Discussion
I've done a search but can't really find what i'm looking for.
Possibly looking at going to Euro Disney next year (to be honest sick of Center Parcs, but open to suggestions that is not Haven/Butlins/caravan park, needs to be clean and within 5 hours-ish drive of Edinburgh)
Would be looking at a package deal, flights from Edinburgh/transfers/accommodation/park entry, the full lot.
2 Adults, 2 young kids (not School age).
Questions
Whats the best way to go about it?
How long does it take to see almost everything? 2 - 4 days?
Any experience with the Disney accommodation? good/bad, book your own elsewhere?
I've heard about 'Disney dollars' what does that entail?
Are the French really that bad? even the characters?
Is there a better time to go i.e September when summer hols are over
What sort of rough price are we looking at (minus souvenirs etc) for a break for the 4 of us.
Looking for experiences of the place or is it just a poor mans Florida and we should just wait and save up to go to the real deal.
thanks in advance
Possibly looking at going to Euro Disney next year (to be honest sick of Center Parcs, but open to suggestions that is not Haven/Butlins/caravan park, needs to be clean and within 5 hours-ish drive of Edinburgh)
Would be looking at a package deal, flights from Edinburgh/transfers/accommodation/park entry, the full lot.
2 Adults, 2 young kids (not School age).
Questions
Whats the best way to go about it?
How long does it take to see almost everything? 2 - 4 days?
Any experience with the Disney accommodation? good/bad, book your own elsewhere?
I've heard about 'Disney dollars' what does that entail?
Are the French really that bad? even the characters?
Is there a better time to go i.e September when summer hols are over
What sort of rough price are we looking at (minus souvenirs etc) for a break for the 4 of us.
Looking for experiences of the place or is it just a poor mans Florida and we should just wait and save up to go to the real deal.
thanks in advance
It isn't a patch on Florida, but pre-school kids won't worry in the slightest!
Mum & Dad need to disengage their brains though.
It's a while ago now, but I think we went for four days, and one of those was sight seeing in Paris. We flew and hired a car and stayed at a Radisson a few miles out. There is a huge train station at Euro Disney so if you don't want a car I'm sure it's very easy to get to from the airport, or even Eurostar.
Mum & Dad need to disengage their brains though.
It's a while ago now, but I think we went for four days, and one of those was sight seeing in Paris. We flew and hired a car and stayed at a Radisson a few miles out. There is a huge train station at Euro Disney so if you don't want a car I'm sure it's very easy to get to from the airport, or even Eurostar.
Food is expensive, hotels are a tad worn (the ones I used) but a good day out so to speak. Avoid planet holythingamabob food restaurant if that is what it is.
Book lunches in advance, same with evening if you can. The restaurant at the Pirate ride is rather good.
Book themed breakfast where Micky etc. will come out to hello to the kids. Unless you are at the Pink hotel where I think that is FOC?
We went out of season but look out for when the continentals are on school hols, made the mistake once with German Schools out.
We have use the Eurostar direct to the park in the past. Park and ride from a hotel in Ashford. Pay for the bags to go to the hotel (Disney hotel that is) and walk straight in the park on arrival.
Last time was so far out of season the Eurostar was not running to the park and that was a mare of a transfer from Paris.
Book lunches in advance, same with evening if you can. The restaurant at the Pirate ride is rather good.
Book themed breakfast where Micky etc. will come out to hello to the kids. Unless you are at the Pink hotel where I think that is FOC?
We went out of season but look out for when the continentals are on school hols, made the mistake once with German Schools out.
We have use the Eurostar direct to the park in the past. Park and ride from a hotel in Ashford. Pay for the bags to go to the hotel (Disney hotel that is) and walk straight in the park on arrival.
Last time was so far out of season the Eurostar was not running to the park and that was a mare of a transfer from Paris.
I wrote this for a friend about our trip (family of 4), we drove from the Midlands:
Day One - Drive to ferry which departed around 1pm, arrive France around 15.30, travel for a couple of hours to Hotel for one night which was about 1 hour from Disney. We stayed at Novotel Lens Noyelles which was excellent.
Day Two - Drive to Disney Land and have a day there. Arrive at Hotel / Apartment in the evening. We stayed at Hipark Serris Val-D'Europe which again was excellent. Warm swimming pool, nice room with kitchen / lounge (with double sofa bed) and a separate (by sliding doors) double bedroom with ensuite. About 5 mins drive from the park.
Day 3+4 drive direct to Disney and pay for parking (were were going to use hotel free shuttle but always big queue so thought sod it, 15 euro per day)
Day 5 - Pack-up then a long morning in Disney, Drive to hotel (which was terrible so won’t recommend) which was about 1 hour from the port, then in the morning got the ferry and drove back home.
Recommendations:
- We went to Wild bill show (pre booked) which was great.
- Did not do a breakfast with Characters, we did try to pre book but all full. In the end we are glad we did not bother, very expensive and you see characters around the place.
- Go and see Mickey – that was good, is in a separate area and you don’t have to pay
- When you see characters (you have to queue which takes ages but the kids love it!) they have an official photographer, but they will also take pics with your camera, they are very good about this.
- Take packed lunch and a backpack.
- Would not bother with a decent restaurant in the park, mega expensive and food was not good.
- All rides open till 10pm ish. Late in the evening there is no queue. So when you stay late for the fireworks go on loads of ride beforehand.
- There is a free app which shows current waiting times for rides, use it !
- There is a fast track system for main rides, if you want to go on a big ride register in the morning and you will get a slot for the afternoon. These slots run out so if you go in the afternoon there will not be any. You can only register for one ride at a time.
- Pre buy park tickets, buying them on the day there are huge queues. We used http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk they are legit and have good deals.
- Get to the parade viewing area at least 30mins early, we sat on the kerb so no-one could get in front. Cheeky Europeans will push into any gap they see!
- If you do stay in the hotel near the park we recommend there is a huge shopping mall nearby which sells everything, and also a huge supermarket. When I say huge I got lost there ! Also shops selling baguettes, pastry’s etc nearby. We managed to park in the evening for free on the roads by the hotel.
- Have a sat nav to get to Hotels and also Disney, it’s like a rabbit warren around there.
This whole trip (inc food, tickets, parking, ferry, hotels, fuel , tolls) cost £1,610, but we did not have to buy little one park tickets (think it is free until they are 3).
Day One - Drive to ferry which departed around 1pm, arrive France around 15.30, travel for a couple of hours to Hotel for one night which was about 1 hour from Disney. We stayed at Novotel Lens Noyelles which was excellent.
Day Two - Drive to Disney Land and have a day there. Arrive at Hotel / Apartment in the evening. We stayed at Hipark Serris Val-D'Europe which again was excellent. Warm swimming pool, nice room with kitchen / lounge (with double sofa bed) and a separate (by sliding doors) double bedroom with ensuite. About 5 mins drive from the park.
Day 3+4 drive direct to Disney and pay for parking (were were going to use hotel free shuttle but always big queue so thought sod it, 15 euro per day)
Day 5 - Pack-up then a long morning in Disney, Drive to hotel (which was terrible so won’t recommend) which was about 1 hour from the port, then in the morning got the ferry and drove back home.
Recommendations:
- We went to Wild bill show (pre booked) which was great.
- Did not do a breakfast with Characters, we did try to pre book but all full. In the end we are glad we did not bother, very expensive and you see characters around the place.
- Go and see Mickey – that was good, is in a separate area and you don’t have to pay
- When you see characters (you have to queue which takes ages but the kids love it!) they have an official photographer, but they will also take pics with your camera, they are very good about this.
- Take packed lunch and a backpack.
- Would not bother with a decent restaurant in the park, mega expensive and food was not good.
- All rides open till 10pm ish. Late in the evening there is no queue. So when you stay late for the fireworks go on loads of ride beforehand.
- There is a free app which shows current waiting times for rides, use it !
- There is a fast track system for main rides, if you want to go on a big ride register in the morning and you will get a slot for the afternoon. These slots run out so if you go in the afternoon there will not be any. You can only register for one ride at a time.
- Pre buy park tickets, buying them on the day there are huge queues. We used http://www.attraction-tickets-direct.co.uk they are legit and have good deals.
- Get to the parade viewing area at least 30mins early, we sat on the kerb so no-one could get in front. Cheeky Europeans will push into any gap they see!
- If you do stay in the hotel near the park we recommend there is a huge shopping mall nearby which sells everything, and also a huge supermarket. When I say huge I got lost there ! Also shops selling baguettes, pastry’s etc nearby. We managed to park in the evening for free on the roads by the hotel.
- Have a sat nav to get to Hotels and also Disney, it’s like a rabbit warren around there.
This whole trip (inc food, tickets, parking, ferry, hotels, fuel , tolls) cost £1,610, but we did not have to buy little one park tickets (think it is free until they are 3).
Questions
Whats the best way to go about it?
We fly into Paris CDG then get a private transfer to the hotel. The transfer is around 80 euros each way and takes around40 mins. You can get a coach for less money but it's a PITA
How long does it take to see almost everything? 2 - 4 days?
They usually have special offers in November/December with four nights for the price of two. Just checked and £644 gets your four nights for 2x adults and 2x kids in Hotel New York in November. That's the hotel I'd recommend as a good balance between cost and location.
Any experience with the Disney accommodation? good/bad, book your own elsewhere?
See above, Hotel New York. It has a pool too which gives the option of doing something different.
I've heard about 'Disney dollars' what does that entail?
Never used them
Are the French really that bad? even the characters?
Nope, not at all, no issues whatsoever
Is there a better time to go i.e September when summer hols are over
November. If you do the four night break then go Mon to Fri. Avoid weekends if possible as its much much busier on a Sat and Sun.
What sort of rough price are we looking at (minus souvenirs etc) for a break for the 4 of us.
2 grand with flights, accommodation, transfers, food, drinks etc.
Looking for experiences of the place or is it just a poor mans Florida and we should just wait and save up to go to the real deal.
We went for a number of years on the trot as its great for the kids and is a nice little get away. Worth going to for its own sake but from what I hear it's not a patch on the US resorts.
Edited to add my recommendation for the Buffalo Bill Show, great fun.
Whats the best way to go about it?
We fly into Paris CDG then get a private transfer to the hotel. The transfer is around 80 euros each way and takes around40 mins. You can get a coach for less money but it's a PITA
How long does it take to see almost everything? 2 - 4 days?
They usually have special offers in November/December with four nights for the price of two. Just checked and £644 gets your four nights for 2x adults and 2x kids in Hotel New York in November. That's the hotel I'd recommend as a good balance between cost and location.
Any experience with the Disney accommodation? good/bad, book your own elsewhere?
See above, Hotel New York. It has a pool too which gives the option of doing something different.
I've heard about 'Disney dollars' what does that entail?
Never used them
Are the French really that bad? even the characters?
Nope, not at all, no issues whatsoever
Is there a better time to go i.e September when summer hols are over
November. If you do the four night break then go Mon to Fri. Avoid weekends if possible as its much much busier on a Sat and Sun.
What sort of rough price are we looking at (minus souvenirs etc) for a break for the 4 of us.
2 grand with flights, accommodation, transfers, food, drinks etc.
Looking for experiences of the place or is it just a poor mans Florida and we should just wait and save up to go to the real deal.
We went for a number of years on the trot as its great for the kids and is a nice little get away. Worth going to for its own sake but from what I hear it's not a patch on the US resorts.
Edited to add my recommendation for the Buffalo Bill Show, great fun.
Edited by foxsasha on Friday 22 July 09:14
We stayed on site, accomodation poor but expensive, food much the same. Drinks were VERY expensive.
We did 5 days & didn't see everything but we did cut some days short as kids were tired.
We did themed lunch, it was worth it. Sadly my OH decided against Buffalo Bill show, I would have liked to do that.
We flew to CDG then got the coach, was a bit of a hassle but nothing you can't live with.
We did 5 days & didn't see everything but we did cut some days short as kids were tired.
We did themed lunch, it was worth it. Sadly my OH decided against Buffalo Bill show, I would have liked to do that.
We flew to CDG then got the coach, was a bit of a hassle but nothing you can't live with.
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