eurodisney next week - help me with packing list

[AnyFuleKno]

the packing list for camping I got on MN was spot on...can you help me decide what to pack for eurodisney on a likely to be cold/wet November weekend with a three year old. Loooong coach journey to get there.

here's what I've got so far:
fleeces, waterproof coats and waterproof boots each
hat each
dd's minnie mouse dress and ears (no intention of buying anything there if I can help it)
PJs, slippers
Plug converters
toiletries
ziploc bags for nicking croissants off brekkie buffet (sshhh)
camera and batteries
pram

If you can fit a travel kettle and some tea bags and a hairdryer if you need one, then you won't have to borrow from Disney. They charge for that.

Where are you staying?

oh gor bless you mme, I had given this thread up for dead!

Right, good tip about the kettle

Unfortunately we're going super budget so we're in the Santa Fe so I'm thinking very basic acommodation.

I'd be interested to know how much their prams cost to hire. If it's cheap it would save me lugging one over the channel

About 15 euros a day iirc? Seem to remember that figure altho didn't need or ourselves. We went end of last nov and it was freezing and wet most. Of the tie but we still had a great time. We got thermals for the dds and this was a lifesaver worn under their costumes

Hi,
There is a forum mainly for Disneyland Paris on Trip Advisor under Marne La Vallee.You can find lots of help and advice for trip planning there.
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g226865-i2224-Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html
Pack clothes for cold or wet weather, but it may not necessarily rain. Layers are best to keep in the warm, and can be taken off if you get warm in theatres. Hats, gloves, scarves. Waterproof but comfortable footwear.( especially for those doing all the walking)Take a telescopic brolly.
Thermal underwear is a good idea - we wear our ski clothes and jackets in December.
You can buy waterproof plastic ponchos/ capes in the parks if necessary.?8 adult ?6 child.
The Disney pushchairs have a small hood, but not a full raincover. They are the triangular type, and the seat is quite high. You have to pay a refundable deposit to take them out of the parks.They do not fold, so not easy to take on the shuttle buses anyway, only if you walk to the Santa Fe.
Most rides are indoor or under cover, as are many of the queue lines. Weekends will be busy once the Christmas Celebrations begin from the 7th November, but Fantillusion Electrical parade is lovely.
The Santa Fe hotel is currently being redecorated with a Disney Pixar CARS theme.

Regarding kettle - I take a small travel one ( and adaptor) with instant drink sachets of coffee, hot chocolate etc. You can get milk pots and sugar from the food stands in the parks, as they are usually out for people to help themselves. Also in the fast food restaurants in both parks, and from the breakfast buffet in your hotel. Take some plastic food bags, so you can also take some croissants etc for snacks later - you will see many people doing this - the staff seem to turn a blind eye to it.
If you buy anything, check your receipt - it may offer a free hot drink after 3pm.Look out for receipts that other people leave behind, and use those to get more free hot drinks!
Some people take a small flask and fill it up with a hot drink at breakfast.
Take some neat squash for kids, and a spare bottle, or drinking beakers so you can make it up during the day using the drinking water fountains in both parks. You will mainly find these near the loos.Having a drink and some snacks can help kids pass the time in a ride queue.My boys always took their Gameboys, in case there was a long wait.

P.S. Don't forget plastic mugs and teaspoon!

ok flask, neat squash, thermal underwear, ponchos, brolly, plastic cups and spoons excellent thanks figgy

I didn't realise their pushchairs don't fold, thanks cheerios, I think I'll take our mclaren as it has a proper rainhood

great tip about the hot drink vouchers

Yes, definitely take your own pushchair. As I remember them, the Disney ones are very basic so no way for DC to lie back and have a snooze.

We bought a little bottle of milk from the shop at the hotel, the souvenir shop sells water, beer, milk etc.

There is also a supermarket right next to the entrance of the park so if you want to stock up there, or have forgotten something.

Yes def own buggy - the Disney ones have nowhere to store all your stuff (raincoats/layers etc). When we were there in March people were having their bags searched on entry - mainly for security purposes - but staff were also removing food if they found it, as you are not supposed to take it in. We still took stuff in, but make sure you have plenty of cash to buy food in case it is removed!

I assume you are taking plenty of things to amuse DD with on the coach? Any Disney cuddly toys that can be whiped out to distract her when she spots a whole load of stupidly expensive ones in a shop?

Many of the people staying in onsite hotels take croissants etc into the parks to eat later. There is no supermarket onsite though. There is a small shop at the petrol station near Hotel Santa Fe, and you can also buy snadwiches, snacks and drinks from the railway station as you walk past it to and from the parks.
How much food you are allowed to take could depend on the security staff on duty.You get ' jobsworth ' people in all places, some are stricter than others.According to the Disneyland rules ( and most theme parks that I have been to in this country as well ) you are not supposed to take food and drink into the parks at all, unless for a special diet.
Put things at the bottom of bags, as they don't usually ask you to unpack everything, just have a quick look inside, or put bags through the xray machine.
You may find a kettle in your room when you arrive, but not guaranteed. They can be obtained from reception ( if any available) but you have to pay a deposit.They have hairdryers in the Moderate hotels, but I am not sure about the two budget ones.
If you want to know how much things cost in Disneyland, have a look at this thread.We try to keep it up to date as much as possible.
www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g226865-i2224-k3501664-Prices-Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_de_France.html
There is a huge modern shopping mall at Val D'Europe, with a large Auchan supermarket ( like Asda). This is one stop from Disneyland on the RER line A train. Only takes a few minutes.

This is my photo of a Disney pushchair/ stroller. You can see it just has a hook on the back for bags. ( so careful not to overload). They write your name on a card on the puschair, so you can identify yours, but sometimes hard to find in a crowded buggy parks by rides and attractions. Take a piece of bright ribbon or something similar, so you can tie it on to the handle.
farm5.static.flickr.com/4129/4970733178_29df1683fc_z.jpg

You can buy autograph books in shops in resort for ?5. Some Characters find it easier to hold a chunky pen. Some cannot sign at all, as they cannot hold a pen because of their particular costume.
Pick up a park map and programme sheet when you enter the park. You will see what times and locations to meet Characters in both parks, including Princesses, and also times of shows and parades. Plan your day around these.
The park programme online only goes up to 1st November at present, so can't give exact info yet.It should change soon.

Current cost of Disney pushchair hire is ? 7.90 per day. If you wish to take it out of the park, you have to pay a deposit of ? 70.

If you want to cut down on packing, I don't think you will need slippers unless you want to take them to wear on the journey for comfort as well. You have to walk outside to breakfast at the Santa Fe and Cheyenne hotels, to the main building ( also if in the Lodges in the Sequoia Lodge hotel), so need to wear shoes and probably coats, maybe take a brolly. Some room blocks are some distance from the main building, ( and shuttle buses to the parks) so it depends which block you are in as to how far you will have to walk.
You may be lucky - it could be mild and sunny!
We have had various weather in early December -
Freezing cold but dry,
sunny, dry and mild ( no need for gloves, hats or thermals )
Rain overnight but dry during the day ( needed waterproof footwear as lots of puddles).
Mist and fog!( the Eurostar was closed for 3 days one year just after we arrived due to thick fog.)
Last year we just missed the snow!( parks very pretty but some rides have to close).
It's like this country - you can never be sure what it will be like!
Hope you have a Magical time.
See the Top Questions box on the TA Marne La Vallee forum, for information about rides for small children, to help plan your weekend.

figgy, you are AMAZING! you shoudl be on the payroll,

I am lurking on the other forum which is very useful indeed

do the characters do cuddles? or just autographs/handshakes? DD has told me she wants to hug Mickey's tummy..

Can you get near the characters or are they mobbed all the time?

Awww, you will make me big headed!
Seriously, I have been going there for 18 yrs, so should know my way around by now!
Things change, so I try to keep up with current DLP news and info.
The Characters do allow hugs, except for the scary ones like the Villains eg. Captain Hook, but I don't think people want to hug them anyway!
People are supposed to queue sensibly to meet Characters, bit sadly some Nationalities are not very good at this - a bit like hogging sunbeds with towels in beach resorts!
Every Character has a CM ( cast member) with them, to try and control things.
Character meals are a good idea, as every Character comes to your table, so you get your own time with them for photos, autographs etc. These meals are very popular, so need to be booked in advance, preferably before you go.
Bit of secret info - Mickey is always a female - but don't tell the kids!
It is because Mickey and Minnie have to be the same height.

AnyFule
Go for the Mickey Cafe breakfast one morning, it is great and not too full. We did it the last morning and it was a great end to the holiday, really left on a high point.

You get a voucher from the hotel so have to pay the difference between that and hotel breakfast.

Our DC got to hug Mickey, Donald, the chipmunks and Stitch. Stitch was very naughty and a BIG MASSIVE hit.

A poster on the TA MLV forum has just said that some friends of their had all their food taken from them at park entrance security recently. It may be luck of the draw whether there are strict security cards on duty when you are there, or how thoroughly they search your bags.
Just be warned.
Cafe Mickey is great fun, but remember that Extra Magic Hours begin at 8am. You can get quite a few rides done in these two hours before the general public are let in at 10am.
When do you arrive in resort and leave?

Valium

The Disneyland Hotel is built over the park entrance - the entrance is on the right, through a revolving door. They often have Characters in the lobby at certain times of the day. You could pop into the hotel and ask the times at the reception desk, before you go into the park.
There are park entry turnstiles near here that they use for EMH, so it is not out of your way.
We saw quite a few Characters in here in August, around 4pm, including Minnie, Mary Poppins and Bert. They all held hands with kids in a line and walked around the lobby, and did a song and dance.Then photos and autographs.
Worth checking, as not many people are around usually.They come down the main staircase into the lobby.
They may also be here after the parks have closed.

Have you thought about dinner?

The shows and parades programme is still only up to 1st November. This is for Halloween celebrations, so some things will change.
Fantillusion electrical parade will begin with Enchanted Christmas on 7th November, and Father Christmas will be in Woody's Roundup Village in Frontierland. Belle's Village will be in Fantasyland.
The Christmas Parade will follow the usual Once Upon A dream Parade in the afternoon, then Fantillusion will be on later before the park closes.
This is the link for the programme.Increase it to 100% to read it easily, and scroll down for the Studios programme.
Stars N Cars parade will be in the afternoon in the Studios park.
news.disneylandparis.co.uk/UK/EN/Neutral/Images/ShowsAndParades.pdf

Figgy
We did Mickey on the last morning before getting the train home. Depends if you want to go back into the park again that morning.

Definitely worth eating at Cafe Mickey with children, if you can manage it. You say you are on a tight budget, or I would suggest booking it for dinner after the parks have closed. It is Premium category dining, so quite pricey.
Breakfast is cheaper, but I'm not sure if all the Disney hotels allow you to pay a bit extra for breakfast here instead of in the hotel- that may only be an option for guests in the Moderate hotels.
MmeBody, which hotel were you staying in when you did this?
KittyFoyle - valium - LOL! That did make me laugh!
Another good thing to pack and carry with you are tablets for travel sickness. I always used Joyrides or Traveleeze for my boys ( Traveleeze are like jelly sweets. You can suck or chew both these makes, so easier for kids than swallowing a tablet.
Good for travelling, but also in case they feel a bit sick after going on rides.
The scented nappy sack bags are also handy as sick bags.