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Original poster

Disneyland Paris - If you have been I would like advice/ tips please...

21 replies

nameymacnamechanger · 22/01/2011 16:47

as I have just booked for me and DS to go in August!

We will have two days to get around everything.

Any advice on things to avoid/ miss, tips on where to eat/ not eat. Money savng tips? (e.g. taking rolls from breakfast for lunch - not that I'd do such a thing of course).

OP posts:

umma · 26/01/2011 20:20

I've just been it was great! How old is your DS?

It's quite expensive to eat, brace yourself for that! x

Try and do as much as you can...inc all the shows but don't worry if you don't. I was there 5 days and still didn't see it all.

ShoonaBee · 27/01/2011 17:01

We went a couple of years ago (ds was about 7, DD about 4) and they loved it. 3 days (2 nights) of nonstop rides and walking around was exhausting but I think its about the right length of time to see everything without spending a fortune. Agree with umma, food & drink not cheap and not great quality but you kind of have to go with the flow on that one. Yes, fill up on the buffet breakfasts!
Don't miss the character parades, on a couple of times a day - my two are still talking about them 3 years later!
Be prepared to queue for everything (restaurants too) in high summer.

NoSoapInADirtyWar · 01/02/2011 20:37

tis me, the op

This had dropped down my threads i'm on so only just seen the replies.

DS is 6 but he is autistic so quite 'young' IYKWIM.

Thanks for replying, it's good to know your dcs enjoyed it. We only have two days there so will just have to cram in what we can. I can't believe I booked it TBH, it isn't my idea of a dream holiday (would prefer somewhere hot with a sandy beach) but it is DS's he is so so excited we are going!

FanjolinaJolie · 06/02/2011 20:52

Just back today!

Food is incredibly expensive. Prohibitive really and not even nice in the park, mostly fast-food style or buffet at around 30 euro per adult and 15 euro per child which is a lot.

We took all our snacks and drinks for the days and made up lunch baguettes by buying fresh bread at the convenience store and making up with salami, cheese, nutella etc. Some people were making up rolls at breakfast but I felt a bit uncomfortable doing this. Hard to smuggle out as I would have had to make 5 rolls!

We ate all our meals out at night at Val D'Europe which is a huge shopping centre about five ins drive from the Disney Hotels, there are some great restaurants there and we ate out for 40-50 euros incl drinks for four peuple which was quite good value. We didn't eat at the hotel restaurant at all so can't comment but again it was very expensive.

We stayed at the Newport Bay Club and it was very good, breakfast excellent.

The park is extremely crowded on the weekends so avoid if yu can. If you can't try doing the shows on the weekends to get yourself out of the queues which can be very long, some were 90mins plus and this was in February! The shows are great and well worth it. Get in as many rides as you can before the weekend starts.

houseproject · 07/02/2011 11:50

Hi,

We went some years ago - totally agree with the comments about food, also try to ensure you eat outside peak times as the queues can be enormous. First day we arrived late in the morning and felt so disappointed with the queues but next day we were better prepared, arrived early and eat before the queues built up and had a fantastic time.

We are thinking of going again, just wondered how you booked with?

FanjolinaJolie · 07/02/2011 20:58

Booked with Shortbreaks.com they were good and cheaper than booking direct, it was less than the Disney website and inlcuded the tunnel as well. Good service.

There are big savings if you book now for Feb or March arrival.

I have read in some reviews that they search your bags for food and drink on entry to the park. This is not true, they are searching for the usual weapons/glass etc and do not take food off you/

nannynobnobs · 07/02/2011 21:06

When we went seven years ago we went in early March- it was fairly quiet, no queues, and IT SNOWED :o No help as you are booked for August but thought I'd share. I was chuffed to pieces!
IIRC re food we filled our faces at breakfast (a strange buffet- croissants,pain au chocolate, petit pain, meat, cheese cubes, apple sauce ) then lived off cheese baguettes and hot chocolate from the snack shops.

hifi · 07/02/2011 22:23

just got back, we stayed sequoia lodge and it was dreadful, dont know what the other hotels were like but stay away from this one. in hindsight would have paid the extra for the disney hotel in the park.
booked thru short breaks and got half board for 130.00 for 3 of us for 2 days.we also traveled first class on eurostar.i took snacks and drinks in and nothing was mentioned.
be prepared to leave your wallet at the gate!

FanjolinaJolie · 08/02/2011 10:22

Hifi why was the hotel so bad?

FanjolinaJolie · 08/02/2011 10:26

The merchandise is everwhere, expensive and overwhemling, as you'd imagine. Our DD's were allowed 10 euro each to spend (a pair of minnie ears each) and no more. I bought disney princess activity books from discount bookshop for 1 pound each. I'd shop in advance and take a few treats with you rather than paying over the top once you're there.

But that's me, I'm tight!!

Wish we'd taken some dressing up clothes as the there were lots dressed up as Buzz or princesses which made it even more fun for them.

hifi · 08/02/2011 14:00

it was dirty, pubes and scum in the bath,cobwebs all over. the furniture is in a really bad state.it was cold,thermostat wouldnt go over 10! the towels were worn and grey, huge amounts of dust under beds. we were supposed to be in one of the better rooms aswell.they have supposed to have had a refurb, dont know where.

dh took dd to pool and also said the changing rooms were a disgrace

FanjolinaJolie · 08/02/2011 19:02

Hifi that sounds awful.

I'd have complained about the state of the bath and room and asked to be moved.

We're just back from Newport and it was definitely very clean, whole hotel immaculate really.

Sorry you must have been disappointed.

hifi · 09/02/2011 12:44

they didnt give a fig!

MmeLindt · 09/02/2011 12:52

That is a shame, Hifi. We stayed in the (even cheaper) Cheyenne and it was great.

Some of the restaurants in the park are expensive, but not all. We had pizza/pasta opposite The Small World which was good value for money.

We ate in the Disney Village in the evening before going back to the hotel - there is a snack bar that does panini/soup with chips. It was not too expensive.

I am sure that I have read somewhere that you can get special tickets for children with SN who have problems with queues, if your DS has issues there.

Otherwise, you can have breakfast in the hotel or in the park. Book breakfast in the park before you go - you get into the park earlier than day visitors. And you can whizz around and snatch some Fast Track tickets so you can avoid the worst of the queues. Use the early hours to get in and do the most popular rides.

I think I still have the list that I made from the advice of MNetters, if you want me to post it.

Mandy21 · 11/02/2011 12:48

We're going in a weeks time but only having a day there - can anyone give us any advice about the best things to make sure we do (2 x 5 year olds and a toddler). Also, can anyone help with explaining what happens with a toddler - are there any of the rides that she'd be able to go on (not quite two) and if there are, would we just leave the buggy and collect it after the ride?

Does anyone know if you can book breakfast (or similar) and get into the park early even if you're not staying in a disney hotel?

Does anyone know about parking too?

Many thanks

darkbluebird · 12/02/2011 10:46

MmeLindt - yes please to the list!

bigTillyMint · 12/02/2011 10:59

We went for the day last August - arriving just before it opened and leaving after the fireworks. 2 families with DC 9 - 11

We bought tickets in advance online which was slightly cheaper IIRC and a bit easier.

We took in all our food and drinks, though we did buy the kids a few treats like candy floss. We gave them some money - maybe 10 - 15 euros each and went in loads of shops throughout the day - they were horrified by the prices and bought a Tshirt each in the end which were actually OK value.

We went straight to the big rides in adventureland and used the Fast Pass system. We went on all the big rides (some more than once) and most of the others. The queuing wasn't too bad - usually straight in on Fast Pass or a short 20min queue even though it was August!

The DC were too old to dress up, but the little ones we saw looked great in their outfits. The evening parade was great and the DC loved it. Make sure you have plastic bags or something for them to sit on on the kerb so they get a good view.

The fireworks were good too, but by that time I was just dying for my bed!

bigTillyMint · 12/02/2011 11:02

Ooh also got a tip from here I think about parking - we parked in the Disney Village carpark I think - was about 5 euros cheaper than the other one.

MercyMe · 15/02/2011 21:07

I was just coming on to start a thread about Disney so glad to see this already here.

We are hoping to go in September with our DD who will almost 3 by then. Does anyone have any advice about hotels etc? (Will stay away from Sequioa lodge though!) If you book hotel through Disney site, will this include the park tickets? Is this value for money?

I have been looking into all night and getting nowhere!

CaurnieBred · 17/02/2011 14:20

If you are short on time, try to eat at Cafe Mickey in Downtown Disney as some of the characters come around the tables whilst you are eating so it saves you time queuing to "meet" them.

Get there as early as possible. Go on the Dumbo ride first or else you will be queuing for an hour for a 90 second ride (I timed it!). Maybe grab a fast pass for the Buzz Lightyear ride whilst you are on your way through. Also hit Peter Pan and the Carousel quickly to get them out of the way.

We stayed at the Sequoia but that was 2 years ago. It was okay: nothing special and everything seemed to be brown!

AboardtheAxiom · 17/02/2011 14:27

Yes please to the list Mmelindt

We are staying in Sante Fe, has anyone stayed in this one? TBH we will only besleeping in it so I don't mind as long as it is clean and basic.

How do I find out about the queue system for disabilities? Do i need to take proof of DS's disability with me when I go or do I organise the passes eforehand somehow?

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