Disneyland Paris - last minute half term trip. advice needed

[TheClitterati]

I've never been to anything Disney but thinking of:
Eurotunnel & driving (we live in Kent);
Disney package hotel & tickets;
3 days/2 nights

Few questions for you as I know there is a lot of knowledge here:
Is it worth doing half or full board? Its just me and 2 DC and I don't want to cook;
any tips re hotels? There is a good price at Sequoia Lodge as the pool is closed. Is it far to Newport Bay Club and Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch - we can use their pool;
Am I mad?
is drive from Calais to Disney OK?
Are the parks open at night or do they close early in winter?
Is it really horrible in winter?

thanks so much.

I’d go for a half board standard meal plan. We made sure that we all ate a large breakfast at the buffet in the morning. I took lots of lunchbox style snacks in my suitcase (packets of dried fruit, cereal bars etc..) and we bought the odd ice cream or milkshake in the park to keep us going during the day. We’d then fill ourselves up again at a buffet in the evening.
We love to drive when we go to Disneyland Paris. You can load your car with all you can possibly need, without worrying about baggage allowances etc. We love driving on the French roads and being able to take in the scenery without feeling rushed and harassed, as you can do when you are worrying about flight times and train departures.The French motorways really are a pleasure to drive on in comparison to British ones. They are smooth, quiet and stress free.
As a general guide, follow signs to "Marne-la-Vallée". Then, once you get close to the resort, the excitement starts! Iconic Sorcerer Mickey signs are all the way around Paris' motorway (highway) system and my dc love spotting them.
There’s an Esso station on the resort near Disney's Hotel Santa Fe at the exit of the Disney Parks car park, so it's easy to fill up before you leave. All major credit and debit cards are accepted.

Few questions for you as I know there is a lot of knowledge here:
Is it worth doing half or full board? Its just me and 2 DC and I don't want to cook; no point in either, you will be too busy for big sit down meals so just use the quick service restaurants and go with the flow
any tips re hotels? There is a good price at Sequoia Lodge as the pool is closed. Is it far to Newport Bay Club and Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch - we can use their pool; SL is a lovely hotel. I doubt you will have much time for swimming as you are only there a few days but you can use NPB pool while yours is closed. It’s the hotel next door so not far. Davy Crockett is miles away and a drive to only site, you can’t use their pool as an alternative
Am I mad?
is drive from Calais to Disney OK? yes very easy
Are the parks open at night or do they close early in winter? opening times will be on the website, I think it closes around 7pm in winter but the Disney village is open late
Is it really horrible in winter? no, it’s quieter so less queuing. Just take warm clothes and you will be fine.

ooh thank you both.
I'm thinking of doing this - quite rash for me.

Rice that is what I was thinking re food so thanks for confirming that works.

Purple when you say to use *quick service restaurants" do you mean just pay as I go rather than get a meal deal?

it is all a bit confusing for a newbie

You can PAYG in any of the restaurants, and the meal plans can only be used in the Disney owned ones whereas you might fancy Rainforest Cafe, or Planet Hollywood instead.

Quick service restaurants are ones that are counter service (think fast food type) rather than sit down table service.

We upgrade our room at SL to the Golden Forest Club which gets you breakfast included. Then we would have a sandwich (Earl of Sandwich in the village is great for decent food at reasonable prices) and then go to somewhere like Rainforest cafe at night. You have such a short space of time there you won’t want to be going for a sit down meal 2/3 times a day which is what a meal plan would get you (and they are expensive!).

Whether it’s worth getting half board really depends on what sort of dining you want , if you’re thinking burger / chip type meals it’s probably not worth it and it’s also worth remembering that not all the restaurants in the village are on the scheme ie Planet Hollywood . The drive from Kent - Disney is easy and takes about 3 hours , I’m also in Kent and have been doing it for years ( we’ve done it as a day trip for a couple of special events ) . Sequoia / Newport Bay are lake neighbours so fine for the pool , for Davy Crockett you need to drive one junction down the motorway but it is a nice pool there .

OP maybe to late but if you live near the tunnel in Kent definitely check out annual passes .they give you extra magic time, your own special entrance, discount in restaurants...takes pressure off trip... because you can return... our 1st February trip was a trial run really.... ground snowy.. lots of rides closed... we still enjoyed it but Easter was our best trip.

We had magic plus, at that time 192 each.
Hotel, brilliant 4 star booked in advance was 80 a night....free shuttle Etc... Tesco voucher's for tunnel...we went 5 times in the end....

Counter service are quite good.. pasta lasagne Etc. Chicken, as we'll as hot dogs....

About 45 euro for four...in village there's king Ludwig, rain Forrest Etc and that's on annual pass discount.vapianos. ..