Help! Help! Help!

[eoa2006]

I'm planning to take my three girls (aged 8, 6 and 2) to Disneyland Paris next january or February (those months because I assume it's cheaper). I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing and would appreciate some pointers and any help so so much. I'll be doing it on my own too so will want to keep it as easy and simple as poss, budget willing. I'm thinking of staying in one of the cheaper hotels, I think it was called Santa Fe, on a half board basis so that it's easy for us.

How much do you think that would cost?
Is the price of admission to the park in with the price of the trip?
Where do I actually book the trip - am I better going to last minute type websites or booking through the main Disney site?
Are January and February OK months to take them, will the park be open and have all the usual stuff going on or does it scale down in winter months? How busy is it during these winter months?
How much spending money will I need for a three to four day trip?

I'm so so sorry for all the questions, I feel like a frightened green teenager, I'm terrified - in a good way though I suppose . It's going to be so important to my girls, I just want to get it right.

Thank you so much for listening and getting this far!!
Maria

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Maria 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

You have come to the right place for help and advice

This is a good thread to get an idea of prices

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Maria, welcome to the DIS!

Lots of people book their holidays through Disney direct as they are usually the cheapest but my brother and sister-in-law have just booked theirs with Thomson as they found the prices lower for when they are going. I'd suggest getting brochures for Disney, Thomas Cook, Thomson etc etc and comparing prices. The brochures at the moment won't have next January/February's prices in yet (I think those come out about June) but you could look at this year's prices to give yourself an idea.

How are you planning on getting there? Flying, Eurostar or coachtrip?

Everyone here is very friendly so please just ask away!

 

[eoa2006]

Thank you so much. I was thinking of flying but I really do want an idiot's guide - I'm going to have three young children to herd and loads of luggage and my French is pretty appalling so after reading some of the threads on this forum, I think the Eurostar sounds easiest because it's straight to the resort. With the flights I think you have to start finding buses and trains and I'm not sure I'm brave enough for that - pathetic I know but I'd be worried my french would let me down, I'd be worrying myself silly about getting on the wrong trains or buses. I just want to get there as easily as possible with minimal extra journies.

I really do appreciate any tips or pointers, I've never done anything like this before and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing.

Maria

 

[eileds]

Buy Brits Guide to Disneyland Paris by Simon Veness - absolutely essential for the 1st timer - it helped me so much on my first trip.

You'll be paying for 1 adult and 1 child, as it's the 15th anniversary you won't be paying for the 6yr old (under 7s stay for free) and the 2yr old would be free anyway.

I'd get all the brochures for ideas of prices and also check expedia to compare theirs - I'm sure lots of others will advise on other good sites. If you do decide to fly it is fairly easy to locate the disney buses.

I'd have a good trawl through this site - it really is easy to buy food in the parks and the village and it doesn't have to be too expensive.

Most importantly in all of this you have to be comfortable with what you're booking.

Everyone on here will be more than happy to help with any questions you have

 

[jillrobinson]

Hi eoa2006
The brochures for early in the year usually come about around July,August. We've been 3 times in March - you're right that it will be cheaper assuming the Disney continue their Kids Go Free offer, which is normally on from early Jan- end of March, the beauty of this over the current Kids under 7 Stay & Play free is that transport via Eurostar or coach is also free and some airlines have special offers too. On certain weeks in this period there will also be stay an extra night free and you can combine both offers.

Eurostar is very easy and it's almost door to door, although you will have to manage your own luggage, through passport control and on and off the train -this could be a little difficult with 3 youngsters, although I'm sure your 8 year old will be able to lend a hand. Many packages include Disney's Express luggage service which will transport your bags to and from station to hotel.

By air and if you book a package your coach transfers will more than likely be included to and from the airport and it's very straightforward, although an easier option for you might be to prebook a taxi that will meet you at the airport, again I'm thinking of you with your luggage.

Option 3 would be a coach trip, we've just done one and it wasn't too bad, it is a long journey but it's broken up with plenty of toilet stops, plus your ferry or tunnel crossing - our coach had a toilet and hot/cold drinks on board and once we were in France they put a video on for the kids, which helped pass some time. The advantage of this is that once your luggage is loaded onto the coach, you don't have to deal with it again until your reach your hotel.
My kids are older 8 and 13 and they were fine with the journey, with the help of travel tablets and travel bands, but there were lots of younger children on the coaches too.

Your park tickets will be included with your package, it is worth taking the time to get a few brochures to compare prices, including any extras you might want to book like Character meals for instance as different operators do charge different prices.

Any more questions, don't be afraid to ask - somebody on here will be able to answer them.

 

[eoa2006]

Thank you so much for all your help everybody. I love the idea of a coach trip too, I hadn't thought of that, that's going to be even easier I'd imagine. Hadn't thought about the transfers being included in the package if we fly - of course they would, what a dingbat I am .

Will try to get some of the brochures you've recommended to try to compare prices. Also, how much spending money am I likely to need? What do you reckon for each day? I'd assume we'll have to buy food in the park at lunch time but I'm definitely going to go half board to make it easier so won't need to buy food at any other times.

What is the park like in the earlier months though - do they scale things down and not have as many things open or is pretty much open 24/7? As my girls are younger I'd imagine they'll like the princess type stuff and meeting the characters rather than rides, so I'm not too concerned about the rides being open, it's more the character stuff being there.

I'm getting excited already .
Maria

 

[poppyolivia]

I am going back Jan 08 again!!
For both trips so far I booked with phone and fly and their prices came out at the beginning of May. I phoned them 2 wks ago and they said to give them another 3wks and they would phone me with my quote. I've only been twice and the lady remembered me

6 days in Jan cost me £775
Santa fe..and breakfast
Park passes for the 6 days
Flight from edinburgh
Transfers

This was for 2 adults and a 6 and 1 year old 1 year old was free and we left from Edinburgh so 6 year old was free (with 2 adults) and we got one night free

WARNING: If you go in Jan take the warmist thickest clothes...ski suits even..cause it was so cold it stung our lungs!!! But on a positive side its cheap and the place is VERY quiet!! I have never felt cold like that but we were out in it for 11 hrs a day!!! The longest we had to queue was 5 mins!!! The sunday we arrived was quite busy but after that......in fact I scanned round in a circle with the camcorder and only 2 people walked past me!!! Might be different with the 15 year thing ????????

Flying is easy I think but its what ever you are used to.
Good luck xxxxxxxx

Forgot to say that all we noticed shut was the carousel and that was because it was getting done up...plenty there to enjoy yourself xxx

 

[Raci]

Hi Maria!
The best advice is to look around and compare prices and work out what you want to have included in your holiday.
We found the best price was by far with Disney direct and we could book any extras we wanted.

I went with my daughter (just 8), our friend and her son (almost 8).
We went together because we struggled finding places where we wouldn't be penalised by the cost of only one adult and one child.

You're definatly looking at the best time of year with kids go free offers.
I would maybe consider Eurostar instead of flying it was such an easy quick journey. The other advantage here is if you book direct with Disney, you benefit from Express check-in which means they will take all your luggage to the hotel for you which would be such a benefit in your situation! It really added to our holiday by being able to go straight to the park too.

If your budget will stretch to it its definatly worth looking at a trip where you will have 4 days in the park so you can do things at a more relaxed speed.

We were in the parks for 6 days plus overnighting in London and for 1 adult 1 child I took £500 spending money plus the £75 birthday money my daughter had. It worked out to be about right and we bought everything we wanted to plus went to more expensive meals when we wanted.

If your children want to see the characters going to character meals is a lovely relaxed way to see them.

While you're waiting for your trip just relax and enjoy the planning, you'll find so much great info here
If there's anything else I can help with, just ask