Dp Newbie - Where to start

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Okay so here's the deal I' in my final year of A Levels and looking for something to look forward to at the end of this long dark tunnel.
Unlike most teenagers the thought of a week getting drunk in magaluf does no appeal to us ( shocking I know!)

So where else to go....and we settle on Disneyland paris ideal as no flight (my friend hates planes, it'll be tons of fun, fairly cheap we hope, and it'll make coming home from Florida that teensy bit easier with this to look forward to)

There's going to be at least 2 of us going (one of whom will be 18 when we travel) and possibly up to around 4 of us in all. We're definitely going for a value hotel needs to be on-site I really don't think it's wise to let loose us on Parisian traffic having only just passed tests it's probably illegal as well
Hoping for 3 nights there, and travelling by eurostar (flights are just too much bother + the whole 'friend afraid of flying thing' )

I thin it's going to be best if we book direct with Disney just for ease - is this good? bad? is it alot more expensive to do it this way?? Oh and before I forget the dates we're looking at our 30th (june) - 3rd July trying to get as early as possible before the schools break up, but I'm at Glastonbury 24th- 28th and earlier will most likely clash with exams - is it still fairly quiet here and prices decent-ish I'm only factoring British schools here and have no idea when French and other European schools break up!

So basically I'm just asking for a bit of advice tips, whatever as we're total newbies at planning a holiday ourselves! Who's best to book with, when to etc
Our budgets are ideally up to around £500 pp
Thanks in advance!!

And sorry for all the rambling! I do have a habit of going on and on!!

 

[joolz1910]

Hi there, I have booked direct with Disney as, after extensive shopping around, I found them to be the cheapest. Most of the advice on here is to book your hotel/tickets direct with Disney and Eurostar separately - this should ensure the best deal. You can get quotes on the Disney website but I don't believe the dates your after are up yet. (I could be wrong). The budget on-site hotel is Santa Fe (if you don't intend to drive) and I've stayed here - it's very nice. There is information on school holidays somewhere on these boards...don't know where. Everybody here is really helpful and you'll get loads of advice.

What a brilliant way to celebrate the end of your A Levels.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Thanks for the help - I was considering booking transportation with Disney so I'll think about doing it with Eurostar now - it was coming out rather expensive from what I was looking at to give me a rough idea of how to budget.

Yeah we were looking at Santa Fe too be honest we're not too fussed about fancy rooms or anything just a place to get our heads down but still carry some of the magic over, with the ease of being on site

And you're right it really is to the best way to celebrate exams finishing - I've never seen the appeal of flying to Spain to get drunk every night sleep in till noon and spend the afternoon sun bathing... hmmm

I've actually been pleasantly surprised cost wise - it would cost us more I'm sure to got to Alton Towers for the same length of time (when we stayed at their resort this year it was £900 for 5 people + toddler for 2 nights - and this was the room alone not including park tickets or anything like that, luckily we had a half price discount code!!)

I'm so excited already as if I wasn't already happy enough for DW and universal + glastonbury I've also this to look forward to

 

[sam_rogers]

i had my second trip to disney after my A levels (my first trip was between my AS and A level year) its a great way to let off some steam after the stress of exams. I'm sure you'll have a fab time when you go

 

[karenmoloney]

What a lovely way to celebrate the end of your exams. I'm sure you will be able to arrange it on your budget. I have been twice at that time & managed fine. The french schools go on for a few days into July - not sure of the date in 2009, but schools in Ireland finish on the 30th June. Have a great time.

 

[ukstitch]

Just in case you didn't know, it is possible to stay offsite without needing a car.

The 4 main offsite hotels listed on the DLRP site all have bus links. Plus, there's a good train link from Val D'Europe if you wanted to stay there rather than on site (off-site can be cheaper).

I wouldn't recommend going too far offsite though - there's a delicate balance in what you save by going offsite and what you pay in transport to DLRP.

 

[NULAH]

Sounds like a great way to celebrate! Scottish schools finish up on the last friday in june.

 

[cookie334]

Sounds like a great way to celebrate! Scottish schools finish up on the last friday in june.

Are you sure? I have noted the 3rd July? Sorry don't mean to sound like I'm questioning you, it's just I want to make sure I myself have got the right dates or I'll end up sending the kids to school an extra week

I agree it's a fab way to end your exams, you'll have a blast and I think it's very do-able on your budget. Have fun!!

 

[torsie24]

Perfect way to celebrate A levels!!!

I have never been on a drunken week to some god awful, brit ruined 'spanish' town! I got enough of that at home/uni!!

I like spain to be spain, and my holidays to be holidays!

Definitely do disney direct (or through first choice) and then the eurostar direct too.

It might be worth your while haning on until early july, as I did it on purpose for my trip just gone as the firewroks (and therefor late opening) began on 5th.

Was a bit mor expensive, and busier but you get a few more hours out of each disney day, and the fireworks were one of the highlights of our trip, sure will miss them in jan!

 

[ghockley1981]

A trip after your exams would be a great idea. Eurostar tickets can be bought six months in advance direct from them ( so up to MArch at the moment ).

If you work out exactly when you want to go you could effectively buy your tickets on the first day their available from theEurostar website and get them at the cheapest possible price.

Food and drink is expensive out there but would be just the same as a drunken night out so I think your onto a winner on the money front.

I would just recommend looking into possibly staying at one of the offsite hotels too though. Hoilday Inn, Kyriad and Dream Castle being your best bets. They are only a 5 minute bus ride away and they run their own shuttle buses regulary. I've stayed at the HI and had a great time with no problems at all. A break away from the magic is always a good thing to recharge your batteries after a long day.

Have fun planning

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Great Ideas, everybody - I'll certainly look into Off-Site as well.

I yes' or no's from the maybe's so I now exactly how many we'll have in the group then we can all have a sit down and a chat and see what everyone feels best at.

Just had a look at Dream Castle and I LOVE it thanks for the tips guys

 

[ghockley1981]

The Dream Castle has always had good reviews, I think that would be the best offsite bet for you if you wish to hold onto a bit of that Disney magic while your not in the parc's.

The shuttle buses leave right ourside the parcs and station so would be easy enough for you to hop on and off. We found it very easy and cheaper too.

You can still obviously go into the other hotels for drinks etc if you wished

have fun, sounds like your getting there anyway!

 

[NULAH]

Are you sure? I have noted the 3rd July? Sorry don't mean to sound like I'm questioning you, it's just I want to make sure I myself have got the right dates or I'll end up sending the kids to school an extra week

I agree it's a fab way to end your exams, you'll have a blast and I think it's very do-able on your budget. Have fun!!

Yep. Just checked our local council website and our schools finish up on friday the 26th June 09. It may vary from council to council though.

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Yeah the the Val d'Europe also sounds very appealing when I see the words 'Situated near a prestigious International Shopping Centre and La Vallée Village Outlet Shopping' - that very much appeals to us girls

We're also considering maybe extending by a day or two and seeing a bit of Paris, is it possible to get into Paris from the hotels? I know they do day trips but thats not what we want as we'd want to explore individually. Or is are best bet to book another seperate hotel in Paris.

 

[ghockley1981]

It's easy from the Hotels as you can just grab the shuttle bus into Disneyland and get the train from there into Paris.

You can buy what is called a Mobilis ticket which will cover all your journeys to Paris and the metro and that costs about 12 euro's

The line actually goes into the middle of Paris near the Metro lines and the river cruises for you to then investigate yourselves near Notre Dame.

There are lots of good sites to help you, try googling it.

For a bit extra help Try :

for River Cruises

http://www.batobus.com/english/index.htm

For Rail map

http://www.paris.org/Metro/gifs/metro.pdf

You need to catch the TGV for line A on the way back. Never gone to PAris so if you ask more direct questions near the time im sure there will be many on here to assist you. There was when i was asking the same questions

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Thank you everybody here is so helpful!!!

P.S I've only just realised but it's 6 months today that we go to Orlando
I should really do something to celebrate but a bit hard when your ill in bed - at least I've got DLP planning to keep my busy

 

[xPrincessSmilesx]

Bumping my own thread here

But it's now looking as though our party is growing and could be as big as 9/10!! (Seems everybody is up for a bit of Disney magic)

Anyway is it possible to book more than one room at a time, as obviously being a large party we couldn't hope to fit in one room, because I've been looking to get an idea of prices - we could do two seperate bookings but of course the rooms wouldn't be together

So yeah if you book over the phone can you book more than one room that way, I just thought it strange that online you could only book one

 

[Ware Bears]

Sorry you're feeling poorly, hope you get better soon.

You may well prefer to book over the phone because if you do that you will only have to pay a deposit (10%??) and the balance 60 days before travel whereas if you book online you pay the whole amount.