Disney Noob! Is this how much it's supposed to cost??

[Rua]

Is there a discount on the hotel booking? If not then you could hang fire (perhaps book your flights yourself though as they only tend to go up - I know from experience and in 4 trips have yet to bag cheap flights!!), and see if anything else comes up. October is a while away yet with regards to Disney offers!

Regarding booking via the UK site (or French one) you don't need a UK or French address - I believe you just leave the country blank or put UK or France - confirmation is emailed to you, not posted so you do not need that country address at all, not even for check in. You can also ring up and ask for the deal, if for eg you see it on the French site. Someone has recently done this and they do honour it. So, it might be worth checking out the French Disney site too.

A lot of people are saying that once these current deals end (30th April for UK site, not sure what current deal is on the Irish site), that a new flash sale will be around the corner - usually with 40 - 50% off But obviously you can't be sure what dates it will include! This is usual Disney pattern.

If it already includes something like 30% - 40% off then ignore me .

The current offer I've priced already includes 40% off. I guess what's made me so apprehensive about booking anything yet is that a friend of mine got a deal last March that was 900 for flights, hotel (Santa Fe) and meals for 4 and she's tellin me I'm mad to book now.

I doubt I'd get anything that good, but one can dream!

 

[DLPDreams]

March is a very different time to October. You will not get a deal like your friend - or it is very unlikely imho. Children under 12 often go free at that time of year but come April, Disney always pull that offer and it becomes under 7 - just shows the seasons mean different pricing etc. Sometimes DLRP do 50% off but it is quite rare and tends to be at times where they don't fill the hotels so easily (like March!). 40% is probably as good as you will get for the hotel

Can't comment on flights as we don't use the same airline but I don't know many people who have managed to get the flights cheaper through Disney than direct.

One thing I will say is don't hang around too long if you want to get that 40% off - it can go off as quickly as you see it. I have seen that happen twice to us .

 

[Rua]

March is a very different time to October. You will not get a deal like your friend - or it is very unlikely imho. Children under 12 often go free at that time of year but come April, Disney always pull that offer and it becomes under 7 - just shows the seasons mean different pricing etc. Sometimes DLRP do 50% off but it is quite rare and tends to be at times where they don't fill the hotels so easily (like March!). 40% is probably as good as you will get for the hotel

Can't comment on flights as we don't use the same airline but I don't know many people who have managed to get the flights cheaper through Disney than direct.

One thing I will say is don't hang around too long if you want to get that 40% off - it can go off as quickly as you see it. I have seen that happen twice to us .

Hmmm...well if that's the case, than I don't think i will hang around and wait. I need to just bite the bullet and do this!

So here's another question that's a bit off topic that'll help me decide on which package to go for: Who has a nicer pool? Sequoia or Newport?

 

[RoseBug]

Hmmm...well if that's the case, than I don't think i will hang around and wait. I need to just bite the bullet and do this!

So here's another question that's a bit off topic that'll help me decide on which package to go for: Who has a nicer pool? Sequoia or Newport?

We have chosen the NPB over the Sequoia because of the outdoor pool, but if you go in October, the Sequoia's pool looks fab, and people seem to prefer that hotel to the NPB. If we were going in Oct we would prob go for Sequoia, NPB looks very much like a summer hotel!

 

[jennytablina]

Hmmm...well if that's the case, than I don't think i will hang around and wait. I need to just bite the bullet and do this!

So here's another question that's a bit off topic that'll help me decide on which package to go for: Who has a nicer pool? Sequoia or Newport?

Tough one! Newport has a much larger pool than Sequoia, but the flipside tends to be that Newport's pool can be much more busy as a result, but they both have slides, outdoor pools and a little spa and sauna area. While Sequoia's is smaller, it also feels a bit more hidden away and relaxing when it's not too busy. Though regardless where you stay, you can get a pass to swim at another hotels pool if you ask at reception as I recall. It really depends on if you like a big, busy sort of pool, or a quiet(er) and more secluded kind of pool

 

[A Small World]

Tough one! Newport has a much larger pool than Sequoia, but the flipside tends to be that Newport's pool can be much more busy as a result, but they both have slides, outdoor pools and a little spa and sauna area. While Sequoia's is smaller, it also feels a bit more hidden away and relaxing when it's not too busy. Though regardless where you stay, you can get a pass to swim at another hotels pool if you ask at reception as I recall. It really depends on if you like a big, busy sort of pool, or a quiet(er) and more secluded kind of pool

You can only use the pool in the hotel where you are staying

 

[Rua]

o, 22nd is half term for some schools. Ours is the week after but I know some have it the week before!

Our is the week after as well. I started looking online and quite a few schools have theirs in the UK on the 22nd.

Do you reckon Disney will be mad busy during that week because of the half term in the UK?

 

[Ware Bears]

We have chosen the NPB over the Sequoia because of the outdoor pool, but if you go in October, the Sequoia's pool looks fab, and people seem to prefer that hotel to the NPB. If we were going in Oct we would prob go for Sequoia, NPB looks very much like a summer hotel!

Could have written this myself! I would choose Sequoia over Newport Bay for October.

 

[Ware Bears]

Do you reckon Disney will be mad busy during that week because of the half term in the UK?

No, it will be busier than when there are no school holidays but nothing like in July/ August or over 31st Oct/1st Nov dates.

 

[Rua]

No, it will be busier than when there are no school holidays but nothing like in July/ August or over 31st Oct/1st Nov dates.

Ok. The other dates I was looking at were for the 27th of September to the 1st of October, which is well out of the school holidays, but runs over the weekend (as opposed to my original plan for the mid week break on the 22nd-26th of October.) I've heard weekends are very busy there, but at this rate it's probably much of a muchness.

I've spoken to a couple travel agencies this morning, and am just waiting on the hubby to make the final call.
Thanks again to all of you for your input. You've been invaluable. I'll let you know what we end up going with!

 

[DLPdaft]

avoid any weekend at DLP - you will get much more done on a midweek trip in October than you will if you include a weekend in your visit (and you'll have to plan a lot more to avoid the queues).

 

[Rua]

We're booked!

22nd-26th October at the Sequoia Lodge.

Yay! I've wanted to visit Disneyland ever since I was a kid. Now I finally get my chance! And I can't wait to see my wee boys faces when I tell them where we're taking them!

 

[DLPDreams]

Yay Glad you got booked up. Now, don't keep looking at the price in case it goes down ...

Seriously though, really pleased you've booked. I am sure your boys will love it, and what a great year to be going too with the 20th celebrations/Dreams show .

Before you know it, you'll be addicted like the rest of us .

 

[Rua]

Yay Glad you got booked up. Now, don't keep looking at the price in case it goes down ...

Oh my goodness. Are you spying on me?? How'd you know that's what I'm like? LOL
I'm a devil for doing that every time I book to go anywhere. I don't know why I do that to myself!

Either way, I'm delighted we're finally going! I only wish we didn't have to wait for 7 whole months!!!

 

[DLPDreams]

that's what we all do!

Some people on here have had luck and upgraded to a higher price hotel if a better offer has come along - like pay another £70 and you can upgrade to the next category. But it doesn't always happen - it seems that the French booking line seems to let you do it more than the UK line (which tends to be manned by American CMs who aren't as erm, sympathetic ).

I love the look of the SL btw. Thinking of that one for our trip end November as haven't booked the hotel yet. It looks a great winter/Christmas hotel .

 

[Rua]

that's what we all do!

Some people on here have had luck and upgraded to a higher price hotel if a better offer has come along - like pay another £70 and you can upgrade to the next category. But it doesn't always happen - it seems that the French booking line seems to let you do it more than the UK line (which tends to be manned by American CMs who aren't as erm, sympathetic ).

I love the look of the SL btw. Thinking of that one for our trip end November as haven't booked the hotel yet. It looks a great winter/Christmas hotel .

I know! I can't wait to see it. The pool looks great. The general consensus seems to be that SL is great for autumn/winter and Newport is great for summer, so I'm glad we went with SL in the end.