Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris Miniguide

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Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris Miniguide

Transcript of Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris Miniguide

Page 1: Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris Miniguide
Page 2: Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris Miniguide

List of Maps xiAcknowledgements xiii

Introduction 1Why ‘Unofficial’? 1

Declaration of Independence 1The Importance of Being Goofy 1Letters and Comments from Readers 5

‘Mickey, Donald, et Moi’ 6Disney’s Gallic Wars 9The First Decade: A Trial by Fire 11The Newest Kingdom in Europe 12

Disneyland Paris: An Overview 13What Does Disneyland Paris Consist Of? 13ATTRACTIONS FOUND ONLY AT DISNEYLAND PARIS 15DISNEY-SPEAK POCKET TRANSLATOR 16

P A R T O N E Planning before You Leave Home 19Gathering Information 19

A Word on Phoning or Faxing Numbers in France 20Disneyland Paris on the Web 20DISNEYLAND PARIS PHONE NUMBERS 21Entry Requirements and Customs 22Taking Your Pet 22

Timing Your Visit 23Selecting the Time of Year for Your Visit 23Disneyland Paris and Paris 23Selecting the Day of the Week for Your Visit 25The Disneyland Paris Calendar 27

C O N T E N T S

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Contents listed here refer to the full sized book 'Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris' Available from all good bookshops

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P A R T T W O Making the Most of Your Time and Money 29Allocating Money 29

Disneyland Paris Admission Options 29Where to Buy Disneyland Paris Tickets 30Discounts 31

Allocating Time 32Operating Hours 33Official Opening Time vs. Real Opening Time 33The Cardinal Rules for Successful Touring 33Seeing Disneyland Paris on a Tight Schedule 35Touring Plans: Of Utmost Importance – Read This! 36Overview of the Touring Plans 39Extra Magic Hours 43FASTPASS 45

Understanding the Attractions 49Cutting Your Queue Time by Understanding the Rides 49Cutting Your Queue Time by Understanding the Shows 52

Understanding Traffic Patterns in the Parks 54Traffic Patterns at Disneyland Park 54Traffic Patterns at Walt Disney Studios 56

P A R T T H R E E Accommodation 59Staying at Disneyland Paris 60

All Things Considered 60The Goofy World of Disneyland Paris Hotel Reservations 61

Disneyland Paris Hotels and the Davy Crockett Ranch 63Disneyland Paris Hotels at a Glance 64DISNEYLAND PARIS HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS 65Selected and Associated Hotels 72DISNEY HOTEL SERVICES AND AMENITIES 74–75HOW DISNEY AND ASSOCIATED HOTELS COMPARE 76

Lodging outside Disneyland Paris 76Most Convenient Lodging outside the Park 76Staying in Paris 77

P A R T F O U R Getting There 79Getting to Disneyland Paris by Air 79

Which Airport Should I Use? 79Flying into Charles de Gaulle (Roissy) Airport 81Flying into Orly Airport 85

Getting to Disneyland Paris by Train (Eurostar and SNCF) 88Les Gares (Train Stations) 89Train Reservations and Tickets 90

Getting to Disneyland Paris by Car 91Travelling by Car from the United Kingdom 96

V I C O N T E N T S

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Travelling by Car from Other Countries 98Hiring a Car 98

P A R T F I V E Getting Around 103Using the Métro and the RER 103

RER SIGNS 108Getting to Disneyland Paris from Your Paris Hotel 109

On Your Own: Timing Your Ride 109

P A R T S I X Practical Stuff 115Money Matters 115

Changing Money 115Banking in Paris 118Using Credit Cards 118Tipping 118

Inside Disneyland Paris 119Credit Cards 119Telephones 120Rain 120Cold Weather 120Same-Day Re-Entry to the Theme Parks 121Visitors with Special Needs 121

Excuse Me, but Where Can I Find . . . 123

P A R T S E V E N Disneyland Paris with Kids 125The Brutal Truth about Family Holidays 125

Mental and Emotional Preparation 126Division of Labour 126Togetherness 126Lighten Up 127Something for Everyone 127Whose Idea Was This, Anyway? 127

Basic Considerations: Is Disneyland Paris for You? 128Different Folks, Different Strokes 129The Nature of the Beast 129Know Thyself, and Nothing to Excess 130

The Age Thing 130Disneyland Paris for Infants and Toddlers 131Disneyland Paris for 4-, 5-, and 6-Year-Olds 133The Ideal Age 134Disneyland Paris for Teens 134

About Inviting Your Children’s Friends 135A Few Words for Single Parents 137‘He Who Hesitates Is Launched!’: Tips and Warnings for Grandparents 138How to Childproof a Hotel Room 139

C O N T E N T S V I I

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Physical Preparation 141The Agony of the Feet 141Sleep, Rest, and Relaxation 143

Developing a Good Plan 144Logistic Preparation 145

Remembering Your Trip 151Trial Run 152About the Unofficial Guide Touring Plans 153Pushchairs 154

Bringing Your Own Pushchair 154Pushchair Wars 155

Babysitting 156Disney, Kids, and Scary Stuff 157

SMALL-CHILD FRIGHT-POTENTIAL CHART 158–161The Fright Factor 161A Bit of Preparation 162A Word about Height Requirements 163Attractions That Eat Adults 163

Queuing Strategies for Adults with Small Children 164Lost Children 168

How Kids Get Lost 169TIPS FOR KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR BROOD 170

The Disney Characters 171Character Encounters 172Character Dining 176

P A R T E I G H T Disneyland Park 179Arriving and Getting Orientated 179

NOT TO BE MISSED AT DISNEYLAND PARK 179Starting the Tour 182Main Street, U.S.A. 183

MAIN STREET SERVICES 183Main Street Attractions 184

Frontierland 186Adventureland 192Fantasyland 196Discoveryland 203Live Entertainment at Disneyland Park 209

Fireworks 209Disney-Character Shows 209Parades 210

Disneyland Park Touring Plans 213General Overview 213Preliminary Instructions for All Touring Plans 214The Touring Plans 215

V I I I C O N T E N T S

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P A R T N I N E Walt Disney Studios 233How Much Time to Allocate 233

NOT TO BE MISSED AT WALT DISNEY STUDIOS 233Arriving at Walt Disney Studios 236

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS SERVICES 236Getting Orientated at Walt Disney Studios 236Walt Disney Studios Attractions 237

Front Lot 237Production Courtyard 237Backlot 242Toon Studio 244

Live Entertainment at Walt Disney Studios 250Walt Disney Studios Touring Plan 250

Preliminary Instructions 251The Touring Plan 251

P A R T T E N Dining 253Eating in Disneyland Paris 253

Disneyland Paris Half Board Meal Plans 254Alternatives and Suggestions for Eating in the Disneyland Paris Theme Parks 256Disneyland Paris Full-Service and Buffet Restaurants 258Disneyland Paris Dining during Cold-Weather Months 260Disneyland Paris Menus 260Disneyland Paris Restaurant Profiles 261DISNEYLAND PARIS RESTAURANTS RATED AND RANKED 262

Dining outside Disneyland Paris 268Some General Advice 273

P A R T E L E V E N Nightlife, Shopping, Sport, and Recreation 275Disneyland Paris at Night 275

In the Theme Parks 275In the Resort Hotels 275At Disney Village 276

Shopping 278Disney Village Shopping 279Val d’ Europe Shopping 279

Sport and Recreation 280Davy Crockett Adventures 280Golf 281

Index, Clip-Out Touring Plans, and Reader Surveys 283Index 283Clip-Out Touring Plans 295Unofficial Guide Reader Survey 303Disneyland Paris Restaurant Survey 305

C O N T E N T S I X

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P A R T T H R E E

ACCOMMODATION

L O D G I N G I S A P R I M A R Y C O N C E R N for Disneyland Paris visitors. The most convenient accommodation is generally to be found at the resort’s six hotels; however, these are also the most expensive. Just outside Disneyland Paris are seven so-called Selected and Associated Hotels – non-Disney-owned properties that participate in Disneyland Paris holiday packages and provide shuttle service to the resort.

Though very few hotels exist in the small villages surrounding Disneyland Paris, a limited number of affordable modern hotels can be found within an 8–15-minute ride on the RER (Réseau Express Régional) commuter train or by car along the A4 highway. Hun-dreds of hotels of all sizes, of course, are available in Paris proper. Commuting time on the RER from Paris to Disneyland Paris is about an hour one-way. Specifics concerning use of the RER, as well as some information on air and auto travel, are detailed in Part Four, Getting There.

In addition to proximity and a certain number of guest privileges, there is a certain peace of mind associated with staying inside Dis-neyland Paris. ‘I feel more a part of everything and less like a visitor’, one guest says.

There is no real hardship, however, in stay-ing outside the resort and driving or taking the RER or a shuttle bus to the theme parks. Meals can be had much less expensively, too. Some of our research team lodged in a comfortable, though not plush, hotel within easy walking distance of the train station in Torcy (three stops towards Paris on the RER) for less than half the cost of staying in the least-expensive Disneyland Paris hotel. Our commuting time was 8 minutes one-way by RER to the Disneyland Paris station or 15 minutes by car to the Disneyland Paris parking complex.

unofficial T I PRooming outside Disney-land Paris puts you in a more receptive mood for enjoying Paris and other area attractions.

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STAYING at DISNEYLAND PARISH E R E A R E T H E S P E C I F I C P R I V I L E G E S and amenities you enjoy when staying at a Disneyland Paris hotel: 1. Vastly-decreased commuting time, made possible by easy

access to Disneyland Paris’s internal transport system. Especially conve-nient is the Disneyland Hotel, which literally sits astride the entrance to Disneyland Park. The other on-site hotels are connected to the Disneyland Paris transportation center by bus, though the walking time from the most distant hotel to the theme parks is less than 20 minutes for most people. The single exception is the Davy Crockett Ranch camping complex, which is 10 minutes away from Disneyland Paris by car.

2. Early entry to the theme parks. Resort guests are eligible to enter Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios one to twohours earlier than day-guests (the general public). This privilege, called Extra Magic Hours, allows resort guests to experience many of the park’s most popular attractions before the park becomes crowded.

3. Preferential treatment in making Advance Reservations for Disneyland Paris evening entertainment.

4. A number of alternatives for babysitting, child care, and special children’s programs.

5. Guaranteed admission to the theme parks on days when attendance is particularly heavy.

6. Free parking in the Disneyland Paris car park. 7. Preferred tee times at the Golf Disneyland course.

A L L T H I N G S C O N S I D E R E D1. EASE OF ACCESS If you stay at Disneyland Paris (except at the Davy Crockett Ranch campsite), you are within walking distance of everything at the theme parks and at the resort as a whole, and you are within a 50-minute train commute to central Paris, depending where you want to go.

2. SMALL CHILDREN Although the actual inconvenience of commuting to most hotels outside Disneyland Paris is slight, a definite peace of mind results from staying on site. If you are travelling with small children and can afford it, go for the Disneyland Hotel, at the

entrance to Disneyland Park. If that’s too expensive, try to book at the Sequoia Lodge.

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unofficial T I PIf you stay either in Paris or at Disneyland Paris, you will not need a car.

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3. DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS If you are in a party that will occasionally be going in different directions (as frequently happens in families with children of widely-varying ages), staying at Disneyland Paris offers more transport options and therefore more independence.4. FEEDING THE TROOPS If you have a large crew that can eat more than a platoon of French paratroopers, you might be better off stay-ing outside Disneyland Paris, where food is far less expensive.5. VISITING PARIS AND OTHER AREA DESTINATIONS If you plan to visit Paris or tour the Île-de-France area, it may be more convenient to stay outside Disneyland Paris (see page 76).

T H E G O O F Y W O R L D O F D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L R E S E R V A T I O N ST H E R E A R E T H R E E W A Y S T O D O J U S T A B O U T A N Y T H I N G : the right way, the wrong way, and the Disney way. Regarding the last – whether it’s right, wrong, or a little of both – you can count on the Disney way being maddeningly complex.

Predictably, trying to get a hotel room at Disneyland Paris takes only slightly less effort than building your own hotel. First, you cannot simply reserve a hotel room. Unless you are attending a convention at Disneyland Paris, you must buy a package – one that includes lodg-ing in one of the six resort hotels, park admission, and various other goodies like buffets, Continental breakfasts, a dining plan, and even transport. Concerning transportation, all packages sold in the UK market include it, even if that means bringing your car to France by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel.

Package prices are per person, per night, with different rates for adults (age 12 and over) and children (ages 3–11). Disney also offers packages that include lodging at the seven Selected and Associated Hotels. All but one of these are three- or four-star hotels, and most are as expensive as or more expensive than the Disney hotels. Unlike the latter, the inde-pendents can be booked directly if you simply want a room as opposed to a package (which must be booked through Disney).

The cost of your package is determined, among other things, by the number of nights and your choice of hotel. Among the Disney hotels, the Disneyland Hotel is most expensive, followed by Hotel New York, Newport Bay Club, Sequoia Lodge, Hotel Cheyenne, and Hotel Santa Fe, in that order. To get a feel for the difference, the most costly hotel, the Disneyland Hotel, is more than twice as expensive as the Hotel Santa Fe, the least costly. The seventh Disney property is Davy Crockett Ranch, which offers free-standing cabins for up to six people. The cab-ins are a good buy only if you have four or more persons in your party.

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unofficial T I PThe maximum number of persons allowed to share a Disney hotel room is four, including children. At Davy Crockett Ranch, the maxi-mum number allowed to share a cabin is six, includ-ing children.

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Package prices vary according to season. At Disneyland Paris, these are not seasons of the year but seasons that Disney makes up, like ‘Value Season’, ‘Regular Season’, ‘Low Season’, ‘High Season’, and ‘Holiday Season’, to name a few. Logic would suggest that the seasons flow in sequential order through the year so that, say, Value Season is 9 January–15 March.

But with Goofy creating the calendar, all seasons can be scrambled in a single month – sometimes in a single week. Seasons (and there-fore hotel prices) vary not only according to the time of the year but the time of the month and even the day of the week. The system is so confounding that you’ll need either a Disney reservationist or a Disneyland Paris brochure (which you can download online or obtain from a travel agent) to figure it out. But figure it out you must, because package prices for the respective seasons vary by as much as 56%!

The per-night cost of your package is determined by the Disney season in effect on your arrival day. Last year, for example, if two adults arriving on 10 June had booked a one-night holiday package at the Sequoia Lodge, it would have cost €472 (£422, $687 US). If, however, they had booked the package for an 11 June arrival, it would have cost €523 (£468, $762 US), and if they had arrived on 12 June, it would have cost €577 (£516, $840 US). What a difference a day makes!

If you’re booking on the Disneyland Paris website or with a travel agent, remember that package prices are per person, per night. A recent advert for Disney’s Newport Bay Club, for example, stated that rates started at €144 (£129, $208 US). True enough – but that was for one person, and had you indeed tried to reserve for one person, a single-occupancy charge of €60 (£54, $87 US) would have been applied, so the total would have been €204 (£183, $295 US). So the only way you could’ve obtained the lowest advertised price would have been to book for two people, in which case the room would have cost €288 (£258, $419 US). Oh, and did we mention that the only days this price was in effect were Sundays through Thurs-days in January?

When choosing a package, try to book one that lets you use as much as possible of what’s included therein. For instance, all Dis-

neyland Paris packages include non-optional ‘length of stay’ theme-park admission. If you book a three-night package, for example, you must buy the included four days of admission.

For just about everyone, arrival day is a travel day. But whether you arrive at Disney-land Paris at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m., when the parks

are open, or at 9 p.m., after the parks have closed, you are charged for that day’s admission because it’s part of the package. The same holds true for your departure date: if you have to leave for the airport at 9 a.m., that’s another day’s admission down the drain.

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unofficial T I PBe aware: With any Disney-land Paris holiday package, you pay for the various components whether you are able to use them or not.

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To get the best deal, be flexible in your travel plans. Be will-ing to move your visit up or back a few days to take advantage of lower rates. Because seasons (and rates) change an average of ten times per month, you should be able to get pretty close to the dates you prefer. Also, before making reservations, enquire whether any special deals are available – Disney reservationists generally won’t volunteer this information, so you’ll have to ask. Sometimes you can get a three-night package for the price of a two-night package, or a four-night package for the price of a three-night package; at other times specific hotels offer a reduced rate. Another frequently-run special allows one child (ages 3–11) to stay free for each paying adult sharing the same room. During the economic recession of 2009, there was even a special that included free dining.

Check the Disneyland Paris website for special offers before you call. Also take a look at MouseSavers (www.mousesavers.com), a site devoted to finding deals and discounts all over the world.

If you own or purchase stock in Euro Disney S.C.A., you are eligible to join the Sharehold-ers Club. It offers 5–16% discounts on tickets, meals, and purchases. For more information see corporate.disneylandparis.com/shareholders (click ‘Shareholders Club’ at left).

DISNEYLAND PARIS HOTELS and the DAVY CROCKETT RANCHT H E R E A R E S I X R E S O R T H O T E L S A T D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S , each designed to reflect a particular American region and historical period. The flagship property, rated luxury-class, is the four-star Disneyland Hotel, at the entrance to Disneyland Park. Also rated luxury-class is the four-star Hotel New York, on Lake Disney and about a 10-minute walk from the entrance of either theme park. The Newport Bay Club and Sequoia Lodge, both three stars, are also on the lake and are rated first-class. Walking time from the Sequoia Lodge to the theme parks is about 14 minutes, from the Newport Bay Club about 16 minutes. Rated moderate-class, and located far-thest from the theme park, are the two-star Hotel Santa Fe and Hotel Cheyenne, each about 20 minutes away by foot. Finally, a 10-minute drive away is the Davy Crockett Ranch campsite, which offers cabins as well as emplacements for tents and caravans.

Reservations for all six hotels and for the campsite can be made through a central reservations centre. Disney reservationists are

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unofficial T I PDisneyland Paris is not the only player in the holiday-packages game. To see who the sellers are and what packages they offer, do an Internet search for ‘Disneyland Paris holiday [vacation] packages’. If you plan to stay in Paris, also search ‘Paris France holiday [vacation] packages’.

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multi-lingual, but separate phone numbers are assigned for information and assistance in each of 16 languages and dialects. Write or callRéservation CentraleDisneyland Paris S.C.A.Boîte Postale 10077777 Marne-la-ValléeCedex 4, France# +33 1 60 30 60 53UK: # 0844 800 8111FAX for all languages: # +33 1 49 30 71 00 or 33 1 49 30 71 70

D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L S A T A G L A N C EA L L D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L S have guest rooms that sleep four persons. American in design, décor, and appointments, each room has a private bathroom with one or two sinks, plus a bath and shower. Guest rooms at the Disneyland Hotel, the Hotel New York, the New- port Bay Club, and the Sequoia Lodge are large by European stan-dards but much smaller than comparable hotel rooms at Walt Disney World in Florida. Rooms at the Hotel Santa Fe and the Hotel Chey-enne are smaller still.

Each guest room at the three- and four-star hotels is equipped with a telephone, a television, a mini-bar, and air-conditioning (which often isn’t sufficient on really hot days). The Hotel Santa Fe and the Hotel Cheyenne offer no air-conditioning. The Disneyland Hotel has an indoor pool, while the Hotel New York, Sequoia Lodge, and Newport Bay Club have both indoor and outdoor pools. Each of the six resort hotels has a bar, at least one restaurant (all with children’s menus), a games arcade, and a shop selling necessities as well as international newspapers and magazines. Likewise, all hotels have non-smoking rooms and rooms for guests with disabilities. Finally, each hotel offers daily meet-and-greets with the Disney characters.

Each resort hotel has its own parking facility. Bus transport is provided from all hotels (except the Disneyland Hotel, located at the Disneyland Park entrance) to the transportation and train station between Disney Village and the theme parks. Walking time from the bus-unloading area to the parks is about four to five minutes.

Disneyland HotelThe Disneyland Hotel is modelled after a turn-of-the-twentieth-century Florida resort. Easily distinguished by its many spires and cupolas, flamingo-coloured facade, and white-trimmed balconies, it is the most luxurious of the Disneyland Paris hotels. It is also the most convenient to Disneyland Park, lying directly over the park entrance. This proximity makes it easy for you to return to the hotel to eat and rest – an important consideration if there are small chil-dren or seniors in your party.

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The spacious guest rooms are decorated in pastels and light woods. Bathrooms, with two sinks, are the nicest at any Disneyland Paris hotel. Additionally, many guest rooms afford excellent views of Disneyland Park. The food here is the best available anywhere in Disneyland Paris, and the hotel’s array of services and amenities – including indoor pool and health club – is appropriate to its luxury classification.

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Disneyland Paris Hotel RecommendationsN I C E S T R O O M S

1. Disneyland Hotel 2. Hotel New York 3. Newport Bay Club 4. Sequoia Lodge 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

B E S T V A L U E

1. Sequoia Lodge 2. Newport Bay Club 3. Disneyland Hotel 4. Newport Bay Club 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

M O S T C O N V E N I E N T T O T H E M E P A R K S

1. Disneyland Hotel 2. Hotel New York 3. Sequoia Lodge 4. Newport Bay Club 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

B E S T T H E M E P R E S E N T A T I O N

1. Sequoia Lodge 2. Hotel Cheyenne 3. Disneyland Hotel 4. Hotel New York 5. Newport Bay Club 6. Hotel Santa Fe

B E S T F O R A C T I V I T I E S A N D R E C R E A T I O N

1. Hotel New York 2. Sequoia Lodge 3. Newport Bay Club 4. Disneyland Hotel 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

B E S T H O T E L R E S T A U R A N T S

1. Disneyland Hotel 2. Hotel New York 3. Sequoia Lodge 4. Newport Bay Club 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

B E S T F O R F A M I L I E S W I T H C H I L D R E N

1. Sequoia Lodge 2. Hotel Cheyenne 3. Disneyland Hotel 4. Hotel New York 5. Newport Bay Club 6. Hotel Santa Fe

M O S T R O M A N T I C

1. Sequoia Lodge 2. Disneyland Hotel 3. Hotel New York 4. Newport Bay Club 5. Hotel Cheyenne 6. Hotel Santa Fe

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On the negative side, the Disneyland Hotel is extremely expensive. Our only other real complaint relates to how incredibly spread out the property is. Guests in the west wing must hike several hundred yards to reach the lobby; conversely, guests in the east wing must walk a comparable distance to reach the pool.

Hotel New YorkThe Hotel New York attempts to capture the sophistication and gran-deur of Manhattan. Consisting of a central high-rise flanked by smaller wings, the building is intended to create the illusion of a skyscraper positioned among elegant brownstone row houses from New York’s Upper East Side. Falling a bit short, the hotel’s cluster of buildings more closely resembles the architecture of a suburban office park. The lobby and public areas of both the hotel and the adjoining convention centre are cold and impersonal – probably the most verisimilitude the hotel manages to achieve. An exception is the New York City Bar, eas-ily the most inviting and aesthetically-pleasing space in the hotel. The comfortable guest rooms sport an Art Deco décor, with rust-coloured furniture and lamps in the shape of the Empire State Building. The luxurious baths rival those of the Disneyland Hotel.

The restaurants in the Hotel New York serve palatable but vastly-overpriced food. Owing to the hotel’s proximity to the Disney Village, however, another half-dozen or so restaurants are a six-minute walk away. Amenities and recreational offerings include indoor and out-door pools, winter ice-skating, a health club, lighted tennis courts, and a hair salon (the only one at Disneyland Paris).

The Hotel New York is at the end of Lake Disney. Disney Village – a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex – is just around the

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DISNEYLAND HOTEL

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Closest hotel to Disneyland ParkGuests can return easily for

meals and napsExcellent restaurants and buffetVery nice guest roomsViews of Disneyland Park from guest

roomsProvides each guest one FASTPASS

per daySecond only to Hotel New York in

services offeredOnly Disney hotel with a spaRecreational options

Extremely expensiveNo outdoor poolNo launderetteNo outdoor children’s playground

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corner from the hotel. Bus shuttles to the theme parks are available, though we’re not sure why: the walk to the theme parks is only about eight to ten minutes, only a minute or so more than the walk from the disembarkation point for the bus. Bus service is also available to the golf course.

Sequoia LodgeThe Sequoia Lodge is reminiscent of the massive, rugged log-and-stone hotels that grace American and Canadian national parks as well as many western US ski resorts. Located along Lake Disney, the Sequoia consists of a U-shaped main lodge flanked on one side by six smaller lodges. The public areas of the main lodge, including the fireside Red-wood Bar & Lounge, are warm, cozy, and exceedingly beautiful, with high-beamed ceilings, natural wood trim, and a huge hearth. Though rated first-class, the Sequoia is in many ways more beautiful and plush than the luxury-class Disneyland Hotel or Hotel New York. Ameni-ties, comparable to those at the more expensive hotels, include indoor and outdoor pools and a health club. The Hunter’s Grill Restaurant, though not cheap, is one of the better hotel eating establishments at Disneyland Paris. Like most other Disneyland Paris hotels, however, the lodge is large and rambling, which means that some guests must trek a long way to reach the restaurants, lobby, shops, or pool from their rooms.

Guest rooms at the Sequoia Lodge are characterised by their simplicity, much in the style of a Canadian hunting club. Dark wood furniture contrasts with clean white walls. Beds are covered with quilt-like patterned spreads. Wall lamps are carved to resemble deer

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H O T E L N E W Y O R K

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Second-closest hotel to theme parksClosest hotel to Disney VillageGuests can return easily for meals

and napsGood restaurant and buffetVery nice guest roomsViews of Lake DisneyOffers the most amenities and ser-

vices of any Disneyland Paris hotelOnly Disney hotel with tennis courtsProvides the most sport and leisure

options Has ice-skating rink in cold-weather

months

Extremely expensiveSomewhat cold and sterile ambienceNo spaNo launderetteNo outdoor children’s playground

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antlers. Bathrooms are attractive and well designed, with a dressing bench next to the shower and tub.

The Sequoia Lodge provides bus service to the transportation and train station between Disney Village and the theme parks. If the weather is good, you can walk to Disney Village in about 8–10 min-utes and to the parks in about 14 minutes. The Sequoia Lodge is our preferred hotel for couples on a romantic holiday, though like all the Disney hotels it’s teeming with children.

Newport Bay ClubAt the far end of Lake Disney, facing the Hotel New York at the opposite end of the waterfront promenade, the Newport Bay Club is

68 P A R T 3 A C C O M M O D A T I O N

N E W P O R T B A Y C L U B

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Well-executed New England seaside resort theme

Nautical-style guest roomsAdequate restaurants and buffetLandscapingIndoor/outdoor pool complexExcellent line-up of services and

amenities

Variety of sport and leisure activities

Very expensivePoorly-designed and somewhat worn

public areas

Lack of quiet and relaxing indoor public spaces

Low level of maintenance and upkeep

17-minute walk to the theme parks

No outdoor children’s playground

S E Q U O I A L O D G E

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Warm inviting public spacesMost tranquil and relaxing of the

Disney hotelsExcellent execution of theme in

public areasThird closest hotel to theme parksGood restaurants Second best buffet at Disneyland

ParisWarm and inviting bar and loungeLandscaped grounds with walking

pathsIndoor/outdoor pool complexVariety of sport and leisure activities

Very expensiveNo launderetteNo room service, bell service, or

valet parkingInadequate air-conditioning

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a careful re-creation of the grand New England seaside resorts of the late nineteenth century. An imposing structure of seven stories, the cream-coloured facade is punctuated with striped awnings over small balconies. A lake-side lighthouse and immaculately-manicured lawns complete the picture.

There are indoor and outdoor pools, a health club, two decent res-taurants, and a lounge that overlooks the waterfront. The Newport Bay Club is an 8–10-minute walk from the Disney Village and about 17–20 minutes on foot from the entrances to the theme parks. If you do not want to walk, shuttle busses run about every 20–25 minutes.

Guest rooms at the Newport Bay Club reflect a clean, nautical theme with white enameled furnishings offset with navy patterns on the bed-ding and drapes. The baths are well designed, with plenty of counter space. On the other side of the ledger, the hotel in general, especially its public spaces, looks somewhat worn and in need of a face-lift. Though the restaurants, bars, and sitting areas are adequate during the less busy times of year, they are overwhelmed during summer and holidays.

Hotel CheyenneThe Hotel Cheyenne is a huge, sprawling complex of two-story lodges designed to resemble an 1880s trail town in the American West. By far the most exotic of the Disneyland Paris hotels, the Cheyenne embodies Disney carrying a theme to its limits. If there is any place in the entire Disneyland Paris where you’ll forget you are in France, it is here. Gaily-coloured wood buildings with covered board-walks flank two intersecting gravel thoroughfares. There are water towers, bunk-houses, a saloon with swinging doors, Indian tepees, a Western-themed children’s play area, and even covered wagons to complete the illusion. These days, however, the Hotel Cheyenne is

D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L S A N D T H E D A V Y C R O C K E T T R A N C H 69

H O T E L C H E Y E N N E

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Best-executed theme of all Disney Hotels

Creative outdoor play areas for children

Rollicking Old West–themed saloon with live music

Decent buffet

ExpensiveDistance of most guest rooms from

lobby, restaurants, and park-shuttle departure points

Somewhat run-down appearanceNo air-conditioningNo swimming poolsInadequately-staffed check-in counter18–20-minute walk to theme-park

entrancesSmall, rather cramped guest roomsNo bell or room service

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looking a bit too authentic – there are buildings longing for a fresh coat of paint, carpeting in need of replacement, grounds wanting attention.

Rated moderate-class, the hotel’s guest rooms are small, each con-taining a double bed and a set of bunk-beds. Rooms are appointed in Western décor with lamps like cowboy boots and drapes patterned after the traditional Western red-and-blue bandanna. The décor is so juvenile it makes you feel as if you have taken over the bedroom of someone’s 10-year-old son. While there is no air-conditioning at the Hotel Cheyenne, each room does contain a ceiling fan. The bath-rooms are small but well designed. As at the more expensive hotels, you’ll find a phone and a television.

We found the rooms at the Hotel Cheyenne comfortable. During warm weather, however, when one must sleep with the window open, noise from the street and American Western music – broadcast from speakers, seemingly 24 hours a day – conspire to make rest a difficult proposition. Getting to an ice machine is also a hassle: if you want ice, you must go up the street to a separate building to obtain it.

You could argue that amenities at the Hotel Cheyenne are lim-ited: no swimming pool, no health club, and only one (buffet-style) restaurant. To most guests, and particularly to children, however, the whole place is an amenity – and a great adventure to boot. Shuttle busses connect the hotel with Disney Village and the theme parks. If you prefer to walk, you should be able to reach Disney Village within 12–15 minutes and the theme parks in about 20 minutes.

Hotel Santa FeIntended to look like an adobe pueblo in New Mexico, the Hotel Santa Fe more closely resembles a Los Angeles council estate. The hotel did not have much to recommend it when it was new; now, almost two decades later, the Hotel Santa Fe is tired and worn and in need of restoration – or better yet, a complete make-over. Once-landscaped areas have become patches of packed dirt, and the once-vibrant earth-tone exteriors are now the colour of rust. Tidy cleanliness, a Disney hotel hallmark, has given way to haphazard upkeep and overall dinginess. The Hotel Santa Fe also has the unfor-tunate distinction of being the only Disneyland Paris hotel to have its car park insinuated around and alongside its guest-room buildings. The theme here, always tenuous at best, certainly wouldn’t make anyone want to go to the real Santa Fe. The best feature of the Hotel Santa Fe is its entrance, with a bright neon marquise. A photo of the entrance is featured at the Disneyland Paris website and those of many Internet travel sellers – if ever there were more of a disconnect between a glamorous entryway and an uninspired reality within, we can’t recall it.

One long rectangular building houses the registration area, a sun-dries shop, the Rio Grande Bar (the hotel’s best feature), a Tex-Mex

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restaurant, and a games arcade. Outside is the loading station for shuttle busses to the theme parks. All are located a pretty fair distance from the great majority of the guest rooms. At one end of the com-plex – and on the roof, no less – is a children’s playground. During our stay few children apparently were able to locate the playground: whenever we stopped by, it was mostly populated by Disney cast members on break. There is no pool.

Guest rooms, decorated in American Southwestern earth tones, are small. Bedding and wall friezes bear colourful Navajo Indian designs. Bathrooms are small but adequate.

As at the Hotel Cheyenne, there is no air-conditioning, though ceiling fans are provided. Finding an ice machine can be a challenge here, too. The Hotel Santa Fe is quieter at night, however, and you do not have to fall asleep to the crooning of Johnny Cash or the theme from that American TV classic Bonanza.

The Hotel Santa Fe is a good 12–15-minute walk from Disney Village and an 18–20-minute walk from most guest buildings to the theme parks. Busses run every 20–25 minutes to and from the trans-portation and train station.

Davy Crockett RanchSet in a 56-hectare (138-acre) wooded area about 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the theme parks, Davy Crockett Ranch is a large resort camp-site featuring fully-equipped one- and two-bedroom air-conditioned

D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L S A N D T H E D A V Y C R O C K E T T R A N C H 71

H O T E L S A N T A F E

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

Southwestern US–themed bar with live music

ExpensiveDistance of most guest rooms from

lobby, restaurants, and park-shuttle departure points

Weak to non-existent themeRun-down appearancePoorly-kept groundsCars parked within the hotel complexNo air-conditioningNo swimming poolsExtremely-limited dining optionsInadequately-staffed check-in counter18–20-minute walk to theme-park

entrancesSmall, rather cramped guest roomsNo bell or room service

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cabins. Each cabin, designed to accommodate four persons (pleasant) to six persons (claustrophobic), contains a kitchenette, bathroom, tele-vision, and phone. Cookware, dishes, cutlery, bedclothes, and towels are provided. There’s a grocery store on site to stock your fridge, but you’ll do much better price-wise to shop in markets outside Disneyland Paris. Next to each cabin is a barbecue grill and a picnic table.

Crockett’s Tavern offers a creditable buffet serving, well, a lot of meat. A ‘saloon’ periodically features karaoke or American country music.

Aside from cabin accommodation, Davy Crockett Ranch features a petting farm, a stunning indoor swimming pool, tennis and basket-ball courts, sport fields, an elaborate playground, evening campfire entertainment, bike and golf-cart rentals (for travelling around the campsite), a general store that sells groceries and other necessities, hiking and jogging trails, and pony rides. The campsite is also home to Davy Crockett’s Adventure, a tree-swinging ropes course.

The only place to park a car at the campsite is at your cabin. There is no parking at the restaurant, pool, or recreation area. If you want to travel around the campsite, you must walk, use the in-ranch bus service, or rent a bike or golf cart. Guests at the ranch must provide their own transport to the Disneyland Paris car park, a 15-minute drive away – there’s no shuttle-bus service. On the bright side, ranch guests may use the car park at no extra charge.

S E L E C T E D A N D A S S O C I A T E D H O T E L S M A N Y H O T E L S I N T H E I M M E D I A T E A R E A of Marne-la-Vallée and neighbouring Serris provide comfortable accommodation at costs much lower than those of an on-site Disney hotel. The following are designated as Disney Selected and Associated Hotels, which means you can book them through Disney as part of a holiday package. You may also reserve a room separately from a package by contacting the hotels directly.ADAGIO VAL D’EUROPE (# +33 1 58 21 55 84; www.adagio-city.co.uk) In Serris, about a 25-minute walk from the theme-park gates. This hotel is popular with families and generally has the lowest rates in the area – as well as the smallest bathrooms we’ve ever seen. Rooms are small, too, but feature a double bed and sleeper sofa. Friendly bilingual staff. Plentiful restaurants and shopping are within a five-minute walk at the Val d’Europe Shopping Centre. The hotel has a swimming pool and restaurant, but no air-conditioning. Wi-Fi service (available only in public areas) is sporadic. HÔTEL L’ELYSÉE VAL D’EUROPE (# +33 1 64 63 33 33; www.hotelelysee.com) Also in Serris, but at the opposite end of the Val d’Europe mall. Larger rooms with air-conditioning. A 25-minute walk to the park gates. Slightly more upscale than the Adagio, but possibly the least expensive summer hotel choice with air-conditioning.

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KYRIAD HOTEL (# +33 1 60 43 61 61; www.kyriad-disneyland-resort-paris.fr) In Magny-le-Hongre, about a five-minute bus ride to the park gates. Rooms feature air-conditioning and Wi-Fi. Typical rooms have one double bed; some have a double and two twin beds or four twin beds. The hotel has a restaurant but neither a swimming pool nor air-conditioned rooms, important considerations during the summer months.RADISSON BLU HOTEL AT DISNEYLAND PARIS (# +33 1 60 43 64 00; www.radissonblu.com/golfresort-paris) Directly adjacent to the Golf Disneyland course. If golf is a large part of your Disney holiday, this hotel is the way to go. Views are picturesque, with 360 degrees of gent ly rolling fairways. The 250 rooms, including 18 suites, are lavishly fur-nished in contemporary style and earthy tones. Standard amenities in each room include a double bed, flat-panel TV, in-room safe, hair-dryer, and mini-bar. Two restaurants, a bar, 24-hour room service, an indoor pool, a fitness centre, meeting facilities, and complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the complex make the Radisson Blu the most complete accommodation choice outside of the on-site Disney hotels.THOMAS COOK EXPLORERS HOTEL (# +33 1 60 42 60 61; www.explorershotels.com) Magny-le-Hongre. The Explorers’ rooms sleep up to four with one double and two single or two twin beds. Rooms for six include a separate space with two bunk-beds, which might be the least expensive option for a family of five or six persons. The hotel has a heated pool and in-room Internet access, but no air-conditioning. Two restaurants and a pizza kiosk are on site. VIENNA INTERNATIONAL DREAM CASTLE HOTEL (# +33 1 64 17 90 10; www.dreamcastle-hotel.com) In Marne-la-Vallée, a short bus ride away from the parks. The Dream Castle Hotel features a medieval castle theme. Smaller rooms fit two adults in a double bed; family rooms sleep two adults in a double bed and two small children in bunk-beds. Two-bedroom suites are an option as well. All rooms are non-smoking. Wired Internet access is available at an extra cost; rooms are not air-conditioned.VIENNA INTERNATIONAL MAGIC CIRCUS HOTEL (# +33 1 64 63 37 37; www.magiccircus-hotel.com) Marne-la-Vallée. Run by the same company as the Dream Castle preceding, this circus-themed hotel has rooms that hold two to four adults, or two adults and up to two children. Rooms have bunk-beds or double beds. All rooms are non-smoking. Wired Internet access is available at an extra cost. The hotel has a new swimming pool. Rooms are not air-conditioned.

A great luxury alternative to the on-site and Selected and Associated hotels is Marriott’s Village d’Île-de-France (# +33 1 60 42 90 00; www.marriott.com), a Marriott Vacation Club property located near Davy Crockett Ranch and overlooking the Golf Disneyland course. Although the Village d’Île-de-France is a time-share development, anyone can reserve their choice of a one-, two-, or three-bedroom town house. The

D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S H O T E L S A N D T H E D A V Y C R O C K E T T R A N C H 73

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74 P A R T 3 A C C O M M O D A T I O N

AvailableAvailable upon Request

Extra Charge

Disney Hotels

ROOM FEATURES

International TV channels

Air-conditioning

Mini-bar

Hair-dryer

Safety deposit box

Bath

Bunk bed

OTHER ROOMS (upon request)

Suites (supplement applies)

Rooms for guests in wheelchairs

SERVICES

Free shuttle to the Disney parks

Wi-Fi web access (in some locations)

Bell service

Room service

Free parking

Safety deposit box at reception

Currency exchange

Launderette (not including products)

SPORT & LEISURE

Tennis courts

Jogging track

Celestia Spa

Indoor pool and/or whirlpool

Fitness room

Sauna and/or steam bath

Massage

Disney Shop

CHILDREN

Meet ’n’ Greet with Disney characters

Children’s menu (paying)

Outdoor children’s playground

Video-games room

Activities (on certain days)

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Disney Hotel Services and Amenities

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D I S N E Y H O T E L S E R V I C E S A N D A M E N I T I E S 75

Selected andAssociated Hotels

AvailableAvailable upon Request

Extra Charge

ROOM FEATURES

International TV channels

Air-conditioning

Mini-bar

Hair-dryer

Safety deposit box

Bath

Bunk bed

OTHER ROOMS (upon request)

Suites (supplement applies)

Rooms for guests in wheelchairs

SERVICES

Free shuttle to the Disney parks

Wi-Fi web access (in some locations)

Bell service

Room service

Free parking

Safety deposit box at reception

Currency exchange

Launderette (not including products)

SPORT & LEISURE

Tennis courts

Jogging track

Celestia Spa

Indoor pool and/or whirlpool

Fitness room

Sauna and/or steam bath

Massage

Disney Shop

CHILDREN

Meet ’n’ Greet with Disney characters

Children’s menu (paying)

Outdoor children’s playground

Video-games room

Activities (on certain days)

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accommodation is among the best in the Disneyland Paris area, but as with the Selected and Associated Hotels, you don’t have to buy a Disney package to stay here. Plus, the rates aren’t based on double occupancy: a studio suite in May, for instance, goes for about €127 (£114, $188 US), regardless of whether one or two people occupy it.

Disney and Associated Hotels Rated and RankedThe chart below rates and ranks both Selected and Associated and on-site hotels. The star rating grades the overall experience, while the numerical room-quality rating is self-explanatory. Star ratings are the same as those used in all Unofficial Guides and may or may not be in agreement with the European star system for rating hotels.

76 P A R T 3 A C C O M M O D A T I O N

How Disney and Associated Hotels Compare STAR ROOM

HOTEL RATING QUALITY OWNERSHIP

Disneyland Hotel ....H 91 Disney

Hotel New York .... 84 Disney

Radisson Blu Hotel .... 84 Independent at Disneyland Paris

Vienna International ...H 80 Independent Dream Castle Hotel

Sequoia Lodge ...H 76 Disney

Newport Bay Club ... 74 Disney

Vienna International ... 73 Independent Magic Circus Hotel

Adagio Val d’Europe ... 72 Independent

Hôtel l’Elysée Val d’Europe ... 70 Independent

Thomas Cook Explorers Hotel ... 70 Independent

Kyriad Hotel ..H 64 Independent

Hotel Cheyenne .. 57 Disney

Hotel Santa Fe .. 52 Disney

LODGING outside DISNEYLAND PARISM O S T C O N V E N I E N T L O D G I N G O U T S I D E T H E P A R K‘ O U T S I D E ’ D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S does not have to mean an hour’s trek to Paris. A number of lodging alternatives exist along the A4 motorway and on the Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy RER line. In addition,

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there are several tiny, charming villages near Disneyland Paris that, while short on lodging, offer some wonderful dining alternatives to the resort’s on-site restaurants.STAYING IN A TOWN ALONG THE RER LINE If you want to be near, but not in, Disneyland Paris, we recommend staying in one of the nearby towns accessible by RER. Even if you have come to the area by car, you can park at your hotel and walk to the train station. Small and mid-size hotel chains offer a considerable reservoir (some have up to 300 rooms) of comfortable accommodation, which can usually be booked through a central number or on the Internet, often without a deposit. The rooms tend to be small, but they are relatively inexpen-sive, clean, and pleasant, albeit largely devoid of charm.

Start your Internet hotel search on the search engine Kayak (www.kayak.com). The four closest RER stations to Disneyland Paris are, in order of proximity, Val d’Europe (actually only 20 minutes away on foot), Bussy-Saint-Georges, Torcy, and Lognes. So for a hotel in Torcy, you’d search the hotel listings on Kayak for ‘Torcy France’. A key consideration for any hotel that interests you is how close it is to the RER station.

S T A Y I N G I N P A R I SB E C A U S E M A N Y V I S I T O R S W I L L B E C O M B I N I N G a visit to the parks with a stay in Paris, we will not try to present a guide to Paris hotels here. We recommend The Unofficial Guide to Paris by David Applefield (John Wiley & Sons) and the red Michelin France (Michelin Travel Publications) to guide your selection. Here again, we recommend Kayak for your online-search needs.BUSY TIMES FOR HOTELS IN PARIS Paris hotels book up further in advance for trade shows than for tourist periods. The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau lists the following periods as the most heavily-booked dates for all classifications of visitors (tour-ists, businesspeople, and trade-show and convention attendees):

L O D G I N G O U T S I D E D I S N E Y L A N D P A R I S 77

unofficial T I PIt’s actually easier to find a hotel room in Paris during July and August than it is in June and October.

Second week in JanuaryLast weekend in January and first

week in FebruaryFirst two weeks in MarchFirst week in AprilLast three weeks in May

All of JuneFirst two weeks in SeptemberAll of OctoberThird week in NovemberLast week in December

Seeing the Paris SightsIf you are staying at Disneyland Paris and want to visit the city, trans-port is fast, easy, and economical by train. Because you will be travelling to Paris on the RER, whenever possible we have routed these trips to the

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nearest RER stop (rather than the Métro), assuming you would rather do your walking in Paris above ground than below.

If you get tired of walking, bear in mind that the La Défense–Château de Vincennes Métro line (I) runs parallel to much of the RER A line within Paris. This line includes stops at the Louvre (Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre and Louvre–Rivoli), the Tuileries, Concorde, and Champs-Élysées–Clemenceau (the beginning of the Champs-Élysées).

I F Y O U W A N T T O G O from Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy) to . . .ARC DE TRIOMPHE/CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES Take the RER all the way to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile.CENTRE GEORGES POMPIDOU (BEAUBOURG)/FORUM DES HALLES) Take the RER to Châtelet–Les Halles, which leaves you right in the centre of Les Halles. Beaubourg is a ten-minute walk away, by way of a colourful, boisterous pedestrian zone that is worth experiencing.THE EIFFEL TOWER Take the RER A line to Porte Maillot, then change to the RER C line – C2, C4, or C6 only; take care to avoid the south-bound western fork, which goes to Versailles – and take it to Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel.LATIN QUARTER (Quartier Latin) Take the RER to Châtelet–Les Halles, then (1) switch to the southbound RER B line, direction Robin-son or St. Rémy-lès-Chevreuse, and take it to St Michel–Notre Dame, or (2) if the weather is nice, walk straight south and cross the Seine.THE LOUVRE/TUILERIES Take the RER to Châtelet–Les Halles, walk to the rue de Rivoli, and then head west (towards the Arc de Tri-omphe in the distance). It will take you less than 15 minutes to get to the Louvre or the Tuileries. Or transfer to the La Défense–Château de Vincennes Métro line, direction La Défense, and get off at Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre or at Tuileries.MONTMARTRE Take the RER to Nation; transfer to the Métro Nation–Porte Dauphine line (2), direction Porte Dauphine, and get off at Anvers; look for signs for Sacré-Cœur, and be prepared for a long walk uphill.MUSÉE D’ORSAY Take the RER to Châtelet–Les Halles; transfer to the Métro, direction La Défense, to Tuileries. Walk through the gardens and across the Seine. The museum is on the opposite bank of the river – you can’t miss it.THE PARIS OPÉRA (Opéra Garnier) Take the RER line to Auber, in the centre of the Boulevard Haussmann department-store district. Auber is a short walk from the Opéra.

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