Help no idea where to start

[shrek1609]

Hi everyone

Am very used to booking and planning WDW but DLP is a complete new thing for me.

Daughter and bf want to go to DLP in March, I want to surprise them by booking (and paying) for this for them.

They’ve both been amazing this last year through my diagnosis, months in hospital and chemo.

Anyway some advice.

I’m gathering that booking through Disney May be the way to go.
Is that the only way to get the free dining?
Is the dining similar to dining plan at WDW?
What anout transferring from the airport to the hotels?

Daughters bf is still at uni so a mature student and obviously free dining (even on half board) would be a huge help.

Any hints/tips/advice much appreciated

[Guest]

You don't have to book direct in order to get a free dining plan, but you do need to stay onsite.

The dining plans are quite different from WDW, if you go for a free dining deal the 'level' of the plan will depend on which hotel they stay at (the higher the category of hotel, the higher the category of dining). Did you/they have any hotels in mind?

In terms of getting the best price, do some shopping around - check DLP official site, Walt Disney Travel Company and Magic Breaks. Play around with dates and see which works out best for you - they should all currently have an 'up to' 25% off + free half board offer on for next March, but prices and availability will differ so check them all. This price grid is a good starting point for prices:

media.disneylandparis/d4...752-179440.pdf

Generally it is cheaper to book your travel sperately from your DLP hotel. If they are flying them transfers from CDG airport include the Magic Shuttle bus (€20pp each way) - you might want to consider a private or shared shuttle instead, it will be a little more but often quicker and easier. RS Transports gets positive feedback.

Hope that all helps, feel free to ask away if more questions crop up!

[kk20]

Depending on your appetite for planning, different disney sites in Europe have different prices and offers too. The italian site had kids under 12 stay free for our dates whereas the uk and german sites had different percentage discounts with half board.

[Elodie]

Originally Posted by shrek1609

Is the dining similar to dining plan at WDW?

Daughters bf is still at uni so a mature student and obviously free dining (even on half board) would be a huge help.

See more...

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the WDW dining plan, but I think I can explain a few differences between the two. As above, free dining is linked to your hotel level, so Cheyenne & Santa Fe get you Standard half board, Sequoia Lodge and Newport Bay get your Plus level, and the DLH gets you Premium level. If you’re paying for the plan (which can still work out at good value with a decent alternative offer on your package), then you can choose your level to match the restaurants you want to eat in.

Rather than having credits to use for either snacks, quick service meals or table service, you have credits for two meals a day - breakfast and a main meal (or three meals for full board, but most people don’t need / want that.) No snacks - DLP did away with snack credits a couple of years ago. We find that two buffet meals is plenty to keep us going all day, with maybe a little snack brought from home, eg a cereal bar, in between.

Breakfast - usually in your hotel, but premium dining includes the character breakfast in Plaza Gardens. You can pay to upgrade to this breakfast from the other dining plans.

Main meal - you get one per night of your stay, and the credits are valid for the entire stay, so if you’re staying for four nights / five days, you can choose which four days to use them on. Standard generally gets you a meal and drink at any standard buffet (includes starters, mains and desserts). Plus gets you the same, and also the plus level buffet / table service restaurants. Premium gets you any of the above, plus premium buffet / table service. There’s a list of which restaurants are included at each level on here:

disneyholidays/disn...ay/meal-plans/

If you get the standard meal plan and they decide to use the credits towards higher level meals, they won’t get the drink included. If they use plus or premium credits towards a lower level meal, it’s not great value, but it does still include a drink.

[Sarryb]

Just to add to the above post, you can't buy 'down' a level. So if you stay in a 'standard' hotel, you can purchase any dining plan you'd like, but staying at DLH would mean you had to purchase Premium if paying for a plan. I assume it's due to the hotel breakfast, you get different items at different levels.

So if you stay at Santa Fe and buy premium, you still only get Santa Fe breakfast, though you can book one Plaza Gardens character breakfast to be included on the plan. X