Advantage to buying the Musée d'Orsay and L'Orangerie tickets on line?

Why don’t you just buy a museum pass?

Yes, and there is an advantage to purchasing a "Paris Museum pass". It saves money especially if you'd like to go to multiple places. But, I've just bought my passes in Paris at various kiosks or museums. Both times I've been to the Orsay there was a huge line. The pass allows you to go in a separate line (if there is one). I've never seem the Orangerie lines very long, but one time I saved about 15 minutes. I'm not sure if you can go in the museum pass line if you haven't yet purchased the pass. Maybe you could ask the hotel where the easiest place is to buy the pass. Once I used a stand by the Notre Dame. I'm not sure if those stands charge more than the museums and other places, however.

Advance ticket purchase allows you to skip the ticket purchase line at the museums, which can be very long indeed. While you cannot skip the security line at any attraction, this can save a lot of time. Some sites will have a separate entrance for those with pre-purchased tickets or passes.

While we usually buy the Paris Museum Pass, it isn't cheap, and may not be worth it if you're only visiting a couple of the covered places.

The only advantage is you do not have to wait in a ticket line. Their is a separate entrance/line for people with a ticket or pass. You will still have to go through a security check line.

You can buy a combo ticket for Musee d'Orsay and the Orangerie that will save off buying the tickets individually.

The Museum pass could save you money and time if you are going to more than 2 museums. It is only 48€ and covers over 100 museums and sites. Buy it at TI in the airport and you won't have to stand in any of the ticket lines.

Ah- thank you, all! Then it WILL benefit me to buy the ticket online, to avoid the line at the museum itself (except security). I did think about the museum pass, but these may be the only two museums that I want to take time for, since we only have 3 days, and I like to do a lot of just poking around. It seemed like the museum pass would overspending for just two museums. So much to do, and so very little time. Must mean we should return!

On occasion I have purchased passes just for the convenience of time. When I went to Switzerland, I spent a lot of time trying to determine if I should buy a Swiss Pass which covers museums, trains and more. Finally, I just bought it for the convenience. I think perhaps I broke even, but even more, when while we were traveling, I found that I was poking into museums for a quick look because I had the pass. If I'd had to purchase a ticket I probably would have felt that it wasn't worth it if I planned a very short visit. It ended up we were exposed to some interesting things that we might not have otherwise. But, absolutely, save time for more relaxed activities. I have walked all over Paris--along the river, the Champs Elysees, Latin Quarter/St. Germain. One day I discovered I had walked 18 miles!

It’s correct that you don’t have to wait in a ticket line, but the other advantage is that it puts you in a separate line for security at both museums. At the d’Orsay it’s door C, while at the Orangerie the two lines are side-by-side but the ticket holder line is always given priority to enter. If you don’t have a ticket, you have to wait until after the school groups, tour groups, and ticket holders have gone in. Depending on the day and time it could be a long wait or there could be no line at all. I‘Ve experienced both scenarios at both museums. As for the pass, it sounds like you’ve done the math.

julesmenssen- 18 miles in one day- you are my hero! I plan to walk as much as possible, but will likely cheat and take metro or bus back to hotel near plaza Republique! You have a great point about a pass making it more likely to duck in, but we are visiting two other cities with great museums also, so I thought I'd better spread them out a bit.

Thanks for the mention of door 'C', Bets, we'll keep an eye out for it. I'm sure you're right about the crowds being variable. At least since I have tickets now, I'm prepared for anything!