Question about using the VEA shuttle service to and from the airport....

[Cad0587]

My transportation to Disney Land Paris is taken care of. But I'm thinking our best option back to the airport will be the VEA shuttle service. Does anyone know if this is something we can wait to book until say, the day we arrive? (we are there for a week) or does this need to be taken care of before hand? I don't want to book RIGHT now because it says you will not get your money back if cancelled so I don't want to take a risk on this just yet (the rest of our trip has travel insurance but this shuttle part would be all on me) I'm wondering if it's casual enough to just take care of on our first day there.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer but I'll bump the post for you

I will say that if you are going at a peak time and you wish to take the shuttle it would be better to book before hand as you could find that all seats are taken when you get there and have to wait and wait.

Most people tend to use private or shared transfers to come from/to the airport rather than the VEA shuttle

 

[Elnicsa]

You can book on the day you are leaving. I did not book at all. When we arrived at CDG we went to the VEA kiosk and bought the tickets (the return ones also). There is a bus schedule. Check the following link: http://vea-shuttle.co.uk/

We just waited for the bus outside of the hotel (there is a certain area where you can wait for the bus) You can find the time table of the buses on the provided above link.

Another way is that you can also book at the hotel's reception or just pay the bus driver on the day you are leaving.

It will take you around 40 minutes to get to Disneyland by a VEA bus but you can enjoy the scenery. I was so excited when we got on the bus!

Another option is that you can take the TGV train from the CDG airport that will take you to Disneyland in 10 minutes. Here's the link: http://parisbytrain.com/tgv-train-cdg-to-eurodisney/

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Thanks Elnicsa for the links...very helpful. We have a Paris trip planned for March this year (yippee) and as part of that will be staying two nights at the Hotel Cheyenne.

We're planning on getting a Navigo Semaine card to get from CDG to Paris (where we'll be renting an airbnb apartment). Then on Sunday (the last day the semaine card is good), take the RER out to DLP.

My questions are about our return to CDG.

* Our American Airlines flight departs from CDG at 10:40 am. AA recommends arriving 3 hours before flight but the first TGV train arrives CDG at 8:00 am. Is 20 minutes really going to make a difference in our getting on the flight?

* Is it recommended that we purchase the train tickets in advance? I only ask because the SNCF site refers me over to RailEurope (USA) site (where the tickets are $10 more than booking directly from SCNF). Would an off-season, early morning weekday train be crowded enough that we would want to purchase our tickets two months in advance or can we just purchase from the SCNF office when we arrive to DLP?

I assume the majority of people on this forum are British, but I'm wondering if it would make sense to have a sticky to help North American visitors? Until I found this trip report, I had a bunch of questions about differences in prices/credit card acceptance/packages/deals between the different national sites (with the US site being waaay more expensive), North American toll free numbers and all the little differences that one discovers between the US parks and DLP.

Any assistance appreciated. Thanks much!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

My questions are about our return to CDG.

* Our American Airlines flight departs from CDG at 10:40 am. AA recommends arriving 3 hours before flight but the first TGV train arrives CDG at 8:00 am. Is 20 minutes really going to make a difference in our getting on the flight?

* Is it recommended that we purchase the train tickets in advance? I only ask because the SNCF site refers me over to RailEurope (USA) site (where the tickets are $10 more than booking directly from SCNF). Would an off-season, early morning weekday train be crowded enough that we would want to purchase our tickets two months in advance or can we just purchase from the SCNF office when we arrive to DLP?

Concerning your flight unless you are happy with paying for a new ticket I would recommend getting there and in the queue 3 hrs before.

Yes you might sail through check in and then immigration but you could also find that those 3 hrs go very quickly while queuing on the other side.

If you took the TGV you then have to get to T2 which can take you a good half hour.

I have flown with AA several times and their check in has never been fast and after recent events all the US carriers are taking even longer to check in to.

You are also best resrving your TGV tickets in advance if that is the route you are going to take as nearer the time they will get more expensive. The train doesn't start in DLP or end at CDG they are simply stops on it's journey across France.

Other ways of getting to the airport would be via one of the shuttle services that many people use here - You would pay around 70€ for a one way trip

Have a look at the list in this thread

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1004423

 

[fly girl]

Ha! I was just looking this up today for our vacation in April.


Our flight back to the states departs at 10:40am, so I'm in the same dilemma.


I've gone in and out of CDG enough to know it's terribly disorganized for flights heading to North America. You'll need all 3 hours. Nothing is worse than the stress of making your flight home, so I'm not risking the TGV even by 20 minutes.


Next, I looked at the VEA schedule. First departure out of DLP is 6:30am with arrival at 8:05am. That's worse than the TGV. So that's out. And the cost for 3 of us was 56 euros.


Finally, I looked at taxis. Found out that it will roughly cost (with bags) around 48 euros give or take traffic. We depart on a Saturday which is good. So for us it looks like a taxi is our best option.


My big question is how easy will it be to get a taxi from Disneyland Hotel on a Saturday morning? We would want to leave at 6am. I'd think the hotel would call one for us, but if anyone has done this I would love to read how it went.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Ha! I was just looking this up today for our vacation in April.


Our flight back to the states departs at 10:40am, so I'm in the same dilemma.


I've gone in and out of CDG enough to know it's terribly disorganized for flights heading to North America. You'll need all 3 hours. Nothing is worse than the stress of making your flight home, so I'm not risking the TGV even by 20 minutes.


Next, I looked at the VEA schedule. First departure out of DLP is 6:30am with arrival at 8:05am. That's worse than the TGV. So that's out. And the cost for 3 of us was 56 euros.


Finally, I looked at taxis. Found out that it will roughly cost (with bags) around 48 euros give or take traffic. We depart on a Saturday which is good. So for us it looks like a taxi is our best option.


My big question is how easy will it be to get a taxi from Disneyland Hotel on a Saturday morning? We would want to leave at 6am. I'd think the hotel would call one for us, but if anyone has done this I would love to read how it went.

Never known anyone getting the hotel to call them a taxi Like above shuttle companys are what people tend to use and they work well.

You could look at the shared services that are a bit cheaper and most people report never having to share.

How did you calculate 48€ out of interest as I would have thought it dearer than that especially as there would be a call out charge to the DLH on top of the flat rate, bags, early hours etc

 

[fly girl]

Never known anyone getting the hotel to call them a taxi Like above shuttle companys are what people tend to use and they work well.

You could look at the shared services that are a bit cheaper and most people report never having to share.

How did you calculate 48€ out of interest as I would have thought it dearer than that especially as there would be a call out charge to the DLH on top of the flat rate, bags, early hours etc

Really? I've asked hotels all over the world if they could call a cab for me, including Paris headed for CDG. The hotels know the trusted companies and I've never had any problems.


My issue shuttle companies is time of day. I don't want to leave at 5am due to stops. I'd rather pay more and get the direct route.


I did go back after my post to look at taxi rates, they have varied. The last site I was on I could schedule a car on mytaxiparis, and it would be 80 euro. Time of day upped the amount. So you are correct cost is definitely more.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Really? I've asked hotels all over the world if they could call a cab for me, including Paris headed for CDG. The hotels know the trusted companies and I've never had any problems.


My issue shuttle companies is time of day. I don't want to leave at 5am due to stops. I'd rather pay more and get the direct route.


I did go back after my post to look at taxi rates, they have varied. The last site I was on I could schedule a car on mytaxiparis, and it would be 80 euro. Time of day upped the amount. So you are correct cost is definitely more.

Try contacting the shuttle companies like Ezyshuttle and ask them what time they would suggest picking you up and the rate

Hotels calling taxis in Paris or any city is different as there are lots of them.

The taxis that work out of the Disneyland area are not that many and the rates are different in each department.

When a hotel calls out a taxi there is always a call out charge on the meter which can vary depending on where the taxi has come from first to the hotel.

Again in Paris the hotel can often just get one off the street or from a taxi rank just outside so it's less.

I'd doubt that any shuttle would be picking you up at 5.00 am unles that's the time you've requested

Ezyshuttle are English speaking - run and owned by an Irish guy - and come highly praised.

 

[fly girl]

Never known anyone getting the hotel to call them a taxi Like above shuttle companys are what people tend to use and they work well.

You are correct, the shuttle companies look like the way to go. It's 10 euros more for a private one and the price looked to be the same as a taxi.


Please accept my apology.


My shuttle experience has always been a headache. Long and tedious with multiple stops and a generic drop off point at the airport. Looks like these do not run that way.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

You are correct, the shuttle companies look like the way to go. It's 10 euros more for a private one and the price looked to be the same as a taxi.


Please accept my apology.


My shuttle experience has always been a headache. Long and tedious with multiple stops and a generic drop off point at the airport. Looks like these do not run that way.

No bother

Believe it's the only place in the world where I'd recommend taking a shuttle

I much prefer taxis and have always considered shuttles to be a rip off. And for Paris to CDG or v/v it would be a taxi every time but this neck of woods is totally odd for taxis

 

[fly girl]

No bother

Believe it's the only place in the world where I'd recommend taking a shuttle

I much prefer taxis and have always considered shuttles to be a rip off. And for Paris to CDG or v/v it would be a taxi every time but this neck of woods is totally odd for taxis

Thanks.

And as you can tell, I'm not a fan of shuttles either. I'm a who likes her taxis!

 

[mmrocks]

You guys seem to know your "stuff"! How much should a taxi cost from CDG to the area around the Eiffel Tower. I was going to take a shuttle, but I think by your posts a taxi would be more cost efficient.

 

[SeattleRedBear]

Fly Girl/Carrie Cat,

Thanks VERY much for the information about CDG and for the Ezyshuttle referral. It's been over 10 years since I last flew out of CDG so wasn't sure how bad it currently is. Since there will be three of us traveling together, I'm hoping it won't cost that much more than the train and will definitely be more convenient than having to schlep over to the train station.

Encore, merci beaucoup pour les excellents conseils!