Disneyland Paris - hotel dilemma

[hermioneweasley]

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!

hotels were being refurb a year or so ago

rather excited now going in the October half term too!!! first time in the October half term usually go feb or Christmas

If you're going to try Cafe Mickey, book a table, no question. Guest Relations (City Hall) are fabulous at sorting out all those requriements.

Cafe des cascadeurs did a menu of hot dog, chips, quite edible coleslaw with a drink and an ice cream for 15 euros ( as at June this year)

Col Hathi's Pizza place was closed when we were there in June (as were a worrying number of others)

But really, the restaurants in the Parks are going to be over priced and low quality. It's a given.

Are there enough cash points or do you queue for those as well?

I found a lot closed when we went.

thet are cash points.

Gah you can do Disney without queueing barely at at. don't queue now because ds has sn and an exit pass. but when i did i got up early for the extra magic hours and was organised with using the fast pass I never queued for a ride at DLP longer than 20mins

Extra magic hours - big rides or fantasy land
am - fast tracks interspersed with smaller/ fast loading rides.
pm- shows, parades fast tracks, low stimulation areas (adventure land tunnels, alice in wonderland labyrinth, upstairs in the castle)
evening - back to fast passes and queue lines for smaller rides

Nb when we went fast pass was working but at 4pm some of them were for 10pm!

tends to work that way. earlier you are there the shorter the gap between you taking the fast pass and your return.

thats why it works best to get there early and prioritise what you want to do that day. it isn't a perfect system but it does work and it's free. if you use only 5 fast passes in one day (I used to get in more) you can hit all the main rides once without queueing. (and without the extortionate cost associated with qbots and fast passes in uk theme parks.)

the point isn't that there aren't queues at Disney but of you are smart about them you can avoid the worst of them.

thats true
earlier on they were for 20 min later

problem is I think it's the people who aren't keen on Disney that have the worst time there.

if your keen you tend to do your research beforehand. eg my first grown up visit I hated the food, before my next visit spent several hours in the evening on the Internet and ate a hell of a lot better. if your less interested in the first place your not going to waste your time and just eat where you land at lunch time.

The biggest complaints I hear about Dlp is that the food is poor and you queue. yes there is some very poor food but both it is possible to avoid the worst of it.

think some times im a little pushy with my opinions re dlp. in my defence I have a blast there and there have been some really positive benefits my little family has had from being there. thing is I want everyone to have as good a time as they can there. to me if the food and queues are so incidental that if people's experience of the place has been spoiled by those things it seems such a massive shame

I didn't mind the place. Just wanted food like on a plate. Or coffee in a mug.

can't help on the coffee, I take a flask

Actually paperlantern its people like us who have been to DLP a lot that get the best out of it and that's because we go with no misconceptions and we also know exactly what we are doing and what we want to do so its much easier than it is for someone who is going for the first time . I would imagine that you ,like me could draw the plan of both parks without a second thought from memory ! Also if you don't mind spending money food does come on a plate and coffee in a cup . I live in Kent and we have even done day trips to DLP a few times and come away having done all we want to do in about 7 hours .

yes flora that was exactly what I was trying to say

I think that's why I want to hand on knowledge. I absolutely know I can improve someone's first experience of the place. (and have done for friends).

We've returned this morning. I hope never to have to go again. Vastly overpriced, brand pushing at a nauseating level and massive queues. 50 min queue for a 47 seconds ride (tes? That's taking the piss.

I meant yes, I timed the rides.

Fast pass not working when we tried at 4 pm. 'All gone'. Having to make lunch and dinner reservations everywhere. Explaining to kids that yes, the restaurant looks half empty but the lady is saying its fully booked because they don't have staff. They are either on holiday or sick. Shame on you, Mickey cafe. What a surprise it's August and there might be customers.

Huge disappointment overall. Just trash on a grand scale. IMO.