DLP Info: Transport Information

[BevS97]

Let's compile all the information on how to get to Paris into one thread.

[BevS97]

I'll start.
Flights
We flew Air France (http://www.airfrance.com/) from Newcastle. We flew Air France because the flight times were good, so we got longer in the park.
EasyJet (http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/index.asp)are another option from Newcastle (and other places)

From CDG Airport there are 3 options to get to Disneyland Paris.
VEA Shuttle
VEA Shuttle (http://www.vea.fr/uk/index.asp)
Adult rate: 14 € per trip
For adults and children 12 and over

Child rate: 11,5 € per trip
For children 3 to 11 included

Free for children under 3

This is the easiest option, and used by most people. It takes quite a long time as it picks up from 5 points at the airport and drops off at 10 hotels, but it will get you there.

Pre Book a Car This is probably the best option, but it's hard to know who to call or what's the best deal.
I've found some websites but I haven't used them. I'd love to get some reviews. This one http://www.shuttair.com charges 76 Euros for upto 4 people.

Get a taxi on the rankAgain it's easy, and quick but I was worried about how much I would be charged. I would prefer a fixed rate price before I got in the car.
For our return journey, we booked a taxi through the hotel and were quoted a fixed rate of 70 Euros.

TGV Train The TGV runs from CDG Terminal 2 to the Station at Disneyland Paris (Marne-la-Vallée / Chessy Parcs Disneyland).
This apparantly only takes 10 minutes, and is about the same prices as the shuttle.
You can check the schedule here (http://www.voyages-sncf.com/dynamic/_SvHomePage?_DLG=SvHomePage&_CMD=cmdHomepageUK&WB=HP)
I was very tempted by this option but would like more information on where to go and exactly what tickets to buy. As a non-French speaking person, I was a little intimidated at the thought of taking the train, but I would like to investigate it further, as 10 - 15 minutes transfer time is superb.

[stace]

For prices and times of the VEA shuttle see website www.vea.fr

We flew easyjet to get the best prices book well in advance, I find easyjet the best over everyone because the flight times are always brilliant and the price. We get the early flight at around 8am from Liverpool and get the late plane home at around 10pm.

Last year when I went on my first holiday with my friend (no hubby or dad) and the kids, we were both pregnant, and so lucky. As soon as we got off the plane we got all our luggage and prams straight away and got out the airport and got a private taxi straight away and we were in the hotel for about 11am paris time.

Who needs men??

[isanda]

We have used BA from Manchester and we are using Jet2.com from Leeds in January. Jet2 flight times are much more reasonable for us with Jet2 as they are lunch-time, afternoon flights and with young kids we find this better than some of the Easyjet flight times which tend to be very early or very late.

[dis]

We have travelled with air france and easyjet from Newcastle to dlp in the past and both have pros and cons. Air France times were better but more expensive. The service we got on AF was no where near as good as Easyjet. We find the terminal that Easyjet use (Terminal 3) much nicer than Terminal 2 that AF use. T3 is much nicer, especially with children. We have found no probs with VEA shuttle, but have heard of some peope who almost missed their flight because the bus was too full when it got to their hotel. Hope this helps.

[Jen84]

Eurostar is a superb way of getting there. You can get on at either Waterloo or Ashford. If it's a direct train then from Ashford it's simply a two hour ride and you arrive at the park. Furthermore you take your luggage to be checked in in the station where they give you your tickets and they deliver the luggage straight to your room so you can get right into the park without wasting any time.
The train ride itself is very pleasant, very clean and quite a bit of space even for my 6 ft 4 inch partner.
Price wise it isn't too bad and if you collect air miles it's possible to use them in conjunction with the Eurostar which is a definite bonus.
All in all hassle free and a fast way of getting to the fun.

[dcmax]

The TGV terminal is inside the airport, all the staff speak english and if they dont fingers and a picture of mickey mouse do the trick... you then sit upstairs in the cafe area and wait for the board and platform number to come up..usually the train will be going to avignon or lyon as its final destination.. when you get on the train dont bother with a seat as your on for 10mins...

Have always used air france... It gets you to the right terminal for the TGV and manchester is nearer for us than easyjet, I never have any luck with easyjet I must be doing something wrong, it always ends up being more expensive than the major carriers..

The big prob with the shuttle bus is it cant actually carry as many people as are often waiting for it..and It often gets stuck in traffic..

[AndyJ]

A repeat of what I put on the "DLP info thread"...

From my diary:

"But out of the airport the real fun began.

People on the continent in general have no concept of a queue, and the bus to the resort was a fine example. Soon as the bus arrived, the people at the back of the queue jumped at the door of the coach. Seeing this, the driver shut the door quickly and counted up the number of people altogether. Enough to fit on, he realised, and started loading the luggage, and when done opened the door and started checking tickets or collecting fairs.

But oh no, nothing is as simple here. Some new people came along, loaded their luggage on and dived into the queue as close to the front as others would allow. By now I was using my tripod as a plow seeing as mum and I were in the first 10 in the queue from the now 80 odd people attempting to get on a 46 seater bus.

Chaos, and very cramped conditions. It was like a bus in India, and I am sure if allowed some of the people present would have climbed on the roof. "

[happytraveller]

Does anyone know how i could get to DLP from Lille?The reason i ask, is because i've got enough Tesco points for for me and the kids to get Eurostar seats to lille(they won't allow DLP).So i thought we could change from here, as i'm sure the indirect trains change here.Also how long would it take from Lille-thanks.

[dcmax]

Easy book the TGV from Lille onwards or in fact you could re book the eurostar leg for lille to dlp seperately...

[happytraveller]

Thanks Dan,any idea how long the trip is?

[BevS97]

Andy, that is very similiar to our bus experience - the driver did his best to make people form a queue but it was a scrum, and I have to say it was all English people who were waiting.
That, and the lengthy dropoff means we don't want to take the bus again, I think we might be brave and try the TGV next time - I don't know why I am so scared off it, I am normally quite brave about travelling, but for some reason that has me quite nervous.

[AndyJ]

Bev

I was just amazed at how the end of the queue all rushed the door once the coach arrive.

I'm quiet queue smart, but this one got the best of me. Next time I will take a taxi, or be much more aggresive than I was this time.

Which is a sad statement.

AndyJ.

[disneyangel]

:angel: As we are further north we are flying to CDG with BA from Edinburgh (although after some research I'd fly from Glasgow with Air-scotland next time- ,of course ther WILL be a next time).

So far we are planning to go on shuttle bus from airport but you're all now making me think the TGV would be a better option.

My only concern about changing terminals is that we have our DD(3) with us. How much walking will it involve ?

Angela:confused:

[dcmax]

Originally posted by BevS97
Andy, that is very similiar to our bus experience - the driver did his best to make people form a queue but it was a scrum, and I have to say it was all English people who were waiting.
That, and the lengthy dropoff means we don't want to take the bus again, I think we might be brave and try the TGV next time - I don't know why I am so scared off it, I am normally quite brave about travelling, but for some reason that has me quite nervous.

Honestly the TGV is easy and quick..once used you wont think of any other way again..

[Jen84]

Originally posted by happytraveller
Thanks Dan,any idea how long the trip is?

From Lille the Eurostar takes about an hour and half to get to Disney.

[happytraveller]

Originally posted by Bunnygrrl
From Lille the Eurostar takes about an hour and half to get to Disney.

Thanks :jump:

[ploppy]

We flew BA from Birmingham and BMI from East Midlands.
DH always insists on hiring a car ( he thinks the bus will be full of kids?? Mmmmm.... same as the parks really then!!)

Went in September and found it no problem. Went back for Christmas and got lost!!!! Traffic was awful and DH decided to overtake a big transporter just as we went past the exit we should have come off at, so I didn't see it and we ended up almost in Paris. Of course it was my fault!!
That said though, still a really good idea to have car. You can nip off to the shopping village next door and on the last day you can just pack all your stuff up first thing in the morning.

Wish we were going back this Christmas!!!

[BevS97]

How much is car hire?

We got a taxi back to the airport last time which cost 60 Euros - I guess if you can hire a car for 120 Euros then it's probably not a bad idea, not sure about driving in France though, it seemed quite manic when we were in the taxi.

[Logan]

We're going in December again. Been a number of ways, Dublin-Beauvais with Ryanair, link to centre then train out. Last time we hired a car from Beauvais. It was ok but hairy, both the French roads, drivers and came back in thick fog!

This year we are going direct from Belfast with Easyjet to CDG airport. I too was planning on using the buslink, but now having serious doubts! Trouble with TGV is that I don't think the train times suit our arrival, 4:00pm on Wed.

Other option I was thinking of was a people carrier (there are 8 of us), but this may work out too expensive. It's one thing for 2 or 3 people to fight the queue and get on the bus, but getting all 8 may be a problem.

It's a pity Disney couldn't impose their dignified, sensible queuing system from the airport onwards. Folk wait meekly, patiently and obediently in the Parks, yet outside they lose all their civilisation and act like animals.

I find the Europeans the worst. If you get a complete planeload from the one country, like Irish with RyanAir, there is no problem, everyone is very polite. I think the problem is at CDG where so many are mixing, who have different or no concepts of queuing. The English or Irish arriving on their own would probably be fine, but then some French, German, etc stir things by disregarding the queuing altogether, so everyone panics and pushes forwards.

I'm sure I will be accused of being racist or whatever, but I think the Germans and to a lesser extent the French are the worst offenders! :nonono:

[BevS97]

I can give you the number of the taxi we used, it was 70Euros one way for a 5 seater - I don't know how much a minivan would be.
It was a very scary drive though, in a bus you are somewhat obvlious to the traffic, but in the car I was petrified!

[dcmax]

The TGV runs basically every 20mins..The problem with the TGV timetable on the website to DLP is it doesnt list the Lyon, Bordeaux, Avignon trains all of which stop at DLP....and all of which can be entered using a basic ticket bought from the terminal on the station...

[AndyJ]

A Taxi to the airport from the Disneyland Hotel is around 100 Euro's, I was told by the doormen.

I waited for the bus! =)

[Logan]

Thanks Dcmax, that explains it, I thought there would be more trains.

So basically if I arrive from Belfast with Easyjet, pick up luggage and transfer terminals for TGV (is this internal and all walking, or do you get a bus link?), wait at most 20 mins for next train, I could still be at Disneyland before the bus transfer?

I take it too that I could just get tickets at the station. Is it any cheaper to get a return and what's the cost?

thanks

[dcmax]

yes you get tickets at the station in the terminal..its above the platforms and has a little cafe baguette place, its in the same terminal as where air france are based, the terminals are generally linked by that ludicrous set of escalaltors that looks like something out of a waste disposal site.. not sure if shuttles or monorail type trains connect the terminals...

[msdisneytonian]

i've been looking at various options and the TGV sounds good to me but isnt it expensive? i looked on the website and the price quoted was quite high. can you just walk up and get a ticket from the station?

we went on the bus last year and had the free-for-all you mentioned plus when we actually got on the bus lots of (foreign) people had bags on seats and refused to move them - in the end i got quite annoyed and physically picked up the bags and moved them myself.:angry: same with the buses from the hotels to the parks.

staying at the sequoia lodge for xmas 23-27th dec so i think we will prob walk it.:wink

:jump:

[Maggiemae]

When we went the TGV worked out cheaper than the shuttle bus. We flew BA from Edinburgh then caught an airport transfer/shuttle bus to the TGV station. Bought our tickets at the station and booked a return time slot for 4 days later. Helpful staff confirmed we didnt need a ticket for our 3 year old daughter as under 5s travelled free (as compared to the bus shuttle) so even bigger savings.
Hopped on the train and arrived at Marne-le-Vallee 9 minutes later.
Even mamanged to change our return booking to a later train with no problems whatsoever.

Wouldn't transfer any other way now -

Go on Bev you can do it :D

[msdisneytonian]

will go for it then - thanks :D

:jump:

[dcmax]

Honestly it makes our system look ;well....EDIT..just realised we don`t actually have a train sytem that works..

[stuartc]

looked at the tgv from cdg looks a good option but having looked at the website is says you have to pre-book... is this the case and waht if you doo book and miss your train if flight delayed ??

[dcmax]

no as i said above you dont have to pre book.. it guarantees you a seat if you pre book, a little like our own apex train reservation, but you dont need a seat there are benches next to the luggage storage areas or you can sit on the steps (most TGVs are double deckers) Simply go to the TGV office and buy for the next train... If you really cant stand for the 10mins and are worried, enter the train via the bar carriage, and sit in the bar...Why are our trains not like this..grrrr.



http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/dannyandjackie/TGVbetweenParisandBordeaux.jpg

[Logan]

Originally posted by Maggiemae
When we went the TGV worked out cheaper than the shuttle bus. We flew BA from Edinburgh then caught an airport transfer/shuttle bus to the TGV station. Bought our tickets at the station and booked a return time slot for 4 days later. Helpful staff confirmed we didnt need a ticket for our 3 year old daughter as under 5s travelled free (as compared to the bus shuttle) so even bigger savings.
Hopped on the train and arrived at Marne-le-Vallee 9 minutes later.
Even mamanged to change our return booking to a later train with no problems whatsoever.

Wouldn't transfer any other way now -

Go on Bev you can do it :D

I'm going in December and think I'll try the train, it sounds like the way to transfer to Disney. :p:

Do you have to get a shuttle bus to the TGV station or can you walk terminal to terminal? (Flying with Easyjet, which is in a different terminal to TGV I think)

Is a return cheaper than 2 singles and how much did it cost?

Are there multiple platforms and is it clear enough which one serves Disney? (eg in centre of Paris they have little Disney Ears to guide you :D )

Just don't want to end up in Lille or Paris!!

[dcmax]

Originally posted by Logan
I'm going in December and think I'll try the train, it sounds like the way to transfer to Disney. :p:

Do you have to get a shuttle bus to the TGV station or can you walk terminal to terminal? (Flying with Easyjet, which is in a different terminal to TGV I think)

Is a return cheaper than 2 singles and how much did it cost?

Are there multiple platforms and is it clear enough which one serves Disney? (eg in centre of Paris they have little Disney Ears to guide you :D )

Just don't want to end up in Lille or Paris!!

Logan, the TGV is in the same terminal as Air France. You could ring/ internet for you tickets now I think and check singles /return prices.It's very quick on the TGV only 15mins ish! The Q for the Disney bus is Packed:rolleyes: and takes ages. You get off at Marne La Vallee, they're not big on Mickey/ Disney signage either

:wink Just ask at TGV station otherwise

Jackie

[BevS97]

just adding a link to this thread about the Paris Shuttle service

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=77211

[rhondaridge]

Just wanted to add some info on getting to DLP using ferry and car.

We take the overnight ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre with LD Lines. We only live 25 mins from the ferry port so it makes sense for us. It leaves at 11pm.

They do really comfortable sleeper seats which are huge. We take sleeping bags and ear plugs and get a reasonable nights sleep. We are off the boat and on our way by 8:30am the next morning.

From Le Havre it takes about 2hrs 30 to get to DLP. We usually stop half way at a service station to pick up coffee and croissants.

We are going again during Feb half term this year and we have paid £245 for our car and 4 passengers and sleeper seats both ways. You don't really need them on the return but they are just so nice to relax in. The return journey is quicker and leaves at around 2:30 pm so you have plenty of time to get back to the port. The boat docks in Portsmouth at about 9:30pm and we are usually home by 10pm.