DLP at beginning or end of France trip!

[Boardwalk_bride]

Hello,

We are planning a France trip the first two weeks of July 2022. I'll be in Europe for work ahead and will take the train or fly to Paris and will meet my husband and daughter (she'll be 5) there. I'll be checked in day before them so that a hotel is ready for them to nap (flying from Toronto).

I'm hoping for suggestions on whether to start or end with DLP? Our planned route is Paris-Alsace-DLP (or opposite). We plan to spend 10-12 nights on this trip.

The pros I can see of DLP first are that school is still in (I think) for some countries, we won't be sick of each other so sharing a room is fine (we will likely stay on property) , the transportation to DLP from CDG seems less complicated (i.e. just one train vs. train and metro in Paris).

The cons I see are potentially wasting days/times with jetlag, carrying around DLP souvenirs the rest of the trip, higher cost (as I'll be paying for an extra night on my own) and not having laundry (whereas we will do apartment rentals in Alsace and Paris). We are planning carry on only so wardrobe will be limited, and I'll have already been traveling for 5 nights.

On another note - I've read DLP hotels are expensive - but when I price the package it looks cheaper than staying at an offsite partner resort when adding in tickets. Am I missing something? I'm getting $900 CAD (680 Euro) for a 3 night stay (4 day ticket) at Sequoia for 2 adults + child.

TIA!

 

[zinderella]

Lots of things to decide but what first stood out to me was the difficulty of encouraging a 5 yo to nap when they know they are at Disneyland Paris . From a just looking at the map POV, does Apartment in Paris - then DLP - then apartment in Alsace make more sense? I know that's what I would do if I were driving, but I guess if you are reliant on trains do you 'have' to go from Paris?

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

From a just looking at the map POV, does Apartment in Paris - then DLP - then apartment in Alsace make more sense? I know that's what I would do if I were driving, but I guess if you are reliant on trains do you 'have' to go from Paris?

Thanks for the reply! The reason we thought doing a RT was better was because we will have to go back to the airport anyway - so either we'd need to go back from Strasbourg and stay in an airport hotel or we can just have a 'base' near the airport (DLP and Paris) at the start and end. We will be relying on trains - if we rent a car it would be in Strasbourg and only for the Alsace area.

 

[tink2424]

Also, check other countries websites for their offers staying at DLP. I ended up going with Expedia because after I priced everything out that was the best deal. You don't have to live in the other countries to get their deals. Try to see if they will have free half board or anything.

Staying on site was the best! It was a bit expensive as we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel but it was great. I highly recommend it.

Finally, with all the reasons you listed it may be best to do Disney last. Also, that can be something to cap off a magical trip for your daughter.

 

[Karin1984]

With a 5 year old I would do it at the beginning. When you still have the most energy.

For the fares for hotels. Always check multiple websites (change in the top right corner of the DLP website). US and Canada are usually more expensive than booking an offer via the UK or France, or Spain etc. website.
And indeed do look into booking separately via Expedia/Booking.com/Hotels.com etc. as it can sometimes be a better deal.
DLP themselves only sell packages on the website. You can book tickets & hotels separately over the phone, but rarily is a better deal directly at DLP.

 

[ljcrochet]

When we did Disneyland Paris, we did it in the middle of our trip. We did London, then train to Paris for a night. Then a day in Reims before going to Disney. We finished in Paris.
We did Reims to see the USA women's soccer team play. We last minute wound up renting a car for the Reims/ disney part due to our hotel in Reims getting cancelled and we wound up staying in Moussy for the night.

 

[NashvilleMama]

I've traveled with my daughters at that age and do not underestimate jet leg....for quite a few days. I think I'd do DL in the middle or at the end of the trip given that reason alone.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

I've traveled with my daughters at that age and do not underestimate jet leg....for quite a few days. I think I'd do DL in the middle or at the end of the trip given that reason alone.

We haven't changed time zones with her yet so we have no idea! She did amazing in WDW on her 3rd bday - we had planned to do Disneyland California April this year - but that didn't happen (both because we wanted to and we thought it would help prepare for a longer flight and time diff). She has had horrible sleeps when staying with grandparents, and bounced back okay, but I guess the time zone was still the same!

This is hard! Jetlag in DLP would suck, but might also be easier if we are closer to the hotel and having a pool option for downtime (as opposed to Paris where we'd need to take a metro, etc). But I also don't want to "waste" DLP time.

At least I still have lots of time to decide - I'm hoping to have an idea by Fall so I can watch for any discounts that come out.

 

[Woodview]

Why not Hire a car at CDG airport When your family arrive Then drive to DLP & THEN

Drive to Strasbourg VIA A 4 to Reims & Metz a journey of 470 Km

See a bit of Europe on the way .. Remember The CAR is another Suitcase .

NO TRAINS .. NO Carrying cases along Platforms ( with crying over Lost toy )

If staying overnight try the Logis chain of Hotels / Motels

Try Sixt car rental or others ( Fuel Full to Full ... & Unlimited Km. )

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Why not Hire a car at CDG airport When your family arrive Then drive to DLP & THEN

Drive to Strasbourg VIA A 4 to Reims & Metz a journey of 470 Km

See a bit of Europe on the way .. Remember The CAR is another Suitcase .

NO TRAINS .. NO Carrying cases along Platforms ( with crying over Lost toy )

If staying overnight try the Logis chain of Hotels / Motels

Try Sixt car rental or others ( Fuel Full to Full ... & Unlimited Km. )

Thanks for this. We both would rather not drive on vacation. We have done a road trip previously overseas (Ireland) which was fine (and needed) but the trains move you so much quicker in France and it seems easier with a child. I definitely get the appeal of not carrying luggage (and loved that on our Ireland trip) but we just invested in travel backpacks so I'm hoping that makes is easier. We are going to test out packing ultra light on a short trip in August this year.

 

[Woodview]

Remember Driving in France & Germany is driving as if you are in Canada & U.S.A.

Steering wheel is on LEFT side ( Gear stick use your right Hand )


In Ireland my steering wheel is on Right ( I live in Cork near Blarney Castle ) so I

have to Change my driving when we travel to The Netherlands which is at least twice a year.

Note do not forget a European Travel Plug ...... A 2 Pin Round Plug

 

[LovesTimone]

Ezyshuttle is a private car service... and can not say how wonderful Jon and his drivers were....they were awesome to say the least... Seeing that sign with our name on it after flying that far, and we had a ton of delays, and they stayed on top of it, and where there when we landed, and I got a text telling us they were there and not to worry... when we landed we had been up 24 hours... Jet lag hit us almost right away we laid down and slept for almost 4 hours, then we got up, and showered and went out for dinner, and walked around, then back to bed at 10:00pm Paris time...
I suggest this, as your DH and daughter will be tired, and your DH is going to be dealing with baggage, trying to navigate through customs, and immigration, and the lines are insanely long, with a over tired 5 year old...... Just think about the time you saw a parent or someone holding a sleeping child, and trying to navigate through a crowd public space, now add in baggage, a stroller, in a country that is not your native language...Having someone to help with the luggage and do the driving will be a blessing... I honestly can not imagine trying to get everything on the trains, and keeping up with everything, and making a transfer... or driving safely after such a long journey...

Checked bags... for sure, I suggest a back pack for each of them and nothing more... this way if she is asleep, your DH can put on his back pack and (pick up a J-hook or a carabiner hook, or some type of attachable strap)... so he can attach her backpack to his, and still have both hands free to hold her.. I have 2 sizes that are in our travel gear, and we have used them a few times... As well you can use the hook on your stroller handle, and such... less is more in this situation...

Another suggestion is that you take some of the stuff that they will need so that they have only 1 checked bag...

Umbrella stroller might be another option... our friends did a family trip, with her adult children and grand-kids... and the guys did not want to be bothered with strollers... she insisted, and purchased a couple of umbrella stroller for each grandchild, which she said where a blessing as they first flight was delayed, over 4 hours, and the airport was super crowded, and it gave the kids a place to sit and nap... and getting through the airport was much easier... When she got home she thought about donating all of them, and decided to keep them, they next family trip there were more little ones that used them...

DH and I did DLP at the end of our trip, and we were exhausted, and actually took a nap one day of the 3 nights that we were there. I will say that we did get up early and go until very late each night while in Paris...

So to the question what order should you travel in... I will have to go with DLP in the middle of your trip... this way your daughter will be on the correct time zone, and rested... by the time you get to the of the trip, she might be just over it, and over tired... I would plan not to much the day before departure, so that she... well.... really all of you can rest, before the long journey home...

We are planning for next year as well...

 

[bex7583]

We haven't changed time zones with her yet so we have no idea! She did amazing in WDW on her 3rd bday - we had planned to do Disneyland California April this year - but that didn't happen (both because we wanted to and we thought it would help prepare for a longer flight and time diff). She has had horrible sleeps when staying with grandparents, and bounced back okay, but I guess the time zone was still the same!

This is hard! Jetlag in DLP would suck, but might also be easier if we are closer to the hotel and having a pool option for downtime (as opposed to Paris where we'd need to take a metro, etc). But I also don't want to "waste" DLP time.

At least I still have lots of time to decide - I'm hoping to have an idea by Fall so I can watch for any discounts that come out.

Honestly I had 3 kids under 3 and have travelled a lot with them and often alone with them. Iny experience the kids just don't seem to have issues with changing timezone or jet leg

I have never tried to stick to the same routine as home when away as it was more convenient to just go with the flow. We took 1 stroller to Disney Paris for our youngest but did end up renting one of the park ones on one of our days.


I would go at the start of the trip. Nothing sadder than leaving Disney to travel home . Leaving Disney and been excited about the next part of your trip will be so much easier

What time would the flight get In late at night or morning ? If where you are staying has a pool could you not have a lazier day that first day , pool time, even sealife or a wander round val' village . You could go to Disney marketplace late afternoon or evening without needing a park ticket ( book something like the balloon ride ) so you are still feeling you are at Disney but without wasting a park ticket if people are feeling a bit jetlagged. Then start you park days properly on the 2nd full day ?

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Ezyshuttle is a private car service... and can not say how wonderful Jon and his drivers were.... Seeing that sign with our name on it after flying that far, and we had a ton of delays, and they stayed on top of it, and where there when we landed, and I got a text telling us they were there and not to worry... when we landed we had been up 24 hours... Jet lag hit us almost right away we laid down and slept for almost 4 hours, then we got up, and showered and went out for dinner, and walked around, then back to bed at 10:00pm Paris time...
I suggest this, as your DH and daughter will be tired, and your DH is going to be dealing with baggage, trying to navigate through customs, and immigration, and the lines are insanely long, with a over tired 5 year old...... Just think about the time you saw a parent or someone holding a sleeping child, and trying to navigate through a crowd public space, now add in baggage, a stroller, in a country that is not your native language...Having someone to help with the luggage and do the driving will be a blessing... I honestly can not imagine trying to get everything on the trains, and keeping up with everything, and making a transfer... or driving safely after such a long journey...

Checked bags... for sure, I suggest a back pack for each of them and nothing more... this way if she is asleep, your DH can put on his back pack and (pick up a J-hook or a carabiner hook, or some type of attachable strap)... so he can attach her backpack to his, and still have both hands free to hold her.. I have 2 sizes that are in our travel gear, and we have used them a few times... As well you can use the hook on your stroller handle, and such... less is more in this situation...

Thank you!!! This is so useful! I love the idea of the attachable strap. I was thinking about a private shuttle otherwise I was just going to meet them, but I think the private shuttle makes more sense. I agree about being too tired at the end. Even as an adult I'm always burnt out by the end of any trip over a week. As much as I don't want to do Alsace last, I think it will make the most sense, as it will be the most relaxed. Part of me also wonders about doing Disney first since it opens pretty late in the am anyway.

I would bring a stroller if I thought she would use it. We took her to WDW for her 3rd bday (Jan/Feb 2020 - thankfully just missed the shutdown!) and she sat it in maybe once - which was clearing US customs in the Toronto airport and it is only because we gave her the ipad. She seriously walked all of MK! Perhaps I will keep a watch our for a cheap used one though - they can't be that expensive.

 

[Boardwalk_bride]

Honestly I had 3 kids under 3 and have travelled a lot with them and often alone with them. Iny experience the kids just don't seem to have issues with changing timezone or jet leg

I have never tried to stick to the same routine as home when away as it was more convenient to just go with the flow. We took 1 stroller to Disney Paris for our youngest but did end up renting one of the park ones on one of our days.


I would go at the start of the trip. Nothing sadder than leaving Disney to travel home . Leaving Disney and been excited about the next part of your trip will be so much easier

What time would the flight get In late at night or morning ? If where you are staying has a pool could you not have a lazier day that first day , pool time, even sealife or a wander round val' village . You could go to Disney marketplace late afternoon or evening without needing a park ticket ( book something like the balloon ride ) so you are still feeling you are at Disney but without wasting a park ticket if people are feeling a bit jetlagged. Then start you park days properly on the 2nd full day ?

I'm hoping this will be our experience! I'm expecting them both to be grumpy day 1, but thankfully I'll have been in Europe for almost a week, so at least one person will be okay! Flights from here usually land between 6-9 am. I looked up Paris and most land pretty early in the morning.

I was thinking exactly what you wrote - if we stay at a hotel with a pool (I cannot recall the ones I'm looking at - the wilderness lodge looking one and the yacht club looking one). I figure having a pool and being able to get her fav food close by (chicken nuggets) might make a good first day. I like it better for me too - I have travelled alone internationally several times, but always in a hotel, so I think I'd feel more comfortable spending a night alone in DLP at a hotel rather than an apartment/airbnb rental in Paris (this will be my first time in France).

 

[zinderella]

I love the pool at Sequoia Lodge - the Wilderness Lodge looking one! - and my kids really enjoyed it when they were young too. One thing to note about french pools, they are cold and deep, at least colder than I am used to in the UK and I recall wanting the kids to wear a buoyancy aid! Not a criticism, just info There's a hot tub for warming up, and the slide is really fun.

 

[LovesTimone]

Thank you!!! This is so useful! I love the idea of the attachable strap. I was thinking about a private shuttle otherwise I was just going to meet them, but I think the private shuttle makes more sense. I agree about being too tired at the end. Even as an adult I'm always burnt out by the end of any trip over a week. As much as I don't want to do Alsace last, I think it will make the most sense, as it will be the most relaxed. Part of me also wonders about doing Disney first since it opens pretty late in the am anyway.

I would bring a stroller if I thought she would use it. We took her to WDW for her 3rd bday (Jan/Feb 2020 - thankfully just missed the shutdown!) and she sat it in maybe once - which was clearing US customs in the Toronto airport and it is only because we gave her the ipad. She seriously walked all of MK! Perhaps I will keep a watch our for a cheap used one though - they can't be that expensive.

I think my friend picked the ones she bought at a kids consignment store, they looked brand new.. they fold nicely and are lighter weight that reg. strollers. She said being able to strap the kids in and as she said ' they had to move it move it " through the airport was great since they were way late to make the connecting flight... LOL..

We were so tired when we got back we slept for like 24 hours, only getting up to eat, use the bathroom and shower... we were completely wiped out... the 2nd day was not fun trying to get back on our time zone, we did have to nap, and force ourselves to stay up to our normal bed time... I can not tell you how glad we took 2 extra days before DH had to return to work...

 

[SuperMuscleMan]

I'd go towards the end, the Disney bubble makes leaving hard. Everything is clean, well presented etc... (Not like Paris). Travel I can't reccomed citymapper app enough... It makes transport a breeze. The kids will also have something to look forward to. As a kid I'd of hated going around Paris knowing Micky is not far away.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'd go towards the end, the Disney bubble makes leaving hard. Everything is clean, well presented etc... (Not like Paris).

comments like this annoy me, Paris is medieval city, you are literally walking through history. Street layouts have evolved over centuries and like most European cities, were not built for cars.

 

[SuperMuscleMan]

comments like this annoy me, Paris is medieval city, you are literally walking through history. Street layouts have evolved over centuries and like most European cities, were not built for cars.

What I mean is, Disney is hygienically clean, you don't find human waste on the streets, litter floating about and there are plenty of toilets. Going around Paris can be messy, smelly and not pleasant if you need the loo etc. I love how clean dlp is. I live in a medieval town (Rye) and we manage to provide clean facilities, not have litter piled up in the middle of the street or have people peeing and in the street.

I know it's an old city, but what's nice is when your in DLP you don't have to worry about the basics. When you leave DLP it can become quite a shock to the system when you literally trying to avoid human .