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Original poster

Disneyland Paris - hotel dilemma

70 replies

hermioneweasley · 24/08/2013 10:18

We are planning to go October half term (have been before, yes I know it will be hellish!). Am choosing between Hotel New York and Newport bay. NY is £200 more, but is a bit closer to the park. Reviews say Newport bay is getting run down and there are queues for breakfast.

Was also wondering about sequoia lodge - how much of a pain is it to need shuttle buses? How long a walk is it from the village to the sequoia lodge?

Thanks!

OP posts:

nulgirl · 24/08/2013 10:22

We stayed at the Sequoia Lodge last month. Hotel was fine and is right next to the New York hotel. Not sure why you'd need to take the shuttle bus. Rooms weren't amazing but you don't spend that much time in the room anyway. Breakfast was good and there weren't any queues even though the hotel and park were very busy. I'm not sure I'd want to spend £200 extra on the hotel considering how little time we spent there. Would rather spend the extra on spending money for the park.

nulgirl · 24/08/2013 10:24

Oh and the Sequoia Lodge is about a 10 min walk to the park. Right out of the Disney village then past New York hotel and you're there.

buss · 24/08/2013 10:25

walking distance it makes no difference at all really
we stayed in NY
It's very nice but the lobby can get very busy as they have conferences there
we didn't use the shuttle bus

Fairypants · 24/08/2013 10:28

We stayed in sequoia lodge, the walk isn't far and is pleasant. The difference on distance isn't worth the extra imo. We also quite liked having the pool at the hotel.

Original poster

hermioneweasley · 24/08/2013 10:29

Nulgirl, I didn't realise the sequoia lodge was so close to the hotel NY. I will definitely investigate. I thought t was a 15 minute walk from the parks.

OP posts:

paperlantern · 24/08/2013 10:29

Newport bay I wouldn't bother with. love the sequoia. would say easier than walk than Newport bay. have never tried new york, could never justify the extra cost from the sequoia. if your buggy dependent in any way do not pick Newport bay

Original poster

hermioneweasley · 24/08/2013 10:32

What sort of breakfast things are on offer at Sequoia? Can you gets eggs as well as breads etc? Thanks

OP posts:

Suzieismyname · 24/08/2013 10:35

Newport bay has mind blowing striped wallpaper and there were big queues for breakfast... don't do it. It's only a 10 minute walk to the park from any of NB, NY or Sequoia, if we go back again we'll try the Sequoia one.

trockodile · 24/08/2013 10:43

We stayed at the Newport Bay last Christmas. It was absolutely fine and I can't remember any problems with the room or decor-although in my experience it doesn't hurt to email guest services a couple of weeks before and ask for a nice room(with a view/close to lifts/swimming pool etc or anything else you particularly want-you don't always get it but if you are polite and complimentary it doesn't hurt!). We haven't stayed in New York-but we did stay in Disneyland Hotel which was amazing but considering the price difference Newport Bay was still very good and a lot less'fussy'.

We asked for (and got) first sitting at breakfast (7am I think) so it was lovely and quiet, and the food was nice and fresh. Later it looked very hectic. DS (8) loved the swimming pool and it was a really nice walk around the lake to the Disney village. Earl of Sandwich is an especially good and reasonable place to eat and for lunch we bought sandwiches and took them back to our room where we had our own drinks/crisps etc and then had a swim/chilled out before heading back to the parks.

Hope you have a great time-ime managing expectations when it is busy is most important, as is having some sweets in your pocket for when queues are unbearable! My DS loves the shops (we allocate a set sum for him to spend and he usually buys things on the last day) and is happy to spend time in the shops when the parks are really mobbed. Booking restaurants now is my other tip!

difficultpickle · 24/08/2013 10:43

We stayed at Sequoia and there were big queues for breakfast if you were any later than 7.30am. I thought the food there was absolutely horrible. Breakfast was tolerable but dinner was really really poor. Ds's food was served cold and when I queried it they said that was what the microwave was for (there was one near where we were sitting). It was extreme mass catering done to a really basic level. If we ever went back we would only stay at the Disneyland hotel which is in the park.

BobbyGentry · 24/08/2013 11:01

Newport bay, keep the 200 pounds savings for the park. When staying at the Disney hotels, you get to enter the park two hours before everyone else (this is around breakfast time.) the breakfasts appear to be on factory settings due to the sheer numbers of guests being fed.
I've stayed in 'the cars' one, then Magic Circus and another time at the CDG Hilton. From these experiences, I'd say the buses are no problem.
My top tip, inside Chessy railway station at the park is a 'Relay' shop - go there before you go into the park and stock up on drinks, sandwiches and snacks. It is far cheaper than the parks.
We have had a great time and went early August when it was heaving :)
Staying up for the light show was well worth it too !

Waspie · 24/08/2013 13:51

Can anyone tell me how I go about booking a character breakfast in advance please? I can't find anything on the Disneyland Paris website. Ideally we'd like the Toy Story characters.

We're staying at the Sequoia Lodge for Hallowe'en. I'm looking forward to it very much

paperlantern · 24/08/2013 14:22

I book through the customer service holiday booking line. not sure which one you want for toy story ask if you ring

English cooked breakfast aren't included in the buffet breakfast at either sequoia or Newport. (can't remember if you can pay extra for them.) but the continental breakfast is yummy and I've always found it filling (big appetite) yoghurt, cereal, toast crossiant (chocolate spread massive treat for dd) my favourite fruit salad and continental meats.

the evening and breakfast buffet at both Newport and sequoia are the same. not haute cuisine but good food.

Original poster

hermioneweasley · 24/08/2013 14:28

Thanks for your help everyone

OP posts:

paperlantern · 24/08/2013 14:31

I would add the my explorers hotel (associate hotels) certainly when I stayed there 6/7 years ago I was the best quality hotel with the best food out of sequoia Newport bay and cheaper. if you dont have mobility issues the shuttles are fine and reliable. if ds didn't have SN and mobility issues I would definitely look again at this hotel.

paperlantern · 24/08/2013 14:38

on the breakfast queues you prob want an early breakfast to get into the park early. if you do find yourself down later whilst the queues look huge, ime they moved quite quickly.

Disney hotels= extra magic hours

LadyMilfordHaven · 24/08/2013 14:41

i went on a school trip in July. I wouldn't spend more than 2 full days there tbh.

PLUS your biggest concern is finding somewhere nice to eat. When people said the food was crap, I didn't believe them but it truly is. THere is no coffee for sale in a proper cup, no normal food at all. everything served from soulless empty canteen type things. YOu can only order a fixed Menu. a vegetarian burger is " a bun"

TERRIBLE

MortifiedAdams · 24/08/2013 14:42

Sorry to crash the thread, but what age would you say is right to start taking LO to DLP? She will be two in december, and Id thought not til 3 or 4 but you experienced DLPers might be able to advise better.

TheSecondComing · 24/08/2013 14:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyMilfordHaven · 24/08/2013 14:44

there are lots of other hotels nearby - like this with a train to DLP
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g677470-d648349-Reviews-Ibis_Paris_Marne_La_Vallee_Val_d_Europe-Montevrain_Marne_la_Vallee_Seine_et_Marne_Ile_d.html

MortifiedAdams · 24/08/2013 14:47

Has anyone stayed at the Marriott there?

Waspie · 24/08/2013 14:48

Thanks Paperlantern, I'll find the phone number.

MrsSchadenfreude · 24/08/2013 14:53

I think the extra magic hours are a bit of a waste of time - the only bit that is open is Fantasyland (or was when we went earlier this year) so very limited as to what you can go on - spinning teacups, Dumbo, Pinocchio, Snow White etc. Everyone queues up for Frontierland to go on Big Thunder Mountain and there is a mad rush when they open the barrier at 1000 (or whenever it opens).

I would stay at Val d'Europe, get the train (shuttle buses are always rammed) and go for about 1030 or 1100, when the initial mad queue of people has gone through. And head to the Studios first as everyone goes to the park and the Studios tend to be relatively empty until around lunchtime. Food is better at Val d'Europe as well.

Original poster

hermioneweasley · 24/08/2013 14:54

Mortified, I'd say 2.5 is the minimum age to even begin to cope with the queuing and sensory overload. Closer to 3 is good, but it is just magic when they are little. The first time we went with DS he was nearly 3, and he started crying when we left the park on the first evening - he didn't realise we were coming back the next day.

OP posts:

MortifiedAdams · 24/08/2013 14:55

Ahh bless him will stick with the origional plan of 3/4 then! Longer to save too.

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