dining question

[Littlelulu01]

Hi. I recently booked daughter and friend a three night four day stay at Sequoia lodge in a golden forest room. First Disney Paris visit 1/29/15-2/1/15

I realized after booking that they will not be able to visit the park on their first day as they close at 19:00 and their flight to CDG does not arrive till 18:50 so I thought a nice dinner perhaps at California Grill or Inoventions first night would be fun to get them into the Disney mode.

The dining packages are a bit confusing and I am debating on the value. I am thinking about adding a half board premium package but I see the only options that include inoventions, California Grill and Cinderella's (the three more expensive dinners they may want) is 57 euro per person per day and includes two vouchers per person per day.

I think their breakfast is included in the price in the Golden forest room. Does purchasing the half board premium at 57 extra euros per day include one dinner at any restaurant and then a lunch anywhere as well? This seems like a lot of food but if they do one dinner at the expensive restaurants it looks like it would cost a lot more than 57 euro just for the one meal. Am I understanding the dining plan correctly? They are not big eaters but do like good food and the Disney dining experience.

Another question - if staying in the golden forest room is there a concierge or someone like at Disney world in the lounge who could just book a few dinners for them upon arrival? I would think that one nice dinner per day, breakfast and a snack would be sufficient for them. Since the parks close so early on Thursday and Friday they could do the nice dinner Disneyland Hotel after park closing and then the Cinderella dinner in the park on Saturday evening. Their entire package so far was only 480 euros (booked on Disney France site) Adding the dining package seems to almost double the cost of the trip which seems a little silly to me for two girls who don't eat much just to get a fun dining experience.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. The Hunters restaurant in the Sequoia looks nice and they would be happy with that place on arrival if it included characters but from what I've read it looks like characters are no longer available there? Sorry for all the questions. I've tried to figure this out by reading others posts and don't know how much success I'll have calling Europe and talking to someone in France to help me out since I don't speak French. Was hoping to get a better grasp on what to do and then call and try to make some reservations if needed.

 

[Isila]

I don't like half board options, so I never bother myself with it. Plan is restricted, you have to eat at certain restaurants to benefit, otherwise you use it face value, so I see no point in it. It's just like prepaying for your meals and that's it. I find it better just to put the amount aside and then go and eat wherever I please.

But if they are doing Auberge, California grill and Inventions maybe it's good. If they get half board, this means a voucher per night per person. If they get full board they will get one lunch and one dinner voucher per night per person.

Have you read this [http://www.dlpguide.com/planning/dining/meal-plans/[/URL]? All the information is here.

Characters are only available in Inventions, Cafe Mickey and Auberge.

I think Auberge is only open during lunch time, not in the evening as it's in the park. Inventions is in Disneyland hotel and Cafe Mickey in Disney Village.

When you call Disneyland to make reservations, just start speaking English and they will speak English to you. No problem there.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Isila is correct, Auberge de Cendrillion will no doubt only be open at lunchtime when the girls are there. It normally only serves dinner in high season when the parks really open later.

My only thought with your plan of them having a dinner in Inventions or CG on that first evening will put them starting after 9pm. If they arriving at CDG at 7pm and have to go through immigration, baggage claim and then get to the park you can count at least 2 hours.

For me 9pm is a normal time for dinner but I know that a lot of people eat at around 6pm.

If you phone the restaurant reservations line 00 33 1 60 30 40 50 you chose the option to speak English and you can see with them what will be available.

 

[noodlesmum]

I agree with Carrie - by the time they get to the hotel it may be getting late. Maybe booking Hunters grill for that night would be the best idea then they don't have to worry about finding their way across the resort in the dark to the Disneyland hotel. The bar area in SQL is so lovely that I'm sure a meal and a few drinks at the lodge would get them in the holiday mood However if they really wanted characters on the fist night then maybe pre book Cafe Mickey? Its much closer to SQL than DLH and it's the first place you come to when you enter the village from that direction so it would be much easier (and quicker) to get to and find

 

[Littlelulu01]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I don't think they need to go through immigrations. They are US citizens but will be coming from Italy so coming from a schengen area. They also won't have luggage to collect. Just a weekend backpack. Their flight lands at terminal 2 at 5:50pm. I booked them tgv for 19:04 and purchased the change option fare in case they miss train. They will have tickets in hand so no need to collect.

I think the Hunters resturant sounds easy. Cafe Mickey sounds more fun and festive but the reviews sound pretty dismal.

I've decided against the dining plan. What do you think their odds are of getting a dining reservation upon arrival? With the variables I would think it almost easier not to book ADR. They leave for their flight in Florence directly after school on Thursday so I'm sure will need something dinner wise upon arrival though.

Booking this trip from the US has not been easy. The disney site freezes up, does not let you figure anything out online. The only way I've been able to book was by looking on this site and a couple sites for information.

I was so happy to have found a link here to book trip on the French site, which worked just fine despite the language barrier.

The girls are huge disney fans. I'm very excited that they will get to visit at a reasonable cost. Just wish I was going too.

 

[noodlesmum]

Given that it's not school holidays and given there's only two of them I think the odds of getting a reservation are high. However you don't pre pay for ADRs like you do in the US so you don't have anything to loose by making an ADR - if they are running late they could always call and cancel but there's no penalty for not turning up. Obviously it's polite to let the restaurant know but it would be given away anyway 15 mins after a no show

 

[Littlelulu01]

Given that it's not school holidays and given there's only two of them I think the odds of getting a reservation are high. However you don't pre pay for ADRs like you do in the US so you don't have anything to loose by making an ADR - if they are running late they could always call and cancel but there's no penalty for not turning up. Obviously it's polite to let the restaurant know but it would be given away anyway 15 mins after a no show

That's good to know. Thank you. It may be worth a call.

 

[noodlesmum]

I would personally. If you can't get one tell the girls they can buy sandwiches and pasta dishes to eat at the bar in the lodge