Euro Disney and Paris

[Kameko043]

Looking to possibly go in late August.
Twin Boys who will just be potty-trained.
Looking to go Roll-o from Hull to Zeebrugge and then drive. We have the Europe Drive kit required.

So here are my Q's:

DISNEY:
How long did you go for?
Where did you stay? good or bad
How was the food? good or bad
Did you fly/drive or fly/train or roll-o?
Suggestions to stay away from?
Suggestions to absolutely see/do?
Going during the week. Did you go during the weekend / week? Any crowd problems?
Crowds - how long or short were they especially for Toddler rides?
Did you get a package deal? Through who?

PARIS:
Did you take the park shuttle? fee?
Pick up and drop off times okay or need more?
Are toilets readily available? (Boys will just be potty-trained).
How much time did you allow to see Paris attractions?
Any suggestions to see/do?
Any suggestions to stay away from?

Any other suggestions about Disney and/or Paris you can give is much appreciated.

Thanks

DISNEY:
How long did you go for?
*First time 3 nights, secnd time 3 nights as well I think, 3rd time we just went for the day.
Where did you stay?

• Stayed in Newport and Sequioa Lodge, both fine as a base. Not too far to walk easier than trying to get on the bus that goes round. How was the food?
• breakfasts are a bit manic, book your breakfast slots on arrival or you might not get times to suit, lots of cold meat and yogurts. Fast food on site isd neither fast nor hot, the baguettes are the best bet and found the buffet lunch with the caractors was good grub too. Did you fly/drive or fly/train or roll-o? *First time flew into CDG and got the Disney bus. 2nd time flew with ryan air and got a hire car, 3rd time flew with ryan air buss into Paris and metro to hotel, RER out to disney for the day. Suggestions to stay away from? *If kids are very small take own buggy as the park ones don't lie back so not ideal for snoozy toddlers, take credit card for deposit if you are hiring and a bike lock saves you worrying about your own buggy or deposit. Suggestions to absolutely see/do?
• Got to go on small world

PARIS:
Did you take the park shuttle? fee?
*Got the RER and dinsey ticket combo.

Are toilets readily available? (Boys will just be potty-trained).

• Prob not, nip into bigger cafes and fast food places.

Bit of a hijack, but could I ask scribble who you used for hire car and did you get free car seats (if applicable ). I've just booked eurodisney flying to cdg, in october and have seen somewhere that you can get free car seats if going to disney.

DISNEY:
How long did you go for? 3 days, 2 nights
Where did you stay? good or bad - Holiday Inn - Good
How was the food? good or bad - Hotel good, park good but v expensive
Did you fly/drive or fly/train or roll-o? Fly and coach from airport
Suggestions to stay away from? The Movies park - not very good with tinies, suits teens better IMO
Suggestions to absolutely see/do? Lion King show, buzz lightyear show
Going during the week. Did you go during the weekend / week? Any crowd problems? Week, December, v busy but not horribly so
Crowds - how long or short were they especially for Toddler rides? - you can get tickets and go back later. Toddler rides fine.
Did you get a package deal? Through who? No.

PARIS: didn't go

I can't remember, there is only 1 or 2 who hire at beuvais anyway, (CGD we got the bus) I don't kow if they do free seats.

If flying into CDG and going to Disney I wouldn't bother with a car unless you are going for ages, ours just sat in the carpark, too much to do on site not likely to venture out anyway and if you go into Paris you don't want to take a car in anyway, easier to get the RER as car will get bumped and marked and parking impossible.

check out www.disboards.com for loads of info and useful tips. we've been about 7 times (!) but not for a couple of years so most of my tips would be out of date! Unfortunately i'd have to disagree about the queues, even for the 'toddler rides' everyone goes on everything so there are queues for everything. 'small world' is brill and probably the quickest to load so even what looks like a long queue shouldn;t take too long

Am staying Davy Crockett so need a car, will keep looking out for a good deal. Thanks.

We've stayed at Sequoia Lodge and New York, both fine and close to walk. Also 2* cowboy place I wouldn't really recommend - though probably biased as I was on my own with 3 kids and oldest was just 3! Last time we got a great deal for the Marriot Village through the internet. It was about £80 per night for 6 of us, self catering duplex with 2 beds/baths, dishwasher, downstairs loo. Shuttle to site though we drove. That was low season though.
Paris with young children is very tiring imo - would do it separately as it may be overload for little ones.

we stayed at the disneyland hotel, is the most expensive, but it was FANTASTIC. if you go in there at breakfast (just head for the restaurant- anyone can go there but you may be told you can't if you ask-just walk as if you know where you're going) just outside there are always characters to have photo with and the queues aren't very long. it's great inside the hotel too for photos.
go on: it's a small world.
you need at least 2 days.

DISNEY:
How long did you go for?
!st time 3 nights, 2nd time 4 nights

Where did you stay?
Newport Bay
good or bad
Fantastic first time,OK second

How was the food?
Expensive!!! Fill up at breakfast and make up picnic lunch from rolls, ham etc from breakfast like everyone else - youi will be grateful!!! Take jusice cartons etc and get a room with a fridge. Buy wine/beer etc duty free asexpensive inbotels and we needed a drink in the evenings. you can only take so many hours of "Cinderella waved at me"!!!!
good or bad
Both!!! Cafe Mickey is expensive but fantastic if your kids like characters, if they don't steer clear!! Rainforest cafe popular with kids and King Ludwigs was good Better first time, not as good in Dec 06. Avoid any form of fast food as French can't do it!!!
Did you fly/drive or fly/train or roll-o? DRIVE!! You need to stock up at French supermarket on way back - cheap wine!!! Als easier if kids acting up!
Suggestions to stay away from?
If your kids are young and not into charcaters don't bother with studios as most rides are for older kids - only one or 2 suiatble for littlies. Great for meeting characters without queing though.
Avoid Character breakfast - lots of pushing and shoving for only 1 hour extra in park. Used up trying to feed kids!!!
Suggestions to absolutely see/do? Depends what kids are int. DD very into Disney Princesses so we had to doevrythign to with tem. All younger rides and train are great. Get fast passs for Peter Pan etc.
Going during the week. Did you go during the weekend / week? Any crowd problems? We wernt week and no queues, friends been weekends (high and off season andboth queued) so I'd go midweek if you can.
Crowds - how long or short were they especially for Toddler rides? Went really quickly
Did you get a package deal? Through who? We went with Crest using our Tesco vouchers but they no longer do it. You would have to book through Leger to use Tesco vouchers now. Need to book at coach trip. If you want to self drive book it as dep point being your hotel then sort out own discount ferry etc.

Hope that helps!! Disboards were very useful bot lots of sad people there!!!! Have fun!

DISNEY:
How long did you go for? -- 3 nights
Where did you stay? good or bad --Newport Bay Club Admirals Floor room. Worth the upgrade becasue you can get room service breakfast, avoiding the dining room scrum and can make up a packed lunch from all the leftovers. Also free swimming pool towels.
How was the food? good or bad hotel breakfast was fine. Avoid eating in the park. Planet Hollywood, Annettes Diner acceptable, Steakhouse was more adult-oriented & mad a nice change.
Did you fly/drive or fly/train or roll-o? None of these. Would highly recommend the direct Eurostar from Waterloo.
Suggestions to stay away from? Don't eat in the park itself!
Suggestions to absolutely see/do? Depends on the age/height of your boys really. Many of the rides are unsuitable for little ones, but there's plenty to do. Our best moment - the cars stunt show in the disney studios park, and Its a Small world.
Going during the week. Did you go during the weekend / week? Any crowd problems? Avoid weekends like the plague, even in winter.
Crowds - how long or short were they especially for Toddler rides? Long enough!
Did you get a package deal? Through who? Paris Travel Service (part of Cresta, IIRC)

Must you go in school holidays? It will be less crowded once everyone's back at school.
And check out the disboards forum. The experts on everything .