Is the check-in for the Eurostar home always like that?

[steve_rob]

Got back late last night (or rather, early this morning!) from five very lovely, but very cold days at DLP. It was our first trip using the direct Eurostar service (normally fly) and I was wondering if people who always use this method to get there could let us know if our experiences with the return journey are normal or was it just a one-off caused by the snow?

I have to say that the journey out was fabulous. The check-in procedure was easy, the train was comfortable and being able to get all your check-in documents completed and receiving your park tickets before you arrived was great. Dropped off the luggage no problem at the station and we were able to start enjoying the parks within 20 minutes of arriving - something you can't do when you fly.

However on the way back, the station was absolute chaos. The whole of the top floor was rammed with people so that nobody could even move and the queues for getting your bags back merged with the queue going the other way to check in (which wasn't open) leading to loads of pushing and shoving and people accusing others of cutting in line. Then everyone had to wait around for the best part of an hour in the freezing cold before eventually just one lane opened and about two hundred families all converged on it, inching forward one centimetre at a time through passport control, which took another hour to clear the backlog before you could even get anywhere near the train. It basically looked like no-one at the station had a clue that the train might actually be full and were only prepared for about ten people turning up to check in!

Now surely it can't be like that every day, or else a) I'd have read about it in everyone's trip reports or b) Eurostar/Disney would have done something about it by now. So can someone let me know what it is normally like - that way I'll have a better idea for next time as to whether we'll take the train again or fly (right now, I'd choose to take the train out and fly back!)

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

It was like that the one time I took the Eurostar - that was in June.

 

[ROBEAR84]

it was like that on our trip back in October too! we left what we thought would be plenty of time (an hour before) and we did wonder at one stage whether we were going to get through before check in closed! (not being the pushing/shoving your kids through types!! lol) nightmare! we're driving next time!

Shame, as on the way out it was the least stressful way we've got there by far but it was easier to come back via Lille which we did on our March trip.

 

[staceylc]

It was a bit like that when we came back on 19th November. Although we left it to the very last minute to get our bags & queue so we didn't have to wait long but there were people there that had been waiting for over an hour for passport control to open. The Disney Express counter is in a silly place as we had to squeeze through the queues to get to the desk & some people were so paranoid we were going to push in they wouldn't let us through.

 

[steve_rob]

Shame, as on the way out it was the least stressful way we've got there by far but it was easier to come back via Lille which we did on our March trip.

Now that's a good idea - I hadn't thought of coming back indirect. Not only solves the problem with the jams at the station, but also means we have a choice of trains home (i.e. won't have to arrive home at 1:30am)

 

[Ms Poppins]

Eurostar is usually fine for us....we've used it the last 5 visits. I think you need to get there early - ususally about 45 mins before the train leaves. It is usually on the platform waiting, but a lot of people make the mistake of getting through secuirty and then waiting in the area above the escalators. We always just go straight down to the train.

I've also noticed many, many people waiting to go through security but not being ready ie haven't got their bags ready to go through scanners, keys out pockets etc, and that slows everyone down. Some don't even have their tickets or passports in hand! I know it's hard when there are small children and pushchairs involved - but we've done that too and managed ok.

I love the Eurostar and far prefer it to hanging about airports/transfer etc - I feel i'm really missing my last day if I fly.

 

[Mrs Stonfiesta]

its been like this every time we travelled on eurostar! we came home on thursday and it was terrible, they let some people through (us inc) to ease the congestion around the actual check-in and then left us waiting at the top of the escalators as the train wasnt even there and eventually left about an hour late, but it was freezing cold and there was no room to move although i think this was probably due to the weather. but at the same time we had to stand there for about 1hour 45 mins with our one year old without any access to drinks etc, they didnt tell us the train wasnt there until we were waiting at the top of the escalators or we wouldnt have gone through!!! we will probably try indirect next time we go on the eurostar on the way home as we didn get in until 3am although this was due to the snow.

 

[DLPdaft]

thank you all guys - i was dithering about doing our next trip by train/eurostar from Nottingham, even though it isn't any quicker door-to-door than taking a flight, and looking like its more expensive too. This has totally made my mind up now - flying it is!

 

[poppie123]

I know there can be a bit of a wait to get through and a bit of organisation wouldn't go a miss, but even with the chaos i would still always 100% prefer to take the Eurostar.
I have flown twice, once with Air France and once with Easyjet and for me it's just so much hassle.
Unless i really had no choice i would not fly to DLP again.

 

[ElasticKorma]

We were at the station in that horrendous chaos last night too. The first time I went to DLP (2007) the direct trains were fantastic. This year we decided on using them again as last year we went via Lille and that was a nightmare as the eurostar was fully booked and people were in wrong seats etc. However last night was extremely stressful and they could have dealt with the situation more efficiently.

 

[crazygunuk]

Everytime we have used the train it's been terrible coming back, even queues on the escalators with kids, push chairs bags etc.

Dint thunk I would EVER use it again... Way easier to drive and much more pleasant!!

You get to see the true Brits in action pushing and shoving each other at the station :-(

 

[Kittina]

If you go via Lille it's never busy, but takes a bit longer.
Never had any of the above issues using via Lille service but I remember it was very busy when I came back on a direct train

 

[steppelemming]

Its been fine the two times I have been by Eurostar. We are going by Eurostar again next weekend so I hope its ok this time, especially as our train home is booked for 1 hr 10mins after the Eurostar is due to arrive in London . I have been by car and coach before and definatly prefer the Eurostar

 

[Jonjo]

We had no problems on Thursday night. They opend up security half an hour early at 6pm and not the normal 6.30pm so everyone could get on the train earlier. We arrived to collect our bags at 5.50pm and we on the train in our seats by 6.15pm.

Our train back was very empty and we did not stop on the French side of the tunnel.

 

[Babiesmummy]

We were on the same train on Thursday and arrived at about 6.15pm, collected our bags no problems but the queue for getting through security was queuing down the stairs, which from a health and safety point of view wasn't good. Luckily I could stand with the pushchair, kids and cases whilst my husband queued. I am sure not everybody had that luxury. One bonus was not having to fold down the pushchair going through security (big improvement). I would still pick Eurostar over flying anyday.

 

[dlpSteve]

In the 10 times we've taken the Eurostar back we've never had a problem and gone through fine with no hassles and no over-crowding, that includes the height of summer and Boxing day - guess we've been lucky!