Help - conflict with husband

[dunscared]

planning to take 3 yr old and 1 yr old to eurodisney in sept. live near manchester. kids only been on hols in car up to now so flights or eurostar????
flights quicker but husband says no time to relax into holiday
eurostar means chilled out but night in london before and after due to eurostar timetable??

I would go with flights....on the basis we took a 18mnth old on eurostar - no seat belts to hold her in and a long journey. Also check-in was a diaster as they waited till the last minute and we nearly never made it.

Eurostar every time for me. Airports are a nightmare at the moment (I've been through 3 in the last 48 hours - don't do it!!!), and having to allow extra time for security and possible delays leaves too much "when are we getting on the plane" time. Also, being practical, under 4s don't pay on Eurostar so both children will be totally free - if you fly you'll pay a child fare for the three year old and a nomimal infant cost for the baby. The Telegraph are doing a "2 for 1" deal on eurostar at the moment but I don't know if you can book up to September on it (you'll need four passwords, they are published every day until the 19th and one of them is pleasure apparantly). Personally if you can I would use the deal to go leisure first class where gorgeous young men wander around bearing bottles of champagne

eurostar for disney - as you can leave bags at the station and they end up in your hotel room so you can go straight into the park. Same going back - leave bags in hotel, collect at station.

thanks we're still "discussing it"
like the idea of eurostar but getting to euston by train then across to waterloo involves tubes or taxis (without car seats - would you do it?) and a night in a hotel each way!
flying at least you're on your way from the off but agree with hassel element also if you fly do you take your car seats for the transfers etc?

we've only taken them away in the uk up to now, always in our own car sre we panicking too much about this car seat thing or not?

thanks

I'd have to disagree with the eurostar theory as we went BA connect from Manchester to Charles de gaulle airport in Pasirs last year (4 days after the hoo haa with the baby milk bomb) straight to the eurodisney resort. It was really quick (you're landing just after you've taken off!) and the train station is in the airport and only one quick change to get to eurodisney. It would be miles less stressful than dealing with 2 cities, staying over, entertaining the kids on 2 long journeys etc etc... The prices were good too and being BA and not budget crap airline you get treated really nicely (a shock as we're used to the naffness of ryanair!) I would say quicker is always better when children and journeys are concerned... I don't see how it can be relaxing in any which way though That said, you'll have such a fab time when you're there

lizzer
how did you do the transfer with kids
husband is really worried about the car seat thing
thanks

you could drive down to Ashford in kent park your car there and take the Eurostar from there. Slightly longer drive than just o London but saves the hotel room and nightmare of getting across London. There will probably be travelodges etc near Ashford if you wanted to stay over.

Not so many trains run from Ashford these days; its being phased out as a station with regards to the Eurostar service.

I would fly even given queues at air ports. You can go Manchester to Paris, surely fairly easily and quickly adn save those 2 nights in London hotel. Some people don't travel together. Nothing to stop your husband taking the chidlren on teh train and you flying of course or vice versa or taking a child each going the other routes or perhaps if he's really wanting to go on the train just agree to that for peace and quiet.

dunscared - am sure I sound totally irresponsible but to be honest, with the average speed of London traffic as it is, I probably would consider a taxi and I'm usually a real stickler for the whole car seat thing. Certainly don't think the tube would be a viable option with suitcases, two children (and prams?) in tow.

dunscared, not sure what you mean about needing carseats? We left car at manchester airport and didn't need carseats cos travelled by train in France straight to the resort from airport. Then every day there was a free transfer bus service from Val de Europe (think that's what its called) to the main parks. Are you staying in appartments nearby or in Paris itself?

re the car seats my husband is worried about needing them for the taxiride in london if we go via eurostar or needing them for the transfer from/to the airport in France if we flew
as i said we've not been abroard with them and are probable overpositioning the worry as the travel agents say there are no child seats on their coaches and other people with kids must use them!!??

Taxis are exempt from the seat thing and I have never felt unsafe in a London taxi with a small child but you have to form your own view. If you flew presumbaly the 1 year old is free and sits on your knee and you pay for the 3 year old. Flying is just so much quicker and I find it much easier to entertain children. I always fly to the NE to visit my father rather than get the train. Children just like the fun of the air port more too I find and the actually travelling bit on the plane is much shorter and you'd be going straight from Manchester so surely that would be much easier all round.

Ok, you definitely wouldn't need a car seat for the bus transfer on the disney bus as it packed out usually, and only a few mins at 10 mph or thereabouts on the journey. The airport train is really easy, you go down to the bottom floor of charles de gaulle (lifts available for you) I know its a drag having children and luggage but it would be totally do-able there, its very new and easy to get around. Buy RER train tickets from machine or ticket office and away you go.

I don't know how you can get to Manc. airport (we drove and paid parking, as we are 1.5 hrs away) but I've used the train before and that's fab. Could you blag a lift off a friend or relative? That way you can have their seats in that car, then they could pick you up too....

Xenia, yeah imo most children love airports!!Its a great visual experience for them to see a plane on the runway, taking off into the blue sky..."in real life" as dd is fond of saying atm!

Anyhow dunscared,good luck in deciding what is the best option for your family

lizzer
thanks have booked the flights will drive to airport but leave our car seats there

going to either pre-book a taxi with car seats in paris or go on the train do you have to change or is it direct?

Ok here's where I admit that I don't know all those details because we went into Paris for an afternoon sightseeing straight after landing at CDG (dumped luggage in train station lockers) before jumping back on the RER and getting to Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy stop via Gare du Nord train station in central Paris. But I have found this which should give you all the practical info you need... We didn't travel with small children though (dd6 at time) so I know that makes a difference.

Ooo I bet you are excited now you've booked flights. I've just booked to Italy for easter and it makes it suddenly very real and not just chat!

thanks
the website gives us loads of options
very excited probably me more than the kids!