DLP hotel - take more people, get a cheaper rate!!!!

[KiwiSue]

I have booked to go to DLP in early January for 4 nights. I phoned DLP and they told me that all the DLP hotels are fully booked, but they could offer me a DLP 'associated' hotel, which was off site, but offers many of the same benefits as DLP guests (i.e. early entry etc). This is the L'Elsee Val d Europe, one RER stop away from Disney. When I first phoned they offered me a room for one adult, one child and one baby at £373 including park passes and breakfast. I thought this was pretty good, but when I phoned later to book, I was told that a mistake had been made and the rate was around £570! I asked for a room only rate which they gave me at £390 for 4 nights including breakfast. This I thought was pretty awful. I tried booking the same hotel through Paris Travel and they offered me room and park passes for £700! So I called back DLP and decided to book the 'room only' deal of £390.

Confused? You will be. Because I then mentioned that my husband may be joining me at the last minute (his work is unpredictable and I did not want to pay for his accommodation if he then dropped out at the last minute). I asked what the additional cost would be and was told that it was only a 'couple of pounds in local tax' So I said, well, if that's all it is, could I book him in now. The person on the DLP booking line said that as he had just entered my first booking, he would then have to do an amendment, which meant rebooking. So he plugged the details into his computer and says '£198 pounds'. What???!!!- another £198 pounds for my husband to share the room? No, the full rate is now £198!. Same room, one extra person, means £200 cheaper!!!! Even the DLP person was confused at this one! He rechecked and sure enough, If I book for myself and my two sons the rate is £390. But if I book the same room for myself and my husband and my two sons the rate is £190! Is this total madness or what?

Incidentally, I don't like to gloat, but do you realise that this means I have flights and accommodation at DLP for 2 adults and 2 kids, for 4 nights, in school holidays (!) for the grand total of £290. Can anyone beat this deal?!!!

 

[alexandra uk]

Thats unbeliveable Sue
Could you post the number for me to call please ?
I'm trying to persude DH to go for a couple of days in December (we've had to cancel for Florida), but hes not having any of it. He says its too cold, and if he'd rather go somewhere hot.
I've got my heart set on Disney, and if I show him how cheap its coming up, I may be able to persude him to go.
(fingers crossed )
I've even been considering taking the baby on my own
Thanks in advance

 

[alexandra uk]

Sorry Sue, I forgot to ask who you booked your flights with, and where are you flying from ?

 

[BevS97]

alex

I'm sorry to hear you've had to cancel your florida trip, you must be gutted.

i have to say, that I agree with your hubby though - we went to DLP last November and it was absolutely freezing. We did have a nice weekend, but it was definitely marred by the extreme cold. I would probably recommend waiting until the springtime when it's a bit warmer

Bev

 

[alexandra uk]

Thanks Bev
DH said if I really wanted to go, he wouldn't mind going spring time, but even though I know it will be cold, I really want to see the Xmas decs. I told him there is a chance that Florida could be VERY cold that time of year, but he still was having none of it.
If we don't go this year, I'll just wait for Florida next December.
It just seems like such a long way off

 

[KiwiSue]

Alexandra

I too wanted to go to Florida (using my airmiles) but we simply couldn't get it into my husbands work schedule so Disneyland Paris was my compromise - but I didn't want to waste the airmiles on this so hubby said 'as long as its cheap'. We hope to travel together but if he cannot make it I plan to go alone with my 7 year old and 18 month old. I know it will be pretty cold but I figure with good warm coats and gloves etc it will hopefully be ok.

I got flights for all four of us with BMI from Heathrow to CDG leaving in the morning on 2 January, returning mid afternoon 6 January for 99 pounds total. Through their website at flybmi.com. British airways are asking 260 pounds for the same date and times.

For accommodation I phoned the offical booking line 0870 503 0303. I was told that all the on site hotels are fully booked over the Christmas/New Year period. On my first call they offered nothing further, but on a second call they offered their associate hotel at Val d'Europe. They are pretty reluctant to give a rate without passes included so you will have to push for this. I have no intention of visiting Disney on my arrival or departure day (I plan to visit the acquarium at Val d'Europe and the Eiffle tower at some time), and this means that I will be paying way too much for passes if I have to take a pass inclusive deal. I found that other travel agents will only do a pass inclusive deal (with a massive 100% markup in some cases) but if you insist ,the offical booking line with give you a rate for room and breakfast only. But you have to be pretty insistant about this. At first I tried saying I had an annual pass but they would not book until I could produce proof of this. So then I was just honest and said that I did not want to visit Disney every day and wanted to save some money. Even then they seemed pretty unused to offering a room only deal and as you can see from my original posting above, even the computer seems to be confused!

Incidentally, the first person I dealt with was very unhelpful, refused to give me a room only deal unless I had an annual pass and only reluctantly offered the Val d'Europe at the end of the conversation. The second person I dealt with was very helpful and very pleasant and seemed to understand that some of us are on a limited budget(!) and went out of his way to be helpful. So I guess you have to ask all the right questions!

I keep thinking that maybe a mistake has been made and I have been given the wrong tariff. But my confirmation has arrived in the mail so its now official!

Anyhow good luck to you!

Susan.

 

[KiwiSue]

Sorry, forgot to add that I, too, wish to see the Christmas decorations and apparently they are going stay up until 5th January.