What can you tell me about DLP in late June? About This Page:

[Tinkerboo]

Next year is my 30th birthday and as I was inconveniently born at the end of June, a WDW celebration is out of the question - too hot, too crowded and too expensive.

Soooo I'm considering DLP as an alternative, as I really would like to spend the day at Disney in some form, plus it's pretty much on my doorstep (kind of) so it's silly not to visit at least once. But I'm apprehensive, as I've read some pretty off-putting things about it, and I've been spoiled by three amazing WDW trips that have somewhat raised my standards and expectations!

So I was wondering if anyone has been at the end of June (my birthday is the 24th)...what were your experiences weather-wise, crowd-wise etc? If you've been to WDW as well, what differences did you experience? I'm well aware that you can encounter rude and inconsiderate people world-wide, but is the frequency of this higher in DLP? I know the European mentality can be quite different to the American in relation to things like queuing and such, but I've read about rude CMs (surely not, at Disney!?!)...is this a common experience? I would just hate for my special trip to be ruined by something trivial that I could have been forewarned about and mentally a bit more prepared for. I've got the Brit's Guide but I just don't have a feel for the place, you know? And when there's £££ at stake, that makes me edgy!!

I'd most like to stay at the Newport Bay hotel (being as we can't really afford a Tinkerbell suite in the Disneyland Hotel! ) so anything you can tell me about that would be great too.

Many thanks!

[chezp]

We stayed in the Newport Bay Club a few years ago and enjoyed it, although it wasn't like the Beach Club...

I don't know about late June - obviously the schools are still in over here, it just depends on the French schools and I don't know when they get out.

As far as rudeness goes, we've never really encountered rude Cast Members as such there, although I would say that they're probably not as keen to help as you find in WDW - they won't go the extra mile in our experience.

I would say it's a good way to enjoy Disney and obviously it shouldn't be as hot for you.

[Tinkerboo]

Ah, I knew I could rely on you for advice Cheryl!

I guess it's just a case of 'hope for the best but don't go expecting WDW'...obviously I know the parks themselves aren't the same as in Orlando, but I don't like not knowing what the 'feel' of the place will be.

It's a bit like our wedding - we arranged to have it in New York without ever having been there! We went out on an 'organising' trip a month or so before the Big Day and I was terrified that I just wouldn't like the city when I actually set foot there...fortunately though I ed it. I'll just have to have faith that DLP will be everything I hope for but remember that it is on a whole different continent.

While I'm here I just have to post how excited I am that my parents have agreed (but not yet signed on the dotted line) to my proposal of a family trip to WDW this December!!! I took round the Disney Holiday Planning DVD and wowed them with the Xmas footage...though they were also quite taken by the idea of the Food & Wine Festival (pair of winos that they are, ha ha!)

Faith, trust and pixie dust that it all comes together now!!

[chezp]

How awesome to be going at Christmas - maybe we'll see you out there?

[Tinkerboo]

I would love to meet some other PPers...it's nice to have virtual friends, but it would be nicer to have met at least some of them in person! I would of course have to ditch my family somewhere first as they officially Do Not Understand The Magic...

I get so jealous when I read about Mousefest and suchlike because even if we were in town at the right time for it, there's no way DH would want to spend ages meeting up with people he doesn't know (fair point I guess). He'd probably do it for me, but then I'd feel bad for dragging him around. Ah, the compromises of marriage!

You've probably posted it somewhere before (in one of your 80-gazillion posts!) but have you been to a Mickey's...Xmas Party? I looked it up on the UK Disney website but there doesn't seem to be any way of buying tickets for it on there. When I try and force it to take me to the US site it just keeps going back to the 'GB' one ... I definitely bought our P&PParty tickets online last year so I don't know why it won't work. I don't really want to have to phone them...sigh.

[chezp]

The only way I know to purchase the tickets is to phone America sadly. Fortunately, as DVC members, we can at least get free calls to Member Services. It would be great if they added that as an option on the UK website.

[Aunty Ruth]

Hi Tinkerboo,

Have just got back from 4 nights at the Newport Bay Hotel & it was really nice. We have now stopped in all the hotels at Disney & this is probably our 3rd favourite. Pink hotel being 1st obviously closely followed by the New York as that has a more 'grown up' atmosphere to it which we liked as we don't have children.
The NBC is the largest hotel & reception can get very crowded, long queus at breakfast etc plus the long corridors can get quite confusing. We had a lovely (though expensive) meal in the Yacht Club though didn't understand how a Kir was 2 euros cheaper there than in the bar upstairs...

We have been in June before & had glorious weather in fact needing sun cream however we have also had fab weather in March & poor weather in July so it just depends on luck.

I love DLP & have been a dozen times now, never had any problem with any cast members at all & have not seen any rudeness as has been mentioned on these boards. It is well worth the trip & I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'm already trying to talk hubby round to another visit even though we've only been home a day! The website has another 40% off deal on which is what we got this time.

[Tinkerboo]

Hi Aunty Ruth

Thanks very much for that, it's good to hear first hand accounts of the hotels. I love the idea of staying in a Tinker Bell Suite in the pink hotel but have not yet looked at prices...

What tips or advice would you give me on a visit to the parks themselves? It's annoying (though not entirely surprising) that there are so fewer guides to DLP than the other parks...I feel like I know WDW inside out even though it's thousands of miles away, yet for something on my doorstep I couldn't even tell you where the best place is to watch the parade!

Do you book with a travel agent or arrange it independently? I'm very keen to go by Eurostar (given the carbon footprint we'll be leaving by going to Orlando this November) but I don't know whether the best prices are if I book it all separately myself or if I book a package with someone...

Many thanks again,

[Aunty Ruth]

Hi Tinkerboo,

We book directly on the Disneyland Paris website as it is always the cheapest package, it includes B&B plus tickets for the parks each day of the trip including arrival day & departure day. You can book with transportation included however we have always booked ours separately as it works out a bit cheaper but we go Dover Calais ferry so I don't know if Eurostar would be the same.

There is a really good book that I would recommend if it is your 1st visit called a brit's guide to Disneyland Resort Paris by Simon & Susan Veness full of handy hints & tips. The version I have is 2006-2007 but I imagine there will be a more up to date one available. I don't really need it as I know the parks like the back of my hand but I enjoy reading it when I haven't visited for a long time .

If there is anything specific you want to know I'll try to help but if you can find that book I'm sure you would find it very useful.

Aunty Ruth

[Tinkerboo]

I have that book - it was the first one I looked for once I found out there was no PassPorter for Paris! I've read it all through but probably need to read it again to properly absorb it...I was easily distracted by the pretty photos.

I'll have another look at the official site next month, and see what prices it can give me for that time next year. I bumped into my aunt and uncle today and told them my plans (they're big WDW fans) and it turns out they've been to DLP too and really liked it, which is encouraging (my aunt won't mince her words if something displeases her and isn't shy about putting in a complaint whenever necessary, so her approval is quite an endorsement!!).

Thanks again...I may come back for more advice nearer the time!

[CelticChick]

Sorry Tinkerboo, but in my opinion, I just couldn't recommend DLP to anyone!

[Tinkerboo]

Originally Posted by CelticChick

Sorry Tinkerboo, but in my opinion, I just couldn't recommend DLP to anyone!

Why so? I need details!!