Just Back--Disneyland Paris

[Inkmahm]

I was there with family -- 5 grown kids. Our solution was to simply hold hands while in the queue, so that no one could get by us.

I love that answer! Actually, my extended family (7 of us, including mom in a wheelchair) did something similar at Pirates of the Car. in WDW a few weeks ago. I'd never seen the line as long as it was and the line was WIDE before actually getting in the building. We stretched across the line easily and kept those trying to wiggle ahead back in their place.

In Disneyland Paris though it will just be me and my cousin. I think her basic French is good enough to be able to call the line jumpers on it in their own language. (Or in German if that's their native tongue.)

 

[Inkmahm]

Another question- did you do ADRs and how far in advance did you make them if you did?

 

[stopher1]

Thanks for sharing. Someday we'll get there. It's definitely on my list...

 

[wintergreen]

Inkmahm,

I think that two days would be enough to "do" both parks, and that would leave you with a day to take the RER train into Paris, if you want to. Very easy to park hop, as both parks are very close together.

We did not make ADRs, but the place was not very busy when we were there. Called a few hours ahead for reservations at both California Grill and Manhattan Restaurant with no issues. If there is a restaurant that you really want to go to, you can probably make reservations once you arrive.

See this great website for restaurant info: http://www.dlpfoodguide.com/index.php

 

[Maribel]

Thank you for sharing your views on DLPR. We are going on May and I have to say I'm very excited. I did my reservations yesterday for Aubergue of Cendrillon which was the only one I really wanted to make sure we could get into at the time we wanted with no problems.
For the poster who asked, you can make dinning reservations 60 prior, but, unless you are going in a very peak time (august or christmas), you can usually get what you want if you make reservations once you get there.
I'm also using my points to stay at Disneyland Hotel, which otherwise we wouldn't been able to afford. I really want to experience the feeling to be right there at the main park entrance and this is probably the only time we will be going there.
As I'm currently living in Madrid, Spain, I have to say it would have been wonderful to have the european version here, since the weather is so much better, not only the tempeture, but also the lowest rainfall overall. I think I read somewhere that this was the first option, as Spain is the first european vacation destination, but something happened at the end and they decided for Paris.
Do you have pictures you can share with us?
I'll post mine when I get back for sure.

 

[Inkmahm]

Inkmahm,

I think that two days would be enough to "do" both parks, and that would leave you with a day to take the RER train into Paris, if you want to. Very easy to park hop, as both parks are very close together.

We did not make ADRs, but the place was not very busy when we were there. Called a few hours ahead for reservations at both California Grill and Manhattan Restaurant with no issues. If there is a restaurant that you really want to go to, you can probably make reservations once you arrive.

See this great website for restaurant info: http://www.dlpfoodguide.com/index.php

Thanks for the info! That was my exact plan- two days for the parks and one day to take the train into Paris.

Is the California Grill there a copy of the one in the Contemporary? It's our second favorite restaurant (Jiko's is first) and I was definitely planning to eat there with my cousin when in Paris.

 

[Inkmahm]

Another silly queston- this one about bottled water. Did they have anything available like Aquafina or Dasani? I'm looking for purified water rather than spring water.

 

[CarolA]

A couple of things. It sounds like counter service food MAY have improved. (I found it to be HORRID a few years ago. GROSS even and I have read reviews that it's still very pricy for not much food LOL)

It's a BEAUTIFUL park and for that reason alone it's worth going to. Spend some time looking at the details. They put MK in the US to shame!

As for smoking and line jumping remember you are NOT in Florida and the culture regarding these things and the "rudeness" is different. So unless you want to be the "ugly American" just take a deep breath and go with it. Being a "pushy American" will only make you look like a jerk and get nothing accomplished besides that. If you can't deal with cultural differences please stay home. The CM's are going to do anything because in thier view there is nothing wrong with it. (And just because you speak French/German etc they aren't going to stop when you call them out on it. There's no need to ruin your day by getting in a fight and getting your blood pressure up!)

 

[grizbuzz]

I also bought shares and joined the Shareholders club to get the discounts on the restaurants and stores! The 15% discount seems to be better than their annual pass discounts (unless you get the pricey Dream annual pass.)

Can you provide a little detail on how you did this? What's the minimum amount of shares? How do you join the Shareholders club? Is it worth it?

Maybe I need to diversify my retirement portfolio

 

[grizbuzz]

We really enjoyed DLRP (although it was COLD). This was our second time staying there on points (the first time we stayed at the Newport Bay Club), and we would do it again, if vacation plans take us back to Paris.

Happy to answer any questions!

How did Disneyland Hotel and Newport Bay Club compare? Is it worth the extra points/cost?

Interested to hear your opinion...

Thanks! Sounds like a great trip!

 

[gppnj]

Queuing is not an art that patrons at DLRP seem to understand very well. I have never seen so many line jumpers in my life!

People smoke everywhere, even in lines!!! I am an occasional smoker, myself, but this was bad. My kids were horrified.

This was my experience exactly. I was shocked by all the line-jumping and all the smoking.

 

[bavaria]

As for smoking and line jumping remember you are NOT in Florida and the culture regarding these things and the "rudeness" is different. So unless you want to be the "ugly American" just take a deep breath and go with it. Being a "pushy American" will only make you look like a jerk and get nothing accomplished besides that. If you can't deal with cultural differences please stay home. The CM's are going to do anything because in thier view there is nothing wrong with it. (And just because you speak French/German etc they aren't going to stop when you call them out on it. There's no need to ruin your day by getting in a fight and getting your blood pressure up!)

Thank you CarolA from your local unwashed, rude foreigner

Queuing is simply not the norm in many countries, but having said that, I have never really encountered any problems at DLRP in the many many many times I have been there (will be there again next week). It seems odd somehow that I have had a different experience, but perhaps it is my outlook which colours my experiences. As kathleena said so eloquently last year when we went together, she tried to remember that she was a guest in someone else's garden and didn't try to judge but tried to appreciate the differences.

I actually find the CMs in general more friendly and polite, and I like the park better in Paris (The Magic Kingdom park is the largest of all Disney Magic Kingdom parks)

The food has improved somewhat at counter service, but I tend to eat at the sit down restaurants, most of which are far and above the Florida ones in terms of quality and value.

And smoking is now only in designated areas of the park as of this spring; France like many countries in Europe recently enacted smoking laws.

I suggest that if one goes in with an open mind expecting to enjoy the differences, one can have a wonderful time.

 

[Inkmahm]

Thank you CarolA from your local unwashed, rude foreigner

Queuing is simply not the norm in many countries, but having said that, I have never really encountered any problems at DLRP in the many many many times I have been there (will be there again next week). It seems odd somehow that I have had a different experience, but perhaps it is my outlook which colours my experiences. As kathleena said so eloquently last year when we went together, she tried to remember that she was a guest in someone else's garden and didn't try to judge but tried to appreciate the differences.

I actually find the CMs in general more friendly and polite, and I like the park better in Paris (The Magic Kingdom park is the largest of all Disney Magic Kingdom parks)

The food has improved somewhat at counter service, but I tend to eat at the sit down restaurants, most of which are far and above the Florida ones in terms of quality and value.

And smoking is now only in designated areas of the park as of this spring; France like many countries in Europe recently enacted smoking laws.

I suggest that if one goes in with an open mind expecting to enjoy the differences, one can have a wonderful time.

That's all great news! I never eat at counter service in Florida as I think the food isn't very good/healthy. The sit down restaurants are much better and what I plan to do in Paris, too.

I thought I had read that there were new smoking laws in Paris. In fact, I thought that restaurants had become smoke free but maybe I"m only remembering it the way I wish it would be!

 

[Inkmahm]

Can you provide a little detail on how you did this? What's the minimum amount of shares? How do you join the Shareholders club? Is it worth it?

Maybe I need to diversify my retirement portfolio

I called my broker and told him to buy 20 shares for me. By the end of the day, I was a shareholder. Then I found the form online to apply for membership in the shareholders club. It's free if you own at least 20 shares. I think it is worth it as there are some nice discounts for members- 15% in restaurants and 15% in the shops are the two I'm most interested in. Not bad for a "free" club. I don't mind owning Disney stock to get the free benefit.