning as that needs although it's good to have a basic plan.

Dollyrar, I don't know if you've got any dates in mind yet but the last week in October is school holiday for most of the UK, also for France who also have the first week in November off. If you can avoid school holidays the park will be much less crowded.

There's links to school holiday dates in The Very Useful Info sticky.

 

[Dollyrar]

Awesome advice guys, cheers!
Having a bit of a re-think, and want to know if we did absolutely have to go for a long weekend due to lack of holiday days left with work (thinking to take Friday afternoon off to fly and stay at a disney on-site hotel, and whole of Monday off work to fly back that afternoon), do you think that it's still possible to have a good time if we get there early and follow a decent touring/fastpass grab plan etc.
I know you might be thinking "of course you'll have a good time, it's disney!" but it would be our first time to DLP, so we'd want to see as much as we can, with a full day in each park. Is it wasting our money do you think, or can you still realistically 'enjoy' it at the weekend without it turning frustrating?
Finally, if we did this plan, when do you think would be the best time between now and the end of the year to do it? I know weekends are always busier, but is there any month that would be better to aim for?
I thank you once again in advance you lovely, lovely people!

 

[Ware Bears]

You're right in that weekends are always going to be busy but as long as you accept that then I think you'll have a ball.

Perhaps instead of trying to cram it all in, look at it as a quality trip and concentrate on the things that are different to WDW (don't worry, we can point those out to you nearer the time!) and maybe have a relaxing meal in Walt's which is a fabulous restaurant on Main Street.

As to when to go ~ well, weekends are always busy but September may still have beautiful weather, October will be decorated for Halloween (great fun ) and heading towards mid-November the park will have the start of the Christmas season. Just avoid December weekends if you can!!

 

[Dollyrar]

Hi guys! Just looking for some more advice!
I've now booked off Friday the 22nd of August this year, and gotten my girlfriend to do the same (I'm a guy, if you're confused by the name!). I've told her that we're going to an old Uni friend of mine's wedding, and what I plan to do is get her home from work on the Thursday night and strike up a conversation with her about our trip to WDW earlier this year. I'll say something along the lines of "Don't you just wish you could go on TOT or Rock'n'Roller Coaster tomorrow (Our fave rides!), and when she agrees, I'll tell her that she's gonna!!) She's gonna freak!!!
Now then, I'm fully prepared that it will be bank holiday weekend etc, so I'm all good with that. I've bought 10 of the 'cheeky' fastpass tickets from e-bay which arrived today which should help! I'm gonna book flights with easyjet from Liverpool first thing Friday morning, coming back Monday night. My question is, would it be cheaper for me to get annual passes for us both, and book the hotel (thinking santa fe or cheyenne) seperately? We will probably be going to Paris early next year (already talked about this), so will likely do a day or two then as well.
Has anybody booked the hotel's seperately before? Can you advise of the rough price difference per night without tickets included? Can I order the annual passes and then a week later book the hotel over the phone direct with the discount from them?
I'm also a bit confused about the idea of annual pass sponsorship. Is this a thing that's worth doing if I do decide to get the annual passes?
Thanks so much once again for your invaluable help! :thumbsup x

 

[A Small World]

Its very difficult to book the hotel room without having annual pass already - you have to give its number. Most people buying APs stay off site for that trip adn then book on site for future trips.
You can order APs before you go - dont think you can do it online it has to be by post - but you have to activate them within a month. Not sure if its the actual AP you get or just a temporary one which you then have to change at the park.
I think you will risk not getting a hotel if you leave it much later as its still high season so will be very busy so you may be best to book an offsite hotel and buy APs whilst there or just book hotel with tickets included.
You can always ring to check availibility and prices without actually booking

 

[LorraineH]

Gosh you are so romantic!!

Wish I had a boyfriend like you, just to surprise me with a weekend at DLP!!!

Your girlfriend is going to LOVE IT!! Rock n Rollercoaster was my daughter's fave ride in WDW and Tower of Terror was my son's and just being able to ride them again so "locally" is superb.

Definitely buy the Brits Guide, its the same style as the WDW one, and has some really good tips and the book also covers days out in Paris. We stayed on site in February, and did the full day coach tour of Paris. That was good. We got to see everything we wanted to see in Paris easily, and still back in the Rainforest Cafe for dinner!!

Have fun!!

 

[ap156]

Hi Dollyrar,

I'm also a bit confused about the idea of annual pass sponsorship. Is this a thing that's worth doing if I do decide to get the annual passes?

Allows you to extra time added to your AP's so yes it is worth doing and if someone sponsors you initially you'll get 10% off. If you're interested I can sponsor you, let me know.

Rgds

A

 

[Dollyrar]

Just booked the Santa Fe over the phone with Disney (the lady was so nice!), and easyjet flights from Liverpool 22/08-25/08!!

I'm going back to the mouse!!!!!!

But I have to keep it a secret from my girlfriend for 6 weeks!! Aghhh!!!

Going to buy Annual Passes for us when we get there, as will work out cheaper seeing as we're going back to paris in a few months, and the discounts we'll get on food etc.

Going to get onto the sponsorship thread to see if some kind soul can help us out...

Thank you all SO much for your help guys, and I look forward to sharing my trip with you when I get back!

 

[Emergency Kitten]

If you need a hotel in paris, we always stay a night in Paris prior to our DLP trips, depends on what you like and where you want to be I know but I could give you the names of places we have stayed if you want.

BTW you are a completely fab boyfriend.