Need help - First visit to Disneyland Paris

[disney4kidz]

hi guys,

thanks for a great forum. I'm from UK and this is my first post, so please forgive me if i say anything out of the ordinary. i'm excited as well as nervous and hope you can help me, even if many of my questions sound a bit silly

I want to go with my husband and 4 kids (3,9,12,14) to Disneyland Paris. My youngest has a heart condition and so is in need of regular care and attention, but she loves disney.

I must admit i don't have a clue where to start from, but we need a complete package (hotel/accomodation + flights and transfers + insurance).

We can only book from Thomas Cook as we already have £550 vouchers

To start off here are some questions i need help with:-

1. From looking at Disney Paris's website, it seems we can only get "Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch" for the amount of people we have. How far is this place from the actual Disneyland?

2. Transfers are not included, so how will we get from Airport to Disney's Davy Crockett Ranch?

3. What is it like and what facilities are available?

4. How far is the hospital from there incase of emergencies?

5. If you had a choice to go between March and End of April, when would you go?

6. What will the weather be like during these months?

7. Is there anywhere i can get halal food from?

8. Can you recommend a hotel which is closer to DLP due to Davy's being a bit of a distance?


Once again thanks very much for all your help guys!

 

[micksn]

Hi,
You would need to hire a car and use it for transportation between Davy Crocket and the Parks as there is no other transport available. There are appartments in Val de Europe for large families and you would be able to use the train from there (very short journey) Alternatively the Santa Fe has some family rooms which sleep 6, but you would need to phone and book these as there are not many or you could get 2 connecting rooms in any of the onsite hotels. Or I think the explorers hotel has larger family rooms which are a short shuttle bus journey away. All of these are in the current brochure or on the website or look in the hotels thread on here. Good luck!

 

[jillrobinson]

Can you book just the hotel package through Thomas Cook and book your flights, transfers, insurance yourself ? It will probably work out considerably cheaper.

I'm a big fan of March, been several times then and the weather has always been dry and bright, it can be cold but we've only had snow once back in 2004 and have had some trips then where we've walked around in hoodies.

From your point of view it would be cheaper to go in March, DLp have an under 12's go free from Jan - end of March, it's run every year since our 1st trip in 2004, so don't think they'll stop that anytime soon and there is alwasy another running at the same time for 1day/night free or if you're really lucky 2days/nights free, your travel agent should be able to offer your these deals.

If you do decide on Davy Crockett Ranch you need some form of transport to get back and for the park, if you don't hire a car you'll be reliant on taxis, I would be inclined to price up 2 rooms at Santa Fe or Cheyenne and compare it with the family room at the Explorers (basically 1 room for 4 with a small connecting room attached with 2 bunk beds). Although the Explorers is "offsite", it's only a 15 minute free shuttle bus from the hotel to park and they run very regularly, I don't think you get any of the Disney offers though at the Explorers.

In the past we've priced up Disney family rooms and they're more expensive than booking 2 standard rooms, with 6 of you, you'll probably appreciate the extra space and 2 bathrooms.

Most of us book private shuttles to get from CDG to the park, most popular are Ezy shuttle and RS transports (slightly cheaper) we've used both, I'm planning on using RS again next time just to save a little. There is also a very good train link, but I've never used it, I'm sure someone else will be along to tell you about that option.

Can't help with the halal meat or hospital questions sorry. Good luck with the planning

Found this online regarding hospitals:
The three nearest hospitals are as follows, they are around 9 kilometres from Disneyland:

Hôpital de Lagny-sur-Marne
31 Avenue du Général Leclerc
77400 Lagny-sur-Marne
Tel: 01 64 30 70 70

Hôpital d'Orgemont
2bis rue d'Orgemont
77100 MEAUX
01 64 35 38 38

Centre hospitalier général Centre Hospitalier de Meaux (Meaux)
6-8, rue Saint-Fiacre
77104 Meaux cedex
Tel: 01 64 35 38 38

Of the three, the last one is the main hospital for the area.

 

[disney4kidz]

Thank you very much guys for this valuable information. Since you've pointed this out, i've decided against Davy Ranch as I'm very interested in:-

Thomas Cook Explorer
and
Vienna International Circus Hotel
and
Santa Fe


We can hold off and book in only for months where the weather is better as I'd rather go when it's nice and warm.

I don't mind it being a little more expensive as i'd rather have some peace of mind knowing most of the places are close by.

You said i may not get any disney offers if i went with the Explorer hotel, but what did you mean? What are these offers and which hotels offer them?

Also what are CDG, EZY and RS?

 

[jillrobinson]

I was referring to the Disney offers, there are always offers on such as kids go free, 40% off, the one finishing today is get 2 extra days/nights free, these are the offers I don't think you'd get at the associated hotels you've mentioned - Explorers isn't Thomas Cook anymore, it's been recently taken over by Algonquin and the Vienna hotels, Dream Castle & Magic Circus.

Santa Fe is a Disney hotel so you would get the offers.

Sorry the abbreviations are

CDG - Charles de Gaulle airport

Ezyshuttle http://www.ezyshuttle.com/

RS transports http://www.rstransports.com/

 

[Isila]

Why not book two connecting rooms?

 

[owensdad]

As you have a child with special needs you may want to consider what we do, Sequoia Lodge has adapted disabled rooms, they are big and can sleep up to 7, we do this all the time as our son is disabled, its basically 2 rooms back to back with a connecting door and disabled facilities but its charged as a standard room, so you could all stay together in a wonderful hotel and the parks are just a few mins walk, for the 6 of you you would probably look at around £2k for a 5 day stay with half board meal vouchers and eurostar travel, this would be in school term time though, in school hols its horrendous price.


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[Jonjo]

With regards to hospitals, there are two English speaking private hospitals in the western suburbs of Paris.

American Hospital of Paris:
Tel : 01 46 41 25 25
63, boulevard Victor Hugo
92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
www.american-hospital.org


USA founded and accredited with bilingual staff and American doctors.
Cardiology, digestive medicine, gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurology, oncology (cancer), ophthalmology, E.N.T. (Ear, Nose and Throat), orthopaedics, urology, rheumatology, dentistry, gynaecology/obstetrics, maternity, general paediatricians, and paediatric specialists (gastro-enterology, neurology, orthopaedics, surgery, pneumology, and nutrition).


Hertford British Hospital:
Tel : 01 46 39 22 22
3, rue Barbès
92300 Levallois-Perret
www.british-hospital.org

This has British trained nurses and midwives, as well as British trained doctors in most departments. General surgery and medicine, plus gynaecology/obstetrics, maternity, out-patient services

 

[disney4kidz]

Thank you very much guys for all your help. I have just had a look at the Thomas Cook vouchers and as long as i book in before end of sept 2013, i'm fine.

@ jill - would i be able to book these hotels via thomas cook?

@ isila - sorry, but surely these are expensive?

@ owensdad - thanks for the recommendation. my youngest has a heart condition, but otherwise she is fit and able to do everything, so would not require special adaptations. Any room will be fine for her...only thing is that we can quickly get to hospital incase of emergencies.

@ jonjo - thanks very much for those, but would i be able to take out travel insurance and use these hospitals?

 

[Carrie_Cat]

In France in the case of an emergency you get taken to the nearest hospital - you don't pick and choose unless you have already connections to a hospital or are "someone"

Lagny has closed last year as the new hospital just opposite the Val d'Europe shopping center has opened

http://www.centre-hospitalier-lagny.fr/

This is now the nearest to DLP.

You should always take out travel insurance even in Europe as well as taking the free EHIC card with you

 

[disney4kidz]

Thanks Carrie_Cat.

Here in uk, we dial 999 for emergency, but how does one deal with an emergency in france? How do we get around the language barrier? How do we tell them of the Disneyland Paris location?

 

[rugrats]

We are a family of 5 going this March and we got 2 rooms at Cheyenne for a reasonable price. I prefer paying a little bit more for the Disney hotels rather than an "off site" hotel as we love the extra magic hours!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thanks Carrie_Cat.

Here in uk, we dial 999 for emergency, but how does one deal with an emergency in france? How do we get around the language barrier? How do we tell them of the Disneyland Paris location?

If you are in the hotel the reception will take charge, same in the park the first aid posts will call the emergency services that they have on site

From anywhere in Europe you call 112 - it's free on your phone -

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/index_en.htm

http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/112/ms/fr/index_en.htm

They speak many languages so no worries abou English

The national numbers for France which works along side the 112 are

15 - gets you through to the emergency services - Samu - which covers citys, surburbs, large towns etc

18 - Fire service but also they will cover medical emergencies

17 - Police

 

[jillrobinson]

Thank you very much guys for all your help. I have just had a look at the Thomas Cook vouchers and as long as i book in before end of sept 2013, i'm fine.

@ jill - would i be able to book these hotels via thomas cook?

I don't see any reason why not, there's not a lot of info on their website but they link direct to the DLP site

 

[zavandor]

The Explorer hotel is very nice, has a bit of theming and has a good pool with slides. And there is also a play area for kids.
A friend of mine was very happy with her stay there.

However it's not Disney, less magic, I agree

If you want to consider the Explorer for an offsite stay, you might also check the websites that have the offer for an Annual Passport free for a child with an adult purchase. You might end up paying for 3 or 4 passports, saving a lot on tickets. And with the passport and staying at an hotel cheaper than Disney, you could stay one or two days more.
Not having to hurry to see everything could give you a much more relaxed vacation.

 

[owensdad]

Thank you very much guys for all your help. I have just had a look at the Thomas Cook vouchers and as long as i book in before end of sept 2013, i'm fine.

@ jill - would i be able to book these hotels via thomas cook?

@ isila - sorry, but surely these are expensive?

@ owensdad - thanks for the recommendation. my youngest has a heart condition, but otherwise she is fit and able to do everything, so would not require special adaptations. Any room will be fine for her...only thing is that we can quickly get to hospital incase of emergencies.

@ jonjo - thanks very much for those, but would i be able to take out travel insurance and use these hospitals?

I think you missed my point, with there being 6 of you in your party you would normally need 2 rooms in a Disney hotel, the exception is that Sequoia Lodge have adapted rooms which are the same price as a single room except its twice the size and you can all stay together and pay just the single room rate, as your daughter has a heart condition you would be entitled to this room, even though my son is severely disabled we really don't make use of the facilities in the room much as they are just not suited to his needs anyway, but its a great way to save money.

 

[disney4kidz]

Carrie_Cat - Cheers! I will be taking travel insurance, so do hospitals in france expect the patient to have travel insurance cover?

Jill - Thanks!

Zavandor - What hotels (not too expensive!) can you recommend that do have the "Disney Magic"?

Owensdad - Is the Sequoia Lodge within Disneyland Park? Does it have the "Disney magic"?

 

[DLPdaft]

Carrie_Cat - Cheers! I will be taking travel insurance, so do hospitals in france expect the patient to have travel insurance cover?

Jill - Thanks!

Zavandor - What hotels (not too expensive!) can you recommend that do have the "Disney Magic"?

Owensdad - Is the Sequoia Lodge within Disneyland Park? Does it have the "Disney magic"?

yes, the Sequoia Lodge is an onsite hotel, full of Disney magic .

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Carrie_Cat - Cheers! I will be taking travel insurance, so do hospitals in france expect the patient to have travel insurance cover?

Private ones such as the American hospital do - they will bill you first and you have to claim it back if you can.

The insurance is there in case you have to be flown home for example which the EHIC doesn't cover or if you need someone to stay longterm with the patient in the country you are visiting as they can't be moved - that sort of thing

A public hospital will treat you and either the papers you have will cover costs or you will be billed later a nominal fee - 23€ for a consultation for example which you can get back from the NHS

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinFrance.aspx

 

[owensdad]

Sequoia Lodge is one of the main Disney hotels on the resort, has all the Disney magic you would expect, its a wonderful hotel and the staff are excellent, they always have Disney characters there too, its based in the Disney Village and is a few mins walk to both parks. In your situation it would be ideal due to the adapted room accomodating all of you yet you will pay just a single room rate, its the only Disney hotel with these types of room and they only have 6 I think, if you stayed in any of the other Disney hotels you would need 2 rooms and this makes it hugely expensive.


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