Euro Disney - Experts please answer my questions

[dietqueen]

Can I have your comments please:

Want to go next year - Feb time
Want to stay in Disney Hotel - as walking distance, good restuarants and quality of rooms
Restuarants say buffet style - sounds good as then dc can choose?

Want to fly rather than drive

Want to do 3 nights 4 days (probably travel back on last day)

What do you think? It is pricing out with flights around £1,200 just with breakfast - is this a good price for 2 adults and one child

Sounds good. I paid around that at Easter for 1 ad, 1 ch at DL hotel, without flights, through with free dining.

Paying similar for 4 nights at DL hotel at new year on a B & B basis. Again, no flights.

That sounds pretty good-I am paying 1024 for 4 nights in January (4-8th) in DLH. No travel (we will drive from Germany) and that is the best I have seen (that was 2 nights free offer that they ran). I am so excited, DIS forum and DIBB and Marne La Vallee trip adviser also good for info. and trip planning. Best advice is if you like the offer, book it as they can change so quickly. Hope you go for it and have a great time!

Just noticed you are going at New Year as well Granard. Hope you have a good time too!

Sounds fab.

We were there this February, and it was great. The weather was cold but not freezing, hardly any rain.

We arrived at about 4pm, checked into hotel then had a meal about 5.30ish so didn't go into the park until dusk. I can highly recommend doing this, it was such a magical moment. The park was all lit up, the little train choochoo-ed past, the music played, the castle dazzled in the distance. The DC's eyes were like saucers.

Oh, you lucky people going for New Year!
I'm trying to find some spare funds for my annual pre-Christmas trip.With DS2 now at Uni and draining our spare cash, it is not so easy!
Definitely worth booking while the offer is on.
Avoid school holidays if you can, as the parks will obviously be more busy, although Feb is not as busy as Easter, August,October or Christmas holidays.
No special celebrations are on, so no Fantillusion or fireworks in Feb usually.January and February are usually the cheapest months to go.
Which Disney hotel are you looking at? The Disneyland Hotel is built over the DL park entrance, and only a short walk from there to the Studios.
The other 5 Disney owned hotels are all within walking distance or free shuttle bus. The cheapest two ( Santa Fe and Cheyenne) do not have pools.
They all have different theming, so it is a matter of personal preference really.
Granard likes the Disneyland Hotel , but it is a bit too grand for our taste, and we find the rather sweet smell inside a bit overpowering.
We like walking through the Disney Village to and from the parks, from the 3 hotels around the lake. This takes about 10 mins.
These hotels have pools, and are comfortable hotels, cheaper than the DL Hotel.
However, if you are going when it could be very cold or wet, ( or even snow like last year ) being right next to the parks is very convenient, especially if you have young children. It is easy to go back to your room if you need to change clothes or warm up for a while.
Castle Club room guests get a VIP Fastpass, but you rather have to break the bank for this, and ride queues should not be long in Feb anyway, so not necessary.
If you need help or advice with dining, rides, planning or anything else, check out the Trip Advisor Marne La Vallee Forum, which covers Disneyland Paris. Look at the list of Top Questions there for helpful answers and links.
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g226865-i2224-Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html

By the way, try to get an early flight out and a late flight home, as your park tickets are valid for arrival and departure days as well. That way you get the most for your money, with 4 days in the parks.
We can also help with the various airport transfer options on the TA MLV forum.

Also......anyone can book to eat in any of the Disney hotels restaurants - you do not have to be staying there. They all have buffet restaurants, and the DLH, New York, NBC and Sequoia hotels also have table service restaurants.
There are also some nice buffets in the parks ( including Lucky Nugget Saloon Character buffet ) and La Grange buffet in the Disney Village ( inside Billy Bob's Country and Western Saloon).
Adding Half Board to your booking generally saves you some money.

By the way, £1200 was the price for 2 adults in the cheapest Disney hotel, Santa Fe, in August, with 40% off!
It shows the difference between August and February!

Whilst I can understand not wanting to drive, why fly ? Flying in to one of the Paris airports will mean up to an hours taxi(?) ride to Disneyland. Have you considered the Eurostar train which will deliver you right to the centre of Disneyland. Don't forget, if you want to take back any large souvenirs, it will be much easier on a train than a plane.

By the way, having stayed there, I can recommend the New York Hotel - a short and fun walk through Disney Village to the parks. I also highly recommend Annettes Diner in the Village for dinner.

The Direct Eurostar is very convenient for people who live in the London area, but can cost more if you live further away, and have to get to Ashford or KCSP. It is not always cheaper than flying - this August it was cheaper to fly from Southampton to CDG with Flybe.
It is more difficult for us since they moved the Eurostar from Waterloo to KCSP. We have to catch a train from Bournemouth to Waterloo at 05.30,then catch 2 underground trains to KCSP for the 10am Disney train. Otherwise book into a Travelodge near KCSP station the night before, which costs extra. The Disney train arrives in resort at 1.30pm French time, so you should be in the park by 2pm if you have Express Checkin.
We caught a 7.30 am flight from Southampton, arriving at CDG at 09.30. We were at the New York hotel by 10.30.checked in, then off to the parks.
Coming home, the direct train usually leaves Disneyland around 19.50.arriving at Ashford at 20.50 and KCSP at 21.20.
Then we have to catch the underground, then a train to Bournemouth, which takes about 2 hrs.Then a 20 min drive home. We get home about 01.00
This trip, we left Disneyland at 6pm, for a 9pm flight. My husband met us at Southampton, and we were home by 10pm.
For us, flying is easier, and we can get there earlier.The return train fare to London is about £ 47.50 adult price, so it cost £ 190 for myself, two over 18 sons and one GF.
A private transfer only takes 30 mins if the roads are clear.They cost ?60-70, which can be cheaper for a family than the VEA bus which charges per person. The VEA bus takes longer as you have to get to Terminal 2, then it stops at all the hotels.This can take 45 mins to 1 hour.
Price up the different options, then do whichever works best for you.