Budgeting for DLP and Europe

[Toy Story]

Hi,
I like to review/revise my budget before the new year starts each year (I am sure there is some 'old wives tale' about having everything in order as the new year changes). So as I sat down to look at it today, I realised I have not even started to cost out anything for a 2013 White Christmas.

Our plan is to leave mid-December (before the airfare price hike) and go to Rome, and some where else in Italy, then head to Hungary for Christmas/New Year staying with our SIL, and maybe a side trip to Austria, then on to Paris for a week, then celebrate DD's 21st at DLP (thinking four nights - three days in the parks). Then home - we will be away for about 4 weeks.

So, where to start? I have MsShuttergirls Paris apartments link, and will start to read all the Europe TR's on the board - but would love other recommendations (especially for hotels in Italy and how many days you would stay in Rome). Any tips on DLP in January - we have to be there for the 12th.

There will be four of us travelling - three adults and one 15 y.o. I have $10,000 put away for flights, including internal, and have my fingers crossed there will be a Qantas/Emirates special fare in March. We may stop over on one of the legs.

Would love to know your recommendations/thoughts.

 

[areweindisneyyet]

I love Rome. I would allow a day to adjust and then three. You can also add a day to head down to Pompeii for a day trip. Rms for four a hard to come by. We stayed at the Condotti Palace. Small but great location for food shopping. I will also find a link to another option.

In Rome I do an ancient day and then a religious day and then a shop and finish off day. Love Venice. Great hotel antica sturion which has a large quad room but lots of stairs. Florence Hotel Casci. One hour train Rome to Florence. From here you can do a one day tour in Tuscany or head to Pisa for and day. We did four weeks with the two kids last year. Trip report in here some where. Will bump it up for you.

 

[aussietravellers]

We stayed at Hotel New York at DLP and it was great! Really close to DTD and not far from the parks. In Jan, be prepared for it to be cold, like freezing cold, like the coldest you have ever felt in your life But they have the BEST hot chocolate which is essential in the cold!

When I get back from Hamilton Is, I'll go through the places we've stayed in Paris and Rome. I can't remember where we stayed in Venice, it was SO long ago. Haven't been to Hungry so can't help there.

Exciting! A white Christmas is magical!

 

[Royal Consort]

We stayed at Hotel New York at DLP and it was great! Really close to DTD and not far from the parks. In Jan, be prepared for it to be cold, like freezing cold, like the coldest you have ever felt in your life But they have the BEST hot chocolate which is essential in the cold!

When I get back from Hamilton Is, I'll go through the places we've stayed in Paris and Rome. I can't remember where we stayed in Venice, it was SO long ago. Haven't been to Hungry so can't help there.

Exciting! A white Christmas is magical!

We stayed at the cheapish Hotel Cheyenne and I really loved the theming! It took me about 10 mins to stop glowing (bad pun) over the lamp being a boot. It was either that or Sequoia but I wanted to have a beer in the saloon. Which I did. I felt so frickn' cool ... I'm such a numpty.

Agreed with DLP in January. Take our insurance because transport can be severely affected at this time. Leave yourself enough of a window to get to your destinations too. In terms of DLP: be prepared for bitter cold and use the arcades on either side of main street. That keeps you warmer as you head to the hub and back. Good for shopping too. Also realise that being a European park, although beautiful, it will most likely be overcast/rainy and photos won't look as spectacular as a result. When I was there it was rubbish for most of the first day but when the sun came out and all the clouds vanished, I BOLTED from the Studios to Disneyland Park to take my photos. It ended up being lovely for the rest of the trip (this was early Nov) but if things clear and you're not in the park - get back to it! My advice is to get creative with photography and snap away at the smaller details too if the weather is poor.

Three days in DLP is a good amount of time. You'll spend most of your time in the flagship park but breaking it up with Disney Village and some great meals will space out your three days. Weekends much busier than weekdays. I think you'll find a Jan weekday pretty much dead after the kids go back to school (usually around 6th Jan) so perhaps 12th,13th,14th? Also be prepared for some rides going down for maintenance.

If you're looking for somewhere else in Italy, Florence gets my strongest vote.

 

[Toy Story]

I love Rome. I would allow a day to adjust and then three. You can also add a day to head down to Pompeii for a day trip. Rms for four a hard to come by. We stayed at the Condotti Palace. Small but great location for food shopping. I will also find a link to another option.

In Rome I do an ancient day and then a religious day and then a shop and finish off day. Love Venice. Great hotel antica sturion which has a large quad room but lots of stairs. Florence Hotel Casci. One hour train Rome to Florence. From here you can do a one day tour in Tuscany or head to Pisa for and day. We did four weeks with the two kids last year. Trip report in here some where. Will bump it up for you.

Thank you - I will read your report. DD has a trip to Italy with her school as well next year, I think they are doing a farm stay in Tuscany lucky things. Three full days in Rome is what I was thinking, I will be looking into the Christmas Markets to plan our shopping day.

We stayed at Hotel New York at DLP and it was great! Really close to DTD and not far from the parks. In Jan, be prepared for it to be cold, like freezing cold, like the coldest you have ever felt in your life But they have the BEST hot chocolate which is essential in the cold!

When I get back from Hamilton Is, I'll go through the places we've stayed in Paris and Rome. I can't remember where we stayed in Venice, it was SO long ago. Haven't been to Hungry so can't help there.

Exciting! A white Christmas is magical!

Thanks you - I think I was looking at Hotel NY at DLP - my oldest DD wants to stay in a princess suite - so I will have to look into that. Thanks for the reminder about the cold - I might go and see if there are thermals on sale now.

We stayed at the cheapish Hotel Cheyenne and I really loved the theming! It took me about 10 mins to stop glowing (bad pun) over the lamp being a boot. It was either that or Sequoia but I wanted to have a beer in the saloon. Which I did. I felt so frickn' cool ... I'm such a numpty.

Agreed with DLP in January. Take our insurance because transport can be severely affected at this time. Leave yourself enough of a window to get to your destinations too. In terms of DLP: be prepared for bitter cold and use the arcades on either side of main street. That keeps you warmer as you head to the hub and back. Good for shopping too. Also realise that being a European park, although beautiful, it will most likely be overcast/rainy and photos won't look as spectacular as a result. When I was there it was rubbish for most of the first day but when the sun came out and all the clouds vanished, I BOLTED from the Studios to Disneyland Park to take my photos. It ended up being lovely for the rest of the trip (this was early Nov) but if things clear and you're not in the park - get back to it! My advice is to get creative with photography and snap away at the smaller details too if the weather is poor.

Three days in DLP is a good amount of time. You'll spend most of your time in the flagship park but breaking it up with Disney Village and some great meals will space out your three days. Weekends much busier than weekdays. I think you'll find a Jan weekday pretty much dead after the kids go back to school (usually around 6th Jan) so perhaps 12th,13th,14th? Also be prepared for some rides going down for maintenance.

If you're looking for somewhere else in Italy, Florence gets my strongest vote.

Thanks for the photography tip, Canberra can be bleak in winter, but somehow we always manage nice blue skies - I will be lowering the girls 'picture perfect' expectations. DD's birthday is Sunday the 12th, so it may be check in on the 11th... I hope the park will be absent of school kiddies

 

[WanderlustNZ]

Just to share my two cents and throw another idea into the mix. Feel free to ignore me

If it was me, I would visit Germany or Austria pre-Christmas rather than Italy. There is something gloriously magical about the alpine countries during the Xmas season. Something you can't put into words. I spent Xmas one year touring around Austria and Southern Germany and have such wonderful memories of sleigh rides, picture-perfect chocolate box villages covered in snow, a horse and carriage ride up to snow-covered Neuschwanstein, colourful Xmas markets, Xmas carolers in the streets of Vienna, wiping snowfall from our eyelids while admiring all the scenes from The Sound of Music, and being holed up in a Tyrolean tavern listening to yodelers and warming our bodies with goulash, mulled wine, and home-made schnapps. Ahh bliss, I'm feeling emotional just thinkng of it.

My DH and I went back a few months later and done a self-driving tour of the bottom half of Germany. For us, the tiny little medieval towns with castles and fortresses and unbelievably friendly locals, held ten times the charm of the many big European cities we visited during our travels.

I never did get to Hungary, but that also looks like it would be a wonderful place to be over Xmas.

Lots of exciting planning ahead for you.

 

[Toy Story]

Thanks Wunderlust, I had not thought about Germany - Austria, yes, so maybe this will be a pre-Christmas..... I need to get out a map.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Germany....and don't forget Prague.

 

[zanzibar138]

Hi,
I like to review/revise my budget before the new year starts each year (I am sure there is some 'old wives tale' about having everything in order as the new year changes). So as I sat down to look at it today, I realised I have not even started to cost out anything for a 2013 White Christmas.

Our plan is to leave mid-December (before the airfare price hike) and go to Rome, and some where else in Italy, then head to Hungary for Christmas/New Year staying with our SIL, and maybe a side trip to Austria, then on to Paris for a week, then celebrate DD's 21st at DLP (thinking four nights - three days in the parks). Then home - we will be away for about 4 weeks.

So, where to start? I have MsShuttergirls Paris apartments link, and will start to read all the Europe TR's on the board - but would love other recommendations (especially for hotels in Italy and how many days you would stay in Rome). Any tips on DLP in January - we have to be there for the 12th.

There will be four of us travelling - three adults and one 15 y.o. I have $10,000 put away for flights, including internal, and have my fingers crossed there will be a Qantas/Emirates special fare in March. We may stop over on one of the legs.

Would love to know your recommendations/thoughts.

If it was me, I would visit Germany or Austria pre-Christmas rather than Italy. There is something gloriously magical about the alpine countries during the Xmas season. Something you can't put into words. I spent Xmas one year touring around Austria and Southern Germany and have such wonderful memories of sleigh rides, picture-perfect chocolate box villages covered in snow, a horse and carriage ride up to snow-covered Neuschwanstein, colourful Xmas markets, Xmas carolers in the streets of Vienna, wiping snowfall from our eyelids while admiring all the scenes from The Sound of Music, and being holed up in a Tyrolean tavern listening to yodelers and warming our bodies with goulash, mulled wine, and home-made schnapps. Ahh bliss, I'm feeling emotional just thinkng of it.

I second Wanderlust's comments! That sounds perfect

I'm heading off to Europe in a few weeks. I'm not going to Italy or Hungary so can't help you there. But we are going to Paris and crossing the border into Austria for Innsbruck.

It can be difficult to find hotel rooms for 4 in Europe. I'm travelling with my parents, so we have had to find rooms for 3, which is just slightly easier. My budget held us back from booking anywhere flash, but Mum likes her 'nice' hotels so we had to compromise a bit. We've booked places that looked clean and tidy, and as spacious as we could get, without necessarily being fancy or having the best views. We also wanted locations close to the main train stations as we'll only be in each place for 2 nights at a time.

In Innsbruck we're staying at Basic Hotel. Not sure if you're visiting that part of Austria, but it looks really pretty. It seems to be a pretty good location right in the old town, maximum 15 minute walk to any of the touristy things and the train station. We've only got a room for 3 here, not sure if they do rooms for 4, but this will be the cheapest hotel on our trip, less than $100 a night from memory, and gets great reviews.

In Paris we're staying at Hotel Terminus Lyon, which is right across the road from Gare de Lyon station. We've got a quadruple room there for a decent price. It's not particularly close to any of the touristy places, but being so close to the train station it will be easy to get to them.

For Disneyland I couldn't afford to stay at any of the on-site hotels, so we've booked Hotel L'Elysee, which is in Val d'Europe one train station away from DLP. We're staying for 5 nights for less than $600 (which I believe is less than the cost of one night at the DLH). Having said that, in January you're likely to get some pretty good deals on Disney hotels. We all got Fantasy APs for DLP through Promoparcs, which were cheaper than 3 day passes through Disney, and also give us discounts on dining and merchandise. At that time of year there are no block-out days for any of the APs and during the week it should be very quiet.

Yep, it will definitely be cold. Make sure you have thermals, polar fleeces and ski jackets, gloves, scarves and beanies for everyone! And don't forget your feet, you'll need water-proof shoes and warm socks.

Anyway, feel free to peruse my PTR, which is starting to get a bit more serious now it's getting close! And my TR should be up and running by mid-March, so you can see all my reviews.

 

[Toy Story]

I second Wanderlust's comments! That sounds perfect

I'm heading off to Europe in a few weeks. I'm not going to Italy or Hungary so can't help you there. But we are going to Paris and crossing the border into Austria for Innsbruck.

It can be difficult to find hotel rooms for 4 in Europe. I'm travelling with my parents, so we have had to find rooms for 3, which is just slightly easier. My budget held us back from booking anywhere flash, but Mum likes her 'nice' hotels so we had to compromise a bit. We've booked places that looked clean and tidy, and as spacious as we could get, without necessarily being fancy or having the best views. We also wanted locations close to the main train stations as we'll only be in each place for 2 nights at a time.

In Innsbruck we're staying at Basic Hotel. Not sure if you're visiting that part of Austria, but it looks really pretty. It seems to be a pretty good location right in the old town, maximum 15 minute walk to any of the touristy things and the train station. We've only got a room for 3 here, not sure if they do rooms for 4, but this will be the cheapest hotel on our trip, less than $100 a night from memory, and gets great reviews.

In Paris we're staying at Hotel Terminus Lyon, which is right across the road from Gare de Lyon station. We've got a quadruple room there for a decent price. It's not particularly close to any of the touristy places, but being so close to the train station it will be easy to get to them.

For Disneyland I couldn't afford to stay at any of the on-site hotels, so we've booked Hotel L'Elysee, which is in Val d'Europe one train station away from DLP. We're staying for 5 nights for less than $600 (which I believe is less than the cost of one night at the DLH). Having said that, in January you're likely to get some pretty good deals on Disney hotels. We all got Fantasy APs for DLP through Promoparcs, which were cheaper than 3 day passes through Disney, and also give us discounts on dining and merchandise. At that time of year there are no block-out days for any of the APs and during the week it should be very quiet.

Yep, it will definitely be cold. Make sure you have thermals, polar fleeces and ski jackets, gloves, scarves and beanies for everyone! And don't forget your feet, you'll need water-proof shoes and warm socks.

Anyway, feel free to peruse my PTR, which is starting to get a bit more serious now it's getting close! And my TR should be up and running by mid-March, so you can see all my reviews.

Wow thanks for the tip - especially the DLP AP - I have not started reading TR yet - I go back to work tomorrow, so will start getting back into some sort of routine, with reading and planning etc.

I look forward to hearing about your adventure.

 

[WanderlustNZ]

I'm heading off to Europe in a few weeks. I'm not going to Italy or Hungary so can't help you there. But we are going to Paris and crossing the border into Austria for Innsbruck.

Yay, Innsbruck is delightful. I visited Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck and Innsbruck was my favourite of the 3 cities.

Not far above Innsbruck, across the German border, is a town called Oberammergau. The frescoed houses make it the most beautiful little town, particularly when covered in snow. I think I read somewhere that you can catch a train their from Innsbruck which might make for a nice day trip.

Neuschwanstein isn't that far from Innsbruck either. Not sure how you'd get there though as it's a snowy drive across the Alps. Maybe they do tours? It's the castle which inspired the WDW one and it's pretty spectacular.

 

[zanzibar138]

Yay, Innsbruck is delightful. I visited Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck and Innsbruck was my favourite of the 3 cities.

Not far above Innsbruck, across the German border, is a town called Oberammergau. The frescoed houses make it the most beautiful little town, particularly when covered in snow. I think I read somewhere that you can catch a train their from Innsbruck which might make for a nice day trip.

Neuschwanstein isn't that far from Innsbruck either. Not sure how you'd get there though as it's a snowy drive across the Alps. Maybe they do tours? It's the castle which inspired the WDW one and it's pretty spectacular.

I wish we had more time in Innsbruck to do all these things. Alas, we only have 2 nights. I suspect I will want to go back