Alternatives to Disneyland Paris

[ArdnaGreine]

For dc 8,6,3 yrs old.

Researching DLP at the moment and feeling a bit overwhelmed by it lol. The queues, cost(can afford), crowds, overwhelming enthusiasm etc! Think it may be hell for us but kids would enjoy.

We're looking at staying offsite and eating some decent food and getting a few sights in too.

Any alternatives anyone can suggest as a compromise between giving kids a great time and is keeping our sanity??

We stayed off site and really enjoyed the little journey in on the RER train. (One of us might be v keen on rail transport..)

Honestly, I am the least fucking Disney person. Hate all the Princess shit. No comprehension of the attraction of Mickey Mouse. But it was fucking brilliant. Would go again tomorrow. Just amazing.

Why not stay at a hotel in Paris for a few nights, see the sights eat the amazing food and just visit Disney for the day? Stay in a hotel on the metro line so it’s easy access to all of the tourist sights.

Ye are not supposed to tell me it's amazing!!
Do I need to book character breakfasts and encounters etc??
Stupidly joined a page of Disneyland mad folk and feeling a severe lack of joie de vivre on my part in comparison!!

We were looking at basing ourselves in an Airbnb near Vallée Village so on the RER train route into Paris and to DLP.

Will be feel deprived not staying in Disney hotels?

My caveats are:
We went in October half term, mid week. It was quieter.

One of my kids is autistic. We had the green pass thingy. Made life easier for sure. Made me love Disneyland forever because this was a child on the edge of massive anxiety and school refusal, but DLP is so bloody amazing that she was able to go abroad and enjoy it. We had a normal family holiday against significant odds because for us it was genuinely inclusive.

Didn't book anything. Found all that TripAdvisor-type chat terrifying and incomprehensible. Went back to hotel to eat or took stuff in with us. Chips in DLP are nice.

This is where I'd like to go someday with my dc, as an alternative to Disney.

www.efteling.com/en/park

Saturday was beginning to think I was loosing my mind and should be spending insane amounts of money so my kids would not feel deprived. Thanks for the reality check😁

The Netherlands park does look amazing as calmer but will it have the same wow factor?

Efteling is amazing and my kids aged 7 and 9 preferred it to DLP. We went for a day but planning on returning for a couple of nights. They have apartments and holiday homes so far more sensible for families than the hotels at Disney. I refuse to share a room with children on holiday.

We did love DLP though, including my grumpy DH. We stayed self catering off site and bought annual passes so we could access the extra magic hours in the mornings. Only pre-booked one meal. The rest we did sandwiches or grabbed burgers/pizza. First trip we stayed at a caravan park 20 minutes away with the benefit of an outdoor pool. Second time aparthotel near the Val d’Europe shopping centre with free bus to DLP.

My DC weren’t massively fussed about characters so didn’t do any of that. The website DLP Guide is really comprehensive for planning. It’s good to have a plan but try not to worry too much. You can grab the plans and timetables when you enter the park, do a couple of rides and discuss a plan in a Q or over coffee.

You don’t need to spend insane money. You can take your own food and there are water fountains so just bring bottles with you. The shops are awesome so save pocket money for that.

Will you all please just stop talking about the E place. It is blissfully bookable all year round and the most magical theme park ever. If you must share it, please just whisper the name reverentially to your very closest friends.

Nothing matches the experience of Disneyland Paris. Especially not for kids. It is just magic

Staying onsite means you get stuff like extra magic hours and the fully immersive experience. The outside world can seem incredibly harsh compared to the Disney bubble. Annual passes can help with extra magic hours but not the immersive experience.

If I wasn't doing disney I wouldn't bother going aboard. I'd stay onsite at Drayton Manor, Chessington or Legoland depending on the interests of the kids. The kids would prefer Legoland (and any room will do onsite there), the rides are probably the best for the ages of your kids but find it quite a cynical place and the layout it's diabolically poor . I'd by far prefer Chessington wayama room (the ones overlooking the animal) waking up to zebras, giraffe and ostriches out your window is magical, but the ages of your kids might just be wrong for Chessington. And Drayton Manor is a bit of a curve ball because it has a certain charm that comes from its lack of size and individuallty but unless you have Thomas fans it might be a little limited for your age kids. Both Chessington and Drayton Manor are really good for families with a mixed age range.

But nothing has the same wow factor as disney. All of the above you can do well in a well planned Day. Disney you need at least three days and to do it in that would require regimental organization. We take 5 days at disney and still don't manage everything everytime. And it really is charming, in a way you don't often see.

Sorry, Circle! But you've made me more excited to go myself someday. ;)

Haha. Love it Circle. Must have a closer look at flights etc.

Thanks all for quelling my fears about giving my kids a less than fully immersive experience in DLP! They hopefully will not be scarred for life.

We put a limit of 1 night on room sharing with us otherwise would not end well for any of us! Will book an apartment somewhere especially with a non standard family of 3 kids.

Just echoing how good die Efteling is. We stayed in a little campsite about a kilometre away, in a cottage , had a pool and minigolf.

Efteling is certainly looking more appealing, few days in Amsterdam, tulip fields in May. Easier pace of life. Could be a winner!
Has anyone been to both?

Might be worth starting a new thread, op?

Done both, several times. Efteling is not as big. Not as commercial. Cheaper too. But lovely. Your children will prefer DLP, I'm sure you will prefer de Efteling.

As I said upthread my kids preferred Efteling but also loved DLP. They are very glad they went and it’s something they can tell their friends about. Efteling is really imaginative and was quiet at the end of August so straight on to rides or short waits. We did masses in one day. Efteling definitely has a magical quality, obviously DLP has the advantage of familiarity.

Go to both!

How long are you going for? If you could I'd do a few days in DLP (1 day really isn't enough to do more than scratch the surface of what's there) and then a few days in Paris.
Staying at a Disney hotel does make it so easy in terms if getting to and from the park and being able to get in early. Being close majes it easy to stay late too and we've found after 6pm really the best time for getting on rides without queues as the park quietens right down. Quite often there are offers for free restuarant packages which can be good.
We've been twice now. I've enjoyed it as much as my kids! 😁

Can't speak for 'E' but DLP is fun for children. Personally I would go to Paris for a few days which is magical enough and then top it off with a surprise day/ day and a half in DLP and go all out Disney for that!

Off to DLP for the 5th time next month.

Just do it.

Done both and Eeftling (for me) is the better theme park but Disney is the better holiday. Hubby and I are heading back to Disney this year to do the Christmas season (bucket list item for me) and then we'll do Eeftling again next year 😀

Thanks so much for all the replies. Certainly plenty to think about.

Might do "E" first. Make a weeks holiday out of Holland and brave Disney when ds 2yrs is older. Was tallking to a Dutch friend earlier who was raving about it.Or just go to Orlando

Travelling with 3dc is certainly a game changer. Totally get the familiarity and significance of the bucket list ticking of DLP. We are avoiding a big religious milestone do need a good holiday to trump it!

Hi OP, I was coming on here to start a similar thread, I'm also researching DLP at the minute - I think for October half term, but like you im also a bit overwhelmed and confused is it best to fly/ Eurostar? Stay on or off site at DLP? Do I book through a travel agent/ do it all separately myself? What about all the extras? !!! How many days /nights for DLP? I'd also like to visit the sights in Paris again?? I think I've been looking that much I've totally confused myself !! Any advice, suggestions, recommendations and ideas welcome too. Hope you don't mind me gatecrashing your thread OP !

With 3 kids you need a family room unless one is under 3. It looks like that is the case for you OP but thought I'd mention for other posters.

We have done onsite and offsite. Offsite is cheaper and means less expensive food. I wouldn't worry about missing out on anything by not spending small fortunes in their hotels - you can always look around them even if not staying!