Paris Museums with children

I do not think that the Museum Pass is necessary. Only the Louvre, of the locations on your list, requires a reservation, but purchasing tickets in advance eliminates the need to wait in the ticket line. Those with timed tickets are given priority access over those without tickets.

Everyone goes through the security line

Almost all museums have always had separate security lines for ticket/pass holders and others. This used to mean that with pass or ticket you pretty much walked right in. Now with most people getting tickets ahead, the special security lines for ticket holders often require a half hour wait. That was true at the Orsay. Ticket holders were being admitted at the Carousel for the Louvre when we were last there in April and May and those without tickets being turned away to the pyramid.

Hmm, the last time we were in Paris with our kids (teens), we didn't buy them the museum pass because several places didn't charge admission for kids. It's been a while, but I for sure think the Louvre allows kids in for free.

Amanda -- kids never needed Museum Passes they just walk in with their parents; I think the OP is asking about buying them for themselves.

For places that require reservations with the PMP, there is a provision most places to get free reservations for kids.

My wife and I took our 3 kids (11, 15, 17) to Paris in June. I decided against doing the museum pass because the savings were minimal and I was not sure how many museums we would actually end up seeing since my teenagers were more interested in shopping than sightseeing. You need a reserved time at the Louvre. I would strongly recommend it at Sainte Chappelle. It is not necessary at the Arc de Triomphe or d'Orsay. We waited in line at the Arc de Triomphe and it took like 15-20 minutes to get our tickets and start climbing. I do not know if you have any interest in the Catacombs, but it is not part of the museum pass and you would need a ticket in advance. They hold some back for walk up, but they were sold out the day we went.

As far as scheduling and not trying to be too rigid, I just started the day with something that required a timed admission and then had a number of options in the area that we could try to see depending on time. I was the one planning, so I just let everyone see everything at their pace and then adjust the schedule accordingly, not worrying if we did not get to everything on my list. The biggest limiting factor to me was restaurant reservations. I had more stress about getting done and to the restaurants than anything else.

When will you be in Paris?

You mentioned "with children". Is that because you're concerned you'll be waiting in lines and they'll be disappointed/impatient? If so, I absolutely get it--you stand in three/four lines a day and it gets old quick.
My husband and I will be in Paris early October. We are thinking of getting the PMP simply not to stand in lines at the museums. I think some money will be saved, but it's really the time issue for us. Many of the museums' websites recommend getting the PMP to avoid ticket lines.
Let me add to this that if you don't want to stand in lines, don't take a backpack or large purse with you if you can avoid that. We just returned from a two-week trip in England and were able to avoid those lines, as well.

LIndy there is no benefit of the PMP that is not also afforded by just buying reserved ticket in advance. There are different security lines for those with tickets -- passholders don't get to march to the front of those lines.

I've told it before, but remember pre-COVID the scene an American tourist made when he tried to march to the head of the line at Door C at the Orsay in front of all the other pass and ticket holders waiting in line there. He kept sputtering 'I have a skip the line pass' and the crowd as one was shouting 'we do tooo ' then 'we do tooo you idiot, get in line.' The pass does not privilege you ahead of any one else with a ticket.

Also consider the Science Museum (which is on the museum pass, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cit%C3%A9_des_Sciences_et_de_l%27Industrie )
The rotating room where you throw balls and they curve in mid-air is a hoot. My kids enjoyed it at age 14.

Thank you, Janet. I am not one of "those Americans" and, fortunately, have never witnessed that behavior.
It can be difficult, at times, to know just what a pass gets one or which line to be in. I always ask the person in front of me. Of course, that person doesn't always know the correct answer, either. I will probably just buy tickets for each venue.

You might find this museum fascinating for your children (adults as well) No crowds here and , thought provoking as well. One of my favorite sections was that of the automatons. The museum's website - - https://www.arts-et-metiers.net/ A wonderful example of one of the Automatons - https://youtu.be/75CXFwgslsY

We were in Paris for 8 days in June with our kids. My husband and I got the 6 day (144 hour) passes. We needed reservations for Sainte-Chapelle, Orangerie, Louvre, and Versailles - all were a little different but we could book free tickets for the kids at the same time as we booked pass holder timeslots for the adults. Timed admissions were required for those places and might sell out.

No timed admissions but we got in easily for Arc de Triomphe (it's open until 11 pm, so we went in the evening at the start of our passes), Orsay (on a Thursday night - might be busier during the day), Rodin, Army (including Plans), Crypte (after walking by), Picasso. The lines to buy tickets didn't seem long or slow, but sometimes it was one line to buy your ticket and another to show your ticket or pass, so it saved a bit of time and money. But my younger kid did ask whether all we were going to do in France was go to museums.

Thank you, everyone! My kids are 16 and 13 and we will be in Paris at the end of the month. My guidebook was written pre-Covid so it’s a little difficult to determine the best procedure. I truly appreciate everyone’s help.

In trying to purchase Arc tickets ahead of time it indicated that I needed tickets for the kids, but there was no option to “purchase” the free under 18 ticket. So I started getting a little bit worried about the best way to go about all of this.

I appreciate all of the advice. Sounds like I will book Louvre and Saint-Chappelle and hope for the best for the rest.

Also, just to clarify, I don’t mind waiting in line when it’s something that must be done. I just don’t want to miss an opportunity to bypass a line because I made the wrong choice in advance. 😊