[Closed] Advice needed for Disneyland Paris

or an alternative to a hotel would be good.

1 adult and 4 kids!

Disneys Davy Crockett Ranch?

stayed recently (March) very modern, clean, woodland setting, self catering (fridge, hob, microwave) "Ranch" (Static Caravan) - 2 bedrooms separated by a living/dining/kitchen area - couldn't face being couped up in a hotel with my lot

10 minutes from Disney, shuttle buses available, metro from Disney gets you straight into central paris should you wish

at the time price included park tickets, not sure how the deals are over summer

on site indoor pool, restaurant, play area, terribly overpriced shop,

We stayed at the Sequoia lodge IIRC, tickets included in price, spent most of both days there in the park from dawn til dusk so being cooped up in a hotel room wasn't a major issue, kids shattered at day's end.

Expensive but not as bad as I feared, getting a couple of hours park access before the daily rush was really good.

Haha yeah a 1:4 child/adult ratio is not my idea of a good holiday!

Thanks, that's the kind of alternative I was looking for. Hopefully it includes entry to Disneyland as it came out at £1300. It seemed to but annoyingly Google translate fails me when it gets through to the last part. I found a nice hotel with pool etc (without tickets) at £700, so this would be comparable, and as you say, nicer. Thanks.

There's a good page on Disneyland on net mums or mumsnet, I was looking as we're planning to go next year

It's worth checking whether the Sequoia/Davy Crocket also allow you to get in to the park an hour before the regular opening. I think they used to but that was a few years back. It's nice to have a bit of time before it all goes mad

Food is expensive in the park but you used to be able to take your own stuff in and also they do list the restaurants and prices so there is no need to do the pricey ones unless you want to

Don't miss the dragon!

Is this where I tell my tale of how much I hated Disneyland Paris?

Don't know if it's still the case but it always used to be cheaper booking through the French version of the Euro Disney site. We also stayed at the Sequoia lodge and certainly made the most of the buffet breakfast. Actually wasn't expecting too much from.the visit but ended up having a fairly good time...despite it being in the midsts of winter.
The firework display was very impressive as well.

Thanks TP that looks nice.

Ha funny you say that about the booking - on the French site it came out at Euro 1,700, then when I went back in another way, all translated into English, it was £1,900!

DezB - Member
Is this where I tell my tale of how much I hated Disneyland Paris?

My brother from another mother.

Worst weekend of my life, but I'm sure others will love it.

Rides are GREAT fun with kids, ours, at 6 were tall enough for everything appart from space mountain I think. Tower of terror was their fave, brilliant.

Hotels are HELL, but you get the benefit of early entry, we stayed at the New York one last time,,

the character dining was great the first time we went, when the twins were 4, rip off, but great...

I will never return thankfully.

Ah yes, mumsnet.

DezB - I'm not going, not my cup of tea, or my 2 boys, but my sister and her 4 girls will love it.

Will mention the Dragon to her.

We stayed at the Sequoia. Took the Eurostar right to the park entrance, baggage taken on to the hotel for us. Buffet breakfast and evening meals, made up some ham and cheese rolls from the breakfast buffet for lunch. 10-15 minute walk to the park.

I was expecting to hate every minute. It all looked so clean, and sterile and false when you first walk in. And then I realised that clean is actually how British attractions should be. And I actually quite liked being transported to a whole range of childish things, and seeing my kids loving it.

I'm ashamed to say I would love to go back.

[i]I'm not going[/i]

Think yourself lucky!

We have gone the last 2 years we stayed at sequoia lodge 1st year and davy crocketts 2nd year

Both very clean
We drove to france so davy crocketts being a short drive didnt bother us (car parking is included with your hotel)

We booked through this link was very hassle free

http://www.disneyholidays.co.uk/disneyland-paris/

Which would you recommend then Ben?

She'll be car-less and there for 1 week. Davy looks good for days when not going to Disneyland with lots of stuff for the kids, but says it doesn't have transport to the park.

[i]And then I realised that clean is actually how British attractions should be.[/i] haha love it.

Sequoia lodge i would say as has a nice pool and you can walk or shuttle bus to park only a 5 min walk round the disney lakeside

With no car i wouldnt use davy crockett

Ment to add both hotels ypu will get the disney magic hours in the mornings which is nice

I had a decent hotel in Paris and most hotels can get you great deals on Euro Disney tickets too.

Took the French underground train to get there in 40 mins.

Shop around?

I was not intentionally going to ED after going 3 times lol but had a spare day.

Check to see if the fireworks are on too.

Go on every scary ride especially the underground rides.

Enjoy!

Been twice (3 and 4 days IIRC) don't really feel the need to go back to be honest, I'd go back to Orlando though.

First thing to remember: if you're with kids it's not about you. They will love it! You'll probably get carried along with them.

"Steal" stuff from the breakfast buffet for lunch/snacks.

Take snacks with you if you have space I always take a big ziplock full of cereal/protein/clif bars.

The character dining is worth it if you have little ones. Mine loved it at 4 and 6, not sure they'd feel the same now at 6 and 8.

Earl of Sandwich is good for a cheap lunch dinner that isn't McDonalds.

Avoid the shops until the last day apart the spinny light things (you'll see what I mean) that will keep your kids entertained whilst you wait for the fireworks. Take spare AA batteries and multitool for these.
Don't try take the multitool into the park.

We stayed at the Newport bay one year and then [s]Sequoia Lodge[/s] Hotel Cheyenne. The breakfast (and hence the stealing) was better at the Newport bay.

At least you won't get eaten by an Alligator! (too soon?)

We stayed at the [s]Pocahontas[/s] Cars themed one, as it was about the cheapest. It was basic compared to some, but clean, comfortable and convenient. Couldn't fault it. Parked about ten yards from our room and the park was a short walk away.

Look at the dining plans. It's not ideal for everyone, but you can save a wedge if you're careful and plan ahead. Get to the participating restaurants early for the 'snack' vouchers or you'll be there forever. The bigger restaurants need booking in advance.

Get there at rope drop. When we went there there would be about six people waiting, and we got straight on everything. Pro tip, go anticlockwise round the park (everyone else goes the other way for some reason).

For the final show, again get there early to secure a decent spot.

Is this where I tell my tale of how much I hated Disney[s]land[/s]world [s]Paris[/s]Orlando?

Awful place and to think I paid in total ~£200 for the pleasure 🙁

bluearsedfly - Member

DezB - Member
Is this where I tell my tale of how much I hated Disneyland Paris?

My brother from another mother.

Worst weekend of my life, but I'm sure others will love it.

We'll keep those stories for the support group...

We'll keep those stories for the support group...

* pickup in Stafford at 5am
* drive around UK nuclear test area #3 aka Walsall picking up more passengers
* back on M6 West Midlands during rush hour
* wait for over an hour at Worcester Services M5 for a family of bellends who were waiting for us on the northbound side FFS
* Chunnel is closed, inside lane of approach road is a lorry car park prob 15 miles of queuing HGVs
* arrive at Dover 6pm wait for two hours for a boat
* arrive Calais 10pm-ish
* the autoroute is closed after just a few miles, our 76-seater coach along with everyone else is diverted around quaint rural French villages
* face-off in a quaint rural French village between our driver and the driver of an HGV, neither of whom will back up and let the other one through
* gendarmes arrive and sort it out (prob getting on for 3am now, I'm so tired it's like a living nightmare)
* arrive Disneyland Paris around 4.30 am

I would recommend the Disney explorers hotel.
We stayed there, two adults and three kids and they can configure rooms depending on numbers.
It is on the shuttle bus route and has quite a good pool of its own for hotel guests with a splash park and slides, so for any free time available (or wanted) it offers a nice alternative to the hustle and bustle.
Regarding tickets, we bought annual magic passes through a French site and they worked out comparatively good value, actually cheaper than one-off day tickets. Got to the park for the early bird pre-public opening time and rushed through the big rides in relative calm.
The pass also gets you between 10-20% off in shops and restaurants.
It's a few years since I went but trip advisor was a great source of info and tips to get the passes etc.

Thanks, some great advice and tips there. And horror stories!

rocketman's tale of woe

Sod that, ours wasn't so bad.

Left Morzine at 9am, should have arrived at 3pm, arrived at 8pm because we saw the first waving plastic French road worker somewhere near Les Gets and finally passed his mate about 30 mins south of Paris - or so it felt. Cost - negligible as we were going home anyway.

Checked into 'Dream Castle' or rather tried to, some surly Twunt dressed like a Christmas Cracker talked down to me for 30 mins before telling me that, they were fully booked - "ah" I said "It's okay I've booked, and paid for our room" "No Sir, you haven't" - what followed was an at first polite exchange between tired Welshman and Cracker, which escalated quickly into me Shouting and trying to swat him with my printed reservation confirmation as he got equally as loud and rude - finally separated by a manager who, almost politely told me that the plumbing had failed in about a 3rd of the hotel and it stank of shit, would I like to stay? "yes, but not here” so he kindly said he'd transfer us to:

Magic Circus - which as far as I can tell is identical to 'Dream Castle' bar they dress like the Solders from The Nutcracker instead of Crackers - and by "kindly transfer" he meant firing a couple of keystrokes into his computer to more our reservation, we'd have to drag our bags back into the car and over there - which suited me. Anyway, Nutcracker was okay until I asked "can we store our bikes, I'd arranged it with Dream Castle, but well, we're here now" "I'm afraid this is impossible - we cannot store bikes either here, or there" I knew I was wasting my time, but I showed him the e-mail exchange between me and booking - but he just waved his hand and that was it. Didn't have any decent locks with me, and with the bikes hanging off the back of the car - I reversed it into a big prickly hedge in the car park - JD.

Hotel first night £250...

By this time, it's about 10pm and we're hungry, restaurant is closed and the vending machine wants €4 for a bag of crisps so I held my breath and ordered room service - 2 nice burgers and a small pizza arrived an hour later... with a bill for £60..

First night £310...

Up next morning for our 'free' breakfast, a UN Council of food in a huge buffet, stuff from all over the place - I went for something a bit like the wedding breakfast we had in Bavaria a couple of years ago, it was nice.

Enter 'Le Park' no wait, that's not right - there's a shuttle (or in real terms, a Bus) that leaves the hotel every 20 mins to the park, it's insanely busy and I've commuted in London, Sydney, and travel in the underground in Tokyo - everyone crams on and the doors start to close - or tried to, at the last moment this gang of business twunts come running at it - I spotted them in the breakfast hall, they're not going to Disney - they want the train into Paris and the station is next door to the park, being business twunts they're more important than the rest of us and hyper competitive no one wants to be the one guy who FAILED to get on so they're trying to force themselves on - I hear No1 Son whimper (7 at the time) - one of them it trying to get on my kneeing him in the face/chest "stop that" I said loudly, he didn't respond, No1 cries out - so I give Twunt an elbow to the face because I couldn't free my hand. with a look of "there's another if you want it". We left him behind.

Arrive at The Park, Ticket taker wants ID from everyone so much digging around, and we're in at about 10am. Ticket Cost - £160

Compared to Disney World, Disney Land Paris, we'll it's a bit shit, or maybe it's more of a case of 'compared to Disney World at 14, Disney Land at 34 is a bit shit' anyway - there's "Main street USA" AKA Shops and the rest of the park is sub-divided into various themes - mostly shops. The Main attractions are surrounded by little buildings more shops which makes it look grander than it actually is.

It's raining, but also August so very warm, but mostly full of surly Parisian Teenagers so you're wet without a jacket and too warm with - we joined the queue for the first ride - 45 mins waiting time - which was actually slightly over an hour - it's pretty good, the real big bangers are done brilliantly - everything looks better than it really is, they're very clever at hiding the seams, anyway it's good but over in 5 mins and now it's 1130 and we've only done one thing, so we take some of the 'fast pass' things you can get, they sort of let you queue for one thing, whilst you're queuing for another - it sort of works, but there are lots of limitations so it's not perfect. We manage to bang in 2 more rides in the next hour or so - and No1 is now hungry so I hatched my plan - the food in the park is INCREDABILY expensive, otherworldly so, so I knocked up some little rolls in Morzine and froze them so they’re perfect now – by the letter of the rules of the park, you’re not actually allowed to consume your own food in there – you’re meant to leave and come back (and that’s not as easy as walking in and out, it’s a faf) so we ate them on the sly – people have actually been thrown out for doing so, but I didn’t care, because I’m BAD TO THE BONE. We ate quickly and subtly before splitting up to throw the feds off our back and fell back to Space Mountain – No1 was too small for it, but I wanted to go so they waited an hour for me to queue for it – it’s cool, it’s a roller-coaster with added ‘Disney Magic’ AKA plastic crap. But I enjoyed it, after that the Mickey Police seemed to be looking at us a bit too much so we split again and RV at the Movie section which is a bit like a park within a park, anyway, it’s a tiny bit quieter than the main park (in the same way as the Tube is quieter than Tokyo underground) and the rides are actually a bit better, Tower of Terror is probably the best thing in the whole place IMO, there’s actually something going on in the queue and it’s pretty cool.
So it’s 3pm by now and we’ve been on 6 rides or so, some good (Space Mountain and the Gold Train one) some Great (Tower of Terror) and some poor (Star Wars and Armageddon) and we’re hungry and thirsty – so I strolled into one of the shops – 3 drinks, 3 muffins - £40, suitably refreshed we managed to get another ride in by the time it’s closing – there’s a little parade thing for the last 30 mins, but it’s a bit lacklustre – if I was a cynic, and lord knows I am – it’s not about entertainment, it’s about getting people out – it starts at the back of the park and leads the kids Pied Piper style to the exit the performers look bored and tired and so were we.

Total cost at Park £200, not including lunch because I’M BAD TO THE BONE

Back to the Hotel for Night 2 – bosh - £250, with a note to say that our original room was now available if we’d like to move back, no, we would not.
We needed dinner – queuing is bloody hard work, Mrs Jay sighed and reached for the room service phone, held her hand sweetly and said “le balls to that” and took No1 for a drive – to find a McDonalds – he’s like a bloodhound for them, sure enough 15 mins later and he’s locked on and 15 after than we’re back in our room with a sack of greasy crap for less than €20, exhausted, stressed out and really not looking forward to driving home the next day, but couldn’t wait to get home.
I’m not a tight person, I spend every penny I earn, but I hate wasting it – to tag on a day in Disney at the end of our holiday cost us £760 and for that it’s terrible value, frankly even the £160 for the tickets was a rip off – when you peel away all the plastic bullshit it’s just a theme park like any other, only with 4-6 shops for every ride – honestly it’s 80% shops – and they all sell the exact same thing - £40 teddy bears and I don’t care how much your Kids love Disney (and it’s not the draw it used to be) they don’t want to stand for an hour to experience a little chunk of it before waiting another hour.
On the way home I asked them if we could go back in time, would they prefer to either stay in Morzine for another week instead -and they both agreed they’d prefer Morzine for longer.

Wow, that sounds fun!?!

Can I recommend somewhere else instead? We've been to Disneyland Paris a couple of times and it's great for the kids. But we had a MUCH better time here -

[url= http://www.europapark.de/en ]Europa Park[/url]

Some very similar rides to Disneyland, some better too. Same sort of shows etc. Much bigger park and less people too. And probably a lower cost. The only downside is that it's slightly awkward to get to, but I'm sure you could fly to somewhere close.

P-Jay that doesn't too bad 😯 haha

P-Jay that was hilarious, thanks.