Some questions.. two weeks away!

[DisneyDudet]

OK, we are visiting Paris in two weeks, and I have some questions....

Since we are in the US, purchasing tickets early is most likely not an option at this point, as it only recently popped up as an option on the internet. So, we will have to buy them at the gate. Will this take us a long time?

We are staying in the Latin Quarter. What time should we be at the RER station, and what station should we take? I know we need to be on the A line, toward Marne la Vallee, but where is the closest station to the Latin Quarter? We have very little experience with public transportation, so the least amount of transferring the better. From what I understand, we are about a 15 min walk from Notre Dame, if that tells you anything.

Are the strikes over yet? We don't get much news about that information....

Also, how is the castle decorated for Christmas? Does it have the lights all over it like I've seen in pictures, or is it different this year b/c of the 15 lights?

We are going to be there the 13 and 14. I know this isn't enough time, but I just wanted to see as much as I can. Will it be super crowded? I've been researching the must sees I want to do, so if I don't see everything, it won't break my heart. Will I be able to see the basics? Do regular guests get FastPasses? I know that if we do, it would only be one at a time, which is ok.

Please help! I need all the help I can get!

 

[Rookinla]

First of all...Have a great time! If your hotel is near St. Michel station, you can take the 4 (Directionorte de Clignancourt) to Chatelet Station. You will have a short walk to the Chatelet Les Halles to transfer to the RER A to Marne-la-Valle. You should probably allow at least 45 minutes or better yet an hour. Not all RER A trains go to Marne-la-Vallee so you might have a wait to get the right train. In peak hours it will probably be no more than 7 minutes but outside of peak it could well be 20 minutes or more. We went in late September and it was very busy but it might not be so bad for you...but definitely dress warm!!! The ticket lines shouldn't be too bad. At this point it may not be worth buying your passes over the internet...probably no need. Fast Passes are great...Use them when you can because very few attractions have them. Do as much research as you can in advance and familiarize yourself with the layout of the attractions and have a basic plan of attack. Oh and definitely ride Crush's Coaster at the Studios. It is unlike anything we have at our American Disney Parks!!!

 

[bavaria]

OK, we are visiting Paris in two weeks, and I have some questions....

Since we are in the US, purchasing tickets early is most likely not an option at this point, as it only recently popped up as an option on the internet. So, we will have to buy them at the gate. Will this take us a long time?

We are staying in the Latin Quarter. What time should we be at the RER station, and what station should we take? I know we need to be on the A line, toward Marne la Vallee, but where is the closest station to the Latin Quarter? We have very little experience with public transportation, so the least amount of transferring the better. From what I understand, we are about a 15 min walk from Notre Dame, if that tells you anything.

Best to visit www.ratp.fr and map out your route using your hotel address. You have listed quite a large area - 15 minutes from Notre Dame may place you closer to a B line station where you can transfer to the A line. The streets in Paris can be a little confusing so you can print out a map from your location to the station. It may also be convenient to take a metro or the B line to the RER station if you don't want to walk. If you care to list more specific information as to your location I can help but that is a fairly broad description​

Are the strikes over yet? We don't get much news about that information....

Yes, for now. I posted an update a few days ago. Negotiations are ongoing and no disruptions until mid-December. Visit www.ratp.fr for updates​

Also, how is the castle decorated for Christmas? Does it have the lights all over it like I've seen in pictures, or is it different this year b/c of the 15 lights?

Same as in past although daytime decorations are nicer with the 15th anniversary​

We are going to be there the 13 and 14. I know this isn't enough time, but I just wanted to see as much as I can. Will it be super crowded? I've been researching the must sees I want to do, so if I don't see everything, it won't break my heart. Will I be able to see the basics? Do regular guests get FastPasses? I know that if we do, it would only be one at a time, which is ok.

Do as much as you can on the 13th as it gets crowded towards the weekend. On a weekday you should be able to see most of the MK park, but not the Studios park as well. Yes, you can have fastpasses. ​

Please help! I need all the help I can get!

I disagree about the cold - it MAY be cold, it MAY not. Temperatures can still easily be above 10 degrees even in December, and as an American you will most likely find it very hot indoors as there is little air conditioning in Europe. Expect metro trains, shops, restaurants, indoor attractions etc all to be very warm inside. Dress in layers; bring hats and gloves but you may find that you don't need them, or you may find that you do.

Taking the metro and RER is actually very straightforward if you always look up to see that you are entering the correct staircase/tunnel/train. The last stop on the line is listed as the destination. For DLRP look for 'Chessy Marne-la-Vallee' - if it is not lit, then do not board the train. The NEXT train will go there.

It takes about 45 minutes to get from central Paris to DLRP on the RER if you are not transferring from another metro line.

 

[DisneyDudet]

This is some of the best tips I've gotten yet! Thanks so far!

Now, I looked and the closest subway station is Place Monge, I believe. And I do think that the Chatelet de Halles is close as well.

Does that help?

 

[bavaria]

Allez jusqu'à : Place Monge (Jardin des Plantes) - Metro 3 mn

walk to Place Monge, take the metro direction La Courneuve-8-Mai
Direction : La Courneuve-8-Mai-1945

de : Place Monge (Jardin des Plantes)

à : Chatelet
06h52

06h58
6 mn

Get off at Chatelet station. Transfer to the RER A line direction Chessy Marne-la-Vallee. Note that this is a large station so it will take several minutes for the transfer

Correspondance à : Chatelet-Les Halles - RER 7 mn
Direction : Marne-la-Vallee Chessy
de : Chatelet-Les Halles
à : Marne-la-Vallee Chessy

Trip time 38 minutes from boarding train at Chatelet-Les Halles to arrival at Marne-la-Vallee

Don't know what type of metro ticket you are planning to buy. I suggest avoiding the overpriced Paris Visite unless you need all the elements. If you are going to arrive on/near a Monday consider a weekly Carte Orange (bring a passport size photo). A one week pass for zones 1-2 is only 16,30 Euros and you can add on additional zones if needed or buy a seperate ticket. For a day trip to DLRP you can buy a Carte Mobilis for five zones which is 12,50 Euros for the day and can be used as a return ticket.

If you are obviously a tourist the ticket sellers will try and push you into the Paris Visite. Also you can purchase tickets at the machine but they will not take American credit cards so you would need cash for those.

Re the DLRP tickets - you can purchase them in various places around Paris, such as FNAC and the Disney Store. Sometimes FNAC has specials on passes but those are usually for annual passes or locals.

 

[DisneyDudet]

If you are obviously a tourist the ticket sellers will try and push you into the Paris Visite. Also you can purchase tickets at the machine but they will not take American credit cards so you would need cash for those.

Now you've gotten me worried about not being able to use my credit cards!! I was planning using them for large purchases like Disney tickets, museum tickets, and other things. Will I be able to use my credit cards?

Also, what do the outlets look like in France? I am needing to pick up an adapter, and I want to make sure I'm picking the right ones. We've looked at a lot of my chargers and they are compatible with the electric strength in France.

 

[Briarmom]

Now you've gotten me worried about not being able to use my credit cards!! I was planning using them for large purchases like Disney tickets, museum tickets, and other things. Will I be able to use my credit cards?

Also, what do the outlets look like in France? I am needing to pick up an adapter, and I want to make sure I'm picking the right ones. We've looked at a lot of my chargers and they are compatible with the electric strength in France.

I have always used my credit cards to purchase tickets (Disneyland Paris and Metro...everything). You can also use your debit card at an ATM somewhere and get Euro.

If you are getting an adapter, make sure the things you are 'adapting' take 220 volts. A lot of things don't.

We also always buy the Paris Visite Metro tickets since I don't want to be worried about where/what zones I can travel to. I don't know if it costs more or not, it is just more convienent for me, IMO.

 

[SandraVB79]

OP, can't help with the metro-thing, sorry.
You can buy most things in France with credit cards.

About the park: although Nemo is a great attraction, I am not sure it's worth the long wait if you only have two days.

The very first time I went to DLP was 2 days in December 2001, and there was only 1 park. We did hit it like commandos more or less, but we did each ride about 3 times, without using much Fastpasses, I always forget to use them, and to me it's a hassle to go get them because many times you are at the other side of the park, but that's just me!

Although many people will disagree with me, I would advice to concentrate on the Disneyland park. Opening hours are short during the winter, and depending on the crowd/ day, it migth take you quite a while to get the tickets (hint: if there are long lines at the ticket counters at the disneyland park, walk the short walk to the Studios. The lines over there are always waaaaaaaaaaaaaay shorter.)

One of my Christmas favourites is the Mickey's Winter Wonderland Show in the Chaperral theater. But of course, that's also a personal opinion, some people don't like shows

As someone said: dress in layers! while it can be very cold outside, it's almost always steaming hot once you get inside.
Umbrellas are not so easy to use when there are a lot of people, so a rain coat with a .... euhm... thing you can put on your head (how do you call that????????????) is very very very useful while at DLP!!!

And: don't stress when you can't see all of it. Take some time to just stop and breathe and look around and "live" the Christmas that is there.
To me, at Christmas, it's not about the rides, but about what the park looks like!

 

[DisneyDudet]

So I won't have a problem using my American credit cards around the country?

I know this is a whole bunch of questions, but its so last minute!!

Thank you, everyone, for the replies! You are really helping us out!

 

[SandraVB79]

At Disney, they accept about each way of payment. Everything to get the money out of your pockets
In the bigger stores in Paris: shouldn't be a problem.

If you go to a traditional/ small patisserie, there you might have a problem. Best is to ask if you enter the store.
There are many ATMs, so getting some cash money for the smaller purchases shouldn't be a problem.

 

[bavaria]

Now you've gotten me worried about not being able to use my credit cards!! I was planning using them for large purchases like Disney tickets, museum tickets, and other things. Will I be able to use my credit cards?

Also, what do the outlets look like in France? I am needing to pick up an adapter, and I want to make sure I'm picking the right ones. We've looked at a lot of my chargers and they are compatible with the electric strength in France.

You CAN use a credit card most places, but the metro machines require a European chip which is embedded in European credit cards only.

Use an Amex to avoid foreign exchange fees if you can, for purchases. Visa and Mastercard add 2-4% as a foreign exchange fee. If you have a Bank of America cash card, use BNP Paribas machines for cash withdrawals with no fees. If you don't bank at BOA check with your bank to see who has no withdrawal fees. I use Deutsche Bank/Bank of America/Scotiabank machines etc when I travel as I don't encounter any fees.

The outlets have two circular prongs. You can buy a plug adapter for about $2 at any travel store or even the suitcase section at Macy's, etc. I often stock up on travel adapters for various countries at the dollar store, as they are cheapest there (and all do the same job!)

All of your electronics should be fine as they usually have a range of volts; hair dryers MAY have a switch to switch between volts

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
from a friend's experience, Mastercard and Visa are pretty well accepted whatever the country of issue , but don't bother with American Express, not accepted everywhere in the UK yet, let alone France.

Cheers,
Tessa

 

[bavaria]

Hiya,
from a friend's experience, Mastercard and Visa are pretty well accepted whatever the country of issue , but don't bother with American Express, not accepted everywhere in the UK yet, let alone France.

Cheers,
Tessa

See my note above re Amex. I use an Amex exclusively for work; I actually have more problems with merchants/restaurants in AMERICA not accepting Amex than in France.

In Paris I can even use my Amex at my local patisserie.

 

[tttessa]

Hiya,
I guess round Paris must be much much better than the Charente and Charente Maritime regions then - Amex was refused regularly. Even in the chain supermarkets - Intermarche, Geant etc... which did not make sense to me - or her. Mastercard was accepted everywhere - after a huff and puff about not being a european accepted chip and pin. (how long DOES it actually take to sign instead...)

Tessa

 

[Rookinla]

It would be a very good idea for you to call your credit card companies before you go and tell them that you will be using your cards in France. As an anti-fraud measure many companies will put a hold on your account thinking it could be fraudulent use if you don't normally use your card in France (or really any other foreign country). It's absolutely no problem though...just call them and you will be fine! If you're using Amex, it will be no problem at DLP...you can pretty much use it anywhere. In the city, look for the AMEX sticker on the door and if you don't see it then ask. It is not as widely accepted as MC/VISA but many places are starting to take it. We tried to pretty much use the AMEX as much as possible. We personally found that about 50% of the places we tried to use it accepted AMEX and we just used VISA for the rest. I have a possible tip for you...If you are considering the Carte Orange and want to use an American Credit Card, check with the Tourist Info Center right outside the Chessy-Marne-la-Valle RER Station. If they sell it they also take AMEX IIRC...That's where we bought our Museum Pass.

 

[bavaria]

It would be a very good idea for you to call your credit card companies before you go and tell them that you will be using your cards in France.

Excellent suggestion - due to my travel patterns I have a security message on my cards, but even so every so often they call me to confirm, or decline my card....

OP, generally there is a ticket seller at metro stations, where you can do transactions in person. BUT this is not always the case. I wouldn't want you to be standing somewhere on a Sunday morning, credit card in hand, not able to go anywhere....

 

[bavaria]

thing you can put on your head (how do you call that????????????) is

a Kaputze???!!!

a 'hood' in English and the 'hoodie' is quite popular in America

BTW Sandra, I am happy to see that you too are warm blooded like me!