We booked for 4 nights (the deal at the time was that you could book 2 nights and get 2 nights free). I was a bit apprehensive as thought 5 days may be too much (I was very wrong!) We booked Eurostar from Ebbsfleet, direct into Disney and when I spoke with the holiday company they contacted Eurostar and I was advised that I could stay in my scooter which was great as I have problems getting up from low chairs. I was a bit worried though as the Eurostar site says that it's only for wheelchairs. When I booked I was advised that 'wheelchair' seats are in Standard Premier and they originally quotes for myself and Mum in Standard Premier, and Dad and Laura in the normal seats but I asked for them also be upgraded as I wanted us to be together (plus they wouldn't have got food included)
I was told, after paying the final balance, that we should get our tickets 2 weeks before we travelled, but that Disney tickets may take longer. I emailed the travel agent a week and a half before we travelled to asked where our tickets were and we were told that they hadn't had anything but they would contact me if nothing had arrived a week before. We heard nothing more so I chased them up and was told that our Disney paperwork had been sent but Eurostar tickets hadn't arrived so they'd send us the ticket codes to collect them. This arrived a week before and consisted of a letter with codes on for our Eurostar tickets, information about a change in our Eurostar return time and details of our hotel.
The day came to travel and we got to Ebbsfleet really easily via car and had prebooked parking in the F car park which is right by the train station. Although I had my disabled badges, they had extra wide non-disabled spaces which was brilliant as it meant I could take my disabled badges for my access pass proof.
My Dad went to get the Eurostar tickets from the ticket office and we were told they'd already been printed. I explained that we hadn't received them and were told to collect them, and after getting a manager over, they managed to re-print them however the codes we were given were only for 2 tickets! I did panic a bit but after searching on the system they found the other two tickets. I'm glad we arrived early due to this and I was really disappointed with the service from the travel agents. One they have your money it seems customer service goes down.
Security and passport control were all fine. As I was in my scooter I got patted down and my scooter was swabbed. We then waited for our Eurostar. Once it arrived I was let on the train by a ramp. It was easy to go up however I had to make a sharp right and it was really difficult in the scooter. Once in I was asked if I prefered to sit in a normal chair but I explained I was ok in the scooter as it was more comfortable. I had to manouver into a small space but I got the hang of it. Due to the handlebars I was unable to use their wheelchair lap tray but Mum and I managed to pull out the normal pull down tray and balance it on my scooter where my basket clips on (I took my basket off for the journey so I could fit in the space).
Breakfast consisted of a roll, croissant, jam (cherry), Yeo Valley yogurt (raspberry or strawberry), juice and a hot drink. They also came round after with a almond croissant (I was too full but took mine for later but didn't get round to eating it....and almond croissants are my fave!)
Travelling in the scooter was ok but my scooter (Pride GoGo Elite Traveller LX) has suspension in the chair (to help with bumps on the pavement) but the train was reallllllly bumpy and I ended up holding onto my Mum's armrest a lot (even though I would have been fine)
As we had booked a package for the Golden Forest rooms at Sequoia Lodge, we had Disney Express which meant that a member of staff from Disney came round on the train with our tickets, hotel forms and luggage passes so that we could drop our suitcases off and have them delivered to the hotel while we went straight to the parks. This was really hand but the staff member didn't have a pen for us (luckily Mum did) and we needed it to fill in the luggage passes (as they only did 1 for us) and the check in form. The man was French and didn't explain much to us, just gave us the paperwork and I thought he was going to come back for the hotel forms but didn't (it turned out we had to hand these in on check in)
Once we got to Disney (after short stops at Ashford for people got get on, and Lille Europe for people to get off) I waited by the exit and they came along with a lift to get me off. This was much better than the ramp as it took up less space and didn't require me to turn so I could have either reversed or driven onto it. We then had the long queue for the lift (due to lots of people with buggies and large suitcases).
We dropped out bags off on the top floor and then went into the park.
All in all the journey was good and we were glad we were in Standard Premier as it was quieter, we got food and had more space with tables.
Return Journey
We were advised before going that the train back home was a little earlier than planned due to engineering works and to ignore the time on the ticket. The time was only a few minutes earlier at 16.49. We left Disneyland Park just before 3pm. I used the toilets in the park as wasn't sure what the disabled toilets were like at the station, however my sister didn't and was going to go at the station. We got to the station and Mum went up by stairs to get our luggage while my sister and I waited for the lift. A train had just got in so the lift was really busy as there is only 1 outside of passport control, and one inside of passport control.
Once upstairs we got our luggage and the sign said that the departure gate would open at 3.30pm so we queued up and got moved over to a new desk so we were at the front (as there were 2 desks).
The lady on the desk (who was actually the highest staff member) didn't seem to speak English very well and there was a lot of confusion over what she was trying to tell us and ask us about me and accessing the train. She told me to just go and wait round the corner for someone..... that was it. We went through security and then waited to be let down onto the train.
Before leaving the park I saw that there may be delays of 30 - 60 minutes due to only one track being open but we weren't told anything about this until we'd been waiting for about 30 minutes and were told the delay was about 30 minutes. I even checked the Eurostar app which said the train had left on time! No staff said anything to us and we were stuck on the otherside of passport control with no access to toilets. My Dad had gone down by stairs and said that there were toilets if you went under a barrier but the lift was shut so it wouldn't have been accessible for me (plus having to go under a barrier).
There was also a lack of First Aid or First Aid understanding as a little boy had an accident, hitting his head, and the staff told the parents there was no first aid and then just walked away. This was disgusting as we were stuck in the boiling heat and his parents were very worried. The parents even called Eurostar and I Tweeted them too and was told there should be someone with First Aid training and to ask staff.....
Departures at Disney are seriously lacking. There were hundreds of people, a lot of confusion, very few seats, boiling heat (I don't like to think what it's like in summer) and no toilets.
After nearly an hour a man came over to say he would be getting me the lift to get onto the train and once the train had arrived he called me over to the lift (along with the other disabled passengers who needed to use the lift to get on the train). Unfortunately a very rude lady pushed into the lift with a double buggy and was shouting how she didn't think it was right that disabled people got priority and that she had been separated from her husband who was downstairs. The reason we got 'priority' was because he needed to get the lift to three different carriages to let three wheelchair users onto the train.
It was much easier getting on the train at Disney as the door to my carriage wasn't right by the entrance so it wasn't a tight turn (I drove onto the train, passed the toilet and then my carriage entrance was on the left). My driving skills had improved and I was able to get into my space after some skillful maneuvers.
Food on the way home was either quiche or pasta with chicken, along with a roll, brownie, biscuit, a bottle of water, hot drink, and the choice of soft drink, wine or beer.
Once we got to Ebbsfleet I had to reverse off the train as people were standing and watching while I tried to get out my space so I just had to turn around to get out and due to the tight turn to get off the train I reversed (even though I was told it would be easier to drive forward, but I knew it wouldn't be). I was able to reverse off the ramp, turn on the middle and drive off (the ramp was L shaped).
We then went up to passport control and once through we were offered water and biscuits.
The journey to Disney was so much better and the facilities at Ebbsfleet are much better than France.
Top tip - go to the toilet before leaving the park and before going through passport control.
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