Advice - Travelling to Disneyland, Paris

Steedie

Steedie

Steedie

Man of Honour
Joined
29 Jun 2004
Posts
21,638
Location
Oxfordshire
Hey guys,

Thinking about a surprise trip for my niece to Disneyland Paris, booking the park and hotel is easy enough through the Disney website, but the thing that's getting me frustrated is getting there. Eurostar costs £218, which is fair enough, but getting to St. Pancras costs me a further £100 in train tickets. So about £320 all in to get there. Which is a hefty amount.

I was looking at getting the Eurotunnel, which is £100 to get us there and back. Now obviously that's miles cheaper, as petrol to get us there and back will probably be £120 at most, and then a 20 euro toll charge from Calais to the resort.

So question is, for someone who has never driven in France or anywhere outside the UK, is it worth saving the £100? Has anyone ever done the journey? What's it like?

Obviously convenience wise it makes sense to get the direct trains to and from the park back to St. Pancras, but it's just a lot of money in travel, when you compare it to the cost of the 3 day stay in the park.

What have other people done when visiting? I've not been in years and years, but I remember my dad always to drive down as he used to love driving in France.

Cheers in advance! :)
 
Drive to Disney regularly, mostly take the ferry but have taken the tunnel and the hovercraft a few times before as well. Ferry is the cheapest by far, keep your eye out for offers in the papers and that too.

Driving wise, once in France it's quite easy and well sign-posted, just use a SatNav or Google Nav just in case there are road works or something - we generally do the night time drive and the roads are clear and easy, you'll realise how stress free it is after your first couple of slip-road/roundabouts :)

For your booking, I'm not sure how cheap it is through their website but we generally scout around for hotel offers etc. Also, park tickets can be cheaper if you get the family annual tickets depending on how long you are staying there for, that was the case previously anyway.

I'm taking my little cousins end of Nov again :D They're my excuse haha

Enjoy.
 
It's a pretty easy drive. Obviously it takes a fair bit longer to drive from London to Paris than Eurostar, but the advantage is you don't have to haul your luggage around London. You can also do the calais shop etc if you're into that.. Eurotunnel is convenient and they will put you on an earlier one if you arrive early and there is space.
I don't know what the parking is like in hotels around disney but assume it is easier than finding parking for a hotel in Paris itself...
 
Last edited:
Ah ok :) thanks for that. Sounds fairly simple.

The toll roads confuse me, Google Maps seems to show different costs along the same route yet websites seem to suggest it's around 20 euros if you took the suggested route which is the A4. However, Google Maps suggests the A26/A1 route which is apparently cheaper too. No idea what to believe :D
 
Ages since I've been to either, but I remember Parc Asterix being better than Disneyland. Then again, I did love Asterix and Obelix as a kid. It's only a short drive (20 miles according to Wikipedia) from Disneyland, so worth a visit one day while you're there.
 
Steedie said:
Ah ok :) thanks for that. Sounds fairly simple.

The toll roads confuse me, Google Maps seems to show different costs along the same route yet websites seem to suggest it's around 20 euros if you took the suggested route which is the A4. However, Google Maps suggests the A26/A1 route which is apparently cheaper too. No idea what to believe :D
Click to expand...

It's been a while so I don't remember the cost, but try http://www.viamichelin.com/ - horrible interface but it gave me the right price...
 
Cheers guys. Much appreciated

Looks like I'll drive! Just seen that getting to Calais via the ferry is £70 return, so even cheaper still, would be silly not too
 
Ferry is cheaper, but if you happen to have clubcard vouchers lying around you can use them for 3x value at eurotunnel - so normally £30 vouchers will cover the full cost of a trip < 5 days.
 
It depends if you like going on big driving holidays. Personally I love it. Others would prefer to relax on a train and not worry.

I have to say I do like the Eurostar - but I can get to St Pancras more easily and cheaply than you. And the Eurostar costs me hardly a thing.

however that said, is that £100 worth, to you, the relaxation of being on a train and not having to drive or would you prefer to be in control? What would that £100 saving offer you?

What about a ferry?

PS Can't believe you've never driven abroad! :eek:
 
I do like the idea of driving, just because I don't have to rely on public transport not being late or as someone mentioned earlier, dragging luggage around a busy tube to get to St Pancras. And also this way, it means I can leave much earlier and get there early on the first day so we have a full day. Rather than with the Eurostar, earliest we get there is 1 in the afternoon.

Plus I quite like the idea of driving abroad, seems like something I should have done by now

Plus providing my car is fixed and not driving me insane by then, it would be a good road trip to do in it
 
I can't stop posting in this thread, but don't forget there is some stuff you need to buy to drive legally in france -

headlamp adapter,
gb sticker,
breathalyser,
warning triangle,
safety jackets.

I have known people to buy a kit of the last three from a shop like halfords and then just return it to the shop when they get home. Although it's never a bad thing to have a warning triangle and hi-vis jacket in the car anyway. And also it's illegal to have a gps telling you about speed cameras

Also need to check that your car insurance covers you to drive abroad - most policies include at least the minimum level of insurance for driving in europe.

And consider whether you want breakdown cover!
 
Ah headlamp adapters, those ugly things. Will sort those

I have the EU/GB logo on my number plate so I take it I don't need a sticker as well. Will look at those kits for the last three then, didn't realise you need your own breathalyser, why is that?

Come to think of it, I have a high vis jacket and warning trangle in the boot

Insurance and breakdown cover are sorted :)

Cheers for the reminders though!
 
If you have GB on the plate you're fine though I never bothered with it anyway.

You don't actually need the breathalyser - they dropped that law.
 
You may not need the headlight adapters either depending on your car, I just point my beams to the ground :D Although not sure of the legalities haha
 
Freefaller said:
If you have GB on the plate you're fine though I never bothered with it anyway.

You don't actually need the breathalyser - they dropped that law.
Click to expand...

I was just wondering about that, as I'd never heard of that before, certainly sends out the wrong message!
 
olivercamos said:
It's something bizarre like its 'still law' but there is no legislation for fining.
Click to expand...

Pretty much. The law still stands but the implementation of the fine (Euro 11) has been deferred indefinitely.

[edit] I should note that I have tried explaining that to French plod in the past and now always carry a breathalyser or two.
 
What were flight prices like? Travel once you're in France is very cheap. The Drive would probably be easier, and possibly cheaper. Ferry would be cheapest option. The positives about the eurostar is that it is very quick from st pancreas - around 2 hours, but then the costs do start to add up.
 
St Pancras!!

The problem for Steedie is getting to London from where he lives and having to change trains and lug his cases around town (which isn't that big a problem, but is also more stressful than shoving it in your boot).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom