Just wonder - why don't you british go to Disneyland Paris instead?

[2 Point]

Rob, as you've summised, the WDW prices I've quoted are definately not onsite! I can see the benefit of onsite, but as I prefer a mixture of Disney/Universal we find it better for us to spend our cash on other things, it's good to get away from the parks and their theming.

On a daily basis it appears to be cheaper to go to DLP, however, this is not a like for like comparison. Flying EasyJet is no match for Virgin, I'm not sure the same will apply for our nights at the Sequoia compared to our 2 weeks in the Rosen Centre at Xmas.

 

[BevS97]

unfortunatly Rob, there are no budget flights from Newcastle, other than to Stansted. The direct flight NCL-PARIS is with Air France, and they seem very expensive.

I did look into flying to Stansted, then onto paris, on 2 budget airlines, but it's a lot of hassle, and not that cheap really.

I guess we could drive to Liverpool - but likewise, it just seems like a lot of work for a few days. However, as you say - if it's drive or stay home, then I guess it's better to drive (or pay Air France's price..)

£1300 was out of the Bridge brochure -

£434 per adult for 4 nights at the Cheyenne by Air
£209 for Katie
£125 flight supp from NCL (each adult) + £86 for Katie.

I guess that must be on Air France - who are v. expensive. £400+ for half term break.

I'm going to look at Liverpool and a few other options, and I'll report back

Bev

 

[BevS97]

I may have a plan! Glasgow Prestwick to Paris Beauvias is onluy £132 for the three of us.
We would need a hotel in Glasgow, and I've no idea where Beauvais airport is, but it's definitely a possibilty....

watch this space.

Bev

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I've posted a link to the Beauvias website on your other thread. You would need to hire a car at Beauvias; I don't think there is a bus or rail service to DLP from the airport. I think it would be about an hour's drive. The advantage of a car is that you could choose to stay at one of the cheaper hotels off-site, or perhaps the Davy Crocket Ranch at DLP which I think is quite fun (it has a nice pool).

Regards

Rob

 

[jahsteve]

I wouldn't go to DLP for a gold pig..

They ban our beef and other stuff and usually have nothing but bad things to say about us Brits

I wouldn't support the french if they paid me

I do not want to turn this into some political rant,but thats my opinion.

Why we had to join with this euro crap is beyond me.


Jahsteve

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

They do indeed ban our beef (illegally it seems), but then again so do the Americans and for a lot longer than the French have done. I know there's a lot of bad feeling from some British people about the French, although I have to say that I've never encountered any anti-British sentiment and I visit one part of France or another at least twice a year. However, each to their own. All I can say is that DLP is a wonderful park, possibly the best the Disney has built, and not going there because you don't like the French means you are missing out on one of the great Disney experiences.

Regards

Rob

 

[jahsteve]

Sorry Rob,
I have to disagree there mate,I don't think I'll be missing out on anything just because I have not visited DLP.

I have no intention of ever visiting France let alone DLP..

Florida will be the Only Disney World I visit-I love the people,the atmosphere,the weather and the country.

That's just my opinion Rob,I honour your opinion mate,if you and other people enjoy it,then so be it.

My daughter and her boyfriend have been twice to DLP and loved it-but like i said in my previous statement-everyone is entitled to their opinion.


Regards Steve

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Of course Steve, everyone is entitled to their opinion so on DLP and France we'll continue to have differences. We can certainly agree on how much we enjoy visiting Orlando, and the US generally.

Regards

Rob

 

[floridalol]

Got to agree with you Steve, wouldn't go to France for anything! Everyone I have spoken to who have done DLP and WDW have told me that DLP is rubbish compared to the great WDW.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Rubbish? Mmmmm... I think not.

It's difficult to compare WDW to DLP because there is so much more at WDW. But if you compare the Disneyland Park at Paris with the Magic Kingdom at WDW I believe that most people would say that Paris is better in many respects. Michael Eisner, the current Disney Chief Executive, is on record as saying that DLP is the best Disneyland that the company has ever built. Now maybe you would expect him to say that, as it was built on his watch. But equally you would hope that as Disney gets more practice at designing and building Disneylands that they get better and better.

As I said earlier in this thread, DLP provides for a different type of holiday to WDW and it's difficult to make direct comparisions. But to say that it's rubbish is a somewhat harsh judgement in my opinion. In some ways DLP is better and in some ways it is worse.

Regards

Rob

 

[SimonV]

Having visited more than a dozen times in the last year, there is no doubt in my mind that DLP is an excellent experience, either complementary to WDW (or even DL Calif.) or in its own right. The early years had a lot of teething problems (to put it mildly), but the resort is now easily a genuine class, Disney act. It is, in many ways, a scaled-down version of WDW, hence four days is the ideal time to see it all. But the Disneyland Park is out on its own for being the most artistic and enjoyable of all the versions of the MK, IMHO (although I haven't seen Disneyland Tokyo). Also, the 'extras' you get with the Park at Halloween and Christmas mark it out as somewhere worth visiting several times a year for a different experience.

If you get the book Disney Imagineering by the Imagineers, you will be amazed at how much preparation and thought went into DLP, and the great level of creativity involved.

The one knock on DLP, from my point of view, is that the new park, the Walt Disney Studios, is probably only about 75% complete at the moment. They still need to do a bit more in terms of landscaping and decor to make it comparable to Disney-MGM, while they are short of a couple of extra rides and some more attractions for the youngest age group. But this will come in time - as it did at Disney-MGM itself.

PS: And yes, there will be a Brit's Guide to DLP soon!

 

[floridalol]

Hi Rob

Wasn't being disparaging towards you, only quoting what several people have said to me, I have not been so cannot possibly have a viewpoint on it. I personally wouldn't go because it is too expensive compared to WDW and at the risk of sounding racist, I do not like the French, went several years ago to Cannes and although that area is very nice the people were not. The wife keeps on about Paris though so I will have to relent sometime or other although DLP would definitely be a NO-NO!

Best wishes

Florida Lol

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

No need to apologise, I really don't mind what people think about DLP. It's good to exchange opinions as well as information; it's what is great about the DIS (although I have to admit the somewhat trenchant views expressed about French people in this thread make me feel a little uncomfortable, on today of all days).

Regards

Rob

 

[BevS97]

(although I have to admit the somewhat trenchant views expressed about French people in this thread make me feel a little uncomfortable, on today of all days).

me too. I don't think comments about an entire nation of people are particularly helpful. I also don't understand how you can slate something that you have never experienced.

I've been to both DLP and WDW, I prefer WDW, but I will still visit DLP, it is a different experience, but one certainly worth experiencing.

Bev

 

[richard3330]

I totally agree with Simon V.


I love WDW and DLParis.

I think DLP is a superb short-break holiday destination. DLParis' MK is IMHO, the cleanest, most beautiful disney park in the world, even compared to Tokyo Disney. MK at DLP has got so many great 'extras'.

I thought DLP provided a superb mix of attractions and all of them were high-quality, e.g:
Big Thunder Mountain - Paris version is IMO the best of them all
Space Mountain - Paris version is IMO the best of them all
Pirates of The Caribbean - Paris Version is IMO the best of them all.

We love visting DLP for 4/5/6 nights and love the ease of the place. It is only a short walk to the park, which compared to Florida (with all the buses, car parking, monorail system) is so easy. You can easily leave the park to go to your hotel for a relax for an hour or two, which although you could do in Florida, is MUCH easier here.

Also our favorite hotel out of all Disney Hotels is in Paris: The Disneyland Hotel. It is amazing, espeically the castle club which overlooks the park and has a great concierge. California Grill and Inventions are also incredible restaurants.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE WDW too, but I don't think it is actually better than DLP. At WDW you can happily spend 2 or 3 weeks going around all of the parks (and universal, sea world, busch, discovery cove, etc) and that makes a great, fairly long holiday, and I supppose more enjoyable, because of the amount of time you have,

But just for a short Disney break I think DLP is great. If DLP had Epcot and AK too, I think it would be my favorite DisneyWorld on earth.

I found the Cast Members at DLParis extremely friendly and bi-lingual and had no problem with them (just as friendly as WDW/DCA/DTOKYO CM's.

 

[floridalol]

Just spoken to a customer who went to DLP last month for a 3 day trip. He said it lacked atmosphere and thought that because it's not in America it all seemed fake, and compared it to watching a pirate video, OK but slightly out of focus - not like the real thing. He certainly wouldn't return to DLP but admits that he is a Florida freak (like me) and booked up on his return for an October holiday to the REAL Disney.

His opinion has only strengthened my views that visiting DLP would be like settling for second best so roll on November 3rd - Florida here I come!!!!

 

[Astrid]

Hmmm, an interesting thread.

I have been to DLP and enjoyed it, I got a bargain price, took the Chunnel and stayed off site and we all had a good time. However, I'm not sure I would go back.

Like others have said, I would rather spend two weeks in WDW seeing everything there is to see there rather than use the money for a short break in France, however, I see Rob's point of view regarding the money aspect.

There were certain things about the DLP that I was definately not so keen on compared with WDW, one being that smoking was not banned and secondly that the queuing system wasn't as efficient, mainly in part I feel, due to the French who seemed to have an inability to queue!

Don't get me wrong, I am not anti France - there are certain parts of the country that I absolutely love and I would prefer to go for a short break to those areas rather than DLP.

Florida has so much to offer it will always be my first choice.

Astrid

 

[Olaf]

It's been years since I've to France, and we aren't heading across the pond for a vacation until DS (age 7) is old enough to appreciate it. I do want to see DLP, it looks like a beautiful park. However, I just can't imagine the French (in general) providing "Disney" service.

 

[Bwalker]

I didn't see one American throw his/her two cents in, so I thought I'd better

The reality is, I don't even have an opinion never having visited France and therefore, DLP, but I just wanted to say I have been thoroughly amused by this thread.

The British people enjoy a reputation in America as being just about the most cordial, affable, and easy-to-get-along-with people on the face of the earth. Yes, yes, we even enjoy your irrepressible sarcastic wit - it's all part of your British charm.

So to read a few British "banter" back and forth about DPL vs WDW is almost as good as watching the BBC comedies we import

And in your banter, you're still cordial to each other respecting each other's opinions. In America, this banter probably would've come to "fist-to-cuffs". Sometimes I mourn that we (USA) wanted out freedom LOL - but then there would be no Walt Disney World - so I guess some good did come out of it

Aloha Stitch,
Lorraine

 

[GO2209]

Bwalker -

Sometimes I mourn that we (USA) wanted out freedom LOL

. - you can have your freedom.. Can we become the 51st state?!

I am surprised by some of the comments about DLP. I expected little out of my trip there, but was really impressed.

As I said previously, it's a different kind of magic - certainly not 'inferior'. Yes, I would much rather have two weeks in Florida and the 'real' WDW, but I cannot think of anywhere I'd rather go for a long weekend.