First time trip, all advice welcomed!

[Emmylou]

Hello everyone, this is my first post here although I have spent some time reading all the really useful hints and tips that you have all posted. This is a fantastic forum, you have all done a great job.

My husband and I are taking our three boys (aged 12, 10 and nearly 5) and my mum to DLP on the 4th Feb. This is the first time I will have been on holiday with my youngest due to my big problems with busy places. Because of this, we want to make the absolute most of our trip there so I thought I would ask for all your advice, particularly pertaining to February.

We are flying to CGD airport but transfers are not included, should we prebook anything or just do it when we get there?
We are staying for 4 nights at the Sequoia Lodge, anything we need to know about that?
We get bed and breakfast, does the breakfast have to be eaten there or can it be eaten elsewhere? We would like to do a meal with a character, what is the best meal to do this at (breakfast/dinner etc) and where should we go? And should we prebook?
The fastpass thing confuses me, do they need to be paid for and if so where do we get them?
We plan to split up at times as some of the things my older boys want to do will not interest the little one, and vice versa, any suggestions of suitable rides/attractions would be great.
Do they have parades at this time of year? Any tips for seeing them at their best?

I can't think of anything else just now but I am sure that I will do! I would just really really appreciate anything you can tell us so we don't waste our time doing the 'wrong' things!

Many thanks in advance,

Em (very excited but very nervous and apprehensive too )

 

[Sav]

I've not been for 3 years - but am going back in Feb half term this year

Best advice I was told last time -
"Plan the days before you go - but be flexible enough to ignore the plan"

Make a list of what you want to see most - work out the best times to do this - then make a rough plan of what to do inbetween - if things don't work out exactly - then don't stress and worry - just enjoy what you do see.

Make sure you take your time wandering about - the magic at DLRP is the little details - don't forget to go under the castle!!!

Last time I went I booked everything special when I checked in at the hotel - I had already planned which morning I wanted a character breakfast, when to do Buffalo Bills etc.

This time I'm intending to book a Character Breakfast at the Plaza Gardens - and Character Dinner at Mickey's Cafe (in the Village). I'm not sure about seeing Buffalo Bill's a second time. I will again book everything when I check in at the hotel.

Regarding rides - I think the only things the older ones will want to do that the little one can't is BTM, Indiana, Space Mountain - and Armageddon & Rock and Roll Coaster in WDS. All the other stuff should be ok for a five year old. My little one was 3 last time we went and did everything except those I mentioned. He's looking forward to being able to ride BTM now he's tall enough this year...

Only Parade's this time of year are the Princess Parade in Disney Park - and the Cinema Parade in WDS. Although there are a number of shows on - and the shows will be undercover which may be a godsend in feb!!!

FastPass - basically is a way of getting a timeslot for a busy ride. It's free (but you can only hold one at a time). You use your main entrance passport ticket on special machines at the ride to be given a ticket for the ride - with a certain timeslot on - then you go back to the ride in that timeslot and join a much smaller queue. As fastpass tickets are issued the timeslots get later in the day - until they are all gone so best to go get a fastpass for the ride you want to go on the most early on. At the time you are going I don't think it will be much of an issue though - there shouldn't be many really long queues.

Have fun and don't try to do everything at once - take your time and you will have a magical experience.

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Emmylou 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

For an idea about the Sequoia Lodge have a look at the Hotel FAQ sticky at the top of the board.

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Em and welcome to the DIS!

We get bed and breakfast, does the breakfast have to be eaten there or can it be eaten elsewhere?

You can arrange a Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast as an alternative to your hotel one. This is held in Au Chalet de Marionnette and the big advantage to this is that is gets you into the park early and you'll get chance to ride Dumbo and usually another Fantasyland ride before it gets busy! See here for more details. The GMF breakfast does get booked up early so I wouldn't leave that until you get there, I would book it in advance.

Any more questions, just ask away!!

 

[Cyrano]

You can arrange a Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast as an alternative to your hotel one. This is held in Au Chalet de Marionnette and the big advantage to this is that is gets you into the park early and you'll get chance to ride Dumbo and usually another Fantasyland ride before it gets busy! See here for more details.

There are also details here

 

[Emmylou]

Thanks for all the advice so far, I will take my time and read it all in great depth, try and take it in.

Sav, thanks so much for all that. Btw, what is BTM? Do you know what the height restrictions are by any chance as my nearly five year old is not very tall?

How do I book a place at the restaurants? If I need to book by phone do I have to speak French or do they speak English?

Also any advice re transfers?

Also, a suggestion, could one of you very experienced Disney-ers draw up a suggested timetable (that could be made a sticky) that us newbies could use as a basis for our trips? You could maybe do one for 2 days, one for 3 days, 4 days etc, just to give us some idea of what is achievable in a day... it is hard to gauge how long you need to 'do' an attraction or section etc. Anyway, is just an idea

Any more advice you can give me will be most welcome!

Thankyou

 

[Cyrano]

The height restriction for Big Thunder Mountain (BTM) is 1.02m. Here is the link to the other height limits.

It might be difficult to come up with plans that would suit everyone since some don't like coasters, others are travelling with children

By all means post up what rides you would like to do and what should not be missed in a new thread, and I'm sure plently will jump in with theirs and advice

 

[Disney owl]

All your questions seem to be answered.

Just wanted to say Welcome & have a great time

 

[Sav]

The time it takes to see and do particular things - and what is acheivable in a set period is dependent on the time of year. In early feb - outside the school holidays for instance - the queuing times are negligable compared to July/August.

I wouldn't plan your trip to the n'th degree - I would pick certain things that are "must sees". For a 5 yr old who is not scared of fast rides I'd make sure you do BTM - for any 5 yr olds (even if slightly too worried for BTM) I'd make sure you do Peter Pan and Pirates of the Caribbean - also the new Buzz ride (although this wasn't there last time I went). Then plan everything else round the shows and parades you want to see.

If you are staying 4 nights at Seq L then you will get 3 full days in the parks. You can go in the park on your arrival and departure days too if the timings are right. But in any case 3 days is enough to do both parks leisurely at the time you are going because of the generally smaller queues.

I would suggest you'd spend the first day in DisneyLand Park - get a feel for the different areas - spend time wandering and making mental notes of what you want to see more of.

Spend the second day in Walt Disney Studios - but don't rush to get to the park - have a leisurely breakfast. Make sure you know the times of the shows and work the day around those - Stunt Show, Animagique, Cinemagique, Parade. There's more to see - rather than "do" in Walt Disney Studios and it is more of a place for spending time getting autographs and photos.

For the third day - book a FantasyLand Breakfast (no additional cost but book now, before you go as they get booked up) or a Plaza Gardens character breakfast (additional cost and still need to book - but generally ok to book as you check in). This will give you a head start in the park and you can revisit the places you saw on day 1 that you wanted to either go back to - or were too busy at the time.

Plan one of DisneyLand Park days to include The Lion King Show - It's slightly changed now - but when I went last time we got there in good time for a lunchtime (1:30) showing and sat and ate lunch on the tables upstairs watching it.

For added magic you can plan to book an evening meal at Cafe Mickey - and/or a night at Buffalo Bills - I'd probably not suggest you have an evening meal at Cafe Mickey's if you've booked a character breakfast for the morning after - I think that may be overkill for the little one.

I intend to do something similar to this - although I only have 3 nights at the Hotel New York. I will be arriving early on day 1 due to driving down on day 0 and staying close by in an offsite hotel, picking up my park tickets and hope to get into the park by noon on day 1. I am going to book Cafe Mickey for evening 1. Then have the leisurely breakfast in the hotel and do WDS on day 2 - with a Buffalo Bill show on evening 2. I'll book a Plaza Gardens breakfast for day 3 and spend day 3 in the Disney Park. Evening 3 we'll play it by ear and just wander into the Village and see what restaurant takes our fancy. Day 4 we drive home.

OK now I'm getting excited having written down my plans!!!!!

 

[*leanne*]

Hi

Thanks for the great itinerary sav - some great ideas. I have printed it out so I can copy some ideas! Can I just ask though if you visited Val d'Europe (did I say that correct). Is it worth trying to fit it in to my itinerary?


Thanks!!!

 

[Emmylou]

To everyone, many thanks for the suggestions. I will try and contact the restaurant mentioned for the breakfast.

To Sav, once again, brilliant info, I have a much better idea now of what to plan and where to aim for.

Thank you so much, I am really excited about going now, and I hope you have a good trip too!

 

[Bexx]

Can I just ask though if you visited Val d'Europe (did I say that correct). Is it worth trying to fit it in to my itinerary?

Depends how much you like shopping!!Personally I wouldn't bother with it if I've got DLP to visit instead But if you want to stock up on snacks for your room, the supermarket there is excellent.

 

[Bexx]

Where are my manners?! Hi Emmylou and Welcome to the DIS!!

 

[Sav]

Isn't there a Sea World in Val d'Europe? I've never been there - like Bexx said - there is Disney to see..... To be honest - the only shopping we will be doing will be for Disney stuff anyway and there is certainly enough of that in the parks and village already....

For stocking up on snacks/drinks for the room I found the garage near the Santa Fe entrance was reasonable - although last time I was staying in the Santa Fe so it was maybe just laziness that made me go there.

 

[cleous]

for transfers i would defently book a taxi it was soo easy not having to worry where and when it was coming and so quick to make the most of your first day especially if you have excited kids that just want to be there we used eurominibus it was great made it that bit specialer it was 140 euros both ways not much more than the shuttle bus

 

[Emmylou]

Hello Becky

Cleous, thanks for that info, do you need to prebook? Can it de done by email or do you need to ring them? Do you have a website address for them?
Questions...questions..... lol

Em x

 

[jillrobinson]

Just wanted to say Hi Emmylou, I think all your questions seem to have been answered above, the only thing I'd add is expect it to be very, very cold and take plenty of warm clothes accordingly.
Other than that have a fabulous holiday

 

[cleous]

yes heres the email address,think the site is eurominibus.com but the email is def info@eurominibus.com , was really good company i just emailed them with our details of people , dates etc and they emailed me back with an amount , confirmed this with our flight no. and times , and what i really liked about this company was unlike some of the others which wanted your credit card details to book it and then they took the money out on day of arrival this company didn't do that you just email to confirm then pay the driver direct when your there by cash, you pay each way so we paid 70 on arrival plus we gave him 5 for a tip then the same on leaving he was waiting for us on arrival just at the door you come thru when you pick up the cases with a card with our name on ,
then on leaving he was outside the hotel 5 mins early and as i said it only took just under 30mins and that was at 9.00am yesterday so it was quite busy, he had car seats etc and it was a brand new people carrier car , it made the holiday just a little bit easier and more exciting not having to worry about anything and its so fun looking for when you see the castle appear!!
any other questions just ask- by the way you'll love the sequoia its fab!

suzanne

 

[Emmylou]

Thankyou Suzanne, absolutely fab info, I have contacted them for a quote, think it will be a bit more as there are 6 of us but will still not be much more than a shuttle bus.

Loved your review btw, was fab to hear from someone who has stayed where we are going and liked it! I am sure I will have about a zillion more questions for you yet lol

 

[Emmylou]

Suzanne, how much time did you allow to get to the airport on your return trip? Our flight is at 17.55 from CGD airport and I am wondering what time I should ask the taxi man to pick us up from the hotel.

TIA