4 days in Paris and 3 of them spent at Disney?

On a honeymoon?

That's Goofy!

Paris is a great city, you could drop Brussels and Bruges and spend the extra time in Paris and never miss the B or B.

While looking at luggage, I met someone who went to Las Vegas every year. She had never been to Europe. She said there was no need to go see Venice when there was a hotel in Las Vegas that had everything Venice had: a Grand Canal, gondolas, etc. Now, would anyone who has actually been to Venice see any relationship between the two?

The theme park, Busch Gardens, in Williamsburg is set up to represent different countries: Italy, France, etc. This is a beautiful and fun theme park, but would anyone who has actually been to Europe see any real relationship between the experience in Busch Gardens and visiting France, Italy, etc? Would anyone who has been to Pompeii think that the Escape to Pompeii ride conveys any of the feeling of the ruins of Pompeii?

Some people love theme parks. There is nothing wrong with that.

What I think, IMHO, that posters are trying to get across is that in Paris and all over Europe, you are seeing the "real thing." Sometimes, it looks even more magical than the "make believe" in Theme parks.

Bruges, for example is just about as "storybook" as you can get. For some at least, Venice is the most magical place of all, unreal when you are there, and very real in your memory.

You can see the Eiffel Tour and the Louvre only in Paris. You can see Versailles only in France, etc., etc. These places are so incredible that many (certainly not all) travelers prefer to spend time seeing these great sights that can't be seen anyplace else.

Other posters aren't telling you not to go to Disneyland. They just want to make sure you realize what you will be missing.

I don't see what the OP will be missing by going a few days to Disneyland Paris. She seems to be at least 2-3 days in Paris. And that can very well be enough for a first visit.
Many Europeans do it that way, 2 or 3 days to a big city just for a weekend or so. Many Europeans also go to Disneyland Paris for a few days and don't even go to Paris.

I love Paris, but also love Disneyland Paris. Having been to all Disney parks in the US and also Disneyland Paris, the park does look the same on a first glance, but for a true fan, there is more than enough difference.

But i think everyone has made their points and it is up to the OP to decide!

BTW: I also spend 8 days of my 3 week honeymoon in Orlando, just to see all the parks there. Call me cray if you want, but for me it was fun!

No one is crazy for wanting to go to Disneyland, Paris or anywhere else. As a child growing up in San Diego, I've been to Disneyland more times than I would want to say, it was a school trip almost every year it seems. Then the friends who had season passes, work places that gave trips and on and on.
It's fun. Although, I now think that the D'Orsay is one of the happier places on earth.
To each their own.

Truthfully, I would much rather people went to see what they truly love rather than thinking they must go to an art museum just because all the guide books mention it.

I'd be happy to make this deal with the people who step in front of me at an art museum to take a "quick picture" of a painting with their cell phone to kindly stop and I'll stay out of their way way when they visit Las Vegas to see the "eiffel tower."
Deal?

We just got back from our honeymoon and found that we could fly from Paris to Venice for MUCH cheaper than taking a train. Plus, it is a very short flight. We flew on easyjet for around 30 Euros. Also, we stayed in Venice for one night and two days. During the day it is insane with crowds, but at night it was a very different city and very romantic. In our opinion, you do not need to spend more than one night there. We actually met another couple on their honeymoon with a very similar itinerary to our own except they intended to stay in Venice for 3 days. The next day in Florence, we ran into them and were shocked that they were not still in Venice. They agreed that one night was more than enough and decided to bail. There is just not a lot to see, as the island is very small. Especially if you are looking for markets and to wander, you will run out of things to do very quickly.Venice is very small and although we didn't go to the other islands, anyone that I have spoken to that has visited there has agreed that one night is an ample amount of time. We took everyone's advice and booked one night so we could stay in Paris an extra night and are SO HAPPY we did.

It looks like you really want to go to Disneyland based on your itinerary, but know that it is just like America's Disney land except much smaller and less impressive. It is far away and when you are within an arm's reach to some of the world's most admired art/architecture/food/markets, to me it is like visiting America while in Paris. If you flew thousands of miles to see a smaller Disneyland then go for it, but if you are expecting a very Parisian or even European Disney, you will be sorely disappointed. You said you want to just stroll around and experience the life of the locals. Disneyland is the complete opposite.

When in Paris, get Rick Steve's book <gasp!>. He has so many tips that allowed us to skip every single line while we were there and it was our bible.

We had 5 days in Paris, 1 night in Venice, 2 nights in Florence (B&B Leopoldo was FANTASTIC in both price and service), 2nights in Cinque Terre and 5 nights in Rome. If I were you, I'd bag Disney to get your full time in Paris, FLY into Venice, stay one night, train to Florence and stay one night, train to a smaller town/area to relax for a couple days (ours was CT) and then head to Rome then Barcelona. There is just so much to see there that is off the beaten path (and again, we loved Rick Steves for the Rome portion of the trip). If you are strict on your amount of days, I'd take a days off of Barcelona/Venice and add a relaxing vacation away from your big cities.

People will tell you not to book too much in your vacation, however we travel with the mindset that we wish we could have stayed at least another day (so we can go back!) instead of wishing we got the heck out of there.
LIke you, we just wanted to experience the life, see the architecture, etc...but once you are there you don't want to miss the 'biggies' (i.e. Eiffle Tower, Collosuem, etc..) but still want the opportunity to discover hidden treasures. I also have a good contact for an apartment in Paris that was VERY reasonable, clean, beautiful and a great location.

Sorry, me again. I just now read that you are from Malaysia so the Disney thing makes much more sense. It's very American (and I'm American) so that changes my opinion. Disney will be a unique experience, however I think one day is ample time for it. I can visit Disneyland in one day here and in Europe it is smaller. That way you could still get your theme park fix and still have time to see Paris.

I like your itinerary, bluemocha, including Barcelona and Disneyland, since these are places that you really want to visit.

I would, however, switch Brussels with Brugge, as other people have suggested. While I enjoy visiting Brussels, I think you would have a nicer honeymoon experience if you stayed in Brugge.

I'd use the extra day that you mentioned and add it to Florence. You only have one full day allotted for the city, and I think it deserves more.

Congratulations on your wedding, and enjoy your honeymoon.

Robyn

Helloo everyone

This is very good information, Thanks everyone!

Special thanks to you, Lanee, everything you said makes perfect sense to me, especially the part on Venice BTW congratulations on your marriage !

Wow guys.. I now realise my mistake so..... I will + 1 day to Paris, -1 day from Venice so itinerary shall be..

Day 12: Afternoon train to Paris (1/2 day to explore Paris)

Day 13 - 14: Disney (1 day for each park)
Day 15 - 18 (4 days) to explore & enjoy Paris

I know I will appreciate this decision even more when I get to Paris so, Thanks again everyone!!

Oh, Lanee, I will have a look @ the BnB you stayed in Florence.. will it be OK for you to let me know the contact of the apartment you stayed in Paris?

And if you also have the contacts of the hotels or BnB in Venice & Rome, it will be great! Thanks again !!

And thanks everyone for your well wishes

Congratulations! On the itinerary, which I will no longer criticise = D, and on your wedding!

What's your budget for Venice and Rome?

In Rome - Hotel Julia is one option.

hahaha oh no Sam, all your comments were very helpful I will definitely have a look at Hotel Julia. Thanks again

Initially I was hoping to get something at around 100 euro or less but then I realised everything is very expensive in Europe!!

So now I've sort of moved my budget upwards to about 120 - 130 Euros, but i still hope to keep it below 100 if possible.

In many places in Asia we can usually get at least a 4 star & sometimes 5 star hotel for 100 Euros

It's actually more that you are booking for high season. But yes, Asian hotels are cheaper, because of the exchange rates. I'm from Pakistan myself so I know what you mean = )

A question for you though - are you set on going to Brussels? Or were you convinced to make it Bruges?

bluemocha,

Look here for inexpensive lodgings in all the cities you are visiting:

www.Eurocheapo.com

It includes 1,2 & 3 star hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels, and pensions.

You can sort by neighborhood, price, even use a "map view" feature. Many of the places can be booked directly from the site. Other places need to be called directly on the telephone (don't be put off by telephoning, often they have the best deals and are more likely to have openings since a lot of people are too lazy/timid to telephone).

Best wishes for a wonderful honeymoon! You will undoubtedly have a fabulous time, with a whole month to travel to all these great destinations. Enjoy your time together.

Hello again

Sam : Oh boy I know I'm gonna get it from you guys... I sort of booked & paid deposit for a BnB in Brussels already (!!!!) ha ha ha...

But wait, let me explain!!

I was kinda in a panic when I saw all the nice (value for money) BnB or hotels getting snapped up & it was really really difficult for me to book hotels. So when I saw "Welcome to My Place", rated #5 in tripadvisor available for 2 nights, emotion took over brain so bang, paypal and "damn i should have waited a while more".... (plus it's cheap @ 66 Euros!)

But in my defense it was done the final sections of the thread when LSky, artstuff and you insisted on Bruges!

ok, i know it's kinda lame excuse but can't blame me for trying

bardo1: Thanks for your recommendation i wasn't aware of this site until your post so it's definitely very very useful info for me

travelgirl2 : Thank you soo much!! Yes I'm doing my best to make my wife happy so hopefully I will get less nagging from her through our marriage!!

Oops... typo.. what I meant was I booked the hotel *before* I got to the final section where all 3 of you insisted on Bruges..

travelgirl2 : Thank you soo much!! Yes I'm doing my best to make my wife happy so hopefully I will get less nagging from her through our marriage!!
____________________
When you get back from Europe, give me a call.

Hello again everyone

I did a bit of thinking, after taking away 2 days disneyland I effectively have 4.5 days Paris vs 5 days Rome.

So I intend to move 1 day from Rome to Paris, so 5.5 days Paris & 4 full days Rome... Do you think this is a good idea or is Rome also as amazing as Paris?

Anyway I'll take artstuff's advice to add my extra 1 day into Pisa/Florence so I can have 2 full days in Florence.

Thanks !!

Lanee said:
"It looks like you really want to go to Disneyland based on your itinerary, but know that it is just like America's Disney land except much smaller and less impressive. (...) If you flew thousands of miles to see a smaller Disneyland then go for it, but if you are expecting a very Parisian or even European Disney, you will be sorely disappointed."

Unfortunately I have to disagrre with you on this.... I have been to alle the parks in the US and numerous times to the ones in Paris. And I do not think the Disneyland-style park in Paris is much smaller or less impressive.
In surface area the park in Paris is bigger than the one in LA and about the same size as in Florida. Yes Paris has a few less attractions (but almost all the big ones are there and better), but the park is notably younger than the one in LA and Florida.
Regarding the impressiveness. The Disneyland-style park in Paris is regarded the most beautiful of all. Full of details and well thought of. Of course, it is a matter of taste, but I tend to agree on this notion comparing the parks from my visits.
So I don't think it will be a disappointment!

@bluemocha:
Glad you ar still going to Disneyland Paris. If you are staying in one of their own hotels, or selected partner hotels, their is a good chance that in september they will have "magical hours", meaning you can go to the Disneyland-style park two hours before regular opening hours. About 1/3 of the park and attractions will be open then.

About Rome, have never been there, so can't help you there!
To me 4,5 days Paris seems enough for a first time visit. The same goes for Rome. But maybe you can find somewhere just outside these cities to visit for one extra day.
The choice between one extra day in Paris, or Rome, I would let 'fate' decide (meaning when your flights are, where you can get the best deal etc).

Good luck!

Two more things....

Lanee said: "You said you want to just stroll around and experience the life of the locals. Disneyland is the complete opposite."
Most visitors to Disneyland Paris are French BTW and the rest of them is motly European. And (according to a lot of American-people who visit Disneyland Paris who report on Miceage.com) the French and other Europeans dio have other ways of visiting theme-parks... (not all to the likes of most Americans... ). So conmsidering that, Disneyland Paris couyld very well be about experiencing the life of locals... ;-)

Bluemocha said: "Day 13 - 14: Disney (1 day for each park)"
One tip: Buy hopper passes! That way you can visit both parks on one day if you like. Walt Disney Studios is somewhat smaller and cloes earlier. The day you visit that park, afterwards you can probably still enjoy a few hours in the Disneyland Park.