| # | Author | Message |
1
| HTHgal12
Mon 5/4/2009 7:38a | I am not sure if this is the right section to post this in but...DH and I are planning one more BIG vacation before we have kids. We are going back and forth between France and Japan. I was wondering which resort is better? And also what area has more non-disney things to do since we want to do more than just the resort. Thank you! |
2
| trekkeruss
Mon 5/4/2009 7:58a | TDR is by far the better of the two resorts, and there is certainly no lack of things to see and do in Tokyo. If it's one last fling, I'd urge you to also visit Kyoto.
DLP is beautiful, but the second park there is pathetic compared to Tokyo's second park. Paris is a prettier city than Tokyo. With the TGV and Eurostar trains, other European destinations are as close as Kyoto is to Tokyo.
If Disney is the main component of the trip, I'd pick Tokyo. Beyond that, it's a toss up.
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3
| FerretAfros
Mon 5/4/2009 10:48a | If it's a "go without kids" trip, I think I would pick Tokyo as well. I don't know why, but there just seems to be something about Paris that is just more family friendly. Not that it's impossible to do the parks in Tokyo with kids, but there are a lot of lines and waiting for things (45 min for popcorn is not unheard of) there that just don't seem like they would be as easy to do with a child, where Paris usually doesn't have extreme lines. Tokyo DisneySea is also a very adult park that I'm not sure kids would really appreciate as much, even moreso than Epcot. If you're planning on doing the other one later when you have kids, I would say that Tokyo would definatley be a better fit for you now, and Paris would be better later. |
4
| HTHgal12
Tue 5/5/2009 8:09a | Thank you both so much! As far as cost...is either one more economical? I do like the fact that Paris is close to other countries and one of the other places I would love to go is Amsterdam which is only 4 hours away |
5
| leemac
Tue 5/5/2009 8:37a | HTHgal12 - it will depend when you are looking to travel. Considering the value of the buck against the yen and the euro I would have thought that the cost of DLP might be cheaper than TDR (in the past fifteen months the dollar has moved from about 68c to 75c whilst the yen has shrunk back from Y112 to about Y100).
I guess it really depends what you are looking for. Disney hotels in TDR are very expensive and rarely discounted when compared to the DLP equivalents. Both resorts have online booking options so I'd encourage you to try pricing your trip through them.
I've been to both more times than I can count and I'd agree with the earlier comments - it will depend on what you want to see outside the resort. Disneyland Parc in Paris is an almost entirely unqiue Magic Kingdom (whereas Tokyo Disneyland is often a Magic Kingdom clone although it has a bevvy on unique touches like Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek! and Pooh's Hunny Hunt) whilst Tokyo DisneySea is a fully fledged second gate compared to the Walt Disney Studios Park.
Perhaps if you can provide us with a little more info about how you like to vacation and we can comment more?
Cheers,
Lee
Tales from the Laughing Place - A Laughingplace.com Magazine
http://www.talesfromthelaughingplace.com |
6
| trekkeruss
Tue 5/5/2009 8:43a | Paris would be more economical when you factor in the cost of transportation. Overall, flights to Japan are more expensive than flights to France. Tokyo (the city) is known as being expensive, but in my experience, food and lodging costs are comparable. Rooms will be smaller in Tokyo. If you're considering one of the Disney hotels, TDR's are going to be higher quality. |
7
| HTHgal12
Tue 5/5/2009 9:26a | Leemac- we are planning to go in about a year (I really like to do my research and plan ahead) We want to see more than just Disney and my husband studied graphic design/art in college so I know he is really interested in art and architecture. I live about 30 min from Disneyland in California and have been to Disney World so a unique Magic Kingdom sounds neat.
We really like to be on the move always. We don't like to lounge around on vacation and want to get the most out of the vacation. We both love museums. |
8
| leemac
Wed 5/6/2009 2:23a | The two points that you raised that would sell Paris to me for you was "art and architecture" and "museums". Paris is an architectural masterpiece with so much heritage and history. The museums are excellent too. Tokyo is very much a modern city surrounding older elements but they are few and far between. The feudal castles are all similar in architecture. IMHO Tokyo's museums are weak for a city of its stature - they are just a handful of decent ones and virtually no world-class art museums.
I would try and go to Europe in late Spring/early Summer - you will get better weather and avoid crowds. I'd also encourage you to consider traveling around a bit from Paris - I know there are a few LP-ers who know the area very well and might chip in with comments. The rail network is excellent and you can reach most of mainland Europe quickly from Paris. |
9
| HTHgal12
Wed 5/6/2009 5:50a | Thanks Leemac! I was thinking sometime in May of 2010. I want to take advantage of the rail and see as much as I can.
Do you (or any other LPers) have any advice of don't miss locations in Europe? |
10
| u k fan
Wed 5/6/2009 6:03a | To my shame I actually haven't been to many northern European cities, but Paris is a great hub. London is 2.5 hours away and is a very easy journey.
It does sound like Paris may fit the bill for the out of Disney element of your trip. Just think of their second gate as an elaborate "land"!!! |
