Village d'lle de France May 2011--got it..need advise...

Another key tip for consideration is that nothing is fast in DLP. A table service restaurant can often be a 2 hour affair, and the service in counter service restaurants can often be slow.

One of our fav tips is to have your main meal as a table service experience at about 2 or 3. It is a great way to have a break and be waited on.

And remember wine is a great french tradition, so the table service restaurants have far more in common with Epcot than the MK.

If you get a Dream pass it includes a free Kir apparetif.

To me, one of the finest experiences anywhere is to have a three course meal with a bottle of wine in the Silver Spur followed by a cruise on the Mark Twain or Molly Brown or a trip through Phantom Manor. It is sublime.

Blind?

Maybe I'm blind... but I can't seem to find any info at all on annual passes on the disney website. I wonder if they do not tell annual passes to americans?

I know others are trip planning too, and having sent a message to someone, I thought I would put this on here too to help others plan:

Hmmmm, Normandy is not far by US standards, but it is also not close either. It's about 200+ miles from Marriott - MVCI is 30 miles East of Paris and Normandy is North West.

If Normandy is a must for you guys, then I would say a mini trip is possibly the best route. You could either rent a car from Paris, or use the Train (French trains are excellent, fast and relatively cheap). I would say there are three must do's in Normandy:

1. The Bayeaux Tapestry is an absolute must if you are interested in history. It explains things from the victor's perspective as to why William The Conquerer invaded England. and seeing Haley's comet in there is very cool too. There are slight inaccuracies as it was made 20 years after the invasion by French Nuns.

http://www.tapestry-bayeux.com/

2. The D-Day Beaches and Museums. Very moving and worth while. Having spoken with veterans, they do say that Saving Private Ryan is very accurate. Be sure to watch before coming over.

http://www.battlefieldsww2.50megs.co...dy_museums.htm

3. Mont St Michel - I have preferrable medieval sites in Europe, but this is unique and if you are already in the area, it is worth checking out.

http://www.ot-montsaintmichel.com/accueil_gb.htm

Also, if you are interested in War History, then after seeing the hideous conditions of Normandy, there are some great sites enroute to MVCI via Arras - destroyed in WWI and WWII, the medieval tunnels are still in tact (were pivitol in the allied wins of WWI) and was rebuilt in it's medieval and renaissance styles every time, it is a UNESCO world heritage site:

http://arras-france.com/north-france/

and a couple of miles from there see the Trenches and Canadian memorial in Vimy (closer than Eperny and the Somme for the American sites).

http://www.ww1battlefields.co.uk/others/vimy.html

Or you could pop into Belgium and visit the Venice of the North in Brugges:

http://www.brugge.be/internet/en/toe...eden/index.htm

Or take in Chantilly (a big inspiration for Disney):

http://www.chateaudechantilly.com/ch.../uk/index.html

Or Compiegne, the WWI armistace carriage and Pierrefonds in a one day trip:

http://www.mairie-compiegne.fr/

http://www.somme-battlefields.com/ba...armistice_oise

http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/...ierrefonds.htm

Once down there, I recommend:

Parc Asterix

http://www.parcasterix.fr/opening-calendar

Provins:

http://www.provins.net/index.php/english-version.html

Reims for the Cathedral, Markets and Champagne Houses (Tattinger is in old monasic ruins, Piper offers a dark ride modern style):

http://www.reims-tourism.com/

Vaux le Vicomte:

http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/index.php

Fountainebleau

http://www.uk.fontainebleau-tourisme...-of-castle.asp

The Wild Cat Park in the area is supposed to be very good (we have not yet been)

http://www.tourism77.co.uk/theme-par...d-cat-park.htm

Barbizon is very popular with Americans, but not my fav, but it was big in the impressionist movement:

http://www.uk.fontainebleau-tourisme...s/barbizon.asp

If you want a day of local low key, you might want to see where Braille was invented, it is only about 5 miles away (if that) from the villa too:

http://www.tourism77.co.uk/heritage-...is-braille.htm

And of course Val De Europe offers shopping, dining and an aquarium:

http://www.valdeurope.fr/106-13524-Val-d-Europe.php

Swice said:

Maybe I'm blind... but I can't seem to find any info at all on annual passes on the disney website. I wonder if they do not tell annual passes to americans?

Click to expand...

They will indeed sell APs to Americans. I have one (ok I live in Europe), but so do other Americans that live stateside.

All the official information is only in French though, hence why I posted the other site on here. I conduct my transactions in French, but with patience and a little "Parler vous Anglais?", they will help you through.

Here is the official info for you (it is not on the English site)

http://offres.disneylandparis.fr/passeport-annuel/non-adherents/index.xhtml

They are very easy to buy however. You can go to Guest Relations or any Ticket Window and buy them there. They will issue you with a ticket and receipt to use to get through the gates. You then simply redeem them at the AP office (to the right of the castle between Discoveryland and Fantasyland, across from the Castle Stage) at a time that is convenient. Parade time or evening is quietest. You must redeem them that day however.

Any other questions let me know, I have had an AP for 11 years now (as well as APs in Anaheim and WDW).

Thanks davewasbaloo!

Going to DLP has been on my wishlist, and you just bumped it up higher on my priority list! I've been waiting to make sure my daughter is old enough to remember the trip; she's been to DLHK and can't remember any of it! We go to DLR all the time since it's a reasonable drive away, but hearing how lovely the park is at DLP makes it sound like a great experience. I did wonder how "crazy" we would be to spend time there when there is so much to see in the surrounding areas, but DLP sounds like a destination in itself. There's just so much to see; I'm definitely going to want to extend that trip as long as I can

Well I am not a good judge. I can happily spend 6 days in the parks and feel like we just about did what we wanted. Yet I read an American review (yes I am American, but I have lived in Europe for 24 years and am multi lingual) on the DIS boards where she spent 2.5 days there and did not like it despite being a SoCal AP holder and a DVC owner in WDW.

So mileage will vary. I know other mega fans who rate DLP, Tokyo and DL as the equal best. But there is certainly more to do there than HKDL (even though I can't wait to try that resort out once the Grizzly Mine Train and Mystic Manor open).

I think it is great to mix up the best of all worlds. WE have been doing this since the kids were 12 weeks old. That way they do not get bored of the parks, the historic sites or the cultural experiences. But there fav thing to do on a sunny day is crafts in the kids clubs (they love meeting kids from around the world, something not as common at the MVCI resorts), go for a swim, and play giant chess at MVCI. Lol

For those who've been there...

Biggest question as we begin packing:

- What about electricity at marriott? Do we need a converter? MUST charge camera battery! Also considering taking laptop.

If Normandy is five hours away by car... would train be faster, doable by train in a day?

France uses 220/240v, and a different two prong plug. So you will indeed need a converter to plug anything in.

As for Normandy, the train does go, but it is expensive and nerve wracking to make the changes. You would be best in a car IMHO unless you are adventurous. It is doable. If you are thinking of the D Day museum, you would need to take the train to Bayeaux.

Bon voyage!

Thanks very much Dave!! I am going next year as well, and am looking for ideas on where to go. Your list is fantastic!

computer

So I can plug my 3-prong dell computer plug into an adaptor and into the wall?

If I choose not to take computer, is there a business center in the lobby with a computer I can check email on?

josh1231 said:

Thanks very much Dave!! I am going next year as well, and am looking for ideas on where to go. Your list is fantastic!

Click to expand...

My pleasure Josh, just ask away.

Swice said:

So I can plug my 3-prong dell computer plug into an adaptor and into the wall?

If I choose not to take computer, is there a business center in the lobby with a computer I can check email on?

Click to expand...

As long as you have an adaptor that will change the power to the right voltage, then it should be ok.

There are 4 machines by the changing rooms/gym and another couple between the shop and the bar. You can purchase a card at the shop or use your credit card to get on line.

thanks!

Appreciate the tips,

I've stumbled upon what sounds like a neat experience:
Bike About Tours.

We've signed up for a family tour since we have smaller kids.

Very highly rated on trip advisor.

Cool, enjoy. Unless the bike has 4 wheels, I doubt I would get my wife on, but it would be great to hear how it goes.

Swice said:

Appreciate the tips,

I've stumbled upon what sounds like a neat experience:
Bike About Tours.

We've signed up for a family tour since we have smaller kids.

Very highly rated on trip advisor.

Click to expand...

Can you please post a link? Thank You!

Great thread!

Two years ago we did Rome and then rented a villa in Tuscany with another couple and toured the area everyday. We are considering trading into this Marriott Paris property and using it similarly as a travel base.

Our thoughts would be to start at IDF, arriving by car from Paris. At the end of the week, we would go to Paris for 5 days or so. We have been to Paris multiple times and love it. We did a trip a few years ago that included three nights in the Normandy area and many years ago, did the Loire Valley.

Here's the kicker - absolutely not interested in doing Disney! So the question is with that being said, is this a good base to tour the countryside for a week? Can someone give some ideas of interesting day trips in the area? If you were me, would you just skip the trade, rent in Provence and go from there?

Sadly, we purchased our NJ week years ago and have no interest in going there. Always either trade or turn week in for points. So there is an incentive to use the week somehow (and we have done very well, trading to Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe, Marbella and Newport Coast). So would be interested in the Paris property but if it's nuts, we would forget it.

Many thanks.

If you read my posts on this thread, there are plenty of things in the area worth doing and you can tour from the Ile de France property - Provins, Fountainbleu, Barbizon, Vaux le Vicomte, Chantilly, Noyons, Compiegne, the WW1 armistace carriage between Compiegne and Pierrefonds (also another amazing storybook town), the Brie market at Meaux, the birthplace of Louis Braille is a mile from the villas, Reims (royal cathedral) and the champagne wineries, the WW1 museum as well as the trenches and Unesco town of Arras and Vimy. or you could hop a high speed train from Disneyland Paris an be in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands etc. very quickly too. And the commute into Paris isn't too bad either (it feels like when I used to commute to London daily).

I am biased as we own here though, and although we largely bought because of Disney, I find there is so much to see outside of it too. There is much on offer in this part of France. Enjoy.

wonderful time

We posted a trip report in the resort database.

Dave had great advice.... Go to Provins!!!!!!!!!

We rented a car for the first half of our eight day stay.... Hertz at airport and turned car in at the Hertz counter at Disneyland metro station.

We used car for day trips (again-- go to Provins).

We turned in the car and went to Paris several days broken up by a day at Disneyland. I read one person on TUG who wrote: You don't go to Paris (this Marriott property) to go to Disneyland, but you do go to Disneyland if you are at this property. ...That was a great comment. Disneyland was interesting because it is "different." We only went to Disneyland one day... and went over to Downtown Disney (restaurants and shops) one night.

Yes, Metro pass was a must! It simply made trains and subways easier.

In Paris-- "Bike About Paris" was a true highlight!

wonderful time

We posted a trip report in the resort database.

Dave had great advice.... Go to Provins!!!!!!!!!

We rented a car for the first half of our eight day stay.... Hertz at airport and turned car in at the Hertz counter at Disneyland metro station.

We used car for day trips (again-- go to Provins).

We turned in the car and went to Paris several days broken up by a day at Disneyland. I read one person on TUG who wrote: You don't go to Paris (this Marriott property) to go to Disneyland, but you do go to Disneyland if you are at this property. ...That was a great comment. Disneyland was interesting because it is "different." We only went to Disneyland one day... and went over to Downtown Disney (restaurants and shops) one night.

Yes, Metro pass was a must! It simply made trains and subways easier.

In Paris-- "Bike About Paris" was a true highlight!