First timer going to DLP for xmas all advice, tips and hints welcome.

[MrsSmith]

So myself and DH plus our 2 Daughters who will be 2.5 and 4.5 are going to Disneyland paris for the first time EVER! for Christmas.
We arrive in CDG at around 2pm on 24th December and leave at 9am on the 27th December.
I will go through all the plans i have made so far please add, suggest and help me make this a very special time for everyone.
I will be 19 weeks pregnant on flying (which reminds me i need to still get travel insurance)
The girls no nothing of our plans and hoping to keep it a surprise until we arrive!
The plan is to wake up Xmas eve morning with 2 parcels for the girls and 1 each for me and DH. The girls will have a little trolley case each and a pair of pyjamas for each of us. Wrapped for Father christmas and a note from father christmas to the girls asking them to pack the cases as they are going on a special trip.
We are flying from birmingham not too far from home, and was thinking of getting the disney transfer bus to the hotel (VER?) Haven't booked this yet, is it best to book? We are staying the the santa fe for 2 nights than a hotel closer to the airport for the last night due to the early flight and cost. Not taking any presents just stockings and will fill once the children are asleep to find in the morning, will leave the other things at home to find when we return.

So now this is where i need your advice, help to plan what to do and when? I have no idea. I would love to have a character breakfast/dinner but when and where? What do i need to book in advance?
What should i take with us, snacks/drinks/fruit?
I know from others that it will be very cold and i am preparing for this with thermals and boots, thick coats etc.
So please all advice/ suggestions all welcome really want it to be a christmas to remember.

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi MrsSmith,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the 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, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
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http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

Ooooh exciting, Christmas at DLRP ! I'm sure you'll get lots of advice and help here to help you make the most of your trip with your little ones.

 

[mommy2ash]

wow christmas at disney your kids will be so happy!! as for character dining i would recommend cafe mickey. i went for lunch and we had so much fun there. the characters come round to every table, it is so different from meeting them in the park. a three course meal costs around 30 euro excluding a drink and kids meals were around 16 euro. i bit pricey if your kids dont eat much but they could always share!! i would make the most of emh that was the best part of my day on my trip lol and although we didnt mind the walk i would definately recommend the bus. we only used this the last day and it take like two minutes to get to the park

 

[Cyrano]

If you want even more excitement have a look at the trip reports board for details of trips at Xmas time.
For a character meal Cafe Mickey would be worth looking at. The restaurant sticky gives you details to reserve and each restaurant has a thread with reviews of others experiences

 

[beltane]

Cafe Mickey is wonderful and must not be missed! Be prepared for the weather to throw everything it can at you. Take Calpol and paracetamol just in case as it is impossible to track any down in Disney. Have a wonderful time.

 

[sophin]

If you can stomach the cost, then with two daughters I would recommend lunch at Cinderella's Country Inn in Fantasyland. We went two weeks ago and it was wonderful - even my sceptical husband was won over. We were greeted by Cinderella, our table was right next to Ariel and Prince Eric as they took to the dance floor, then Cinderella's mice, Ariel & Eric, Sleeping Beauty and Belle all came to our table for autographs, photos and chatted to our kids. It was 160 euros for four of us but it included a 3 course meal with drinks (wine for us) and was the definite highlight of our trip. We were there for over two hours and it is the thing that my daughter (aged 5) & son (aged 3) have talked about the most.

 

[Tinkjon]

Echo what Sophin said - the princess lunch was the best thing I have ever done. Not just at Disney but *ever*

 

[Tricky_lil_Pixie]

My friend surprised her 4 year old daughter with a Christmas trip a few years ago, she thought she was going on a day trip to Liverpool. On the journey to the airport she told her daughter to open a package that was on the back seat in it was an envelope with euro's in and a Christmas Minnie Mouse from the Disney Shop along with a Brochure from the travel agents for Disney. Her daughter wondered why they were going to the airport

It wasn't until she got on the Plane then it clicked where she was going

 

[daisybeetlebug]

Sounds great! My 2 know nothing about our trip either! We are going from the 20th Dec for 3 nights. It is to celebrate their birthdays and I can't wait to surprise them!
We have been a few times before but never at Christmas so it is very exciting!

 

[lonegungal17]

Dress as warmly as possible, believe me when you get there you will still be cold. Remember to take lots of hot chocolate breaks to warm up every few hours.

Mel

 

[Rachie B]

awww i am welling up at these surprise visits ! your children will be soooo excited !!

if anyone has yet to buy their ski stuff ,then (aswell as adams,posted a few weeks ago)

Lidl from mon 17th nov have ski / thermal stuff for sale cheaply too

inc kids 2 piece thermal undies £2.99 ( pink,blue or white)
kids thermal socks £1.99
neck warmer £1.99
shaped handwarmers 99p pack of 2 (flex the disc to heat)

etc

HTH

xx

 

[gemmybear83]

You will need to book you restaurants as the parks and hotels will be very busy.

 

[scottishnellie]

If you can stomach the cost, then with two daughters I would recommend lunch at Cinderella's Country Inn in Fantasyland. We went two weeks ago and it was wonderful - even my sceptical husband was won over. We were greeted by Cinderella, our table was right next to Ariel and Prince Eric as they took to the dance floor, then Cinderella's mice, Ariel & Eric, Sleeping Beauty and Belle all came to our table for autographs, photos and chatted to our kids. It was 160 euros for four of us but it included a 3 course meal with drinks (wine for us) and was the definite highlight of our trip. We were there for over two hours and it is the thing that my daughter (aged 5) & son (aged 3) have talked about the most.

Hi - I am definitely interested in this but I can't find it on the disney website anywhere. Is it called something else on there (thought maybe it was the 'Auberge De Cendrillon') How did you book it?

EDIT - Ignore me! When I read in more detail I see it is Auberge De Cendrillon and the info is there

 

[sophin]

Yes you are right it is the 'Auberge de Cendrillon' - German is my thing not French! One tip is that if you have very limited French like me , when you go up to the man outside the restaurant, say the word 'reservation'. He tried really hard but despite me saying how I had telephoned, booked a table, rang Disney etc etc it was only after 5 minutes and I thought we weren't going to get in I used the 'magic' word 'reservation'!!!! Also if you want Cinderella's autograph get it when you meet her by the entrance as she didn't have time to come round all the tables and greet everyone as well.

I booked (reserved) a table by ringing the central reservations number.

 

[scottishnellie]

Thankyou - thats really useful

Am going to ring and try to book tomorrow. It says you can book dinner rather than lunch, which we would prefer. The only thing worrying me is there might be no characters as they might all be at the Mickeys magical dinner thing (which I tried to book but was too late for )

 

[MrsSmith]

Thanks everyone for the tips and advice, i'm so excited and you have definately given me a lot to think about and look into. Would love to take the girls to dinner with the princesses but unsure if it maybe tooo expensive.
Going to have a good looked around the site and make some firm decisions and booking over the next week.
Thanks again.