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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Disneyland Paris for a novice

28 replies

FairyBiker · 02/08/2014 09:56

We're thinking of going just after new year before the schools go back. Is that a busy time to go, or are all school holidays busy, or is it always busy?

Also, does it make that much difference having an extra 10 minute walk back to the hotel after a days walking or is there more to the Disneyland Hotel than it's location.

Is the official site the best place to book through?

Too many choices Confused

OP posts:
dancemom · 02/08/2014 10:04

You can get a shuttle bus to the other hotels on site which takes just a few minutes.

Heels99 · 02/08/2014 10:09

It is more the French school hols that make it busy than the English ones

Original poster
FairyBiker · 02/08/2014 10:20

That's interesting about the french holidays, right off to google dates

OP posts:
ladygracie · 02/08/2014 10:23

The Disneyland hotel is super close & looked gorgeous from the outside but is way more expensive than the others. We stayed at hotel Cheyenne in May & it was great. Close enough to walk & as it was a disney hotel we could go into the park at 8 in the morning.

Floralnomad · 02/08/2014 10:30

We have been every year often more than once since it opened . IMO it's not worth paying the extra for the Disneyland Hotel ,we usually stay at The New York but I've also done Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay which are also nice ( not as nice ) . You do need to bear in mind that the weather can be freezing out there at that time of year ,we did the week before Christmas for about 14 years and although we never had much rain we had lots of snowy days and it is cold !

Original poster
FairyBiker · 02/08/2014 12:31

Wow Floral, that's a lot of Disney
hmm, looks like our half terms holidays are the same as in France as well as Christmas. Easter looks like a possibility tho.

Any advice about which websites to use to book?

OP posts:
indecisivemeee · 02/08/2014 12:37

I went at Easter and it was packed. Wouldn't go again around that time. When I went after Christmas, it wasn't too bad for crowds but it was very cold.

HermioneWeasley · 03/08/2014 18:18

We've booked through "short breaks" before and found them good value (cheaper than booking direct with Disney)

Floralnomad · 03/08/2014 19:12

I've always booked through the Disney site ,normally when they have a deal on and I usually drive and book the tunnel myself independently .

AugustaProdworthy · 04/08/2014 12:10

hi- sorry to jump on your thread OP but is the first week of September a good time to go?

Pushka2 · 05/08/2014 09:54

In my opinion, unless your kids are fairly young and enjoy all of the Disney stuff in hotels, then I don't think it's worth paying the extra money for The Disneyland Hotel, New York New York or Newport Bay (stayed in all 3 but never stayed in the others). In the Newport Bay in particular if you are in a standard room it can take 5 minutes to walk to the lift and 15 minutes to get a lift that is empty enough to get in. Then you may have a 15 minute wait for breakfast even though you have a timed card. The other 2 hotels are better on that front (although I prefer the NB rooms) but not worth the extra money. Also, we haven't used the pool once when in any of the Disney hotels. However, I do understand that if it is your first time, you may want to experience one of the Disney hotels (they do do Character meet and greats).

When we go as a family, we always stay somewhere like the Kyriad or Explorers now as my kids are older and we don't spend virtually any time in the room as we are at the parks all day and then eating dinner.

As others have said, it will be very cold at Christmas. We've been at October half term before and it was cold but not freezing and there was a lot of Halloween stuff around which the kids liked.

Crutchlow35 · 05/08/2014 13:57

SO you don't think I've made a mistake booking Adagio at Val D'Europe then Pushka2?

dancemom · 05/08/2014 15:32

TheExplorers is great

trikken · 05/08/2014 15:39

Going to The New York in feb. Hoping its better than when we went to Santa Fe hotel. Dh will be driving. Am looking forward to it but apprehensive about the journey there.

Ilelo · 06/08/2014 13:13

Does anyone know if both parks can be done in one day with 2 young DCs who won't get on any scary rides so hopefully we won't be queuing for too long ...

dancemom · 06/08/2014 13:17

You wouldn't get everything done in one day and you wouldn't be making the most of it but you could get a few rides in each park done.

It's not necessarily the scary rides that have the queues though, toy story, Snow White etc all get busy.

NickiFury · 06/08/2014 13:20

Going for three days in October, hoping it won't be too cold then. Staying at the New York. Kids are 11, 8 and 3. Glad to hear the New York is nice, on full board as well.

Going on the Eurostar, anyone know how straightforward it is to get from the Eurostar terminal to Disney? Should we get a taxi.

Thanks for any advice Smile

Ilelo · 06/08/2014 13:35

Thanks dancemom.

Nickifury, I've read somewhere online that the train station is walking distance to the park.

dancemom · 06/08/2014 13:37

Super easy NF, there are shuttle buses right outside train station. Train station is right next to parks also so all very nearby and easy to navigate.

AliceMum09 · 06/08/2014 14:59

The Eurostar terminal is at Disney! You come out of the station and the Disney Village is right there.

trikken · 06/08/2014 15:57

Yeah eurostar is actually at disneyland. Open foors from station:There. Then buses to the hotel.

HermioneWeasley · 06/08/2014 22:01

You can walk to hotel New York from the parks too. It's a good one as it's the closest to the village so actually more convenient than the pink one by the park.

sweetkitty · 11/08/2014 00:21

Thinking about this end of March next year for our honeymoon, it's the 20 year anniversary of DP and I's first date so thought we would get married then go to Disneyland with the DC, oh they are 10, 9, 6 and 4. GrinGrinGrin

I take it we will have to book 2 rooms, any hotels have family rooms?

Is the best idea to book through Disney them sort out flights separate? (In Scotland too far to drive)

Ilelo · 11/08/2014 11:31

The Explorers hotel have rooms for up to 6. It doesn't seem to be a disney partner hotel but they have indoor and outdoor play areas and pool activities to keep kids entertained.

I've never been but we are going this summer and I'm leaning towards this hotel just for the kids facilities on days we don't go to the disney park.

nickstmoritz · 11/08/2014 11:48

Florence with teens. Uffizi or Accademia to see David? or Pitti Palace?Will be def going to Brancacci chapel and DD and me love art but DS other DD and DH not huge art fans but will be happy to see some. Don't want to overdo museums but want to go to one. Any tips plse?