Discussion
Planning on going with the family in sept as youngest will be 2.
Anyone got any tips or advice.
Is it worth stay at a hotel in the actual park, seems like there's quite big difference £3/400 between prices for hotels on the park and the ones around it.
What's the best way to get around if staying outside the park. As both our kids are young don't want to be faffing around with taxis/car seats etc.
Seems like it's about £1k+ for a family of 4 with hotels/flights/park tickets/food. Is this reasonable?
Anyone got any tips or advice.
Is it worth stay at a hotel in the actual park, seems like there's quite big difference £3/400 between prices for hotels on the park and the ones around it.
What's the best way to get around if staying outside the park. As both our kids are young don't want to be faffing around with taxis/car seats etc.
Seems like it's about £1k+ for a family of 4 with hotels/flights/park tickets/food. Is this reasonable?
We've been a couple of times when our daughter was 4 and then again when she was 8. Both times we stayed at the basic on-site Disney hotels. The hotels are fine but you may want to check if they have air-con!
The big advantage was being able to get in early if you Disney hotel guests - about 90mins ahead of the crowds. Not all the rides are open but gives you a good head start. If you want a sit down meal in the park then it can be pretty expensive but takeaway stuff is manageable. There was a buffet breakfast at the hotel and it seemed pretty open for people to be grabbing a few buns / filling / fruit to take for lunch in the park. We did it with no issue and it is fine to take into the park.
However the on-site hotels can still be a 20min walk to the park so bear that in mind.
If you are just mainly doing the rides then you can do most of it pretty quickly, but if you are queuing up for the character meet and greet then you can be waiting for ages. It might have changed but we had to queue in the morning for a queue time ticket later in the day and then queue up at that time!
The parade at the end of the day is well worth doing with the kids. We preferred standing near the start of it up by the 'small world' ride.
The big advantage was being able to get in early if you Disney hotel guests - about 90mins ahead of the crowds. Not all the rides are open but gives you a good head start. If you want a sit down meal in the park then it can be pretty expensive but takeaway stuff is manageable. There was a buffet breakfast at the hotel and it seemed pretty open for people to be grabbing a few buns / filling / fruit to take for lunch in the park. We did it with no issue and it is fine to take into the park.
However the on-site hotels can still be a 20min walk to the park so bear that in mind.
If you are just mainly doing the rides then you can do most of it pretty quickly, but if you are queuing up for the character meet and greet then you can be waiting for ages. It might have changed but we had to queue in the morning for a queue time ticket later in the day and then queue up at that time!
The parade at the end of the day is well worth doing with the kids. We preferred standing near the start of it up by the 'small world' ride.
We went when the kids were about 3, 7 & 9 and had an excellent time.
Drove there which was a piece of piss.
Stayed here https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/hotels/disne... which was very close, cheaper than staying on site and had breakfast included. Packed up our own lunches because food in there is very expensive. However 1 day had a Maccys as a treat
Got to the park as it opened to miss the bad queues but still ended up waiting 90 minutes for the popular rides.
Evening show is well worth it.
Took food for evening meals but there are lots of options for eating out.
Drove there which was a piece of piss.
Stayed here https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/hotels/disne... which was very close, cheaper than staying on site and had breakfast included. Packed up our own lunches because food in there is very expensive. However 1 day had a Maccys as a treat
Got to the park as it opened to miss the bad queues but still ended up waiting 90 minutes for the popular rides.
Evening show is well worth it.
Took food for evening meals but there are lots of options for eating out.
Just be aware Disney has changed the breakfast included with the hotel model, they've gone to the US style. You can add breakfast for each day when you book, not cheap for what it is, but they're trying to get folks onto the meal plan which means you can go into the park and village and visit different restaurants, incl character dining, as opposed to paying for hotel breakfast and then paying again for a character meal. It's a sort of points system, best way to describe it, and again not cheap. Last time we had a meal plan, dinner in various restaurants was OK, buffet dinner in hotels, dire tbh.
We've never stayed off site, but some swear by it.
My 2p, if you're intent on going, then be aware that Disney is an absolute master at screwing as much money out of you as they can. You need to have established a mental attitude of "it costs what it costs and we're going to do it." If you spend the entire break with several times a day thinking " 'Kinell, How Much!!!!!!" then it will just spoil the break.
Disney hotels, over the years have stayed in Sequioa Lodge, Newport Bay, New York. The latter was the most disappointing, but has been completely refurbed, supposed to be amazing. Newport was our favourite. Wifey and daughter would go again, me - just saying no. If they really insisted I would drive them there, drop them off, and then beggar off and spend a few days visiting various out of the way places from the 1944 Normandy campaign, ie those coach parties generally don't visit. But that's just me being a grumpy old fart.
We've never stayed off site, but some swear by it.
My 2p, if you're intent on going, then be aware that Disney is an absolute master at screwing as much money out of you as they can. You need to have established a mental attitude of "it costs what it costs and we're going to do it." If you spend the entire break with several times a day thinking " 'Kinell, How Much!!!!!!" then it will just spoil the break.
Disney hotels, over the years have stayed in Sequioa Lodge, Newport Bay, New York. The latter was the most disappointing, but has been completely refurbed, supposed to be amazing. Newport was our favourite. Wifey and daughter would go again, me - just saying no. If they really insisted I would drive them there, drop them off, and then beggar off and spend a few days visiting various out of the way places from the 1944 Normandy campaign, ie those coach parties generally don't visit. But that's just me being a grumpy old fart.
Radec said:
Thanks guys.
I've been to the Florida one a few times however not as a family.
This will be my first time at the Paris one.
Would 2 days be enough to get most things done or 3 better?
2 is ample - the Paris parks are not very large at all compared to DisneyWorld Orlando (they are smaller than the DisneyLand in LA too).I've been to the Florida one a few times however not as a family.
This will be my first time at the Paris one.
Would 2 days be enough to get most things done or 3 better?
Radec said:
Thanks guys.
Would 2 days be enough to get most things done or 3 better?
Two days is probably more than enough, as the parks don't feel as large as those in the US - we did both in a day largely due to my son having a preference for Pixar stuff at the time, and no real interest in the fairytale side of DisneyWould 2 days be enough to get most things done or 3 better?
It's worth confirming in the current circumstances, but there was a shuttle service that ran between the hotels and the parks when we stayed at the Radisson there a few years back.
We were there for 3 nights.
Arrived there lunchtime first day, had lunch then straight to the park for a few hours.
Then 2 full-ish days but not manic. Went back to the accommodation early one day and returned at night time which was well worth it.
Day 4 got up early, went for a couple of hours then straight to the chunnel.
2 days would be a rush IMO if you factor in travel there and back.
Arrived there lunchtime first day, had lunch then straight to the park for a few hours.
Then 2 full-ish days but not manic. Went back to the accommodation early one day and returned at night time which was well worth it.
Day 4 got up early, went for a couple of hours then straight to the chunnel.
2 days would be a rush IMO if you factor in travel there and back.
Iirc if you're staying in Disney hotels you get admission on day of arrival once you're checked in, and on day of leaving too. Is it the same with affiliated off site hotels? Not sure.
Certainly that was the case when we last stayed in the New York. On the way out, late ferry and stopped in a Campanile near Reims. After breakfast quick drive down the A4 to the park, checked in, got tickets etc, left car in hotel car park, spent most of day in park, came back to hotel after dinner, picked up room key, collapsed into bed. Departure day, went into park after breakfast to see if some rides that had been closed previously now operating, nope, ride dowtime in Paris was atrocious then, late lunch then off to Dunkirk and ferry.
Certainly that was the case when we last stayed in the New York. On the way out, late ferry and stopped in a Campanile near Reims. After breakfast quick drive down the A4 to the park, checked in, got tickets etc, left car in hotel car park, spent most of day in park, came back to hotel after dinner, picked up room key, collapsed into bed. Departure day, went into park after breakfast to see if some rides that had been closed previously now operating, nope, ride dowtime in Paris was atrocious then, late lunch then off to Dunkirk and ferry.
Be aware that this summer they are changing the fast pass ride booking system to a per person, per ride system, so you will have to pay for the privilege of a queue jump (€8 per person per ride) or use the stand by line service on the app and spend most of your time at the park on your phone keeping an eye on it in case you miss your window.
The pandemic is changing many things at the Disney Parks. They have to recoup the $500m they have lost
I have only been twice and the last time was well over 10 years ago, but I remember the park food being pretty rubbish compared to the US and the weather was awful and we went in the spring. Firat trip was height of summer and was quite nice apart from me suffering from bad hay fever,
I've stayed at the Cheyenne which was a short walk and the main Disney Hotel, which was lovely and a very very short walk to the park. Breakfast Buffet at the later was amazing.
We looked at going again in 2022, but will probably save for Orlando instead.
The pandemic is changing many things at the Disney Parks. They have to recoup the $500m they have lost
I have only been twice and the last time was well over 10 years ago, but I remember the park food being pretty rubbish compared to the US and the weather was awful and we went in the spring. Firat trip was height of summer and was quite nice apart from me suffering from bad hay fever,
I've stayed at the Cheyenne which was a short walk and the main Disney Hotel, which was lovely and a very very short walk to the park. Breakfast Buffet at the later was amazing.
We looked at going again in 2022, but will probably save for Orlando instead.
Personally, I wouldn't bother. A day out at Chessington will be much more fun and a lot cheaper.
If you do decide to go, then you need to plan ahead. We turned up at Sequoia Lodge about 5pm, and when checking in we were asked what time we wanted breakfast in the morning. About 1/2 hour after we wake up was my response - but no - you had to pre-book a 30 minute timeslot before you went to bed. Even worse was trying to get food that evening. We hadn't booked anything because we didn't know you needed to. Nothing available. We ended up eating some not very nice baguettes in the lobby of the hotel - it was all we could get.
Sequoia lodge was so big and soulless, I started to wonder whether it was the British or the Americans who were running the escape committee.
If you do decide to go, then you need to plan ahead. We turned up at Sequoia Lodge about 5pm, and when checking in we were asked what time we wanted breakfast in the morning. About 1/2 hour after we wake up was my response - but no - you had to pre-book a 30 minute timeslot before you went to bed. Even worse was trying to get food that evening. We hadn't booked anything because we didn't know you needed to. Nothing available. We ended up eating some not very nice baguettes in the lobby of the hotel - it was all we could get.
Sequoia lodge was so big and soulless, I started to wonder whether it was the British or the Americans who were running the escape committee.
Thanks everyone plenty to ponder over.
Trying to weigh it all up now, thinking it might be better to give it a miss and just save up for Orlando instead in a couple of years looking at the costs that I'm currently being quoted just to stay on site etc.
Also get to experience Star Wars land which I really want to do in Orlando.
I'm not quite sure its good value just for 2 days based on the above and the fast pass and food situation.
Trying to weigh it all up now, thinking it might be better to give it a miss and just save up for Orlando instead in a couple of years looking at the costs that I'm currently being quoted just to stay on site etc.
Also get to experience Star Wars land which I really want to do in Orlando.
I'm not quite sure its good value just for 2 days based on the above and the fast pass and food situation.
Radec said:
Thanks everyone plenty to ponder over.
Trying to weigh it all up now, thinking it might be better to give it a miss and just save up for Orlando instead in a couple of years looking at the costs that I'm currently being quoted just to stay on site etc.
Also get to experience Star Wars land which I really want to do in Orlando.
I'm not quite sure its good value just for 2 days based on the above and the fast pass and food situation.
Disney and value don't go together at all and you need to separate the thought process.Trying to weigh it all up now, thinking it might be better to give it a miss and just save up for Orlando instead in a couple of years looking at the costs that I'm currently being quoted just to stay on site etc.
Also get to experience Star Wars land which I really want to do in Orlando.
I'm not quite sure its good value just for 2 days based on the above and the fast pass and food situation.
We've been to Disney several times (prechild and with child) in Paris / LA / Orlando / Hong Kong / Shanghai, and Universal etc. too ... if you try and drive perceived value you'll hate it - you need to just go with an open mind and an open wallet and take it all at face value.
DisneyWorld Orlando is excellent but is way more expensive to do that Paris and needs considerably more time - just getting to the park from on the mega parking lots takes 45mins+ with the combination of walking / Wally-trolley to the security check points and then the monorail / ferry to the park entrance gates.
You don't need to be tethered to / eat in hotels - there are plenty of food options around (including at the wider Marne-la-vallee etc...)
I would stray away form thinking about waiting for the 'full' experience of Florida... They are two different beasts, and Eurodisney is a great short break when not going to the 'proper' one for a while....
Two or three nights would be fine, saves the rush have having to cram things in. Also consider travelling down the day before. We have done that twice, stayed very local, so even took the shuttle bus to eat outside the park the night before. That way your straight into the park on your first day, rather than arriving after a long drive (especially for us up North) in the late afternoon.
Two or three nights would be fine, saves the rush have having to cram things in. Also consider travelling down the day before. We have done that twice, stayed very local, so even took the shuttle bus to eat outside the park the night before. That way your straight into the park on your first day, rather than arriving after a long drive (especially for us up North) in the late afternoon.
benaldo said:
We've been a couple of times when our daughter was 4 and then again when she was 8. Both times we stayed at the basic on-site Disney hotels. The hotels are fine but you may want to check if they have air-con!
From memory, Santa Fe and Cheyenne - the two budget-focused hotels - do not have air-con, in spite of both having been refurbed in recent years and France having consistently warm spells each year. I can't comment on Sequoia Lodge, but a visitor to the Newport Bay Club recently commented that they were unable to cool the room below 21 degrees in spite of air-con being available - and that's a 4* star hotel. The old New York hotel has just re-opened with new Marvel theming and would be my choice, as it's had a proper refurb from top to bottom - not cheap, though.I'm thinking of a visit with my young family for October 2022 and we're targeting on property for the benefit of distance. If my son needs a nap or just some time to wind down for a bit, we're just a 20 min walk away tops. As others have said, on property hotel guests have also traditionally been granted early access to the parks for an hour or more in the mornings. If you're morning people, you can blitz some of the open attractions and then plan your days accordingly as the park opens more widely. I don't believe this has been available during COVID, so do check to confirm.
bakerstreet said:
Be aware that this summer they are changing the fast pass ride booking system to a per person, per ride system, so you will have to pay for the privilege of a queue jump (€8 per person per ride) or use the stand by line service on the app and spend most of your time at the park on your phone keeping an eye on it in case you miss your window.
I believe it's EUR 8 minimum, and may increase to 15 EUR during busy periods. Also, they do not guarantee that you'll be able to get on the ride immediately, so there may be some waiting around anyway.Does Paris have any attraction which involves boarding group, such as for example Star Wars:Rise of the Resistance over in Florida. There's been a lot of complaints over there about the difficulty involved in getting a place on a boarding group, and folkshaving to spend time on phones watching for the next release. Complaints such as, even though we've paid this entrance fee, and all these other fees, we still are being excluded from certain attractions.
New Disney CEO is being accused of risking killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Lots of families who were themselves taken to Disney as kids are finding it more and more difficult, now they are parents, to take their children and grandchildren. Other families, repeat clients btw, are just saying enough is enough.
New Disney CEO is being accused of risking killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Lots of families who were themselves taken to Disney as kids are finding it more and more difficult, now they are parents, to take their children and grandchildren. Other families, repeat clients btw, are just saying enough is enough.
We've done Disney once as a family. Was good, as others have said, inside the park it's expensive.
If open to other things, would recommend taking a look at PortaVentura in North Spain instead. Much cheaper, both accomodation and food, rides are better IMO, queue have always been smaller too. Large Spanish familes can be a pain as loud and rude.
Can fly direct to Reus airport with budget airline and park is near by.
Obviously only downside is it's not Disney branded for the kids. Split into continents which I prefer and highly recommend. Have done it on serverell ocssaions, kids and parents both love it.
If open to other things, would recommend taking a look at PortaVentura in North Spain instead. Much cheaper, both accomodation and food, rides are better IMO, queue have always been smaller too. Large Spanish familes can be a pain as loud and rude.
Can fly direct to Reus airport with budget airline and park is near by.
Obviously only downside is it's not Disney branded for the kids. Split into continents which I prefer and highly recommend. Have done it on serverell ocssaions, kids and parents both love it.
We've done Eurodisney twice. Once on Halloween and once between Xmas and New Year. Both times were single day trips to Disneyland Park with the rest of the 3/4 days break spent around Paris itself and not sure how you could spend/not see everything in that one within a day if you get there for opening time.
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