First trip to DLRP - from USA

[Sparkles2613]

Hello everyone!!!

I have been reading over everyone's questions and answers but most of you are already from Europe. My husband and I are traveling from the US in March and have some questions::

We are going specifically for the Welsh festival / can anyone tell me about it? The sites I find are very vague and lack details.

Can anyone give me information on the meal plan - half board specifically and how that works?

What is the weather like in the beginning of March?

Crowd levels?!?

Any other good useful information?

 

[markpsych]

A few links:

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/seasons-and-events/st-davids-welsh-festival.html

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3080149&highlight=welsh+festival

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2888258&highlight=welsh+festival

Have fun

 

[Isila]

Most find half board not worth it. You get a voucher per person per night and you are restricted to certain restaurants listed for half board you choose (standard, plus or premium). It doesn't save you much money. You can use those vouchers for face value, but then's it's no point getting those. So it's way better not to bother with half board and stay to cash.

March can be very different. We went in March three times and on trips weather was just great - sunny, warm and this year it was cold, rainy... And it can change everyday, so...

 

[Disney Lvr of Old]

Hello everyone!!!

I have been reading over everyone's questions and answers but most of you are already from Europe. My husband and I are traveling from the US in March and have some questions::

We are going specifically for the Welsh festival / can anyone tell me about it? The sites I find are very vague and lack details.

Can anyone give me information on the meal plan - half board specifically and how that works?

What is the weather like in the beginning of March?

Crowd levels?!?

Any other good useful information?

Hi there!! how did you book everything? On your own? I'm in the beginning stages and find it daunting! Thank you!

 

[Sparkles2613]

Disney LVR of Old - I'm a DVC Member so I booked through Disney Vacation Club. I plan to order tickets through Disneyland Paris' website - however I am trying to add the meal plan - half board, and just called VERY long distance, and they can't use my DVC confirmation # to "add" the meal plan to, which is frustrating!

 

[Sparkles2613]

Isila :: We figured the half board would work because we get the breakfast with the resort stay ... Can anyone confirm that you can "upgrade" breakfast from the resort into the park 1 hour early for no additional cost - As long as seating allows?

markpsych - The one link doesn't work for me - the first one. The other two help - a lot! Thank you all!

Anything else anyone has?

What would you recommend for transportation from the airport to Disney - Train or Shuttle Bus?

 

[kizzabel]

Isila :: We figured the half board would work because we get the breakfast with the resort stay ... Can anyone confirm that you can "upgrade" breakfast from the resort into the park 1 hour early for no additional cost - As long as seating allows?

markpsych - The one link doesn't work for me - the first one. The other two help - a lot! Thank you all!

Anything else anyone has?

What would you recommend for transportation from the airport to Disney - Train or Shuttle Bus?

Where have you booked to stay? Breakfast in the park is offered at times free of charge in a number of restaurants for people staying at Sequoia Lodge, Cheyenne, Santa Fe and Newport Bay.
I would recommend a shared shuttle service. Ezyshuttle and RS Transport are two popular choices.
Also you can use your half board vouchers regardless of their type in most restaurants (exclusions: McDonalds, Rainforest Cafe, King Ludwig's Castle, Planet Hollywood, Earl of Sandwich) but you will not receive change. E.g you can use standard half board vouchers in Walt's, you just pay the difference.

 

[Sparkles2613]

Kissabel - We are staying in the Sequoia Lodge.

We just called DVC - and were told because we are DVC members and booked through DVC we can not take advantage of the meal plan - Half or Full Board.

Does any one have copies of restaurant menus with prices? Or know where I can get them?

 

[Jonjo]

I was going to post a link to my Highs and Lows from my St Davids Day trip in March but someone has already beaten me to it.

One thing I will say is that the weather was unbelievably changeable. One day a nice sunny 14°c the next day was pouring with rain and the following day a snowy and freezing -7°c.

I would avoid the meal plans, the menu selections on the plan are limited and in my opinion the plans are not good value for money.

Also if your booking from the US book via one of the European DLP websites as they offer much better offers and I would also recommend you stay on site to take full advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. If your a DVC member save your points the package deals available from DLP are much cheaper direct than via the Vacation Club.

The Welsh Festival is great fun and DW and I had a great time.

 

[kizzabel]

Kissabel - We are staying in the Sequoia Lodge.

We just called DVC - and were told because we are DVC members and booked through DVC we can not take advantage of the meal plan - Half or Full Board.

Does any one have copies of restaurant menus with prices? Or know where I can get them?

Have you looked at annual passes? These could be an option instead of buying park tickets. They have the benefit of giving you discount on meals / purchases too and are, at most ¬200 each. Check out DLRPMagic for info and the AP sticky on this forum. Theres also a restaurant review thread on this forum and DLRPmagic have one too. Do you need links?
Have you booked thru DVC? If you look at disneylandparis.ie (Irish site in euros) or Disneylandparis.co.uk (English site in pounds sterling) you will find great offers inclusive of tickets & breakfast

 

[Sparkles2613]

Links would be awesome!

We have already purchased Park Tickets on the disneyland paris USA site in dollars

 

[Sparkles2613]

Does Disneyland Paris offer the Disney Photo Pass service?????

 

[Vala]

Does Disneyland Paris offer the Disney Photo Pass service?????

Not the same as in the US parks. You can't collect over your whole stay and then get a CD. You can only buy print outs. They erase the photos after a couple of days. The more you buy the cheaper it gets, but anything over 4 days and you are risking losing the photos because they are deleted from the system. Also you'll normally only find photopass people at the stationary character meets like the Princess Pavilion or Meet Mickey.

 

[Michael623]

Make sure you check the prices of the packages (UK site) before you commit to using DVC points. When booking with DVC the point values are very high plus you have to pay the $95 transfer fee and you are required to buy length of stay passes for all of the days you're staying at DLP including check-in and check-out days. The packages are often almost the same price as you'll pay for the Fee + LOS passes and you can save the points. I looked into using DVC points but dropped the idea once I saw the prices of the packages. Whatever you do, don't book any packages on the US site. That is the biggest ripoff.

I've been to DLP twice, once I drove and once I took the TVG. I thought driving was fine but cars in Europe are small for the price. We drove to Normandy and Versailles so having the car made sense but if you're just visiting the city and DLP, a car isn't necessary. The TVG train was very easy and fast (9 minutes door to door). If I were to go to DLP again straight from the airport I would use the TVG again in a second.

As many have said, the meal plan at DLP is not any kind of savings but I am not a meal plan person at WDW or DL either. I feel it just encourages you to overeat to get your money's worth. Seriously though, I've never seen a DLP trip report where somebody was really happy they went the way of the half-board.

My wife still complains about the lack of Photopass.