Super early but I'm starting the planning for my 8th trip to DLRP, this would be my 4th with my girlfriend.
So the plan is 6 days/5 nights from 30th November - 5th December staying at either Hotel New York or The Disneyland Hotel. Im trying to decide weather the extra £600+ it is to stay at The Disneyland Hotel is worth it.. maybe someone could advise. (My girlfriend really wants to stay at The Disneyland Hotel)
We went last December and it was the best trip iv ever had to DLRP with the Christmas season, I loved that it got dark earlier and call me crazy but I loved that it was cold and had to wrap up.
So anyway.. more plans..
Going to try to Euro Star this time, last time we flew from Newcastle TO CDG and although quicker then getting the coach it took ages with the check in and getting though customs and getting bag then the airport transfer so going to try Euro Star.
The Plan is,
- Train to London Kings Cross on Sat 29th
- Spend a day in London and stay at B&B
- Get the Eurostar to DLRP on Sunday 30th
- 5 nights at DLRP either Hotel New York or Disneyland Hotel
- Eurostar to London on Fri 5th
- Train Home from London Kings Cross
As for booking, I'll probably book the Eurostar separately as when I priced it up its an extra £100 to book though Disney. But not sure when to book the hotel/park at the moment there is super early booking with 2days/2nights free which ends at the end of April, however last time I booked I got the same offer when I booked in July. Plus I can't afford it yet. But heard if you ring to book you can just pay a deposit.
(only this I don't really like about booking this early is not knowing about ride closures but never mind)
Anyway thats the plans, sorry for the essay, but let me know what you think.
Matt.
Take the 2/2 free offer, it's one of the best.
Book through disneyholidays.co.uk and you can do deposit only :)
Quote from: Trekkie101 on March 20, 2014, 01:00:57 PM
Take the 2/2 free offer, it's one of the best.
Book through disneyholidays.co.uk and you can do deposit only :)
Ok thanks, Ill check it out!
If you book through a normal travel agents you should get the current offer too and that way only pay a deposit (that's what I've done before). But also think that may be the case with telephone booking direct with Disney as you've said. I agree the 2/2 deal tends to be the best around.
As for the extra money for DLH, it's a hard one. I've stayed twice but my last 2 visits haven't justified it so stayed at HNY. Advantages are the convenience of being on the doorstep, we were back in our room before most people had got out the gates after dreams in the evening. breakfast is nicer, not by much but pancakes (which I loved) and table service for drinks and not having to have a set breakfast time.
If you're looking to stay 5 nights but the 2/2 deal is obviously 4 nights, could you not price up staying your 1st or last night in the pink hotel and the other nights in HNY? just a thoughts, I've read about other people on here staying in 2 different hotels in one trip.
I had a similar conundrum when I booked our June trip. It was hard to justify what is essentially £100 per night more, so I stuck with HNY. As you're going just as a couple, they HNY will be very suitable - nice restaurant and bar plus you might get a view of the lake. Having said that, I've never stayed in DLH and some people say they'd never stay anywhere else. In winter, I'd have thought the Sequoia Lodge would be ideal though?
Thanks for the comments guys, loads of food for thought!
We stayed at the Sequoia lodge last time, it was really nice but just though we should try another hotel.
By the way how do you get from the DLH to the park? Is there doors to where the ticket booths are or something?
DLH entrance is on the right hand side tower (if you were facing the hotel).
You can enter using the normal ticket gates, they're about 30m from the hotel doors.
I've stayed in both the HNY and DLH. The DLH is an experience and its fabulous when your there but isn't worth a ton more in my experience. I found cost/comfort level to favour the Sequoia. NPB could be in with a shout but its being refurbished.
Having stayed at the DLH, I agree that it's a superb hotel and not to far from the park on those cold December days, But the £600 difference is a lot of spending money that you'd already have.
I would choose the NYH only because I have yet to try it ;D and have the difference towards my spending money
We are going the exact same dates as you! I cant wait to see DLP all dressed for Christmas! Because we have 2 youngsters (and staying in 1 room is difficult) we are staying at Davy Crochet Ranch this time. Would love to stay in the DLH one day!
Hi we are going at the same time too. We are in the newport bay.
As it is not your first visit I agree with Haribosmum and would book the new York for 3/4 nights and the pink hotel for 1/2 and then you would be an expert as to where to stay on your next trip! I love the New York and cannot justify the extra cost for the pinkie, although you certainly do feel smug enjoying a drink after Dreams whilst there are still people streaming out of the park!
Wherever you stay, have a great visit, Christmas is my second favourite season (after Halloween) but maybe that will change after my visit for this years Spring Festival!
Quote from: captain rocket on March 21, 2014, 09:02:48 AM
As it is not your first visit I agree with Haribosmum and would book the new York for 3/4 nights and the pink hotel for 1/2 and then you would be an expert as to where to stay on your next trip! I love the New York and cannot justify the extra cost for the pinkie, although you certainly do feel smug enjoying a drink after Dreams whilst there are still people streaming out of the park!
Wherever you stay, have a great visit, Christmas is my second favourite season (after Halloween) but maybe that will change after my visit for this years Spring Festival!
When are you visiting for the Spring Festival?
Hi grovesie, I will be there 02/04 April so will miss the opening day but am assuming that there will be a soft opening of the "performance" on the Friday and all the other bits and pieces will probably be in situ during my stay. If it all proves impossible, will revisit for a one night stay to get my photographs and if it works out may also be able to catch the opening of Ratatouille at the same time! I am assuming that there will be a passholder or shareholders preview before the official opening! If not, my next booked visit will be at the end of July, It's my best friends birthday and we usually get a few days at the park then, find it swelterringly hot, and determine never to visit at that time of year again. Then the next year..... well you can guess!
As we are both getting old, we are planning our swansong visit to Disney America, but are currently in dispute of wether to go to Orlando or California! We may even end up doing the two in one holiday which would be awesome to revisit both parks in one visit!
Cheers for the input guys.
I think I'll probably go for the Disneyland Hotel, I always thought how awesome it would be staying there every time I walk under so might as well do it sooner rather then later!
I will maybe try the Hotel New York next time, and maybe Newport Bay the time after, I don't really fancy the Santa Fe or The Cheyenne, I would imagine they would be very manic (could be wrong though)
I am looking forward to cooked breakfast too, I thought that was the only thing missing from the sequoia lodge.
Anyway I think ill book at the end of the month and put a deposit down when I get paid.
Eurostar, + 5nights/6days at Disneyland Hotel from 30th November can't wait :)
It'll be spectacular ;)
The pool is by far the best in DLH :)
Just a little update..
I have now booked for me and my girlfriend!
Sunday 30th November - Friday 5th December (5nights/6days) at The Disneyland Hotel
+ Eurostar Standard Premier both ways
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g130/matty_aygo/d422fffb-da9c-4c80-b759-59e53e3b03de_zps218349d3.jpg)
Now the waiting begins!
I've stayed in DLH last may and last nov HNY and for this coming nov we have decided the DLH wins over HNY. The location with the risk of cold weather wins it over for us, the price difference when we booked was £500 and I totally think its worth it. Especially as we have a 3 year old that gets very grumpy and easily tired legs.
Just to throw a completely different angle in there for you, why don't you try the last week in November rather than the first week in December? We did this last year and the park was wonderfully quiet, pretty much all the rides were walk-on but there were still enough people in the park to provide a good atmosphere. The major bonus (maybe it will be the same this year) the cost, it was hundreds of pounds cheaper to go the last week of November than the first week of December and all the Christmas things are up and running then as well plus we had lovely weather for the week, it was warm and sunny and no rain at all! We also stayed in the Sequoia Lodge last time in the Golden Forest Club but our next stay will hopefully be the Disneyland Hotel.
We did the first week of December last year and it was really quiet then all the rides were walk ons pretty much so just decided to do the same again this year.
Something just feels slightly wrong with seeing Christmas decorations in November.
Hmmm, see I've been having this debate with my husband about next year's trip. I want to go 'for Christmas' but suggested November as quieter / cheaper, and my husband said 'but November isn't Christmas'.... ::)
My counter-argument however is that when we went at the beginning of October last year the huge Disney store in the Village had a Christmas tree in the window with Cinderella decorations on. That's good enough for me! ;D
I plan my Christmas trips at DLP for the last week in November so that the day after we return is usually the 1st December and that's when I put up our Christmas tree and I'm in a lovely Christmassy mood after returning home!