Disneyland Paris for the day - Any tips??

[Deangtv]

I've booked a 6:50 euro tunnel train with the hope of getting to the park around 10:30-11am.

We are taking of 4 year old for the day so we dont need to pack in all the big rides just yet. I've never been before so not such what to expect. I'm guessing the Disney parking is the easiest route in even though its £20 for the day.

Can anyone offer any tips, hints and making the trip as enjoyable as it should be.

We plan to stay for the main street parade which i believe is around 5:30pm. We will probably stay in the park untill around 8:30pm the hard back for our 11pm crossing.

Whats traffic like in and out of the park??

I hear the meals are pricey but that's to be expected.

[Ste1987]

Bit confused, doesn't the Eurostar have a terminal right on Disneyland's doorstep? What's all this about you parking?

[Deangtv]

Eurotunnel is the train you drive onto, hence the need to park

[duffy78]

Have lunch in Mickeys Cafe. The characters (classic ones like pluto, mickey etc) come out throughout your meal in there. Food is probably the nicest in the park as well.

Cafe is actually just outside the park in the main shopping area.

Don't bother with Peter Pan ride, rubbish. He'll probably enjoy the buzz lightyear ride but the queue can get quite big so use your fast pass.

[Ste1987]

Deangtv said:

Eurotunnel is the train you drive onto, hence the need to park

Ah, apologies, I always knew the car transporter as Le Shuttle

[Rosscow]

Do not use the main car parks. When we went last August we parked in the Disney Village 24 hour car park.

We drove straight in and always got parking on the ground floor. From there, you simply walk out of the car park, turn left and you're straight onto the main entrance boulevard.

Car park is the star, yellow line where you walk:



I'll be honest though, I don't think you've allowed enough time. It's a big place and if you're getting a 6.40 train our time, you'll arrive in France at around 8.30.

From Calais to Euro Disney you're looking at 3 hours, maybe slightly less if you're lucky. By the time you park and get there you'll be doing well to get in by midday!

I would seriously consider getting the train the night before and finding somewhere cheap to stay.

Edited by Rosscow on Wednesday 25th May 15:50

[Rosscow]

Also, 3 hours is not enough to get from Euro Disney back to the Tunnel terminal - bearing in mind 30 minute check in requirements.

[andburg]

Walk to the far and end work back towards the entrance
you at least stand a chance of doing 2/3 rides that way

[gtidriver]

When you looking to go?? dont forget there is a fuel shortage at the moment. Ive done disney loads of times in a day starting from Ramsgate/Hernebay area, id leave around 4am to get there around 10ish and id leave around 11.30-midnight and blast back for the next available train.

[Deangtv]

GTI thats exactly what I plan to do, i'll brim the tank just before the train which will give me 650 miles, enough to get me to Disney and back

[Rosscow]

Deangtv said:

GTI thats exactly what I plan to do, i'll brim the tank just before the train which will give me 650 miles, enough to get me to Disney and back

You need to get an earlier train to make the most of the day, in my opinion.

[Rosscow]

OP, have you done this yet? If so, how did you do?

[Chucklehead]

Check the price of entrance tickets from a French point of sale before you go. My boss saved a good 20%. Can't remember what site she used

[Rosscow]

We have 2 months left on our annual pass that we bought last year, so we're sneaking in a day trip ourselves (I don't want to go but the kids love it!).

I've booked the 3.22am train, aim to get to the park just before 8am local time, so we can make the most of our 'magic hours.'

Booked the last train home at 11.30pm, so we won't have to leave until about 8pm. Going to be a full on day, I may have to let the wife and kids go for a wander and let me have a nap in the sun somewhere

£56 return on the tunnel isn't bad.

[Rosscow]

Off to DL Paris in the morning. Going to be a loooooong day

[Rosscow]

So, if anyone is interested, this was our day trip:

9pm Fiday - go to bed nice and early!

1.30am Saturday - get up, dressed, put kids in the car, grab packed lunch from the fridge

1.40am - leave the house

2.20am - check in at Eurotunnel Folkstone

3.20am - train leaves on time. Try to sleep for 45 minutes but didn't really happen!

4.57am (local time) - train arrives Calais. Kids and wife manage 2 hours sleep during the drive. Wife does the last 45 minutes, I close my eyes and try to sleep!

7.45am - arrive Disneyland. Park car, walk into park

8am - straight into Disneyland to make use of 2 magic hours (main gates not open until 10am but annual pass holders and hotel guests can get in at 8am)

4.30pm - kids start to hit the wall. Been a hot day (30 degrees). Grab a couple of iced coffees, find a picnic bench and relax for an hour or so finishing off our lunch.

6pm - Leave for Calais. very little traffic on the roads, cruise control set at around 90mph and easy driving

8.45pm - Arrive Calais, check in and get an earlier train, result!

10.05pm - Train leaves

9.45pm (local time) - train arrives Folkstone

10.25pm - arrive home!

All in all a successful day - the worst part was being tired at about 6.30am whilst driving - but the rest of the day and the drive home was fine.

It's definitely a viable day trip, but you need to get up in the middle of the night to really make it worthwhile in my opinion.