Originally Posted By HokieSkipper ^^^It's all good! What's Paris's train like? Any special show scenes? Is it worth riding a complete circuit? Also, from what I've read Pirates usually doesn't have a very long line. What about Phantom Manor? Those are two things I'll most liekly want to ride a few times in the day.
Originally Posted By dagobert The train has the diarama after you leave Main Street Station. In my opinion the train ride in Paris is nicer than in Florida. The reason for that is, that the benches are U shaped and so you have a better view at the parks. The train also goes through the POTC show building and you can see the last scene of the POTC ride.
Originally Posted By dagobert The PM queue is usually longer than POTC. I've never waited longer than 30 minutes for POTC and 45 minutes for PM. Usually the standby line is shorter.
Originally Posted By u k fan POTC has a really long queueing area that is rarely used, but it has been known to get busy. It's a great attraction for the old "why is no-one going down this lane?" tactic as it's dark in there and often whole lanes stay empty while people line up in others. IASW is exactly the same. The train shows some great scenery and if you don't have to wait too long is the best way to cross the park. If you rode from Dicoveryland to Fantasyland instead of a full circuit you'd miss very little!!!
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper Thanks guys! Really excited for this trip. If anyone was wondering, I'm flying into London where my friend lives, then we're heading with a group to Paris for a few days, then heading to Germany/Black Forest for 2 days before returning to London.
Originally Posted By dagobert Where in Germany are you going? I've been to the Black Forest many years ago and since I'm from Austria, it's always great to see someone from the US visiting either Germany or Austria. >>>POTC has a really long queueing area that is rarely used, but it has been known to get busy. It's a great attraction for the old "why is no-one going down this lane?" tactic as it's dark in there and often whole lanes stay empty while people line up in others.<<< The queue of POTC splits into four lines at the end. Take the far right line. Maybe it's just a rumour, but I read somewhere that this one is shorter than the others.
Originally Posted By u k fan It's not shorter in distance, but it does get overlooked so is shorter when measured in time. There is a theory that people tend to join the lane that matches the side of the road the drive on, but I've never seen it to be true in practice. I would suggest a London meet, but with any luck we'll all be in DLP!!!
Originally Posted By u k fan Thinking about it, it could be slightly shorter (the right hand lane) but as the outside lane it takes a wider curve (like a running track) so I'd think the difference is minimal!!!
Originally Posted By dagobert Yeah I guess the difference is minimal. I can't remember where I read it.
Originally Posted By u k fan You might find based on that theory that the next lane in is shorter (just) as it goes further, but has a tighter curve. I think my head hurts!!!
Originally Posted By Bolna First of all, if you have any questions about Germany and the Black Forrest, please ask. I am German and live here and actually will be in Freiburg (next to the Black Forrest) over Easter. I think the Agrabah Cafe might actually be a nice way to get a rather quick meal in an exotic setting which is more relaxed than counter service. You can get a reservation very easily, just call the day before or so. There is a number which is English speaking for restaurant reservations. The space of the restaurant used to be an Arabian Market - one of my favourite features of DLP in the 90s. Similar to the Morocco pavilion in Epcot and with food similar to there as well. On FP: In my experience DLP FP only give you a half hour window (not a full hour like I think WDW does). And I have heard in the past that unlike WDW DLP does enforce the end time of the FP window. However, I never tested that, but actually got to use a FP late once when BTM broke down while we were waiting in the FP line: they just distributed us old FPs and told us to come back any time. Oh and finally, if you like coffee: supposedly DLP recently switched over to Segafredo an Italian brand and no longer serves Nescaffee. Might be a chance to actually enjoy a cup of coffee inside a Disney Park!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 "The CMs are all friendly and polite, but they are not as friendly as their US colleagues." Trust me, that is not actually saying much. I think the Japanese CMs at TDR should be the benchmark, although that would be kind of unfair, since they are BEYOND exceptional!
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>I think the Japanese CMs at TDR should be the benchmark, although that would be kind of unfair, since they are BEYOND exceptional!<<< I know they are the best, unfortunately I've never been to TDR. So I could only compare them with the ones in Florida.
Originally Posted By u k fan I think my low point CM wise at DLP was waiting for a guy to finish sending a text before he served me in the store in Frontierland. I wouldn't be happy with that anywhere, not just at a Disney park!!!
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 If I had my way, unless you were REQUIRED to carry a mobile for work, if you were caught with one on you, let alone using it and texting during work hours, you would dismissed on the spot. There have been countless generations raised without the need to be in CONSTANT communication with their parents(which is the excuse people at my work use). I was raised by Hannah Barbera cartoons in the afternoon along with "The Brady Bunch", "The Partridge Family" and Samantha Stevens. Hell, I'd say they would be better parents than some of the dimwits I work with. Now, everyone, all together now......"COME ON GET HAPPY!!!"
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Looks like I'll be able to make a DLP visit as part of my upcoming Europe trip (which I've gotten tons of great advice for in the other thread! Thanks everyone!), and I have a few DLRP planning questions, mostly about hotels. As a background, it looks like I will be arriving at CDG Wednesday afternoon/evening, and then I'll head to DLRP for 3 nights/2 days before heading into Paris to finish my trip. Is it worth it to stay at the Disney hotels? At WDW, I really like the feeling of staying 'on property' and being isolated, but I don't see the value of it in DL's urban environment. I know that DLP is somewhere between, where it's kind of isolated, but still has stuff nearby. I've done some searching, and it looks like I can get a hotel room 'nearby' (10 min train ride) for about 50USD per night. The prices for Disney hotels all seem be at least 175USD. Looks like I can get a room at one of the Val d'Europe places (Hotel Kyriad) for about 135USD, which is still a little more than I wanted to spend, but probably a pretty good price with the convenience of transportation to/from the parks. Is it worth it to stay right near DLP, or is it fine to go a little further away? I've heard that sometimes the train schedules aren't great with park hours, so I'm not sure I want the stress with worrying about getting the last/convenient train, but it would be great to save some money. And speaking of transportation, what's the easiest way to get to DLRP from the airport (CDG)? It looks like TVG goes to Marne la Valee (about 15 minuues), but I'm not sure how easy it would be to get from there to the hotel. There also appears to be a shuttle bus that goes to a central dropoff point (about 45 minutes) for all the hotels, and then you can take the shuttles from there. Any thoughts on what's best?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros With a little more reasearch, it looks like the TVG station is the same one right in front of the parks, so that's pretty easy for getting there from the airport. I think I'd have to transfer to an RER train if I stayed at an off-property hotel, but that seems like it would be fairly simple (11 minutes to Torcy station). I guess there might be an easier way to get there from the airport, but that location seems pretty good for my budget. So I guess, new question: what's the best way to get to the Torcy station on RER line A, from CDG airport? Take TVG to DLP, and transfer? It doesn't seem like there's a direct link anywhere, but I'm not sure how easy/efficient it will be to transfer between the two separate rail systems, but it seems much easier and faster than taking RER B into Paris to transfer at Challet Les Halles.
Originally Posted By dagobert Sorry, I can't help you here. I have once stayed in Paris and used the RER and the other four times I stayed onsite. We always used the car, so I don't know about the trains.
Originally Posted By u k fan Ferret... I can help with a few things, but I'm busy right now. Let me get back to you!!!
