Eurostar pricing

Hi there,

I'm planning a trip to Disneyland with my family at Easter, looking to travel out from Ebbsfleet. It's a kid of Open jaw journey, because after three days/2 nights at Marne la Vallee, we're after another three nights in Paris, so we want to come home from Gare du Nord.

How dynamic is the pricing model for Eurostar? Currently we can get the Ebbsfleet-Marne tickets for £81. Is that likely to increase closer to the departure time?

Likewise, currently I can do the return Ebbs.-GdN for only a few quid more than the Ebbs.-Disney single ticket, so I might just do Paris and RER, but are prices likely to increase considerably if I wait to make a decision.

Our daughter is 3, and will still be 3 when we travel. I'd rather not have her on a lap for the whole journey, what chances being able to find a seat for her - given this is to Disney during the school Easter Hols. I'd rather pay for a seat if I'm likely to have to have her on my lap all the way.

What are the real advantages of Standard Premier? Is there any point?

ES prices are decidedly dynamic.
You are unlikely to find a free seat for your daughter, particularly in Standard.
SP will usually be quieter, might be less busy, and is more spacious; it will get you a cold meal with wine but IIRC you don't get the full service on the Disney train anyway.

30907 said:

ES prices are decidedly dynamic.
You are unlikely to find a free seat for your daughter, particularly in Standard.
SP will usually be quieter, might be less busy, and is more spacious; it will get you a cold meal with wine but IIRC you don't get the full service on the Disney train anyway.

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Thanks, am I able to declare her as 4 on the booking, in order to get a paid for seat? I'm conscious that as this is an international train, I'll need to give Advance Passenger Information.

Not bothered about food and wine on a morning departure from Ebbsfleet anyway. If I'm going via Paris I'll be at GdN for lunch anyway. If I'm going direct I'm sure I can pack a picnic.

Apart from the obvious advantages of the direct train, is there any advantage to paying the premium to get the Disney train?

Child 0-11 (as per the ES booking engine) ought to cover your 3yo. Eurostar doesnt (currently!) require API.

You obviously have to factor in the trip out to Disney on the RER but that won't cost anything like the price differential on ES.

Looking at the price differential, it's coming in at over £200.

I could get a transfer in a decent quality Limo for that, or, as I'm currently considering, a one way hire car.

Of course, if as I hope, I can get all our luggage in a suitcase and a big rucksack, then it'll be RER from Châtelet-Les Halles.

DeeGee said:

Of course, if as I hope, I can get all our luggage in a suitcase and a big rucksack, then it'll be RER from Châtelet-Les Halles.

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Slightly off topic now, but do I recall correctly that if I get RER B from GdN to Chatelet, it's a cross-platform to Disneyland?

DeeGee said:

Slightly off topic now, but do I recall correctly that if I get RER B from GdN to Chatelet, it's a cross-platform to Disneyland?

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I don't think so; the cross-platform at Chatelet from Line B is to Line D; whereas Line A is needed for Marne-la-Valee.

DeeGee said:

Looking at the price differential, it's coming in at over £200.

I could get a transfer in a decent quality Limo for that, or, as I'm currently considering, a one way hire car.

Of course, if as I hope, I can get all our luggage in a suitcase and a big rucksack, then it'll be RER from Châtelet-Les Halles.

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My wife in the past has changed at Lille onto a Domestic TGV to get to M-le-V, which was also a significant saving (at the time) on the direct Eurostar.

DeeGee said:

Slightly off topic now, but do I recall correctly that if I get RER B from GdN to Chatelet, it's a cross-platform to Disneyland?

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Yes it is.

Ianno87 said:

My wife in the past has changed at Lille onto a Domestic TGV to get to M-le-V, which was also a significant saving (at the time) on the direct Eurostar.

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Going to M la V, the changeover at Lille Europe is timed at about half an hour between trains. Coming back it's 1-1.5 hours to allow for the checks at Lille. For this you do have to submit dates of birth as this is required for SNCF journeys. Direct tickets/journeys are less prone to delays & missing connections though.