Morning in Paris with 4 kids?

[majormoo]

On our way down through France this summer we are doing a 3days/2nights package at Disneyland Paris. For day 3 we're staying in a basic campsite 30 mins from Disney for one night, so we can make the most of our last day on the parks. The next day we have a 4 hour drive down to a stopover at a lovely place near Limoges that we stayed at last year. Our kids love it as they have donkeys! However, as we're only 10km from Paris I thought just now, should we spend a few hours in Paris the morning before the drive south. Would this be mad? I am pretty sure my husband will think this if I mention it. But it seems so sad to be so close to a beautiful city and not see any of it. (Please bear in mind although I have a 12 year daughter and 8 year old son who would probably love it, I also have a 6 year old and 3 year who would probably drive us bonkers)

Can you easily get into the centre on public transport?

Yes you have to! Even if you just walk round and see the sights. I'm sure even the younger ones will enjoy seeing the Eiffel Tower etc

I took ten on a bus tour, a river cruise and up the Eiffel tower. The little ones will be happy as long as you have a bag of snacks, and it might be easier to get a sitting down tour rather than schlepping them under their own steam?

There are usually plenty of people to wave at from the boat and as long as you buy them ice cream under the tower, you can use it as bribery...

Yes do the boat bus and you can hop on and off and it's very cheap. Get in early , Paris can be very hot in the summer .

Tour Eiffel is a must but there may be a huge queue, so maybe just take a selfie under it?

Have a lovely morning tea in a pâtisserie, and if it is too hot for you, behave like a true Parisienne and take the children to the Jardins du Luxembourg. Have them rent a toy boat or pay the fee for the paying playground.

Or just have a walk around the Musée du Louvre and the parks around it. Still enough to give you a feeling of Paris.

Thanks for the tips-sounds like I can do it with good planning.
On and off boat sounds good-we did that years ago but didn't have kids with us.
Think just a photo of Eiffel Tower would have to suffice as suggested!

Is about half an hour on public transport into centre from what I've read on Tripadvisor-there's a bus from outside campsite to station

Now to suggest to Dh this is a plan!

Our dcs' favourite was the Eiffel Tour, but you would have to book in advance to stand any chance of going up in a limited time span in Summer.
If you look at the website you can see when the tickets are now released until now and then work out the release date of your visit. Get on there at release time (midnight France, so with the time difference earlier in UK) and buy for opening time ideally. You then get to go up without too many crowds of people. It is expensive, but worth it.

Agree the Luxembourg parc is lovely. We sat whilst the kids sailed a boat on the fountain. Actually, really good fun and the setting feels very Parisian.

The hop on off boat is good.

If you have a limited time then I think the most important thing is to plan and get in early as Paris is lovely early morning without the crowds.