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

[disneyrhap]

I just wonder that it would be much closer and cheaper to go to Disneyland Paris instead of crossing atlantic to WDW. But it appears to me that there are more bristish travelling to orlando than to Paris. I don't think language problem would be a big deal once you are inside the Park.

 

[2 Point]

A few reasons

1. Good weather all year round
2. Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM, Animal Kingdom
3. Universal
4. Sea World
5. KSC
6. Actually cheaper to fly to US and stay than fly and stay in France.
7 £ goes further in US than it does in France
8 Service is in a different league
9 Accomodation is bigger/better
10 Better manners of park guests in US

 

[BevS97]

I think 2 Point has said it all!

There is a big difference between 2 weeks in Florida with Universal, Seaworld, Disney, the beach nearby etc etc, and a couple of days in Disneyland Paris.

I think that we would go to DLP more often if it was easier to get there - we were considering a short break to DLP in October, and the cost of flights, tickets, hotels etc make it really expensive. I am not really prepared to spend over £1000 on a 4 day break where it may well rain all week.

Bev

 

[WDWfan uk]

....... it's all been said but we <i>do</i> go there as well as Florida but would only consider it for a short break although many people from the UK go to France for their vacations and those that like Disney will include a visit to the park as well.

Generally it's more the custom here to take a two week vacation rather than lots of little holidays although in the past few years short breaks have been getting more popular.

2 Point and Bev have really covered the reason why Florida is such a popular destination and as you can see from 2 Point's post, we like to visit more than just the Disney parks!

It also has to be said that we get such a warm welcome and great service in Orlando

 

[SpottyDog]

....and they're French!!!

 

[ThumperThistle]

I would have to agree with 2 Point and Bev, it's cheaper to go to Florida.

 

[pegasusEH]

I think it's all been said above but I just thought you should know that we all go over to Florida for the same reasons.

We prefer the food over there as well.

 

[Tartan Tigger]

It's cheaper to go to Florida and the weather is superb.

 

[Barnsey]

I think for us, the big issue is cost vs value.

No matter how many ways we try to book a 3/4 day trip to Disneyland Paris, the price is always through the roof considering length of stay and distance aswell as the small rooms, far less things to do etc.

Ends up usually going back to look at the Florida brochures because it's (ironically) cheaper

 

[elisebutt]

Because of the nasty rude French service ( ha whats that??) we brits tend to get when we're over there.

Especially when they laugh at my feeble attempts to communicate in pidgin French.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I'm not sure that it is cheaper to go to WDW than DLP, as in most cases we are not comparing like-with-like. DLP and WDW aim for completely different sectors of the holiday market. DLP is a short destination break (although it harbours ambitions to attract people for longer stays than at present) whereas WDW definitely aims for the 'fortnight' market for UK visitors. As a result I can afford to visit DLP every year, for a 'weekend away from it all', but holidays to Orlando have to be rationed.

There is a perception that short breaks are more expensve than long breaks, and this applies to all holidays not just Disney. This is because the cost of travel is largely the same, irrespective of how long you stay. If we were to compare a three-day trip to WDW compared to a three-day trip to DLP, I'm certain that Paris would be considerably cheaper. However, nobody would consider a three-day trip to WDW because the cost of getting there from the UK is far too expensive for such a short visit. The only like-for-like comparision possible between DLP and WDW is a one-day, one-park ticket, which both venues sell. In this case DLP is about 30% cheaper.

Money aside there are many differences between the two destinations, of course. The incredible number of attractions in Orlando mean that no other single tourist destination offers the number of things to do. Having said that DLP does have some things in it's favour:

1. No jet lag
2. Short travel times
3. No oppresive heat and humidity in the summer
4. No "have a nice day" cheeryness in your face all the time
5. The best Disneyland park ever built
6. Paris, the 'City of Lights', on your doorstep
7. Real snow at Christmas

Regards

Rob

 

[Kal El]

It is said that once you have been to Disney World then Disney Paris cant match it.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Kal El, I didn't want to go to DLP for several years as I felt that it might spoil the "Disney thing" for me. However when we did decide to go, we were delighted to find that this park has it's own identity and is not a pale imitation of MK in Florida.

 

[DisneyDes]

Well we've been to DLP a number of times and WDW only once so far (going again May & Dec 2003 though) and agree with Rob, that DLP is a fantastic place for a short break. IMHO Magic Kingdom in Paris is even more magical (if that were possible!!) but have only seen the Studios as a preview so need to go again for a better judgement on that park.

The fact that you can get on a train and emerge straight into Disney in 2 hours or drive it in just a little longer staggers me each time we do it. The fact you can walk from your hotel to the parks is a great benefit, and also we can afford to stay in a Disney hotel in Paris with their great theming (Cheyene is wonderful for this) (a luxury not experienced or likely to be in Florida). These things help me overcome the language and european attititudes. But for a fortnight holiday ....... jet me off to Florida (please!!!) everytime.

Des

 

[drennan]

Well all I can say is I agree with Spottydog

ttfn

 

[GO2209]

DLP offers a different flavour of magic to WDW. I found it to be a more relaxed place and maybe a little more sophisticated. The food was very good. Also, the crisp and sunny December days made a refreshing change to the heat of Orlando.

I was really blown away by the DLP experience, but I suspect that is because I had such low expectations from it. I want to go back for Christmas this year, but will have to see if I can afford it after Florida in 17 days time!!!

 

[BevS97]

rob - I'm sure you're right, it's not actually cheaper, it's just a feeling of value for money.

I just priced up a short break at DLP - 4 nights in October at the Cheyenne, and it was over £1300 - when you start talking about that kind of money for a 4 night break, then I start to think I could have a fortnight's holiday for that.

Admittedly, you couldn't book 2 weeks in WDW for that, but you can get stay offsite for not much more.

Bev

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

I know how you feel Bev. I'm a passionate skier and I'm always trying to find a few days when I can head to the Alps. However a weekend's skiing costs only slightly less than a whole week, so I always feel 'cheated' when I pay that money knowing that for a little bit more I could get more "bang for my buck". What I have to keep reminding myself is that another week's skiing is not on offer, so it's a weekend or nothing. That helps put it in perspective and the poor value for money doesn't seem so painful then. It's the same with DLP v. WDW: I can't afford a trip to Orlando every year, so the cost of a long weekend in Paris doesn't replace a trip to WDW, it's more like a tasty morsel between main courses!

BTW, £1,300 for a DLP visit sounds pretty high. Do you have any budget airlines that fly from Newcastle to Paris? It's getting cheaper and cheaper to take a short break in DLP for that Disney fix. Easyjet and co have made the travelling much cheaper, then you have the option of car hire and a cheap off-site hotel, or pay slightly more and stay on-site. Two nights and a three day pass, and you've got yourself a magical time...

Regards

Rob

 

[2 Point]

A quick price check for those interested:

Friday night in TravelInn - £40

Petrol from Edinburgh - Liverpool - £30

Flights for 3 from Liverpool to CDG - £120 EasyJet, fly out 8am Sat 9th Nov, back 10pm Tue 12th Nov, so we get fourish full days in the park.

1 Night at Mercure Noisy Le Grand - £60 with breakfast, this is on the RER Line A, 10 mins from park, booked through Easyjet/Octopus

2 Nights at Sequoia Lodge £270 with breakfast and 3 days park entrance, booked using Amex for extra discounts etc.

BA and Air France both fly from Edinburgh but at £360 - £420 I though this was pushing it too far, I'll drive down to Liverpool and save a few £££ to spend later, added bonus is that the flight times from Liverpool give an extended day at both ends.

I wanted 3 nights at the lodge but the price quoted for this was £560 - £290 for one extra night !!!!!! I tried the 'room only' option but was still quoted £180 with no park tickets.

The booking system is a little hit and miss -

If we wanted to stay Fri/Sat/Sun the price was £360, Sat/Sun was £470, work that one out !

We were offered the 3 nights for the price of 2 from Mon 11th Nov, but I am self employed, so one more day off work is £££££.

All in all that totals up to be £520 (plus the transfer from CDG - DLP). - £130 a day. This compares to 21 days in Florida next October that comes out at around £145 a day. Our two weeks in Dec 2001 came out at around £165 a day.

All said, I'd rather spend my ££££ in $$$$ than Euros.

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks 2 Point that's very informative, especially the total cost per day. I've never calculated that for any of my holidays (probably be a scarily high number!).

If you were to calculate the prices for a theoretical 3 night holiday to WDW I assume that the per day figure would be a lot higher than the £145 or £165 you've quoted for your WDW holidays (cost of travel to Orlando would be the same regardless of how long you went for). This proves to me that a visit to DLP is actually cheaper than to WDW, even though a short break it might seem poor value for money compared to a full blown holiday elsewhere.

Regards

Rob