Crazy American planning last minute trip...

[Raya]

I've been tempted with the offer of a trip to Disneyland Paris in late June (22-25). It would be a quick trip, added on to another excursion. Would you all mind sharing your best advice and tips? At this point we have no hotel reservations and I have no idea how to plan things. But I'm really excited!

We'd be arrived via the chunnel. We'd like a hotel with a queen size bed or bigger. There are two theme parks, right? Does it make sense to get park hopper tickets? Do we need to book tickets in advance?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Hello

Are you coming on Eurostar or by Euro Tunnel ? If it's Eurostar are you arriving direct in the resort or in Paris at Gare du Nord ?

What size is a queen size bed ? Afaik they do double beds - 140 x 190 cm and King size beds - 160 x 190 cm but not all rooms have them, you would have to request

The 2 parks are like 5-10 minutes walk gate to gate so it is very easy to go back and forth - A 2 park ticket is the best way to go

Your dates in June are not high season - You don't have the French or British school holidays so the parks won't be packed on the week days - it's a good time to go and hopefully the weather will be good.

If you book a hotel via any one of the Disneyland Paris sites park tickets are included as is breakfast - it's good to know that you can book on any countries site so look at them all and see which has the best offer for you and your party

If you are staying off site we can advise you on which tickets are best to buy depending on how many days you intend to visit the parks.

 

[Raya]

Hi Carrie! Thanks so much for helping me!

A queen bed is 154cm by 200cm, so I think we'd prefer King. If we go with a Disney hotel is our request guaranteed or just something they might be able to give us?

Last night we found the Castle hotel, and were thinking of staying there. Good idea? Bad?
http://www.vi-hotels.com/en/dream-castle

I have no idea which train to take. Is Eurostar better than EuroTunnel? I never realized there was more than one way to 'take the chunnel'.

Is there a way to leave London and go directly to Disney? Rather than leave London, exit the train in the downtown area, walk or ride some, and then grab a new train?

 

[Tinydancer34]

The Eurostar stops at the parks. The parks and Disney village are all in the same place. The train goes from St Pancras to Marne-la-vallee-chessy-disneyland-paris. It's all within walking distance. Have a great time

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Direct Eurostars only go on certain days, the indirect ones go either to Lille and you change to a TGV train or into Gare du Nord and you get the RER A. The easier and pleasant indirect is via Lille.

Euro Tunnel is when you drive - The term Chunnel is not used really in Europe, bit like people saying Euro Disney

The Dream Castle hotel is off site - it's not far but you would need to buy park tickets or AP's and catch the shuttle that they lay on - It is walkable just - around 35 minutes each way

I don't know how the requests work for King size beds as living so close I've never stayed in a DLP hotel - I'm sure someone will be along to explain it

 

[Raya]

Thanks for the tip - I'll stop calling it Chunnel around people who know better. ::

And on an amusing note - after finding out that the Captain Nemo Subs are closed until late July my DH is now willing to plan a separate trip for when they're open. After 22 years he's willing to fly to France for the chance to ride his favorite ride again. (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea closed in the US in 1994 without any warning.)

 

[MouseyMin]

From what I remember from my last trip, the Nemo sub is a walk-through attraction in DL Paris, not a ride. However, the ride that you remember is alive and well in DL Anaheim and has been updated with Finding Nemo characters.

 

[toony]

I'm so sorry for your husband. But there is no such ride in DLP. It's more a walk-through experience. And it's not very big in there. You walk through and see some cool Jules Verne related accessories and furnishing of that story and have a nice visit from a kraken, when you look out of the window. That's it.

 

[Raya]

I'm so sorry for your husband. But there is no such ride in DLP. It's more a walk-through experience. And it's not very big in there. You walk through and see some cool Jules Verne related accessories and furnishing of that story and have a nice visit from a kraken, when you look out of the window. That's it.

Oh my. I'll have to see if there's a YouTube video walk through. That's going to cause some angst at our house. Then again, my June trip might be back on...

 

[torsie24]

Unless you're planning on driving on and off the train (3 hour drive from Euro Tunnel exit to Disneyland) then you'll need to get the Eurostar.

Chunnel is something I've only heard Americans say and I think it confuses everyone.

Eurotunnel is the name of the train service that cars drive onto and it starts on the English Coast and ends on the French coast.

Eurostar is the passenger train service that you can get on in England (in London, Ashford or Ebbsfleet) and it goes to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Disneyland and other places.