My family of 4 (two kids- ages 3 & 6) spent a week at WDW Orlando last spring. We'd like to try Disneyland Paris next year. My question is...can anything equal Disney World? Does Disneyland Paris pale in comparison? Is it worth the trip?

It's obviously totally diffferent, but definately worth visiting. Personally I don't think that it measures up to wDW, but it's a different experience all together. There are a lot of very unique things in DLP which shouldn't be missed! Where would you be travelling from?

Paris (Hilton) vs Orlando (Bloom)?

...can anything equal Disney World? Does Disneyland Paris pale in comparison? Is it worth the trip?
It's interesting seeing families from all over Europe. And I enjoyed walking around the Disneyland Paris hotels, especially the Hotel Cheyenne (SP?) where I stayed. (Skip the Sante Fe.)

When I was there the Disney Studios park in Paris was depressing, but the Magic Kingdom was impressive. The Haunted Mansion has interesting music that sounds more classical, and there is a dragon under the castle.

And of course there is Paris nearby! ! ! :)

If you really want to top WDW, got to Tokyo Disneyland! The best Disney employees on earth. (Though I hear the exploited, international cruise ship workers do a great job too.)
And many would say, go to Anaheim.
Or Vegas!

Here are my thoughts:

Disneyland in California is my 'home' park. I base all comparisons on that.

I've been to WDW several times, most recently for a week stay at a time.
I've been to DLP once, this past spring.

I would go back to DLP in a heartbeat.
I would go again in off season.
And I would stay off site (Explorers Hotel); I think the on site hotels are far too overpriced, and some of the 'on site' hotels can be just as far away as 'off site' ones via buses.

DLP is a *beautiful, beautiful, beautiful* park. The castle is stunning. The dragon under the castle is fabulously wonderful and *perfect.*
(The Studios there, however, are much lacking.)

The DLP Big Thunder and Space Mtn are better than anything in the States.
It's a shame they're getting the watered-down version of the Tower (same one as Anaheim, and the one in FL is much better.)

And Paris is only a short train ride away. Wonderful.

Go to France.

I think you should go! It's fun there. But, it's so not as good as WDW! But it's still awesome! I liked it. Only been once and i caught a cold because it was freezing, but i still liked it :p. My advice, don't go in the winter! its even colder than here in England!!!

NCB Mom

We are DVC owners who spend time every year at WDW, as well as trips to California for Dland. We have made one trip to Dland Paris and cannot wait for an opportunity to go back.

Paris will be a completely different experience. first of all it is my honest opinion that Paris Dland is by far the most beautiful of all the parks. I also think they have the best versions of HM, PotC, and SM. as well as the most beautiful of the castles and the best looking fantasyland. as mentioned Paris Disney Studios leaves much to be desired. in three days we spent in the parks we spent 3 hours at the studios and couldn't wait to get out. we were not the only ones, the park was mostly deserted while we were there, and during a showing of LMA stunt show we were able to literally walk on to RnRC onto the front row without ever stopping.

I would suggest you go, give yourself three days for Paris Disneyland, and a few days for Paris proper. stay on property if you can as it is only a short 45 min. train ride to the Arch De Triumph. in fact you can do all of Paris and Paris Disneyland without ever riding a bus as the train goes straight from the airport to hotel complex and the same station features the subways to Paris.

Why do we have to compare one park against another. They are all different in their own ways. They don't pretend to be replicas of each other. I know So Cals rave about DL but we've had two bad experiences there.(Mainly overcrowding). Maybe I'll go back one day. I will say though that the Grand Californian Hotel was exceptional. OK DL is the original - but the Disney empire is far wider these days. WDW is a blast (for me) and was my first introduction to my Disney parks - I now have DVC at Saratoga Springs - but when Paris opened I found it a whole new experience. True you need the weather - I've been on a wet, gale force January day but I've also enjoyed crisp snow covered days. I've been in summer when it's been boiling and I've been in summer when it's poured. That's north European weather for you. But by far and away DLRP has the prettiest park, the prettiest Main Street (with Walt's retaurant - not to be missed)and the most fantastic castle complete with (animatronic) dragon in the dungeon. Cinderella's coach is always on view at the Auberge de Cendrillon (Cindy's Inn) and even though Jack Sparrow hasn't arrived yet it has the best POTC by far. The food in the Blue Lagoon is exceptional and far above Monte Cristos and the like. The worse ride has to be the Indianan Jones coaster - it's pathetic and the Studios still need more work on them despite the Cars ride and Crush's coaster that opened this spring. Learn to stop comparing and treat each park on its own merits.

I also try to avoid comparing parks, but sometimes...it's difficult to do so.

All that said, I've had great times at WDW and have enjoyed our visits there very much. There is much more to do at WDW than the Magic Kingdom park and that is much of the draw for us. (Heavens knows the humidity in Florida isn't!) My FL fave is the Tower of Terror; too bad no other park got that version of the ride...

As I said in my first response, DL is my 'home' park, and I love it. I love the parts that make it unique among the parks such as the Matterhorn, the Indiana Jones ride, New Orleans Square, and its personal Walt touch.

Much as I've enjoyed WDW, I am always happy to see DL again. But after being at DLP, I sighed wistfully when I returned to DL, and that was an entirely new experience for me. I missed that pretty castle (and almost felt guilty!) and I definitely missed the dragon.

The Paris castle is exquisite. The dragon is perfect. The Big Thunder is the best of all I've ridden, as is the Space Mountain, which is very different than its American counterparts. The themeing at Big Thunder is amazing. Adventure Isle is terrific and nothing an American Disney lawyer would allow. :) The themeing in Pirates is nothing short of fabulous (but their storyline is 'backward' from that at DL--like WDW, and well, that detracts from it, for me--and the new additions to the DL make the others pale somewhat in comparison). I agree with another poster--I found the Indy coaster to be horrible--too much bashing around. The Phantom Manor is terrific (although that bit with the wild west town is a bit out of place, I thought). EXCELLENT Casey Jr. train!! Woohoo! The train around the park is also very nice. Lovely arcade walkway off Main Street. It was just...enchanting!

As for crowds, I think all the parks have them. While we didn't experience them much at Paris, we could see the very elaborate queue areas, so they were prepared for lots of people. Of course, it depends on when you visit any of the parks. I've been in heaps of crowds at WDW and at DL. It happens, but if you pick a time when it's less busy...they're all fabulous and you'd have a better time than when it's packed.

Another poster mentioned staying on property because of the convenience of the trains. Yes, the train comes right to DLP, and that is an Amazingly Great Thing. We rode Eurostar from London directly there, and it was just perfect. We also took the RER into Paris on the days that we didn't go to the park, and it was easy as could be.

But there's a bit of a difference as to 'on property' and 'off property' that I would like to clarify: Disney has hotel properties, and they are Disney priced much like WDW--value, moderate, and spendy. There are also offsite properties, independently run, and at more reasonable prices. However, they are not really any farther away by shuttle service than some of the Disney hotels. Only the more expensive Disney hotels are an easy walk from the train station; the rest need a shuttle.

We stayed at one of the upscale resorts--the Newport Bay--and we found it was a terrible value for the money. We spent more on a room there than we did at anyplace in WDW (including the Poly concierge level or Boardwalk villas) per night and we got a *very* basic room, an uncomfortable sofa bed (that meant we could be considered a 'family room' but yet were on the concierge level--separate checkin area was nice), a bathroom that had mold, peeling wallpaper, an unimpressive pool, and still bit of a walk to the park. We changed to a non Disney hotel--the Explorers--which cost a fraction of the Newport per night, everyone had their own comfortable bed, a short shuttle ride (as fast as walking from the Newport, I think), a FABULOUS pool, and great overall themeing.

All the shuttles deposit people at the same place, which is right by the train station, regardless if you're staying at a Disney hotel or not. And it is very convenient to get into Paris via RER, which is also at the train station.

The value of the dollar isn't great overseas right now. There used to be a time that a trip from the West Coast would be about in the same price range to WDW or DLP. Given that kind of scenario again, I'd go to DLP (and stay at Explorers) in a heartbeat over WDW.

Why do we have to compare one park against another. . . by far and away DLRP has the prettiest park, the prettiest Main Street (with Walt's retaurant - not to be missed)and the most fantastic castle complete with (animatronic) dragon in the dungeon. Cinderella's coach is always on view at the Auberge de Cendrillon (Cindy's Inn) and even though Jack Sparrow hasn't arrived yet it has the best POTC by far. The food in the Blue Lagoon is exceptional and far above Monte Cristos and the like. . .
"Compare against"? Did you mean "contrast"? And didn't you spend much of your post doing just that? :)

Well, like all the other posters, I agree with you agree with you that Disney's Paris studios park is vastly inferior to Paris' Magic Kingdom, though we also agree that the Paris MK's Indy coaster is really awful. And, like you, I like Paris' Main Street. The French-style ham & cheese sandwich I got at the castle end of Main Street was delicious and a good value, at least compared to the usual food prices in Disney parks. But the best POTC is in Anaheim,

The best Small World is in Paris, with the possible exception of Anaheim's Christmas version. Maybe Hong Kong's Small World with its recreations of world wars will top them all. Or did I get that wrong? I know that they are EITHER going to recreate wars OR include classic Disney characters in their new Small World.

"Compare against"? Did you mean "contrast"? And didn't you spend much of your post doing just that? :)
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AH! My cynicism goes over the heads of the populace once again.
And Wars in IASW? Hong Kong or not, I don't think so. Or is that your cynicism?

I've been lucky enough to visit DLP twice (once in 2005, and just about 2 weeks ago). I've never gotten to head over to the Walt Disney Studios, but loved the whole resort that I saw. It's a totally different, beautiful park.
I know you're all going to kill me becuase we're not supposed to compare, but here's how I rate them (the magic kingdoms that is).
DL in Cali has so much nostalgia and magic.
DLP is next with a European magic feel to it. It feels so different than anything else. It's a very refreshing park with familiar attractions that aren't that familiar when ridden. We snuck away from our tour group this past trip and went to DLP and loved it (for the 2nd time). It's very refreshing and fun. It almost feels so weird because you're familiar with everything.
and then WDW Magic Kingdom. It holds the least magic for me...while still being fun.
I LOVE DLP. Small World is the best there. Everything feels so close and new. Of course, Phantom Manor is different, while Space and Thunder offer new experiences too.
I agree you can't really compare any of the resorts to each other because they each have a different feel. Anyway, I think DLP almost has a storybook feel to it. It feels very fantasy and magical. Have fun!!!

. . . And Wars in IASW?. . . is that your cynicism?
Not if they only present the wars where the good guys won.
Hey, come to think of it, that's all wars! :)

Actually (although I think it's funny that a WDW employee once snuck a Chuckie doll into ISAW) I want that attraction to boldly promote innocent, child-like love.

I'm not sure that your post went "over the heads" of Mouseplanet readers, unless "over the heads" means something different over the Atlantic.