The trade has expressed its disappointment over Eurostar’s decision to scrap its direct service from London to Disneyland Paris next summer.
The Channel Tunnel high speed train operator blamed its pandemic recovery and logistical implications of Brexit for the move, which comes into effect from June 6, 2023.
One issue cited by the operator was the new Entry Exit System which involves registering travellers from outside the EU and Schengen Area as they arrive and depart.
Magic Breaks founder Tom Dunkley said Eurostar had yet to make a decision about timetabling beyond the end of 2023 and said the service had already been “greatly reduced” but still called the decision “a disappointment”.
Kate Holroyd, Strawberry Holidays founder, said she would have preferred the train operator to cut services rather than stop them altogether. “It’s really disappointing,” she added.
Customers travelling with Eurostar to Disneyland Paris will have to change at Lille or Paris from June 6, 2023, and will not be able to travel directly to the theme park.
Dunkley, whose Magic Breaks business is a “key distribution partner” with Disneyland Paris, said typically journey times from London to Disneyland Paris via Lille were 38 minutes longer.
He added intercity services via Paris Gare Du Nord, connecting on local RER rail service, added around an hour to the journey time.
“Approximately 30% of Magic Breaks transport inclusive bookings to Disneyland Paris choose to travel on Eurostar, historically the most popular route being the direct service,” he said.
“However, there are strong options available to book with Magic Breaks via Lille or Paris.”
Instant Breaks managing director Mark Jones anticipates the Lille service to Disneyland Paris being the “primary choice for most”.
He said: “Even though this was unexpected news, we have found the Lille service to Disneyland Paris to be very popular with our customers.
“We have also found that since the pandemic, Eurotunnel is another popular option and customers can also still get good availability for flights and P&O Ferries.”
Explaining its decision, Eurostar said: “Whilst we continue to recover financially from the pandemic and monitor developments in the proposed EU Entry Exit system, we need to focus on our core routes to ensure we can continue to provide the high level of service and experience that our customers rightly expect.
“Passengers can still enjoy high-speed rail travel between London and Disneyland Paris, via Paris or Lille.”