Driving to DLP

[Cariadbach]

Is it easy?
Im already looking at Xmas next year but in order to persuade DH (or may i just wont tell him!)im going to need to do it on a small(ish) budget,so....
Is driving there cheaper?factoring the cost of ferry/tunnel,tolls,petrol or are we better off going by Eurostar and staying off site?
Is it easy to get to from Calais?DH is useless at following directions!
I should really get back to planning our first trip rather than looking ahead,but its just so exciting

 

[Millies Daddy]

Getting there by car is easy. Follow this link http://www.dlrpmagic.com/planning/travel/driving-directions/ and it gives you all you need.

From my experience it usually takes three to three and a half hours from Calais, mostly on Toll Roads. The last time we went (Dec 10) it cost about 20 Euros.

We can get to and from Disneyland Paris on one tank (around 200 miles each way)

Eurostar can take you right to the door but the car gives a little flexibility.

Let us know how the planning goes!!!

 

[Happy Tappy]

Driving from Calais isn't too hard. It's almost all motorway and you can do it in about 3 hrs.

The only difficult bit is as you approach CDG airport. There's about 3 or 4 junctions that you have to take. We have sat nav so it's pretty easy but it might be difficult if you're using maps.

Whichever is cheapest will depend on where about you live in the UK and how many people are travelling.

On our last trip, flights would have cost £350 in total for 3 adults and 1 child. Plus an extra £100 (ish) to get from the airport to CDG and another £20 for parking our car at the airport. So in total £470.

Driving cost us £140 in petrol, £50 for the ferry and about £40 in tolls. We even got a free 1 day Disney ticket with the ferry which we needed. In total the driving option cost £230, less than half the price of flying.

It's a very long drive from where I live (Cheshire) but the flights are starting to get expensive. Easyjet used to be great from Liverpool but they've halved their service. There's only 1 flight a day and the times work out bad (fly out at night and back in the morning). Flybe/Air France are very good but it's normally around £100 per person.

I think in future we'll probably drive again but will stay at a hotel in Dover/Calais as it's far too much driving to do in one go!

 

[Cariadbach]

Im in the Midlands,about 20mins from Birmingham Airport so that is an option,i actually never thought about it!!
There would be 4of us,2adults,dd whos 3 and ds who is currently 4mths!
What do people think of DCR?I remember staying there back in 1995(i think) but cant remember much else!!

 

[markpsych]

What do people think of DCR?I remember staying there back in 1995(i think) but cant remember much else!!

As a family of 6, we're limted for choice, so generally stay at the DCR.

There's room for improvement but we're very fond of it

A great pool, which I think is open all day again now.

A very nice all-you-can-eat buffet restaraunt.

There are new premium cabins, which have the benefit of air con in the summer, but to be honest we still prefer the layout and feel of the older 2 bed cabins (although some are getting a little ropey now).

An easy 10 min from drive to the parks, and you obvioulsy get free parking when you arrive.

 

[belle24]

i have driven from norfolk to paris sept 2009.
We left norfolk and drove down the dover, got the ferry at about 4am then when got to calais drove all the way to disneyland and got there about half 9.
Was very easy. it was the first time id ever driven abroad and i was a little nervous at first but soon got into it.
Didnt have sat nav just had map printed off google maps which proved very useful. Didnt get lost once.
We then spent a whole day in the park after driving and i must say i was very tired lol but running on adrenaline.
We also stayed at DCR which was lovely. Would definatly stay there again!
Hope this helps!

Belle xx

 

[MazdaUK]

We've done one Eurostar and one drive and much preferred the drive (luckily DH is happy driving long distances) The problem we found with Eurostar the first time was the scrum for dropping off and collecting cases (It may be handled differently now?) Also, on our final day (wiht small kids) we were ready to go about mid-day but our train was 5pm. with a car you just pack it in the morning an then drive off when you're ready (or when you need to leave or miss the crossing)

 

[Happy Tappy]

i have driven from norfolk to paris sept 2009.
We left norfolk and drove down the dover, got the ferry at about 4am then when got to calais drove all the way to disneyland and got there about half 9.
Was very easy. it was the first time id ever driven abroad and i was a little nervous at first but soon got into it.
Didnt have sat nav just had map printed off google maps which proved very useful. Didnt get lost once.
We then spent a whole day in the park after driving and i must say i was very tired lol but running on adrenaline.
We also stayed at DCR which was lovely. Would definatly stay there again!
Hope this helps!

Belle xx

I did the same but from Cheshire! I got to my bed at about half ten (after fireworks and Cafe Mickey!). I don't think I've ever slept so well! I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow! Still don't know how I managed it, my little sister thinks I'm superman!

 

[delboydell]

Driving is easy, we drive down from Sheffield and it takes about 7hrs, not much longer than flying when you ,drive to airport a minimum of 2 hrs before 1hour flight, collect luggage then wait for a Tgv. usally about 6hrs in total.
I have drove down 3 time just for pin events then turned round and drove back all in 24hrs!!!!

 

[belle24]

Driving is easy, we drive down from Sheffield and it takes about 7hrs, not much longer than flying when you ,drive to airport a minimum of 2 hrs before 1hour flight, collect luggage then wait for a Tgv. usally about 6hrs in total.
I have drove down 3 time just for pin events then turned round and drove back all in 24hrs!!!!

wow thats hard core!!

i was dredding driving there staying one night then driving back the following evening with a travel time of 8ish hours each way but now youve said that im not worrying so much as im gonna have a nights sleep in between!

although have ppl driven in the snow etc over there? what are the roads like *** iv only driven in sept and going in january next so there is a high chance of snow!!

Belle xx

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

Driven lots of times before and much prefer driving then eurostar, never done it in the snow but did get stuck in dismey due to snow and the eurostar, nightmare journey home with a one year old and i would have given anything to have had my car, from what i understand in the snow the roads are alot better than here and you will have more issues on the plane or eurostar than you ever would in your car. We are driving next week altough the weather says no snow amd i was hoping for snow!!!

 

[mark&sue]

we have driven loads of times and flown once. much prefer driving but then we drive to Spain once a year


Susan

 

[cherrymarzipan]

We drove in the snow last December and the roads became progressively more difficult and slow as we got down to just one lane open. There were lorries parked up in the “fast” lane in sections as they were forbidden to drive and the total journey on the French side took us 6 hours instead of our usual 3. However, tiring as it was, we did keep moving all the way and drivers were very sensible. There were no major problems as such, we just crawled along and arrived in the dark instead of early afternoon as planned.

 

[mum2threemonsters]

We drove from Blackpool in June and it was my partners first time driving abroad. We set off around lunch time and stayed at a Premier Inn in Folkstone that was very nice. That evening we walked down to the beach and had a lovely relaxing evening. There was a McDonalds next to the hotel so we grabbed breakfast at 6am and headed to Dover about 10 minutes away.

The Ferry Crossing was nice and easy, the kids loved it as much as Disney. My son is excited about getting a model of the boat this time round.

We used the maps on my Iphone which was fantastic and we found the moterways and roads so mch quieter and easier to navigate than English roads (so much so my partner was scared to get back on the English Roads)!

We stayed at a Eurocamp first near Paris so cant comment on Journey times but we stayed at the Explorers and got Fantasy Passes with 15% Shareholders disocunt. The Exploreres upgraded us to a 2 bedroom Suite. We felt like VIPs.

All in all from Blackpool I think Petrol was around £300, The ferry was free with Eurocamp and so a lot cheaper than a plane for 5 of us. We also felt like the journey was part of our holiday and had lots of lovely memories along the way.

This time we are driving from Nottingham so Im hoping Petrol is a tiny bit cheaper! The ferry was £60 which I thought was reasonable and I have booked Premier Inns on the way there and back for £10 each.

I recommend it!

 

[ap156]

Driving via the A16 is 19.70 euros in tolls each way - this is far quieter than the A26 and A1, that is my preference, it is 200 miles and we did it in 3hr 15 mins with a wee stop and that is at 80 mph where traffic allows.

It is sign posted after the airport apart form where you join the A4 just after a big, nah huge, Carrefour, do not head for Paris, that's the wrong way!

 

[stevelamb121]

Who or which sites do you guys use for the ferry crossing and what is the rough cost

 

[delboydell]

We always use the tunnel its a bit more expensive, but book early enough and its not much more than a ferry crossing, and only takes 35mins, just long enough for a bite to eat a drink and toilet stop, then foot down and get to Disney.

 

[Happy Tappy]

Who or which sites do you guys use for the ferry crossing and what is the rough cost

I booked direct with P&O on their website.

It cost £50 return but that included a free Disney 1 day 2 parks pass.

 

[stevelamb121]

Sounds good. I'm gonna ask a silly question tho. I've never used either the ferry or eurotunnel..is there any kind of weight allowance? Thinking if were gonna drive rather than fly then we might bring some souvenirs back we wouldn't normally if flying.

 

[tennisfan]

Sounds good. I'm gonna ask a silly question tho. I've never used either the ferry or eurotunnel..is there any kind of weight allowance? Thinking if were gonna drive rather than fly then we might bring some souvenirs back we wouldn't normally if flying.

No you can bring back as much as you like. Depending on when you are travelling you may want to book the ferry quite early due to Seafrance sailings currently being suspended whilst they try to sort out who is going to buy the company & P&O are more expensive anyway