To book or not to book?

[funkyplates]

Hi, I'm new here....

Was all up for booking 4 nights at disneyland paris this august and staying santa fe. We have a 4 year old girl and 13 year old boy.

Was chatting to my hair dresser who said he'd just been and there was lots of walking and lots of queuing and that his kids were pretty bored/tired of all the queuing (his are 4 and 8). He reckons 4 is too young but we were thinking that if we wait much longer then our lad will turn into a 'Kevin' and find it boring even if it's fantastic.

It's alot of money if he's right and for the money we can go to spain, etc for a couple of weeks.

I need help and opinions of you guys who've been there with kids of a similar age in the school holidays (i.e. peak season).

Many Thanks for any help.

Lee

 

[babymaddie]

hi we were there last year with a 4 year old girl and it was hard work, queing for 2 hiours for dumbo and 2 hours for the princesses but you cannot beat the look on your kiddies faces when they see their characters - pure magic

it is alot of money for a few days but its a trip of a lifetime that you will never forget.

my OH was very aprehensive about going last year and now he is hooked on disney!!

its a personal choice but the queueing doesnt really seem to affect a lot of the children as they are so excited about what is at the end of the queue.

i think only you know what your own children will be like when they are there - i think you are never too young to enjoy a bit of disney.

 

[eileds]

You can never be too young to enjoy Disney!!!

My first trip to DLP DS no1 was 2yrs 9mths and DS no2 was 20 mths. They had an absolute ball and I have the video to prove it.

Next trip they were 4.5, 3 and DD 20mths. I have video and pics of all 3 dancing in the streets waiting for parades.

We went to WDW when DD was 2.5 and our last trip to DLP in Aug 2005 DD wasn't quite 4.

The only problem I have ever had with any of them is fear of the characters especially DD - on our last trip she loved the princesses but was terrified when anyone else came near.

I would advise you plan well, get into the parks early - yes even in school holidays if you're there for opening times you can get lots of rides done with little queuing, and use your fastpasses.

Obviously you have a big age gap and the kids are going to want to do different things but with 4 nights you will have plenty of time to please everyone.

I think queuing affects adults more than the kids and it's not just rides there's lots of other things to see and do.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Lee and welcome to DLP DIS board
We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

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Another who remembers the joy taking DD when she was just over a year to DLP.
Youngest DD5 has been to DLP every year of her life apart from last summer and loved every minute of it. She is especially looking forward to going on new rides such as BTM

 

[hildasmuriel]

Hi. IMHO if you are thinking of taking a once-only trip to Disney then the ideal age is older than 4. I know of a couple of families where they have taken one trip when their youngest was about 3, and now 5 or 6 years on they have no memory of it at all. One didn't even know she'd been until Mum told her!
BUT I agree that your son is getting close to the time when holidays with Mum and Dad are to be endured rather than enjoyed, so I would say in your circumstances this is the best year to go.

Having said that, planning is vital. Our youngest was 6 when we first went and we talked lots before hand about how we would amuse ourself while queuing and that waiting was a big part of the holiday but all part of the fun. If your older one is in a good mood he can be a real help here. Our son was 11 and would often entertain his sister in queues with silly games and jokes. If your children have been to any UK theme parks they will be no strangers to queues and you can reinforce this by reminding them that the ride at the end is worth the wait - only at Disney it is sooooo much better!

A bit of research will give you an idea about which rides will suit which family members - it may be you split up, so that one parent rides the thrill ride with your son whilst the sensible one queues for the Fantasyland ride with your daughter, or goes autograph hunting or shopping or whatever (you can guess what my choice would be ).

Your son is more likely to still want to go to Spain in a few years, so I'd give Disney a try this year.
Sermon over!

 

[Dimplenose]

We did our first trip to WDW when DD was 4. She doesn't remember much about it BUT it was the most magical Disney trip I have been on - the look on her face and her belief in the magic still means a lot to me.

On the other hand she's now 13 and DS is 16 and we had a fantastic trip to DLP this February. DS enjoyed a short trip and entered into the spirit of things. I'm not sure how he'd cope with the summer queues though.

If you can afford it then why not have a holiday in Spain this summer and then have a short break to DLP in the new year or February half term when prices are cheaper and queues are shorter?

That's probably not helped you decide at all - I'm sure you'll have fun at DLP whenever you decide to go.

Libby

 

[thehails]

In agreement with alot that has already been posted. You do need to plan ahead & get into the parks really early - maybe have GMFL breakfast so you are in park before it opens to general public, that way even in August you can get alot done before the crowds get too bad.

Another recomendation we would give would be to have lunch at Lucky Nuggets or Cafe Micky so that your little one gets to meet the characters without having to do alot of queuing like you do in the park itself.

Our DS was 3 when we first took him and he had a great time and talked about it for ages after, the next time we went which was 4 years later, we were really surprised at how much he remembered from the previous time. You are never too young to have a great time at disney. Your visit will be what you chose to make it

Have a brilliant time

 

[lostinwonderland]

Last time I went (5 years ago =() we went with my aunty, uncle and a couple of cousins... The youngest of the two was 4 and loved it so much!! He got tired and stuff, but he just had a rest in the buggy and he was fine...

I think that your little girl will love it...

 

[SammieG]

I think that 4 is a great age to take your daughter. Yes.. there will be queueing.. but I have never ever in my life queued for 2 hours for anything.. at DLRP or WDW.. i just wouldnt do it!

There is absolutely no need. At WdW and DLRP you have EMH if you are resort guests where you can basically walk onto rides.. there is plenty to do that does not require a 2 hour wait.. and it if does.. use fast pass!

I would say GO.. ignore your friend.. they were not doing it right
the walking bit is right though.. i would take a stroller for your 4 year old.
We got back last night and my legs are killing me!

 

[funkyplates]

Hey guys, really appreciate the replies so far. Very helpful. Any more for any more?

 

[tennisfan]

I would buy the Brits guide to Disneyland Paris by Simon Veness as it is a very imformative read about the whole resort, including the hotels.

There are plenty of shows, shops when the rides are busy but as others have said with fastpasses and Xtra Magic hours it won't be a problem. The park will be open late in August too so you could spread the time out and pace yourself. I have been in August and whilst it was busy it wasn't packed and the ride queues were not that long. I have just come back from a post eatser trip and it was the busiest I have ever seen.

 

[LoveMyLAP-BAND]

Hi! Just reading the DLP posts as my friend and I are planning a trip (in two years!! Yes, I am an obsessive planner).

Anyway, I have no idea if the plan I have used for Disneyland in California and WDW will work in DLP, but I'll just tell you and then maybe someone who knows better can chime in if my idea will work for you.

When I go to the parks here, I am there BEFORE they open so we are in as soon as they open. Then I head for the big rides. If Dumbo is on your list, it should be the very first thing. Because it is a slow loading ride, the line gets bigger and bigger as the day goes on. Also, we walked right on to Splash Mountain in the morning and later on that day we passed by it and the wait was over 90 minutes!

So, get to the parks early, see the big stuff, Fast Pass the other stuff and save the shows and less popular rides for the evening. We always take a break in the afternoon so we can stay out late

Also, eat on the off hours. I don't know what that is for Europe but here in the USA, 12:00noon is a big time for lunch. We ate at a counter service restaurant at WDW at 11:30 and, again, we walked right up. By noon, the line was out the door.

Have a great time!

 

[Cyrano]

Also, we walked right on to Splash Mountain in the morning and later on that day we passed by it and the wait was over 90 minutes!

There is no Splash Mountain at DLP but your advice about Dumbo holds true for DLP

 

[giuly09]

Hi
I have already been there twice -in 1996 and 1999 - and first time it was with my friend and her family, she has a girl who was 6 1/2 by then, and she was pretty annoying all the time because she thought time for queing was time wasted when you could had been eating - we still laugh about her crying *i want chicken nuggets* when queing for Big Thunder Mountain and after a couple of hours we had been eating a GIANT hot dog
In 1999 was my own son being 6 and can just remember his happy face when he met Winnie the Pooh or in other moments.
What i mean is mostly is up to the kid, if you already know she will be annoying maybe is not worth to spend money (and yes you are right they are an awful lot lol) because it would mean to spoil the holiday to the whole family but if she is a quiet girl and you can get her to realize after the queue there will be something wonderful well you go for it and you will have a wonderful time there and wont think you have wasted money.
Personally i think it's not worth to go with kids that will not remeber the magic, because DLP is a place where dreams come true for kids -and for adults too