[Mstiz]

Hello all!! I promised my nephew a trip abroad once he turned 10. That was 3 years ago and we're getting close to heading across the pond. The plan started with a trip to London (since I had already been) and we figured, since we were close enough, we might as well hit Paris and DLP.

What I'd like to know is realistically, how much time should we plan for DLP?? We're looking at a 7 day vacation. Part of the time will be spent in London. Part of the time we'd like to spend in Paris. Another few days will be in DLP. I just don't know what we should plan for.

The current plans are that we will travel in late March/early April 2006. Is that a good time??

And finally...I just bought the "How to Speak French" program for the computer. If we know a little bit of French, will we do ok in the parks?? I don't want to be the "ugly American," but I don't know how much I'll be able to learn in 9 months. I just want to make sure I will be able to get around.

Thanks for all of your help!!

[aloha_surf]

hello I am French and has disneyland all the personal one speaks in English for those not about concern! moreover in 2006 you will have new attraction Buzz lightyear Space adventure! it is a good season!

[E&B's Mom]

I just saw a special on the Travel Channel about DLP. Everything was done n English, and I thought that was so unusual for a theme park in France. You should look it up and see when it will play again. Also, our old au pair was French, and when she returned to France she got a job at DLP (Haunted Mansion) and one reason they hired her was that she was fluent in English.

[Towncar T]

Originally Posted by Mstiz

Hello all!! I promised my nephew a trip abroad once he turned 10. That was 3 years ago and we're getting close to heading across the pond. The plan started with a trip to London (since I had already been) and we figured, since we were close enough, we might as well hit Paris and DLP.

What I'd like to know is realistically, how much time should we plan for DLP?? We're looking at a 7 day vacation. Part of the time will be spent in London. Part of the time we'd like to spend in Paris. Another few days will be in DLP. I just don't know what we should plan for.

The current plans are that we will travel in late March/early April 2006. Is that a good time??

And finally...I just bought the "How to Speak French" program for the computer. If we know a little bit of French, will we do ok in the parks?? I don't want to be the "ugly American," but I don't know how much I'll be able to learn in 9 months. I just want to make sure I will be able to get around.

Thanks for all of your help!!

Hi

March/April will be good. Just watch out for Easter week as it will be crowded then. If I had 7 days only in Paris I would take no more than 2 at DLRP. About 3/4 of a day for Disney Studios and the rest for the main park. You will get a good feel for it then. Plan to go midweek as it is much less crowded then so you'll get more done.

Spend the other 5 days in and around Paris. It is a WONDERFUL place. I'll give you a few tips if you'd like. I've lost count of the number of times we've been there.

You'll have no problem whatsoever with English in the parks, but attractions are definitely French themed (it is France after all) and many attractions are French only. Most CM's are multi-lingual and English is widely spoken. In Paris a lack of French is a little more difficult, but it's a lot more tourist friendly than say 20 years ago. Young people especially like to speak English.

As for the 'ugly' American, don't worry. Most of Europe is well used to American tourists so you won't stand out. However, a little French will go a long way in most of France but seems to make little difference in Paris. You either speak it well or you don't speak it.

PM me if you'd like more help/info. You will LOVE Paris, but I warn you. Europe is addictive!!!

[Peppertink]

Wow! If I read your post correctly you are planning to try and see London, Paris and DLRP in 7 days!!!!!! That's a lot to see in one week. Is it possible for you to stay a little longer..say...10 days?? This way you might not feel so rushed! It might be like trying to see ALL of WDW in 2 days:(

[Mstiz]

Originally Posted by Peppertink

Wow! If I read your post correctly you are planning to try and see London, Paris and DLRP in 7 days!!!!!! That's a lot to see in one week. Is it possible for you to stay a little longer..say...10 days?? This way you might not feel so rushed! It might be like trying to see ALL of WDW in 2 days:(

Yep, right now we're thinking about 7 days. The plan originally was to go for 7 days in England, but we figured since we were so close, we might as well see how Disney looks in Paris. I was originally thinking about 3 days in London, 2 in Paris and 2 in DLP, but we might be able to extend the trip a day...I don't want my nephew to miss too much school.

Thanks for the help!!

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by Mstiz

Yep, right now we're thinking about 7 days. The plan originally was to go for 7 days in England, but we figured since we were so close, we might as well see how Disney looks in Paris. I was originally thinking about 3 days in London, 2 in Paris and 2 in DLP, but we might be able to extend the trip a day...I don't want my nephew to miss too much school.

Thanks for the help!!

Just wanted to tell you that I love your avatar:) Stitch is too cute!

[Mstiz]

Originally Posted by Towncar T

Hi

March/April will be good. Just watch out for Easter week as it will be crowded then. If I had 7 days only in Paris I would take no more than 2 at DLRP. About 3/4 of a day for Disney Studios and the rest for the main park. You will get a good feel for it then. Plan to go midweek as it is much less crowded then so you'll get more done.

Spend the other 5 days in and around Paris. It is a WONDERFUL place. I'll give you a few tips if you'd like. I've lost count of the number of times we've been there.

You'll have no problem whatsoever with English in the parks, but attractions are definitely French themed (it is France after all) and many attractions are French only. Most CM's are multi-lingual and English is widely spoken. In Paris a lack of French is a little more difficult, but it's a lot more tourist friendly than say 20 years ago. Young people especially like to speak English.

As for the 'ugly' American, don't worry. Most of Europe is well used to American tourists so you won't stand out. However, a little French will go a long way in most of France but seems to make little difference in Paris. You either speak it well or you don't speak it.

PM me if you'd like more help/info. You will LOVE Paris, but I warn you. Europe is addictive!!!

Thank you!! This was exactly what I needed to hear. I just don't know what to expect from a trip to Paris and the language barrier is really what scares me the most. Hopefully I'll learn a little more than how to tell people that this is my friend George (the first "lesson" on the How to Learn French computer program :) And I will probably take you up on the PM in the next few months.

Thanks again!!

[Mstiz]

Originally Posted by Peppertink

Just wanted to tell you that I love your avatar:) Stitch is too cute!

Thanks!! I love Stitch and this was my favorite part of the movie. It just proves he can be sweet :) :)

[njblackberry]

We just got back yesterday from 9 days in France; 3 at Disneyland and 6 days in Paris. Neither my wife nor I speak French. Echoing what has already been said, that is not a problem at the parks or hotels. I don't think we encountered anyone who did not speak English. In Paris it was only a bit more of a challenge, but again, it was never a problem. We always gave it a shot to order in French, always with a "Bon Jour" and "Merci" and we never had a problem.

We had a great time at the parks and absolutely LOVED Paris. Attendance was light at the Studios - which we completely loved - and was only a little heavier at Disneyland Parc. Those FastPasses did come in handy for a few attractions. The parks are themed in French - as they should be - and that added to the charm. While some attractions are in French (HISTA), they offer translation into English and headsets. It worked really well.

Our only disappointment was with the Newport Bay Hotel. It was really all torn up - all of the restaurants and bars were closed, which is really bad - and it needs a lot of maintenance. The parks were clean and in very good condition.

[Towncar T]

Originally Posted by njblackberry

We just got back yesterday from 9 days in France; 3 at Disneyland and 6 days in Paris. Neither my wife nor I speak French. Echoing what has already been said, that is not a problem at the parks or hotels. I don't think we encountered anyone who did not speak English. In Paris it was only a bit more of a challenge, but again, it was never a problem. We always gave it a shot to order in French, always with a "Bon Jour" and "Merci" and we never had a problem.

We had a great time at the parks and absolutely LOVED Paris. Attendance was light at the Studios - which we completely loved - and was only a little heavier at Disneyland Parc. Those FastPasses did come in handy for a few attractions. The parks are themed in French - as they should be - and that added to the charm. While some attractions are in French (HISTA), they offer translation into English and headsets. It worked really well.

Our only disappointment was with the Newport Bay Hotel. It was really all torn up - all of the restaurants and bars were closed, which is really bad - and it needs a lot of maintenance. The parks were clean and in very good condition.

Welcome to DC and specially to our little European corner of it. Shame about the hotel. I've never stayed at the Newport Bay, but it is meant to be one of the nicer hotels at the resort. Other than that, I'd concur with everything you say.

[njblackberry]

Originally Posted by Towncar T

Shame about the hotel. I've never stayed at the Newport Bay, but it is meant to be one of the nicer hotels at the resort.

Yeah, we thought so, too. It really was the only place we had any problems (a nasty CM, poorly maintained facilities). I wrote a scathing letter to them and filled out an awful comment card. I know it doesn't do much, but I felt better. We should have stayed at The Sequoia Lodge - it was much, much nicer. Same distance from the parks. Just much nicer and "friendlier". And we ate at both restaurants there.

One thing I can't understand is why people bad-mouth The Walt Disney Studios so much. We really loved it. LMA was superb (we will see it in Florida in September) but we thought the other attractions were excellent.

[Towncar T]

Originally Posted by njblackberry

. We should have stayed at The Sequoia Lodge - it was much, much nicer. Same distance from the parks. Just much nicer and "friendlier". And we ate at both restaurants there.[/QOUTE]




One thing I can't understand is why people bad-mouth The Walt Disney Studios so much. We really loved it. LMA was superb (we will see it in Florida in September) but we thought the other attractions were excellent.

We Love the Studios and our kids can't get enough of R n R coaster. They had VIP Fastpasses at Xmas and just kept riding it over and over and over............We all liked the virtual roller coaster thingy too.

We've stayed at Sequoia Lodge a couple of times and loved it too. It's even better in Winter when the HUGE log fire is lit in the foyer. We liked the restaurants there too and have eaten at both. My wife got a surprise birthday party there thrown by Tic & Tac (French names for Chip 'n' Dale)

Not sure what LMA is. Is that the stunt show? If so we liked it too. In fact, whatever it is, we liked it too!!!

[njblackberry]

LMA (in English) is the Lights, Motor, Action car stunt show (as you guessed). It was excellent. They just brought it to Disneyworld as part of the 50th Anniversary.

My wife got a hug from Dale/Tac at the Studios parade. It was great!

[gatorglenn]

Hi,

This is an old note but if you are still going I wanted to give you my opinion. We just returned from paris at Thanksgiving and spent one day at DLP. We had a great trip and not speaking french never was a problem. Many French people in Paris don't speak english but most understand a little and enough to figure out what we were asking. I usually asked up front if they spoke english.

I do think that you are trying to do to much in only 7 days. You can "see" London, Paris, and DLP in only seven days but you will only skim the surface and you will be hurried. I would suggest just doing Paris and DLP in 7 days and do London in a different trip. Or add 3 or 4 days.

Good luck,
Glenn