Train, plane or drive to Disneyland Paris? Travelling from Essex

[PromisingMiddleagedWoman]

We’re planning a trip to Disneyland Paris, most likely in the October half term. Children are aged 9 and 11.

I’ve been researching travel options and can’t decide what would work best. We went there six years ago on the Eurostar direct from Ebbsfleet to Disney which worked really well, but is not an option now as trains are not stopping at Ebbsfleet (or Ashford). So I think our options are:

1. Train from St Pancras to Disney, changing at Lille. But it looks like tickets aren’t available much in advance. Plus it feels silly to travel into London by train only to then come straight back out again

2. Flight from London to Paris. But I’d prefer not to fly if possible, plus it looks like Charles fe Gaulle airport is quite a way from Disney

3. Drive and use the Channel Tunnel from Folkestone. I’m hesitant about this mainly as there now seems to be massive delays mentioned on the news every school holiday.

Any thoughts on the best option? Considering it’s not actually that far from where we live to Paris all three options feel slightly annoying, which means I can’t decide which is the best one!

We took the Eurostar to Paris, which was great and we spent a few days in Paris before getting a taxi to Disney. But we found the Eurostar home really stressful. Maybe because I’m rubbish at this travelling lark! My tips if you’re taking the Eurostar and changing at Lille; you don’t have to be at Chessy until 20 minutes before your train leaves. We got there way too early thinking we had to go through security etc but you do this at Lille so you don’t need to get there any earlier as they won’t let you through and you’ll just end up hanging around.
Don’t waste your money on business as the Eurostar is only from Lille, it’s a standard (grubby) train from Disney to Lille. Get on the train quick as it doesn’t wait! The carriage on your ticket won’t match the one on the train (ours didn’t anyway-we were looking to get on the right carriage which wasn’t there and almost missed the train!).
Once you’re at Lille it’s much better, although there’s usually a wait of about an hour for the connection. And again, it’s a stop not a starting station so you don’t have long to board. We also had a delay of an hour and a half.
I don’t think that I would take the Eurostar to or from Disney again. Paris yes, absolutely but not Disney.

@careerthink that’s good to know, thank you!

Should have said, we went in October half term. It was absolutely fine! Not too busy at all. Still nice and warm too, as we had lovely weather.

Looking at the photo, it could be the middle of the summer but this was taken last October half term! Hope you get this weather too! You can also see that it’s not too busy.

Yes we had lovely weather too, first day we were in T-shirts! Rained a bit on other days but only a bit and it wasn't cold.

Anyone else feel like AI is all over MN these days?!

Drive. 100%.

Eurotunnel is so easy. I used it over Easter holidays, the delays were at the ferry port.

We’ve been to CDG with kids before (and transferred via magical shuttle to Disney) it was fine. Doing it again over the summer.