Best way to get to Disneyland Paris from LHR

when is this adventure?

Won't you actually be doing any sightseeing in London?

If you want it all in one fell swoop, train from Southampton to London Waterloo in about an hour and 20 minutes (also trains available which arrive in London Victoria but they take a full hour longer - don't bother unless your really really want to experience a Southern Railways train rather than a South West Trains train). Tube from Waterloo to St Pancras International station. That will involve a change of tube lines - take your choice Northern to Leicester Square, change to Piccadilly Line; or Northern to Warren Street, change to Victoria Line, or a couple of other permutations, get off whichever at Kings Cross St Pancras and follow the signs to St Pancras, go up, walk halfway down the station, Eurostar check in on the right hand side. You must check in early enough, at least an hour or more, because you need to go through security, then both UK and French Border control before you get to the waiting room. They don't make exceptions. When the check in closes people too late don't go. Get off the train at Paris gare du Nord - just walk off. Take the RER-B or RER-D one stop to Chatelet Les Halles, or the RER-D two stops to Gare de Lyon and at either change to the RER-A(4) to Marne le Valleé Chessy which is the end of the line and the stop for Disneyland Paris. Hop off and you're there. Tired but there.

Me, I'd break up the journey.

You have two questions, really. They are difficult to answer unless you give us your plans so far and logistics. Once we know these, we can make suggestions such as staying in Paris but going to DLP as a day trip. Try putting this on the France or General Europe forums rather than England.

Regarding the Paris piece, you'll likely want to post the transport question in the France forum so folks in the know about that country will see it. :O)

That said, I'll ask about this:

We have a 3 day escape adventure and we cannot be late. We have to be
there (Hilton Paris Opera) at 6:30 am.

Ouch. Without knowing what this "adventure" involves, if you have to get your children (how old?) up at O-dark-thirty to embark upon an arranged, all-day sightseeing itinerary, are you sure they're not going to be completely done in before the day is half over? At the very least, If you MUST be there that early in the morning, I'd suggest checking into the Hilton the night before. Also, what with the transport piece from Southhampton, hope you've booked more than 1 night at Disney?

If you have to be at the Hilton Opera at 6:30, I would stay in town the night before.

Train from Southampton to London Waterloo https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Tube (or taxi if you have lots of luggage) from Waterloo to St Pancras

Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris Disneyland (either direct train or a change at Lille) https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/holidays/disneyland-paris

I would simply fly from Heathrow to Paris (Orly would be my preference) and take the Magical Shuttle to the resort. It's cheaper than the Eurostar, you'll be at LHR anyway and no need to travel across London to get to St Pancras. It's also a lot less hassle.

Personally there's nothing special about the Eurostar. Once you enter the tunnel it's completely dark, you can only see inside the carriages so it's completely uneventful and quite boring. I just don't think it's worth the effort and expense when there's a much simpler alternative

I wonder how much the cruise provided transfer to Heathrow costs....

you'll be at LHR anyway

But the OP's journey doesn't begin at Heathrow, it begins in Southampton.

Although the OP hasn't come back yet, I think you all have hit the nail on the head: use the cruiseline transfer to Heathrow, fly to Orly, use transfer service mention by JC to DLP, enjoy the Magic Kingdom, transfer to the Hilton to sleep the night before the 3-day escape adventure. Otherwise, this trip is a bear to execute with way too many changes and transfers using the Eurostar.

It might be a tad tricky to find a flight between Heathrow and Orly though.

But the OP's journey doesn't begin at Heathrow, it begins in Southampton.

I know but they've stated that they have transfers to Heathrow arranged.

Unfortunately after the demise of Flybe there are no flights from Southampton to Paris, that would have been the best option.

It might be a tad tricky to find a flight between Heathrow and Orly though.

True but I'm sure the OP can probably change their transfer to Gatwick instead.

justtssol, welcome to this newsboard.

Why not let the kids experience European train travel in France, say with a daytrip to Chantilly, Vernon/Giverny, Chartres, or even the D-Day Beaches if you have enough time? A train going through a tunnel looks the same, wherever it is. The Chunnel is just a very long tunnel. There's also the train from Euro Disneyland to Paris, as well as the Paris Metro and RER. Has anyone in the family ever been on a train? How much luggage will you have? Can you wrangle it all yourselves?

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains

If you want good answers, please provide a little more information. Many people put the actual dates of their travel stops in posts on this newsboard, and Russian internet hackers are unable track them down! A lot of people are getting off that cruise.

I will say that Heathrow has a lot of security checks, and it's a tedious airport. But even the Eurostar requires at least 60-90 minutes early check-in for Immigration and Customs checks. They won't let you board the train even if it has not left, if you come too late. Naturally, a plane from England to France has Immigration and Customs time as well. But that's a little more baked-in to an airport departure.

The cheapest Eurostar tickets are advance purchase, one-train only, no changes, no refunds. Flexible tickets cost more.

Are you Disney fans and have a goal to visit all of their parks? I am trying to understand your itinerary.

I am not a huge Disney fan (a recent visit to Disneyland confirmed this) so I may have a bias here. Why not tour some locations that are distinctly European and provide those opportunities to your children? Perhaps this is a smaller section of a much larger itinerary and I don’t have all the information. Not trying to judge, just can’t help feeling there might be better options.

Sorry everyone. I didn't realize the importance. It was late and my brain was hurting. So here it goes....We're flying into London on June 11. We head to our British Isles cruise on the 14th. We return to Southampton on the 26th. (We added cruise transfers to LHR thinking it would be easier to get to DLP from there.) We are there until the 30th. On the 30th, we have an Adventures By Disney Escape until we head back to the states on July 2nd. We have to be checked in to the Hilton Paris Opera no later than 7:00 am in order to make the first tour. (I said 6:30 because we tend to run late so this helps us get moving.) It's myself, my 16 year old daughter, my friend and her daughter. --Hopefully I answered everything.

Oh, we are each bringing one suitcase (hopefully) and a backpack type bag. I do know the suitcase won't be small since we're going to be gone so long, but I have given strict instructions not to bring any extras due to the luggage restrictions some places.

**I have considered disembarking a day early in Paris since we stop there the last day, but not sure if that is more costly or not.

-The transfers from the cruise only cost us $40.
-Yes, we are HUGE Disney fans. (I know it's not for everyone. We're also BIG Potter-heads, so we're spending time in London doing the studio tour, etc.)
-Train/Eurostar isn't a deal breaker or anything, just thought it would be nice. Plus, I was told the "airbus" doesn't allow larger suitcases. I know that will be a problem so I thought the train would be better.

Good grief, YES, disembark the day before in France and save yourselves a LOT of headaches. You'll probably be in Normandy and will take the train into Paris for a night. Nothing wrong with a night in Paris.

Yes, if the last stop of the cruise is in France (Le Havre?), leave the ship there and stay in Paris. Going back to Southampton just to return to France would be a very silly detour.

There's a fee for everything these days, alas. But an early disembarkation scheduled well before departure should not cost much, if anything. I'd even haggle, if it's not preprinted in a list of products and prices. Check France Covid rules and potential visa rules so it goes smoothly. Disembarkation is not the same as a one-day cruise port excursion.

Are you flying home from Paris?

I would have thought the best way to get to Disneyland Paris would be to.....wish upon a star.

Whether you start in England or France......there's no difference where you are.

When you wish upon a star your dreams come true.

And if you want pleasant dreams rather than nightmares, stay at the Hilton Paris Opera the night before your adventure begins.

I agree with the suggestion to stay at the Hilton the night before your adventure tour begins. It looks like you are scheduling yourselves too closely for several important activities but it may be too late to reconfigure your trip at this point.

If you want to start a thread on the packing forum we might be able to help you with suggestions on how to pack light. Start with telling us what's on your packing list. And yes, a packing list is where you need to start.

I am puzzled by these statements you made

We head to our British Isles cruise on the 14th. We return to Southampton on the 26th.
I have considered disembarking a day early in Paris since we stop there the last day,

Paris is a stop on a "British Isles cruise" ?

Have you consulted with DIsney about the transfer from DLP to the Hotel on the 30th?
You look to be the kind of customer they would be inclined to help.

What I have pieced together ( and I may be wrong) is that you have 2 issues.

1- Cruise ends on the 26th in Southampton and you need to get to DLP that day and spend the nights of the 26th through the 29th at DLP

2- You need to get from DLP to the Hotel on the 30th by 7AM.

Is this correct? (If not I will delete to de-clutter the post)

Not that this was the question... but you will likely be so much happier packing in a carry-on! Dealing with big suitcases is such a hassle. We did 3 weeks in Europe on our first trip, with a Disney Cruise in the middle, and did a carry-on. We just packed smart for the cruise part (ex: I had a cute cotton dress that I could wear to a nice dinner on the boat, or as a cover-up for the beach.....). We even packed a few small things for pirate night, etc... if you are doing DCL (wasn't sure if your trip is that). :)

Have fun! We are stopping at DLP this summer too, I am very excited! My husband has been, but the rest of us have not. :)

Kim