Disneyland Paris or Florida anybody done both?

[MilaMae]

Just doing some research for the inevitable trip we'll have to make at some point.

How do they differ?

What is the cost difference?

What are there good/bad points for both ( the plus points for Paris being a couple of days in Paris I could tag on and no flights)?

Are either more suitable for different age kids?

Is Paris worth doing(it may be our only option anyhow)or is it a poor substitute for the real thing?

Many thanks

We have been to DLP, but not the equivalent in Florida (Magic Kingdom). We have been to Epcot in Florida and it is great. You can get a package where you can combine both parks.

Flights and time aside, I would say that Florida is an overall winner.

We did both so here goes

Paris is much more compact, the whol place felt ver small to me and you did have an overiding feeling that it was the "poor cousin" to the real thing. I found the attitude of fellow visitors was very poor. Charcters were mobbed, small children were pushed out of the way, children were shouted at by adult autograph collectors..

Paris cost us about £2,000 to go with food extra on top of that. Florida cost about £10,000 but Paris was a cheapie get away and Florida was the no expense spared blow out.

Florida is a long flight which is fine if your children are good at coping with enforced stillness but not if they are highly active! You have a better chance of good weather in Florida but Paris is a wonderful place to be able to add on (and possibly not somewhere you would go with the children if you were not going to Disney). Florida has many places you can add on so that you are not Disney sick by the end.

I would say there is less for older children in Paris.

Poor substitute IMO - if you can afford to do the full on thing in Florida.

The only other thing I can say is, if you are sensitive to animal rights, be careful where you go in Flordia. The American approach is a bit differnet to ours and you see things there you would not see here (in fact thing s that would probably close a place down here). We did not see anything too disturbing in any of the major palces (Disney, Seaworld etc - although I do have opinons on the size of place Whales and Dolphins are kept...) but some of the smaller, more local places shocked me - to say very the least.

Thanks At what age do you think kids would grow out of Florida?

We are hoping to go back before my eldest dc is 15 but there are parks with big coasters etc that appeal to older teens anyway so I am not sure I would expect dcs to grow out of it at any satge!

Have done both Paris is better IMO for pre schoolers.
Florida's main cost is getting there whereas we found eating in Paris very expensive.

The long flight can be hard work with a toddler.

We spent about just between £1200 and £1500 on five day break in Paris. This included spending money.

Two weeks in Florida with a week on the gulf coast was about four times that.

Would 6 and 5 year olds still enjoy Paris or even slightly older?

Dp and dd said yes but only if they had not been to florida.

DD is 7 and said she would like to go back to Paris and she has done both.

Thanks for that

So what's so good about Florida then?

The US is such a great place to go on holiday. Their attitude to service is superb and everyone will make you feel that you are the most important family in the world.

Speaking English is a bonus.

We are an Anglo American family and have moved back and forth over the years. We moved to the UK 6 years ago, and the first time we went back as a family was for our holiday 2 years ago (DH goes on business a lot, but it is not easy to fly with five children). It was such a breath of fresh air and we just loved it.

I love France too, but the US is hard to beat.

The sun....

nuff said

Disney in Florida is quite magical, dd's eyes go all glazed when she talks about it. The weather is part of it as is the excellent service. We also did lots of the VIP tours which were fab.

I've done both and agree with what King said.

For me Florida is far better than Paris.

It depends what your looking for. Florida is more of an all round holiday. Loads to do other than the parks, etc. However for me Paris is just a weekend type holiday. I wouldn't go there for 2 weeks.

In defense of northern France...

Our holiday last year was 3 days in Paris followed by 7 days in the new, nearby Centerparcs. It would have been conceivable to add on a couple of days in Disneyland to give you the complete package. But expensive.

Plus the Americans are much more organised and way better at keeping the queue's down.

In Paris the queue's were ridiculous and it was just down to them not organising people properly.

I've done both and DLP is fantastic for younger children. I wouldn't take my Dcs to Florida till they were about 9 or 10. But you don' need to pay out that much to go to DLP. Im' going here in May - paid for by tesco vouchers so accom etc is free! We will do our own thing as far as possible re food - breakfast in the morning, snacks n lunch with us!!! Depending on parades etc we'll either McD it or BBQ at teh campsite. Tickets for 3 days at DLP will be aournf £250. or we'll do 2 days at the park and 1 day in paris. Kids have to keep some birthday money aside if they want to buy any tat! This holiday btw is their birthday present!!! they have so much stuff I thought a trip to DLP would be fab!!

So have a DLP bargain break sooner then go to Florida later!!

I haven't been to DLP but a friend has done both and she says DLP is great for a weekend (or New Year- she goes every year) but DLF is the best. As previous posters have mentioned- excellent service, weather's good etc.

We went with ds1 three years ago when he was 10 and we're going this year in August. Also now have ds2 and he'll be 21 months. We've booked a villa, car, flights with BA and 14 day Ultimate Tickets and this has come to just under £4000. Food on top, obviously.