difference between on site and off site hotels

[HAZELGROVE]

Hi All

This my very first posting here so please be gentle !!
Seriously though, this looks like a terrific forum and I already have lots of info gathered for our very first trip in next year.
We are planning on going for 4 nights - Mon 2nd to Fri 6th April.
I know that week is the start of the summer season in DLP but it is mid term in Ireland and as far as I can see, just before the mid term in France. I have a few questions and I am sure you have heard them all before many times but my first is about accommodation.
Initially, we were willing to spend a bit extra and stay as close to the parks as possible. Yesterday however I got the shock of my life when getting the following quotes directly from the resortisneyland Hotel €4879 and Hotel New York €2948 - the prices were B&B and tickets for the duration and 2 rooms for 4 nights. I could not believe how expensive it is.
There are 3 adults, 2 boys (6 and 4) and 1 infant so that is why we need 2 rooms.
Anyway, so now to plan B. Either stay on site at some of the 3* or 2* hotels or move off campus. Ideally we would like to be walking distance to the parks but we will have to see. All of the other on site hotels get mixed reviews - some nice accommodation with poor food, some vica versa. Can anyone recommend their favourite out of the rest that would suit our group ?
Got good prices from the Holiday Inn at around €100 per room per night - any comment. What perks if any do we lose by staying off site ? i.e. with tickets etc ? The village sounds good for an evening meal so it would be hand having the hotel nearby for a freshen up before heading for the village to eat ??
All comments gladly welcome !! More questions to follow .......

 

[sweetiepie71]

I wouldn't worry about the quality of the food at your hotel, as a Disney guest you can eat at any of the hotels, or in the village of course. Last year we didn't eat in our own hotel at all. To be honest the Santa Fe is perfectly okay for a few nights, it is a bed and a bathroom, but that's all you actually need. In April you won't be needing air-con. If you can afford it, then stay at one of the better ones, the Cheyenne is nice, ditto the Sequoia Lodge.

 

[Raci]

We are planning on going for 4 nights - Mon 2nd to Fri 6th April.
I know that week is the start of the summer season in DLP but it is mid term in Ireland and as far as I can see, just before the mid term in France.

Hi!
DLP's summer season does not start until 14th July however the 15th birthday celebrations seem to be starting at the begining of April.
Also the UK Easter holiday is from 30 March to 17 April so you will catch UK holiday kids.
It'll be our first trip in March though so I can't help you with hotel info.

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi,

Have you considered a family room at the DLH or the NPB ? It might work out a little cheaper for you, booking 2 rooms is always going to work out expensive.

 

[bavaria]

You know, I found the Cheyenne perfectly fine, and I live in hotels 300 nights/year (most 4 star hotels for work). I was really eager to stay there, thanks to a few of the posters here, and ended up staying there two seperate times. I found the rooms somewhat basic but perfectly acceptable. Next time if I am alone (or with another adult!) I will try for a room without bunk beds, but that was my only possible negative. Service was very good.

Frankly, I didn't enjoy the Sequoia Lodge as much, for a number of reasons. I also (flame suit on) didn't find it as nicely themed as Cheyenne as the building reminded me of my school in Germany, and the rooms didn't carry the theme through from the public areas. Just my personal taste.

I did check out the other hotels - Hotel NY looks like, but again not my taste - it is similar to the Swan/Dolphin in WDW in colour scheme.

So, you may want to check out the Cheyenne, especially with kids. It wasn't any further walking than the Sequoia Lodge, and while breakfast was a little more hectic, I really enjoyed it and will definitely stay there again.

 

[lonegungal17]

This is my first post too. You could try the Hotel L'Elysee Val de Europe, which is about 5 minutes by shuttle bus or 2 minutes by RER train from the park. It is about the same cost as the cheaper Disney hotels but much nicer. The hotel and our room were both beautiful and big. The only bad point was the restaurant, which we had very bad service, but you could always eat at the parks and then go back to your hotel after. Plus you have a huge shopping centre and train station right across the street from the hotel. They have a website but you're probably better off booking it through expedia since it's cheaper there.

 

[BONITATIME]

The holiday Inn is great we often stay there the buses run frequently. You can book online and buy an annual Pass and it is a really good deal.
The other option if you are driving is the Davy Crocketts Ranch. We stayed here this summer and really enjoyed it. It is cabins and is onsite for all the useful things.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi HAZELGROVE 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, posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here

Explorer Hotel is another favourite here for families

 

[Cyrano]

Hi lonegungal17 and welcome to DLP DIS board too
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, posting guidelines can be found here and details regarding help on signatures here

 

[BRobson]

We have used the Explorers Hotel many times.The rooms suit us better because they have the choice of a bunk room which the kids love. It has bunk beds and their own tv. The main room has a double bed and 2 single beds. When we went with my mum and dad in November we could get to their room through the bunk room which was great for babysitting!!

We use www.allrez.com and have had some great deals.The hotel has a Disney shop and the shuttle bus runs as well.

 

[HAZELGROVE]

That's great folks thanks for all your replies.
Still not sure but I am leaning towards the Cheyenne at €1200 for 2 rooms (1 family and 1 double) for 4 nights - park tickets not included.
The off site prices are in or around the same but for convenience sake with our 1 year old, I think we will go with it.
thanks again.

 

[diamond57]

I would second a recommendation for Explorer's, we had a room with one double bed and two singles. Also, I have stayed in Bussy St George and the train was even easier than the shuttle bus - very frequent, always a seat and not very expensive (about 2-3 euros return per adult and 50% for daughter, but not sure under what age they are free as I saw many the same size as dd going through with adults and no ticket and dd is a tall six year old). Also, we bought the tickets in a book of 10 singles.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi HAZELGROVE and lonegungal17, welcome to the DIS!

 

[nifferwilko]

Still not sure but I am leaning towards the Cheyenne at €1200 for 2 rooms (1 family and 1 double) for 4 nights - park tickets not included.

If you're booking a room without park tickets included it's worth considering buying an annual pass for your trip. Not sure if the park tickets have gone up since November but a 3 day hopper costs 115 euros, but if you are sponsored for an annual passport, a fantasy passport costs 116 euros and you can get a 10% discount on all your food and shopping at Disney. Also there are no blackout days for when you are planning to go. If you'd like to do that, I've got the forms to sponsor you.

The Cheyenne looks like a good choice. I know a few people who wouldn't stay in any other disney hotel.

 

[HAZELGROVE]

Hi nifferwilko

That's great - you just saved me doing a seperate posting re ticket prices and annual passports etc. Still not sure about hotel yet as my other post confirms but will certainly need seperate tickets. Please send me a mail re sponsorship etc. There are 3 adults, 2 kids and 1 baby (baby free I assume)

PS - does "marching on together......" mean anything to you ??