Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Taking snacks to Disneyland

58 replies

Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:00

Hello,

We're taking DD(4) to Disneyland Paris in May, and I've been checking out food prices in the parks. Honestly, I'm horrified, I think we're going to have to take some of our own food as I don't think we can afford to be eating £8 toasties and £20 pasta every day.

I wondered what other people's experiences were of taking snacks into France (post Brexit). Can you take fruit, cakes, biscuits, crisps, nuts in hand luggage when you fly into CDG? Or is there anywhere in arrivals on CDG where we can buy snacks before hopping on the Disney shuttle. We're flying easy jet so think we arrive into terminal 2B. We won't be leaving the parks once we're there, and since we're getting the shuttle won't be able to stop to shop en route.

I'd also be very interested in hearing any money saving tips you might have!

Thanks 😊

OP posts:
dietcokelime · 24/04/2023 19:08

You can't take meat / milk or anything made from them into the EU as far as I'm aware - might be worth checking the government websites for advice. (I think biscuits / cakes might come under this?) You might not also be allowed nuts in the hand-luggage if it's a nut free flight.

lifeturnsonadime · 24/04/2023 19:10

I'm not sure if there is anywhere at the airport.

Where are you staying?

The train station (Marne La Valee) has some small shops and things like Pret - a manger and starbucks and there is a hypermarket one stop (5 mins) away at Val D'europe if you feel you need more choice.

I think that there is an Esso Garage behind Hotel Cheyene where you can pick up some bits too.

There is a Disneyland Paris Advice facebook page which is also useful for tips.

KatieKat88 · 24/04/2023 19:15

Disneyland Paris Tips for Brits is a great Facebook page (which I joined after another MNetter recommended it!) There's definitely been lots of chat about snacks on there if you have a look Smile

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food
ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 19:15

We have always taken dry food on flights with us. We've always put in our hold luggage as never taken hand luggage only with kids but took pringles, breakfast bars, sweets, breadsticks, crisps, crepes (the ones individually wrapped).

Also tea, coffee, sugar, hot chocolate sachets, plus travel kettle as Disney hotels don't have them as standard or you have to pay to hire them.

We tended to eat in Planet Hollywood as amazingly it was the cheapest, obviously it's gone now. Some of the buffet places are ok value but no good if the kids are fussy. There is a McDonalds there which is not too bad but obv a lot more than here.

ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 19:16

If you can do breakfast within the hotel it's all you can eat, we made up rolls for lunch when the kids were little 🙈

FloorWipes · 24/04/2023 19:17

We took cereal bars, yoghurt pouches, crisps, diluting juice, tea, coffee etc with us last May, some in hand luggage, some in our checked bag. No one asked or checked anything. There is a small Relay shop in the train station and a few snacks in Disney hotel shops. We got milk while we were there from various places like McDonald's, Starbucks etc.

GCWorkNightmare · 24/04/2023 19:21

FloorWipes · 24/04/2023 19:17

We took cereal bars, yoghurt pouches, crisps, diluting juice, tea, coffee etc with us last May, some in hand luggage, some in our checked bag. No one asked or checked anything. There is a small Relay shop in the train station and a few snacks in Disney hotel shops. We got milk while we were there from various places like McDonald's, Starbucks etc.

You can’t take yogurt into France. Searches are random but the fines are huge.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 24/04/2023 19:21

Why won't you leave the parks once you're there?
I brought some cereal bars and supernoodles (you can ask at the hotel for a kettle).
But I also went to the supermarket (a stop or two on the train to val d'europe) and got fruit and drinks.

FloorWipes · 24/04/2023 19:26

@GCWorkNightmare I think I'd have got away with it under the baby food exemption but also I think you'd have to be exceptionally unlucky to be checked

Original poster
Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:33

We're staying at Sequoia. I might have a look for the Esso, that might do the trick. We do t need a lot. Just nibbles for breakfast and snacks for the bottomless pit that is DD!

OP posts:
Original poster
Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:34

That sounds brill, thankyou

OP posts:
legalseagull · 24/04/2023 19:36

I got back last night from Cheyenne Hotel. We packed loads of cereal bars, crisps, rice cakes etc and took them in with us.

We had a standard meal plan (breakfast and dinner) so I also packed a Tupperware box and filled it up with crossaints from the breakfast buffet!!!

Tinytigertail · 24/04/2023 19:37

ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 19:16

If you can do breakfast within the hotel it's all you can eat, we made up rolls for lunch when the kids were little 🙈

We did this too! Especially because the range of food was not good and I couldn't face living on fast food for 3 days (it may have improved now) but it also saved a fortune!

MindatWork · 24/04/2023 19:39

Hi OP, we went in December and took a massive had of snacks for us and 4 yo DD. We took mini bags of party rings, chocolate animal biscuits, individually wrapped pain au chocolate (breakfast!), a multipack of mini cheddars, a box of oaty flapjack snack bars, some funsize choc bars and a few other bits.

I was a bit 🙈 at all the sugar but you need to keep your energy up and the snacks are so expensive in the parks. They were also good for keeping g DD occupied in the queues etc.

If you’re in a Disney hotel you get free hot drinks from the machines every day - they’re dotted around in the corridols, make sure you ask at check-in.

Have fun!

Original poster
Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:39

Sorry, I thought I was replying to individual comments but seems I'm not. It's my first thread so not quite sure how.

We're only there 3 nights which is why we won't be leaving the parks. Don't want to lose any of the holiday to do a grocery shop! Were just taking carry ons, so was hoping prepackaged snacks and fruit would be ok. You might be right about the nuts though. Shame, it's an easy, healthy snack! Living the squash idea though. Wonder if they still do those tiny Robinsons squash squeeze packs, they would get through security. Loving the hot choc idea too, although I heard some hotels have free hot drinks machines? Can anyone confirm?

OP posts:
Original poster
Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:41

Ah, I see Mindatwork confirmed the hot drinks machines. That's great news!

OP posts:
SixPurpleChairs · 24/04/2023 19:42

We were checked but that was over 10 years ago. It's surprising how many snacks you can pop under nappies in a bag or in a coat sleeve.

Original poster
Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:43

Those of you that took snack hauls, was that in hand luggage?

OP posts:
ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 19:43

Malo314 · 24/04/2023 19:39

Sorry, I thought I was replying to individual comments but seems I'm not. It's my first thread so not quite sure how.

We're only there 3 nights which is why we won't be leaving the parks. Don't want to lose any of the holiday to do a grocery shop! Were just taking carry ons, so was hoping prepackaged snacks and fruit would be ok. You might be right about the nuts though. Shame, it's an easy, healthy snack! Living the squash idea though. Wonder if they still do those tiny Robinsons squash squeeze packs, they would get through security. Loving the hot choc idea too, although I heard some hotels have free hot drinks machines? Can anyone confirm?

We recently did 3 nights just me and a friend with no kids and still didn't have time to leave the park lol. I love DLP.

We have stayed in Sequoia before, we did the meal plan that time, breakfast was decent when we went. I don't recall free hot chocolate in machines though other than at breakfast/dinner.

I am in awe of how you will manage hand luggage only with a young DC, I have never been able to do that, especially after visiting the souvenir shop haha.

ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 19:44

I have been about 8 times and never noticed the drinks machines 😂

stayathomer · 24/04/2023 19:45

We've been twice in the last five years. If you take the train to one stop away there is a supermarket that is much cheaper and we stocked up there. Disneyland is terrifying for the cost of everything. The most 'reasonably' priced place we found was the rainforest cafe which is oh-so-cool (it has trees everywhere and models of animals that make noises (!) ) but we ate there twice and the rest of the time it was McDonalds (which is still quite expensive) or snack stuff we got at the supermarket. Insane insane insane!!! Popcorn is the most overpriced I've ever ever heard of and I was proud ds said 'sorry we'll leave it'. Also DO NOT go to Planet Hollywood. It is a rip off, horrendous food and hasn't even got good things to look at (drain cover from some movie was touted as 'must see'!!!) .

stayathomer · 24/04/2023 19:46

I have been about 8 times and never noticed the drinks machines 😂
They are very hidden at the back of some of the corridors!!!!

FloorWipes · 24/04/2023 19:47

Think it's maybe just one hot drink per day per ticket from the machines?

I took the little Robinson's mini. Only 66ml.

Smartiepants79 · 24/04/2023 19:49

We had a great meal in planet Hollywood! It’s more than you’d usually pay but that’s just Disney.
If you’re serious about saving money then I would suggest you look into hopping on the RER train 1 stop and visiting the shopping centre at Val d’europe. Go to the supermarket.

ImAGoodPerson · 24/04/2023 20:28

Planet Hollywood has closed now anyway. Rainforest is great but can be pricey. Great for the kids though.

Swipe left for the next trending thread