March Trip - Multiple Questions (sorry)

[digidave]

Hi,

First post and first trip so please be kind to me!

Loads of questions for a firsttime visitor and thanks to everyone who's ever posted a question or reply in the past as I've already had a huge number answered just by looking. Unfortunately I've still got a few left.

We have booked to fly to CDG with Easyjet on March 9th next year for 4 nights. Going will be myself, my wife and my 20 month old son.

We arrive in Terminal 3 at CDG and the best option so far appears to be the €34 shared minibus offered by Easyjet to take us direct to our hotel. The TGV would have been a good option but train times appear not to work in our favour. Also does anyone know how far it is from T3 to T2 to catch the train?
Shepherding my family and luggage across a busy airport doesn't sound like fun. Has anyone done it successfully?

We're (provisionally) booked into the Dream Castle Hotel as they had availability for a reasonable price. The most suitable option for us in the Disney hotels would be the Sequoia lodge as I have heard several good reviews and the opportunity to be 'onsite' is very appealing. At the moment their is an offer of 4 nights for the price of 3. If I wait until closer to the time am I more likely to get a better deal than this?

I've read elsewhere about asking for rooms without park-tickets. As we'd want to spend at least on of our four days (travelling back early on the last day) I feel we might save by doing this. However, would this also mean the 4 for 3 offer disappears also?

If we do stop in a Disney hotel I've heard about being able to check-in at the station and our bags would be transferred to the hotel allowing us to walk around until we would be able to check-in later. Am I corerct in this?
Anyone who can point me in the direction of the cheapest booking options for four nights in the Sequoia would be thanked forever more

How has anyone found using the Dream Castle as a base for other 'non-Disney' things such as a trip into Paris or the shopping village? As we'd be without a car it seems most trips would involve a courtesy bus to the Disney station. When there was just two of us that wasn't a problem. But the addition of DS suddenly makes everything slightly more complicated.

At the moment I know I'm more excited than my DS but seeing his face in such a magical environment will be priceless.

Many thanks in advance,
Dave

 

[Bexx]

First post and first trip so please be kind to me!

We're always kind here. Welcome to the DIS Dave!!

Okay, where to start!! Forget about the train with a 20 month old, it would be a less than magical start to your holiday!!! The shared shuttle sounds good or, for a very similar price, the other option is the VEA bus which offers door to door service from the airport to the Disney resorts, and is very easy to access at Terminal 3

As for the hotels, I'm sure the Dream Castle is very nice (never stayed) but I think that with a young child and his pushchair ietc, you will find that staying onsite at the Sequoia Lodge makes life a lot easier. I wouldn't worry to much about trying to book room and tickets separately if you stay at SL - the difference will be minimal. And I'm afraid the prices are very unlikely to get cheaper between now and next March - I think the 4 for 3 offer will be as good as it gets.

You can check in at any of the hotels as soon as you arrive and if you room isn't ready (usually after 3 pm), they will store your bags so you can go into the parks.

 

[digidave]

Thanks Becky.

I've read elsewhere the VEA can be a bit of a scrum sometimes. Though it's still an option.

The Sequoia Lodge is becoming a more obvious choice by the day

 

[Cyrano]

Hi Dave 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

We have three young children and have used VEA shuttle, hire car and private shuttle options. We have not had any difficulties in transfering luggage through CDG.

DLP is not renouned for last minute offers so I'd suggest you will not get any better than current offer.

Checking in at station is only available for Eurostar travellers not flying.

Room only offers do not include 4 for 3 deals. You might also find you are dearer going this route

 

[angel659]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the DLP boards. Everyone on here are so friendly and without this site I really do not know where I would be. We dont bite

First of all I have not flown into CDG. We went by Speedferries and then drove down to Paris so we could camp and see DLP.

I have seen many offers also for Davy Croqquet, but they do not offer transportation and without a car this would not be ideal. Have a look on expedia.co.uk they offer packages as well. I would phone the hotel directly and ask them for a price without tickets. Sometimes it maybe cheaper to have the tickets as it comes in a package. Have you considered Kyraid hotel I am sure they offer transportation and you would have to buy your tickets seperately. It may also work out cheaper for you to buy one Dream or Fantasy Annual ticket. They offer many discounts i.e dining, merchandise and future reservations. If you are able to get somebody to sponsor you, you will be entitled to a 10% discount on the ticket and the person who sponsors you gains extra time on thier passes. Have a look at the link on the front page of sponsor thread.

I hope this helps and I hope somebody will be able to answer the q's I am unable to.

Happy planning.

 

[Bexx]

I've read elsewhere the VEA can be a bit of a scrum sometimes. Though it's still an option.

I can honestly say that I've used the VEA on the majority of my trips and never experienced any problems. But if you're worried about it, then go for the Easyjet minibus option - it sounds good too

 

[digidave]

Wow. I feel I've been made ever so welcome

I'm getting more confident about the VEA now.

Looks like I'm gonna have to book sooner rather than later if I want to stay onsite.

Thanks angel659. We used Expedia initially and me but the tightwad that I am was convinced I could do it cheaper and got Easyjet and the hotel through activehotels for over £100 less overall.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

 

[digidave]

OK Next question for those who've stopped at the Sequoia Lodge;

Is it worth upgrading to a Montana Room from a standard one? The difference appears to be around £24 in total.

 

[Bexx]

Montana rooms are rooms in the main hotel, and have a mini bar (whoo!!). Standard rooms are the ones in the little lodges. Have a look at the plan of the hotel here - there are actually six of the lodges, one of which houses the swimming pool.

When are you going? If you just pay for the standard room, and you are visiting during a quiet time, then you might be given an upgrade to a Montana room. Or I'm sure you could pay the extra, if you decided to upgrade once you arrive, as long as a Montana room is available.

 

[bavaria]

The most suitable option for us in the Disney hotels would be the Sequoia lodge as I have heard several good reviews and the opportunity to be 'onsite' is very appealing. At the moment their is an offer of 4 nights for the price of 3. If I wait until closer to the time am I more likely to get a better deal than this?

Hi Dave! there is a thread that I started on Annual Passholder room only rates to offer up some comparisons for the autumn season - a few posters have added the rates that they were quoted to the thread, so it is quite helpful. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199421

Although I have numerous travel benefits as I travel most of the year, which in turn result in very cheap and/or free rooms offsite at Disney parks, I am a big advocate of onsite. I think that if you can afford the $$, it is definitely worth it in regards to time saved travelling back and forth, along with benefits like early entry.

I am actually going to stay onsite at DLRP, forgoing any of my travel discounts, for exactly that reason!

 

[mickey66]

Hi Dave

Welcome to the site, you will find this forum absolutely fab in the preparation to your holiday.
We are going again in January but will be flying for the first time and like you, have looked at all the ways of getting from CDG to DLRP, so will let you know when we get back what we decided and how it went

Don't know about the Dream Castle Hotel but The Sequoia Lodge is lovely, we went in March and had a standard room in one of the lodges(Yellowstone) which we thought was great.
I don't think the prices get cheaper any nearer the time and think the extra night will probably be the best offer available.

Have fun and ask loads of questions. I have been on other disneyland forums but have to be honest and say this is the friendliest

 

[Cyrano]

I have been on other disneyland forums but have to be honest and say this is the friendliest[/COLOR]

Aw shucks

 

[digidave]

Thank you everyone. You've been soooooo helpful.



I'll book the SL today - now I'm just very excited, with only the usual travelling with baby issues to work out. But we managed to self-drive round Iceland (the country not the store) over Easter with almost all shops closed so Disney should be easy

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi Dave, welcome to the DIS!

 

[Cyrano]

But we managed to self-drive round Iceland (the country not the store)