Disneyland Paris/EuroDisney - Questions & Answers

balletshoes

choti wrote: »

Having now booked hotel, transport and tickets, I'm now thinking about meals!

Is it worth buying half meal plans for a couple of days (I'm thinking maybe it's worth going back to Val DEurope for dinner)?

no, don't buy a half board meal plan, they don't save you money.
I don't think you can anyway - its for the whole duration of your stay or not at all, and as far as I'm aware you have to have booked your hotel through Disney to get a meal plan added.

Also, could 3 of us book to Auberge de Cendrillon but only buy one meal - the idea of paying for 3 meals there is making me ill!

no, if you book 3 people in, and they are all aged 3 or over, you pay for 3 meals.

What other cheap ways is there to meet the characters at mealtimes? I was thinking of booking breakfast at Cafe Mickey oneday and DLH another although I know the characters dont meet you. My husband reckons not to bother as we'll have lots of time to meet the characters their over the 4 days we are there in August but the crowds and queue times scare me!!

I respectfully disagree with your husband . Character queues are mental at DLP, no matter what time of year you go. Your character meal idea is better - but there are other options too.

I wouldn't do breakfast at Cafe Mickey as its very expensive (25 euros per person, regardless of age). I'd do lunch or dinner there instead, and choose pizza etc to share off the main menu (don't buy a kids meal, they are expensive and not good value). 2 pizzas (they are large dinner-plate size) and soft drinks for you all at Cafe Mickey for lunch or dinner should cost you around 50 euros ish total (and you'll get 10% off that price with your AP).

I would definitely do breakfast at the DLH - 15 euros per adult, 6 euros per child, and 10% AP discount too. The characters don't come around the tables there, true, but there are usually 2 to meet on the way in right next to the restaurant, another 2 to meet on the way out, and you may find a couple downstairs in the lobby too.

For meeting characters - general rule, stay away from the parks :rotfl:. Go visit the HNY one morning just before you go into the park, its fairly close and you can meet characters there in the lobby. Same goes for all the onsite hotels, they all have character meets in the mornings from 8am to around 11am.

The DLH also has its own character meet on Thursdays through to Sundays each week, at either 4pm or 5pm (check the board inside the lobby at the foot of the staircase for the exact time).

You don't have to be staying at any of the onsite hotels to visit their public areas, restaurants, bars, and meet n greets.

choti

Thank you so much again! Because of you, I've already got my holiday expenditure at just under 1K without food!

I am tempted to do the princess meal only because my 5 year daughter is princess mad but then again she'd be happy if she saw any of them. I'll definitely look out for them at the hotels there.

I like your Cafe Mickey lunch option although it'll be hard for my hubby not to buy 3 meals (he's not as frugal as me).

I just had a look at the price of Sunday lunch at Inventions :eek:!!!

Hopefully we'll be spending our food money on late breakfast, snacks and dinner (skipping lunch).. although may skip breakfast if having lunch...

balletshoes wrote: »

I respectfully disagree with your husband . Character queues are mental at DLP, no matter what time of year you go. Your character meal idea is better - but there are other options too.

I wouldn't do breakfast at Cafe Mickey as its very expensive (25 euros per person, regardless of age). I'd do lunch or dinner there instead, and choose pizza etc to share off the main menu (don't buy a kids meal, they are expensive and not good value). 2 pizzas (they are large dinner-plate size) and soft drinks for you all at Cafe Mickey for lunch or dinner should cost you around 50 euros ish total (and you'll get 10% off that price with your AP).

I would definitely do breakfast at the DLH - 15 euros per adult, 6 euros per child, and 10% AP discount too. The characters don't come around the tables there, true, but there are usually 2 to meet on the way in right next to the restaurant, another 2 to meet on the way out, and you may find a couple downstairs in the lobby too.

For meeting characters - general rule, stay away from the parks :rotfl:. Go visit the HNY one morning just before you go into the park, its fairly close and you can meet characters there in the lobby. Same goes for all the onsite hotels, they all have character meets in the mornings from 8am to around 11am.

The DLH also has its own character meet on Thursdays through to Sundays each week, at either 4pm or 5pm (check the board inside the lobby at the foot of the staircase for the exact time).

You don't have to be staying at any of the onsite hotels to visit their public areas, restaurants, bars, and meet n greets.

balletshoes

You are very unlikely to see any princesses at any meet n greet or character meal apart from the Auberge de cendrillon. but the princess pavilion in fantasyland now operates a kind of timed pass system so that might be a manageable queue.
you could try the DLH meet n greet on the sunday afternoon ~ no guarantees but sometimes the main characters from the sunday brunch there stay for the afternoon meet n greet.

choti

Thank you again! We might just splash out at Auberge with the savings I've made using your help!

balletshoes wrote: »

You are very unlikely to see any princesses at any meet n greet or character meal apart from the Auberge de cendrillon. but the princess pavilion in fantasyland now operates a kind of timed pass system so that might be a manageable queue.
you could try the DLH meet n greet on the sunday afternoon ~ no guarantees but sometimes the main characters from the sunday brunch there stay for the afternoon meet n greet.

choti

Next thing to plan are the parades and shows. It'll be a long day for my 5 year old when we do Dreams! As she's too young (and scared) to go on majority of rides,we will concentrate on shows etc.

Could anyone tell me where it's best to view the parades and dreams and how early should we be there for a good viewing spot? I think I read that for the parade we should be near Fantasyland near the castle. This is what I have planned whilst we are there (based on current timing). Although not sure of what order.. How early should be queuing up for the shows. Are some shows more popular than others

Disneyland
DISNEY MAGIC PARADE (7PM)
DISNEY DREAMS (11PM)
DISNEY PRINCESS MEET (If we don't go restaurant)

Walt Disney Studios

ANIMAGIQUE 14:25
STITCH LIVE tbc
PLAYHOUSE DISNEY 13:00
STUNT SHOW - 11:45
CINEMAGIQUE (optional 15:30)
DISNEY STAR AND CARS 16:00

balletshoes

For the shows and cars n stars in the studios you really only need to be there 10~15 minutes before show/parade time.

the main park parade and dreams are a completely different kettle of fish.
the quietest part of magic on parade route is where it begins up in fantasyland near the queue area of Its a Small world ride and the pizzeria bella notte.dont try and see it from near the castle, thats one of the busiest spots and you,ll have wait a good hour at your spot to keep it.
up at the start of the parade route you should get a spot 20 minutes before it starts.

dreams may be an issue with a 5~year old. there are no elevated positions to see it and if everyone stands for the duration of dreams your little one may not see much. your best bet is to bag one of the benches dotted around the front of the castle and stay there for an hour or more ~ no kidding! at leadt then when dreams starts she can stand on the seat if the bench to see and you can stand behind her to hold her.

megsmaw06

Thanks again Balletshoes. I sent them an email and got one back this morning. Apparently they have no record of my order or payment. Ugh! Just my luck!

The payment to them did come off my card, so I've sent back proof etc... and hopefully they can get this sorted by august as we go on the 5th.

balletshoes

megsmaw06 wrote: »

Thanks again Balletshoes. I sent them an email and got one back this morning. Apparently they have no record of my order or payment. Ugh! Just my luck!

The payment to them did come off my card, so I've sent back proof etc... and hopefully they can get this sorted by august as we go on the 5th.

fingers crossed they'll sort it out quickly for you.

cdsmiler

Evening all,

Two quick questions for you lovely people!

1. Where does the shuttle bus pick up and drop off for Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe? Is it next to hotel reception (like Dream Castle for example?)?

2. Has anyone been to either of those Disney hotels (Cheyenne or Santa Fe) during the Christmas season? What is the theming like for Christmas in either (or both) of these hotels?

Many thanks in advance!!

Clare x

balletshoes

cdsmiler wrote: »

Evening all,

Two quick questions for you lovely people!

1. Where does the shuttle bus pick up and drop off for Hotel Cheyenne and Santa Fe? Is it next to hotel reception (like Dream Castle for example?)?

2. Has anyone been to either of those Disney hotels (Cheyenne or Santa Fe) during the Christmas season? What is the theming like for Christmas in either (or both) of these hotels?

Many thanks in advance!!

Clare x

the shuttle buses at the Santa Fe picks up and drops off right outside the reception buildings. The Cheyenne stop is not right in front, its out and slightly to the left when you come out of the reception building, but its clearly signposted.

I've stayed at the Santa Fe loads of times, but not yet at Christmas. I have stayed at the Cheyenne during Christmas season, the reception area was all decked out with a christmas tree etc decorated with little cowboy hats - cute!