I dislike all things Disney, think it is a huge waste of time when you have all of Paris to see and would not do it myself. However, a recent experience makes me say go ahead and do it for a day. My Granddaughter is right in between your kids, age wise and her Aunt took her a couple of weeks ago to WDW, Florida. She had an incredible time, is convinced the Princesses do exist since she saw them live and talked with them and saw the "real" castles where they live. Now that she thinks it is a real world, she wants to live there. That is magic. So what if it is frivolous? Your kids will remember it, they are a perfect age for it, and even more important, "your wife has her heart set on it." The last, alone, is reason enough to do it.

Some 'get' Disney, some don't. One person's Disney dislike is no reason to demean someone else wanting to go there. I see nothing wrong w/ visiting Disneyland Paris w/ a family. Since you will already be there it is a heck of a lot cheaper than planning a trip to the States do see it.

BUT I would not do DL Paris <u>unless</u> one was staying at least 5, 6 or more days in Paris - not counting arrival day since that will essentially be 1/2 a day. That would give you 4 or more full days to see some of the major sites in Paris (not all by any means - not really enough time for Versailles for example) - and give you one day for Disney fun.

It is an easy RER ride from central Paris.

I am not a Disney fan but if I were coming from Australia and my wife and kids wanted to go to Disneyland Paris I would darn well go to Disneyland Paris! The vacation is for everyone, so throw the kids a bone and take them where they really want to go. I'm sure it will be fun and a good break from history/nature and whatall.

Just to explain a point above, to Americans, "bamboozled" means cheated, not "confused," which is what I think you mean!

Yes, I've been confused about "bamboozled" from the start and kept looking for the place where the OP was cheated.

Where do you need to go in Wales?

Went to Disney Paris for a day with my teenage kids last December - they still loved it. Don't skip it, even if you have only a few days in Paris. Especially if they have never had a chance to visit a Disney park.

If you are going to the Netherlands, then visit the Efteling. Not as familiar to the kids as Disney, but a really great theme park, with beautiful gardens.

Yes, Aussies tend to use bamboozled as confused..righty or wrongly, we just do.

EuropaPark in Germany (but near Strasbourg) is an even stranger experience, from what I've read.

Actually, until right now--I read it as confused, but now do agree that in the US it means "cheated".
But I took it at first reading from OP as "confused".

I am from the US and I thought it meant confused. Regional?

>>I am from the US and I thought it meant confused. Regional?<<

I have no idea if there are regional differences -- but I have always thought bamboozled meant cheated/scammed. Definitely not 'confused'.

I didn't really pay it any mind from the thread title though -- just thought he was using it as an attention getter.

From California here and assumed Bamboozled meant confused. Not a common word and I don't think i have ever heard anyone use it to mean swindled.

I understood swindled, but it appears that everybody is right.

nukesafe's link seems to have solved the issue. Apparently it means to swindle, or to confuse someone -- nefariously.

So not simply 'at sea' but misled on purpose . . .




(>>From California here and assumed Bamboozled meant confused<<

I'm from CA too and have only ever heard it used as cheated)

I thought it meant swindled or conned.. but hey..its all good .

Hi All. Thanks for the ongoing feedback. I’ve been off the grid for a couple of days so just getting back to this. I’ve read everyone’s comments – thank you all.

Just quickly (since the hour is late over here) – the Wales trip is to South Wales, specifically to a place near Pontypool, and I figured I’d just continue out along the south coast a bit or maybe a trip through Brecon Beacons. Trip to Scotland is not really my choice since it’s in conjunction with other family members who wish to holiday there but I will try and negotiate on this to an extent. We are staying with them at their place in Reading when in London then travelling with them to Scotland.

Indeed - I used the word ‘bamboozled’ in the Aussie context which is to be confused. No idea it meant something else to North Americans. I see it has expanded a few people’s knowledge in the process - not just mine! http://www.slang-dictionary.org/Aust...lang/Bamboozle

I understand there are plenty of views on Disneyland, but that’s what’s important to the wife, so that’s what she shall get.

my suggestions is ditch the motor home to avoid real misery. Ditch Disneyland and give you children some real history. Do Buckingham Palace/Tower of London esp the Crown Jewels (go early AM), great museums/etc. Do trains/second class, discount for kids or free in Switzerland. Book reasonable hotels in towns that you wish to visit over Internet. Choose some smaller towns/villages for lower cost and relax. Mix larger cities with a couple smaller villages. Sue

>>Ditch Disneyland and give you children some real history. Do Buckingham Palace/Tower of London esp the Crown Jewels (go early AM)<<

DisneyLand is a <B>must</B> for the OP's wife so give it a rest already. Plus there is plenty of time for 'real history' at the Tower of London AND fantasy at Disneyland Paris

(Buckingham Palace is a non-issue since it is not open to the public when the OP is visiting . . . )

OK to take your children to a "real" castle, how about Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Germany. King Ludwig's castle.
The castle at Disney Land is based on this lovely "real" castle. I'd also suggest Amsterdam, lots to see and do, canal rides, museums, flower markets. Might also consider flying into one city and back out of another like London/Amsterdam to avoid back tracking.

"OK to take your children to a "real" castle, how about Neuschwanstein Castle in Southern Germany. King Ludwig's castle. "

Note that this is not a real castle, merely a fabrication put up by a nutter when the castle technology used was roughly 600 years out of date. Probably not even any good against vampires.

and, if I remember correctly, designed by his theater set designer.

Neuschwanstein is hardly any more "real" than Disneyland, for goodness' sake. What's there now is pretty much a complete fabrication - check your history books.

Some of us give greAt advice.
OP asks about mobile home and DLP and gets answers to ditch both.

I find extremely arrogant to tell somebody what he should see And do during his own holidays paid by her money.

Or there is a third degree that I didn't catch. I find DLP castle a good copy of the Neuschwanstein and at least at DLP there is a sleeping beauty and even a dragon.

When I went to the U.S. I did visit Disney and didn't regret it btw.

What next ? Telling OP how and what to eat ? No mcDo for you ! Only meals that include snails cucumber rare meat Etc.

<i>OP asks about mobile home and DLP and gets answers to ditch both.

I find extremely arrogant to tell somebody what he should see And do during his own holidays paid by her money. </i>

The OP mentions being budget conscious in the original post. Is <b>renting</b> an RV being budget conscious? If you already own one, that's a different ball game.

Sure. Tell him to go camping if budget conscious is the only thing that counts. And to walk.

Renting a car and staying in hotels might be cheaper.

I would not recommend camping in Europe, but if this advice were for visiting western national parks in the States, I would definitely do so.

I haven't read the entire thread since I last contributed, but if you are still looking to rent a camper have a look at www.camptoo.com/. If it comes up in Dutch scroll to the bottom where you can get English, though it is a bit mixed up on some pages. They are an agency who hire out private peoples campers and caravans.