Trying This Abroad Vacation Planning Tips & Tricks Discuss Trying This Abroad in the Vacation Planning forums; As a former CP, I've done my fair share of trekking between Ohio and Orlando. I've even done it by myself and been completely confident. But this fall I'll be ...

[lcate]

As a former CP, I've done my fair share of trekking between Ohio and Orlando. I've even done it by myself and been completely confident. But this fall I'll be trying something a little bit different.
I will be studying abroad in Tours, France this fall and plan to visit Disneyland Paris while I'm there. This is totally out of my comfort zone. There shouldn't be a language barrier, but I have no idea as to how the whole train thing is going to work or really what to expect with my experience there as a whole. Is the train station really right in front of the entrance or is it a 3/4 of a mile walk? How long should I plan to stay (within reason)? Really, any tips would be welcome.
I am very excited about this trip (it combines Disney and French, my 2 loves!), but just don't know where to start. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Carolla]

Train station is very close. Quick walk. Much less then a mile.

IMHO it's a one to two day park. The Studio side is really kind of a let down IMHO

The MK park is beautiful! Very detailed oriented.

The park is interesting. Remember that the French aren't known for "organized ques" So pack your patience. Some of the rides are in both English/French. For example in Star Tours the robots speak English while everything else is French. Kind of bizarre. It does give you an idea what the folks who visit us who don't speak English go through!

Food was a let down. It's France, how can they serve such bad food. (The hamburgers were amoung the worst I have EVER had!)

Have fun!

[DisneyDreamer13]

Hi Icate, sorry i didnt see your post sooner or i would have replied before now.
First question, the station, yes it REALLY is that close. Come out the station and you are beside the bays where the buses from the hotel take you to, THAT CLOSE!! About 2 minutes walk to DLP park, 3 minutes to the studios, 2 minutes to one end of the Disney Village (shops restaurants) and then the hotels are the other end of the village. Imagine the distance walking from the MK end of the Contemporary resort to the gates of MK, well its less than that!!!
We stayed in Hotel Santa Fe, the farthest away from the parks (not including Davey Crocket ranch, that is a drive away with no buses). We walked from our hotel to the parks most day, about a 15 minute walk (including a 7 year old size legs). But 10 minutes of that was along a river, then 5 mins through the village past all the shops and restaurants so it was lovely!
My other half said "oh yeah the train station is close, come out, turn right, trip over and fall through the gates" lol
The Santa Fe is like a value hotel and if you are on a budget is fine, normally the price includes a buffet breakfast. Next step up is the Hotel Cheyanne, very similar standards. Up from that is Sequoia Lodge, Hotel New York & Newport Bay. I think they include a pool but the price goes up quite a bit so if you're not likely to use the 'extras' then the values are totally lovely. And then there is the mega bucks Disneyland Hotel that sits over the park gates, i normally walk under it and sigh 'one day', but i have never wanted to save long enough to stay there!!
If you are going in quiet season i would say 2 days DLP Park and 1 Studios is ok, busy times you might want more time. And if you like to wander through shops give an evening to The Disney Village. But of course if you have a chance to spend more time there its not like you'd get bored!
I started my trip report from last year, but appologise for the fact i never got round to finishing days 3 or 4.
There is a lot of chit chat on the thread but posts 49 and 59 should give you a bit more info
DisneyDreamer13 & EeyoresBuddy trip to DLP
Feel free to PM me if there is anything else i can help with x

[lcate]

Wow! Thank you both so much for your extremely helpful responses! DisneyDreamer yours was over-the-top helpful. I wonder though, if you could explain this whole half-board thing to me. I'm an American, and so I don't understand what this is when it's offered.
Once again though, I can't thank the both of you enough. I had very little information to go on as far as planning this trip was going and now I have a definite springboard to jump off of.

[DisneyDreamer13]

Half board, hmmm no where near as simple to explain as the disney dining plan i'm afraid..but i'll do my best.

Breakfast, a buffet of simple food to start the day is included with your hotel room price. Unlimited tea and coffee, hot chocolate milk, OJ, apple juice. Where we stayed the hotel restaurant seating area had about 4 drinks stations placed around, just go up and serve yourself as many times as you want. The food is all in 1 area but there is nothing stopping you going up more than once. Loads of french pastries and croissants were a wonderful start to the day. (now i want to go back just for breakfast!)

now for the half board meal plan, i'll try and explain it.....
the restaurants are in one of 3 groups
1)Standard -choice of about 8 'basic' restaurants
2)Plus- all of standard restaurants plus about 10 more, nicer meals, better atmospheres
3)Premium- Standard & Plus and about 6 more, REALLY nice meals.

The higher grade you choose, the higher the cost per voucher. And to my knowledge, like the DDP it must be booked for every person for every night of your stay.

We did 'Plus' when we went and made sure we didnt use any of the standard restaurants (why pay extra then use basic ones!?). The food we had was wonderful, I cant wait to go back to The Blue Lagoon, built inside the POTC ride with the boats going past the tables like in Epcot-Mexico. But they were all lovely, the only reason we didnt go Premium was the two young kids and top restaurants really dont mix that well yet.

The biggest difference to DDP is that you dont order off the regular menu, there is a separate selection that the voucher covers the cost of. It is a reduced selection, but i was always still spoilt for choice. i seem to remember it was 3 courses and a drink.

We dont speak much french so always put the vouchers on the table as we sat down so its obvious we are on the plan. (they are literally paper vouchers you get given when you check in, no key to the world card unless its changed since we were there)

Can you get a DLP brochure over in the States? I will gladly post one over to you if you'd like so you can look through everything. let me know x

Sorry if i have gone on a bit, i LOVE going to DLP so much!!

[DisneyDreamer13]

Oh, and each day, 1 voucher covers 1 three course meal, nothing at all for quick service.