Disneyland - advice

[1legmummy]

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

just trying to work out the Thomas Cook website.

Looking at their deal it is cheaper but cannot work out if transfers and park tickets are on top

Doubt it if it is Thomas Cook. Got a link?

I meant I doubt they would be excluded from a Thomas Cook holiday. They will be all inclusive.

Sequioa is lovely, and I think a little more wheeled trasportation friendly than the Newport bay just in case you get tempted to upgrade easy walk to park too.

Ask disney about shuttle buses, they are fabulously helpful. Explorers had the best breakfasts and meals!

earwic - no idea about swimming pools never had time to use them .

I've done characer dining at lucky nugget (x2) and cafe mickey (x4or5). I am a addict. The characters spend tons of time with the kids and it's very civilised way to meet them.

Luckey nugget: fabulous food most mainstream disney characters (jungle book, winnie the pooh, peterpan goofy), no mickey no minnie. (used to be incuded in the half board plus haven't checked this year)

Cafe mickey: fab breakfast (but you will be doubling up cost if you stay in a disney hotel) , average food. fab range of characters, only character dining for mickey and minnie. photo ops too numerous to mention (e.g. tigger bouncing with dd beloved cuddly tigger) and one of the bits I remember the most.

Pincesses are only found at Auberge de Cinderella (I forget the french). I haven't been there because I the kids like mickey mouse too much

shuttles are a scrum

sorry xposted earwic just realised you been so probably knew all that already

Try Clippers Quay Travel or booking direct. Clippers Quay are very good at making sure you get the best current deals and sometimes have offers on Character Breakfasts/shows etc.

We have done DLP several times. Have stayed at a few Disney Hotels and Sante Fe is fine IMO. Basic - travel lodge standard but tbh you are in your room so little time - why pay
££££ more unless you have specific needs.

You can walk from the Sante fe but getting the bus is kinder on the feet and you are walking all day in the park too.

Breakfast is rather manic in the Santa fe - but then it is in all the hotels. Honestly Sante fe is a good budget way to stay at DLP - no frills - but clean and fine.

Enjoy your trip.

[[http://ww7.thomascook.com/ft/flight_and_hotel/results.jsp link to my offers]

oops hang on I will try again

my offers

We found the meal package good value so do ask about it. Meant my son ate properly in the evenings after the park and also the characters are in the Disney hotel every evening for the buffet dinner. You also get buffalo bill included if you choose, so you save a bomb.

LunarRose - don't assume I know anything. It wasn't until the last day there that I kind of understood the timetable for where and when characters would be in the parks. I would like to be a little more knowing what I am doing next time we go. We didn't do Cafe Mickey last time because I didn't know about the characters - just thought it was expensive for the food . I don't even remember seeing Lucky Nugget, is it in the Village? Does it have a different range of characters?

I didn't find Santa Fe a scrum for breakfast, but that is what I read on boards before we went. I sat the kids down at a table before I got any food and got it all for them and it was fine. We started off going to the early ones as that is the only breakfast tickets left, then we accidentally slept in a bit and found out it doesn't matter when you go.

1legmummy - this time I booked using www.magicmakersdirect.com as they seemed to be the cheapest at the time. Last time I booked through Thomsons. We are flying there as it would save a day of travelling from North to South, but definately makes it more expensive.

You can always phone around and get advice and then make an online booking.

I will have to find a much cheaper way of doing it if we go again.

Holy Shit! I've just had a quote of £2,000 for 3 of us for 3 nights at Euro Disney. We can get a villa and flights to Florida for 2 weeks for £2200! No brainer.

Hi am off to disney next monday its my 8th visit,am staying at the sequia lodge have stayed before and think its worth the extra money.The breafast a little less like a rugby scrum.I would always book the half board {try the buffett in the sequia very nice]unless you want to eat chips all the time sure kids would love it but you would'nt.Also look to see whats getting a rehab in march we went last march and there was a lot closed even the bridge over to the castle,and they where changing from mickey magic party and where doing nothing else the full week we where there.Also go to cafe mickey we love it.Hope this helps.

We are going tomorrow (hurray!) and staying in the Disneyland Hotel. If you play around with the dates on the disney website and are flexible with your timings you can get a good deal-we are paying 1000 for hotel, tickets etc for 2 adults 2 children for 4 nights. Premium dining adds about 450 pounds (can't remember exact amount) and that covers, buffalo Bill/Princess lunch/character buffet at Disneyland Hotel etc. We are driving but most people say it is best to book travel seperate to your package with Disneyland.

Dibb and Dis forums are good for advice, and Marne La Vallee forum on Trip Advisor. This is a (quite funny and very long!) trip report, but he tells with quite a lot of detail about the logistics of his MIL being in a wheelchair.
HTHs a bit.

trockodile - nice, that sounds very luxurious

oh no!! just realised VAT goes up tomorrow!!

Right decisions - we could goto Sequoia lodge for 4 nights 5 days, half board, flying from local airport in March for £1400.00 for 2 adults and 2 children or

am now thinking do I save more money and go to Florida next year????

I hate making decisions - cxan you tell?

Go to EuroDisney. Florida is a whole different animal. Massive and a days travelling each way. I wouldn't do it until my kids are much older and are able to go on all the rides. Who am I trying to kid, I will never be able to afford Florida!

Check out Sequoia on different sites and book. Then enjoy :)

oh don't do that to me, I loved florida!

How old are the kids if you don't mind my asking? less than 5 would prob get as muchfrom DLP as from florida. I went to Florida when I was 5, made a massive impression.

little one is 4 (just November) and other ds is 11.

I do want to give them a once in a lifetime experience, it is not something we can afford to do often.

Would Florida be lots of extras?

you need someone with more up to date info. I went 5 1/2 years ago when pregnant with dd and a strong pound, I should imagine very much different now. Florida is actually 4 theme parks (Disneywold, Epcot, MGM studios and the animal park) and numerous waterparks so yes theres a lot there. I imagine the cost is quite alot more as well.

I worked out that two weeks in Florida in August for a family of 4 would be about £5200. This includes flights with virgin, rental of villa or condo, 10 day park and waterpark hopper tickets and car hire. Obviously you could shop around and get cheaper than this and you need spending money too but this is not as bad as I thought! I would only do it once so will wait until my kids are about 10 and 8 (they are 6 and 4 now).

Personally having been to Florida myself I find DLP disappointing as it is so small!

My kids seem to hate theme parks at the moment with all the noise and characters. Do be prepared for this sort of thing. It is a shame to get there and the kids hate it!

The food is terrible and very expensive. Cafe Mickey seemed to be the best place to eat to be honest.

Everyone, thank you so much for all your help.

Have decided not to go at mo

So sorry to look like I wasted all your time, but actually you helped me realise I needed to do a lot more research so thank you xx