Disneyland Paris - 3 or 4 days?

[Creative34]

I’m currently planning a holiday to Disneyland Paris in September.

It will be our first trip to DLP (been to Orlando a few times before), it’s also our first trip with our children (2 boys, ages 3 and 7 months at time of travelling).

For the first trip would you recommend 4 days in the parks or 3?

Also thoughts on hotels? We’re considering the Newport - any experiences here? We won’t have a car as it’s easier for us to travel by train.

Lastly is there much to do in the evenings (like Disney Springs in Orlando)?

Thanks!

Just a pre warning we just came back and they were striking left right and centre and Disney refused to give us a refund on the strike day. They knocked rides off left and right and centre. If your adamant in going I would go with three days was enough! Constant queuing and barging as they let thousands of people in.

Is budget a factor?

I would choose the most central hotel to precisely where you want to be, and if that rules that a fourth day financially - then so be it

Personally I’d wait a year or so at least

Budget isn’t a huge issue, the Newport is the closest atm (same distance walk as the New York marvel hotel). The central hotel is shut for renovations until next year. We wanted this year as DS1 will be in reception same time next year

Take him out and go next year I would. He won’t even be 5!

if budget makes no odds… with children that young, do the extra day

The strikes were a small pain, pools were closed at Newport recently, and it's just a pale comparison if you've been to Orlando. Three days plenty but depends on arrival and leaving times I suppose. We had a great time though but my 3 kids are older and could stay out till 11 pm close.

And longest queues were family friendly rides. Usually 35 - 60 mins!! But it was half term holidays.

We went recently. Loved it but strike only happened on our last day. Went with a six year old. You Def need fast pass. We did 4 days. Thought it was just perfect. We stayed in Cheyenne. Loved the theme.

I would do 4 days so you can relax a bit and not cram everything in.
We had 3 days, and I felt like everything was rushed, I'll be doing 4 next time.

We liked Newport Bay. Good walking distance to the park and would reccomend there or Marvel if walking and avoiding shuttle buses.

Also worth checking the time of fireworks in September as I think they can be later at night during the summer months so worth checking that.

4 days. We went for 3 with our 3 year old and 7 month old and felt we would have benefitted from a little bit more time. The Newport Bay hotel is lovely, we really liked Sequioa Lodge as well, we stayed Golden Forest Club and the staff in the lounge were brilliant with our kids. They had colouring out all day etc and it was a lovely space to feed and chill before heading back out to the chaos of the parks.

We found with a big family the Newport was best value but I really don't like it. It doesn't feel 'Disney' and more like an adult friendly Premier Inn type. The cheaper further away ones are more fun. We loved Hotel New York which is now Marvel. The smell in the pink posh one was so revolting, was glad to be out. Think it's their signature scent?
I'd do four days and plan what you want to achieve

We went for 5 nights/6 days in 2019 by Eurostar direct (but that ended in June), got there around 3pm on the first day and left around 2pm on the last day, so not all full days. We had mobility issues so wanted enough time to take everything at our own pace. We also stayed at the DLH which is currently closed, to be right at the park entrance.

I would stay for as many nights as you can afford, so 4 rather than 3. We had enough time to see every area at our leisure and do some things more than once, we met loads of characters, we got to see all the shows (which are free, don't be fooled by being asked to pay for them).

I did 4 nights with DS when he was 4. We didn't have to rush and manged to see everything we wanted.

Thanks so much! We’re going to go with 4 days; sound advice. I definitely don’t want to be rushing anywhere

That’s really helpful to know about the club - thank you! 4 days it is 🥳🥳

Those are quite reasonable waiting times tbf. WDW is often that long for many rides. Some are 1.5hrs plus which js where the fast track comes in. I never go there now without building that into the cost of the holiday as otherwise we spend the whole time queuing

Only 3 days at that age it quite hard work when they're that young. Mine were 4 and 5 when I first took them and they can't remember that first time. I do though and I loved it. It was knackering though and we needed afternoon naps.

Also due to their height you are limited on rides and of course one of you will always be standing around twiddling your thumbs holding the baby.

I'd go for 4 if you can afford it.

The marvel, Newport and sequoia are all pretty similar distance. A few minutes in it. Cheyenne and Santa Fe are further out. Santa Fe is definitely more basic.

I prefer sequoia at that time of year. It's warm and cosy and they have lovely fireplace etc. Sequoia, marvel and Newport all have pools, the others don't.

Make sure you use magic hour 8:30 till 9:30 as that's good to get of the busier rides done.

Have a great time. We're going back this October half term and I can't wait!

Thank you for this - I just booked and I’m so excited (for us and particularly DS 3 years) we mentioned a while ago that we were considering it and he hasn’t stopped asking us ❤️

Are there any rides you’d recommend specifically visiting between 8.30 and 9.30?

I need to do some more research between now and then - just stealing time between naps atm 🙈

Sorry im kind of jumping on this thread! But can anyone tell me is the Seqoia the one between Newport and Marvel?
We are thinking of going at Christmas and online that one looks cosy, just wasn't sure how far it was from the park.

It's an very easy 10/15 minute walk from the park. Round the edge of the lake. I'm sure it's same side as marvel but opposite side to Newport.

We’ve never done less than four days (3 nights) and apart from once when we stayed at the Sequoia Lodge we always stay at Newport Bay (last year was our sixth stay there). Newport Bay is a lovely hotel and we usually go for a Compass Club room so get breakfast, afternoon tea and free tea / coffee soft drinks as well as valet parking which is a godsend.

The first two times we went were term time as children were under school age but since then it has always been school holidays as children were school age and now I work in school. We’ve been at Christmas, Easter, October half term and middle of summer and have never found the queues too onerous.

Hope you have a great time OP.

We went the weekend before Christmas with my sons (almost 3 and almost 5 at the time)
for 3nights/4 full days-we drove so was there by 8am and didn’t leave until 8pm the last day.
it was fantastic, we still didn’t fit it all in but they had an absolute blast.
we stayed at the Cheyenne and it wasn’t too far to walk to the parks.

if you can stretch too it the either/and/or the character breakfast and dinner were both a huge hit with my two. They still talk about it now.

@Creative34 peter pan flight, Ratatouille spider Web slingers all can have longer lines normally so we did those on early magic hours. Alps we joined the queue for Mickey towards the end of one magic hour and queued about 40mij total when it was usually around 60-90min the rest of the time.

Mine were 1 and 3 when we went last year and there's so much they can go on, even the baby. Pirates of the Caribbean, slinky dog and buzz were firm favourites with my then 3yr old. They also had fairly low wait times compared to the big stuff like space mountain. He also loved the parades and meeting Spiderman and buzz lightyear.

There are a few Facebook groups which are good for planning too.

Amazing, thank you!!