last-minute mom-and-3yo daytrip

[Pluto_fan]

Hello All!

DH and the boys left yesterday for a week at Scout camp in the UK. I thought it would be a fine time to take DD, almost three and a half, to DLP for the day! I'm thinking to go on Tuesday, two days from now. She's ~95cm, so the "big" rides are out (sad for me, but I'll be back eventually...), but I'm trying to figure out how to minimize waits for a newly potty trained person with a small bladder. Last time we went, the Toy Story area of the Studios wasn't open yet, so we're going to visit both parks. Here's the schedule I have in mind, but I'd appreciate any suggestions you all might have.

It's about a 2.5hr drive, so I plan to leave around 7:00 to get there at 9:30. I'm thinking to head to the Studios first to visit the Parachute Drop and Slinky, then Cars and Flying Carpets. Probably try for Playhouse Disney if the time is convenient and in English. Head over to the Disneyland Park, get FP for Peter Pan. (question...if we get there late morning, what might the return time for PP be?) We'll wing it from there, probably saving Dumbo for the end of the day when hopefully the wait won't be too long.

What do the experts think? I know most of you go for several days and don't try to pack so much into each day, but I couldn't justify an overnight for this trip. Would it be better to do the main park first for some reason? How busy should I expect it to be? French schools are still in session until the end of the week, right? Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Hello

Tuesday should be ok, it's Wednesdays that need avoiding on a day trip

I was there Thursday last and besides the Spanish who are on school holiday it was fairly calm.

Times were showing 5-50mins in the main park and 10-60 in studios (The long waits were for the rides you are not doing anyway like ToT,Crush,BTM) late morning/early afternoon.

PP is a odd one as you can go past late morning and they'll have run out of FP like you can go at 3.00 and they have them for 7.30. If it's really important for you I'd go and get one before starting the rest otherwise go with your plan

Hth

ps-Where are you coming from as I guessing you are in France or Belgium ? Don't forget that if you are taking one of the autoroute you could run into traffic as lots of people will be going in direction of Paris for work and you are talking rush hour

 

[Pluto_fan]

Thanks, Carrie Cat, I was hoping you would reply.

Good point about the traffic and rush hour. I am coming from southern Belgium--I think I will be coming down the A1 and around the A104? Any chance that I will be staying far enough from the center of town that I will miss the worst of the traffic?

 

[princessmummy]

On the loo front I can offer some advice as recent trip with DD age 3 1/2 featured a LOT of loo visits!

The ones in Fantasyland have the longest queues! (prob not a suprise)

I couldn't find one at the back of Fantasyland (near the storybook ride etc) at all so we had a long run!

There is a loo at the Fantasyland Train station though!

Some of the restaurants didn't like us popping to to use the loo (even when DD2 was hopping about in desperation)

The loos in the arcades either side of Main Street were always quiet and clean.

There is a useful loo sort of behid Fort Comstock on the way to Adventureland.

Enjoy the low sinks (no need to lift them up to wash hands, a godsend!), and remember there is a larger/ family/ disabled loo at the end of most rows in the big toilets, great if you have a big backpack on and can't fit in a small onje easily without them banging their heads on the loo roll!


Oh yes, and beware the 'automatic flushers' while wearing a backpack...... DD2 got almost flushed a few times, and got very upset by it, it did catch me too once!

Does this qualify me as DLP loo expert? (if so thats really depressing, but we did prob spend a few HOURS or more in the loos on our last visit!)

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thanks, Carrie Cat, I was hoping you would reply.

Good point about the traffic and rush hour. I am coming from southern Belgium--I think I will be coming down the A1 and around the A104? Any chance that I will be staying far enough from the center of town that I will miss the worst of the traffic?

OH takes the A104 everyday and he says if he hits it before 8.00 am it's a 20 minute run to work, if it's after 8.00 can take an hour

The A104 is a super périphérique and is nowadays pretty saturated.

He says either try and get on it before 8.00 or be prepared to go slow on it and in that case bring a fair bit of water as it's going to be hot again tomorrow (32°)

Other alterative is to look for a more scenic route from the A1

Good luck and have a wonderful day

 

[Pluto_fan]

princessmummy...Excellent, thank you! I think I will print out your post and take it along.
Yes, I have a feeling we are going to visit each and every WC at DLP!

Carrie Cat...thanks for the traffic info. I don't think we can get there before 8:00, so I might look for an alternate route. Looking at the weather forecast, I decided to postpone our trip from Tuesday to Thursday...70F instead of 90F!

We're both looking forward to it!

 

[Pluto_fan]

Carrie Cat, it looks like I can take an alternate route passing by Reims, and then arriving at DLP from the east rather than from the west, avoiding Paris all together. It would be an additional 8,50 Euros in tolls and an extra 17 minutes estimated driving time. But I think that to avoid traffic it will probably be worth it! Unless Reims is also known for bad traffic? Any additional thoughts?
Thanks again for all your help! If you're at the parks tomorrow, I'd be happy to buy you a drink!

 

[DLPdaft]

there are other loos in Fantasyland - opposite Peter Pan next to the Pinocchio restaurant (Chalet au Marionette) and behind and to the right of the Toad Hall restaurant.

 

[A Small World]

there are other loos in Fantasyland - opposite Peter Pan next to the Pinocchio restaurant (Chalet au Marionette) and behind and to the right of the Toad Hall restaurant.

There are also ones next to Bella Notte restaurant which are handy if that end of fantasyland (near Small world etc)

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Hello

OH has just come in so I've asked him for you.
He says that sounds like a better route and that Reims is not known for it's traffic pbs so you should be ok

Unfortunately I'm in Paris tomorrow as I'd have loved to come and have a drink with you, you'll have to come back again seeing you are so close

Have a great day over there