First DLP trip planning...

[G00fyDad]

Can anyone tell me what the best time of the year to visit Disneyland Paris would be? We are taking a trip to the UK next year instead of going back to WDW again. While we are in the UK we are going to take the Eurostar out to Paris and I wanted to go to the park. I was hoping to take the trip in the summer next year, but if we are adding DLP into the mix then I want to make sure it is not going to be packed.

 

[Swissmiss]

DLP is not in the same type of climate as WDW so being there when it is cold and rainy is not the most enjoyable. If you have loads of flexibility, I'd say May-June or September thru mid-October (not only does later October get colder, but many European schools have a week to two weeks off towards the end of October). If possible, avoid Saturday and Sunday as it gets quite crowded with local passholders.

 

[G00fyDad]

What about "summer crowds"? Does it get slammed the same way US parks do during the summer months? Right now I am planning an early July trip.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

DLP isn't as miserably ran to capacity as the US parks, so summer is busy, crowded even, but still doable.

There will be long lines, exercabated by the DLP castle park having less rides than the US ones. On the plus side, Europeans take up about half the personal space of an American, so that helps make it feel less packed.

 

[margybear]

I've gone once in late June (school summer holidays), once in July and then once in September. September was definitely the best time, minus the weather (Looking at 10^c most days, good days were 16-17^c). Big rides like Crush's coaster always have a wait but we rode ToT about 4-5 times in an hour... Basically got to do everything at least once in about 3 1/2 days.
It just depends how tolerant you are of the weather (I'm in Northern Ireland so it's always freezing for me anyway, 10^c may as well be a heatwave), and you will get cheaper prices on hotels.
July wasn't bad- not compared to WDW. My advice for any time of the year is do Fantasyland really early in the morning- I took the 30% off disney hotels offer so I had EMH.

I like DLP more than WDW at least in that there's no FastPass+ and a need for ADRs. The only restaurant we ever booked was one for the night we arrived. You still need to plan a little, but it's much more stress free (IMO!)

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

but if we are adding DLP into the mix then I want to make sure it is not going to be packed.

Two choices - summer = warm and busy or winter = empty and horrendous weather. I know when I'd choose

 

[G00fyDad]

Thanks. I may just choose summer anyway so the rest of the trip is not ruined by bad weather. To be honest going to Paris was an afterthought to the initial UK trip planning. I found that we can take the Eurostar to Paris to see the Eiffel tower and the Louvre, and it just kind of grew from there.

 

[fosse76]

I went in September last year. While it was on the cool side, I thought it was perfect weather for spending so much time outdoors (only needed a light jacket). If at all possible, visit on a weekday. I went on a Sunday and on a Tuesday. While the park didn't "feel" crowded on Sunday, wait times were rather long. Tuesday was dead. And its very easy to get to the park from Paris.

 

[JillC LI]

What about "summer crowds"? Does it get slammed the same way US parks do during the summer months? Right now I am planning an early July trip.

We were there for one day on Saturday, July 4th last year. It was crowded, but not insane, and we were able to do a TON of stuff in both parks with careful planning and early arrival. Paris was experiencing a heat wave and it was 100 degrees and sweltering, but we were so happy to be there, it didn't affect us too much. Just find air conditioning where you can, and drink a lot of water. The temperature didn't slow us down or ruin our day one bit.

 

[G00fyDad]

I went in September last year. While it was on the cool side, I thought it was perfect weather for spending so much time outdoors (only needed a light jacket). If at all possible, visit on a weekday. I went on a Sunday and on a Tuesday. While the park didn't "feel" crowded on Sunday, wait times were rather long. Tuesday was dead. And its very easy to get to the park from Paris.

We will be in Paris on a Wednesday and Thursday. Hopefully that will keep the crowds down.

 

[G00fyDad]

Okay. After doing some planning on this (Other than living in Japan I have never been outside the US before) I am now thinking that we will spend two days in London, take the Eurostar to Paris, spend two days in Paris, and then take the train to Disneyland and stay there for three days.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[Swissmiss]

I would spend three days in Paris and only two at DLP (or even four and one).

 

[G00fyDad]

I would spend three days in Paris and only two at DLP (or even four and one).

One day for two parks?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

One day is too short. Two is good. Three is good if you are a Disney fan and want to check everything out.

 

[G00fyDad]

I would like to see as much as possible of DLP since it will probably be the only time we ever get to go. Next up will be HKDL. LOL

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I would like to see as much as possible of DLP since it will probably be the only time we ever get to go. Next up will be HKDL. LOL

As an AP I tend to go just for isolated days. Getting my rides in mixed with some sauntering about. So it's difficult to guess how much time it would take to see it all for the first time. DLP doesn't want for charming details and walkthrough exhibits. You can spend a day in the castle park without boarding anything that moves and still be pressed for time. The movie park, Village and hotels by contrast are a bit lacking a certain charm.

 

[cjkeating]

I would like to see as much as possible of DLP since it will probably be the only time we ever get to go. Next up will be HKDL. LOL

You can easily spend 3 days at the two parks unless you go at the quietest time of the year.

 

[PacNWTigger]

We did two days at DLP, and four in Paris proper. We spent our first day in Paris at DLP to keep us moving throughout the day since we arrived at 8:00 am, but to us it was 11:00 pm. We stayed at a good neighbor hotel at DLP which made doing that much easier. We spent the second day at DLP at the end of our trip to balance out all of the history our brains had attempted to absorb.

 

[G00fyDad]

This trip has changed so much over the course of the past week. LOL

Now we are looking at 10 days 9 nights:
07/07/17 - Arrive one way in London Heathrow at 10:00am BST
07/08/17 - London
07/09/17 - London
07/10/17 - London
07/11/17 - Leave London by Eurostar at 1:00pm BST and arrive in Paris around 3:30pm CEST
07/12/17 - Disneyland
07/13/17 - Disneyland
07/14/17 - Paris
07/15/17 - Paris
07/16/17 - Paris. Leave one way Paris Charles De Gaulle airport at 6:00pm CEST

 

[PacNWTigger]

I would attempt to sandwich the DLP days on the 12th and the 15th. It really was a nice break to go to the park to finish up the trip. Maybe that's just because my feet were killing me by the end of the trip too...LOL!