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French Tips: goin’ to see Mickey Mouse | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages |  | |
| Sunja Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6088 days ago 2020 posts - 2295 votes  1 sounds Speaks: English*, German Studies: French, Mandarin | Message 1 of 11 19 July 2009 at 11:25am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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At the moment I'm planning on taking the car from Frankfurt over the "Autorout de l'Est" A4 to Disneyland Paris next weekend.
I see this as a language-learning opportunity but since I've only gotten through 50 lessons of Assimil I won't be opening my mouth at every moment to speak. I'm a bit apprehensive about my (lack of) skills, but like I said, I'll be in France (!) I want to learn the language anyway, so I want to take full-advantage of my weekend. I plan on having my ears wide open... ...what kinds of words do you think I will encounter? I've scoured my Assimil book for possible phrases and vocabulary, but the books never prepare you for all the signs, epressions, etc. Plus, I don't have any experience driving there so... I'm building a list of possible things I may need to recognize (lol) restaurant d’autoroute feux de circulation (traffic sign?) présentation (I'll wanna take in a show once I get there (lol)) péage (motorway fee) .... I plan on checking the French site for the parks for the "in-park" vocabulary. For those of you in France or who have traveled in France, your input would be very helpful... EDIT: Don't worry, I won't be doing any language experiments on the natives. Just want to prepare for my trip... Edited by Sunja on 19 July 2009 at 11:41am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| ExtraLean Triglot Senior Member France languagelearners.myf Joined 5997 days ago 897 posts - 880 votes Speaks: English*, French, Spanish Studies: German | Message 2 of 11 19 July 2009 at 11:52am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Since it's the summer holidays you'll need 'fil d'attente'. Aside from that, il faut que tu soit capable de demander une carte. You'll need to be able to ask for a map, if they don't automatically give you one.
Tip for disney land is to get your tickets for the rides in advance. I can't remember what they are called (in either English or french) but near the entry to each attraction is a little booth which gives you a ticket for a timeslot a half an hour or so in advance. It's the 'quickline'. Trust me, it's awesome. Do this, and you'll save heaps of time. If you can, use the afore mentioned map, suss out what rides you want to do (the big cool ones have the longest lines, and they will be long) then run around and get your 'FAST PASS' I think is the name... then laugh at the suckers who queue for hours. I queued for 'thunder mountain' and was confused as to why one line zipped in from the outside at what appeared to be lightspeed, while mine churned around inside a corral for an hour. The rest of the rides were alot quicker. As for getting there advice: I've none, I took the RER. Have fun though. Oh, the food is shit and expensive. Pack a lunch and bring a big bottle of water. Oh, Oh, 'feux de circulation' = "traffic lights". Thom. Edited by ExtraLean on 19 July 2009 at 11:56am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Jar-ptitsa Triglot Senior Member Belgium Joined 5901 days ago 980 posts - 1006 votes Speaks: French*, Dutch, German | Message 3 of 11 19 July 2009 at 1:17pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Wow!! I hope you will have a great time :-)
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| Sunja Diglot Senior Member Germany Joined 6088 days ago 2020 posts - 2295 votes 1 sounds Speaks: English*, German Studies: French, Mandarin | Message 4 of 11 19 July 2009 at 1:46pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Thank you Jar-ptitsa! Do you have an tips for me? ;)
ExtraLean, wow, you can get the ride tickets in advance? That'll save time! I've heard about the food. I've got myself a package deal where I eat breakfast and dinner at the hotel. I save myself about 20 Euros p. person. I think I'll be stowing some of that buffet to go, because I've heard the prices are outrageous in the parks. oh, yes -- a map -- I'll pick up 10! :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Jar-ptitsa Triglot Senior Member Belgium Joined 5901 days ago 980 posts - 1006 votes Speaks: French*, Dutch, German | Message 5 of 11 19 July 2009 at 2:03pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
No, but I want to visit Disneyland as well, I'd like to see Pooh Bear, his friends and all the others as well. But if there are many people and loud things, and quickly moving, lighting etc I can't go there. Maybe I will go in the winter when there aren't tourists. Will you make some photos? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7018 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 6 of 11 19 July 2009 at 10:22pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
I'm not a big fan of the FASTPASS and I've never used them in all the times I've been. You have to queue to get them (sometimes the line is really long), then you have to queue to get in anyway (although the line is usually, but not always, less than the "normal" entrance) and then you have to make sure that you're there during the required timeslot (which means that you have to plan your route around the park very carefully). A bit restrictive for me.
What we used to do is have a massive breakfast, a light snack for lunch (or nibble constantly during the day) and book a place at one of the "proper" restaurants in each land in the park.
The best time to go is when the French (and Spanish and Italian and UK) schools are in session since during the school holidays it's completely packed. I've been plenty of times since my children love it, so if there's anything else you want to know, just ask. Edited by patuco on 19 July 2009 at 10:28pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| cordelia0507 Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5841 days ago 1473 posts - 2176 votes Speaks: Swedish* Studies: German, Russian | Message 7 of 11 19 July 2009 at 11:32pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I have some doubts about Disney as a means to learn French, even if it's Euro Disney ;-)
But my sad dark secret is that I've never been to any Disneyland, anywhere! Had an offer once to go when I was 18 or so, but turned it down because I didn't like Disney. But I'm less ideological now. Should I do it? Is it really as magical as they promise? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Le dacquois Diglot Groupie France Joined 5650 days ago 54 posts - 69 votes Speaks: English*, French Studies: Spanish, German | Message 8 of 11 20 July 2009 at 9:43am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Sunja,
don't drive too long on the motorway looking for a sign marked "restaurant". Look for an "aire de repos" exit marked "aire de...(insert name of aire here)". You can usually find something to eat and fill your tank up (remember to learn the names of the fuels, sometimes it's not self-evident). It would be a good idea to brush up on all the road signs, speed limits, etc in case there are differences from those of your own country and also don't forget that you're obliged by law to carry a warning triangle and a reflective gilet in case your motor breaks down. Learn and practise numbers. I can't stress how important it is. I imagine you think you know them, but sometimes you do have to talk to someone and when they are fired at you at the speed of a bullet by the cashier, it can be easy to get flustered. The concept of how numbers work in French is not difficult at all but long exchanges with someone about prices or other numerical information can get confusing for a beginner. Someone will probably ask if you have those extra 35 cents because they don't like giving change. If you're not expecting the question your mind can have a melt-down and go blank. It used to happen to me often enough! You should maybe learn some set survival phrases in the event of an unforseen and dire situation. I'm sure there must be plenty of Internet sites that can help you. Remember the phone numbers of the emergency services. Don't let me worry you with all that. Just be prepared and have a good trip! 1 person has voted this message useful |
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