DLP, PortAventura or where else?

[Buzzark]

Hi all, my last post was August 2004, just after we returned from WDW for the first time and also our last holiday anywhere.
We don't really holiday much but this year I need to get away from work and only really fancy going somewhere as entertaining as WDW.

I'd go back at the drop of a hat but my wife thought it was too far and the thought of returning fills her with dread! We also moved house last year and have lots to do so money is tight.

Orlando and WDW was for me, a magical experience going beyond the Disney involvement - good quality cheap food, the Cheesecake factory (deserves a seperate mention:tounge: ), Race Rock, Kennedy space centre etc the whole thing - even hurricane Charley was thrown in to add to the memories :erm:


So, I want to go away somewhere this year, can't afford WDW but reckon I could stretch to a week at DLP (Cheyenne) or PortAventura or suggestions?
The thing that worries me, is I might be disappointed having loved WDW/Orlando so much and that would be pretty crushing!

There doesn't seem to be that much there at DLP and add to that the cost and the strange 4 night packages and I'm wondering if 4 nights sees it all?
PortAventura seems like the only other place I can think of but I don't know if it's an "experience" in the same way as Disney.
I also understand DLP isn't as organised as WDW and the queue jumping etc all detract...

I'm stuck! I'd be grateful for advice and suggestions if there's anywhere else I should be considering and any reports on whether PortAventura compares as an alternative to DLP?

[nursie]

You'll probably find that a week in DLP will cost almost as much as two weeks in Orlando. DLP is very expensive to eat and drink, especially in DTD.
You can do DLP Magic Kingdom in a day (Maybe a day and a half) and Disney studios you can do in half a day. In my opinion DLP is not a patch on WDW, dont get me wrong I'd probably go back for a quick top up of the Disney magic but it just doesnt compare. Youre right with the queue jumping at DLP, its a free for all and some of the people dont mind pushing your child out of the way (literally) to get their child to the front of the line.
We went to Port Aventura about 8 years ago and thought it was good (this was before we had been to WDW) Its probably got bigger in size since we went and they have built a water park now, I dont know if you could fill a full week though.
It sounds like you are going to have to persuade DW to get on a plane to Florida, you know its the only option. LOL
Nursie

[richard.woodyet]

Hi Buzzark, we've been to both and both were good. As you mentioned DLP has its problems, queue jumping and rude staff and guests, expensive too, but i think it seems worse than it really is because it's being compared to WDW. Imagine a nicely decorated Alton Towers. Maybe im being harsh but it just didnt have the 'atmosphere' to me.
At PortAventura however, I didnt have a comparison to make, so there was no dissapointment. Staff were nicer a bit cheaper than DLP. you also have Salou just down the road, beach, jetski's, quad bikes etc.
Both parks have great theming. Cheyenne hotel well themed too. PortAventura hotel nice but not themed.

My vote is for PortAventura, but.....
its a shorter flight to Paris!!

[Buzzark]

[QUOTE=richard.woodyet]Maybe im being harsh but it just didnt have the 'atmosphere' to me.
At PortAventura however, I didnt have a comparison to make, so there was no dissapointment. QUOTE]
Yeah, that's the worry. Having been to WDW/Orlando, have I been spoiled too much. I bet if I went to DLP first, it would be a different view.

Nursie, it makes sense but if I want to go back to WDW it's going to be a few years before I can pursuade my wife to go back - the children will have to be older for a start.:(
Despite getting home 3 days late and queueing for 8 hours to be turned away at the airport last time I wanted to book again when we arrived home - I guess we have different memories of how it went.;)

I did say we'd go somewhere in the UK next holiday but there just isn't anywhere! Centreparks is quite appealing, but that's £1000 and you can bet food is expensive and probably only average on top.:confused2
Alton Towers I priced up... eek! £1500 and those places probably don't even compare even if DLP isn't as good as WDW.

[richard.woodyet]

wdw really IS magical

Almost a whole state geared towards making your holiday the best.
It's the true meaning of being spoiled ( the good and the bad )

[Happy Hammer]

hi Buzzark i havnt been to portaventura,but i have been to DLP and on that basis i would go to spain.

[ceri]

Hi Buzzark, take a look at Europa park in Germany, we went there on a freebie with the BBC to compare it to Disney!!!! Thought we would be disappointed, but we really enjoyed it and would have liked to stay longer :)
http://www.europapark.de/index.php?lang=en
Ceri x

[susieb]

apparently there are new flights to Lahr Airport 10 mins away from Europapark starting July 07 from Man and Luton.

Do you know which airline are doing them? I cant find anything on the usual searches.

[chodwobbler]

DLP is ok if you haven't done Orlando, it would be a sad day if we had to return to Paris, weather was the same as England (crud) staff were mainly indifferent and prices were extortionate to eat and drink as it is a bit further away than the middle of nowhere! Port Aventura was a different matter altogether, good hotels less than a 10 minute drive away, weather was excellent, staff were very welcoming and helpful and restaurants were plentiful, if not as cheap as they used to be in Spain before the advent of the dreaded Euro.... If you do go, get flights to Reus as the drive from Madrid is pretty gutty. Good luck! ( P.S.The rides at the park are pretty good too, Stampida, the wooden coaster is top notch!)

[mobeckwith]

we loved portavenura,definatly go. mo.

[Buzzark]

That seems to be the theme at the moment, every review of Port Aventura has been good. DLP is 50/50 and people who have been to WDW tend to find it disappointing.

Europa Park does look interesting, but it's difficult to find a package!

[susieb]

Ive looked at EP, it seems you have to DIY. The flights are to Baden, Strasburg or Basel. You would have to hire a car and drive there and book a hotel yourself.

Having said that it does look great and the flights are really cheap.

[Mulan]

DLP is great , lots of stuff going on this year for the celebrations, and I have never met a rude a CM in all my visits, people just enjoy looking for negatives and picking holes in DLRP.

[ceri]

Ive looked at EP, it seems you have to DIY. The flights are to Baden, Strasburg or Basel. You would have to hire a car and drive there and book a hotel yourself.

Having said that it does look great and the flights are really cheap.

they do operate a shuttle system from the airport http://resort.europapark.de/index.php?id=326&lang=en the prives quoted are for up to 8 people and the driver arrives dressed in the costume of the hotel (ours was a gladiator)
and you can book hotel/ park packages direct too http://resort.europapark.de/index.php?id=448&lang=en

[susieb]

thanks ceri thats great

[crazibabe]

I'm taking my kids to portaventura in may having been to wdw I can't afford it again So had to find an alternative to suit my kids ds15 and dd 13 .We have got it at a good price a 4* hotel salauris palace 10 mins from theme park for £1100 and as my kids go as adult price it thought that was good .I am nervous about going as i'm on my own but i know I'll be ok .Somehow florida on my own wasn't as scary .

[Buzzark]

Seems a good price crazi

I think I'm favoring PortAventura as a resort, but I want to stay onsite, that's something I want to do next time we go to WDW too (yes, at some point we will be going back!).
There does look to be some good hotels quite close but having two younger children the appeal of walking 500yds from the hotel into the park and back out when you want a break fits what I want.
Unfortunately, they're fully booked when I wanted to go! - at least trying through Expedia...

Have to check for later in the year, or I might call them direct and book the flights seperately.

[Buzzark]

I'm gutted!:cry:

I decided on Port Aventura and found a deal with Thomson we could afford staying on-site in the El Paso hotel. Part way through booking the price went from £1189 to £1966 and a pop-up said that the two children were now being charged as adults!

I've been though the search several times again to make sure the ages were correct but the exact same holiday is now almost £800 dearer.:erm: :confused2

I've emailed them but don't hold out a lot of hope - they were about £200 cheaper than any other deal I could find, which are all pretty much the same price. Now for some reason, they're massively overpriced!:mad2:

[mobeckwith]

have you tried booking direct with www.portaventura.es for accomadation,then get cheap flights to reus or barcelona.when we went we found www.eclipsedirect the cheapest. mo.

[TrueBlueAngel]

We have booked El Paso at Port Aventura. We originally got a quote from First Choice then got a quote from Eclipse Holidays, which was £500 cheaper! Same package, same dates and still with First Choice (Eclipse is a sister company of First Choice). It pays to shop around.