Please help to convince my brother!!!

[Kid at heart]

I am a UK citizen living in Vancouver Canada, our immediate family, DH, DS-6yrs & I like to get to WDW every year for a couple of weeks. We are planning for next year April 2005. We missed this year as we had a baby girl and wanted to wait until she is a little older. We are trying to convince my brother - living in Essex, to come with us next year with his 2 DD's age's 4&5. He goes to DL Paris once per year but thinks it will be to expensive to get to Florida. Has anyone got any tips regarding flights - and or any comments as to why he should go to WDW. He thinks they are quite the same. I have never been to DLP - can you help??? We really want them to come - Thanks in advance

 

[Kid at heart]

Help please!!

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi there. Well, this is just my humble opinion, but the way that I look at it - and never been to DLP - is that the prices they charge from over here in the UK to visit DLP it must be cheaper to visit Florida

I know that sounds a little cooky, but the prices really do outweigh the benefits of going just for a couple of days IMO. In comparison with how much you would pay for a few days to DLP, you can have a good two weeks trip to Florida as your yearly vacation.

You can pick up a bargain for a fortnight in Florida if you can travel at the right time. The draw-back, however, with WDW is the prices of the tickets. Whilst one can budget extremely cheaply for the holiday to Florida itself, it's the cost of the tickets that really adds on $$$$.

We've been to WDW 6 times now, and going again next year, and would only consider going to DLP as a stop-gap IF I could get a cheap trip . . . and haven't found one yet, but then to be honest haven't looked terribly hard, so I'm sure someone will come along who can get there for a family for a long weekend for under £500

The other bonus with Florida, of course, is the weather and the prices of food, clothing, etc once you get out there.

Good luck - I think they'll be amazed if they do get out to Florida. We have friends who have been to DLP many times, but are off to the World in two weeks time. They have spent many an evening with us going through all the tips. Whilst they are somewhat nervous about going (they're Orlando for 9 nights then down to Naples for another 9 nights), they are looking forward very much to the "whole" Florida thing, not just the parks. Like us, they like to get around and have a look at the non-park side of the State. I'll let you know their views once they return

 

[Madjock]

Our very first experience of Disney was at DLP and it totally put me off wanting to try anything Disney again! However a few years down the line DH persuade me to give WDW a try and this Oct will now be our third trip. We love it. Have never been and don’t particularly ever want to go back to DLP. You really can’t compare the two, its like cheeses – they’re both cheeses but they taste completely different, if that makes sense.

It can be pretty expensive for us Brits to get to WDW especially if you book it package style but once you’re there it is so much cheaper. Our first trip was straight after Sept 11 and the dollar had plummeted but we still found it cheaper.

All I can say is that we love WDW and if your brother and family enjoy DLP then I think they too will love WDW.

Hope you can persuade him!
Annmarie

 

[slinky101]

hi there, maybe i can shed a little light for your brother, our first DLP trip was a spur of the moment thing in october half-term 02, a little chilly but enjoyable and the dd's 4 & 6 had a great time despite occasional wind and rain. I was a little sceptical that florida would be much different but along we went in aug03. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG.... Its 5 times bigger, 10 times better and we have already booked for 05, looking 4ward to 07 and intend to go every 2yrs so the dd's get the benefit of being older and wiser each time!!! hope this helps.. from a former sceptic... It will certainly surprise you.

 

[florry]

Just spoke to a mum and dad at our school who were desperately trying to get their 1st trip to Florida as cheap as possible.

They have now booked their 1st trip for this october two adults and two children 8 and 11 staying in the enclave suites for £1560.00 this includes their park tickets and car hire.

I thinks thats quite good

 

[we*luv*orlando!!]

To Kid at Heart.....You must show your brother these messages and tell him he would be mad to think just because he has been to DLP he doesn't need to go to Florida and WDW. We went to DLP just before New Year once and despite it tipping with rain all day we had a good time but I had already been to WDW so could compare and beleive me there is no comparison. WDW is just the best. France was so expensive to get to, the language barrier was a drawback (the timekeeper narration is in french etc), the service was terrible and the cast members had no charm at all. The park was slightly smaller than it's American counterpart, but still nicely done, but we would never pay good money to go there again when we can go to WDW. The Epcot center and MGM and Animal Kingdon are so fantastic. The shopping in the states is also awesome as is the food.
Best of luck!

Toni

 

[Firefly777]

Actually Disneyland Paris is larger than the Magic Kingdom in Florida.

 

[UKDEB]

In 1992 I visited the travel agent to book a trip to (the then) Euro Disney. The girl at Lunn Poly was very helpful in encouraging me to spend £2000 on a 2 week vacation to WDW, rather than £1000 on a 4 day break in Paris!

I really wasn't that bothered about it. In fact, I was expecting to find it all far too commercial (which, of course it is), but I fell in love with it. Our trip in 2 days' time will be our 11th.

Funnily enough, dh and I were watching a 30 minute slot on Sky Travel Shop this afternoon about DLP. We <i>would</i> like to visit, but the reason we haven't done so yet is because every time I look into it, it just seems soooo expensive. Our first 2 trips to WDW were packages, but since then we've booked DIY and we feel we get far more for our money. I'm not suggesting it's cheap, but I do believe it's value for money. To kid at heart's brother - I implore you to go and I <i>promise</i> you won't regret it. My brother and his wife claim they don't really like Florida that much, but in January they visited for the 5th time! It was my brother's 40th birthday and it was his choice as to where we went. He's visited many places in the World, but in the end he chose Florida (for the sun, golf and total escape from everyday life) and we had a wonderful time.

Friends of mine who have literally visited all four corners of the globe, plumped for China for their honeymoon. Their comment when I asked them how it had been? "Well, it was wonderful, but we wish we'd gone to Walt Disney World".