Disney on a (very low) budget?! HELP PLEASE!

[+ Kimbee +]

I haven't visited this forum since I was thirteen years old! I've been to Disneyland Paris a few times since then with my mum and family, however, I'm now planning on travelling alone with my boyfriend!

I'm 20 now, almost 21. My boyfriend is 25 and recently we were looking around using Expedia to find hotel + flight deals... Ideally I'd want this as cheap as possible, we aren't bothered about staying in a Disney hotel and therefore we're pretty easy-going and willing to do whatever to keep costs down. However, like I said - I'd want this to end up as cheap as possible (without sounding too desperate & too tight ).

Ideally we'd stay in Paris for a week and buy ourselves park tickets for 3-4 of them days. I've visited Val D'Europe on a few occasions and really liked it there! I know of hotels in Val D'Europe, in particular Hôtel l'Elysée - this came up around £400 for the week including flights.

So! I need your help (particularly those of you who have stayed in non-Disney hotels!)

We started off by finding a really good deal which came to £170 each for a week stay in a hotel and flight! After looking at the area (the hotel was right by CDG airport and right next to an RER station) it seemed pretty ideal for us, as like I said before getting around by train would be quite easy for us... once we figure out that crazy week pass thing that only lasts from Monday-Sunday and not 7 days from the day you buy it

HOWEVER, obviously it appears to be situated in a very boring, business park area with very little around it! Not ideal really if we fancy a stroll around the area

I understand Disney isn't cheap and I may be being way too unrealistic here, but I can dream right? I'm open to ANY suggestions, whether it be websites to go on, hotels to look at, dates that are best to travel... we haven't decided on a time yet... I assume my boyfriend could take some Holiday off work and I finish my studies early in May.

I'd appreciate any help - as you may guess I'm very confused about how to go around this, it's always been sorted by my mum before and therefore we've always had to stay where a free shuttle is provided

Thank you in advance for your help and sorry if I've rambled a little too much! If you have any questions that'll help you help me then I'll answer them as quick as possible. I look forward to hearing from you soon

Kimberley

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Hi

Let's start by telling me which hotel near CDG you've found as if it's where I think it is a- You really don't want to be there at night using public transport and b- You will be wasting precious park time as you'll have to take the RER B into Paris (30-40 minutes) and then the RER A out to DLP (another 40 minutes) and the same back again.

If you stay out at either Val d'Europe (1 stop away) or Bussy (2 stops away) or Torcy (3 stops away) you will be in better surroundings, closer and although you'll be spending more for the hotel, you'll be spending less for the transport

 

[+ Kimbee +]

Hi

Let's start by telling me which hotel near CDG you've found as if it's where I think it is a- You really don't want to be there at night using public transport and b- You will be wasting precious park time as you'll have to take the RER B into Paris (30-40 minutes) and then the RER A out to DLP (another 40 minutes) and the same back again.

Thank you very much. Expedia has it down as "Premiere Classe Roissy Villepinte Parc des Expositions" - the reviews are very bad for it too.

If you stay out at either Val d'Europe (1 stop away) or Bussy (2 stops away) or Torcy (3 stops away) you will be in better surroundings, closer and although you'll be spending more for the hotel, you'll be spending less for the transport

I'll do some further research into Bussy and Torcy. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[jillrobinson]

Can't help with the areas of Paris but find Travel Republic very good on hotel prices.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thought you'd be up there - No under no circumstance, not without a car and even then I wouldn't be up there at night.

I used to work up there so I'm not just saying that to put you off. It's a zone up there and also no where near Paris or DLP which are your 2 goals

You could always go down as far as Noisy le grand which is a bit more rough around the edges than Torcy (it's also a bit souless) but depending on what you are used too where you live it could be ok. There's a Premiere Classe there which should be cheap.

 

[A Small World]

I agree with Carrie - when I read your comment about a hotel near CDG my first thought was its possibly not in a very nice area and the journey would take almost 2 hours each way on the RER - not my idea of fun especially at the end of the day.

Have a look at the Etap/Ibis hotels at Val d'Europe. Ive never stayed there but others have and Ive stayed in Etap hotels in this country - they are very basic but ideal if all you want is a room to sleep in. And they are often about 30Euros a night

 

[+ Kimbee +]

Can't help with the areas of Paris but find Travel Republic very good on hotel prices.

Thank you! I haven't had a look at this website yet so I'll check it out!

Thought you'd be up there - No under no circumstance, not without a car and even then I wouldn't be up there at night.

I used to work up there so I'm not just saying that to put you off. It's a zone up there and also no where near Paris or DLP which are your 2 goals

You could always go down as far as Noisy le grand which is a bit more rough around the edges than Torcy (it's also a bit souless) but depending on what you are used too where you live it could be ok. There's a Premiere Classe there which should be cheap.

Aw perfect. I'm definitely getting some pretty alright prices with these places... Around £220 each which in my opinion isn't that bad at all and definitely making things more realistic!

I agree with Carrie - when I read your comment about a hotel near CDG my first thought was its possibly not in a very nice area and the journey would take almost 2 hours each way on the RER - not my idea of fun especially at the end of the day.

Have a look at the Etap/Ibis hotels at Val d'Europe. Ive never stayed there but others have and Ive stayed in Etap hotels in this country - they are very basic but ideal if all you want is a room to sleep in. And they are often about 30Euros a night

I'll have a look at this too! The 2 hour journey does seem a little extreme

Thanks again for all the help so far

 

[Jules1212]

We booked via Travel republic last June and stayed in the Serris Apts just by Val de Europe. Superb - clean and had everything that we needed. We paid approx £250 for an apt for 4 for 5 nights I think it was. They had studios for 2 as well.

The free shuttle for Disney stopped about a 1 minute walk away, Val de Europe was about 2 mins away and the train station about 4/5 minutes.

 

[+ Kimbee +]

We booked via Travel republic last June and stayed in the Serris Apts just by Val de Europe. Superb - clean and had everything that we needed. We paid approx £250 for an apt for 4 for 5 nights I think it was. They had studios for 2 as well.

The free shuttle for Disney stopped about a 1 minute walk away, Val de Europe was about 2 mins away and the train station about 4/5 minutes.

Oh this is lovely and certainly on my list of things to look at next! I've got so many tabs open on my computer it's hard to keep track now

Thanks!

 

[sky13]

There's an Ibis at Val d'Europe that is usually around 60-70 pounds/night, and an Ibis Budget next to it which is around 40 pounds/night... I've stayed in the Ibis and it's definitely decent - going back there again for one night in just over a week!

Also have a look at quidco/etc for cashback for bookings - I got 10% cashback on my hotel bookings via Expedia and 2% cashback on Eurostar!

 

[stargatebarbie]

Please pm me with any questions as I am the queen of budget trips never stayed on site stayed at bussy! Kyriad and next month we are at series in val d Europe booked with travel republic for £150 for 3 nights also we are taking the overnight bus from London Victoria to Paris for £36 each it's a bit of a adventure you can also use tesco vouchers on mega bus .we have annual passes which strange as it sounds can be cheaper than a 4day pass .so happy planing hope you get there keep in touch x

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Not sure if this applies to the hotels suggested so far but I would definitely propose that you choose a self-catering apartment so that you can save money on some meals. Many of those in Val de Europe compare favourably with ordinary hotel rooms and meals are going to eat into your budget.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Please pm me with any questions as I am the queen of budget trips never stayed on site stayed at bussy! Kyriad and next month we are at series in val d Europe booked with travel republic for £150 for 3 nights also we are taking the overnight bus from London Victoria to Paris for £36 each it's a bit of a adventure you can also use telco vickers on mega bus .we have annual passes which strange as it sounds can be cheaper than a 4day pass .so happy planing hope you get there keep in touch x

You need to be my guide as we must do our trips to save $$ from now on. Each time we book something we end up canceling which is saving $$ but not getting us in the park and playing.

We have AP's but it seems hotel is costing the most. Suggestions, we also take the HS in from Rotterdam but are considering driving. It would cost about the same after the toll roads and we can leave in a moment. The train to get the lowest cost we have to book 90 days out.