DisneyDan
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Posts: 1768
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So I was asked about local hotels for staying at/near DLP.
DLP's onsite hotels are notoriously expensive, even with AP/Shareholder discounts and/or the "save 40%" offers that they frequently do.
In fact, one night at DLP can quite often pay for 3 nights or more at a local area hotel!
The biggest problem that people who chose to do this face, is, where do you stay? Where is "safe"?
Well, Jon and I are somewhat experts on that now lol, so I have a few to share.
We have frequently stayed at the Premiere Classe in Bussy-St-Georges. We also know that the Campanile which is attached to it is good too.
Link to the Premiere Classe here:
http://www.premiere-classe-marne-la-vallee-bussy-saint-georges.fr/en/index.aspx?__utma=1.1422327594.1342037831.1342037831.1342037899.2&__utmb=1.1.10.1342037899&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1342037899.2.2.utmcsr=www.google.com|utmccn=(organic)|utmcmd=organic|utmctr=(not%20provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=196910508
We have also stayed at the e-Tap hotel in Val d'Europe, and liked that too. Link here:
http://www.etaphotel.com/gb/hotel-5047-ibis-budget-marne-la-vallee-val-d-europe-ex-etap-hotel/index.shtml
As with all European (especially French) hotels, do not expect anything wonderful. The two I have mentioned are what Jon and I consider clean, safe, functional and reasonably priced for the amount of time we actually spend there (which is usually very little!)
A word of warning for anyone doing Expedia searched - AVOID anything in the town of Torcy. Torcy is the pits!!
Anyone else have any suggestions?
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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Frollo
Posts: 1560
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I couldn't imagine staying away from the park hotels. This is a real must for our trips! However, if we went as many times as you guys then maybe we would consider it!!
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Follow me on twitter to see my character pictures and for live tweets from our trips to Disneyland Paris!
Next Trip - October 2013
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Rune
Posts: 403
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OMG Dan, you are a STAR! 
Thank you so much for this info, I'd trawled all over Trip Advisor and neither of these hotels came up at all so this is wonderful news!
The Ibis next to the Etap (or maybe it changed hands, it's kind of confusing) looks great too and is so much more affordable than staying at a resort hotel, and with it being only a single stop on the RER looks, it like we might just be able to get ourselves over there in the not too distant future.
Hopefully if it all works out well, this means we should then hopefully be able to visit a couple of times a year for 1 or 2 days from next year on.
Thanks again!
*is very happy & excited*
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BTW, how do you guys get over there? EuroStar & train / EuroTunnel & drive / fly out & train? [/nosy] =P
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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No problem Rune! Glad to be of service! 
Sorry for the late reply by the way! >< Been busy!
The e-Tap that I linked to is definitely worth it. It is LITERALLY next DOOR to the train station. You cannot be any closer! Lol! So if you're looking for convenience, you have it right there! Not only that, remember that Val D has a big mall and outlet centre which are good to visit for supplies and a break away from the parks.
We travel to the parks in a variety of ways lol. I have drove, numerous times.
Mainly though we get the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet International in Kent to Paris, then the RER from Paris to DLP.
There is a direct service to DLP from London, Ebbsfleet and Ashford, but the times aren't great and they are like twice the price!!
We are pretty much experts on all this, so any questions, just ask!
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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Rune
Posts: 403
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Ohhh I owe you big time now, Dan! Thanks to all this information of yours, we've been able to afford to book a couple of nights away in Val d'Europe in early September.
We've booked the Eurostar St Pancras to DLP (non-direct via Lille) so, do you happen to know if the train stops at Marne la Vallee before going onto the last stop and DLP. It's not a big deal if we do have to go on to the end of the line and then come back, but I just wondered if you had any ideas as it would mean we could get checking in at the hotel out of the way and then just get the RER one stop back to begin the Disney fun.
NO hurry to reply to this, I know you're off to DL the day after tomorrow and I can definitely wait for an answer. =D
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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Hi Rune!
OMG I'm excited for you! I am happy that our tips have helped you have some extra Disney Magic!! Wow!! 
I just hope you like the hotel, and don't curse me afterwards hahaha :P Everyone has different standards I know, but hopefully for such a short trip you'll be fine
So, when you say about the train stopping at Marne la Vallee before going to DLP... what do you mean exactly? Marne la Vallee IS DLP 
The hotel is at the Val d'Europe stop. Is this what you mean?
If you are taking the SNCF from Lille, then no, the SNCF only has a few stops, and they are only in a few major places. The one before DLP is the Airport.
You can leave your luggage at Guest Relations at the park but yo have to pay. I think it's about 10 euros per piece of luggage? I'm not sure exactly as we don't pay because we have AP Dreams
But if you're only going for a few day, you probably won't have too much luggage anyway, right? Maybe it'd be worth checking it in. Means more time ni the park upon arrival!!
Also regarding arriving at the hotel. When you get off the train you want to exit at the back exit, not the main one that goes into the main town. The secondary exit only has like one destination on it... something Rue de la ? then I can't remember the rest lol.
Hope all that helps! I still can't believe we got you to be able to go on a trip through our help! yay!
If you need anything else, just ask!!
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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Rune
Posts: 403
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I still can't believe we got you to be able to go on a trip through our help!  yay!
I know!!! Isn't it great? No way could we do this if we were staying on Disney property!
That aside, whoops! I was in such a hyper state last night that I got myself completely in a tizz with stations, lol!
So yes, we get Eurostar to Lille, and then the SNCF down to Marne la Vallee and *then* we need to get back to Val d'Europe for the hotel. And I'm sure it will be fine for us, I'm not going to come and bawl you out ... honest! ^_~ Also if there are 2 exits to the station then fate decrees that I'll take the wrong one!
We'll be getting to Marne la Vallee around noon and so since we can check in from 12, I think we'll probably drop our small amount of luggage ('small amount' of luggage and 2 women takes some doing but we're going to try) back at the hotel which I'm guessing is where we need to get the RER A line back one stop . *head spins* This'll also depend also on the park's closing time, I'm not sure what the September park hours are yet, but if it shuts early we may use the lockers. Heheh, plenty of time to get myself in a panicking logistical fizz by then. We have 2 nights at the hotel so we should have at least a half day on arrival, all of the second, and then most of the third day in the park before we get the train back again.
Thanks for all the travel tips again, if I think of anything else (and we both know I will, right?) then I'll be sure to ask.
But enough about my trip, right now it's your turn so go, go, go and enjoy DL! Happy holidays! =D
edited by Rune on 7/24/2012
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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Lol. Rune you make me laugh :P
It is easy. No need to panic
As for the park hours, they are up on the DLP website right now, and if you're going at the start of September, I think you'll find you're in for a pleasant surprise! I'll let you go discover that one for yourself hehe...
Anyway, much to do... off to Maryland very shortly to stay over near the airport for the flight in the morning!
See y'all on the other side!
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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Rune
Posts: 403
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*waves hand*
I have another question! =D
Trains again! We're going to arrive at Marne la Vallee around midday and have decided to check in to the hotel first & dump the bags which means we need to get the short train ride back to Val d'Europe (note I checked I got the station names right this time.)
So what's the most economical way to do this journey, considering we'll then have to do a back to DLP then back to hotel that same day, (meaning Marne to Val / Val to Marne / Marne to Val again.) Day two is just there and back again (Val to Marne / Marne to Val), & Day 3 is just one way to DLP for the third & final day (I'm hoping as an AP holder by then I can leave bags @ Guest Services before getting Eurostar home) .
Is there such a thing as a return ticket or a strip of tickets or is it all on an 'every single journey is paid for separately. Also how much does it cost (approximately.) When I want to go back to DLP after dropping the bags off on day 1, can I purchase a ticket back at the same time or do I have to buy it later that evening.
Um, did that even make sense? Hope so. As always any advice much appreciated. ^^
edited by Rune on 8/11/2012
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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You can buy as many tickets as you need for that day in one shot. The exit nearest the hotel is unfortunately not the main ticket office end of the station. There are ticket machines, but you normally need the correct change. Though, the advantage is that they have English language selection
So to answer your question more accurately, you can buy as many tickets as you need in the morning. Chance your luck with a machine, or walk all the way round to the front of the station and speak to someone at the window lol (they normally ok with basic English involving ticket sales).
To avoid confusion about returns and multitrips etc, all you need to tell them is how many tickets you need to your destination.
So, when you arrive at MLV-C station, and travel to Val D, that's one journey. Val D to DLP is two. DLP back to Val D that night is three. So for two of you on your first day, six tickets should cover it
The tickets also normally work the following day in the event you want to buy the following day's too, but I wouldn't like to guarantee that lol (all I can say is that they have worked for us before!).
Hope all that makes sense!
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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Oh, and one more thing :P
Yes as an AP Dream holder, you can use the Guest Storage to the right of the Park Entrance, for free. You can take things out and put things in at your leisure, too. So long as you're not there constantly lol (to go back and put shopping in you case or to get your jacket is fine for example).
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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Rune
Posts: 403
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Dan, thank you so much for all of that info. Best customer service ever!!! ^_~
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DisneyDan
Administrator
Posts: 1768
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No problem glad to be of help
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Check the Character Central Blog for all the latest news and rumours!
Dan.
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