Disneyland Paris

[Mummyroundtwo]

Hi all, after some advice from those who have visited Disneyland Paris. Hoping to go as a single mum with 2 ASD/Adhd kids aged 4 and 6 during the summer. Possibly 3 days in the parks.

Wanting to make it as stress free as possible and I remember that the Eurostar used to be a direct train into Disneyland but have just seen that they've stopped that!

How tricky would it be to travel into Lille and then the TGV into Disney? Baring in mind me, two kids plus luggage. Would it be easier to fly?

Also wanting to take the opportunity to perhaps see the Eiffle tower on the first day if we travel directly into Paris, and maybe spend a night there, before leaving first thing to head to Disney.

Am I being too ambitious? I'm nervous as hell but it's been a dream to take them, finally saved up a few thousand after struggling for a while and finding my feet. The kids really deserve it after what they endured with an abusive dad. I just feel disheartened now learning that the train is no longer direct there- not so confident now.

Thanks in advance x

How do the flights compare price-wise to the Eurostar? Disney offer a shuttlebus from the airport to the park, if it's not too big a price gap, or if you wanted to take the Eurostar into Paris and then stay the night, they offer it from selected hotels in Paris too. That might make it a little easier than trying to get the train.
Book your transport from Paris airports to Disney hotels - Magical Shuttle

Also, I think that both of your dc will be eligible for a priority card for when actually in the park (if I have understood the website correctly), which helps to cut down on waiting time, and you can apply for them up to a month before you go
Accessibility | Disneyland Paris

Flights would definitely be cheaper, I just thought that Eurostar would be easier to navigate rather than through the airport with bag drop/check in/ security/ gates etc.

First time going abroad with the kids too, so not sure how they'd react on the plane with the pressure during take off/landing.

But now that it's not door to door maybe we just go ahead and look at flying.

Thanks I did see on their website the priority passes. I think it's cheaper to get the tickets on the door, but I'm hoping to get a hotel package and try stay onsite to reduce issues travelling everyday. Would also be useful incase they need a break.

Thanks for replying x

I did the Eurostar Lille switch in February this year after previously going on the direct route and I'm not sure I'd do it again in the same way.

It was me, my DM and DD3. We had 1 suitcase (not a cabin but not overly large) a pushchair (tiny cabin fold so could fit anywhere) and a backpack.

In terms of switching trains, it was super easy but it was the luggage that made it unpleasant. Getting on the Lille-DLP train it was soooo busy and I couldn't find anywhere to put our case, I ended up standing with it in the luggage area until some people got off at the next stop but luckily my DM could sit with DD so I didn't have to worry too much about her. Likewise, getting the luggage off the train was stressful.

I think if I did the journey again, I would take backpacks or at most a cabin case so it could fit overhead near the seats to reduce the luggage stress. Other than that the journey itself was pretty easy and there are some YouTube videos out there of people doing the journey (if you're anything like me and need to know exactly what to expect).

@Mummyroundtwo Going out to DLP via Lille and then by train (from Lille-Europe station and not the other Lille station) is fine. It's the same station so an easy change, and direct to Disney. I would think much, much easier than flying.

Coming back via Lille is technically the same route but in practice not quite so easy, it can be stressful wondering if you might miss your connection at Lille Europe (where you have to do passport control). I would suggest that if you want to go into Paris you come back from Paris Gare du Nord (which has a luggage store if needed, and where you don't have to plan for a connection and passport control.

Is driving a no-go?
It's absolutely the most straightforward way to get to DLP with children or people with special needs. No limit on what they can take, no changes, ability to stop for fresh air and a run around, devices all the way if that is a thing, parking right outside the hotel and (if it's a Disney hotel) walk/shuttle to the park. Once you are through the tunnel it's about 3 hrs, and Google maps will take you right to the car park.