1st timer hints and tips required

[murmar]

Hi all, I will be going to dlp in 22 days for 5 nights staying at the Santa fe.

Does anyone have any good tips or hints that are worth knowing before I leave.

We are on a tight budget and stressing about the money, all I keep hearing is how expensive it is! Where can I save money? I really want to get the most out of the trip so as much info you can share the better.

We are planning a day trip into Paris one of the days will we have time to do that and fulfil all the benefits from the park also?

Thank you in advance for any help given, I'm a complete novice and really do appreciate all your help

 

[wayneg]

Just moved your post across to the DLP forum.

 

[HappyPanda]

As you are staying for 5 nights, I'd definitely recommend coming out of the parks to eat lunch. You can get a really nice EoS sandwich for hardly any money at all!

 

[Isila]

Use EMH, it's well worth getting up early and going to the parks.
I wouldn't go into Paris and lose a day in DLP. For me it would be too stressful, I would loose much fun and I'd be paying for the tickets I wouldn't use.

Take snacks with you, and drinks - this costs much money. I'd make a plan where to eat and count the budged.

I don't know if you can hire a kettle in SF, but you also could take a travel one. Tea, coffee, snacks - that's saving too.

 

[cinderslg]

Budget wise Id say fill up on breakfast, bring plenty of crisps, cereal bars etc and you may only need to eat one other meal. We also take porridge pots, cup a soups hot chocolate sachets etc to have in the room if we get peckish at night.
You can buy bottle of wine and spirits in the little shop at train station if you fancy a nightcap, drinks inthe hotel bars are crazy prices

 

[Jazzy B Bunny]

Sorry to butt in, can you 'blag' food from breakfast? I too am in a very tight budget and only want to buy one meal a day....

 

[Isila]

I used to fill bottles for kids with juice, grab some croisants and let kids carry those. Nobody said a thing.

 

[LunaMini]

When we were there last year we saw a family making a full picnic every morning using the breads, cheeses, meats etc. No one said I word. I just wouldn't have the heart to do it!
We filled up a breakfast though and this kept us going pretty much all day, no kids here though!

 

[Brummig]

Are you going in a car, or on Eurostar?
We've always taken car (and now camper) so have plenty of room. We take travel kettle, mugs, 3 plastic bowls and sporks, sharp knife, then coffee, hot choc, cup a soup, things like Ainsley Harriot Instant cous cous, instant pasta, cereal bars, biscuits, tuna pasta style things in foil and fruit (hard to find and expensive on park). As DS is quite early to bed we always took a bottle of wine to have in the room.
There is a garage by the Santa Fe which sells some things cheaper than the park, eg milk, lemonade, water, crisps etc.

If you buy a drink or snack early in the day check your receipt as they often have offers on them for later, eg buy a hot drink and get free pastry.

 

[DLPdaft]

take snacks with you - they are expensive in the Disney parks. The Relay/Casino convenience store inside the train station is not bad though - ie a small bag of Lays crisps is 2.20 euros inside the park, a large bag (ie bigger than a Doritos sharing bag) is 1.50 euros in the Relay. Small bottle of Coke inside the park is 3 euros, in the Relay you get a 1.5 litre bottle for 2 euros.

I won't lie though, its not cheap eating and drinking at DLP, so if you can, take as much stuff as you can with you.

 

[MissSkellington]

When we went in Novemeber, I saw more families than not 'packing' a lunch from the breakfast buffet...is this the norm? No one seemed to care, not even CMs....

We drove, and packed plenty of snacks, a kettle with coffee and hot chocolate, a case of Coke and bottled water. You can save yourself a small fortune just by having those things.

 

[tennisfan]

When we went in Novemeber, I saw more families than not 'packing' a lunch from the breakfast buffet...is this the norm? No one seemed to care, not even CMs....

We drove, and packed plenty of snacks, a kettle with coffee and hot chocolate, a case of Coke and bottled water. You can save yourself a small fortune just by having those things.

Depending on your hotel. It is frowned upon. Years ago the cheese use to be slices like in the DLH but they started cubing it to discourage people from taking it out for lunch. It's a contentious issue, I would say the odd pastry is acceptable making a lunch not so. Yes I know food isn't cheap but no theme park is

I agree with others take some snacks with you. Buffets are good value for meals as you can eat as much as you like

 

[JohnnySharp2]

If you are able to take the short RER train to Val d'Europe the Auchan supermarket is significantly cheaper than anywhere.
Though bear in mind you have to carry it back!

The Relay shop I agree is a good choice, you can buy bread/cakes/dairy produce/crisps and snacks there much cheaper than in the parks.

Breakfast for us is the key, especially being fortunate to stay at the Disneyland Hotel the last couple of times we have been.
It gives you such a good start to the day, if you can find some relatively cheap options for snacks that just gives you the evening tea to cater for.

Must admit we have taken the odd piece of fruit and a couple of small jam pots back to the room, but have never done it to excess. I did see one couple fill a cool bag full of Yoghurt and bread rolls last year.

With Joshua's special needs in mind we tend to take a bottle of Vimto, as they don't do cordial that well, plus some sandwich paste jars, we buy bread/butter and crisps as we go along.
Generally always have something in the room, taking some tin foil is also a good idea we find, and if you are having some sort of food produce in the room best to have some kind of sealed sandwich or snack box is handy too. We even take carrier bags, you never know when you might need them.

It's just finding ways of getting round the problems, having a villa in Florida used to be great, but in an on site DLP hotel you just have to find your own solution to issues like expensive food. To be honest I would rather have a nice snack at Earl Of Sandwich than pay 20 plus euros for some of the average food at the restaurants.

Toad Hall at the Disneyland Park we feel is very good value and the food pretty good too, we always eat there a couple of times.

 

[markpsych]

If you are able to take the short RER train

Top tip....and if you're partial to an alcoholic beverage in the evening, you'll save a fortune if you bring a few bottles/cans back with you

Not sure what your budget is....but if you make the most of breakfast, and then make do with your own snacks during the day, the high cost of the main evening meal doesn't hurt so much. I always remind myself that we're on holiday, paying for the atmosphere/memories, don't often (ever!) do it at home, etc. which also helps to ease the pain

The buffet restaurants (park/hotel) are obviously good value for money. My kids love helping themselves, and it's nice to have a relaxing meal in the evening, with no time pressures, etc.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Top tip....and if you're partial to an alcoholic beverage in the evening, you'll save a fortune if you bring a few bottles/cans back with you

Not sure what your budget is....but if you make the most of breakfast, and then make do with your own snacks during the day, the high cost of the main evening meal doesn't hurt so much. I always remind myself that we're on holiday, paying for the atmosphere/memories, don't often (ever!) do it at home, etc. which also helps to ease the pain

The buffet restaurants (park/hotel) are obviously good value for money. My kids love helping themselves, and it's nice to have a relaxing meal in the evening, with no time pressures, etc.

To be honest , and it's all personal preference, but I am not too concerned if a beer at Cafe Fantasia Bar at the DLH (which is just fab), costs a bit more than really you would normally pay.

I don't really have a real social life at home and never go out drinking, so if I have to pay a few extra euro's to enjoy a drink on holiday then I don't mind. Especially in such nice surroundings.

Not everyone would feel the same, but it's balancing out having a good time and not feeling you are paying ridiculous prices. Which I accept the drinks there are.

 

[murmar]

Thank you all so much, we are travelling on the euro star, very much looking forward to it now, and thanks to your great advice I will worry less, I am prepared it won't be cheap but I will ensure we have a decent breakfast, great tip about the sandwich place though may try that.

Can I ask what the dress code is? Do we need to dress up for the nicer restrurants or are they not to bothered by that, I don't want to bring a load of clothes I won't wear.

 

[tennisfan]

Thank you all so much, we are travelling on the euro star, very much looking forward to it now, and thanks to your great advice I will worry less, I am prepared it won't be cheap but I will ensure we have a decent breakfast, great tip about the sandwich place though may try that.

Can I ask what the dress code is? Do we need to dress up for the nicer restrurants or are they not to bothered by that, I don't want to bring a load of clothes I won't wear.

I tend to wear jeans, shorts and tops when I go but then I tend to eat at buffets etc. There isn't a dress code as far as I know

 

[DLPdaft]

no, no dress code at DLP - your park-wearing clothes are fine for all the restaurants in the resort.

 

[murmar]

That's good to know, I can now put back half my clothes lol gosh packing for a holiday is stressful x