My first trip to Disneyland Paris!!

[hawky7]

Hi everyone!!!

I'm so excited that this fall we'll be going to Europe for the first time!!!! I've been stalking the Europe boards for a bit now, and am ready to ask some questions to you experts!!!! If you don't mind helping me out, I'd be so appreciative.

Here's a little about me. I work in Downtown Disney at Disneyland, so am "technically" a Disney Cast Member, but I don't have access to the hub. I adore Disney, and worked hard to get the job in Downtown Disney, relocating myself and husband from Oregon to get down to California. I love ALL things Disney, and have been wanting to go to Disneyland Paris for years!!!

We'll be visiting Europe something in the middle of month of October, haven't bought tickets, as waiting for date approval from work. We will be visiting Paris, London and of course Disneyland Paris. My hopeful dates to be approved would be arriving to Europe on Oct 12- leaving Oct 22.

1) Out of the dates I listed, are there any dates better than others at the park, meaning any holidays or anything going on over there that I might not know about... I like the Disney parks nice and quiet.

2) Anyone out there have the reservations number for cast members for Hotels at DLRP? I got someone to find me the email contact, but haven't received a response. I'm hoping that there is a nice discount.

3) What is everyone's favorite restaurants at the park. We always eat on site at both DL and WDW, and can't wait to see what they have.

Any other suggestions or feedback about Disneyland Paris, or visiting Europe, I'd be SO appreciative. We've never been and I could use all the help I can get!!!

Thank you SO much in advance for all your help!!!

 

[ebtbmom]

I don't have any help, just wanted to share in your excitement.

We are leaving Thursday for our first trip to Paris and I get one day at DLP, I think I'm going to go on the following Thursday (June 6).

If I learn anything interesting while I'm there I'll message you.

 

[Danauk]

I'll help with question 3. I would have a meal at Walts as it is unique to DLP. It is based a little on club 33 at Disneyland, the lobby is similar with a similar elevator. Blue Lagoon is similar to Blue Bayou, but IMHO the theaming at Blue Lagoon is better as it is darker in there. I would also eat at one of the restaurants in the Disneyland Hotel (Inventions character buffet or California Grill, very different to the one at WDW) as the view is unique to DLP, looking down main Street.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Europe and enjoy DLP.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Congratulations on your trip!

I agree that you should eat at Walts in Main St - the best restaurant in the park

If you can choose your dates, I'd strongly suggest avoiding weekends if you can at DLP - mid week around that time should be quiet.

Also, in case you're not aware - the Eurostar train runs directly from London to r DLP - the DLP station is right at the gates of the resort. It takes about 2.5 from London hours and is by far the most relaxing way to get there. You can also get this train from Paris - London and vice versa.

 

[MissSkellington]

I vouch for Walt's as well...you won't find anything like it stateside. It's my son's favorite DLP restaurant and he's only 11...so much to look at, and the various 'land' rooms. Can't go wrong!

Trip suggestion...bring your own wash cloths...lol..sounds funny I know, but you won't find them in the hotels, and if its something you're used to, best to bring your own. Or grab those $1 scrubber things from Walmart and chuck before going home. I have to pack them for every trip.

I think most on here suggest getting the Brit's Guide if you'd like to have a book for reference.

 

[hawky7]

I don't have any help, just wanted to share in your excitement.

We are leaving Thursday for our first trip to Paris and I get one day at DLP, I think I'm going to go on the following Thursday (June 6).

If I learn anything interesting while I'm there I'll message you.

YAY!!! Congrats!!! That's so excited!!! Let me know your favorite things to do!!!

I'll help with question 3. I would have a meal at Walts as it is unique to DLP. It is based a little on club 33 at Disneyland, the lobby is similar with a similar elevator. Blue Lagoon is similar to Blue Bayou, but IMHO the theaming at Blue Lagoon is better as it is darker in there. I would also eat at one of the restaurants in the Disneyland Hotel (Inventions character buffet or California Grill, very different to the one at WDW) as the view is unique to DLP, looking down main Street.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Europe and enjoy DLP.

Awesome, thank you so much!!! I was wondering if they were the same, glad to hear they aren't!!!

Congratulations on your trip!

I agree that you should eat at Walts in Main St - the best restaurant in the park

If you can choose your dates, I'd strongly suggest avoiding weekends if you can at DLP - mid week around that time should be quiet.

Also, in case you're not aware - the Eurostar train runs directly from London to r DLP - the DLP station is right at the gates of the resort. It takes about 2.5 from London hours and is by far the most relaxing way to get there. You can also get this train from Paris - London and vice versa.

I didn't know that the Eurostar ran all the directly to the park! Thanks for that. We are still trying to decide on doing both London and Paris as well as the Parks. I want 3 days at the parks. Yeah, you know, I need my Disney time. So Currently I want to go mid week as everyone says is best. So I'm thinking we get there on a Saturday, have Sat- Tues am in one city, we'll go to DLP Tues-Thur, and then have Friday-following Tues am in another city. Is that enough time to do both cities. It'd give me a full 2 days at the start, where I think I'd do London, and a half day Saturday, and then take train over to DLP Tuesday morning? Then do Paris afterwards...or is that not enough time to see Paris. I've never been at all...

I vouch for Walt's as well...you won't find anything like it stateside. It's my son's favorite DLP restaurant and he's only 11...so much to look at, and the various 'land' rooms. Can't go wrong!

Trip suggestion...bring your own wash cloths...lol..sounds funny I know, but you won't find them in the hotels, and if its something you're used to, best to bring your own. Or grab those $1 scrubber things from Walmart and chuck before going home. I have to pack them for every trip.

I think most on here suggest getting the Brit's Guide if you'd like to have a book for reference.

Thank you!!! Interesting, no wash cloths. I mostly just use them to take off my makeup, so I guess I'll need to remember them. Crazy they aren't there. Things I take for granted in the hotels here in the states!!





Thank you everyone, so much for your tips!!! We'll definitely be trying Walt's now after all the awesome recommendations. I looked at some pictures of it, and it does look amazing, and reminds me of Club 33. We were lucky enough to go once to Club 33 so I can't wait to see what this one is like.

One more question: As far as Paris sightseeing goes, what are your favorites? I'm not opposed to museums, but I'm not into Art all that much, and we went to every museum when we went to NYC, so I feel like I don't need to go to every museum. (Yes, I know, they're different, just mean, I didn't feel like it was my favorite part) So far I've got, Louvre, Opera House, Versailles, Champs Elysees ( I work for Sephora in DTD, I MUST see our Sephora there) Notre Dame, and the big Cathedral on the same little spot at Notre Dame. Any other MUST sees?? My favorite part when we went to NYC was just walking around the neighborhoods and seeing what the everyday life was like.

 

[Lisa_C]

Google the padlock bridge in Paris- people put a lock with their names on it and throw the key into the River. Its so romantic and cute! You can put any names on there though - might be something special as you can leave a date on it

 

[cazspence]

There were wash cloths in disneyland hotel and hotel New York? Not sure of others tho.

 

[Danauk]

Are you going to go up the Eiffel Tower? The view from the top is amazing. I also like walking up to Sacre Coeur. You walk up the hill through an artists quarter so there are some quite neat little shops there. Or you can take the tram up and walk back down the hill! We like to do the Bateaux Mouche river cruise for lunch or dinner too. You get to see lots of the sights that way, and have a nice meal at the same time.

I am envious that you have been in Club 33. We went in to the lobby with our tour guide, but no further!

 

[MissSkellington]

My single most favorite place we have visited in Paris is the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Granted, a cemetery might not be for everyone...but it's a stunningly gorgeous area, with some very intricate headstones. And if you walk to the top of the hill, you're rewarded with some lovely views of Paris. Very peaceful...

It's the resting place of many famous people, including Jim Morrison, Chopin, Marcel Marceau, Oscar Wilde...among several others. Entry is free and you can purchase a map for about 2€. And it's easy to get to, which is always a plus...lol

We aren't big Art/museum people either...so maybe this is an option for you...hope you have a lovely trip!

 

[twissie]

I have to agree about going up the Eiffel Tower, I went late in the evening when it was very dark and lots of the other sights of Paris were also lit up so the view was amazing even in the dark. (If it's very busy the lifts can be a tight squeeze and not so fresh smelling shall we say!)

I would also recommend heading to the Latin Quarter to eat one evening, there is a huge variety of food, lots of music and a bit of a party atmosphere. I can't remember exactly which ones I've eaten in, but they were all fun (not fine cuisine but good food, good drinks and a great night out). The only slight downside is that it can get a bit crazy with people trying to get you into their restaurant, but we used that as a way to get the prices down!!

 

[hawky7]

Google the padlock bridge in Paris- people put a lock with their names on it and throw the key into the River. Its so romantic and cute! You can put any names on there though - might be something special as you can leave a date on it

I just googled! That looks so neat! I will def have to check it out!!! Thanks for the recommendation!!

There were wash cloths in disneyland hotel and hotel New York? Not sure of others tho.

Thanks for the heads up, we are staying at DLH for a couple nights, so maybe I'll just bring one in case.

Are you going to go up the Eiffel Tower? The view from the top is amazing. I also like walking up to Sacre Coeur. You walk up the hill through an artists quarter so there are some quite neat little shops there. Or you can take the tram up and walk back down the hill! We like to do the Bateaux Mouche river cruise for lunch or dinner too. You get to see lots of the sights that way, and have a nice meal at the same time.

I am envious that you have been in Club 33. We went in to the lobby with our tour guide, but no further!

We will be going to the Eiffel tower, and I do want to go to the top. My husband said he didn't care, and I'm like we're going, and we're going all the way up!! That's a great idea to do a lunch/dinner cruise... I wanted to do one of the river cruises, and thought it looked like so many people on them, so that would be awesome!! Thanks for the suggestion!!

We were very lucky to be able to go, we got to go through a co-worker who's best friend in a member, they had a reservation for 6, and someone cancelled on them last minute so she asked us. It was amazing. I thought I'd never get to go in my life, but it randomly came up, and was amazing. I'm glad I got to go with the people I did, because he's been a member SOOOO long that everyone knows him, so it felt like we got the royal treatment.

My single most favorite place we have visited in Paris is the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Granted, a cemetery might not be for everyone...but it's a stunningly gorgeous area, with some very intricate headstones. And if you walk to the top of the hill, you're rewarded with some lovely views of Paris. Very peaceful...

It's the resting place of many famous people, including Jim Morrison, Chopin, Marcel Marceau, Oscar Wilde...among several others. Entry is free and you can purchase a map for about 2€. And it's easy to get to, which is always a plus...lol

We aren't big Art/museum people either...so maybe this is an option for you...hope you have a lovely trip!

That would be kind of cool, and something I wouldn't have thought of. You are going soon right? And staying at DLH? Saw your other thread about it. That's where we'll be staying, I'm SO excited about it!!! I got sort of confused about the best rooms though from what everyone was saying about different wings, etc. I just want a view of the castle, are those more expensive there? At WDW in Florida, if you want a castle view from any of the hotels, you pay for it, and you pay a HEFTY price each night. Way more expensive...

I have to agree about going up the Eiffel Tower, I went late in the evening when it was very dark and lots of the other sights of Paris were also lit up so the view was amazing even in the dark. (If it's very busy the lifts can be a tight squeeze and not so fresh smelling shall we say!)

I would also recommend heading to the Latin Quarter to eat one evening, there is a huge variety of food, lots of music and a bit of a party atmosphere. I can't remember exactly which ones I've eaten in, but they were all fun (not fine cuisine but good food, good drinks and a great night out). The only slight downside is that it can get a bit crazy with people trying to get you into their restaurant, but we used that as a way to get the prices down!!

HAHA!! Okay that made me laugh about the smell. I totally imagined it in my head. Yuck, let's hope for an empty ride up!! I kind of want to go up to the top twice, because I do want to see it at day and night. I love seeing city lights all lit up and cities at night time. But I also want to see it during the day since it's our first time. I think maybe we'll have to do it twice!!

Ohhhh I like the sounds of Latin Quarter!!! I like food and music...that would be fun!!!







Thanks for the recommendations everyone... Let me get your opinions... our initial plans were to do Disneyland Paris for 3 days, Paris for 4 and then possibly London for 2-3...I keep going back and forth, because I don't know if that's enough time to do all 3, and maybe I should just do Paris the entire time. Since most all of you have done it, and sounds like multiple times...what would you recommend? I'm torn because it's our first time, and we've been trying to get to Europe for like 4 years now, and it's taken this long. So I feel like I just need to jam pack all my days and see both cities. And then on the other hand, I feel like I'm rushing Paris...

 

[rockcow]

You can book your Eiffel Tower tickets in advance. You can pick your floor, date and time, then print out your tickets. I recommend checking the website often. My dates weren't available for the longest time, and then when they were available it was already sold out for the dates we are going to be there except for late night. I still booked them! But if you want a certain time it's good to check often! We will be in Paris June 15-26. The first visit for my family! Have fun planning!