Roissy bus to CDG

I've settled on the Roissy bus as my preferred method. There are no stairs (nice when jet-lagged with luggage,) and you see the city instead of tunnels and graffiti-covered walls. The Opera is a short and inexpensive taxi ride to and from my hotel, so this is very stress-free. (Or, it was a short walk to the train station when I was headed for Normandy.) Yes, you catch the bus the same place it drops you off. The downside is that the bus is at the mercy of traffic. I have never had an issue getting to early morning flights, though I leave plenty of time.

I prefer the Roissy because there's less lugging the luggage through the RER stations and less stress. The only time I wouldn't use the Roissy would be if the bus is traveling with the heavy traffic in rush hour. I have also combined the Roissy with the Opera metro stop and still prefer it over the RER.

Thanks for the responses. Our plane departs at 11:30 a.m. Paris time, so we were thinking of being at the Roissy Bus at 8:00 a.m. Do you think that is sufficient time?

No. It's advertised to take fourty-five minutes. It will take longer at that time of the morning, maybe well more than an hour. It could take until never if the highway closes down. You have to get off the bus with your stuff and get upstairs. If you know exactly what you're doing, that will take at least fifteen minutes. You need to be at the check-in counter three hours prior to the flight..

I'd be at the airport by 8:30, if at all possible. There's always been some 'something' that made our departure ritual go soooo slooooowly when we leave from CDG: new security procedures, extra baggage searches (once, as in 3 complete searches of luggage!), security lines that shut down, plus that airport is in a constant state of construction - I'd hate to get there and not be able to find my gate, etc. And the lines are mind-blowing. In Theory, the buses leave Opera starting at 5:45am, and leave every 15 minutes after that. I'd try to catch the 7:15 or 7:30 bus, but again that's me. There's always the possibility for traffic troubles that the RER won't have, but then the RER is doing a lot of construction these days...it depends on the date that you're departing... Don't forget that international flights board earlier than domestic flights, so you need to be on board that much earlier (usually 45 minutes instead of 30). After that they close flights and won't let you board. That's not a position I want to be in....8-( I think I've had some 'sitting around time' once in maybe 5 or 6 flights out of CDG, and that wasn't for very long. I'd much rather be sitting around...than some of the natives. And yes, the Opera bus leaves from the same place. You can see the bus stop on Google Street View; PM me if you don't know how to 'do' Street View!!! And to piggy-back on Ed's post, MY info (from the Paris airport website) says to allow 60 minutes for the trip...

Thanks, we will definitely plan an earlier departure from our Paris apartment in the 7th Arrondisement to Opera Garnier and stay with the Roissy Bus plan.

If I had an 11:30 flight, I would be at the Opera at 7:00, a little later if it was a Sunday. Personally, I prefer to be at the airport a little early, and have a leisurely breakfast after I have gone through security. (I make a point of buying croissants or pain au chocolat at my favorite place the day before, so all I buy at the airport is coffee.)

Thanks for all the advice. Even though we are experienced European travelers, the most stressful part is making connections on your way to either another location or to/from home. We will follow each of your bits of advice.