Disneyland Paris

mrthingyx

mrthingyx

mrthingyx

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Hi, GD.

Just thinking about a trip to Disneyland Paris and - whilst I am looking forward to the prospect of a great holiday for the kids - some of the hotel reviews are abysmal, and there seem to be reports of queues for EVERYTHING.

We are looking at going around Easter time 2014, so aany experiences would be welcome...

Thanks for your help! :)
 
Dont go, go to J green and feed some ducks or something... Steal a joint from some kids.

On a serious note, go to Florida... I`ve seen tickets to Orlando going for 250 quid return, during off peak... Hotels are cheaper/nicer and you can rent a car.
 
Just don't let them get the idea of a meal with mickey which they try and sucker you into as it cost a bomb and all they have is a sandwich and a little ice cream and is totally not worth it.
 
I went in Feb, no queues for anything.

In fact, some rides was so empty, I stayed in my seat to go round again! :D

Food was horrible and expensive though. As for hotel, just stay in Paris, the train takes you straight to Disneyland anyway, and stay there the whole then and back to Paris in the evening, it's about 45 mins ride I recall.
 
I've been to Disney Paris twice and Orlando 3 times. Paris is so much better, although only for the Magic Kingdom bit.

Obviously, Florida has Epcot, Animal, etc but Paris is much newer, better rides and better for the kids. Last time we went beginning of June and the queues weren't a problem at all. Only problem we had was the rides kept breaking down so waiting time was annoying, but hopefully you'll have more luck :)
 
I took the kids there this Easter and whilst there were some queues it wasn't too bad. Admittedly as our kids are young (6 and 4) we didn't go on the really popular rides which helped.

We stayed at the Cheyenne which was less than 5 mins on the shuttle bus to the main entrance with shuttles running all the time which was brilliant. The hotel wasn't great, cheapest onsite hotel but we didn't book it for it's luxury as was purely a place to sleep and in that respect it did it's job.

Food wise it is as you would expect, if you don't book the meal vouchers as part of your package it will be expensive. We just loaded our day bag with stuff from breakfast and ate that throughout the day (providing you like croissants). In the evening we ate at one of the all you can eat buffet restaurants, not sure what it was called, but it is the one at the end of Main Street (to the right).

The best part about staying at one of their hotels is the early entry. Use that time to make sure you go on the more popular rides you want to go on.
 
i remember going when i was 14. i went on a train ride, not sure what film it was from but my only memory of it was there was a timber pillar that came dangerously close to peoples head on one particular bend. surprised nobody had their head taken off.
 
I have been three times - once on 26th November, once on 18th December (loved it at Christmas so went back again!) and once at the beginning of June. It is obviously a fairly busy place, especially in school holidays - but it's a theme park, you just need to go and expect it to be busy. It's so Disney and magical that you almost forget about it being so busy. Or I do anyway (but I am a Disney nut!). Florida is undoubtedly better but with smaller children, a trip to Paris is much easier I imagine! You wouldn't be able to do DLRP if you have done Florida, it just can't compare - but you could do it the other way round and do Paris first, as a 'taster', then Florida later. Depends how old your children are, you didn't say.

Instead of staying in the Disney brand hotels, we stayed at one of the 'Selected' hotels, on the same lot, still have shuttle buses to the parks (though they share one between the 3 hotels, rather than having a bus each as the Disney hotels do), but owned by other companies.
Twice we stayed at the Explorers' Hotel and the third time we stayed at the Dream Castle - 3* and 4* respectively and significantly cheaper than the cheapest Disney Brand hotel, the 2* Santa Fe. Our room at the Dream Castle was around £90 per room, per night in June, and the room had 4 beds in.

The Explorers' was great for kids - big pool, adventure playground-y thing, pizza parlour and all of the Selected hotels also have their own little Disney Store, so if you buy things in the park, you can have them delivered to your hotel's Disney Store rather than having to lug it around with you (or at least, you could last time I went).

Oh - it's FREEEEZING in the winter - have never been so cold! Had to buy hats and thicker gloves, and regular cups of hot chocolate very necessary. Freezing fog both times we went at Christmas. So magical though :D
 
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It's good over the Christmas period. We went for 5 days starting January 3rd. There were no queues at all apart from Space mountain which was like a 15-20min wait. Had to wear thermals and coat did to the snow but it was magical.
 
im about to go disney world on 13th for two weeks with kids we looked at paris and for the price thought we would be better of in florida as we did not want to stay in cheaper accommodation will be my misses and kids first time flying 9hrs but im sure it will be worth it
but for what it as cost could have got myself an 8pack supernova and had very nice holiday in the EU
 
I went for one day last summer whilst on tour with my old school orchestra and it was absolutely packed. We stayed in one of the hotels affiliated with the park, which was quite nice. The kettle was filled with limescale though, so no morning cup of tea.

The food in the park is expensive, and not all that great, I'll be honest. You'll only need two or three days for the Disneyland parks, that's if you want to go to the studios too.

The actual city of Paris is much more appealing to me, but having said that I'm probably a bit older than your kids.

Try going during a less busy time of year. And if you can, get fast track thingies if they A) Exist, and B) Aren't too expensive.
 
Just don't do it... Save up, do Florida.

The food isn't good and not child friendly.
Massive queues for some rides.
Expensive (more than Florida!)
Customer service is nowhere near Florida. Everyone in Florida smiles. The French staff are... just like he french usually are!
 
robgmun said:
You're probably the only person who I have ever heard said that
Click to expand...

If you read what I go onto to say.... Florida is much better because of the additional parks, the country, weather, etc.

On Magic Kingdom alone, Orlando is very dated and has no good rides at all really. Paris is nice and new and has a good Space Mountain which is brilliant and not a tiny old coaster in a dark room.
 
I've stayed in the Disneyland Paris Hotel and that's certainly nice. Given its 5*, right at the gates to the park entrance, has characters in the hotel for the kids and good amenities, its also the most expensive.
 
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