Decisions decisions.... advice please

[rhysd2]

Hello all

well we were planning a trip in late september but Jessica has now been accepted for her ODP training a year early so thats put the kibosh on that. However we're now looking at doing a trip 1st or 2nd week of december. However we have a dilema so some help is needed please.

1. hotel: we stayed in santa fe last time and liked it just fine however we'd like to try a variety of hotels there.
Cheyenne looks interesting as its a bit closer but is it really any nicer than santa fe to justify the extra cash?
Newport: we were looking at this but it was over £350 more than cheyenne. Is it worth the extra cash? whats the perks of newport?
Sequia lodge: how does it compare to newport? seems to have the same facilities but a little less expensive than newport. also are the suites in sequia worth it? upgrading to a suite in sequia is cheaper than newport and looks very luxurious. are there any benifits other than the nicer room? is the nicer room worth it?

really we're trying to work out whether we want a nicer hotel with better location or a cheaper hotel and more spending money. Being less experienced with disneyland paris we're struggling to answer the questions

2. meals. last time we did the half board plus meal plan. it was good but this time we'd make some different choices for restaurants. I've heard rumblings on here that you can eat cheaper per night than the half board plus plan(24 euros each a night right?) if so where is best to go for this? if its possible to eat cheap for half the nights then go somewhere nicer the other half that'd be great.

3. number of nights: I'd like to go for 6 nights 7 days but every time I change the nights from 5 to 6 it ups the price by £100. what ever hotel im in £100 extra. in some cases for that 1 day its costing 1/5th of the trip or more just for that 1 extra night. I've tried different day/date variations with no joy.

4. we plan to be going back within 12 months i think but perhaps only once. is it worth getting a AP or does it need more than 1 or 2 visits a year to get financial returns?

thanks all

Rhys

 

[torsie24]

Although newport looks a lot grander from the outside, from everything I've read (I haven't stayed at NPB myself though so this is just hearsay) sequoia copes a lot better with the number of guests it has. SO i'd say go for SL suite!! Fastpass! Whoot!!

 

[Bolanette87]

If you can hold off booking for a bit I can give a verdict on both the Sequoia and the Newport when I get back in a couple of weeks!! Seriously though, the Sequoia is a really lovely hotel and we loved it.

Bob xoxoxox

 

[rhysd2]

aye in no rush to book so will be happy to hear from you after.

and whats this about a fast pass with a suite?

 

[torsie24]

If you stay in a suite you get free VIP (unlimited!!) fastpasses!!

A great perk in high season!!

 

[Bolanette87]

aye in no rush to book so will be happy to hear from you after.

and whats this about a fast pass with a suite?

If you stay in a suite you get free VIP (unlimited!!) fastpasses!!

A great perk in high season!!

I don't think its all suites in every hotel though. Just thought I should point this out!

Bob xoxox

 

[A Small World]

We've stayed at both Santa Fe, Cheyenne and S Lodge. Although we liked SF Cheyenne was definitely nicer - the theming was better for a start. Then the SL was nicer than Cheyenne.

SL will be lovely at Christmas - its one of the cosiest hotels and the log fire in the bar is lovely.
You may spend more time in your hotel as the park will probably close about 7.00 early Dec.

Its usually worth getting an AP if spending more than 3 nights there but its not always easy to book room only without tickets because remember the price you are being quoted has tickets included as well

 

[torsie24]

I don't think its all suites in every hotel though. Just thought I should point this out!

Bob xoxox

Oh, I thought it was...as Cheyenne and SF don't have suites.....

Sorry if I'm wrong and have gotten your hopes up though...

 

[rhysd2]

vip unlimited fast pass?? err so i can walk into any fast pass queue as many times a day as i like without having to go to the fast pass machine?

how much do AP's cost then and how much of a discount do you get for booking room only?

 

[torsie24]

Yep thats exactly a VIP fastpass!! Like a fastpass ticket for any time you like!!

 

[rhysd2]

and it has unlimited use?

MUSSST HAAAVVVVEEEEEEEEE

I'd wear tower of terror out!!

 

[A Small World]

There are 3 APs - I think theres more info and prices on the FAQ at the top of the page.
You need to ring for a room only price but it is difficult sometimes to get one without alraedy having an AP

 

[rhysd2]

i just had a glance at the AP info as you were typing that. all the AP's seem pretty good price wise. for those of you with them is it worth shelling out the extra 90 odd euros for the dream one? or best to just stick with fantasy for the reductions it offers?

with the fantasy one are the blackout days publicised anywhere? curious as to when they are and also when the 10% off on hotels is. if the fantasy ones a ***** sketchy on the blackout dates for hotels and entrance may as well just get the dream one

and do you really get that much of a reduction when booking just room only. also when booking room only do you still get brekfast?

oh and can you order your AP's before you go? and have them sent via mail or something?

 

[A Small World]

You can order APs before you go but I think you have to use them within a month so its just as easy to get them there.

Im sure theres a list of blackout days on the FAQ as well

We got dream APs last yr but mainly as we were staying off site last summer so wanted them to use EMH. They have just run out and we didnt renew. If we had we would have probably just got DH a dream and the rest Fantasy as apart from EMH only one person in the group needs dream to get discounts etc

The discounts on rooms seems to vary from time to time depending on hotel/availibility etc. I think with dream though you are always guaranteed a discount but with fantasy you may not always get it unless this has changed - of course its still cheaper than with tickets. Mostly its a similar price to what you tend to get on Expedia for room only.

Yes breakfast is included with room only

 

[rhysd2]

I'd actually quite like to get the AP's before I go to use them to get the hotel and the discount on it.

is that possible or not allowed?

if not is it possible to book room only without a AP and buy it when we get there?

 

[A Small World]

I'd actually quite like to get the AP's before I go to use them to get the hotel and the discount on it.

is that possible or not allowed?

if not is it possible to book room only without a AP and buy it when we get there?

Theoretically you can get the APs before you go but Im not sure if anyone on here has actually done that. as I say they need to be activated within a month so its not leaving much time to then be able to book a hotel. Booking at short notice you may not get additional discounts on the room apart from normal room only rate and as no one else has done it before Im not sure if you can actually do this.
Someone did manage to book room only without having AP and getting it there but its unusual to be able to do this - usually you need an AP number to give them when booking. You could try orr failing that try to book room only through expedia or book a room at one of the partner hotels- explorers/HI etc

 

[~Pixie Lady~]

I've stayed at Sante Fe, Cheyenne and Sequoia Lodge and to be honest, in terms of theming Cheyenne is my favourite. The grounds of the hotel are lovely. Saying that, Sequoia is also very nice, as A Small World mentioned there is a lovely big wood fire and it is a little closer to the park than Cheyenne, but not that much closer to justify the price difference.
I always find that we are never in the hotel for long, simply to eat breakfast and sleep, so as long as it is clean and comfortable thats all that matters to me!

 

[rhysd2]

hrmm ok may ring them today and see if its possible to get a room only without a annual pass and how much cheaper it is.

this time we're thinking as we'll be there longer there will be more time spent in the hotel so would like to try a nicer one.

and yea 1 month isnt long to book and plan everything but you miss out on the 10% booking discount which could be 50-60 quid saved

setting that aside which AP do you all mostly have and what do you find is good/bad about it?

 

[rhysd2]

ok found the UK contact number for bookings so will ring them around lunch time. however just found through digging the montana rooms arent suites! DOH. ok will have to try and find out suite prices and see if I can book room only.

Still would love your guys input on the differences between fantasy and dream AP's. the blackout dates for fantasy dont look a big deal and wouldnt be times we would be likely to visit due to DW's course. however is the guarenteed 10% off room and extra 10% off shops worth the extra... 40 odd euros?

for those of you with fantasy passes how often are you not able to get the 10%?

also one thing I dont think anyones answered yet how does room only prices compare to the package prices on the website?

 

[beltane]

The Sequoia is lovely at Christmas....