? about using points for the Disney Collection

[Anal Annie]

So first things first - my new planner just came!

Second, I was anxiously waiting to see the points for 2011 for DLP but they still only show them for 2010, which as we all know is 1/2 gone already. The points did not change from 2009 to 2010 for DLP so I will just have to guestimate and hope they don't change again next year. But so anyway, I have a question. Nevermind that it's not the best use of our points, I already KNOW THAT but we're not going to FL or to CA or to HI in 2011, we're going to Europe - so if we don't use some there then we'd just end up banking everything. We can splurge for a few nights at DLP.

But so my QUESTION is this - we are going in August and we have a Dec. UY. It says you cannot use your points to book a Disney Collection trip in the last 4 months of your UY. So do I start counting 4 months including August, Sept., Oct. & Nov. OR is it Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec.?? I just started freaking out 'cuz I realized we re-bank our points in Dec and I was like WHOA! Does this mean we can't use them in August?? When does this 4 month window start for a Dec. UY?? If it's August then I'm sooo screwed!! Someone please tell me it starts counting with Sept.!!!!

(Oh, and sorry if this should've been on the Planning Board rather than Misc.!)

 

[Sandisw]

You can't book AND travel during the last 4 months of your UY. For a Dec UY, this would be Aug, Sept, Oct, and Nov.

So, if you want to travel during any of those months, you simply have to make sure you book it prior to August 1st. In your case, since you are traveling in August, I am going to assume you will be booking it well before your 4 month mark, so the rule of four won't affect you in any way!

Have a fun trip! It sounds great!!!

 

[NewDCLGuy]

You can travel in the last 4 months of your use year. You just can't *book and travel* in your last 4 months.

 

[Anal Annie]

WHEW!! Thanks!! I was in a panic over how I was interpreting it. I will be booking it as soon as DLP allows bookings for the collection (4-6 months out I think). They apparently don't release rooms for use on points very early. I was just concerned that we could USE the points at all during the last 4 months or not!!!

We've booked one of the Aug. 2011 Med cruises and figured WHILE WE WERE ON THE SAME CONTINENT, we should try to spend a few nights in Paris too and check out DLP. The worst thing is they make you buy length of stay park tickets and we know we'll be wasting a day or so to go into Paris for some sightseeing...but I think that will still outweigh the cost of a hotel in the city. Save some cash for souvies!!

Thanks for clarifying!!

 

[lilpooh108]

What does it mean that they make you buy park tickets for the length of the stay? If you use your points for DLP, you are required to buy park tickets for each night you stay?

 

[Anal Annie]

What does it mean that they make you buy park tickets for the length of the stay? If you use your points for DLP, you are required to buy park tickets for each night you stay?

Yes, but ACTUALLY it's worse than that - it goes by DAY not night. And there is a 2-night / 3-day minimum!! So say we arrive in Paris on a Tues. morning and plan to leave on Fri. morning. We'll have to buy park tix for 4 days even though we won't BE there for Friday to even USE them!! The diff. for the 2-night / 3-day pkg. vs the 3-night / 4-day pkg. is $34 per adult. For the 3 of us that is $102. And if we waste another day by sightseeing in Paris then we're essentially wasting $204 + the $95 exchange fee. SOOO I have some shopping around to do to see how much a hotel room in the city would be + 1 day of park admission for 3 nights in comparison to what staying on site will run us. They have a bus of some sort that runs from DLP to CDG airport for a small fee but it's supposed to be pretty close so that's helpful. Then again we may take the over night train to Barcelona and spend all day there on Friday. I am still in the planning stages...just trying to come up with the least out of pocket option. I wanted to stay at DLP but they're not making it very enticing. This year it includes a continental breakfast. Got lots to weigh.

 

[Tara]

Yes, but ACTUALLY it's worse than that - it goes by DAY not night. And there is a 2-night / 3-day minimum!! So say we arrive in Paris on a Tues. morning and plan to leave on Fri. morning. We'll have to buy park tix for 4 days even though we won't BE there for Friday to even USE them!! The diff. for the 2-night / 3-day pkg. vs the 3-night / 4-day pkg. is $34 per adult. For the 3 of us that is $102. And if we waste another day by sightseeing in Paris then we're essentially wasting $204 + the $95 exchange fee. SOOO I have some shopping around to do to see how much a hotel room in the city would be + 1 day of park admission for 3 nights in comparison to what staying on site will run us. They have a bus of some sort that runs from DLP to CDG airport for a small fee but it's supposed to be pretty close so that's helpful. Then again we may take the over night train to Barcelona and spend all day there on Friday. I am still in the planning stages...just trying to come up with the least out of pocket option. I wanted to stay at DLP but they're not making it very enticing. This year it includes a continental breakfast. Got lots to weigh.

This is why I think it isn't a good use of points - the ticket requirements hamstring you. I definitely encourage you to shop around for hotels to see what kind of deal you can find.

I think this has all be discussed before, but the TGV is very fast and easy from CDG and the station is right at Disney Village. Of course, it isn't as cheap as the bus, but I don't recall it being very expensive. I'd have to pull out my notes to see how much it was. It was literally about 10-12 minutes.

 

[bumbershoot]

Annie, if you don't go with DLP, I've been booking places for DH's travel with hotels.com. They have some nice hotels at nice rates. We found a great place in London just a couple weeks before he traveled...we've also found places in various areas of Canada, in Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo, Australia, and New Zealand. If he were going to Paris I would expect a similar experience. I really like using them. (plus I go through a "rewards" site and get money back, so it's even better!)

Just a thought for you, if you don't use points at DLP!