First DLP trip is overwhelming!

[msmama]

Hi all!

Planning our first DLP trip this summer. We're doing a cruise from Dover, then I was thinking a few days in Paris and then ending with DLP (as a suggestion from this board).

So many questions though...too start...

1. Meal plan - I know people have very strong opinions on the WDW meal plan? What about this one? If I'm planning on mostly counter service (or whatever the equivalent is in DLP) then is it better to pay out of pocket? What about breakfast?

2. I think we're doing 2 days in Paris before the final leg of our trip to DLP. Can anyone recommend a good hotel (it's me and my 9 year old boy) or would it be just as easy to add 2 days onto our DLP reservation and commute into the city?

3. How many days, really, does one need to visit DLP? I'm doing the buy 2 get 2 deal so we're doing 4 regardless, but wondering if we'll be running to pack it all in or if we'll be relaxed?

4. Lodging - It's about a $300 difference between hotel Cheyanne and Hotel New York. An adult and a 9 year old, at the end of a 3 week vacation. Would you (I know, subjective) pay the extra to be closer to the parks/village? (Plus, we're from NY so I kind of think it's be fun to stay at a NY themed hotel). Sequoia lodge splits the difference in price was is also an option).

5. I see on the website that it says certain classes of rooms (which I assume are like club level) have breakfast included, but I can't find out to book those rooms, or even what they are. Any advice?

Thanks and I'll probably be back with more questions later.

 

[petals]

Re the meal plan when I stayed in the Disney hotels breakfast was included. If you're only planning eating at counter service places then it might be cheaper to just pay out of pocket. I've only used meal plan once where we had standard half board and we used this towards the cost of the more expensive places like Remy's and Buffalo Bills.

Re Paris I'm not sure where we stayed in Paris because it's years since we stayed in the city but you can use the trains very easily from DLP to get to Paris.

On a first trip I would say 3-4 days would be needed to do the parks at a relaxed pace. I'd say with what you have planned it'll be perfect.

Re choosing between Cheyenne and NY/Sequoia I never see the point in spending extra money on a hotel room. Personally though I love Cheyenne's theming and if you don't want to walk 20 minutes there's a free bus to and from the parks.

 

[A Small World]

Re the meal plan if you are staying in the Disney hotels then your breakfast is included.

Afaik all rooms include breakfast.

From the end of March breakfast is not included in with your room package

 

[petals]

From the end of March breakfast is not included in with your room package

That may be the case but I'm talking about my past experiences!

Perhaps your time would be better spent giving advice to the person that started the thread rather than correcting my posts

 

[A Small World]

I was making sure that the person who asked the question had the correct up to date information. I won't bother to correct you in future

 

[Ms Poppins]

For a summer trip I'd suggest a hotel with a pool, so SL or HNY. I like getting away from the parks in the afternoon to chill. Both hotels are near the parks so you can walk easily between the parks and hotels that sit round the lake. HNY is my favourite but both get good reviews.

I wouldn't bother with the meal plan as you'd need to eat a 3 course meal to benefit. Plenty of lovely counter service to choose from.

I think it's about 40 min commute to Paris but room only prices at the onsite hotels can be costly. You might be better staying in Paris before moving to Disney.

Hope this helps

 

[Ms Poppins]

Forgot to say, club level will give you breakfast in a separate lounge, one fast pass per person per day, lounge access in afternoon/early evening for complimentary snacks and drinks.

I'm sure I read that breakfast is include if you choose this option.

 

[A Small World]

Hi all!

Planning our first DLP trip this summer. We're doing a cruise from Dover, then I was thinking a few days in Paris and then ending with DLP (as a suggestion from this board).

So many questions though...too start...

1. Meal plan - I know people have very strong opinions on the WDW meal plan? What about this one? If I'm planning on mostly counter service (or whatever the equivalent is in DLP) then is it better to pay out of pocket? What about breakfast? - As far as I know you can't use the meal plan vouchers at counter service or for table service or buffets. Most people don't find they save them any money and can be restrictive. You used to be able to add meal plans on up to a couple of weeks before you go and I haven't heard anything to say this has changed so you do have time to think about it

2. I think we're doing 2 days in Paris before the final leg of our trip to DLP. Can anyone recommend a good hotel (it's me and my 9 year old boy) or would it be just as easy to add 2 days onto our DLP reservation and commute into the city? - Hotels in Central Paris tend to have smaller rooms and be quaint rather tan have lots of facilities. We stayed at Best Western Trocadero on 2 occasions which was adequate for what we wanted - somewhere to sleep and was close to some restaurants and a nice pleasant walk to the Eiffel Tower and also across the road from a metro station. It will take about 40/50 mins to get into Paris from DLP on a commuter train - its an easy journey but can get busy depending on the time of day. Would your 9yr old be happy about not going into the parks and going to Paris if you were still staying in a disney hotel?

3. How many days, really, does one need to visit DLP? I'm doing the buy 2 get 2 deal so we're doing 4 regardless, but wondering if we'll be running to pack it all in or if we'll be relaxed? I think you need 3 or 4 days at least to do DLP so you are probably about right

4. Lodging - It's about a $300 difference between hotel Cheyanne and Hotel New York. An adult and a 9 year old, at the end of a 3 week vacation. Would you (I know, subjective) pay the extra to be closer to the parks/village? (Plus, we're from NY so I kind of think it's be fun to stay at a NY themed hotel). Sequoia lodge splits the difference in price was is also an option). As MsPoppins mentioned a hotel with a pool is nice in summer (so not Cheyenne) to break up the day. SL and New York are both acceptable and an easy walk to the parks through Disney Village

5. I see on the website that it says certain classes of rooms (which I assume are like club level) have breakfast included, but I can't find out to book those rooms, or even what they are. Any advice? Yes the club level rooms have breakfast included-

Thanks and I'll probably be back with more questions later.

Answers in bold above

 

[micksn]

I think your 9 year old boy might enjoy the toy story/cowboy theming at the Cheyenne or the SL pool has a slide which is fun for kids. If you can rise to it SL golden forest is about the same as HNY and comes with breakfast, 1 fastpass per day and afternoon drinks and snacks.
As others have said I wouldn't bother with the meal plan, you can be a lot more flexible without!

ps I think petals was trying to make a joke

 

[lizabu]

I'm planning our first trip to Paris too. We found an affordable 2 bedroom villa close to DLP and decided to stay there and commute into Paris for sightseeing. We will have our own kitchen so it will make things easy in the morning. There is a train pass called Navigo Découverte which costs 22 EUR and gives you unlimited rides on the public transportation for a week. I thought I would suggest the idea in case it works for you too.