AP vs 3 day Ticket Advice

[kathleena]

I've been reading a lot on this board - has been a great help! I know WDW in and out, but this is new, so I want a sanity check here.

First off - I'm in the US and am going to Belgium on business. There is a good chance I may get there more than once in a year. Since I'm travelling alone, cost of the room is important - no one to share it with!

So I could get a package rate at the Cheyenne for US$872 for three days with 3 day park tickets.

OR I could get 3 days at Holiday Inn for US$445, and then get a Dream AP for US$240 = US$685

OK, so it seems like a no brainer - but it also seems too easy!!!! Am I missing something here. The AP would get me EMH access, some % off here and there and 365 day access, should I travel at an odd time (hoping they will send me back in October!!!! ). Even if I don't make it back in a year - it seems the way to go.

Does this seem like I'm reading this right? All the euros to $$$ conversions start to confuse me.....

And I should buy the AP at park as the clock starts ticking on purchase, not on first use, correct?

Thanking you in advance!

 

[A Small World]

Without checking out the prices I would say you are probably right. The onsite hotels are more expensive so for the price of Santa Fe (which is the cheapest onsite hotel)you can usually get a room at an off site hotel which are much higher start ratings and have extra facilities such as pool etc. These hotels are only a fraction further away and have free shuttle bus to and from parks.
Other hotels worth looking at are Explorers, and Dream Castle which are next to Holiday Inn.
We stayed at Explorers earlier this yr and really liked it. At the time we booked that it was the cheapest offer. We are going to Holiday Inn in July which was the cheapest we could get this time.
Holiday Inn do some good deals but sometimes have restrictions for cheaper deals such as having to pay all up front. You can also book it without breakfast which we have done as we reckoned we'd rather miss breakfast and get to parks early for EMH then grab something in the park than have to eat at crack of dawn.

If I were you I would def go for that option and get APs. The only thing you wont be able to get is Good Morning Fantasyland breakfast (GMF) which is offered to guests in onsite hotels.

Did you know if you get someone to sponsor you you can get 10% off price of AP- Look at thread either further down page or on next pg.

 

[Cyrano]

OK, so it seems like a no brainer - but it also seems too easy!!!!

Yep that's right 3 days or more is normally breakeven point. Of course DLP would rather you buy the package but thank goodness for the boards

And I should buy the AP at park as the clock starts ticking on purchase, not on first use, correct?

Exactly, the commence date starts from purchase.

 

[Happy Tappy]

Your choice depends on whether or not you'd rather stay in a Disney hotel. Whilst the Cheyenne doesn't have the star rating of the Holiday inn (2* Vs 4*) it is easily the better hotel. Some things can't be measured in stars!!! The theming is excellent (possibly the best theme of all the Disney hotels I've stayed in). There is also a bar that plays live country music every night.

That said, the Holdiay Inn is a nice hotel and if the money is important then I'd probably go for that option. The AP savings really add up, every time you buy food (even snacks!) or merchandise etc... there is a saving to be made!

 

[kathleena]

Thanks so much for your replies! And the tip about the sponsored passes, I wish they had those at WDW, although my DVC discount is fabulous!

I'm going to call today to see about room only rates on property too. I would much rather stay in the magic if I can, but happy with staying outside also.

I'll check into the other two hotels mentioned as well!

 

[nifferwilko]

I'm going to call today to see about room only rates on property too. I would much rather stay in the magic if I can, but happy with staying outside also.

I have a feeling that you can't book room only direct with Disney if you are in the US. I think Bavaria came up with a work around involving expedia but, as look would have it, search isn't working properly so I can't view the thread

Help anyone??

 

[kathleena]

I called CRO and the CM told me that some CMs won't book without having an AP already purchased, but she would. Unfortunately - the dept that can open booking for "Bed & Breakfast" which I learned is the "Room Only" type there - is only open during the week.

But, I decided that the Holiday Inn - Standard Room was really the way for me to go, so I already booked that. If I was further away from the travel date, I would probably wait until Monday, but I don't want to lose a good rate just to find out that the B&B rates are just too high anyway.

I'm very happy with my $138USD per night rate considering that the amenities there are nice and the transporation to the parks is frequent and very reasonably priced as well!



Thanks again for all of your help.

Maybe after I get this done, I can add to the volumes of information here the websites US folks can go to. I've been having to look for all the US equivalents (eg expedia etc) for the links in your threads. Some of them are international (like Holiday Inn), some not.

 

[Cyrano]

Maybe after I get this done, I can add to the volumes of information here the websites US folks can go to. I've been having to look for all the US equivalents (eg expedia etc) for the links in your threads. Some of them are international (like Holiday Inn), some not.

There are a few on here that have added advice for international travellers but it would be great to get addition pieces of info from first hand experience

BTW your right about taking the deal from HI when you see it as they change quickly

 

[A Small World]

But, I decided that the Holiday Inn - Standard Room was really the way for me to go, so I already booked that.

Brill. Im sure you'll have a fabulous time whether you stay on or off site.

You can still spend time in the Disney hotels- restaurants/bars or just wandering round them soaking up the atmosphere if you want.

 

[Happy Tappy]

For Americans to book room only rates at a Disney hotel you have to use the German version of expedia. www.expedia.de It's obviously in German but it's fairly easy to understand. It will let you book with any major credit card.

 

[TDERadulski]

I'm going to call today to see about room only rates on property too. I would much rather stay in the magic if I can, but happy with staying outside also.

I have been to WDW many, many times (as welived just a few hours north for several years). We went to DLP for the first time last November (after moving to Belgium). We stayed at Newport Beach on our DVC points. I have to say, that although the hotel was nice, it didn't have the same **magical** feeling as the hotels at WDW. I can't explain why, it just didn't for me. And I have to add that the hotel restaurants were nothing to write home about. Also I believe that the 2* hotels on DLP do not have air conditioning...something this American likes on a warm, humid summer night!
That said, the Parks are wonderful!! They really took into account all that could be improved at older Disney parks and got it right at DLP! We are headed back next week for several days. Plan to buy an annual pass and we are staying offsite at the Marriott d'lle-de-France (The DVC'er in me needs 2BR with a kitchen and LR!!). And with a Dream AP you can still take advantage of EHM even if you are staying off-site!
I hope you can enjoy some time at DLP while you are here on business....don't forget Paris is at your doorstep too.

- Tara