Very Confused First Timer!

[NewbieMouse]

We go to Disneyland in California every Christmas, but we will be taking a trip to Europe and thought we would stop for a day at Disneyland Paris. I have been on the website and am now totally confused, so I thought I would ask some DLP veterans for help!

We can only go for 1 day, and I am targeting Tuesday, July 16th as this fits in with our other plans. We will have a car. I am trying to determine:

1. If there is a significant advantage to staying onsite (i.e., are the early morning entry hours that essential to justify the cost? We are early risers and always open the park, but it would have to be Cheyenne or the Ranch for budget reasons.).
2. If so, is it even possible to stay for two nights but only get a 1 day ticket? Everywhere I look they want to sell me at least a 2 day ticket.
3. Do they enforce fastpass return times at DLP? (These are not enforced at Disneyland California....yet. It would changes the overall strategy for avoiding lines; just want to know what I'm getting into).

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

 

[sky13]

The Disneyland Paris website can be very confusing/frustrating at times!


1. I've not yet stayed onsite at DLP, so take what I say with a pinch of salt...

I have however made use of Extra Magic Hours (have a Dream annual pass that gives access to EMH). EMH is really useful if it is going to be a very busy day - but am not sure how busy it will be on a weekday in July.

I think another advantage of being onsite (besides the Davy Crockett Ranch) is being able to walk to/from the parks - the Cheyenne or Santa Fe are meant to be a 15-20 minute walk away. Although the offsite hotels are still quite accessible by shuttle (Kyriad, Dream Castle) or by RER (Ibis at Val d'Europe), and if you have a car this may not be such a large advantage!


2. Expedia lets you book DLP hotels on a room-only basis, and you can buy tickets separately.


3. I'm not very sure about this as have not tried using fastpasses past their return time!

 

[NewbieMouse]

Thank you so much for the response! For some reason Expedia will only give me "includes 1 ticket per day rates".... hmmm.

Yes, in California the return times of fast passes are not enforced, which makes for a different planning strategy than if you have to arrive during that window, You can't arrive before the start time, but can come anytime after that. I have showed up almost 12 hours later with no problem! But it's one of those things that's not published - I got that tip from some very helpful DISers on the DLR board. There is always talk that they will start enforcing it; I was just wondering what the practice was at Disneyland Paris. It might change the value I put on those Early Morning hours associated with staying on site on our DLP trip.

Maybe I will call Disney tomorrow and see if I can reserve a room with only a 1-day ticket.

 

[moorhunhe]

Obviously, when you take a fastpass, you are expected to be there between the times given on the ticket

It's not fair to everyone else who are there on time, if you show up late and squeeze in.
(but that's just my honest opninion, because I've seen many people try over the years)

And depending on the CM off course, if he's a very strict one, and you are late, you can't enter, seen this a few times aswell.
(also, depending on how late you are off course too, I think if it's only 5 minutes, they might still let you through, but it all depends on the CM really)

 

[sky13]

Thank you so much for the response! For some reason Expedia will only give me "includes 1 ticket per day rates".... hmmm

No problem...

Try expedia.co.uk (the UK version) instead of expedia.com. Just had a look at Expedia UK for the nights of 15/16 July and the rate for Hotel Cheyenne/SantaFe is around £194 per night for a "standard room - excluding tickets for Disneyland Paris". Still quite a bit more expensive than a lot of the off-site hotels though...

 

[NewbieMouse]

Obviously, when you take a fastpass, you are expected to be there between the times given on the ticket

It's not fair to everyone else who are there on time, if you show up late and squeeze in.
(but that's just my honest opninion, because I've seen many people try over the years)

And depending on the CM off course, if he's a very strict one, and you are late, you can't enter, seen this a few times aswell.
(also, depending on how late you are off course too, I think if it's only 5 minutes, they might still let you through, but it all depends on the CM really)

I'm not advocating doing that at DLP, I was just asking what the procedure is since at DLR the official process is quite different from what actually happens (for those in the know). I will plan for enforced fastpass times. :

No problem...

Try expedia.co.uk (the UK version) instead of expedia.com. Just had a look at Expedia UK for the nights of 15/16 July and the rate for Hotel Cheyenne/SantaFe is around £194 per night for a "standard room - excluding tickets for Disneyland Paris". Still quite a bit more expensive than a lot of the off-site hotels though...

Fantastic tip - that worked! Thank you.

 

[moorhunhe]

I'm not advocating doing that at DLP, I was just asking what the procedure is since at DLR the official process is quite different from what actually happens (for those in the know). I will plan for enforced fastpass times. :

Oh yeah, I also wasn't saying you would do anything like that
Was just giving my opinion on that point, hehe, but like said, it all depends on the CM at the moment, but that's what the fastpass is for really, to get a certain time that you come back and do the ride faster

 

[torsie24]

Obviously, when you take a fastpass, you are expected to be there between the times given on the ticket

It's not fair to everyone else who are there on time, if you show up late and squeeze in.
(but that's just my honest opninion, because I've seen many people try over the years)

And depending on the CM off course, if he's a very strict one, and you are late, you can't enter, seen this a few times aswell.
(also, depending on how late you are off course too, I think if it's only 5 minutes, they might still let you through, but it all depends on the CM really)

That was a bit of a harsh reply.

It's a valid question as in DLR (and WDW until very recently) you could return to the FO anytime of the day after your window. The OP wasn't trying to cheat the system.

To the OP- Unfortunately DLRP FP returns are only 30 mins long and very strictly enforced. But there are less FP attractions than in other parks.

I'd say EMH is definitely worth it. Unlike in the US DLRP visitors (us lazy Europeans) don't like to rise early. So you'll get fantasyland and discoveryland done without any crowds.

I've been in July midweek and its very busy. But EMH was still lovely and quiet and being able to avoid Fantasyland for the rest of the day means you avoid the worst of the crowds. Xx

 

[moorhunhe]

Why is it harsh?

Because I just state my own opinion, that's it's only fair you arrive between the hours on your ticket and not an hour late?
That's not what the fastpasses are for in Disneyland Paris, and I think that was the question, and I just answered it.

Excuse me

 

[NewbieMouse]

Don't want to start a big brawl about fastpass return times; it can get heated on other boards about that as well!

To the OP- Unfortunately DLRP FP returns are only 30 mins long and very strictly enforced. But there are less FP attractions than in other parks.

I'd say EMH is definitely worth it. Unlike in the US DLRP visitors (us lazy Europeans) don't like to rise early. So you'll get fantasyland and discoveryland done without any crowds.

I've been in July midweek and its very busy. But EMH was still lovely and quiet and being able to avoid Fantasyland for the rest of the day means you avoid the worst of the crowds. Xx

30 minutes?!? Wow. That's a very short window. I think the early hours are longer though, right? I remember seeing that it was for 2 hours, and I believe they are every day? We always get to the park to get in as soon as it opens, so we would definitely benefit from that.

Those on site hotels are soooooo expensive! I'm wondering if I could stay at the Santa Fe the night before we go to the parks so I can get the early entry the next day, and maybe stay offsite that night? Can you keep your car in the parking area if you've checked out?

I appreciate everyone's help and opinions. It's so much easier when you know how it works!

 

[DLPdaft]

Don't want to start a big brawl about fastpass return times; it can get heated on other boards about that as well!



30 minutes?!? Wow. That's a very short window. I think the early hours are longer though, right? I remember seeing that it was for 2 hours, and I believe they are every day? We always get to the park to get in as soon as it opens, so we would definitely benefit from that.

yes, Extra Magic Hours are for 2 hours every day, usually from 8am to 10am.


Those on site hotels are soooooo expensive! I'm wondering if I could stay at the Santa Fe the night before we go to the parks so I can get the early entry the next day, and maybe stay offsite that night? Can you keep your car in the parking area if you've checked out?

I appreciate everyone's help and opinions. It's so much easier when you know how it works!

yes, you could do the Santa Fe one night thing - as EMH is included on your check-out day, and you can leave your car in the hotel car park on your check-out day too.

 

[NewbieMouse]

yes, you could do the Santa Fe one night thing - as EMH is included on your check-out day, and you can leave your car in the hotel car park on your check-out day too.

Thank you! That's what we'll do. I noticed that the Cheyenne and the Santa Fe are the same price. Is there any reason why one might be much better than the other? And does anyone know if they will hold your luggage for you after you check out?

 

[A Small World]

Yes there are luggage rooms in all hotels.

The Cheyenne has a double and bunk beds whereas the Santa Fe has 2 doubles so this might help you decide which to go for.

The Cheyenne is really well themed on an old western town whereas the Santa Fe has been given a new makeover to incorporate a Cars theme

 

[DLPdaft]

Thank you! That's what we'll do. I noticed that the Cheyenne and the Santa Fe are the same price. Is there any reason why one might be much better than the other? And does anyone know if they will hold your luggage for you after you check out?

yes, you can store your luggage on check-out day for free at your hotel.
The Santa Fe and the Cheyenne are usually the same price because they have similar facilities, and are similar distances from the parks.

So its really up to you whether you prefer 2 double beds in your room (standard Santa Fe room) or one set of bunks and one double (standard Cheyenne room) and which theme you prefer - Cars movie (Santa Fe) or Wild West town (Cheyenne).

eta - snap A Small World!

 

[NewbieMouse]

Thank you so much - this has been extremely helpful. I think I will go with the Cheyenne, as we are from Calgary and have also lived in Houston, so I'm dying to see the European interpretation of the "Western" theme"!

 

[MummyMinnie]

Santa Fe DOES have bunk beds as we've stayed in a room with them, I know they're not in every room but they are available.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Geez.... the Sequoia Lodge looks kinda nice too.... I can see this is about to get out of hand.

 

[ben1993]

Sequoia Lodge is really nice! It's officially a "moderate" but it's practically deluxe IMO. Cheyenne is great for a value option though.

 

[NewbieMouse]

I just assumed they all had a pool. I thought we could arrive at check-in time the day before, go to Disney village, and then swim in the pool. Is an extra 97 Euros worth it? I just don't know!

 

[NewbieMouse]

I'm starting to wonder if the Davy Crockett Ranch might be a better choice - we have a car - is that it's only major downside?