Question....is Disneyland Paris worth it?

[bazzanoid]

Hi all!

I'm planning next year's 'small' getaway breaks, and i'm currently thinking about Disneyland Paris. I've heard many bad reports about the place, mostly regarding rude french people and staff!!!

Anyone have any thoughts on whether or not it is worth doing (i.e. justifying spending the hundreds to do disney over spending less to do other european theme parks)? We've done all the theme parks in this country (and I do mean ALL), and we're looking to Europe's offerings next. Bear in mind we're just back from two weeks in Fab Florida so there will be inevitable comparisons drawn between the two if we do decide to go....

Advice would be much appreciated!

B

 

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Eh, yeah... just so you can say you've been there. I went during Spring Break, and it was BEYOND crowded. By noon Space Mountain was out of fastpasses.

If it wasn't so crowded, I would definately go again. Their version of Downtown Disney is kind of lame though, so I wold skip that.

 

[maleficent_man]

It's definitely worth a visit as long as you do so with an open mind. It isn't WDW although it is hard not to make a comparison!!

For me Big Thunder and Pirates are the best that Disney offer. The people issue is an issue - but remember you're at Disney and you'll be fine.

Go for yourself and judge!

 

[ely3857]

Yeap but go out of school holidays or at least avoid the French ones otherwise it will be packed.

The French people I have encountered are often rude, just ignore it and make sure your alert for any queue jumpers trying to get past.

Never had a rude CM, just perhaps a laguage barrier.

Disney Village isnt lame it isnt supposed to be a European version of Downtown Disney, just somewhere to eat, drink and shop after the parks have shut whereas DD is an attraction in itself and as it is a few minutes walk from the parks and on the way back to the car parks it doesnt take up much of your time to take a look.



Jodie

 

[bazzanoid]

Yeap but go out of school holidays or at least avoid the French ones otherwise it will be packed.

Good advice..... something I always do is avoid national/school holidays - i try to co-ordinate my trips for the parts of term where the kids are most unlikely to be taken out of school too!

 

[Dimplenose]

Hi all!

Bear in mind we're just back from two weeks in Fab Florida so there will be inevitable comparisons drawn between the two if we do decide to go....


B

As said before, don't compare the two. I've only been once but thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not WDW it's a European theme park but it does have Disney magic.

Libby

 

[Cyrano]

Pop over to the DLP board if you are interested in advice regarding planning a trip

 

[Minniespal]

We've recently returned from our first trip to DLP and have already booked another one for next year. As others have mentioned it is different to WDW yet wonderful just the same.

 

[Graeme]

Good advice..... something I always do is avoid national/school holidays - i try to co-ordinate my trips for the parts of term where the kids are most unlikely to be taken out of school too!

Same as me! Bah Humbug

 

[jtlover]

I would only recommend it if you havent been to Florida - that is all I am saying

 

[Bonnie151]

We've been twice (well technically I've been once with DH & DS and DH/DS have been twice). We really enjoyed it for a short break, but I wouldn't suggest going for longer than the 4 nights for the price of three DLP sometimes offers. There's not that much to do! Unless you want to spend time in Paris as well...

I'd suggest avoiding the weekend as well. Both times we went in Sept - during the week there were no queues for 90% of the rides but on the Saturday the parks were packed with Peter Pan etc having queues of 90 minutes.

I did think it was pretty expensive for a short break. The first time we went, we booked flights with BA and the hotel through DLP. The second time, DH/DS flew with Ryan Air to Beauvais, but still booked the hotel direct through DLP. Even with private car transfers, it was a good couple of hundred pounds cheaper than BA or package holidays.

 

[slinky101]

I think you should give it a go and make your own mind up, we have been twice and are going again in two weeks, its not florida but its a disney break thats quite easy to get to, some of the rides are newer than florida and better ie pirates and big thunder. its very compact and you can walk from onsite hotels, and walk between parks, its just alittle bit of disney thats easy to get to and relatively inexpensive. Although if i had the money and the holidays to go to WDW a few times a year and not to DLp i would choose WDW every time.
you need to go once to try it, dont you?

 

[JohnnySharp2]

10 years since we have been, if you want to do Disney and do not want to travel all the way to Florida then it's an excellent alternative.
School holidays though as others have said are extremely busy.
DLP version of the Magic Kingdom (if I remember rightly) is not as big as WDW so it may feel even more crowded - like I say though it may have changed since we went.

In addition Paris is a great historic city to explore, naturally totally different and more interesting than Orlando.
Let's face it people go to Paris and do not go anywhere near DLP, the majority wouldn't dream of going to Orlando and not doing WDW & Universal.
That's the difference.

Personally we enjoy Florida, because we like everything there is, the beaches, the weather , travelling around so it's never just been about WDW for us.

 

[Groovee]

We're just back from DLP. It did work out expensive as the last time we went when kids went free. Meant we could upgrade our hotel to the NY etc. Next time I may go for February and do longer.

 

[magicmouse2]

Sorry to be negative - but honest. if you have been to Florida, you will be dissapointed. It doesnt have the same magic. I also found french peOple to be rude, pushy and smoke like chimneys everywhere - and I went at a quiet time of year. There are some nice touches - the dragon under the castle, the hotel on the park. Not all CMs were rude there were some really friendly ones. Rock n Roller coaster seemed faster but had less theming inside as did most rides, than at WDW. Haunted mansion was good, but again slighlty less theming. BTMR and pirates were good. Didnt like the food at all. We stayed at My travel explorers hotel which was excellent for kids, but foodwise - yuk. There were flies all over the food. It is expensive - we spent over a thousand quid which could have got us cheap flights to Florida for a fornight!

 

[ariel75]

I find it's good to go for a quick fix.
Yes a majority of the people are rude and as said before they smoke like chimneys but the hotels are lovely the food is good the only downfall is it is rather expensive for meals and snacks.
But if your driving you could save on that expense and go to a warehouse on the way.
Give it a try only you can make up your mind if it's to your taste.
crowd situation i'm not to sure on as the two times we went it was august and july so it was very busy but after watching holiday last week we will be going for halloween next year

 

[profolly]

Been DLRP 5 times twice just as Christmas season started and it is a great time to visit just avoid weekends and french holidays. We went last year second week into the season and it was very quiet with no waits for anything. We were lucky we went Eurostar from London Waterloo direct to the Magic and straight into the park.

we also stayed at the Disyland Hotel which is such an experience. Not having been to WDW for many years I can't compare the two but there are some lovely European touches, just be prepared for pushy q jumpers lol.

Profolly

 

[mushumadness]

I have been twice, we wont go again. It really wasnt worth it, and the disney studios is very empy of attractions, infact Chris wont even go to France again lol we met some very rude cast members.

 

[Goofyish]

We have never been, but after pricing up a 3-4 day break there I think we will just put the money towards our next trip to Florida

 

[burt]

Like you Goofy we considered a trip to DLP but when we worked out a few costings for 2 adults and 3 kids we decided to put the money towards a Florida trip and fortunatley instead of having to wait until 2008 we are now in the process of trying to book for 2007