12 Sleeps to Go

[cookie334]

We're off to DLP in 12 sleeps. It's our first visit and we are all very excited. I just had a few questions that I was hoping some of you more experienced Disneylanders might be able to answer for me.

A couple of people we know are not long back and have both reported that there is no Lightening McQueen. Can any of you please prove them wrong??? My DS is a 4 year old Lightening fanatic and seeing him is all he's gone on about for the last couple of months, so if he's not there I'm going to have to prepare him

After reading a few of the comments on here I think we're going to go for the half board vouchers, but we would still like to have a meal in the Rainforest cafe so do you think it will still be value for money for the meal vouchers?

Is the option of having breakfast in the park instead of your hotel available to everyone, everyday?

We've got an 8 month old DD and obviously she's not eating things like burgers yet. Are there any places that cater for babies? Or should we maybe consider taking some jars with us? Will the staff heat them for us?

What kind of clothes should we pack for the start of June? Will it be warm enough for shorts/skirts? We're going to take a pair of jeans each, but not sure what else we will need.

Has anyone here taken the TGV from CDG to Marne la Vallee with kids in tow? What was your experience of it? Would you recommend it? There are 2 of us and we will have DD 6 (who gets very travel sick very quickly and will already have endured a 2 hour flight - hence wanting to take the TGV rather than VEA), DS 4 and DD 8 months. We wont have a buggy with us, just a baby carrier and will have a suitcase and 2 smaller bags. We fly into terminal 2F so very close to the train station from what I can gather.

What rides would you recommend getting done in the extra magic hours? ie which are the busiest and likely to be hours of queuing by the time the park actually opens?

Think that'll do it for now, but I'm sure I'll have many more questions between now and the time we leave.

I'm loving these boards, have been on here since about 8am this morning reading it all have got absolutely nothing done, but hopefully I'll be extra prepared for our holiday

Thank you all in advance for your responses.

 

[A Small World]

Hi and welcome.

I'll try and answer some of your questions?

You can see Lightning McQueen by the Cars ride in the studios and have your photo taken next to him but it of course is only a model- he doesnt talk or anything.

We are getting the meal vouchers this time for the first time so have never used them before however you get 1 per night you stay not per day but depending on flight times etc you may be able to fit in a meal on day of arrival and departure meaning you may have to buy a meal anyhow.
The other option is to have a smaller meal at rainforest cafe then a larger meal on the same day using your voucher.

As long as you are staying on site you can ask at arrival to have breakfast in the park instead of the hotel. You have to book your breakfast slot anyhow in most hotels. We like going in early for EMH then having a late breakfast in the park (9.45ish)

Sorry never travelled with a baby so Im sure someone else can answer that one better than me but there is a baby centre on Mainstreet. If you eat in a buffet restaurant there may be things baby can eat but I would take my own to be on the safe side

Really hard to know what weather will be like. People who have been recently have reported hot weather but it could just as easy turn cold again. Id pack layers and dont forget sun cream and sun hats and waterproofs

Sorry never flown there so cant comment on TGV/VEA etc.

EMH is wonderful. Not all rides are open but most in Fantasyland are and Buzz, Orbitron and Space Mountain in Discoveryland. Your children will probably really enjoy most fantasyland rides so being able to do those several times will be worth the early get up. We rode Peter Pan 4 times in a row once whereas later it was showing 90mins queue!!! Also the queue for Dumbo builds up as it is a slow loader ride so beng able to ride that will avaoid a long queue later in the day.

Have a great time and dont forget to let us know about it afterwards. Where are you staying?

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi,

We are going at the start of June too - I've been looking at the accuweather.com site for the forecast up to 15 days ahead. I used it last year too to plan for our trip, and it was very accurate for Paris.

As you are arriving into CDG at terminal 2 anyway, I'd say its no more of a hassle getting the TGV from there into DRLP than it would be getting any other kind of transfer. The TGV journey really is only 10 minutes long, and if it helps, I get travel sick on buses and trains, and even travelling in a backward-facing seat on the TGV, I didn't feel remotely motion-sick. The TGV trains are very clean and have great facilities.

The Cars ride in the Studios has Lightning McQueen right beside it, and if you ask, the CM at the ride will let you stop long enough to take a photo with your son (Lightning is behind a yellow bollard, as are the other Cars stars, as they are only props). The actual cars you ride in on the Cars ride (which is great fun ) are generic, but in the Cars movie colours ie there are red ones (Lightning), blue ones (Sally), and green ones (Flo).

I also haven't travelled to DLRP with a baby, so can't help you there I'm afraid.

With EMH, I'd do everything you can in Fantasyland - Dumbo and Peter Pan in particular get crazy queues after EMH finishes. I'd also do Buzz Lightyear in Discoveryland during EMH. But Peter Pan and Buzz Lightyear have fastpass, and its definitely worth getting those (you will want to do both more than once ).

Enjoy your trip!

Elaine

 

[Cyrano]

Hi cookie334 and welcome to DLP DIS board
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, DIS posting guidelines can be found here.

I think all your questions have been answer, but IMHO the VEA is much less stressful than the TGV with young ones in tow

 

[cookie334]

Hi and welcome.

I'll try and answer some of your questions?

Have a great time and dont forget to let us know about it afterwards. Where are you staying?

Sorry we are staying at the Cheyenne for 5 nights, 6 days. I took the view that it's cheap and only a place to sleep when I booked. However, it would appear that I've made the best choice for the kids and they are looking forward to the pony rides at the hotel more than the actual parks themselves

Thank you so much for your reply. The answers you have given are great and a fab help.

The meal vouchers sound like they will work perfectly if they are per night as opposed to per day. We will be there for 6 full days, so can fit the RFC in on the extra day. Do you know if the meal vouchers are accepted at Walts? Also have you any idea how much the childrens ones are? I'm sure I read somewhere on here that the adults are £13 a day, is that right? I can't find anything about prices on DLRP site.

I'm a little disappointed that last year I decided to get rid of the waterproof Mickey poncho's that we got when we were in WDW in 2004. We didn't think we'd get away for another few years, so didn't see the point in keeping them, shame, as they would've been perfect for taking with us.

I'm sure we'll all have a great time thank you. I'm sooooo excited now, have spent the last 2 days trawling the internet to find out what will be on/what's worth seeing and doing and what to avoid etc. I'm worse than the kids and can't imagine what I'm going to be like the night before we leave or on the plane

When are you going?

 

[cookie334]

Hi,

We are going at the start of June too - I've been looking at the accuweather.com site for the forecast up to 15 days ahead. I used it last year too to plan for our trip, and it was very accurate for Paris.

As you are arriving into CDG at terminal 2 anyway, I'd say its no more of a hassle getting the TGV from there into DRLP than it would be getting any other kind of transfer. The TGV journey really is only 10 minutes long, and if it helps, I get travel sick on buses and trains, and even travelling in a backward-facing seat on the TGV, I didn't feel remotely motion-sick. The TGV trains are very clean and have great facilities.

The Cars ride in the Studios has Lightning McQueen right beside it, and if you ask, the CM at the ride will let you stop long enough to take a photo with your son (Lightning is behind a yellow bollard, as are the other Cars stars, as they are only props). The actual cars you ride in on the Cars ride (which is great fun ) are generic, but in the Cars movie colours ie there are red ones (Lightning), blue ones (Sally), and green ones (Flo).

I also haven't travelled to DLRP with a baby, so can't help you there I'm afraid.

With EMH, I'd do everything you can in Fantasyland - Dumbo and Peter Pan in particular get crazy queues after EMH finishes. I'd also do Buzz Lightyear in Discoveryland during EMH. But Peter Pan and Buzz Lightyear have fastpass, and its definitely worth getting those (you will want to do both more than once ).

Enjoy your trip!

Elaine

Hi Elaine

Thank you so much for your reply.

I'm definitely swaying towards the TGV but think we might just play it by ear depending on what time it is once we've collected our luggage and how the kids are etc. Or do you think I should book the TGV ahead? Are they really busy? Is there a chance we wont get on if we don't pre book it? Sorry more questions

Thanks for the EMH tips too. Think it's really going to help knowing all this in advance rather than trying to figure it all out once we get there.

 

[cookie334]

Hi cookie334 and welcome to DLP DIS board
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


I think all your questions have been answer, but IMHO the VEA is much less stressful than the TGV with young ones in tow

Thanks for the warm welcome

I was just thinking that the VEA might make DD sick, especially if it's warm/sunny?

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi Cookie,

Personally, I wouldn't prebook the TGV for the journey from CDG to DLRP.
Now, the only reason I'm saying this, is because your flight might be delayed, and then you might have to pay a charge to change your ticket/get on a later TGV (unlike the VEA, TGV has peak periods, where you pay more, and if you have to travel at peak time, the TGV can work out a bit more expensive than the VEA).

I'd definitely recommend it for the return journey to CDG though - you get up to an extra hour in the parks using the TGV compared with the VEA.

If you look at the very useful information thread on this board, you'll find the TGV timetable, and if you do a booking query, you'll get an idea of the prices etc.

Elaine

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi cookie334, welcome to the DIS!

 

[cookie334]

Thanks Elaine

Yes I had thought about the problems that would occur if the flight was delayed or anything like that.

I have had a look at the prices and at the time we need to travel it works out around £14 more expensive than the VEA, it's just after peak time in the morning, so if any delays or anything it will be likely to get cheaper than more expensive which is good.

I'm not too fussed about the return journey to be honest as with the flight times we wont need to leave the park until about 6.30pm if travelling by VEA and it closes at 7pm on that day anyway.

I think my problem is that I want to have it all organised, when really I'm not going to know what's best for us until we get there. I guess what works for some doesn't always work for others, so I'm probably best to just play it by ear when we land.

Thanks for all your help though, you've been fantastic.

Hi Cookie,

Personally, I wouldn't prebook the TGV for the journey from CDG to DLRP.
Now, the only reason I'm saying this, is because your flight might be delayed, and then you might have to pay a charge to change your ticket/get on a later TGV (unlike the VEA, TGV has peak periods, where you pay more, and if you have to travel at peak time, the TGV can work out a bit more expensive than the VEA).

I'd definitely recommend it for the return journey to CDG though - you get up to an extra hour in the parks using the TGV compared with the VEA.

If you look at the very useful information thread on this board, you'll find the TGV timetable, and if you do a booking query, you'll get an idea of the prices etc.

Elaine

 

[cookie334]

Hi cookie334, welcome to the DIS!

Thanks Ware Bears

 

[edinburghlass]

Hello

 

[cookie334]

Hello

Hey, fancy meeting you here

 

[edinburghlass]

Re the transport issue again, I'd be inclined to go with the shared transport mentioned in this thread?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1829098

We stayed at the Cheyenne and really liked it so I'm sure you will. We tended to take the bus to the parks but enjoyed the walk back through the village. The kids will love the characters visiting in the mornings and evenings too.

 

[cookie334]

Re the transport issue again, I'd be inclined to go with the shared transport mentioned in this thread?



We stayed at the Cheyenne and really liked it so I'm sure you will. We tended to take the bus to the parks but enjoyed the walk back through the village. The kids will love the characters visiting in the mornings and evenings too.

Thanks a lot. Have been looking on the RS Transport website, but it's a little confusing. It says for a private transfer from/to CDG for 5 people it's 85Euro's, but then further down it says private transfer from/to DLRP for 5 people it's 90 Euro's, either way though as that's only one way it seems to be a lot more expensive than the TGV (£39) or the VEA (60 Euro's)

I dont' know, I seem to be going round in circles here

 

[A Small World]

Sorry we are staying at the Cheyenne for 5 nights, 6 days. I took the view that it's cheap and only a place to sleep when I booked. However, it would appear that I've made the best choice for the kids and they are looking forward to the pony rides at the hotel more than the actual parks themselves

Thank you so much for your reply. The answers you have given are great and a fab help.

The meal vouchers sound like they will work perfectly if they are per night as opposed to per day. We will be there for 6 full days, so can fit the RFC in on the extra day. Do you know if the meal vouchers are accepted at Walts? Also have you any idea how much the childrens ones are? I'm sure I read somewhere on here that the adults are £13 a day, is that right? I can't find anything about prices on DLRP site.

I'm a little disappointed that last year I decided to get rid of the waterproof Mickey poncho's that we got when we were in WDW in 2004. We didn't think we'd get away for another few years, so didn't see the point in keeping them, shame, as they would've been perfect for taking with us.

I'm sure we'll all have a great time thank you. I'm sooooo excited now, have spent the last 2 days trawling the internet to find out what will be on/what's worth seeing and doing and what to avoid etc. I'm worse than the kids and can't imagine what I'm going to be like the night before we leave or on the plane

When are you going?

Hi again. Im sure you'll love Cheyenne - we stayed there at Easter and loved it. We are staying at Sequioa Lodge in july when we go. The first 2 times we went we stayed at the cheapest we could find- Santa Fe as we wanted to spend all the time in the parks but now we tend to spend more time in the hotel as well so decided on S Lodge to be able to have the pool.
The meal vouchers are £13 adult and £6 children for Half board standard
£17 and £8 for half board plus and £31 and £10 for premium.
They can be used in any restaurant in some for a complete meal (starter, main, desert and drink or buffet) or at face value against the cost of a meal in others.
Most people who have been getting vouchers recently have been optiong for half board plus. I think someone has posted recently they were accepted as €25 as face value.

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

Can you book room only and get the half board vouchers aswell?

 

[A Small World]

Yes we've booked half board vouchers even though we have AP so have room only rate

 

[cookie334]

Hi again. Im sure you'll love Cheyenne - we stayed there at Easter and loved it. We are staying at Sequioa Lodge in july when we go. The first 2 times we went we stayed at the cheapest we could find- Santa Fe as we wanted to spend all the time in the parks but now we tend to spend more time in the hotel as well so decided on S Lodge to be able to have the pool.
The meal vouchers are £13 adult and £6 children for Half board standard
£17 and £8 for half board plus and £31 and £10 for premium.
They can be used in any restaurant in some for a complete meal (starter, main, desert and drink or buffet) or at face value against the cost of a meal in others.
Most people who have been getting vouchers recently have been optiong for half board plus. I think someone has posted recently they were accepted as €25 as face value.

The Cheyenne does look great, I'm really looking forward to it. The kids got sooooo excited this morning as it's now only 10 sleeps and both of the older ones can recognise that it's not very long now at all. It's great seeing them getting more and more excited, however they are getting more and more hyper as well

Do you know if you have to book the meal vouchers for every night you're there? I'm sure I read that was the way it worked.

 

[A Small World]

The Cheyenne does look great, I'm really looking forward to it. The kids got sooooo excited this morning as it's now only 10 sleeps and both of the older ones can recognise that it's not very long now at all. It's great seeing them getting more and more excited, however they are getting more and more hyper as well

Do you know if you have to book the meal vouchers for every night you're there? I'm sure I read that was the way it worked.

Yes you have to book the vouchers for every night and for every person