Planning a trip for end of Sept/ beginning of Oct and have a few questions

[cocofan]

My family is doing a trip to Europe end of Sept. There will be 5 of us, 4 adults and 1 disabled teenager.

We are thinking of doing 4 nights at Disneyland Paris, so that we have a full 3 days in the parks. Is that too much? I know that when you book packages that they include tickets for arrival and departure day. Would doing 3 nights be sufficient then? Do they have connecting rooms in any of the hotels? We really would prefer to have connecting rooms so that I can help my daughter. We could do one room at Disneyland Hotel, but we prefer 2 rooms since my husband snores and the teen can't sleep through that, and our other dd (us too) needs another bathroom as she takes so long in there. (and it's cheaper to get 2 rooms elsewhere) Also, I read that the Cheyenne hotel has laundry, is that the only one? Does Sequoia or Santa Fe have laundry? If you stay at one of the other hotels could you use the one at Cheyenne?

I know they have 2 different disability passes. Do you only need one of them? Can/do you get both? We have 2 of the proofs needed for one and I can get a Dr.'s note for the other. She can walk but uses a wheelchair/stroller for any type of long distance. She is also unsteady when walking, and it's safer for her and others to be in her chair in crowds. We use her chair at the mall or any other type of park like an aquarium. We'll be bringing it with us. I read that the one pass has you go to the exit for rides, is that with the wheelchair? Is it for all of the rides, or only ones, like in the US, that have inaccessible areas in the queues? What about the other pass? It sounded like it is kind of like what the Das used to be like before it went digital, go to the attraction and get a return time. Is that correct?

I read somewhere that you can add board to the packages. What does that entail? A quick service and a sit down, or do you choose different ones? Does it make sense to add it to a package? My family likes to do one quick service and one sit down a day when we've been to the parks in the US.

Thanks for everyone's help. These are some questions that I have had a harder time finding answers for.

 

[ocdb8r1]

I think three nights is sufficient, particularly if you utilize your full arrival or departure day tickets (I think easier to use your departure day as you can more easily store your luggage just as you leave the hotel....storing on arrival is also possible, but requires more effort in my mind).

I believe all the hotels offer connecting rooms (the only one I am not positive of is Santa Fe). The key will be calling in to book to be sure you get actually connecting rooms.

Hotel Cheyenne is the only hotel with self service laundry. While I believe you could technically use it staying at another hotel, it would be very inconvenient as it's not easily accessible from the other hotels. You could use the normal paid laundry service for a limited number of items perhaps?

One alternative that could satisfy most of your needs is to stay at Les Villages Nature Disneyland Paris. This is apartment style accommodations with laundry, which you can book with the full Disney package (including "on-site" hotel benefits). However, note that it is not right on-site like many of the other hotels and requires taking the provided transport to and from the parks (but the same can be said about Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe, although they are slightly closer).

For the disability access, it's one or the other (you don't need both). The Priority Card is the "higher" of the two but has very specific requirements/documents listed on their website which are the only items that will enable you to get the card; if you get this card it will be good for the person named and up to 4 additional people on attractions and 2 additional people for the priority area for shows and parades - if you are 5 in a single family, ask and they may accommodate the extra people and let them enter with you for the shows/parades. If you don't have those documents, you can try for an Easy Access Card which can be obtained with a doctor's note indicating the qualifying "long term illness" . This card is a bit more restrictive as it doesn't include the preferred area for shows/parades and I believe works slightly differently for attractions in that you're asked to return at a specific time (whereas the Priority Card effectively lets you use the Premiere Access lane or other special entrance immediately).

Disneyland Paris meal plans are quite diverse and complex. You can opt for Breakfast only, Half-board (which is Breakfast plus lunch or dinner) and Full Board (which is all three, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner). None include snacks. Then, once you pick which set of meals you want included, you have to pick a "level" between Standard, Plus, Premium or Extra Plus which will dictate which restaurants your meals are good for. To further complicate matters, certain of those "level" options are only available at certain Disneyland Paris hotels. All details can be found here: https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-int/dining/meal-plans/

I note that Les Villages Nature Disneyland Paris doesn't participate in the meal plan options. As to value and whether it's worth it, we personally struggle to find the value. We don't like to eat a full heavy breakfast every day (and every plan includes this). It's also nice to be able to do some heavy mid-day snacking as opposed to a full meal. I would personally only ever consider the half-board as we could probably make use of Breakfast plus one more meal each day.

Hope all that helps. Have a GREAT trip. Late September is a decent time to go. Weather should be nice and schools will be back in session in Europe so crowds should be slightly muted.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I have stayed multiple times at Disneyland Paris, most recently in October 2023 on a multi generation friends and family trip. We stayed in Hotel Santa, 3 adults and an 8 year old child in a room with 1 queen bed and 1 bunk bed. You can read my full in depth trip report here https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...isneyland-paris-app-and-premier-pass.3933288/

We are thinking of doing 4 nights at Disneyland Paris, so that we have a full 3 days in the parks. Is that too much?

We did Wednesday 25 October 2023 to Saturday 28 October 2023, which was

• half day Wednesday
• full day Thursday
• full day Friday
• half day Saturday

We could do one room at Disneyland Hotel, but we prefer 2 rooms since my husband snores and the teen can't sleep through that, and our other dd (us too) needs another bathroom as she takes so long in there. (and it's cheaper to get 2 rooms elsewhere)

There is no need to pay over inflated prices at Disneyland Hotel. All of the other onsite hotels have the same Disney perks, all have Disney themeing and all are walkable to the parks.

We had 3 adults and 1 child in a room. Honestly, I dont understand the need for 2 rooms. For such a short amount of time, save the money, get 1 room and use the money for extra experiences.

Also, I read that the Cheyenne hotel has laundry, is that the only one? Does Sequoia or Santa Fe have laundry? If you stay at one of the other hotels could you use the one at Cheyenne?

Cheyenne is the only hotel which has laundry facilities. Disneyland Paris is designed and built for European people. Europeans dont generally do laundry on holidays, so there is very little demand for laundry facilities in the hotels.

Anyone can use the laundry facilities at Hotel Cheyenne, you do not have to be a guest at that hotel.

I read somewhere that you can add board to the packages. What does that entail? A quick service and a sit down, or do you choose different ones? Does it make sense to add it to a package? My family likes to do one quick service and one sit down a day when we've been to the parks in the US.

We added on the full board dining package as it worked best for out budget and meal / food requirements. This meant we had buffet breakfast in the hotel every morning, a counter service in the park for lunch and a sit down table service or buffet in the evening for our main meal.

When you add on the dining package, you pay in advance. It is added electronically to your room cards when you check in at the hotel. When you go to a restaurant, one person, generally the lead person swipes their room card and the restaurant staff can see what meal credits you have.

You do not have to book the buffet breakfast your hotel, or the quick service / counter service in the parks.

You need to book the table service and buffet restaurants in the park, Disney Village and in the hotels. All of the onsite hotels have buffet or sit down table service restaurants. You do not have to be a guest of a hotel to book the restaurant in that hotel for your evening meal.

I have explained in depth about the meal plans and the restaurants we booked and ate at in my trip report.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

This reads like an AI CHATGPT reply and contains incorrect information

I think three nights is sufficient, particularly if you utilize your full arrival or departure day tickets (I think easier to use your departure day as you can more easily store your luggage just as you leave the hotel....storing on arrival is also possible, but requires more effort in my mind).

Rooms are usually availble from 3pm on check in day. Luggage storage on check in day is only needed if you arrive before the rooms are ready.

Luggage storage on check out day is very useful. Onsite guest have acess to early opening, so most people are in the parks from 8am on check out day.

I believe all the hotels offer connecting rooms (the only one I am not positive of is Santa Fe). The key will be calling in to book to be sure you get actually connecting rooms.

At Disneyland Paris it is NOT necessary to call to book hotel and room packages. It is preferred if you use the website. You do not have to use the default country website of the country you live in. You can book using any country due to European Single Market Law.

Hotel Cheyenne is the only hotel with self service laundry. While I believe you could technically use it staying at another hotel, it would be very inconvenient as it's not easily accessible from the other hotels. You could use the normal paid laundry service for a limited number of items perhaps?

This is not true. All the onsite hotels are walkable and it is not inconvenient to go Hotel Cheyenne. You just need to be organized and leave enough time. You just use the free shuttle bus or walk. There is no need to use the very expensive dry cleaning service in the hotels. They charge by the item, so its only intended for emergency cleaning or one or two items, not a family load of laundry. I found this price list online https://www.magicalkingdoms.com/dlp/hotels/dllaundry.html

One alternative that could satisfy most of your needs is to stay at Les Villages Nature Disneyland Paris. This is apartment style accommodations with laundry, which you can book with the full Disney package (including "on-site" hotel benefits). However, note that it is not right on-site like many of the other hotels and requires taking the provided transport to and from the parks (but the same can be said about Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe, although they are slightly closer).

DO NOT TAKE THIS ADVICE, THIS IS VERY BAD ADVICE .
Les Villages Nature is a third party property and is NOT suitable as a base for a family who whose main purpose is to visit Disneyland Parks.

 

[ocdb8r1]

This reads like an AI CHATGPT reply and contains incorrect information

First of all, there's no need to be rude just because you don't agree with my advice. Second, you didn't point out a single item that was incorrect in my post; just things you didn't agree with.

At Disneyland Paris it is NOT necessary to call to book hotel and room packages. It is preferred if you use the website. You do not have to use the default country website of the country you live in. You can book using any country due to European Single Market Law.

I suggested a call to guarantee connecting rooms (which you cannot do via the website). I know for a fact you can call in and at that time guarantee a connecting room.

This is not true. All the onsite hotels are walkable and it is not inconvenient to go Hotel Cheyenne. You just need to be organized and leave enough time. You just use the free shuttle bus or walk. There is no need to use the very expensive dry cleaning service in the hotels. They charge by the item, so its only intended for emergency cleaning or one or two items, not a family load of laundry. I found this price list online https://www.magicalkingdoms.com/dlp/hotels/dllaundry.html

All the resorts are NOT easily walkable (I love you start with that they are all walkable and then suggest using the shuttle bus - which doesn't run from the resorts around Lake Buena Vista to hotel Cheyenne), some require crossing an often busy road (which includes the Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe). In addition, the distances can be vast - it's a 20min 1.3km walk from the park hub to the Hotel Cheyenne). Regardless, it's not a distance you'd want to be schlepping laundry.

DO NOT TAKE THIS ADVICE, THIS IS VERY BAD ADVICE .
Les Villages Nature is a third party property and is NOT suitable as a base for a family who whose main purpose is to visit Disneyland Parks.

Again, this is purely your opinion (the "expert" who went once over a year ago and thus indicates their trip report is gospel). It was developed in conjunction with Disneyland Paris who had an ownership interest during the first five years of operation and it continues to be sold DIRECTLY by Disney with all on-site hotel benefits. It is owned and run by a very popular and reputable European holiday company and has wonderful facilities. The SOLE reason you might not want to stay there is that it is a further distance to the parks (which I mentioned) - it is a 10 minute car/shuttle ride and sits next door to Disney's own Davy Crockett Ranch. By comparison, it is closer to Disneyland Paris than Yacht Club, Boardwalk, Saratoga Springs, Old Key West, Caribbean Beach, every single All-Star/Pop resort...etc are to the Magic Kingdom (and yet thousands of people stay at those resorts and make it to the Magic Kingdom every day). It was mentioned because the original poster was both looking at needing at least two connecting rooms and wanted to be able to do laundry. This resort offers apartment style accommodations and laundry facilities that could solve both those problems.

More like Bad Stink Tink....what a rude, uneducated and unnecessary response. **Edited to add** Oh, never mind, I can see you've already shown your true colors around here in multiple threads. Berating a family who dared to want to have a special experience for one of their children by booking the Disneyland Paris Hotel...and then posting rude remarks about American's who won't follow your advice and waste money. What a helpful contributor to the forums....I can see why you were banned the first time around and had to create a new account last year. Keep up the good work!

 

[cocofan]

Thank you both for all of your advice. They both give me things to think on and figure out. You've both been very helpful.

I'll have to talk it over with my dh to figure out what we end up doing.

 

[Karin1984]

around Lake Buena Vista to hotel Cheyenne

Not exactly sure when, but at least a couple of years ago the name changed to Lake Disney.
Probably 'buena vista' didn't make sense to Europeans. And the Spanish probably had opinions as well ;-)

 

[Karin1984]

Cheyenne is the only one with self-service laundry, but anyone can use it. Marvel & Disneyland Hotel have a laundry service.
Both are against payment, but no doubt self-service is cheaper.

Easy access vs. Priority card.
Priority card gets you 4 people with you on rides, 2 for shows. You go to the back entrance immediately. For shows you wait in a separate area. You can request it a month in advance, do it at guest relations or at Disney hotels. It differs per country which documentation is valid. If you go to the website, you can go into the form and see which docs are valid for your country.

Easy access gets you 4 people with you on rides. You make a reservation on a piece of paper. Your wait time is as long as the current wait time. You need a dr. note with the disease from the pre-approved list (on the website) with a date & stamp, in English or French. You can pick it up at guest relations or at Disney hotels.

With the meal plans always have a look at the menus of restaurants you would like to visit and estimate what you would spend on food. Like in the US parks with dining plans, you sometimes pay extra for the convenience.

 

[cocofan]

Does anyone know about the disability access at the Asterix Parc? Our family are huge fans of the comics and would love to go to the park while on our trip.

I was trying to research what we might need for our dd to get a pass and I'm not sure what we need to present to them. It looks like they only accept the CMI card? But I don't think we can get one since we don't live in Europe? I didn't find their site very clear. Does anyone have any clear answers or know where I can find them? Thank you!

 

[Karin1984]

Does anyone know about the disability access at the Asterix Parc? Our family are huge fans of the comics and would love to go to the park while on our trip.

I was trying to research what we might need for our dd to get a pass and I'm not sure what we need to present to them. It looks like they only accept the CMI card? But I don't think we can get one since we don't live in Europe? I didn't find their site very clear. Does anyone have any clear answers or know where I can find them? Thank you!

I had a look at the page in both English and Dutch, and I assume the same, only CMI accepted.

When I googled, I found this page, and when you open one of the "how to benefit"- questions, it looks like you have to live in France to request it.
https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F34049?lang=en

Probably best is to contact Parc Asterix to double check.