Originally Posted By u k fan Ok, so I didn't want to derail anymore threads so here's what I found today to stay at the end of March for 2 nights for 3 adults. All prices are total (not per person) and include hotel and direct transport from London to DLP on the eurostar. We have AP's so tickets are not included. Weekend Holiday Inn £333 Newport Bay Club £484 Mid-Week HNY £410 HNY (Lake View) £444 DLH £564 I didn't check the cheaper hotels, but I was very impressed by those prices. All except the HI are using my AP discount of 50% off. DLH seems like a bargain, but as someone who's never stayed at either HNY or DLH I'm interested in what people think. Is the DLH such a good price that I should go for it or should I plump for the HNY instead?!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed the 50% off AP deal is great. It is a difficult call. I was quite unimpressed with the HNY last time (despite it once being one of my fav) - the Holiday Inn offers a better experience IMHO. However, the Disneyland Hotel does offer excellent service, a wonderful breakfast, loads of characters, 1 free FP per day, and best of all, no security to deal with every morning. Also having breakfast looking at an empty Main Street is pretty awesome. The question is, are those things worth extra to you? How many days is this for?
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo That is quite a jump between the 2 (sorry, I just saw it was for 2 nights). But with 50% off, this could be a great opportunity for you to experience the DLH. Personally I ma likely to opt either for the HI or the DLH, but I say this with experience. Knowing you guys, I am sure you will have a fantastic time no matter where you choose.
Originally Posted By u k fan For me the HI is probably the least likely as we have stayed there many times before, it's further away, and it seems a shame not to take advantage of what is essentially pay for one night - stay for two at the Disney Hotels. I like the idea of staying at the DLH for the chance to do things in style and get that extra bit of luxury - especially for Sis's 18th, but if I'm honest I think I actually prefer the location of the HNY better as it seems better located for after hours fun and you know me at DLP I love to keep going until one of us falls!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Like I say, I am sure you will have fun at either. It is just that the HNY is not what it once was sadly. Whereas the DLH is still very special. But when we have stayed at the DLH, we have never bothered with the Village opting to enjoy the hotel more.
Originally Posted By disneyqueenuk I stayed at the Holiday Inn in June and again in November when I was over. I would not recommend staying there as the standards have seriously gone downhill. There is absolutely no guest service there, especially for it being near a Disney park. Might be of some assistance.
Originally Posted By u k fan That's a shame, I haven't stayed there for a while, but apart from one incident when a member of my family slipped by the pool and injured themselves and the staff could barely care we've always had reasonable service. I say reasonable because I feel rarely outside of Disney hotels do I get the level of service I would expect in the UK. I just lower my expectations when in France. If I had a pound for everytime I've been checking in and the clerk has started a conversation with another customer/colleague/picked up the phone and started a long conversation with no apology I'd be very rich!!!
Originally Posted By u k fan I've found that if not staying in a Disney property the service gets better the further away you are. One of our best stays was in a Kyriad in a village called Esbly a few miles away. The staff there were excellent and couldn't do enough for us, it's a shame that places like the HI are more like that. I would suggest the Kyriad next door to the HI next time as I've stayed there twice and loved it both times!!!
Originally Posted By disneyqueenuk I e-mailed Holiday Inn to complain following my visit in June and am still waiting for a reply, decided to give them another go in November and not even bothering to complain as they obviously don't care. When we checked in we were advised that there was a power cut and then sent off to find our room using the stairs that were in pitch black, no offer of a torch or anything, Imagine what had happened had we fallen on the stairs!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I stayed at the Holiday Inn in June and again in November when I was over. I would not recommend staying there as the standards have seriously gone downhill. There is absolutely no guest service there, especially for it being near a Disney park. <<< Oh dear. It has been about 22 months since I have been. It is a real shame as it truly rivaled the DLP hotels in quality.
Originally Posted By u k fan Well the decision has been made. We are booked in at the DLH for the end of March. Me, Mum, Dad and Sis. What finally swung it is that my Dad really wants to stay at the DLH hotel and wanted to come with us. Between you and me he loves Disneyland Paris, but he'll never admit it!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo FANTASTIC NEWS!!!! I am so happy for you. I hope you have a wonderful time. This is amazing. Be sure to enjoy the breakfast overlooking Main Street.
Originally Posted By Malin I have recently opted to stay at the Santa Fe and while it may not have a pool, I have found its exceptional vaule for what you pay. During a recent trip I stayed in a suite at Sequoia Lodge and apart from size and view, the difference in standards were minimal. Santa Fe still offers the tickets and free breakfast and is only a short coach trip away, from the parks, it also offers a very nice walk to the parks first thing in the morning. I also have never encountered rude service at this hotel. If you can deal with no pool and the tacky deco, this is in my opinion the best place on site to stay!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, sorry James, cannot agree. The clientele and lack of amenities for the cost, is poor value. For us, off site or DLH from now on. But when going with little ones, it's a whole different prospect.
Originally Posted By Malin The clientele are the same people you face in the parks, and besides its not like you have to hang out at the hotel with them. As for the amenities I really don't see what extra you get at any other hotel on site that Santa Fe doesn't already have with perhaps the exception of the swimming pool.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmm, room service, bell services, a more civilised breakfast experience, proximity to the parks, decor, character interaction without the scrum, hot food at breakfast and drinks served at your table, the pool is an issue with my little ones, they love to swim. Indoor halls and dry warm routes to get to the restaurants, bars etc. Nope, like I say, I think the ETAP with an AP is better than the SF, and I feel that hotel is a complete rip off (like most of the DLP hotels)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo But, I have practically lived in hotels for the last 12 years, so I want something special when on vacation.
Originally Posted By Malin *** room service, bell services, a more civilised breakfast experience, proximity to the parks, decor, character interaction without the scrum, hot food at breakfast and drinks served at your table, the pool is an issue with my little ones, they love to swim. Indoor halls and dry warm routes to get to the restaurants, bars etc. *** Sadly all the above can only be catered by possibly the New York or DL Hotels. And even you have stated your last trip to the New York was a disapoinment. While the DL Hotel does apparently still offer a good service, the price is too steep to justify in my opinion staying here. Maybe if I had a young family and spent more time in the hotels, but I'm not that sort of person and I'm very active when it comes to vacations so the Santa Fe which offers a quiet place to sleep each night is fine by me. Also comparing this to similar stay's at Sequoia I really did not notice much of a difference in standard except for the price.
