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Original poster

Disneyland - advice

49 replies

1legmummy · 01/01/2011 23:33

Your advice please,

Hotel Santa Fe - is it ok? we would stay offsite as we have been advised better but no meet and greet and more expensive.

Looking to go March 2011 as can stay 4 nights and fly for family of 4 for under £1000.00.

Is it worth money? will be taking wheelchair - anyone else done this?

Any other advice would be great

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 01/01/2011 23:41

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lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs · 01/01/2011 23:47

no advice but let me know ,we really want to take DDs both of whom had autisim but cant afford it till next year.

aviatrix · 02/01/2011 00:06

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 02/01/2011 00:16

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earwicga · 02/01/2011 00:23

Absolutely fine. Went last year and have booked again for this year. I liked the food, and took enough to feed us at lunchtime again.

If you google there are loads of tips available.

They rent out kettles and plugs at reception - deposit only.

Also, in the parks if you have a disabled member of your family then you don't need to queue for rides.

TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 02/01/2011 00:25

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Original poster
1legmummy · 02/01/2011 00:27

thats all really helpful thanks, really weird its actually cheaper to go for 4 nights than 3!!

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flippinggorgeous · 02/01/2011 00:34

Some general stuff learned from my trip last year:

Take lots of snacks and drinks for the park and in your room. Food is very, very expensive.

I refilled DD's plastic drinks bottles at breakfast and took a few extra pain au chocolat to feed the girls in the queues.

If you like a drink in the evening when the children are in bed/watching tv take a few bottles with you.

Making the effort to go to the park early and late in the day is very worth it. We would sometimes pop back to the hotel for a break in the middle of the day then return later, when things had quietened down again.

We had the most amazing time and although neither of my children need wheelchairs, there were a few people there who did and it seemed to be well set up in the parks.

TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 02/01/2011 00:36

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Original poster
1legmummy · 02/01/2011 00:39

would you pay for half board? or just pay as you go.

Also, just read that a carer gets in free with a disabled adult - do you think I should phone Disney to book or just book online.

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TheBrandyButterflyEffect · 02/01/2011 00:41

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loolop · 02/01/2011 00:50

I'm going in March too - first time, cant wait!! If you go on trip advisor and search for Marne la vallee there is a fab forum there with lots of posters who've been loads of times all very helpful with info especially a poster named figgygirl.

flippinggorgeous · 02/01/2011 01:08

I would go into a travel agent to book- that way they can answer any questions and contact Disney for you if need be. As it is Disney, the prices and offers are all controlled by Disney so it shouldn't cost any extra and you have longer to pay the balance of your holiday.

We were very lucky and had a deal where we got vouchers for lunch and dinner at no extra cost. Saved a fortune.

Original poster
1legmummy · 02/01/2011 01:31

Thats a good offer, we are getting our children free (ds is 12 in May so thought we should go for it)

I think you are right I will go to Travel agent, on line I would have got about £60.00 cashback.

They may have heard my questions before :)

OP posts:
flippinggorgeous · 02/01/2011 01:44

You could always go to the travel agent, ask your questions, say you'll come back then go home and book online.
:)

earwicga · 02/01/2011 05:25

Make sure you price it up correctly. I priced up going during the kids are free time but it was actually cheaper for us to go after this in May, which will be lovely as sunny but not too hot and not too rainy.

Does anyone know if the parks are open later than 6pm in May? It was disappointing that in September that it closed at 6pm as I had to do the early mornings.

goingroundthebend4 · 02/01/2011 05:51

hmm not sure if nee dwheelchair to travel in becuase if you do only one person can travel with the person in wheelchair .If you want to all travel together you need to upgrade your seats and all travel premier class .Know as i wanted to go but would have to pay £180 to have dd sit with us shes only 7 so can hardly travel on her own.So i either pay the extra or ds chair goes in with the buggys and i carry him

And be aware for a few of the rides if you can not walk they will refuse entrance on to the rides due to health and saftey(legoland is the same if you break down.I argue that as ds is small ill just carry him

LunarRose · 02/01/2011 18:14

I have been a few times (3 time in the last 4 years, my explorers hotel, Newport bay, sequioa lodge and newport bay again in 33days time Grin). And am a disney bore!!

Reviews personal and online of santa fe are a bit Hmm to be honest. Personally have picked lake options as they are advertised walking distance and I wanteed to avoid the shuttles with pushchair. Might this be something worth thinking about with the wheelchair? The shuttle are regular work but when I went to my explorers were busy and people had little consideration of pushchairs.

If budget doesn't stretch to sequioa, I have heard hotel cheyenne is lovely (does wel on all review sites). Rumour has it is also walking distance (although not advertised as such) But I haven't had the guts to test that yet!!

If your shuttle bussing anyway I would go for an associated hotel for an all round better hotel experience, My Explorers was superb and hands down a better hotel than either sequoia or newport bay IMHO.

I have never found travel agents cheaper than going direct for accomodation. (disney for hotels + eurostar direct). If you split ask about things like transfers and lugguage transfers which with eurostar and a disney are more smooth booked direct, I don't know if the same is true with flying. This time I phoned disney and booked both direct by telephone cos I had lots of questions (son just diagnosed ASD). they were great really considerate. Actually wihout me even thinking about it reserved us a disabled access room "as we'd appreciate the extra space".

Have always bought the half board, but depends to how you like to eat/budget. Half board works well if you want to eat one meal a day at either buffet standard or above. (I do it to get away from chips Grin ).

Disney is expensive Sad but I can't value the wonderful memories we've had over the years!!

LunarRose · 02/01/2011 18:16

apologies for all the spellings etc Blush

LunarRose · 02/01/2011 18:27

ps,do a character dining much much better than meet and greet

earwicga · 02/01/2011 20:13

Lunay - do you mean the mickey mouse cafe? Also, can we go into other hotels to use swimming pools?

Binfullofmaggotsonthe45 · 02/01/2011 20:20

It looks cool from the outside with the lightning McQueen billboard etc, but I have heard on trip advisor and from a few other people that it isn't brilliant. And you are a little way from the park. Infact only a few minutes closer than dream castle and those non Disney hotels.

We got a great offer on the Disney hotel, it is worth looking out for them, and that was so easy, valet delivered our bags from car to room and we went straight into the park.plus all the characters are constantly around the building. It was really great. And the smell was indescribable....

My tip would be to do buffalo bills dinner show - totally tacky, and the rainforest cafe was a laugh too.

And yes it is all a rip off somewhere, but if you go in bitter and twisted you won't enjoy with your kids. Preparation and advance knowledge is the way to enjoy fully.

earwicga · 02/01/2011 20:27

We did Rainforest Cafe last year and it was shite. Food was uneatable.

Original poster
1legmummy · 02/01/2011 21:59

you are all so helpful.

its me in the wheelchair, I cant walk all day so will push some and ride some.

I am an amputee with other complications but dont want to spoil it for the kids.

I know its expensive, but I think its something everyone should do once :)

I am now looking at Sequioa Lodge or Explorers so thanks for great advice.

A little worried about shuttle bus - but wheelchair folds and I read somewhere they do special buses for wheelchair users

This is so helpful - thankyou - just about to look at other dates

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earwicga · 02/01/2011 22:06

I too thought it was something that should be done once! Can't wait to go back in May though - it'll get you :)

Hope you have a lovely time. Make sure you get in the right place for the shuttle bus for where the doors open. It is a scrum, but they are so frequent and so many people can fit in that's it's more sensible to wait for the next one and be at the front of the queue.

I was bowled over at how lovely and helpful the staff are. After being a UK tourist for so many years and so used to scowling service, it really is amazing!