Jimmy Choos

Although Eurodisney Paris has lots of fun rides and attractions, unless you’re the best parent in the world, it’s probably not real high on your list of things to do in Paris. If you’re like many people, shopping is at or near the top.

But if you can find a volunteer to go with the kids to Disneyland Paris Resort, you can spend the day at La Vallee Village, the outlet mall that’s just a few minutes’ walk from the Disney park entrance. If you’ll have the kids in tow, there’s a play area for them at the Village.

The mall and the park can be reached via RER commuter train, or tour bus from Paris. To get to Vallee Village, get off at the Val d’Europe stop. Or sign up for their personal shopper service, which includes a private car from Paris, a 30-minute consultation, and three hours of guided shopping.

Designed with architecture that’s similar to what you’ll find in the neighboring Ile-de-France towns, La Vallee Village has nearly 100 designer outlets. It’s a pleasant, outdoor shopping mall that’s open every day except Christmas, New Year’s Day, and May 1. Which is particularly appealing on Sundays, when practically all the shops in Paris are closed.

It’s all decked out during the holidays, and since the weather in Paris is temperate, it’s a nice place to do your Christmas shopping on a budget.

L’Espace La Vallee is a cultural center that exhibits the work of established and emerging artists, fashion designers, and photographers. Four exhibitions are scheduled each year.

Most of the boutiques here sell last year’s designer fashions at discounts of up to 60%. But you can also find classics that never go out of style, like a little white blouse from Agnes B or lingerie from La Perla.

Find designer duds for the whole family

There’s clothing for men, women, and children from Armani, Burberry, Cacharel, Calvin Klein, Cerruti, Dolce & Gabbana, Faconnable, Givenchy, MaxMara, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Versace. Shoes from Jimmy Choo, Ferragamo, and Tod’s. And top-quality linens, housewares, and accessories from Baccarat, Dunhill, Lalique, Tumi, and Villeroy & Boch.

Non-French shoppers can get a VAT refund on their purchases. And there’s a Starbucks if you need a little caffeine.

Also in the neighborhood is a big, new mall called Val d’Europe. Adjacent to the train station, it has shops like H&M, Gap, and Zara, a supermarket, food court, aquarium, and several sit-down restaurants. Disney initiated the development to give people more reasons to visit — and stay — in the area.

Opened ten years, ago, La Vallee Village is one of nine outlet shopping centers in Europe. Other locations are near Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Munich, Frankfurt, Brussels, London, and Dublin.

Find hotels in the area here or read about Walt Disney Studios here.

Jimmy Choos Image Flickr: trec_lit
Find designer duds for the whole family Image Flickr: hipposrunsuperfast.com

Eurodisney fun

Eurodisney Paris, AKA Disneyland Paris Resort, is easy to reach from almost anywhere in Europe. If you’re going there or to Walt Disney Studios, you have plenty of options in all price ranges.

If you’re flying to Paris and going straight to Disneyland from there, Air France uses a VEA shuttle bus from Roissy/Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport. The shuttle is included if you purchase your air as past of a package through Disney. During peak times, the shuttles leave three times an hour, seven days a week. The trip takes 40 minutes and costs 18 euros, 15 for children.

Travelers coming to Paris by Eurostar can travel directly from St. Pancras Station in London to Marne La Vallee/Chessy, the train station that’s right next to the Eurodisney entrance gates. If you take the Disney Express you can check into your hotel and get your entrance tickets to the park right on the train. Disney actors are on board to entertain the kids, and your luggage will be taken to your hotel for you.

For those who’d rather travel by sea, you can take a SeaFrance or P&O superferry from Dover to Calais. The crossing takes about 70 minutes.

If you’re already in Paris and want to go from there, the Metro/RER regional train is really handy. The A4 line terminates at the Marne La Vallee/Chessy station. The trip takes 35 minutes and trains leave every five or ten minutes. The price will depend on where you leave from, but the average fare is around 7 euros. Other RER lines join the A4 at Auber, Chatelet/Les Halles, and Gare de Lyon. Or you can take the Metro and connect at those same stations.

Free shipping on rail orders of $349 or more!

Package tours that includes transfer from your Paris hotel to the park and admission to Disneyland, Walt Disney Studios, or both, are also available. Usually, you’ll be picked up before 8AM and return about 12 hours later. The price for adults is around $100.

Special Deals from Rail Europe

Private car service from your hotel to the park is also available. It’s expensive if there are just two of you, but if there are six or more, it’s an affordable option and the service is door to door.

Drivers coming from Paris should take the Paris Ring Road until they come to the Porte de Bercy exit. From there, they should take the A4 east, following the signs for Metz/Nancy. Take exit 14 (Val d’Europe, Parc Disneyland).

Generally speaking, a package that includes transportation, admission to the park, and hotel nights (if you’ll be staying over) will be a better value and will save you quite a bit in the long run. Events like Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, which includes dinner, are also less expensive when purchased as part of a package.

If you’re staying at one of the Disney hotels, you can even arrange to have the Disney characters come for photo ops with your kids at a special breakfast buffet.

Read more about Eurodisney Paris here. And read more about Walt Disney Studios here.

Eurodisney fun Image Flickr: titou.net
RER train in Paris Image Flickr: cowlet

Studio entrance

Opened in 2002, ten years after Eurodisney Paris, Walt Disney Studio is adjacent to the Disneyland Paris Resort.  It’s a terrific attraction in its own right, so plan to spend two days here – one at Disneyland and one at the studios.

Like Disneyland, which is divided into four “lands,” Walt Disney Studios is divided into four studio lots.  The entrance recalls the original Disney studio in California with a replica of the old water tower and studio gates.

At the Front Lot, you’ll walk down Hollywood Boulevard, see the Egyptian Theater, Schwabb’s Drugstore, and more in Disney Studio 1.  If this were a working studio, it would be the second largest in Europe.

To the right of the entrance, Animagique shows the history of animation, and brings to life scenes from The Lion King and Pinnochio.  To the left, Cinemagique shows the greatest movie moments of all time.

Toon Studio explores the art of animation and even lets guests try their hand at it. Flying Carpets Over Agrabah takes you on a magic carpet ride over the desert, and Cars Quatre Roues Rallye is a fun road rally inspired by the Pixar feature “Cars.”

Studio gates

Crush’s Coaster lets you surf an ocean current through a brilliant coral reef riding in the shell of a sea turtle.

At the Backlot, you can see a live stunt show with motorcycles, jet skis, and cars.   And then go aboard the Space Station Mir as it’s bombarded by asteroids in a special-effects show from Armageddon.

Two new highlights of the park are the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror where you’ll plunge down a 13-story elevator shaft, and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, where you’ll go from zero to 60 in three seconds, accompanied by the music of Aerosmith.

Disney Studios Paris Map

In 2009, Mickey’s Magical Party and Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! were added along with Disney’s Stars ‘n’ Cars parade.  Toy Story Playland, which will shrink visitors to the size of a toy, is scheduled to open in August, 2010.  It will include a music express train, a parachute jump, and a half-pipe ride.

Find hotel information and attractions at Eurodisney Park here.

Studio entrance Flickr Image: Simone Ramella
Studio gates Flickr Image: Simone Ramella

Le Chateau at Disneyland Paris

Based on all the backlash when it opened back in 1992, you’d think Eurodisney Paris would have closed down by now. But rechristened as Disneyland Paris Resort, it’s the top attraction in France, pulling in 50 million visitors a year. And they’re not all American either – 40% of them are from France.

The nearly 5,000-acre park is larger than the Disneyland in California, and almost one-fifth as large as the city of Paris. It’s manicured to perfection with sparking fountains, beautiful plantings, and pretty plazas.

Located in the suburb of Marne-la-Vallee, it’s about a 45-minute train ride from Paris. The RER commuter express will drop you within walking distance, and trains run every 15 minutes or so. You can also take a shuttle bus from the airports or as part of a package.

As in the United States, admission is not cheap, but multi-day and park-hopper passes offer some savings. If you’re visiting between June and September, using Fast Pass will reduce the amount of time you spend in lines.

The entertainment complex of the park is Disney Village, which has ten restaurants, several bars and dance clubs, shops, a 15-screen multiplex and an IMAX 3-D theater. Admission to the Village is free although some of the bars have cover charges.

Walt Disney Studios

Disney characters, many of whom are multi lingual, are on hand to entertain the kids, and the dungeon of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle produces a dragon that’s guaranteed to scare the pants off them. And there are frequent parades and stage shows for kids of all ages.

Like its American counterparts, Disneyland Paris has Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Fantasyland, and Discoveryland. A train circles the perimeter, making it easier to get to your favorite attractions. They’re all here – Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril, and Space Mountain Mission 2, plus new attractions like Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast.

Walt Disney Studios, which opened in 2002, provide an up-close look at modern moviemaking, with an emphasis on animation. There’s a huge sound studio filled with props, a television studio, special effects displays, and a live stunt show. Trying to do both the Eurodisney and the studio in a single day is way too ambitious.

Eurodisney Paris hotels.

Toy Story

There are seven Disney hotels in the park. Although Disney offers accommodations in all price ranges, they are slightly more expensive than non-Disney properties in the area.

The most luxurious is the Disneyland Hotel, modeled after an old, albeit huge, Victorian mansion. It’s rated 4 Star de Luxe by the French Tourist Board and is located at the entrance to the park. If you want to be able to just stroll on over to the park, this is the place.

The 1,093-room Newport Bay hotel is the largest in France. Overlooking a man-made lake, it looks like a 19th-century New England resort. Disney’s Hotel New York is Art Deco in design. Sequoia Lodge has lots of wood and slate, and Cheyenne and Santa Fe are the least expensive Disney Hotels. All of them are a five-minute, free shuttle ride from the park.

Most of the major French chains have hotels within a few miles of the park, and most offer free shuttles. The Radisson Blu is on the Disneyland Golf Course. And the Dream Castle Hotel Disneyland is a 4-star hotel designed to resemble a 17th-century chateau.

Find more things to do in Paris here.

Le Chateau at Disneyland Paris Image Flickr: tipoyock
Walt Disney Studios Image Flickr: coconut wireless
Toy Story Image Flickr: Wolfgang Jung