Hi Tom;
For the Alps can recommend the area around Chamonix, lots of good sites here (we stayed at Les Rosas), several within easy walking distance of the town and from here you can use the network of cable cars and railways to do lots of sightseeing/walking. You can even go by cable car up Mont Blanc and across the glaciers to the Italian border. The scenery in this area will take your breath away. Road access is easy using the autoroute network in France and approaching via Geneva. It would be easy to go via Paris/Disney in one direction and use A26/A5/A31 Reims/Troyes route in the other. You will need to break your journey en-route but its up to you where. I can't recommend the Caravan Club foreign sites directory highly enough(called Caravan Europe - not the brochure), its packed with honest listings of sites reported on by other members and trust me, you will NEVER be stuck for somewhere to stay once you pick your area. Regard it as your travelling bible!France is very well equipped with sites listed under virtually every town. I never pre-book the sites unless its really peak season, or I'm going to arrive late. There's a much more laid-back 'just turn up' culture with the sites there, which leaves you free to decide 'on the hoof'. Regarding Disney, again this directory will be useful to you, there are several sites listed within easy reach. When I did Disney a few years back Disneys own 'Davy Crockett Ranch' still took touring caravans, and this was very good (but expensive!), However I hear that Davy Crockett has now been given over entirely to 'log cabin' statics, which is a shame. I've just come back from France and had a few days at Camping International, Maisons Lafitte, Paris. This site is in a green suburb of Paris on the WEST (ie opposite to Disney), but was a good site on the River Seine and was a 10 minute walk to the RER Metro Line 1, which does take you across the city direct to Disney (Marne la Vallee)at the other end. If you intended having a day or so in the Paris area I recommend you try and get a site with good access to the metro, as its an excellent and easy way to enjoy the area, and the RER (express suburban metro) goes quite a way out in all directions - including literally to the gates of Disneyland!. However if you stay nearer to Disney and use your car, road access there is easy too and there is acres of well signed parking. Regarding booking ferries etc - again I say give the Caravan Club a go; they will book you just ferries, or ferries and some sites if you want, or ferries and insurance etc. You will get the best deal on price booking your ferry with them. They can't be beaten, and are very nice to deal with. If you book ferries and insurance with them (which I always do, and highly recommend) you'll get a Camping Carnet provided, which is a must on all continental sites. Once you know your dates get a quote -it is true that the earlier you book the better the deal available. This is the way the ferry companies operate now. But most of all, just have a great holiday. Don't worry about a thing (don't be put off by horror stories either - France is a lovely, caravan-friendly country of empty roads and wide open spaces. Stay on proper sites (not the roadside!) and you will be fine. Happy planning and travelling! Enjoy! Richard.