Disneyland Paris - Dreamcastle or Newport Bay Club ?

[PennyPenguin]

Hi new to all things Disney, so please be gentle

We are taking DD1 who is 3.5 to Disneyland Paris in May + DD2 who will be 10mths old.

We are going with friends who have been before & stayed at the Sequoia Lodge 4 years ago.

I have researched hotels & seem to have found that the DreamCastle is much cheaper (have twigged that it's not Disney ?). Is this a bad thing ? should we pay the extra £100 + & go Disney ? Also should we be staying at a hotel in walking distance ?

Also, was thinking about going with Leger (hoping to use clubcard deals) but they don't seem to have any availability for Newport.

One last question, we are thinking of travelling Sat -> Mon, will the parks be TOO busy, should we go Thurs- > Sat ? (thinking of hubby's work & the £'s)

Very grateful for advice

 

[marcus.ka]

I would choose the Newport Bay Club. Especially if you have kids. The characters will be in the lobby every day. And the NPBC is a Disney hotel. You are right in the magic if you stay there. And you can walk back to your hotel. This can be very usefull if you want to make a breake during the day!
And I would go from Thurs-Sat because the resort is very crowded every weekend. (Even in January!)

By the way: WELCOME!!!

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi PennyPenguin, welcome to the Disboards

The Newport Bay Club is a beautiful hotel, I'd highly recommend it. Is it fully booked on the dates you want to travel ?
If it is, then my second choice would be the Sequoia Lodge, again within walking distance, I do think you'd be better off with one within walking distance because of the children's ages and because I've seen people struggling with small children and pushchairs and shuttle buses.
I'd recommend you take your own strollers as the hire ones can't be taken out of the park.

I'm looking to book with Leger too, using clubcard deals when the points come out in Feb, I'm a bit miffed they can only be used for coach holidays, but we've decided to give it a try.

Leger don't offer holidays at the Dreamcastle BTW. The hotels they offer are:
Santa Fe
Cheyenne
Sequoia Lodge
Newport Bay Club
Davy Crockett Ranch (Self-drive only)

and selected hotels
Holiday Inn
My Travel Explorers

Hope you get your holiday sorted, any more questions don't be afraid to ask, somebody on here will know the answer

 

[Sarah Sarill]

I can also thoroughly recommens the NBH. Its an elegant, well run hotel and IMHO worth the extra cost. (As is the additionalcharge for upgrading to the Admirals Floor if available).

We stayed at the HI (Next door to the DC) and went into see what it was like. The Dc looks lovely but with your childrens ages I feel the additional magic of meeting the characters wandering around is worth it.

Whatever you decide I am sure it will be a holiday to remember

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi PennyPenguin and welcome to the DIS.

I echo everyone else's advice in that you would be best to stay at a Disney hotel with your children's ages and be that much closer to the parks. Although the offsite hotels are great value the shuttle buses can get a bit manic.

Check out our sticky threads at the top of the page and if you have any more questions, please ask away!!

I think Thursday to Saturday would be better too.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi PennyPenguin 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

Given the ages of your DD's I'd plump for on-site and as others have said would think Thursday - Sat would be much better

 

[PennyPenguin]

thanks for the welcome & replies

Now thinking of the Explorers Hotel, due to the heated pool - is it really heated, or just off freezing ?! can't bear cold water

Hubby keen to go over the weekend because he's self-employed, is it unbearable busy over the weekends ?

Priced up the lovely pink Disney Hotel...£1000+

Love all the emoticons !

 

[BRobson]

Now thinking of the Explorers Hotel, due to the heated pool - is it really heated, or just off freezing ?! can't bear cold water

We have used the Explorers a few times and although I dont use the pool the kids and DH do. They have reported that although not freezing it is not the warmest of pools they have been.

It may not be too bad if you are going at a time where there is not school holidays. It is busier at the weekends but can be bearable

 

[Bexx]

Hello PennyPenguin, welcome to the DIS

I'm sure the Explorers swimming pool must be heated to a comfortable temperature.

Again, the Explorers is an offsite hotel - so you will still have to take a shuttle bus to and from the park. Then again, if you've travelled all the way to DLP in a coach with young children, a 10 minute shuttle ride probably won't phase you

 

[lizbro]

.

Leger don't offer holidays at the Dreamcastle BTW. The hotels they offer are:
Santa Fe
Cheyenne
Sequoia Lodge
Newport Bay Club
Davy Crockett Ranch (Self-drive only)

and selected hotels
Holiday Inn
My Travel Explorers

hi jill
would that mean that i could use my clubcard points and do a self drive to davy crockett or can the points only be used for the coach destinations?
i`ve drive again if we can use the ppoints for davy crockett!!!
liz