Questions about getting the train from DLP

[twissie]

I have searched and searched for the answers to these questions but failed so it's time to ask the experts!

I am a compulsive planner and I am a little worried about getting the train, I want to go to the supermarket at Val d'europe one day and maybe into Paris another.

What tickets should I buy? Roughly how much should they cost? Do you buy them from a machine or a person? (my french only extends to very basic phrases although I'm happy to give it a go) Will my 2 year old need a ticket? How easy is it to take a pram on the trains - she can walk/I can carry her if easier?

How easy is the supermarket to find in Val d'europe? I have looked at maps of the shopping centre and area but cant see the train station?

Sorry for all the trivial questions, this stuff just really stresses me out and I'll be so much happier once I have an idea of what I'm doing!

Thanks

 

[HappyPanda]

You can buy train tickets from the station in Marne Le Vallee, you can buy them from the counter if you prefer or use the ticket machines. The machines always allow you to change the language so this shouldn't be an issue.

I think when we went, we bought a pack of 10 tickets and used one of these on each single journey.

I don't think your 2 year old will need a ticket, but not 100% sure on that.

There are lifts down to the platform at Marne Le Vallee, but can't for the life of me remember if there are any at Val De Europe.

The shopping centre is really easy to find, one you come out of the station you just turn right and the entrace is about a 100 metres away. There are a few entrances/exits to the shopping centre so that's maybe why it's not so easy to see from a map.

The supermarket is on both floors, so you really won't be able to miss it!

 

[chmurf]

What tickets should I buy?

there are 2 kind of tickets that would be of interest for you

- ticket+ which are only valid for your trips INSIDE paris, if you wish to visit paris and take the subway to go places, these tickets are 1.70 euros each, or 13.30 euros for a pack of 10
these tickets WILL NOT allow you to go from DLP to Paris or from DLP to Val D'Europe, only within the city of Paris.

- Tickets Origine-Destination
The price will depend on the length of the trip. You will need to buy your tickets for that specific trip. Like the name says : Origin to Destination

Marne la vallée to paris is 7.30 euros per trip and per person. You may purchase a pack of 10 for 58.40 (there is no name on the tickets so you can buy a pack for the whole family and share)
A ticket can be used on both directions (a MLV-Paris ticket is also valid for Paris-MLV) any trip with Paris as a starting point or destination grants full use of the Metro within Paris (no need for another ticket for Metropolitan, it's just a transfer)

Marne la vallée to Val d'europe is 1.80 euros per trip and per person, and 14.40 for a pack of 10

as you realise these are the same tickets with a different price, the price depends on the trip, so you will need to purchase separate tickets for val d'europe and for paris

Roughly how much should they cost?

answered above

Do you buy them from a machine or a person?

you can do both
as PP said, machines have an English language option

Will my 2 year old need a ticket?

no, under 4 travel free

How easy is it to take a pram on the trains - she can walk/I can carry her if easier?

it's rather easy (entering or exiting trains) but some trains are double deckers, and there is a rather small area, at the doors, you'll need to stand on with the buggy, and there will be steps up and down to both sitting areas
not all trains are like these. Many are regular trains, like subway trains, and usually there is no step to enter the train (usually)

it's easier if you have a collapsible stroller though. Escpecially at peak times where the trains can be jammed packed with people.

How easy is the supermarket to find in Val d'europe? I have looked at maps of the shopping centre and area but cant see the train station?

fairly easy and signposted, don't worry

 

[freddythebear]

Under 4s don't need a ticket.

My daughter was four when we travelled and the man behind the counter selling us the tickets told us not to bother getting her a ticket and to say she was three if any one asked! very friendly man.

 

[A Small World]

A ticket can be used on both directions (a MLV-Paris ticket is also valid for Paris-MLV) any trip with Paris as a starting point or destination grants full use of the Metro within Paris (no need for another ticket for Metropolitan, it's just a transfer)

These tickets dont give unlimited use of the metro though do they?- isnt it just for that one journey if you need to change. Once you exit the station you will need a new ticket for your next journey.
So assuming you will be using the metro to get around while in Paris the best ticket to get from DLP to Paris is the Mobilis ticket - not sure if you can get it from the machines though. This costs approx 14Euros per adult and will give you a return journey from DLP to Central Paris and unlimited use of metro for that day.

 

[chmurf]

These tickets dont give unlimited use of the metro though do they?- isnt it just for that one journey if you need to change. Once you exit the station you will need a new ticket for your next journey.

that's right. A ticket is valid for 90 minutes, and stops once you exit the station (and into the streets)

you can do MLV-Chatelet on RER A, then change at chatelet on Line 1 to Charles de Gaulle Etoile for example, but once you exit, you need another ticket
in this example, you can also use your Origin-Destination ticket at Charles de
Gaulle Etoile to go to Chatelet and change there to RER A to go back to MLV

no "breaks" in your journey.

So assuming you will be using the metro to get around while in Paris the best ticket to get from DLP to Paris is the Mobilis ticket - not sure if you can get it from the machines though. This costs approx 14Euros per adult and will give you a return journey from DLP to Central Paris and unlimited use of metro for that day.

Marne la vallée is Zone 5, so you need a mobilis zone 1-5 current price is 15.65 euros
it's valid from 0h to midnight (on calendar day), you need to write your name (first and last) and date of use on the ticket.
it gives you unlimited travel on the subway and RER systems (excepts for Paris' airports)

I don't know if you can get it at the machines, but you can get it at any station

 

[jillrobinson]

The ticket machines are very easy to use, there is an English option. You can buy a huge variety of tickets at them. My husband and I used the mobilis tickets for Paris and the tickets jeunes for our teenage sons, for our bus trip to Parc des felines we bought the tickets T+, I used the machines without any problems to purchase all our tickets and I paid with my debit card.
For Val d'europe we used the free shuttle bus from dlp

There are only 2 machines that I could find and we queued for about half an hour to get our tickets on the morning we went into Paris, so just in case allow yourself a little time to collect them. The ticket office queue was even longer!

 

[twissie]

Thank you, I feel much better about it now. I'm sure I will cope with that just fine.