Fantasy renewal to Francilien?

[lojo]

We're going to DLP at Xmas again this year. Our APs run out in August. As we're heading to WDW for the first time in January, we're trying to find the cheapest possible tickets for DLP (for max three days access).

If we renew but choose Francilien (if this is even possible) - we might get 18 months for price of 12 and this would open the door to going again at Xmas 2013 (allowing for block out dates). This seems the cheapest option to me - does anyone have a better idea or any info on whether this is doable? I know that when buying a Francilien the 2nd and 3rd days are no entry, but if it is purchased as a renewal beginning August would that still apply?

We have already booked accommodation and aren't too concerned about EMH.

TIA

 

[DLPdaft]

Yes you can renew from Fantasy to Francillien.

I can't imagine there would be a problem renewing your AP to Francillien on the last day of your visit in August - as you'd then be able to use it as its 1st (activation) day that day and then that would mean days 2 and 3 (the no-entry days on all Francillien passes) wouldn't matter to you as you wouldn't be visiting DLP on those days anyway.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

These are the black out dates this Xmas for Francilien

DEC : 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23 and from the 29 to 31

but if you can work around them it's a good idea

 

[lojo]

This is exactly the response I was hoping for - we arrive on 23rd too late to go into the parks anyway, so block out dates this year perfect for us.

We would be renewing by mail - but I can't see any reason why the same logic wouldn't apply.

Any idea when the rest of the 2013 block out dates will be released - as they only show up to September at the moment?

Hope all the bad weather (and closed restaurants) aren't stopping you from enjoying your regular jaunts into the parks?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

This is exactly the response I was hoping for - we arrive on 23rd too late to go into the parks anyway, so block out dates this year perfect for us.

We would be renewing by mail - but I can't see any reason why the same logic wouldn't apply.

Any idea when the rest of the 2013 block out dates will be released - as they only show up to September at the moment?

Hope all the bad weather (and closed restaurants) aren't stopping you from enjoying your regular jaunts into the parks?

Thanks again for your help.

Ooh la that up there bothers me a bit as it's the 2nd and 3rd day after activation not purchase

So if even if you bought it via the post in August you won't be activating it until say the 23th Dec which would then mean you couldn't use it on the 24th and 25th

Somebody correct me if they know otherwise

I haven't been all week as what with this wonderful weather (not) and rl I haven't fancied it/found the time

Hopefully next week will be nicer, fingers crossed as it generally is after the 14th

 

[DLPdaft]

Ooh la that up there bothers me a bit as it's the 2nd and 3rd day after activation not purchase

So if even if you bought it via the post in August you won't be activating it until say the 23th Dec which would then mean you couldn't use it on the 24th and 25th

Somebody correct me if they know otherwise

yes, thats my understanding too Carrie - you have to use your Francillien through the turnstiles for that to be day 1 (activation day) - then its the 2 days following that day which are blocked for you if you have a Francillien pass.

 

[lojo]

So even if you get your actual card in the mail with a validity period on it, you can't use it the 2nd and 3rd day after first use? It looks like my cunning plan has been foiled.

Any other smart ideas for super budget entry tickets?

 

[MummyMinnie]

So even if you get your actual card in the mail with a validity period on it, you can't use it the 2nd and 3rd day after first use? It looks like my cunning plan has been foiled.

Any other smart ideas for super budget entry tickets?

How long are you staying for? The only thing I could think of would be to not activate them until the morning of the 24th you could use them all that day, then I believe you can get day entry tickets with 50% off for the blackout days (somebody may need to correct me on this one). There have been occasions when we've gone on blackout days to buy the discounted tickets and our passes have actually worked but it is a risk you take - we didn't try the CM on the ticket counter told us to try them!!!!! If you're going for a longer period you could maybe use the blackout days to do other things? On ours we use the time to go into the village to still get a bit of Disney magic etc and go into Paris / val d'Europe. If you're only going for a few days it wouldn't work though.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

How long are you staying for? The only thing I could think of would be to not activate them until the morning of the 24th you could use them all that day, then I believe you can get day entry tickets with 50% off for the blackout days (somebody may need to correct me on this one). There have been occasions when we've gone on blackout days to buy the discounted tickets and our passes have actually worked but it is a risk you take - we didn't try the CM on the ticket counter told us to try them!!!!! If you're going for a longer period you could maybe use the blackout days to do other things? On ours we use the time to go into the village to still get a bit of Disney magic etc and go into Paris / val d'Europe. If you're only going for a few days it wouldn't work though.

You can do that but it's not worth it imo, you might as well buy the Fantasy straightaway, as it's 50% off gate price which will be 69€ so for 2 days you'll have paid the 119€ Francilien + 69€ compared to 159€ for a Fantasy

Also the 2 days on the Francilien aren't classic blackout days but contractual non usage days so they don't get cancelled in the same way

I've been in on a blackout day before with a Fantasy as they scrapped them at the last minute for all the AP's - iirc it was last year in August

How many tickets are you after Lucy and I'll have a look but I think it's too early to be finding anything tbh

 

[MummyMinnie]

Good point, yes it's better to get the Fantasy then.

So there are different types of blackout days then? it's very confusing. .

It's happened twice to us once October half term 2010 and I think the second time was August time too.

I guess to get the 18months you wouldn't beable to buy from CE to get them cheaper?

What about sponsership if somebody else is there at the same time? is that a good discount I've never done that.

 

[DLPdaft]

you can't get a sponsorship discount of any kind if you've had an annual pass which has expired in the 2 years before you buying a new one.

shareholders discount gets you 15% discount on any annual pass - but again, you can't combine the 15% shareholders discount and the 18 months for the price of 12 - its one or the other.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Good point, yes it's better to get the Fantasy then.

So there are different types of blackout days then? it's very confusing. .

It's happened twice to us once October half term 2010 and I think the second time was August time too.

I guess to get the 18months you wouldn't beable to buy from CE to get them cheaper?

What about sponsership if somebody else is there at the same time? is that a good discount I've never done that.

Nothing is ever simple with DLP and the pricing

There are the blackout days for each AP except the Dream then for the Francilien there are 2 contractual non entry days when the AP is activated

It could all change again before long with talk of a Super Dream AP and monthly payments which have already started

Sponsorship would only be 10% and wouldn't walk either in this case as the person getting sponspored can't have had an AP within the past 2 years

 

[lojo]

We're arriving 23rd December (too late to go in parks - flight lands 8:15) and depart mid afternoon 26th December.

I would normally just look for the cheapest Fantasy pass beginning date of arrival, in order to maximise possibilities for future use. However, much as I hate to say it, it will just be this Xmas and possibly next Xmas too (depending on whether I get the 18 months offer). Florida will wipe out most of our travel budget and we have a couple of other plans for next year too. Therefore, getting entrance for 24th-26th at the cheapest possible price is a priority. My cocktail budget depends on it.

I will keep looking but any help is also very much appreciated.