DebbbieinDisney
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 10, 2011
- Messages
- 10
First of all, hello and thank you - I've never posted on here before, but have been lurking for several months, and picked up absolutely invaluable tips that helped make our recent visit to DLP such a success. I decided it would only be fair to do a write up of my own in an attempt to help anyone else who is at the planning stages!
Our party comprised me (mum, 41), dad (34), Son No 1 (sometimes surly teen), Son No 2 (6) and Little Princess (3). There is quite a variation in the ages of the kids, which can cause issues. This was my 5th trip to DLP, but the first 3 were press trips from a time when I worked as a journalist and got lots of free stuff (happy days). We always stayed at the Newport Bay, and as everything was laid on by obliging PR staff, I think I developed a distorted view of how affordable/easy it all was. A couple of years ago I paid - shock horror - for a Christmas stay at the Sequoia Lodge. It was disastrous. Freezing cold, totally packed, the most un-festive Christmas Day I've ever had - no amount of decorations or fake snow could make up for the crowds, the rudeness, the ocassionally verging on abusive attitiude of stressed out staff. We were also shocked by the expense and poor quality of the food, and almost reached a 'never again' stage.
But as I still had those magical memories of the first trips, I wanted to try again - much to my hubbie's horror. This time, though, I was determined to make it as enjoyable as possible for our entire group, and this is where all the planning came in - much of it done after sifting through these forums. I decided on the Disneyland Hotel - yes, it's vastly over-priced, but after our last trauma (trudging back and forth to the Sequoia with grumpy kids/husbands five times a day), I decided the location made it worthwhile. Of course this depends on the ages of your kids, but as my 2 younger ones still have very small legs, it was the right choice for us. I also found there were ways to make it even more cost effective, more of which later.
I booked the half board premium in advance, and again, this is a crazy expense. If you go for these, you really have to plan properly to make sure you get value for money - go for the shows/experiences/meals that are premium voucher only, and when you add up the difference, it can be significant. Of course you don't need to do this - you could just eat in the cheaper restaurants if it suits. But husband in particular is a foodie, and I wanted something special to look forward to every day - a focal point amid the mayhem. I also liked the fact it was paid for up front - on the previous trip, the feeling of being ripped off every time I had to put my hand in my pocket (about every 5 minutes) spoiled the holiday. I didn't want that to happen this time. In total it came to about £2700 for the party of five, for four nights and five days, including the premium vouchers for each night. A big initial outlay - but in all honesty, by the end of the trip, we had spent hardly anything more and had an awesome, stress-free time, so I think it worked for us. Four nights/five days is a long stay by DLP standards and we could have cut back there - but again, I didn't want the stress of cramming it all in, especially as half the group would be wanting teacups and Dumbo, and half Space Mountain! More time meant less pressure.
Flights from Liverpool, where we are based, were poor times, and the Eurostar was expensive and almost fully booked (if you want to go direct to DLP I'd advise booking early; I left it until Jan for an April trip), so we decided to drive. The return Eurotunnel tickets were £105, and we stayed at the Ashford International the night before. This is part of the Q Hotels group and I love their rooms for families - it can be hard finding nice accommodation for 5 of you, but we had two inter-connecting there, and it started the holiday off in style. The drive down from Liverpool started at 7am on a Sunday so the roads were empty - it was like a scene from a sci-fi movie, deserted motorways!
We'd never done Eurotunnel before but it was fabulously easy. If you arrive early they will if there is space put you on the earlier shuttle, which happened to us. You just follow the signs and drive into a very large carriage inside a train, park up, relax, and 35 mins later you are in Calais. A lot less stressful than the ferry, but not for the claustrophobic! I booked online and it was easy to do, and the whole procedure on the day was straightforward - quick glance at passports, and away.
We had DLP on our satnav, and I also had a map. The drive was fairly simple - please check, but I think it was basically A26, then A1, then some quite complicated stuff near the resort where there was a real risk of going into central Paris or Charles de Gaulle by mistake! But we managed it. Make sure you have all your French driving kit - triangles, vest, stickers etc. Diesel is cheaper there so fill up in France if you can. The motorways were well-maintained, the toll system simple (look for booths with a UK sign and the driver side window can be used; if not, make sure the passenger has the relevant ticket/cash/credit card or you'll have logistical issues), and the French drivers a lot more courteous than us - they seem to use the fast lane only for over taking, which my husband abused mercilessly to speed along, probably giving all Brits a bad name. Look out for signs beginning with 'Aire de...' - these are rest stops, all of which have a few picnic tables and free toilets (although some are of the squat-and-pray variety).
The journey, with several stops for small people, took about 3 hours 20 minutes and only got confusing near Paris. It's quite a dull drive, but having the car was great - DVDs on for the kids, and the boot packed with enough snacks and drinks to set up a market stall - which saved us an absolute fortune.
On arrival, our car was valet parked, and check in straightforward. Disneyland Hotel is awesome - the lobby is vast and full of interesting things to look at, plus characters all over the place. Chip and Dale tried to steal our Trunkis, and the kids were amazed. If you're looking at booking here have a think about the size of the place - it is vast. There are 2 wings connected by a central bridge, and it is a trek from one to the other. The shop and restaurants are pretty much central. We were in the West Wing, which I was pleased about and would request again on booking - it is the wing that includes the pool, kids' play room, gym etc, and there is a 'secret' side door that lets you out practically by the turnstiles - which also means you bypass all of that pesky bag-checking and security. If you prefer being near to reception, go for the east wing - although if you use the pool, you will be wandering round in your robe for a while!
We had a family room which I'd recommend - it was very large indeed, with two doubles (fine for smaller kids, though I do wonder how groups with mixed-sex teens would cope!) and a sofa that turned into a very comfortable bed. Lots of space to run round in, lots of storage, and a view (just about) of the Studios, so we could watch people scream as they flew up and down the RC Racer. We were on the 3rd floor, but that wasn't an issue, as lifts came almost the second you called them - yet another way this hotel was better than the others I've stayed in! The theming of the rooms is subtle and attractive - Disney characters carved into the mirror frames, tiny pictures on the wallpaper borders etc - and everything you need is here. Unless you are a tea addict and need your cuppa, in which case, take a travel kettle and plug adaptor. As has been mentioned before, don't go near the minibar unless you are a Russian millionaire. When I checked in and queried getting it emptied, I was told I could take everything out, and explain on check-out that I'd now put it all back in - some people use the fridge themselves then, even though you're technically not supposed to. In the end I didn't test out this theory - if you do, I'd suggest making a note of the member of staff you talk to about it, just in case there are any issues.
As this can be an expensive hotel, it is worth doing a couple of things so you don't spend the whole trip having a heart attack - plan out your food budget or pay up front like we did; ban the mini bar; and establish with your kids BEFORE you arrive what the spending arrangements will be. For example, we agreed they would each have 20 Euros to buy a souvenir with, but they weren't allowed to use it until the last day. This worked well as it prevented them blowing it all on the first piece of tat they saw then spending the next five days nagging me for more cash. It also turned it into a fun game - we'd go into shops to see what things they wanted to put on their 'last day list'. We also made it clear no extra cash was going to be made available, for example for the arcade or sweets other than the ones we doled out. We also decided up front to collect souvenirs to make a scrap book with - so as well as photos, the kids scavenged things like maps, tickets and postcards, which kept things fun and cheap.
The other big save for us was the amount we packed, snack wise. Breakfast at Disneyland Hotel was sumptuous to say the least - a fantastic selection of cooked and contintental foods, drinks, fruit, yoghurts etc. The pancakes were especially popular with my lot. Among the kitchen-sink style packing arrangements in the car, I'd brought paper plates, plastic cutlery, sandwich bags and napkins. And at breakfast, I rather brutally swiped everything we needed for lunch. Everyone was doing it, and I certainly don't see it as stealing - not when you've paid as much as we had to stay! They can spare a few pain au chocolats at that price. Then the teenager's job was to stash it all in the room until later. Drinks-wise, I'd taken lots of bottled water, caprisun, and even Guinness! That meant the mini bar was never a temptation, and we simply took a bottle of water into the parks, and filled it up at one of the many water fountains as we needed to - so we didn't spend any cash in the parks until Thursday (and we arrived on Monday). It was getting to be quite a joke by then - when would we crack?? In the end the heat got us and we all had ice creams. But with a bit of forethought, it is possible to spend very little when you get there, and with the hotel being so close, we were able to pop back to our room for a siesta and snack at lunchtime every day - great for economising, but also so small children can rest, and, as there was a heat wave, get out of the midday sun. We saw so many people having a miserable time - crying kids, screaming parents (and let's face it, we've all been there) - and a lot of it was down to being over-tired, hot, and pressured. Again, another reason why we booked a slightly longer stay.
At this point, at fear of sounding smug, I must mention the crowds. There weren't any. Not by Disney standards anyway. For some reason our spring hols started a week earlier than most people's, and it wasn't the French hols either, so the place was extremely quiet. The only exception was Weds, when French schools are closed, but even then it felt relatively quiet. We had Fastpasses from the hotel but never needed to use them. On the first day we went into the Studios in the p.m, and I walked straight onto Aladdin with my daughter, while the others went on Crush, which only had 15 minute queues - unheard of! Everything in Toy Story playland was walk-straight-on, as was Hollywood Hotel and the Rock and Rollercoaster. We were quite shocked (in a good way obviously).
The queues were very small all the time we were there - the longest wait being bizarrely on Pirates of the Caribbean, but even that was only because of the renowned 'mesdames and messieurs....' technical difficulties situation. It really does pay to do your research in terms of the time of year you can go - if you are hamstrung by pesky school-age kids, compare your holidays to other areas first, as well as googling French school holidays to avoid those if you can. It makes everything so much more enjoyable if it's quiet. The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris has some good tips on timing as well - like the fact that Mon and Tues are quietest, followed by Thurs and Fri, so if you can, include some of these in your trip.
Our Extra Magic Hours were, in fact, not needed that much, which was a bit of a relief - it meant we could take our time over breakie and wander into the park at about 9 (EMH started at 8, park opened at 10). But it did mean the kids could go on Orbitron, tea cups, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast etc as many times as they liked. Teen son actually got to just stay on Space Mountain over and over as there were no queues. He was practically green when he got off. During main park opening hours, the queues were still not extreme - for fun, hubbie and teen did a sprint through Frontierland as it opened for Big Thunder Mountain, and were first on. But even at what are usually peak times, we were only waiting for rides like Temple of Peril for 5 or 10 minutes. I'm aware that this is not normal - we were very lucky!
We watched the Parade on the second evening - got there about 15 minutes early, and as it was nice and warm, sat on the pavement by the rope and waited. We got a good spot by the Discovery Arcade, which is a good location as you get to see it coming up Main Street as well, before it turns and comes past you on its way into the gates.
Because we were there for 5 days, we also had time to see more shows - our favourite was Playhouse Disney Live, with bubbles and glittery morsels falling from the sky. Quite scary how many parents knew all the words to the Hot Dog song and Handy Manny!
We were also lucky with the weather. Paris in April can be unpredictable, so we packed everything from scarves and gloves to T-shirts. In the end, it was gorgeous, especially the Weds and Thurs, which were in the 70s. It made our midday siestas even more enjoyable. On one gorgeous day, while the smallest one had a rest, me and the boys went to the pool, then sunbathed in our robes. the Disneyland Hotel facilities are really good - the pool isn't huge, but it's pleasant, and there is an adjoining outside courtyard space that is delightful, with comfy sun loungers and complimentary towels. Don't take your hotel towels - they'll give you towels to use for free at the pool, as well as leaving robes and slippers in the room. There is a small but well-equipped gym, sauna and steam rooms, as well as the Minnie Mouse Club. We never left our kids there, but did spend time in there with them, playing giant Connect 4 and using the computer and doing colouring. Again, it's all free, and just gives them a bit of down time to chill out.
The character interaction in the hotel is also excellent. they are literally everywhere, popping up on the balconies and staircases, doing daily shows in the lobby, and making both scheduled appearances in the Main St Lounge and unscheduled appearances in and around the public areas. My daughter was slightly intimidated but liked watching from a distance. The fact they met them in the hotel in such a controlled and relaxed way meant there was far less pressure to find them inside the parks, which was a relief to me, as I was mentally scarred by the scrum of rude, rough parents last time we were here, physically shoving small kids out of the way.
Now, for an important part - at least as far as I am concerned! - the food. This is how we used our Premium vouchers - on the first night, Inventions. This is buffet-style, in the hotel, with characters. It's usually mucho Euro, but is good - lots of fresh seafood, meat dishes, staggering amounts of desserts, and characters aplenty. The kids thought it was hilarious that Pinocchio drank some of my Coke. We booked fror 6pm, as soon as it opened, which I'd recommend if you have smaller kids - it was getting a bit hectic by the time we left, about 7.15. We sat in the main room by the buffet, which again could be a bit chaotic later on, but we were happy with as it meant there was less chance of plates getting dropped on the way back to the table! We each had a soft drink included in the voucher price, so didn't pay any extra, other than leaving a tip.
Second night was Buffalo Bill. The Premium vouchers allow you 2nd class tickets and need booking up front, then you get given your tickets when you check in. Don't be fooled into buying 1st category tickets as there are not many rows, and even at the very back there is a good view. I know some people have quibbled about the service here, but ours was great - constant refills of Coke, water and beer, and enormous amounts of food. There was one veggie our party and he was well catered for, just mention it as you hand in your tickets and you are given a special green label to hand to your server. The show is as fun as ever, with lots of participation and games. Kids tend to love anything with condoned noise making - at least mine do, and they were thrilled to get to bang their knives and forks on the benches. Our team - Red - won as well, so they were extra excited. One thing I would say is not to necessarily believe the 'get there an hour early' thing. In reality, you are herded into a small, hot space with hundreds of other people (perhaps making you have a little more sympathy with the cattle in the show!), where it is easy for small kids to get lost/bored/whiny/trodden on. There is a small pre-show entertainment about 10 minutes before you go in, and that's it. A great night though - everyone came out yee-ha-ing and laughing.
Our next voucher was used at the California Grill, the resort's poshest restaurant, which is again in the hotel. We booked for 6.30, the earliest they open, which was the right thing to do. That's when other people with kids were there. This is a classy joint, with maitre d's who have clearly gone to the right snooty-face lessons and everything, but it is actually very welcoming. Despite it being a bit on the hoity-toity side, nobody batted an eyelid when our kids got busy destroying the table - the usual stuff, knocking drinks over, smearing food on the table cloths, throwing bread on the floor...maybe it's just us but our 3 can wreck a restaurant table in minutes! We were on a set menu with the vouchers, but there was a decent choice, of meat, fish and veggie. The kids menu was nice, with veggies and dips to start, lovely salmon skewers, and a great pud (a puzzle made out of chocolate squares that they painted with a brush and coloured sauces). Again, soft drinks were included, so we paid nothing extra.
On the Thursday we had lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon. We booked for midday when it opens, and it is worth doing that - also getting there ten minutes early and waiting in the queue. As you enter, you have your picture taken with Cinderella, which is lovely but time consuming as she chats to everyone, so if you are at the back you will be waiting a while. There were 5 of us and we were seated in a fab location - as you go in there is a section with booths, a main carpeted section, and another room with the dancefloor and fireplace. we were the last table in the carpeted room, which was perfect as every character had to walk past us to get to the other rooms, so we got lots of attention! Suzy and Perla made a big fuss of us, and my teenager was taken up to dance by one of them - hilarious, the sight of my 'cool' son ballroom dancing with a giant furry mouse! I'd YouTube it but he'd kill me.
The menu was fine - the starter was very 'haute', and not to all our tastes, but beautifully presented. The mains were lovely (I had veal, hubbie had scollops, teen had veggie tart); and kids menu was fine. Don't feel you can't ask for changes - you've paid a lot for this food, make sure you enjoy it! So if you don't think your kids will react well to some of the fancier sauces, ask for it plain - we did and it wasn't a problem. Dessert was exquisite for all of us - trays of small puddings, beautiful to look at and eat, and fun for the kids (chocolate slippers, upside-down sorbet cones etc). There was no wine included, but we did get large bottles of water and soft drinks, which was fine.
The main attraction of course is the princesses, who were all superb, and made lots of time for our whole family. Teen boy went all gooey at the very sight of them (I suspect for slightly different reasons than the 3 year old!), and had lots of pics taken. Our own princess was very shy, but each of them - Aurora, Belle and the Beast, Cinders and Ariel and Eric - sat down and made a huge effort to chat and have photos. Really nice. There is also space on the menu for their autographs. By the time we left - about 1.50, so it's a fairly long event - it was getting busy, the princesses were struggling to get round all the tables as easily, and there were crowds standing in front of the dancelfoor blocking the view. So I'd say for a nice, relaxing experience, book either the earliest or latest slot.
Because we ate our main meal at lunch, in the evening we just had take away from Annette's in the village and ate in our room - set menus of chips and hot dogs and drinks for 10 euros adults and 7 kids.
So all in all I think we used the Premium vouchers wisely - obviously we wouldn't have eaten in all those places without them, but it did help make the trip special, and gave us some cherished memories. If you are careful with drinks orders it can be cost-effective. Neither of us was bothered about booze, and anyway, we had cans of Guinness in the room (classy!).
Every evening we had a walk around after eating, visited the play room which was open til 10, and then went to the bedroom and listened to one of the fairy tale stories - Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast etc - before sleeps. We'd also always enjoy finding our chocolate coins, left by the turn-down staff.
On the last day we did the few rides we'd missed, did some repeats, and left. We had a later breakfast - about 10.15 - and although it was more chaotic getting seats as they closed part of the restaurant off, it was easier inside the buffet. Although they did start taking away juice etc at 10.45, which I thought was a little off when it's open til 11.
There are always huge piles of Disney sweets being given away at breakfast as well, which are useful treats for strategic bribing while waiting in queues.
One final word, as I seem to have been writing for hours, about size. I have read posts on the forum from people worried about rides for the overweight. Although I lost 2 stone in the run up to the holiday (the Disney diet!), I was still a UK size 20-22 when I was there - and I'd like to stress that I had absolutely no problems using any of the rides at all. I was worried each time, but with no need - it was fine, and there were people there even larger merrily getting squashed onto everything! I don't have any mobility problems, or joint problems, and hopped on and off everything, even Autopia and Orbitron, which can be an issue for some I believe.
Our drive home was uneventful, and we got on an earlier train through the tunnel before staying with friends in Surrey for the night. I am now horribly depressed at being home and back to 'reality'!
I hope this has been of use - I've focused on some of the practicalities, rather than the 'magic', in an attempt to be helpful. But believe me, it was magical - in fact, the only problem is, I feel like we've done DLP so thoroughly that next time will need to be Florida...I feel more planning coming on!
Our party comprised me (mum, 41), dad (34), Son No 1 (sometimes surly teen), Son No 2 (6) and Little Princess (3). There is quite a variation in the ages of the kids, which can cause issues. This was my 5th trip to DLP, but the first 3 were press trips from a time when I worked as a journalist and got lots of free stuff (happy days). We always stayed at the Newport Bay, and as everything was laid on by obliging PR staff, I think I developed a distorted view of how affordable/easy it all was. A couple of years ago I paid - shock horror - for a Christmas stay at the Sequoia Lodge. It was disastrous. Freezing cold, totally packed, the most un-festive Christmas Day I've ever had - no amount of decorations or fake snow could make up for the crowds, the rudeness, the ocassionally verging on abusive attitiude of stressed out staff. We were also shocked by the expense and poor quality of the food, and almost reached a 'never again' stage.
But as I still had those magical memories of the first trips, I wanted to try again - much to my hubbie's horror. This time, though, I was determined to make it as enjoyable as possible for our entire group, and this is where all the planning came in - much of it done after sifting through these forums. I decided on the Disneyland Hotel - yes, it's vastly over-priced, but after our last trauma (trudging back and forth to the Sequoia with grumpy kids/husbands five times a day), I decided the location made it worthwhile. Of course this depends on the ages of your kids, but as my 2 younger ones still have very small legs, it was the right choice for us. I also found there were ways to make it even more cost effective, more of which later.
I booked the half board premium in advance, and again, this is a crazy expense. If you go for these, you really have to plan properly to make sure you get value for money - go for the shows/experiences/meals that are premium voucher only, and when you add up the difference, it can be significant. Of course you don't need to do this - you could just eat in the cheaper restaurants if it suits. But husband in particular is a foodie, and I wanted something special to look forward to every day - a focal point amid the mayhem. I also liked the fact it was paid for up front - on the previous trip, the feeling of being ripped off every time I had to put my hand in my pocket (about every 5 minutes) spoiled the holiday. I didn't want that to happen this time. In total it came to about £2700 for the party of five, for four nights and five days, including the premium vouchers for each night. A big initial outlay - but in all honesty, by the end of the trip, we had spent hardly anything more and had an awesome, stress-free time, so I think it worked for us. Four nights/five days is a long stay by DLP standards and we could have cut back there - but again, I didn't want the stress of cramming it all in, especially as half the group would be wanting teacups and Dumbo, and half Space Mountain! More time meant less pressure.
Flights from Liverpool, where we are based, were poor times, and the Eurostar was expensive and almost fully booked (if you want to go direct to DLP I'd advise booking early; I left it until Jan for an April trip), so we decided to drive. The return Eurotunnel tickets were £105, and we stayed at the Ashford International the night before. This is part of the Q Hotels group and I love their rooms for families - it can be hard finding nice accommodation for 5 of you, but we had two inter-connecting there, and it started the holiday off in style. The drive down from Liverpool started at 7am on a Sunday so the roads were empty - it was like a scene from a sci-fi movie, deserted motorways!
We'd never done Eurotunnel before but it was fabulously easy. If you arrive early they will if there is space put you on the earlier shuttle, which happened to us. You just follow the signs and drive into a very large carriage inside a train, park up, relax, and 35 mins later you are in Calais. A lot less stressful than the ferry, but not for the claustrophobic! I booked online and it was easy to do, and the whole procedure on the day was straightforward - quick glance at passports, and away.
We had DLP on our satnav, and I also had a map. The drive was fairly simple - please check, but I think it was basically A26, then A1, then some quite complicated stuff near the resort where there was a real risk of going into central Paris or Charles de Gaulle by mistake! But we managed it. Make sure you have all your French driving kit - triangles, vest, stickers etc. Diesel is cheaper there so fill up in France if you can. The motorways were well-maintained, the toll system simple (look for booths with a UK sign and the driver side window can be used; if not, make sure the passenger has the relevant ticket/cash/credit card or you'll have logistical issues), and the French drivers a lot more courteous than us - they seem to use the fast lane only for over taking, which my husband abused mercilessly to speed along, probably giving all Brits a bad name. Look out for signs beginning with 'Aire de...' - these are rest stops, all of which have a few picnic tables and free toilets (although some are of the squat-and-pray variety).
The journey, with several stops for small people, took about 3 hours 20 minutes and only got confusing near Paris. It's quite a dull drive, but having the car was great - DVDs on for the kids, and the boot packed with enough snacks and drinks to set up a market stall - which saved us an absolute fortune.
On arrival, our car was valet parked, and check in straightforward. Disneyland Hotel is awesome - the lobby is vast and full of interesting things to look at, plus characters all over the place. Chip and Dale tried to steal our Trunkis, and the kids were amazed. If you're looking at booking here have a think about the size of the place - it is vast. There are 2 wings connected by a central bridge, and it is a trek from one to the other. The shop and restaurants are pretty much central. We were in the West Wing, which I was pleased about and would request again on booking - it is the wing that includes the pool, kids' play room, gym etc, and there is a 'secret' side door that lets you out practically by the turnstiles - which also means you bypass all of that pesky bag-checking and security. If you prefer being near to reception, go for the east wing - although if you use the pool, you will be wandering round in your robe for a while!
We had a family room which I'd recommend - it was very large indeed, with two doubles (fine for smaller kids, though I do wonder how groups with mixed-sex teens would cope!) and a sofa that turned into a very comfortable bed. Lots of space to run round in, lots of storage, and a view (just about) of the Studios, so we could watch people scream as they flew up and down the RC Racer. We were on the 3rd floor, but that wasn't an issue, as lifts came almost the second you called them - yet another way this hotel was better than the others I've stayed in! The theming of the rooms is subtle and attractive - Disney characters carved into the mirror frames, tiny pictures on the wallpaper borders etc - and everything you need is here. Unless you are a tea addict and need your cuppa, in which case, take a travel kettle and plug adaptor. As has been mentioned before, don't go near the minibar unless you are a Russian millionaire. When I checked in and queried getting it emptied, I was told I could take everything out, and explain on check-out that I'd now put it all back in - some people use the fridge themselves then, even though you're technically not supposed to. In the end I didn't test out this theory - if you do, I'd suggest making a note of the member of staff you talk to about it, just in case there are any issues.
As this can be an expensive hotel, it is worth doing a couple of things so you don't spend the whole trip having a heart attack - plan out your food budget or pay up front like we did; ban the mini bar; and establish with your kids BEFORE you arrive what the spending arrangements will be. For example, we agreed they would each have 20 Euros to buy a souvenir with, but they weren't allowed to use it until the last day. This worked well as it prevented them blowing it all on the first piece of tat they saw then spending the next five days nagging me for more cash. It also turned it into a fun game - we'd go into shops to see what things they wanted to put on their 'last day list'. We also made it clear no extra cash was going to be made available, for example for the arcade or sweets other than the ones we doled out. We also decided up front to collect souvenirs to make a scrap book with - so as well as photos, the kids scavenged things like maps, tickets and postcards, which kept things fun and cheap.
The other big save for us was the amount we packed, snack wise. Breakfast at Disneyland Hotel was sumptuous to say the least - a fantastic selection of cooked and contintental foods, drinks, fruit, yoghurts etc. The pancakes were especially popular with my lot. Among the kitchen-sink style packing arrangements in the car, I'd brought paper plates, plastic cutlery, sandwich bags and napkins. And at breakfast, I rather brutally swiped everything we needed for lunch. Everyone was doing it, and I certainly don't see it as stealing - not when you've paid as much as we had to stay! They can spare a few pain au chocolats at that price. Then the teenager's job was to stash it all in the room until later. Drinks-wise, I'd taken lots of bottled water, caprisun, and even Guinness! That meant the mini bar was never a temptation, and we simply took a bottle of water into the parks, and filled it up at one of the many water fountains as we needed to - so we didn't spend any cash in the parks until Thursday (and we arrived on Monday). It was getting to be quite a joke by then - when would we crack?? In the end the heat got us and we all had ice creams. But with a bit of forethought, it is possible to spend very little when you get there, and with the hotel being so close, we were able to pop back to our room for a siesta and snack at lunchtime every day - great for economising, but also so small children can rest, and, as there was a heat wave, get out of the midday sun. We saw so many people having a miserable time - crying kids, screaming parents (and let's face it, we've all been there) - and a lot of it was down to being over-tired, hot, and pressured. Again, another reason why we booked a slightly longer stay.
At this point, at fear of sounding smug, I must mention the crowds. There weren't any. Not by Disney standards anyway. For some reason our spring hols started a week earlier than most people's, and it wasn't the French hols either, so the place was extremely quiet. The only exception was Weds, when French schools are closed, but even then it felt relatively quiet. We had Fastpasses from the hotel but never needed to use them. On the first day we went into the Studios in the p.m, and I walked straight onto Aladdin with my daughter, while the others went on Crush, which only had 15 minute queues - unheard of! Everything in Toy Story playland was walk-straight-on, as was Hollywood Hotel and the Rock and Rollercoaster. We were quite shocked (in a good way obviously).
The queues were very small all the time we were there - the longest wait being bizarrely on Pirates of the Caribbean, but even that was only because of the renowned 'mesdames and messieurs....' technical difficulties situation. It really does pay to do your research in terms of the time of year you can go - if you are hamstrung by pesky school-age kids, compare your holidays to other areas first, as well as googling French school holidays to avoid those if you can. It makes everything so much more enjoyable if it's quiet. The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris has some good tips on timing as well - like the fact that Mon and Tues are quietest, followed by Thurs and Fri, so if you can, include some of these in your trip.
Our Extra Magic Hours were, in fact, not needed that much, which was a bit of a relief - it meant we could take our time over breakie and wander into the park at about 9 (EMH started at 8, park opened at 10). But it did mean the kids could go on Orbitron, tea cups, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast etc as many times as they liked. Teen son actually got to just stay on Space Mountain over and over as there were no queues. He was practically green when he got off. During main park opening hours, the queues were still not extreme - for fun, hubbie and teen did a sprint through Frontierland as it opened for Big Thunder Mountain, and were first on. But even at what are usually peak times, we were only waiting for rides like Temple of Peril for 5 or 10 minutes. I'm aware that this is not normal - we were very lucky!
We watched the Parade on the second evening - got there about 15 minutes early, and as it was nice and warm, sat on the pavement by the rope and waited. We got a good spot by the Discovery Arcade, which is a good location as you get to see it coming up Main Street as well, before it turns and comes past you on its way into the gates.
Because we were there for 5 days, we also had time to see more shows - our favourite was Playhouse Disney Live, with bubbles and glittery morsels falling from the sky. Quite scary how many parents knew all the words to the Hot Dog song and Handy Manny!
We were also lucky with the weather. Paris in April can be unpredictable, so we packed everything from scarves and gloves to T-shirts. In the end, it was gorgeous, especially the Weds and Thurs, which were in the 70s. It made our midday siestas even more enjoyable. On one gorgeous day, while the smallest one had a rest, me and the boys went to the pool, then sunbathed in our robes. the Disneyland Hotel facilities are really good - the pool isn't huge, but it's pleasant, and there is an adjoining outside courtyard space that is delightful, with comfy sun loungers and complimentary towels. Don't take your hotel towels - they'll give you towels to use for free at the pool, as well as leaving robes and slippers in the room. There is a small but well-equipped gym, sauna and steam rooms, as well as the Minnie Mouse Club. We never left our kids there, but did spend time in there with them, playing giant Connect 4 and using the computer and doing colouring. Again, it's all free, and just gives them a bit of down time to chill out.
The character interaction in the hotel is also excellent. they are literally everywhere, popping up on the balconies and staircases, doing daily shows in the lobby, and making both scheduled appearances in the Main St Lounge and unscheduled appearances in and around the public areas. My daughter was slightly intimidated but liked watching from a distance. The fact they met them in the hotel in such a controlled and relaxed way meant there was far less pressure to find them inside the parks, which was a relief to me, as I was mentally scarred by the scrum of rude, rough parents last time we were here, physically shoving small kids out of the way.
Now, for an important part - at least as far as I am concerned! - the food. This is how we used our Premium vouchers - on the first night, Inventions. This is buffet-style, in the hotel, with characters. It's usually mucho Euro, but is good - lots of fresh seafood, meat dishes, staggering amounts of desserts, and characters aplenty. The kids thought it was hilarious that Pinocchio drank some of my Coke. We booked fror 6pm, as soon as it opened, which I'd recommend if you have smaller kids - it was getting a bit hectic by the time we left, about 7.15. We sat in the main room by the buffet, which again could be a bit chaotic later on, but we were happy with as it meant there was less chance of plates getting dropped on the way back to the table! We each had a soft drink included in the voucher price, so didn't pay any extra, other than leaving a tip.
Second night was Buffalo Bill. The Premium vouchers allow you 2nd class tickets and need booking up front, then you get given your tickets when you check in. Don't be fooled into buying 1st category tickets as there are not many rows, and even at the very back there is a good view. I know some people have quibbled about the service here, but ours was great - constant refills of Coke, water and beer, and enormous amounts of food. There was one veggie our party and he was well catered for, just mention it as you hand in your tickets and you are given a special green label to hand to your server. The show is as fun as ever, with lots of participation and games. Kids tend to love anything with condoned noise making - at least mine do, and they were thrilled to get to bang their knives and forks on the benches. Our team - Red - won as well, so they were extra excited. One thing I would say is not to necessarily believe the 'get there an hour early' thing. In reality, you are herded into a small, hot space with hundreds of other people (perhaps making you have a little more sympathy with the cattle in the show!), where it is easy for small kids to get lost/bored/whiny/trodden on. There is a small pre-show entertainment about 10 minutes before you go in, and that's it. A great night though - everyone came out yee-ha-ing and laughing.
Our next voucher was used at the California Grill, the resort's poshest restaurant, which is again in the hotel. We booked for 6.30, the earliest they open, which was the right thing to do. That's when other people with kids were there. This is a classy joint, with maitre d's who have clearly gone to the right snooty-face lessons and everything, but it is actually very welcoming. Despite it being a bit on the hoity-toity side, nobody batted an eyelid when our kids got busy destroying the table - the usual stuff, knocking drinks over, smearing food on the table cloths, throwing bread on the floor...maybe it's just us but our 3 can wreck a restaurant table in minutes! We were on a set menu with the vouchers, but there was a decent choice, of meat, fish and veggie. The kids menu was nice, with veggies and dips to start, lovely salmon skewers, and a great pud (a puzzle made out of chocolate squares that they painted with a brush and coloured sauces). Again, soft drinks were included, so we paid nothing extra.
On the Thursday we had lunch at Auberge de Cendrillon. We booked for midday when it opens, and it is worth doing that - also getting there ten minutes early and waiting in the queue. As you enter, you have your picture taken with Cinderella, which is lovely but time consuming as she chats to everyone, so if you are at the back you will be waiting a while. There were 5 of us and we were seated in a fab location - as you go in there is a section with booths, a main carpeted section, and another room with the dancefloor and fireplace. we were the last table in the carpeted room, which was perfect as every character had to walk past us to get to the other rooms, so we got lots of attention! Suzy and Perla made a big fuss of us, and my teenager was taken up to dance by one of them - hilarious, the sight of my 'cool' son ballroom dancing with a giant furry mouse! I'd YouTube it but he'd kill me.
The menu was fine - the starter was very 'haute', and not to all our tastes, but beautifully presented. The mains were lovely (I had veal, hubbie had scollops, teen had veggie tart); and kids menu was fine. Don't feel you can't ask for changes - you've paid a lot for this food, make sure you enjoy it! So if you don't think your kids will react well to some of the fancier sauces, ask for it plain - we did and it wasn't a problem. Dessert was exquisite for all of us - trays of small puddings, beautiful to look at and eat, and fun for the kids (chocolate slippers, upside-down sorbet cones etc). There was no wine included, but we did get large bottles of water and soft drinks, which was fine.
The main attraction of course is the princesses, who were all superb, and made lots of time for our whole family. Teen boy went all gooey at the very sight of them (I suspect for slightly different reasons than the 3 year old!), and had lots of pics taken. Our own princess was very shy, but each of them - Aurora, Belle and the Beast, Cinders and Ariel and Eric - sat down and made a huge effort to chat and have photos. Really nice. There is also space on the menu for their autographs. By the time we left - about 1.50, so it's a fairly long event - it was getting busy, the princesses were struggling to get round all the tables as easily, and there were crowds standing in front of the dancelfoor blocking the view. So I'd say for a nice, relaxing experience, book either the earliest or latest slot.
Because we ate our main meal at lunch, in the evening we just had take away from Annette's in the village and ate in our room - set menus of chips and hot dogs and drinks for 10 euros adults and 7 kids.
So all in all I think we used the Premium vouchers wisely - obviously we wouldn't have eaten in all those places without them, but it did help make the trip special, and gave us some cherished memories. If you are careful with drinks orders it can be cost-effective. Neither of us was bothered about booze, and anyway, we had cans of Guinness in the room (classy!).
Every evening we had a walk around after eating, visited the play room which was open til 10, and then went to the bedroom and listened to one of the fairy tale stories - Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast etc - before sleeps. We'd also always enjoy finding our chocolate coins, left by the turn-down staff.
On the last day we did the few rides we'd missed, did some repeats, and left. We had a later breakfast - about 10.15 - and although it was more chaotic getting seats as they closed part of the restaurant off, it was easier inside the buffet. Although they did start taking away juice etc at 10.45, which I thought was a little off when it's open til 11.
There are always huge piles of Disney sweets being given away at breakfast as well, which are useful treats for strategic bribing while waiting in queues.
One final word, as I seem to have been writing for hours, about size. I have read posts on the forum from people worried about rides for the overweight. Although I lost 2 stone in the run up to the holiday (the Disney diet!), I was still a UK size 20-22 when I was there - and I'd like to stress that I had absolutely no problems using any of the rides at all. I was worried each time, but with no need - it was fine, and there were people there even larger merrily getting squashed onto everything! I don't have any mobility problems, or joint problems, and hopped on and off everything, even Autopia and Orbitron, which can be an issue for some I believe.
Our drive home was uneventful, and we got on an earlier train through the tunnel before staying with friends in Surrey for the night. I am now horribly depressed at being home and back to 'reality'!
I hope this has been of use - I've focused on some of the practicalities, rather than the 'magic', in an attempt to be helpful. But believe me, it was magical - in fact, the only problem is, I feel like we've done DLP so thoroughly that next time will need to be Florida...I feel more planning coming on!
- loads of great tips there 
, thanks for posting so much detail!
Really enjoyed reading it as we plan to do all the restaurants you visited so its been really good to hear your thoughts on those 
