3 Days Return From Disneyland Paris - Destinations?

[Griffit]

My wife, 6 years old son and I are off to Disneyland Paris for 3 days 10th, 11th & 12th April with a day to cruise down there on the 9th. My original plan was to return via Stuttgart for 2 days (both museums), Speyer for the Technik Museum (we've done Sinsheim before), then return. As my wife thinks drives need to be 3-4 hours maximum with a break in the middle it was looking like the following:

Tuesday 12th - Disney to overnight in Saarbrucken Hotel
Wednesday 13th - MB Museum & Stuttgart Hotel
Thursday 14th - Porsche Museum & Heidelberg Hotel
Friday 15th - Technik Museum Speyer & Hotel in Dinant/Leuven
Saturday 16th - Return to UK from Belgium

With petrol prices as they are and hotels towards the Easter weekend getting expensive we are considering something different and shorter but don't have many ideas of where to go for say Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and a late afternoon return to the UK? We've been to Brussels before and it's arguably a bit large for our son so what would anyone suggest? Considered options include:

Reims - Dinant/Chimay/Rochefort - Somewhere else in Belgium?

Rouen - ? - ?

My son would love the museums we had planned (wonder where he gets it from) so ideally a return cannot be just Champagne houses and Belgian beers, though clearly both would be nice too Can anyone give any suggestions for a suitable itinerary? I tend to find Northern France lacking but perhaps that is just my ignorance?

[Qubo]

You seem to have dismissed Brussels but there is a good sized car museum there ,

Google Autoworld Brussels and parking is free on site .

I've been there about 3 or 4 times as they often have a special extra themed display , Italian passion ,Pegaso ,Zagato , BMW M1 being ones I have been to .

[Griffit]

Thanks for this, somewhere I wasn't aware of and looks good! Now putting Brussels back on the radar as there is also Mini-Europe that might be nice - one indoor, one outdoor so good for whatever weather we get!

[Poisson96]

Half of one of the Disney parks is currently under renovation. I'd suggest going via Parc Asterix potentially on the way down (just north of Paris) unless you're deadset on 3 days at DLP.

You've also got Holiday Park not far from Technik Museum, stuff like EGF will be a bit big unless they're rather tall but there's some children's stuff there too, was a decent half day park.

Walibi Belgium is just south of Brussels with Bellewaerde and Plopsaland De Panne nearer the coast.

Edited by Poisson96 on Saturday 19th March 23:32

[MattyD803]

Poisson96 said:

Half of one of the Disney parks is currently under renovation.

Are you sure? Which Park? We were there at the end of October last year (mid renovation stage) and whilst there were a few things boarded up here and there whilst they painted, everything else was fully open. It didn't detract from the visit whatsoever.

OP - We made our trip via Le Mans to take a look around the museum there. It was excellent, and even got to watch some open wheelers having a shake down on the Bugatti circuit.

[Poisson96]

WD Studios is missing their main rollercoaster as it goes from Rockin' Roller to Iron Man plus some other parts. Just thought it'd be nice to warn OP.

[Griffit]

Thanks all for the tips, DLP booked since January and my wife seems to know what is closed whilst we are there so all good. Have decided to go to Brussels after all as there are indoor and outdoor things we can choose from depending on the weather. Other points borne in mind for next time though, thanks.

[Mr lestat]

What about the Normandy beaches and Ww2 museums around Caen. Then the beautiful towns of Deauville and Honfleur