First timer with some questions

[magicbob]

I'm a Disney veteran, but have never been to DLRP. I recently moved to Germany and we're planning our first visit next month. I've been doing research here and at DLRP Magic website (as well as the official website), but still have a couple of questions.

I've determined that Dream Annual Passports are our best ticket option. We'll use two or three days this trip and I'm sure we will come back at least several more times in the next year. The food/shopping discounts plus free parking, etc. are all perks that make this a great deal for us.

We're going to stay offsite for this first visit. When I look at the DLRP website, it seems you cannot book a room only reservation, only packages that include tickets. Since we will be getting Annual Passports, that's not a great option for us. I see that lodging discounts are listed on DLRP Magic website as one of the benefits for Annual Passport holders. When we get ready to book next time, will we have to call to book a room only reservation?

If we pay for parking on the first day, does that get refunded when we purchase the Annual Passport or does the free parking only take effect on subsequent visits?

EMH is also listed as an Annual Passport benefit. I'm planning to arrive around 7:30 am on our first morning. If we purchase Annual Passports that morning, will we be able to enjoy EMH from 8 am until 10 am and then, alter in the day when it starts to get more crowded, take care of processing the permanent passes? Or do you have to go immediately to the Annual Passport office and get them made before visiting attractions? Will the temporary Annual Passport received at the front gate allow us to get FPs or will that require that we've gotten our permanent passes made?

For this first visit, we're just going to pay for dining OOP (probably stick to less expensive fast food options). We've used DDP in the past at WDW and liked it. I will consider half or full-board plans for future trips once we've been able to get a better idea of which restaurants we'd like to visit most and then do the math to determine if one of the meal plans saves us money or not. If we have an Annual Passport (which includes dining discounts when paying OOP) are there any discounts for the meal plans? And can I book a room with meal plan but no tickets (since we'll already have Annual Passports)?

Last question... I'm going to be driving from Germany. I read online that the tolls on A4 are going to run about 30 euros each way. Is that amount still about right or has it gone up? The posts I read may have been from years ago, so I'm trying to verify if the information is still current. I realize most of the members here in the UK, so you're generally taking a completely different route, but if anyone knows the current toll amounts from Germany to DLRP, it will help me finalize my trip budget. Thanks.

 

[tennisfan]

I'm a Disney veteran, but have never been to DLRP. I recently moved to Germany and we're planning our first visit next month. I've been doing research here and at DLRP Magic website (as well as the official website), but still have a couple of questions.

I've determined that Dream Annual Passports are our best ticket option. We'll use two or three days this trip and I'm sure we will come back at least several more times in the next year. The food/shopping discounts plus free parking, etc. are all perks that make this a great deal for us.

We're going to stay offsite for this first visit. When I look at the DLRP website, it seems you cannot book a room only reservation, only packages that include tickets. Since we will be getting Annual Passports, that's not a great option for us. I see that lodging discounts are listed on DLRP Magic website as one of the benefits for Annual Passport holders. When we get ready to book next time, will we have to call to book a room only reservation?

You will have to phone but staying onsite with a package is usually cheaper then paying room only AP discounted price. Another option is buy a package for one person & add the others at check in only paying local tax of approx €2 per night. Other option is staying off site

If we pay for parking on the first day, does that get refunded when we purchase the Annual Passport or does the free parking only take effect on subsequent visits?

Some people have had it refunded others haven't. Its cheaper to park in the Village multi storey car park € for the day as opposed to €15 a day in the main car park, so you could always park it there the 1st day, then use the main car park.

EMH is also listed as an Annual Passport benefit. I'm planning to arrive around 7:30 am on our first morning. If we purchase Annual Passports that morning, will we be able to enjoy EMH from 8 am until 10 am and then, alter in the day when it starts to get more crowded, take care of processing the permanent passes? Or do you have to go immediately to the Annual Passport office and get them made before visiting attractions? Will the temporary Annual Passport received at the front gate allow us to get FPs or will that require that we've gotten our permanent passes made?

Not sure you can buy an AP that early as the ticket booths won't be open yet, could be wrong on that one though.


For this first visit, we're just going to pay for dining OOP (probably stick to less expensive fast food options). We've used DDP in the past at WDW and liked it. I will consider half or full-board plans for future trips once we've been able to get a better idea of which restaurants we'd like to visit most and then do the math to determine if one of the meal plans saves us money or not. If we have an Annual Passport (which includes dining discounts when paying OOP) are there any discounts for the meal plans? And can I book a room with meal plan but no tickets (since we'll already have Annual Passports)?

You don't get discount on meal plans by having an AP, the meal plan in DLP is different to WDW. It would probably work out better to pay OOP & use your AP discount.

Last question... I'm going to be driving from Germany. I read online that the tolls on A4 are going to run about 30 euros each way. Is that amount still about right or has it gone up? The posts I read may have been from years ago, so I'm trying to verify if the information is still current. I realize most of the members here in the UK, so you're generally taking a completely different route, but if anyone knows the current toll amounts from Germany to DLRP, it will help me finalize my trip budget. Thanks.

Hope some of the answers help, sure others will be along to add to it

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Re Nikki's great answers I'll just add the following

- The 1st days parking won't be refunded after paying but some people haven't had to pay at the gate upon presentation of their temporary AP - The official line is that you have to pay.

- The Vinci parking is not only cheaper but also is much closer to the parks

http://www.vincipark.com/vincipark.nsf/en/parcservice/pages/chessy_disney_village.htm#

Up to 24hrs is 10€

- You can reserve room only via Expedia and other booking sites and save even more money by adding extra people in at check in as long as you don't go over room occupany

- Ticket counters open at 8.00 am so that's the earliest you could buy a AP

For the most up to date info concerning toll costs I'd check on Via Michelin

http://www.viamichelin.fr/web/Itineraires

You can buy your AP in advance from a site such as cemultiavantages and not only is it cheaper but you could get a free AP for a child under 7

http://www.ce-multiavantages.com/pr...uel-promotion-dream-adulte-enfant.html?id=404

Hth

 

[magicbob]

Thanks for this helpful information!

I realize that the park/ticket booths don't open until 8 am. Arriving 30 minutes early to (hopefully) be one of the first in line is just my nature.

EDIT: It just occurred to me that we are arriving the afternoon prior to visiting the parks. We'll be shopping/dining at Disney Village, so would be parking at the garage that day anyway. Can I purchase the temporary Annual Passports that afternoon/evening? We would not be using them until the next day. Will the temporary passport get me free parking the next morning or is that only valid after we've had the permanent Annual Passports made? I see that the free parking benefit specifies at the "Disney Parks Lot." Does that mean the Vinci garage at Disney Village is not included in the free parking? We'd be paying for parking that first evening anyway. I just need to figure out whether we must go to the main parking lot on subsequent days to get the free parking.

 

[magicbob]

I just had one of those "why didn't I think of this before" epiphanies. When I first started planning my itinerary, I was looking at just purchasing individual tickets for two days that we would use beginning on the day after we arrive. Since I'm now getting Annual passports instead, we can just go ahead and head to the park as soon as we arrive and it won't cost any extra. In fact, I may now plan for an early morning departure instead of waiting until midday. That way, we'll get there in time to visit for most of the day on our arrival day.

 

[DLPdaft]

there you go, that sounds like a plan!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Thanks for this helpful information!

I realize that the park/ticket booths don't open until 8 am. Arriving 30 minutes early to (hopefully) be one of the first in line is just my nature.

EDIT: It just occurred to me that we are arriving the afternoon prior to visiting the parks. We'll be shopping/dining at Disney Village, so would be parking at the garage that day anyway. Can I purchase the temporary Annual Passports that afternoon/evening? We would not be using them until the next day. Will the temporary passport get me free parking the next morning or is that only valid after we've had the permanent Annual Passports made? I see that the free parking benefit specifies at the "Disney Parks Lot." Does that mean the Vinci garage at Disney Village is not included in the free parking? We'd be paying for parking that first evening anyway. I just need to figure out whether we must go to the main parking lot on subsequent days to get the free parking.

Concerning parking the only parking that is free with the AP is the main DLP car park

Every time you want to visit DLP and not pay a € for parking it is the main park.

Vinci is a totally separate company that operates most of the public parking garages across France.

They offer depending on availabilty and not on weekends a reduced day rate to AP holders (Dream and Fantasy) but this is something you would need your permanent laminated AP for

 

[magicbob]

Please let me know if I am interpreting this correctly. I'm using translation software to interpret the webpage, but even with that, I want to make sure I am not misinterpreting the French.

It appears that the cemultiavantages webpage is like a discount club of sorts. To sign up looks like there is a 20 euro fee and then that makes me eligible to buy the discounted items they offer. Is it an annual membership fee that qualifies you for all of their discount offerings? Is that the way it works? It would certainly be worth 20 euros because it will save us 160 euros for the cost of the Annual passports. Plus it looks like there might be some other items they offer at a discount that we might take advantage of.

If I order Annual Passports from this website, are they going to mail me vouchers to exchange at the park? How quickly do they deliver them? I need to have them in hand in about 3 weeks to ensure we have them on time for our visit in about 4 weeks. Do they have an option to download and print your own voucher immediately?

Thanks!

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Please let me know if I am interpreting this correctly. I'm using translation software to interpret the webpage, but even with that, I want to make sure I am not misinterpreting the French.

It appears that the cemultiavantages webpage is like a discount club of sorts. To sign up looks like there is a 20 euro fee and then that makes me eligible to buy the discounted items they offer. Is it an annual membership fee that qualifies you for all of their discount offerings? Is that the way it works? It would certainly be worth 20 euros because it will save us 160 euros for the cost of the Annual passports. Plus it looks like there might be some other items they offer at a discount that we might take advantage of.

You are on the right lines It's a site set up originally for French employees and companies/associations allowing them to buy discounted tickets. It's now open to anyone anywhere as long as they join up.

It's an annual 20€ fee and once you've paid it you can buy from as many of the different offers as you like

If I order Annual Passports from this website, are they going to mail me vouchers to exchange at the park? How quickly do they deliver them? I need to have them in hand in about 3 weeks to ensure we have them on time for our visit in about 4 weeks. Do they have an option to download and print your own voucher immediately?

Thanks!

They send you through a temporary AP that you use to go directely into the park with. You have to take it to the AP office during that 1st day along with a piece of photo id per personne and they make out your permanent AP there and then.

People who have ordered them from the UK received their AP within a week. It's 6.90€ for postage and it's registed/signed for mail.

Afaik for the DLP stuff it's not possible via email and printing but that you could see directley with Alicia at CE

hth

 

[magicbob]

Received my Annual Passports from ce-multivantages yesterday! Thanks for that tip. I saved about $200 USD. The Annual Passports will already have paid for themselves on this visit.