Disneyland Paris - I got it cheap & how to book the Disney Express when DIY!

I wanted to add this here so it did not get lost in the other thread about DLP but I finally booked mine and I think we got a great deal by going DIY.

I have booked 3 nights/4 days for November in Sequioa Lodge £354 on the disneyland.com website. We chose No Insurance as we already have an annual policy - make sure you see this and choose the 'No' for Insurance it is very expensive for a Europe trip - its adds it on automatically so watch this but it is quite clearly marked. If you book through the website you can also choose 3 extra options such as a non-smoking, low, high, or quiet room, foam pillow, cot, etc... If I added the train via their site it bumped my price up to £1100 for the same direct train and this was the same if booking with the other agents around.

So, I have booked the direct train via the Eurostar website for £242 for 4 seats return and could choose a family section so we have this little section to ourselves rather than just being stuck anywhere. Just make sure that the accomodation is available before you confirm the train and book them on the same day at the same time to be sure you get what you want.

If you then call the Disney helpline after you have booked the hotel online (you can do this by telephone also) you can book the Disney Express for £14 per adult.

If you are not sure what this is, Disney staff are on board the train and will 'check you in' and give you your park passes. At Marne-la-Vallee you can leave your cases at the Disney Express hatch and get some tickets, they then take your cases to your hotel so you can go off and go into the parks right away. When the parks close you can then go to your hotel and check in and your cases are waiting for you. When you check out, you leave your cases at the hotel and Disney take them to the station, you then collect them about an hour before the Train leaves for Londond so you get another full day in the park without having to worry about your cases for the day and going back to the hotel to get them. It really does make the most of you break as there is no hassle with dragging cases around when you get there.

Eurostar told me that you could only have the Disney Express if you had booked a package with an agent. This is not true. As long as you have booked the DIRECT service into Disneyland Paris and are either staying in a Disney or partner hotel you can call Disney and book the Disney Express. The number is 08706 066800 (yeah, I know, there is no alternative), but this is not advertised from what I have seen and you are not given the option for the Disney Express when you book the hotel either.

So, if I had booked with an agent this holiday (is part of the Xmas celebrations) would have cost around £1100 but DIY has cost me £624.

It can be done cheaper if you stay in a partner hotel and take advantage of the free seats for kids but we choose to book a seat for my son so we could have the family section to ourselves.

Whoo hoo!!