What is the most affordable way to do Disneyland Paris?

[LaserShark]

I am a teacher so can only go in the school holidays and have two children. I’d love to take them next year ideally in the spring. Searching the website is bringing up quotes of £2000 (we would take MIL so it would be three adults and two children) which I really can’t justify for two nights away! Is there a way to go more cheaply in school holiday time or is it just that price?!

We've just paid less than that on May half term. We drove and stayed at Davy Crockett Ranch.

When you book through Disney, they include tickets for every day. As we were going to spend the first and last day travelling, we thought this was a waste.

So I booked the first night room only at DCR through Expedia, so we arrived early evening and spent the evening using the facilities there. Then I booked a three day/two night stay with Disney, and we could get the full time each day in the park, including the extra magic hours. I then booked two extra room only nights so that we could stay till late on the last day, and have a day in Paris too.

Ferry was about £100, room only at DCR was £150 pn, and Disney package was £900 so about £1450 plus fuel and food (DCR is self catering so that helped).

There are a few campsites nearby, which offer chalets etc which would bring the accommodation cost right down (although you lose the advantages of staying in a DLP hotel).

We also bought 2 lots of '1 day 1 park' tickets rather than ones in which you could go in both as it was cheaper.

And at certain times of the year it's cheaper to buy an annual pass than 3 day tickets.

We've been in the Easter holidays but the week after or before the actual Easter weekend.
If you book through a company like Magic Breaks you can get some good deals. Use their on line pricing tool to play around with dates. Travelling midweek is cheaper than a weekend.
Driving and using the Eurotunnel tends to be cheaper than going by tain all the way or flying.

Stay in a hotel nearby and get the metro/ hire car to Disney daily, you could easily do a week in Paris with two days in Disney for £2000 or under, then you can see other french delights too.

Where are you based and are there any unusual local holidays where you could travel to reduce ££

We went in the Scottish October week which is just before the English half terms and, although the weather wasn't fabulous, it was a bit cheaper to get flights from the north English airports

Buy your own stuff separately and don't fall for the the photo pass crap and meal plans.

If you think you can get back there look at annual pass, staying off site. Most off site partner hotels are as close or work out as close as on site.
Camp sites near by, attraction tix.

German offers.

Also just remembered, we went to the Mickey Mouse Wild West show one evening and bought tickets through the French site which were considerably cheaper. This was a few years ago so not sure if it's still the same now

Hang tight for 25% off and free half board if you want Disney, it always comes around and if you want food it is better value than two days and two nights free. We're paying £1500 for 4 nights at Santa Fe October half term.

Oh there's 4 of us only 1 under 7 (think he's free??)

We drove and stayed in a fab wee campsite not far from the Davy Crockett ranch. Checked disboards.com for details on where to get cheap tickets.

Just done 3 nights 2 days at DLP for under £1k and that's peak summer holidays with 3 adults & 1 child. We stayed off site and it was brilliant - ferry from Dover at 10am we were by the pool in our hotel by 3pm. Had a fantastic quad room & huge breakfast the next morning (including making cheese & ham baguettes for lunch ) left the hotel at 9am and we were in the park by 9:50 parking £25.
We did one very long day in the park and one slightly shorter in the studios - absolutely brilliant went on loads of rides but wouldn't have wanted a 3rd day as we were knackered!! We left the park on day 1 at 11:30 and were back at our hotel for midnight. Another leisurely breakfast swim in the pool then left late morning for the 3 hour drive to Calais and were home by tea time. DLP tickets were booked through Picniq & hotel in Booking.com was Novotel Collégien.

Don't be put off by people saying you have to stay on site if that's not your budget as we certainly didn't feel like we were scrimping in any way. Message me if you want more details

DD went in the summer with her boyfriend. They flew with Flybe and stayed in an Ibis hotel near the Gare de Lyon where they could get the train to Disneyland. Their 3 night break came to under £300 each, including DLP tickets.

We went in May half term (French schools not off then so kind of felt like term time).

Easyjet from regional airport, stayed in Magic Circus hotel and used free shuttle bus (10 mins).
Bought 3 day tickets into Disney on separate website. It wasn't too dear that way.
Does MIL have to come? My parents paid for our trip but definitively said they didn't want to come!

May half term is a good time to go as I don't think it coincides with French school hols. If you go at the end of half term the first year and get an annual pass you can go back at the beginning of May half term the second year! If you go to France for your summer holiday you would also have the option of using it as a stopover on the way home (there is a Novotel nearby) Of the places we tried I would recommend the Dream Castle and Relais Spa Val Europe. If going by train it is cheaper if you change in Lille. If driving cheapest to get P and O ferries. The annual pass includes free parking at Disney which saves £20 a day. I think it also gave a discount in restaurants and early morning magic hours.