We just got back from a lovely time in Disneyland and I wanted to share our experience with you all to make your holidays a little easier, in any way I can.
I've headed each topic separately to make it easier to find what you're looking for, but some topics do overlap so if you're interested, stay and read through :)
Magic Breaks
We booked with MB because it was the cheapest option for the dates we wanted. Always shp around. We paid £1300 for 5 of us to stay for 5 days in Davy Crockett Ranch from Boxing Day 26th Dec - 30th Dec, not including any meals or transport.
You pay a 10% deposit to secure the booking then the remaining balance 60 days before you leave. All the documents are emailed to you 2 weeks before you go - print them all out, but get your own driving directions as theirs are very simplistic.
Driving to / in France
For us, it took 5 hours to get to Folkstone for the euro tunnel. We stopped once on the way but we didn't stop on the way back. The shorter leg of the journey was Calais to DCR, which took just short of 3 hours.
When driving in France, there are certain requirements - high vis jackets, breathalisers, high beam stickers, etc. You can purchase a whole France driving kit from Amazon or eBay for £20 max, which is what we did. We didn't need any of it so will be selling it on now, but it's a legal requirement so best to get one.
Driving is backwards in France - drive on the right, overtake on the left, and at roundabouts, give way to the right and drive around it to the right. They're big fans on undertaking foreign drivers we learned, but this was good because we found with their roads that the far right lane (slow lane) was either always full of lorries, or always turned into the next slip road or exit, so it was best to stay in the middle lane where possible. [Edit: I have received a bit of negativity around my choice to do this. However it was what I found safest with the uncertainty of the roads. Next time however I would know to expect this and most probably try not to have to stay in the middle lane.]
Take a Sat Nav! I pad £1.99 a day on O2 for the O2 travel bolt-on, so I could use my phone's sat nav in the car. We'd never have gotten there without it! There are three different routes you can take - we took the A26 to A4 route on the way to Disney, and the A26 to A1 route on the way home. The weather on the way home was appauling - so much fog, we had maybe 5m max visibility so we lowered our speed. Both ways were just as easy as each other. There are toll booths on the way, at the first one you get the ticket, and at the second one (a good couple of hours later) you put the ticket in and pay it. It was 21 euros both ways.
Euro Tunnel
We booked this two weeks before we went. I was absolutely gutted - it turns out you can cash in your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for euro tunnel tickets, which I did (it covered the entire cost of £150!) but the euro tunnel wouldnt let me use them as I was booking within the next 14 days. I was so angry, this would have saved us £150, so if you have clubcard points to spend, get exchanging them online soon!
The tunnel is so easy to use, follow the signs and wait for your turn, follow more signs then board when ready.
Leave the car in 1st gear with the windows halfway down and enjoy the 35 minute ride!
You'll get a confirmation email when you book. All you need handy when there are passports and your booking number that you'll type into a machine.
On the way home, we got to Calais at 1pm, with tickets for a 5.30pm train. We asked to get an earlier one and were on board the 1.40pm, so always ask if you're early! They accomodate you automatically 2 hours each way.
Davy Crockett Ranch
The cabins are lovely and warm, lovely thick bedding which was needed in this freezing winter weather!
The cabins have small towels but definitely bring your own, as well as toilet roll as you'll have to buy more otherwise. You can get a cleaning pack from the reception for free.
The cabins have a microwave,
Our TV didn't work and took 3 days to be fixed, so if you have little ones I would bring an iPad or something as this kept ours entertaine
The drive to Disney is easy and signposted
The pool at DCR is freezing - as a swim teacher I hoped they'd know more about air temperatur
On site, there is a shop, evening restaurant, saloon bar, pool and reception which is open 24 hours, as well as public toilets, a play park and wooded walk area. It was too cold to use most of it for us, but the shop was handy for milk and extras.
For 9 euros each, you can have a breakfast bag delivered to the trading post by your cabins in the morning to collect from 7am. It has nutella, jam, milk, coffee, tea, croissants, etc. We didn't, we just bought our own from the supermarket instead.
If you're staying in a Disney Hotel / DCR, you can use magic hours! The
park usually opens at 9am, sometimes 10am, and you get either one or two
magic hours from 8am where the park is just open to hotel guests. This
means there are no queues, and you can pretty much do 2/4 rides before
everyone else piles in!
Budgeting
Disney is as expensive as you make it. Magic Breaks gave us two vouchers, neither of which we used, as the prices were fine without the discount (and I forgot to bring it!). Eating anywhere is going to be more expensive that it should be, but there are cheaper options (see eating and drinking).
It took us a tank and a half to drive to Disney from Devon - thats £78 there, and the same back again with enough to drive to the park and back in between and have a quarter tank left when we got home.
The euro tunnel shops are expensive so try and take food in the car before you leave. We paid 22 euros for two Starbucks hot chocolates and two breakfast muffins, and a biscotti biscuit!!
Val D'Europe
Again, use a Sat Nav. It took us around the back, but the front is clearly obvious - there are two arrows on a blue sign next to the huge VDE sign. The car park is a nightmare and I ended up going out and in a few times as the signage is poor. It's super busy. The supermarket part is on the ground floor so just go down the escalators and you'll see it in the middle of the building - it's huge!
They have pregnancy and disability queues which I tried to use but didnt have a 'card' so wasn't allowed to, which was a shame as being pregnant, I couldn't stand to pack!
Easy Access Queuing
If you're disabled or pregnant, you are eligible for an easy access pass. Some people call them green passes and pink passes, but they're all orange and all the same!
The pass allows you and 4 helpers to access rides without queuing - the CM will give you a time to return (like fast pass) and you just come back.
Rides
Fast pass is your friend! Get one for bigger rides, then go do a shorter one whilst you wait. Make the most of single rider queues too, when available!
Fast passes for Peter Pan and Crush's Coaster went quickly so grab those early!
If you're staying in a Disney Hotel / DCR, you can use magic hours! The park usually opens at 9am, sometimes 10am, and you get either one or two magic hours from 8am where the park is just open to hotel guests. This means there are no queues, and you can pretty much do 2/4 rides before everyone else piles in!
Eating and Drinking
Like I said, we had a kitchen. We bought food at VDE and cooked it at home. This was so cosy, and much nicer (and cheaper!) than eating out every day. We'd take rolls for lunch that we had made, and in the evenings we cooked soup, pasta, etc.
At lunchtime on two days, we did decide to eat in the park. Once in the cafe next to the Mad Hatter's Maze, and the second time in the Earl of Sandwich in the Disney Village. This second place was amazing, sandwiches were great, and good value for money. Also lots of seating unlike elsewhere.
We did wish that there were areas to eat your own food - you can't get a table in the Studios unless you're carrying a tray of food - the areas are guarded by women with ropes not allowing you past (same in the big food hall behind space mountain).
Any questions, please ask!
