AP's - Dream vs Fantasy

[OneExcitedMomma]

Hi again everyone,

Just quick question. We plan on getting Annual Passes for DP, myself and hopefully 2 free for our girls, both under 7. I'm just wondering if you would recommend the Dream or the Fantasy? There will be a grand total of €100 in the difference. The only benefit/difference we would get is the Extra Magic Hours with the dream passes. Would these extra hours be a real benefit the first week in October, or would we manage without them? My girls tend to sleep late when we're on holidays but because we're in Disneyland I can imagine they'll be up at the crack of dawn!! We don't plan on staying in the resort in February either, offsite will do us fine. (I do like that both give you 15% off Buffalo Bills show though, my eldest loves horses)

Also when it says 20% off boutiques with the Dream Ap, is that just clothes shops or all shops? (Forgive my ignorance!)

Thanks in advance...

 

[BRobson]

The 20% is off all Disney shops. We saved so much money with this alone it paid for itself. We always go for the Dream passes as they did not have blackout days and staying at the Explorers it let us use EMH.

We also in the past used the strollers which you can use for free with the Dream passes.

I suppose it comes down to EMH and if you want to have that option or not

 

[Cyrano]

Hi OneExcitedMomma and welcome to DLP DIS board
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We had a mixture of Dream and Fantasy as we were staying at DCR and entitled to EMH. The parking at Disney Hotels and the 20% discount was the main reason why we needed at least one Dream AP

 

[DLPdaft]

Hi One Excited Momma,

I'm considering the same thing - Dream or Fantasy AP. But I have to say, whats swaying me more towards the Dream AP is the EMH. Just the thought of 2 extra hours in the park, even if staying at an offsite hotel, plus the 20% discount on almost all shopping, is a really hard-to-resist incentive for me. I suppose it also depends on how long you go for each trip, and whether you have time to see and do everything without feeling like you are rushed.

I took DD to DLP at Feb half term this year (18th Feb I think, for 3 days), and it wasn't quiet. Without the GMF breakfast, I doubt we would have got to do Dumbo or the teacups at all - as Fantasyland seemed to get busy from the off.

The main advantage for me in getting a Dream AP is so I can avoid as many queues as possible, and EMH will allow me to do that.

Elaine

 

[OneExcitedMomma]

Thanks guys for the replies. Think we're definitely going for the Dream passes for all the reasons mentioned. And especially that I know the 20% is off most shopping! (I took the term boutique to mean clothes shops!!"

And I realised then that we won't have to bring DD's buggy on the plane with us, we can get the hire one for free. (she'll turn 3 on the trip, but I can imagine she'll need a buggy for the parks)

And after all, if we're getting the girls DP's for free, €358 for year passes is for nothing really...
And of course we'll utilise the EMH's as much as possible.

I'm sure I'll need more of your expert guidance in the next month, so be prepared!

 

[DLPdaft]

Remember also, you can get a kind member here to sponsor you when you buy your passes, so you can 10% off the total price too !!

Elaine

 

[A Small World]

We also went for dream APs mainly to get EMH but found it really worth it getting the 20% off shopping and 10% off food and drinks.

We were surprised even to get 20% off items which were already reduced

It definitely pays for itself.

 

[R.S.Winters]

dream dream dream dream lol dream!!!!

 

[Cyrano]

Remember also, you can get a kind member here to sponsor you when you buy your passes, so you can 10% off the total price too !!

Elaine

Unfortunately since most people's experience is that you cannot combine the free child under 7 AP with the sponsorship deal it is better to stick with the free APs

 

[DLPdaft]

Really? I wasn't aware of that Cyrano - do you think its worthwhile asking abot the sponsorship discount when I go buy my AP (and apply for DD's free one), just to see what they say? Or will they definitely say No at the AP office?

Elaine

 

[davewasbaloo]

It is definately either or.

The other thing to remember is with a Dream Pass you get a free apperetif or Orange Juice at Table Service restaurants. Those are nice perks too.

I have only ever opted for Dream (and earlier equivelent) passes and always feel they more than pay for themselves.

 

[HildeKitten]

And to add what everyone has already said, they really are completely paying for themselves in just 2 visits
I went in June for a day and I'm returning in October and the damn thing has already repaid itself completely
I'm definitely getting one next year again ^^

 

[MinnieMouse73]

Forgive my ignorance but how do you get the free APs? Is it part of the 'kids under 7 stay & play free' promotion? If so, how long is it running for?

Thanks!

 

[DLPdaft]

It appears to be part of the 15th anniversary celebrations, and yes, it is one free child's AP of the same type when you buy an adult AP, so long as the child is aged under 7 when you buy the AP. The offer has been extended until January 6th 2008 (at the moment).

Elaine

 

[frodo-ald]

I am planning a trip to DLP for next April and am one of the things I am looking at is possibly buying the AP. The thing is that I see that the Fantasy has most of the dates we are planning to go blocked out (12-19th April 2008). I deliberately picked this time of year after Easter as I thought the Parks would be quiet (in Northamptonshire the kids are off 2 weeks after Easter rather than the Easter break next year and I assumed much of the UK and the French would be in school). Does anyone know why these particular dates would be blocked? ( I don't want us to go thinking it will be quiet and then find out it is a major festival in France or something !!).

Thank you to everyone for the brilliant posts. I have only been to DLP once before and that was with my husband about a year or two after 'Eurodisney' had opened. We now have 2 kids (who will be 10 and 7) and will also be taking my parents. I have found the information on here very useful whilst trying to plan our trip.

 

[A Small World]

(12-19th April 2008). I deliberately picked this time of year after Easter as I thought the Parks would be quiet (in Northamptonshire the kids are off 2 weeks after Easter rather than the Easter break next year and I assumed much of the UK and the French would be in school). Does anyone know why these particular dates would be blocked? ( I don't want us to go thinking it will be quiet and then find out it is a major festival in France or something !!).
surfweb:

From what other people have said it looks as though quite a few schools in England are having holidays in April as opposed to at Easter. Also schools in France seem to be off at this time as well. If you look in the useful info FAQ sticky at the top of the page there is info about school holiday dates.
We are going at Easter when DDs school is having a holiday so hopefully it will be quieter than this Easter.
Although looking at the brochure I think it is slightly cheaper in April compared to Easter

 

[Ware Bears]

Hi frodo-ald, welcome to the DIS!

 

[frodo-ald]

Thank you for your help.

When originally planning the dates I thought I had checked the French School dates and found that they were in school - I have now double-checked and am totally wrong by the looks of it and most of them are off in that week !!!

I am now re-thinking and will possibly go late May bank holiday week. This will be extra nice for my youngest as we would then be there on his 8th birthday. Although all the UK are off it would appear the French are not (unless I have got this wrong as well!).

In this case the dates of the Fantasy Pass will be OK. Just need to work out whether the extra for the Dream is worth it. I also notice that in some places it mentions that with the Dream passport you get 5 Fastpasses each to use within the first month of the passport. Does anyone know if this is still correct?

 

[A Small World]

Just need to work out whether the extra for the Dream is worth it. I also notice that in some places it mentions that with the Dream passport you get 5 Fastpasses each to use within the first month of the passport. Does anyone know if this is still correct?

No you no longer get the fast passes with dream pass but I would still say they are definitely worth the extra money

 

[MazdaUK]

I was also planning for April as I thought the French would be at school and we're not

I have been the May BH week (half term) befoer, and found it was only busy on one day - the French BH of (I think) Ascencion day. The downside is, if the French are not on holiday there are more restaruant and ride closures. We walked to three different restaurants one lunchtime (each pointing us to the next one) before we found one open.