Disney Express query

[jellybabie68]

Hello, this is my first post so hello to you all, I have been reading for a few days some of the threads on here, but decided to join as I have a query that I am sure one of you will be able to help me with. We are going to DLP on Feb 21st, this is our 3rd trip but first time of booking Eurostar and Hotel seperately. In the past we have been given our tickets on the train and had our luggage transferred. Now I assumed this would happen again this time, but understand because I booked seperately this is not the case.

So our Eurostar arrives at 12.15pm but we cannot check into Santa Fe until 3pm, what do we do with our luggage and how do we get our park tickets, will we have to wait around for nearly 3 hours? can I book disney express now as an extra if so how? there was nothing on my booking form online to request this at time of booking.

Many thanks
x

[cap'njack.]

Hello, this is my first post so hello to you all, I have been reading for a few days some of the threads on here, but decided to join as I have a query that I am sure one of you will be able to help me with. We are going to DLP on Feb 21st, this is our 3rd trip but first time of booking Eurostar and Hotel seperately. In the past we have been given our tickets on the train and had our luggage transferred. Now I assumed this would happen again this time, but understand because I booked seperately this is not the case.

So our Eurostar arrives at 12.15pm but we cannot check into Santa Fe until 3pm, what do we do with our luggage and how do we get our park tickets, will we have to wait around for nearly 3 hours? can I book disney express now as an extra if so how? there was nothing on my booking form online to request this at time of booking.

Many thanks
x

You can add it as an extra.

Personally I'd grab my luggage, head to the Santa Fe and check in.

The room's may not be availiable until 3pm but you can check in at any time of the day or night. Once checked in if your room is availiable then great...if not you can leave your luggage in the left luggage room in the Hotel and head off to the parks.

[cap'njack.]

Oh and welcome to the DISboards too!

[DLPdaft]

Hi jellybabie68,

Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to DLP DIS board :flower3:

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread, or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038 ,
DIS posting guidelines can be found here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm .

I think you have to pay to add DisneyExpress to your Eurostar booking.
You don't have to wait until 3pm to check into the Santa Fe though, you can check in as soon as you arrive. You will get your park tickets etc from the receptionist at the Santa Fe, and your room may also be ready for you well before 3pm. If it isn't, there is a free luggage store at the Santa Fe, where you can leave your bags until you return from the parks to get your room key.

It will only take you a maximum of 20 minutes walk from the train station to the Santa Fe, or you can hop on the free shuttles that run from the side of the train station to each onsite hotel every few minutes throughout the day. Its less than 5 minutes by shuttle between the train station and the Santa Fe, and if you're arriving outwith the opening and closing times of the parks, the shuttle should be fine with your luggage.

[jellybabie68]

thankyou for your quick replies. Didnt realise we could check in and leave our luggage before 3pm so cheers :worship: :worship:

[cap'njack.]

I think you have to pay to add DisneyExpress to your Eurostar booking.

I was quoted £15 when I asked about it for my March trip. IMHO it's not worth it as I'll be travelling light anyway

[britchic4]

It's approx £15 per adult for Disney express. (Approximate as not sure when price increases)

[jellybabie68]

Do you have to pay per person ie all 3 of us? as we only taking one small case. If so its not worth £45.

[squizz]

thankyou for your quick replies. Didnt realise we could check in and leave our luggage before 3pm so cheers :worship: :worship:

I usually book seperate as it works out cheaper. In all the times i've been to Disney in the past 5 years, i've always been able to go straight to my room when arriving on the direct eurostar, even in real holiday time in august. The only time i use disney express is when i'm on the way home, and book it at reception.

[jellybabie68]

So I can book it for the return trip from the hotel? how much is this do you know?

[thelittlemermaid83]

I wouldnt bother booking Disney Express, I did this seperatly and was a waste of time and money, plus lack of communication.

[squizz]

If i remember correctly its 5 euro per bag. You get a tag and drop them at left luggage on your last day. Pick them up on top floor of the station.

[jellybabie68]

I wouldnt bother booking Disney Express, I did this seperatly and was a waste of time and money, plus lack of communication.

not even for the return? I liked the fact that last time we got up, had breakfast, left the cases, spent day in the parks, had dinner at Annettes, got to the station, picked the cases up, without having to go back to the hotel again.

[jellybabie68]

If i remember correctly its 5 euro per bag. You get a tag and drop them at left luggage on your last day. Pick them up on top floor of the station.


Now that sounds right up my street lol is this available in all the hotels, ie will it be available in the Santa Fe.

[thelittlemermaid83]

not even for the return? I liked the fact that last time we got up, had breakfast, left the cases, spent day in the parks, had dinner at Annettes, got to the station, picked the cases up, without having to go back to the hotel again.

For me it was a waste of money, only because i encountered several problems.

If it works for you then go for it, me? I would rather pay 9 euros and store my bags in the luggage lockers in the station. That way i dont have to argue with a CM to get my suitcase back.

(This probably wont happen to you btw, i just had a bad time lol)

[cap'njack.]

Yeah it's £15 per person for eveyone in the party.

It's only a 20 minute walk and quite a nice one. Plus there is always the free shuttle which at that time of day should be quite empty!

[squizz]

Now that sounds right up my street lol is this available in all the hotels, ie will it be available in the Santa Fe.

Available in all disney hotels. It makes the last day so so so much easier. Especially if you are in somewhere like the sante fe where there is a longer walk.

[jillrobinson]

We've used Disney Express on both our Eurostar trips and I couldn't fault it, when we stayed on the Admiral's Floor at the NPB, it was amazing, didn't even have to collect luggage at the hotel, it just appeared in the room a few minutes after us and got collected from the room following a phonecall to consierge on the last day. :thumbsup2 :)

[peajay18]

I've only used it once and it took sooo long for our bags to be ready
(room was ready at 3, but we couldn't pick up bags form Disney Express until half four) that it just wasn't worth us doing it again.

So next time we checked in on arrival, left the bags at the hotel and hit the parks until the room was ready and then headed back to unpack.
On our last day we checked out and stored the bags at the Disneyland Park's left luggage.

Much easier (and slightly cheaper) than handing them over to the unorgainsed and slow Disney Express.

Unless you've got tons of luggage, it's just not worth it IMHO.

[jillrobinson]

The whole point of Disney Express is so you can go straight to the parks and if you do and then stay until "chucking out" time it works well.
If you intend going to your hotel in the afternoon any way, I can't see any reason why you would want to book it, when all the hotels are within such easy reach and the shuttle buses are so quiet during the day :confused3

[jellybabie68]

We didnt want to have to go to the hotel until later in the day as we arrive at 12.15pm on Saturday and leave at 8.15pm on Sunday so only have half a day on the saturday and full day on the sunday.

[jillrobinson]

We didnt want to have to go to the hotel until later in the day as we arrive at 12.15pm on Saturday and leave at 8.15pm on Sunday so only have half a day on the saturday and full day on the sunday.
Then I would most definately say opt for Disney Express.
Personally I would stay in the park on Saturday until closing - is that 10,00pm ? then I'd go back to the hotel, check in should be quiet at that time. You probably won't get a choice of time for breakfast on Sunday, but I'd be at breakfast for 7.00am, drop bags off at hotel and head for EMH at the parks.
With so little time in the parks I'd be intending to make the most of it.:)

[DLPdaft]

I guess it depends if you think the convenience of getting your park tickets on the train is worth £15 each per adult.

To nip to the Santa Fe yourselves, with your small cases, check in, get your park tickets, and get back to the park, you will probably be no more than one hour anyway (I've arrived at the Santa Fe with, and right after, a VEA coach drop-off before, and not spent longer than 20 minutes waiting to check in).

[jellybabie68]

mm think we will do that, go straight to hotel then and not pay for the express, we could only do 1 night this time because of work committments, but hey 1 night 2 days is better than not going at all :dance3: liking the sound of lockers at the station - are these big enough for a 20 inch suitcase and where abouts are these in the station? we didnt really take much notice of the station set up last time as we were too worried about getting OH on the train home as he had lost his passport - but thats another story :laughing:

[britchic4]

mm think we will do that, go straight to hotel then and not pay for the express, we could only do 1 night this time because of work committments, but hey 1 night 2 days is better than not going at all :dance3: liking the sound of lockers at the station - are these big enough for a 20 inch suitcase and where abouts are these in the station? we didnt really take much notice of the station set up last time as we were too worried about getting OH on the train home as he had lost his passport - but thats another story :laughing:

The lockers are huge and cost 9 euros for the biggest - there is a change machine there. It's on the top floor of the station and is signposted. You have to go through an x-ray machine but they seem very relaxed about it!

[jellybabie68]

Great, thanks for that, will check those out before we leave the station for the hotel on our way in. So thats that sorted phew lol,

Thanks everyone for your help and advice!!!!