Florida, hands down. It is the more expensive option, but it's worth every penny. If I could afford it I would go back right now just to walk around Downtown Disney (the shoppping area).
If you go to Florida promise me you'll go to the Fantasmic show at MGM
Paris is small, and easy to navigate round all the various attractions with small children, and considerably cheaper than the American ones. But after a day or two you will have seen everything and done everything, so it depends on what sort of holiday you are looking for. A weekend in Disneyland Paris is cheap and cheerful, but I wouldn't have thought there's enough to occupy you for an entire week.
Florida for me. Loads to see, both within the Disneyworld Park and in Orlando itself, and lots of great hotels to stay in. Paris would be OK for a quick trip, but not a proper holiday.
The Orlando area has by far the most things to see and do, both Disney and non-Disney. Beware of the extremely hot weather in mid summer though. If you get tired of the parks you can easily run out to Cape Canaveral and visit Kennedy Space Center for something rather different http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center_Visitor_Complex
Paris is small, and easy to navigate round all the various attractions with small children, and considerably cheaper than the American ones. But after a day or two you will have seen everything and done everything, so it depends on what sort of holiday you are looking for. A weekend in Disneyland Paris is cheap and cheerful, but I wouldn't have thought there's enough to occupy you for an entire week.
Cheaper to get to, possibly but it cost us nearly £800 for four for meals and spending Money for 5 days when we went, it was £100+ for a meal at night, in the Disney restaurants, kids of course wanted snacks, drinks etc, which were easily 10 euros a pop.
While getting there is obviously going to be more expensive, Orlando offers a wide range of accommodation and eating options at all price levels. You might want to explore using a budget motel instead of a full-price hotel, if you're only looking for a clean room and beds to sleep in. This assumes that you'll be hiring a car though.
Its basically Magic Kingdom with a few of the popular rides from different parks in it.
You can do DL Paris in a long weekend which I think is great. For me, I don't really care about the hotels or anything, as long as its close to the park, because face it, you are not going to be spending alot of time in the hotel, for me it was just sleep and breakfast.
Its newer than DW too so I think some of the rides are better, like Pirates of the Caribbean, I much preder the DL Paris one.
The only thing that DW has is Universal (although now Jaws has gone i'm not exactly bothered by it imo) and the shopping! Haha.
I also love the travel time, or lack of when going to DL vs DW.
i used to work for "disney land resort paris" (to give it it's full moniker!!!) in their UK booking centre and so spent a long time touring both the parks there and ALL the local hotels -
basically if you want cheap accomodation you can get away with dlp but be prepared for not very pleasant rooms and hotels.
if money is no object then dlp is probably better as the main disney hotels on site are literally a walk away BUT cost a fortune (even with "kids free" option)
Florida gives you a much wider variety of accomodation choices and tbh a better overall std for the cheaper end and if you're after a complete holiday the extras such as shopping, sea world, universal, harry potter etc BUT it costs a lot more to get to.
btw if you do go for the dlp option don't get fixated on the disney train - only a bit quicker than changing at Lille but a lot more expensive.
If you want the full on Disney experience I would go for Florida.
The staff in Disneyland Paris were exceedingly rude and unhelpful. We asked a member of staff where to go for a queue jumper pass as my daughter is in a wheelchair. She actually tutted at us and rolled her eyes!
Think of the crappest cheap burger you have ever eaten, then think of the finest steak you have ever eaten. That's the difference between Paris and Orlando in my humble opinion.
Everyone who works at the theme parks in Florida are so friendly and helpful ...... in Paris, not so much. Plus in Paris you have to contend with French people who have no concept of the idea behind queuing. Some of the most ignorant people I have ever encountered were at Disneyland Paris.
It may be cheap, but it feels cheap. Save up and go to the real thing. There's so much more to do in Orlando too. We have been going for 10 years and never tire of it.
You can do all parks including one of the Disney water parks as well as Universal Studios and Sea World in a fortnight. We also fitted in Aquatica and a couple of rest days which included Pirates Cove Golf and Wonderworks (or Ripleys)
It took us until our 4th visit to get it down to a fine art of fitting everything in!
Comments
Florida is Disney WORLD and has much more than Paris.
Disneyland is really just the magic kingdom part of Disney World.
easy - florida
If you go to Florida promise me you'll go to the Fantasmic show at MGM
I am however a bit confused about the layout...does Disney own the other attractions ie: Universal Studios etc.
Ideally we would like to visit as many resorts as possible in the 2-3 weeks we're looking to stay there.
And how much spending money is required - are the rides etc not all free?
the whole feeling around the park is magical...
u don't get that at eurodisney with the rude french!
hello, no they do not own Universal Studios or Islands of Advenutre...
however they have much more than euro disney.....u get magic kingdom , dinsey studios, epcot, animal kingdom...plus think of the water parks!
Disneyland is in California, and Disneyland Paris and Tokio Disneyland are where you would expect them to be.
The Magic Kingdom is indeed part of Disney World but it is never referred to as Disneyland.
Disney World (and the Magic Kingdom in particular) is immeasurably more exciting for children (and adults too for that matter).
However be aware that in all of the parks, there are age/height restrictions on some rides which may be a problem if your children are very young.
Cost is a consideration too of course.
I was trying to say that the rides and layout of any Disneyland park is like the layout and rides of the magic kingdom part of Disney World (Florida).
I never said that the magic kingdom was called Disneyland!
There are 4 main Disney parks plus 2 water parks and a host of other attractions.
Plus there is Wet N Wild, Aquatica, Sea World, 2 Universal parks etc etc.
The rides are all free but admission to the parks will set you back a few hundred each.
International Drive, Orlando (where most of the attractions apart from Disney World are located): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Drive
Disneyland, Anaheim, California: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland
Disneyland Paris: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland_Paris
The Orlando area has by far the most things to see and do, both Disney and non-Disney. Beware of the extremely hot weather in mid summer though. If you get tired of the parks you can easily run out to Cape Canaveral and visit Kennedy Space Center for something rather different http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Space_Center_Visitor_Complex
Cheaper to get to, possibly but it cost us nearly £800 for four for meals and spending Money for 5 days when we went, it was £100+ for a meal at night, in the Disney restaurants, kids of course wanted snacks, drinks etc, which were easily 10 euros a pop.
Its basically Magic Kingdom with a few of the popular rides from different parks in it.
You can do DL Paris in a long weekend which I think is great. For me, I don't really care about the hotels or anything, as long as its close to the park, because face it, you are not going to be spending alot of time in the hotel, for me it was just sleep and breakfast.
Its newer than DW too so I think some of the rides are better, like Pirates of the Caribbean, I much preder the DL Paris one.
The only thing that DW has is Universal (although now Jaws has gone i'm not exactly bothered by it imo) and the shopping! Haha.
I also love the travel time, or lack of when going to DL vs DW.
basically if you want cheap accomodation you can get away with dlp but be prepared for not very pleasant rooms and hotels.
if money is no object then dlp is probably better as the main disney hotels on site are literally a walk away BUT cost a fortune (even with "kids free" option)
Florida gives you a much wider variety of accomodation choices and tbh a better overall std for the cheaper end and if you're after a complete holiday the extras such as shopping, sea world, universal, harry potter etc BUT it costs a lot more to get to.
btw if you do go for the dlp option don't get fixated on the disney train - only a bit quicker than changing at Lille but a lot more expensive.
The staff in Disneyland Paris were exceedingly rude and unhelpful. We asked a member of staff where to go for a queue jumper pass as my daughter is in a wheelchair. She actually tutted at us and rolled her eyes!
Everyone who works at the theme parks in Florida are so friendly and helpful ...... in Paris, not so much. Plus in Paris you have to contend with French people who have no concept of the idea behind queuing. Some of the most ignorant people I have ever encountered were at Disneyland Paris.
It may be cheap, but it feels cheap. Save up and go to the real thing. There's so much more to do in Orlando too. We have been going for 10 years and never tire of it.
You can do all parks including one of the Disney water parks as well as Universal Studios and Sea World in a fortnight. We also fitted in Aquatica and a couple of rest days which included Pirates Cove Golf and Wonderworks (or Ripleys)
It took us until our 4th visit to get it down to a fine art of fitting everything in!
Edit: love Button's comparison!:D
Or Perkins!
Or IHOP, or Denny's, or Olive Garden, etc.
Although rumour has it that there are a few nice restaurants in France ...