Seats on Eurostar (sorry long)

flea72

Earning My Ears
Joined
Aug 13, 2007
Messages
21
just received my eurostar tickets (woo hoo 10 days and counting), but our seats arent all together, and i was wondering what are the chances of people on the train wanting to swap seats (can see it being a bit of a pain), so we are together.

im sure i read in The Times at the w/end that familes with young children have to sit together around a table, and if your tickets havent been allocated as such, speak to a member of staff on the train, and they will move you. but im thinking, that most people going direct to DLP will be familes, and therefore not all can be accommodated around a table?

Also we are getting on at Ashford, so im assuming all the people who get on at St Pancras, are gonna be settled already, and not want to move around. how accommodating have people found other travellers?

its just that as one of our party will be a very wriggly 6m old, on our laps, so it would help if me and OH were are least with arms reach of each other, to pass her around, and relieve some of the boredom for her, and stress for us. also i dont think some other traveller whos sitting next to me, will love a child who suddenly flings themself around, and likes to pick at anything with arms reach, for the 3hr journey

our seats for a party of 5, have been set out, that two seats are next to each other, with another person 2 rows away, and the other person in the row behind that. so ok, OH could sit on his own, our 12 yr old, i suppose could sit on her own, but im not happy about it, and ill be left holding baby (literally) with our 6yr old next to me.

what are the chances of there being empty seats on the train, we could spread out into?

Prob worrying about nothing, but trying to amuse the kids on a car journey is bad enough ('are we there yet', before were even off the driveway normally!). and we havent told them where we are off to either, so im wondering how obviously Disney is the train, etc. - they just know we are going for a train ride for the day, not where it goes, and how long we are actually staying for

also are the carriages numbered on the outside, so you know which one to get into, seeing as our seat tickets are numbered, or do you have to walk the length of the train, trying to find them?

tia Flea
 
Some maybe willing to swap seats but my advice would be to ring Eurostar & see if they could do something before you get there. Although there is no guarentee as you are still seated quite close.

If I remember right there are pillars marked on the platform, which will tell you which carriage to get on for your seat.
 
first time we went we were split up and oh ended up with baby in his lap and i was next to dd, second time as there were more of us we got tables, however got on at ashford to find a family had settled in to our seats left muck everywhere and wouldn;t move, got someone to come and explain that they would have to sit in their orginal seats.

When we went in dec going out the train was empty and i suppose if after leaving ashford there are empty seats you could move, but on both return journeys the train was packed, i felt too there isn't a lot of time to get yourself settled before you leave the station anyway and can be a bit stressful collapsing pushchair etc, especially if the esculators weren't working (which on both occasions they weren't) just get a bit of a head start if you have pushchair etc
 
When I went in August we were sat apart. On the way it wasn't a problem as there was lots of empty seats. On the way back we just asked a guy to move and he was more than happy to.

I'm sure it wont be a problem.
 

Im getting on at Ashford and at first look our seats look like they are not seated together when infact they are. They have a weird way of numbering there seats.

Have you asked the travel agent to check that the seats are actually apart, as they did that for me as i worried i would be sat apart from my family.
 
i have a seating plan for the train, and the number for seats we have arent concurrent, and according to the plan, we have two seats on one side of the train and the other seats are on the other side but not on a level row. they are two rows, behind what out opposite seats are, iyswim. they are also window seats, which i dont think would be ideal for passing baby backwards and forwards, across other passengers

oh well, im sure there are prob others in the carriage in the same position as us, and we might be able to swap around

now, im worried about actually getting on the train and getting settled in a seat before the train departs. thinking it might be easier to sling baby, and leave OH to deal with getting luggage and pushchair stored, while i just worry about getting the kids on and sorted. If im gonna be frazzled, woe betide anyone whos sat in our seats lol

on the luggage side, what is the best type to take. ive heard there isnt much storage space on the trains, so im assuming a few small holdalls would be easier to stow, than one huge suitcase? its hard to know where to fit everything, when you need a supply of nappies/formula/bottles

Flea
 
I know what you mean, im worried about taking so much and then worrying about taking so little.

People best not be sitting in my seats either lol.
 
first time we went we were split up and oh ended up with baby in his lap and i was next to dd, second time as there were more of us we got tables, however got on at ashford to find a family had settled in to our seats left muck everywhere and wouldn;t move, got someone to come and explain that they would have to sit in their orginal seats.

When we went in dec going out the train was empty and i suppose if after leaving ashford there are empty seats you could move, but on both return journeys the train was packed, i felt too there isn't a lot of time to get yourself settled before you leave the station anyway and can be a bit stressful collapsing pushchair etc, especially if the esculators weren't working (which on both occasions they weren't) just get a bit of a head start if you have pushchair etc


We have been on the train once before with 5 adults and 2 young children (both under 3yrs) and I have to say I wont go on the train again until our son is quite a bit older...

We found the queues HUGE when coming home just to check in, and people were actually queuing on the escalators (none of them were working when we went either...or the lifts!)

Give ya self plenty of time when coming back as its not that organised...how English am I eh...fancy thinking people woudl calmly queue in lines!

Actually on the train we were split up and had our son on our lap, which wasnt great as you dont get alot of space unless you can grab a table area (which I have to admit I didnt notice on our carriage).

On the plus side...its not too long a journey, and most people had kids so they werent bothered by the crying, running about etc.

However, we didnt get on the train in time for the punch up over seats ! :rolleyes1

Needless to say, we are driving this year!! :thumbsup2
 
Sounds like a nightamre - hope you get your seats sorted out.

Is there anyway you can pay a little more to be guarenteed sitting togther (like on airlines) .... its a pain when you want to be with your family and you aren't next to each other ...
 
We've been twice by Eurostar without any problems, I didn't realise how lucky we were, but even as a group of 7 we were all seated together. The first time on the way over we were allocated a table and I can vouch for them being the best seats in standard.

Presumably if you upgrade to first class (is it still called Castle Class or something like that) you don't have these problems. :confused3

I would echo the sentiments about checkin coming home, it gets quite chaotic, so I'd leave your self plenty of time especially if you are using the Disney Express Service and need to collect your baggage. :)
 
We are going on Saturday and coming back on Tuesday - I think we are mostly seated together but I am already starting worry about my very wriggly toddler. I am 7 mpnths pregnant and am not overly thrilled at the prospect of having to have an energetic 2 year old sitting on my lap for the whole journey :(

Mel
x
 
After reading the comments about checking in for the return journey, is it possible to check in and then go back to Disney Village for, say, an early tea and then come back, pick up cases and board the train? Or does it not workd like that. I was just thinking that if you checked in really early I would miss the surge of people all doing the same thing at the same time!!!
 
After reading the comments about checking in for the return journey, is it possible to check in and then go back to Disney Village for, say, an early tea and then come back, pick up cases and board the train? Or does it not workd like that. I was just thinking that if you checked in really early I would miss the surge of people all doing the same thing at the same time!!!

I dont think you can but to be honest we didnt use the check in early service!

Also, on the way to DLRP, they recommend that you check in at the station so that you can head straight to the park and let them move your luggage to your hotel.
They dont put it into your room so you still have to 'check in' at the hotel when you get there.
The queue at the station was HUGE when we arrived so we literally jumped onto a courtesy bus, went into the hotel and checked (no queue at all...everyone still at the station LOL).

Within 15 mins we had our luggage in our own rooms and were walking back past the station whilst the queue still looked the same for the 'quick check in'....

:rotfl:
 
After reading the comments about checking in for the return journey, is it possible to check in and then go back to Disney Village for, say, an early tea and then come back, pick up cases and board the train? Or does it not workd like that. I was just thinking that if you checked in really early I would miss the surge of people all doing the same thing at the same time!!!
Unfortunately it wouldn't work as you have to go through passport control and security with your cases. Once through, if it were possible to leave, you'd have to go through it all over again.

Sounds like a nightamre - hope you get your seats sorted out.

Is there anyway you can pay a little more to be guarenteed sitting togther (like on airlines) .... its a pain when you want to be with your family and you aren't next to each other ...
When we've travelled by Eurostar we've always booked our seats independently and the tickets arrive within a couple of days. If you found you weren't seated together you would at least have time on your side to phone Eurostar and try to be re-allocated seats together.
 












Receive up to $1,000 in Onboard Credit and a Gift Basket!
That’s right — when you book your Disney Cruise with Dreams Unlimited Travel, you’ll receive incredible shipboard credits to spend during your vacation!
CLICK HERE






DIS Facebook DIS youtube DIS Instagram DIS Pinterest DIS Tiktok DIS Twitter DIS Bluesky

Back
Top Bottom