Disney Noob! Is this how much it's supposed to cost??

[Rua]

Hiya!

I'm trying to plan our first family Disneyland Paris holiday and need a bit of advice from the pros.

I'm looking to book us for late October this year. So far these are the two prices I've come up with for our family of 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 7 and 5), flying from Dublin, Ireland.

€1440 for 3 nights/4 days in Newport Club Hotel (regular room), including flights and half board.
€1720 for 4 nights/5 days in Sequoia Lodge (Montana Room), including flights and half board.

Since I've never done this before, I'm not sure which is the better option for a first time Disney visiting family like ours.

Firstly, I need to know if either of those are good deals. Is this what it should normally cost? Am I better off waiting to see if something better comes along? Is it better to stay for 3 or 4 nights? Which hotel of those two is the best?

Sorry for the overload of questions! Any help and direction would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm going around in circles here, and I don't know what to do!

 

[scald]

Hi there,

Hope you manage to get it sorted. This year will be our 6th visit, always travelling from Cork. The cheapest we have managed is 900 euros for 4 nights/5 days at Sequoia Lodge ( not including travel). I would say that this is about the standard price considering that October is half term and therefore considered high-ish season.

I personally prefer the Sequoia Lodge hotel, as we found the Newport very large. You could walk for half an hour and still not be at your room! The Cheenne is also fun with kids.

We are paying 1380 this year for 4 nights at Sequoia in July. This is just for the room and park tickets, travel is our own business. So yes, these prices sound about right.

 

[RoseBug]

Hiya!

I'm trying to plan our first family Disneyland Paris holiday and need a bit of advice from the pros.

I'm looking to book us for late October this year. So far these are the two prices I've come up with for our family of 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 7 and 5), flying from Dublin, Ireland.

€1440 for 3 nights/4 days in Newport Club Hotel (regular room), including flights and half board.
€1720 for 4 nights/5 days in Sequoia Lodge (Montana Room), including flights and half board.

Since I've never done this before, I'm not sure which is the better option for a first time Disney visiting family like ours.

Firstly, I need to know if either of those are good deals. Is this what it should normally cost? Am I better off waiting to see if something better comes along? Is it better to stay for 3 or 4 nights? Which hotel of those two is the best?

Sorry for the overload of questions! Any help and direction would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm going around in circles here, and I don't know what to do!

That sounds quite a good deal including flights and half board tbh, I would say if it is 4 full days in the park with the 3 nights, that will be enough, but if not I would go for the 5 days!

xxx

 

[HFJohnson]

That sounds like quite a lot but it does depend on what dates you're looking at. I've just had a quick look on the site and 4 nights at the Sequoia is about £1000 for arrivals on 28th October, but almost £300 less for arrivals on the 21st. I guess you're wanting to go over half term but you might get a better deal if you can be flexible with dates.

Another thing I would suggest is to price up transport separately and get your flights booked asap if you can as Disney don't often offer the best price.

 

[Rua]

Thanks for your replies!

Actually, I wasn't looking to go at half term. The dates I was planning for are the 22nd-26th (give or take a day!). I'm trying to avoid the half term, as I know the queues would be horrendous during that time.

The prices I mentioned before include Aer Lingus flights and the meal vouchers.

Which brings me to another question: Do I even bother with the meal vouchers?

 

[Rua]

That sounds quite a good deal including flights and half board tbh, I would say if it is 4 full days in the park with the 3 nights, that will be enough, but if not I would go for the 5 days!

xxx

That's what's got me undecided on the whole thing. The flights I was looking at have a return time of 3pm, so our last day is sort of cut in half! I can't decide if it's worth it to pay an extra 300 euros for another day or not, since I've never done the whole Disney thing before and have no experience to go by.

 

[RoseBug]

Thanks for your replies!

Actually, I wasn't looking to go at half term. The dates I was planning for are the 22nd-26th (give or take a day!). I'm trying to avoid the half term, as I know the queues would be horrendous during that time.

The prices I mentioned before include Aer Lingus flights and the meal vouchers.

Which brings me to another question: Do I even bother with the meal vouchers?

Well - we are going for 3 nights/4 days in August staying at NPB, Admirals/Lake view. Staying offsite for one night and flying with Easyjet. 2 adults and 1 child. So far, without a meal plan that has cost us around £1150 (1380e approx).

So including flights for 4, and a meal plan I think that is around average that you have been quoted.

Also, 22nd is half term for some schools. Ours is the week after but I know some have it the week before!

Meal plans - we had one in Feb and are so glad we did, for the simple fact that our meals were paid for and we didn't have to think about it. Also, because we were only planning on eating at Auberge and Inventions getting the Premium vouchers did save us quite a chunk! But it depends on where you want to eat - maybe go to dlrpmagic and get an idea of the menu prices at the places you fancy, do a rough guide and see if the price comes in at the same as the meal vouchers or less!

 

[RoseBug]

That's what's got me undecided on the whole thing. The flights I was looking at have a return time of 3pm, so our last day is sort of cut in half! I can't decide if it's worth it to pay an extra 300 euros for another day or not, since I've never done the whole Disney thing before and have no experience to go by.

If you flight time is 3pm you will have to leave the hotel at around 11/12ish to get to the airport for 1ish. So it would be a total loss of a day. What about your first day?

 

[torres_fan]

Have you also tried looking on UK site for hotel deals? Sometimes works out cheaper.

 

[Rua]

If you flight time is 3pm you will have to leave the hotel at around 11/12ish to get to the airport for 1ish. So it would be a total loss of a day. What about your first day?

Our first day is a flight that leaves Dublin at 7 and arrives in CDG Paris around 930am. I assume once we've gotten the transfer over, it would be closer to 11am or so before we actually get to the hotel.

Have you also tried looking on UK site for hotel deals? Sometimes works out cheaper.

I've been looking around, but my brain is starting to melt a bit cuz I've been at this for days and feel like I haven't gotten anywhere. Can you recommend any sites?

 

[scald]

The Aer Lingus flights are a beggar for times....theres no way to avoid missing a day at the park. We are travelling by eurostar to avoid this very problem!!

Last summer we had half board vouchers for the kids and it was great. They came as part of the deal and it meant we had no outlay for them at all. You will be able to budget much better if you know the meals are planned for.

I wouldn't bother with booking it through the UK site. We did this once and saved a fortune, but with the exchange rate at the minute, its more or less the same and you have to go through a UK address which can be a hassle.

I reckon 4 nights is probably enough to get everything done at that time of year. Especially if you take an early flight out and get the most outta the first day.

 

[RoseBug]

Our first day is a flight that leaves Dublin at 7 and arrives in CDG Paris around 930am. I assume once we've gotten the transfer over, it would be closer to 11am or so before we actually get to the hotel.



I've been looking around, but my brain is starting to melt a bit cuz I've been at this for days and feel like I haven't gotten anywhere. Can you recommend any sites?

I've just priced up the same dates on the UK site for you and it is coming out pretty similar. Are you booking flights through Disney? If so, I would advise you to get a price from Aer Lingus first, when we booked for Feb Disney were going to charge us £500 more for flights than if we booked ourselves! Our easyjet flights are £250 for the 3 of us from Newcastle!!

xx

 

[scald]

Oh, one more thing. Try calling Neenan travel (Breakaway) in the morning. They have looked after us the past 3 visits. Elaine in the office there always gets us a competitive deal.

 

[RoseBug]

Cheapest I can find for your dates is 1800e for 4 nights Sequoia, flights direct from Aer Lingus and half board. So it seems to me the deal you have is spot on! I tried disneylandparisdirect.com and the official site!

Me personally, if I had the money, would go for 4nights/ 5 days! If our flights had got in earlier in August this is what we would be doing, but we are staying offsite on the first night as we get in at 10pm. Then 3 nights/4 full days (our flight on the Friday is 10pm) in the parks!

 

[Rua]

The Aer Lingus flights are a beggar for times....theres no way to avoid missing a day at the park. We are travelling by eurostar to avoid this very problem!!

Last summer we had half board vouchers for the kids and it was great. They came as part of the deal and it meant we had no outlay for them at all. You will be able to budget much better if you know the meals are planned for.

I wouldn't bother with booking it through the UK site. We did this once and saved a fortune, but with the exchange rate at the minute, its more or less the same and you have to go through a UK address which can be a hassle.

I reckon 4 nights is probably enough to get everything done at that time of year. Especially if you take an early flight out and get the most outta the first day.

I've just priced up the same dates on the UK site for you and it is coming out pretty similar. Are you booking flights through Disney? If so, I would advise you to get a price from Aer Lingus first, when we booked for Feb Disney were going to charge us £500 more for flights than if we booked ourselves! Our easyjet flights are £250 for the 3 of us from Newcastle!!

xx

Yeah, the exchange at the moment is a bit woeful which was why I didn't really bother. I've been looking at Aer Lingus for flights too.

I've just redone the two options again and this is what I've come up with if I go on the 21st instead:

3 nights/4 days in Newport, flights and half board for 1479 - and this includes at return flight that is in the EVENING. I think it leaves around 930pm.
(If I leave on the 22nd, the return flight is at 3pm for this same deal.)

This compared with just paying nearly 300 to stay for 4 nights at Sequoia. (€1729 to be exact, only I have to come home on the last day at 3pm.)

Ahhhhh! I don't know what to do! Which option appeals to you all?

 

[RoseBug]

Yeah, the exchange at the moment is a bit woeful which was why I didn't really bother. I've been looking at Aer Lingus for flights too.

I've just redone the two options again and this is what I've come up with if I go on the 21st instead:

3 nights/4 days in Newport, flights and half board for 1479 - and this includes at return flight that is in the EVENING. I think it leaves around 930pm.
(If I leave on the 22nd, the return flight is at 3pm for this same deal.)

This compared with just paying nearly 300 to stay for 4 nights at Sequoia. (€1729 to be exact, only I have to come home on the last day at 3pm.)

Ahhhhh! I don't know what to do! Which option appeals to you all?

In that case I would probably do the 3 nights/4 days - as you will be getting the same amount of time in the parks, bar a couple of hours!

 

[Rua]

Oh, one more thing. Try calling Neenan travel (Breakaway) in the morning. They have looked after us the past 3 visits. Elaine in the office there always gets us a competitive deal.

A friend recommended that to me as well...I might just do that.

I'm always the one in the family that does all of the holiday planning, and usually I do a pretty thorough job of it and can get great deals, but this has got my head a bit fuddled!

I feel a bit better after talking to you all now though...at least I'm within the ballpark of what I can expect to pay.

Now I just gotta decide. 3 nights or 4!!!

 

[kizzabel]

That's what's got me undecided on the whole thing. The flights I was looking at have a return time of 3pm, so our last day is sort of cut in half! I can't decide if it's worth it to pay an extra 300 euros for another day or not, since I've never done the whole Disney thing before and have no experience to go by.

theres a flight around 9pm too m'dear if its CDG -DUB youre going

 

[DLPDreams]

Is there a discount on the hotel booking? If not then you could hang fire (perhaps book your flights yourself though as they only tend to go up - I know from experience and in 4 trips have yet to bag cheap flights!!), and see if anything else comes up. October is a while away yet with regards to Disney offers!

Regarding booking via the UK site (or French one) you don't need a UK or French address - I believe you just leave the country blank or put UK or France - confirmation is emailed to you, not posted so you do not need that country address at all, not even for check in. You can also ring up and ask for the deal, if for eg you see it on the French site. Someone has recently done this and they do honour it. So, it might be worth checking out the French Disney site too.

A lot of people are saying that once these current deals end (30th April for UK site, not sure what current deal is on the Irish site), that a new flash sale will be around the corner - usually with 40 - 50% off But obviously you can't be sure what dates it will include! This is usual Disney pattern.

If it already includes something like 30% - 40% off then ignore me .

 

[RoseBug]

Is there a discount on the hotel booking? If not then you could hang fire (perhaps book your flights yourself though as they only tend to go up - I know from experience and in 4 trips have yet to bag cheap flights!!), and see if anything else comes up. October is a while away yet with regards to Disney offers!

Regarding booking via the UK site (or French one) you don't need a UK or French address - I believe you just leave the country blank or put UK or France - confirmation is emailed to you, not posted so you do not need that country address at all, not even for check in. You can also ring up and ask for the deal, if for eg you see it on the French site. Someone has recently done this and they do honour it. So, it might be worth checking out the French Disney site too.

A lot of people are saying that once these current deals end (30th April for UK site, not sure what current deal is on the Irish site), that a new flash sale will be around the corner - usually with 40 - 50% off But obviously you can't be sure what dates it will include! This is usual Disney pattern.

If it already includes something like 30% - 40% off then ignore me .

When I priced it up it was including 40% off!