Disneyland Paris - Have a car - where to go outside of park?
Discussion
Taking the kids to EuroDisney next week and we have a car at our disposal. What are the good places to visit outside of the park? We are there for 4 days so would be good to venture out for maybe a day.
Is it advisable to drive it to Paris city or is that a strict no no and to stick to using the trains? Kids want to see Eifel Tower. What is parking like in the city? I am assuming it would be a PITA and very expensive to park like central London?
Are there any nice scenic routes or villages we could visit maybe for lunch?
Any tips appreciated as don't want to be stuck in the park for a whole 5 days
Cheers
Is it advisable to drive it to Paris city or is that a strict no no and to stick to using the trains? Kids want to see Eifel Tower. What is parking like in the city? I am assuming it would be a PITA and very expensive to park like central London?
Are there any nice scenic routes or villages we could visit maybe for lunch?
Any tips appreciated as don't want to be stuck in the park for a whole 5 days
Cheers
Châlons-en-Champagne's not far from Reims if you're heading out that direction - champagne country!
When we drive down we've found it's nicer to come off the autoroute at Senlis and go through Ermenonville which is a lovely little village, and a nice place to stop (near enough that the last leg of the journey will fly by). Then cut across country around the outside of Meaux, through Esbly and into the park from the north. This way cuts off the last stretch of autoroute (believe it saves a bit of toll money but could be wrong) and avoids the Paris traffic as well as feeling a little more French than miles of characterless autoroute.
If you're just looking to pop to some shops or stop for a meal outside the park (prices are famously high in the resort) the enormous shopping centre at Val d'Europe is a good place to stock up and very convinient.
When we drive down we've found it's nicer to come off the autoroute at Senlis and go through Ermenonville which is a lovely little village, and a nice place to stop (near enough that the last leg of the journey will fly by). Then cut across country around the outside of Meaux, through Esbly and into the park from the north. This way cuts off the last stretch of autoroute (believe it saves a bit of toll money but could be wrong) and avoids the Paris traffic as well as feeling a little more French than miles of characterless autoroute.
If you're just looking to pop to some shops or stop for a meal outside the park (prices are famously high in the resort) the enormous shopping centre at Val d'Europe is a good place to stock up and very convinient.
http://www.provins.net/index.php/english-version.h...
Superb medieval show, on a par if not better than Disney offerings.
Superb medieval show, on a par if not better than Disney offerings.
Last time I drove to Paris I parked at the Parking on Ave de Wagram just off the Arc de Triomphe. Not very central but easy enough to get to. There is an Eiffel Tower station which the RER stops at which is much easier. How old are your kids? Mine where 7 and 10 when I took them last year. We had to queue for 2 and a bit hours to get up the Eiffel Tower and once up there they were a bit "meh!" They enjoyed going to Les Invalides a lot more as there was guns, armour, cannons etc and more interactive stuff. Think tower of London type attraction. The river cruises are ok if the weather is nice. The Louvre is big, arty and a little dull for the younger children and it can get very busy.
If you have a decent sat nav driving in isn't too bad, particularly at this time of year when most of the parisians are on holiday. Go up the Eiffel tower. Pre-book online and drive in early - you can park nearby for about €30 per day. Take the bateau Mouche round for the rest of the day and go to Norte dame or the musee d'orsay. Have fun
Puggit said:
I believe the Frogs call it l'Etoile 
That's the space in which L'Arc is situated, or at least it used to be (still called that by Parisiens). Now called Place Charles De Gaulle. View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe is brill though. If taking kids into Paris (and I personally wouldn't under the age of 10) then Montmatre and Sacre Couer is a good stroll with some of the best Ice Cream parlours in the City
Marne La Vallee factory outlet is really close to Disney ( http://www.lavalleevillage.com/en/home/home ), loads of coffee places and restaurants, and there's a big aquarium (Sea Life) underneath, including quite a good play area at the end, if you want to do something with kids (tip - usually 50% off for booking online the day before)
I took the kids to Disneyland last year, and made the mistake of driving into Paris! How i didn't end up being hit by another car i will never know! They just don't care! It was absolute madness! The OH had her eyes shut half the time because she thought we were going to get hit by other cars.
Once we got into Paris, we just parked in an underground car park under a hotel.
I said that next time we go, i will leave the car at our hotel and get the train into Paris.
If you do decide to try it, my only advice would be to drive as they do! If you try driving with any care and consideration towards other cars, you will get nowhere!
Once we got into Paris, we just parked in an underground car park under a hotel.
I said that next time we go, i will leave the car at our hotel and get the train into Paris.
If you do decide to try it, my only advice would be to drive as they do! If you try driving with any care and consideration towards other cars, you will get nowhere!
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