Shareholder Discounts & Buying Annual Passports

[werebimbo]

Hi there

I've been to DLP a few times before, but I've decided it is time to introduce my daughter to the joys of Disney this year too. I'm hoping to go a few times so I plan to buy annual passports for us. I've already got shareholder membership so that I can get a discopunt on the passes (and other benefits) but I have a few questions that I'm really hoping more experienced folk could answer please.

- has anyone used the shareholder phone line to book anything? It seems to be an answering machine, but shamefully my school french just isn't up to translating. I was hoping to check out what the acommodation discounts were for shareholders but just can't seem to get through. I've tried emailing, but got no response. Anyone know the secret to contacting them and using my shareholder benefits?

- Is it possible to book annual passports over the phone or in any way in advance? I was hoping to buy the Francilian passports but it seems you can't use these within the first few days of purchase which makes them of no use to me. Is there a way round this that anyone can help me with?

Thanks a lot.

[DLPdaft]

Hi werebimbo,
Elaine, Jackie, Elaine and Reid welcome you to the DLP DIS board :goodvibes

We are a friendly bunch here so please join in on any other thread or if you have a number of questions then just start a new thread for each

If you have not had a look yet, DLP posting rules are here
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1477038,
DIS posting guidelines can be found here
http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

I can't help you with the shareholders phone number (I did use it once to chase up my shareholders card, a very nice man called me back, and we had our conversation in English), but the shareholders discount on DLP rooms and packages is a straight 10% off the full brochure price, and you don't get any free nights/extra discounts etc. So its not a great deal, compared with the offers Disney comes out with during the year for everyone.

I'm sure you can buy annual passports through the post in advance, but personally, before I bought a Francillien pass that way, I'd want written confirmation from the AP bureau that it would be activated as soon as you purchased it, and not on the first day you use it as a park ticket (because then the 2nd and 3rd day would be blocked). As far as I know, you can't get shareholders discount on your AP if you buy it in advance through the post either, I think you have to do that in person. I did consider looking into doing that last November, but decided that it would be easier (and with shareholders discount only about 20 euros more expensive) buying a Fantasy AP when I got to the parks (and there would be no postage costs involved).

Hope this helps a bit :),

[werebimbo]

Thanks a lot for this, it's much appreciated.

Yes I think I was coming to the conclusion myself that it might just be easier to get the Fantasy Passports. But hey, I'm Scottish I've got to investigate the possibility of maximum cash savings!

I might give the shareholder number another try and see if I can leave a message or something. I thought I might investigate room only deals for later in the year, but again I think you're probably right about it still being too expensive.

Anyway, thanks a bunch again, I'm going to trawl through the great site now for other tips for the March trip.