How to visit France with no exchanges

[MinnieVanMom]

We went last year and started in Paris, trained to Stuttgart Germany, then drove all over S. end of Germany. We drove back to Stuttgart and took the train to Brussels for the evening. Then in the wee AM hours we took the TGV straight into DLP. From DLP you take the TGV to CDG and arrive in 10 minutes!

We stayed at DLH on cash. I can only say that after touring Germany, I found DLP to be lacking. Or was it the horrible hang over from the night in Brussels?

No really, DLP is not WDW or DL. To me it lacked the magic that the CM's give in our American parks. I had read about this in the forums. I went not expecting WDW but open to a new adventure. I just didn't expect such poor service at the best hotel DLP has to offer.

The parks are beautiful. The best castle ever! There are many CM's as characters and we enjoyed speaking with them as they did with us. The attention to detail on the buildings is amazing.

But we left a day early and went back to Paris.

 

[vellamint]

I couldnt bring myself to use my points for DLP so I paid cash. I saved SO much money by booking through the UK DLP website it wasnt even funny. They charge SO much more through the USA site. I dont know why.....

I had NO problem at all checking in. They do not mail anything home - everything is via email....really....not a problem at all.

(I think I saved $500 for the 5 night stay....but I DID still have to buy the length of stay passes)

My daughters and I had no problem with the public transportation into Paris...none at all.

I have also read that you can sometimes get the room without tickets if they are offered on Expedia....but once I found the UK website I didnt want to wait to book and take the chance of the price being really high.

(I hope I am allowed to post this tip)

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We also booked through the french website with a 40% off on our room at DLH. I used the address of the hotel we were staying at after checking with them that would hold postal for me.

We didn't have a problem at all. I agree with not booking through the US DLP site.

Again, Keep your expectations open to a new and different kind of park. It is not what we are use to in all aspects. It is good, just different kind of service.

 

[OhioDVC]

I really wasn't interested in visiting Paris until I say those pictures. Sign me up too!

 

[crisi]

I agree with Cloudnut - rent an apartment. There are great short term deals in France - its how the Europeans tend to do it. Plus, there is nothing like staying in a small apartment in France, rather than some Americanized hotel.

 

[okworbust]

We just went to DLP in August. Stayed in Paris for 5 days at a Best Western (We Americans are spoiled with the two beds/free breakfast/free internet). If you stay at a European hotel, you might have to rent two rooms $$ - We stayed at a Best Western that had suites - not fancy - just more than one double bed or two twins. We stayed in Paris and toured and then went to DLP for 3 days - Way too long - We slept in on the third day as we had already seen everything and we were leaving for London that evening. The Disneyland Hotel is very nice, but it is alot of points and you do have to buy a length of stay pass. If you don't have your heart set on staying there, I would stay in Paris and take the train out - very convient and you don't get stuck with the length pass.

As far as the parks, The park is beautiful and the castle is by far the best out of DLP, DL and WDW. I have posted in the past my thoughts of this park leasing the Disney name so I won't go into it again. I asked my family if they would do that park again and they said no, either more time in Paris or more time in London.

Either way, enjoy your trip - Montmarte is by far one of my favorite places on the planet and Versailles is to die for!