Doing the sums

[DLPdaft]

Hi DLP DIY experts ,

I'm looking for some advice. In this year, I'll have taken my DD(6) to DLP twice. Both times I bought Disney on-site hotel and park tickets package through Disney Direct. In total, for 2xtrips of 2nights/3days, its cost £390.

I'm considering buying a dream AP, so I can get DD's free. This costs about £127 for an adult dream AP right? So, if I plan on taking DD for 2 similar trips in the next 12 months once I've bought the AP, that would mean I'd be looking at paying under £65 per night, for an on or offsite DLP hotel.

What can I get for my money (or even less than that?) in the way of hotels, and where do you book to get your best deals on hotel only?

Elaine

 

[Cubitus]

What can I get for my money (or even less than that?) in the way of hotels, and where do you book to get your best deals on hotel only?

If you talk about Disney Hotels only, the best is to book room-only at Expedia (without AP) or ask Disney (with AP) for room-only rates which are usually lower than Expedia (discounts change and are ether subject to being limited in no. of rooms, so call early, they'll tell you everything thats available for the time slot you plan to travel in).

Disney selected hotels could either be booked directly (I did so for Holiday Inn each year, they have prices per room which vary on seasons and pre-book/pre-pay). Ranges €70-140 for most times.

The other hotels, let's call them 'budget' (Premiere Classe, Citea, Campanile, Best Western Tulip Inn...). I usually book using hotelclub.net or hrs.com, starting at €35 per room, per night. It might turn out that those have even cheaper offers for Holiday Inn, so it's always worth to compare. Here are some »mapped reviews of mine.

Traveling with DD I'd suggest you to stay in one of the Disney selected then. Free shuttle bus is going frequently and will be at the park in under 10 minutes. The budget hotels are either 1 train (RER) stop away or in the middle of nowhere. If you go by car anyway, you could of use stay there (and with your dream AP, you could park at the Hotel New York parking lot so you're close to the park entrances anyway).

Oliver ••••

 

[DLPdaft]

Thank you so much for your reply Cubitus,

Elaine

 

[Ware Bears]

Elaine, there's a link in the Hotel FAQ to a thread giving sites that people have used to book off-site hotels through.

We always opt for the Explorers as there are 5 of us, I've used both Expedia and Benotel to book.

I think the Holiday Inn gives the best prices early on, I think you can book it at 50 weeks in advance through their own website.

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks Elaine, I'll have a look at the hotels thread.

I had a quick look at the Holiday Inn website, you're right, rooms are bookable well in advance, and start at 80euros per night for the type of room that would be suitable for us .

Elaine

 

[Ware Bears]

Great news!!!

Happy planning!

 

[DLPdaft]

Just reading back a few posts here too, I see some members have got the Santa Fe and even the Sequoia Lodge with their AP discounts for around £50ish per night - so it looks like the Dream AP is definitely the way to go for us!

Elaine

 

[DLPdaft]

Still doing the sums ,

I've been reading up on the Fantasy AP versus the Dream AP. The main differences which would swing it for me is the EMH and up to 30% discount on Disney hotel room rates which are given with the Dream AP, but not the Fantasy AP.

So, does anyone know -

EMH - is this expected to continue after April 2008? Any official news on this anywhere?

Dream AP discounts on hotel rooms - does Disney inform you in some way if you are a Dream AP holder, or which discounts are available and when? Or do you have to contact them? If thats the case, when is the best time to do that, or is it just pot luck?

Thanks for any advice,

Elaine

 

[Cubitus]

Dream AP discounts on hotel rooms - does Disney inform you in some way if you are a Dream AP holder, or which discounts are available and when?

Rarely. You get some mailings, and special offers CAN be announced there, but discounts change a lot, so you usually have to ring them, telling them about when you plan to go, and they'll tell you then if there are any extra discounts at specific hotels.

In my planning, I reached the reservations office whenever I needed; it can only happen that the english speaking skills of the CMs you get on the phones vary in a wide range, but they're even able to call you back if you just manage to leave them your number.

Good luck in planning and summing

About EMH: I guess they'll keep it, but don't ask me why I'm thinking this

Oliver ••••

 

[DLPdaft]

Thanks Cubitus - my head is beginning to hurt from all the planning and summing!

Ware Bears thanks for the mention of the benotel site - Explorers is a great price on there, from 75euros per night including breakfast ! In your experience, do the room prices at the Explorers, Holiday Inn etc mirror the Disney onsite ones as to special offer periods etc, or not? For example, I booked for the Santa Fe in April this year, for October. Because I booked when I did, I got a discount on the room rate. Would that be similar for the offsite hotels, or just depends whats available when you book? And is it cheaper on the likes of benotel to wait until nearer the time, or book as early as poss?

Ah decisions decisions.

Elaine

 

[Ware Bears]

Ware Bears thanks for the mention of the benotel site - Explorers is a great price on there, from 75euros per night including breakfast ! In your experience, do the room prices at the Explorers, Holiday Inn etc mirror the Disney onsite ones as to special offer periods etc, or not? For example, I booked for the Santa Fe in April this year, for October. Because I booked when I did, I got a discount on the room rate. Would that be similar for the offsite hotels, or just depends whats available when you book? And is it cheaper on the likes of benotel to wait until nearer the time, or book as early as poss?

I don't know if I'll be much help to you here Elaine. As there are 5 of us I never bother to check Disney hotel prices as it would either mean 2 rooms or a family room for us, either way it's too expensive.

I always check out the rates on Expedia, Benotel, and Explorers sites, and then book with whoever is the cheapest. I usually book as early as I can and think that definitely does work out in our favour as I have seen the rate for our time rise but have never seen it drop. Mind you, we only go in school holidays so whether it drops in off-peak times I don't know.

I think the Holiday Inn tends to offer better prices for early booking.

Sorry I can't be more help.

Edited to add: My gut feeling is they will also keep EMH. Only my own opinion, I've not read anything official or non-official anywhere, but EMH is bound to sway people to stay at a Disney hotel over an off-site one and at the end of the day that's what Disney want.

 

[Mamzie]

what a great thread.

We are going to get Dream APs too, because of the EMH even if you are off site.

I just wanted to say thanks for the explorers link as well, that looks great, and this thread saves me starting one identical.