Has Anyone Won a DLR Trip... Question Inside

[VictoriaAndMatt]

We just won a trip to Disneyland through our local news station It includes 4 3-day tickets and a 2 night hotel stay. We are supposed to get more information in the mail after November 1st from Disney. I'm just curious about the experience winners of similar prizes have had as far as if you got park hoppers and what hotel you were placed at? The wording is:

"Winners of Grand Prize Drawing will each receive a family getaway to the Disneyland Resort including: Room accommodations consisting of one (1) standard room (with a maximum of four (4) persons per room) for two (2) nights at a Premises or Premises area hotel selected by Disney in its sole discretion) and Four (4) 3-Day Disneyland® Resort Park Passes ® Tickets (subject to restrictions)."

I'm hoping it would be an on site stay since we haven't been able to stay on site before. Also will they have an issue with a 5th person in the hotel room if they are 2? TIA!

 

[Dot2Vegas]

Congrats!! Was this the channel 5 las Vegas contest by any chance?!

We have never won a full trip to Disney. I won tickets to the preopening on star tours a couple of years ago but it was through Disney and doesn't include anything else.

My guess is that its on property worst case scenario for the 5th person would probably be that they either charge you a per night fee for the person or have you upgrade to a bigger room and pay the difference. If its a good neighbor hotel they probably won't care. My experience with the Harbor Blvd hotels is that they don't care about the 5th person. We have never been questioned about it or charged anything additional.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

Congrats!! Was this the channel 5 las Vegas contest by any chance?!

We have never won a full trip to Disney. I won tickets to the preopening on star tours a couple of years ago but it was through Disney and doesn't include anything else.

My guess is that its on property worst case scenario for the 5th person would probably be that they either charge you a per night fee for the person or have you upgrade to a bigger room and pay the difference. If its a good neighbor hotel they probably won't care. My experience with the Harbor Blvd hotels is that they don't care about the 5th person. We have never been questioned about it or charged anything additional.

Enjoy your trip!!

Thank you! Yes, it was the Vegas one. I'm thinking it's probably on site too. The planner in me wishes we had more details. I think I almost like the planning as much as the trip itself.

 

[CaliDisneyMama]

I knew as soon as I read the subject line that it had to be the Fox5 contest!

I don't have any experience with winning a trip, but regardless of where they put you up, I would add another night or two onto the hotel stay if you can so you're not making the long drive to and from vegas ON your park days.

Congrats! Have a great time!!

 

[Barry Browning]

Well sort of my kid is a CM so we get in free.There are obviously issues we have to go on his off day or meet him before or after shift.But I have to tell you having bought many disney tickets--free is lots better.I am sure you will be in one of the on site properties here.

I love Disneyland I might have been about 10 times this year but I never get tired of it.Hope you get to go around the holidays.We are going to see son for Christmas...look for CMS on the CA rides from Austin..

 

[Dot2Vegas]

Thank you! Yes, it was the Vegas one. I'm thinking it's probably on site too. The planner in me wishes we had more details. I think I almost like the planning as much as the trip itself.

Lack of detail would drive me insane!!
I entered that contest every day. Glad to see that a DIS member won

 

[Rubygoose]

Congrats on winning your trip! Make sure than when you add the 2 year old to the reservation, you stress that it is 4 plus an infant - even though most of us wouldn't call a 2 year old an infant. Under 3 are free at DLR so they shouldn't count on your reservation.

 

[DharmaLou]

a friend won a trip thru a radio station here in Denver. She posted on the DIS for a while leading up to the trip (about a year ago). They had accommodations at DLH. They're a family of 3 so I don't know about having more than 4 people.

 

[cmwade77]

If it is an onsite hotel, a 2 year old doesn't count, but a 3 year old will. And it is based on the age at checkin, not checkout.

That policy saved us a ton of money at WDW, when my brother was turning 3. And the policy is the same on both coasts. Also if staying onsite, determining if they need a ticket is based on age at checkin.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If it is an onsite hotel, a 2 year old doesn't count, but a 3 year old will. And it is based on the age at checkin, not checkout.

That policy saved us a ton of money at WDW, when my brother was turning 3. And the policy is the same on both coasts. Also if staying onsite, determining if they need a ticket is based on age at checkin.

This HOTEL policy is for wdw hotels not DLR hotels BUT DLR hotels do sleep 5 so OP should be good anyways.

 

[debdreamsofdis]

If it is an onsite hotel, a 2 year old doesn't count, but a 3 year old will. And it is based on the age at checkin, not checkout.

That policy saved us a ton of money at WDW, when my brother was turning 3. And the policy is the same on both coasts. Also if staying onsite, determining if they need a ticket is based on age at checkin.

This HOTEL policy is for wdw hotels not DLR hotels BUT DLR hotels do sleep 5 so OP should be good anyways.

Yes, 3Minnies1MIckey is correct. The hotel policies are NOT the same on each coast. Seems silly, but I guess it has something to do with CA fire marshal laws. But as noted, OP should be fine since there are rooms in Paradise Pier and Grand Californian that can sleep 5.

Does your prize list an Approx. Retail Value (ARV) in the contest official rules? I won a trip to Universal Studios Orlando about 2 years ago and the travel agent who booked the arrangements told me as long as actual cost of the hotel didn't go over the stated ARV, then I could basically choose the hotel I wanted, subject to availability. But I'm sure each sweepstakes could be different.

Keep in mind, you will have to claim your winnings on your tax return (that's the not so fun part about winning a trip that no one tells you about). Congratulations on your win!

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

Thank you everyone for your responses!

Yes, 3Minnies1MIckey is correct. The hotel policies are NOT the same on each coast. Seems silly, but I guess it has something to do with CA fire marshal laws. But as noted, OP should be fine since there are rooms in Paradise Pier and Grand Californian that can sleep 5.

Does your prize list an Actual Retail Value (ARV) in the contest official rules? I won a trip to Universal Studios Orlando about 2 years ago and the travel agent who booked the arrangements told me as long as actual cost of the hotel didn't go over the stated ARV, then I could basically choose the hotel I wanted, subject to availability. But I'm sure each sweepstakes could be different.

Keep in mind, you will have to claim your winnings on your tax return (that's the not so fun part about winning a trip that no one tells you about). Congratulations on your win!

That's one of the things that has me wondering if it's a good neighbor hotel instead of on site. "Estimated retail value $1420.00" When I put in any hypothetical dates it comes in at more than that for on property (even leaving DS 2 off).

 

[cmwade77]

This HOTEL policy is for wdw hotels not DLR hotels BUT DLR hotels do sleep 5 so OP should be good anyways.

Dlr does have the same policy or so they told me when I asked.

 

[skbaker]

I've actually won 4 trips to Disneyland through local radio stations over the past several years. It's always been the standard "4 3-day Park Hoppers and 2 nights at at one of the on-site hotels". Soon, you'll get a form in the mail that you need to fill out and send back to them. The form will ask you to specify the dates you would like to go. I've always made a note on the form indicating which hotel we wanted to stay at, even though it doesn't specifically ask that question. One time, I requested the Grand Californian, and the request was granted. The other times, I've requested the Disneyland Hotel, and that's what we got. We have 3 kids, so we've always had five people, and have indicated that on the form as well. Both hotels accommodate five people in a room just fine. (We've just purchased a fifth park-hopper since the prize always includes just four.)

Since the prize just includes 2 nights hotel, we buy several extra nights at one of the other hotels in the area (much less expensive). Each time, we've used Priceline and stayed in either the Anaheim Marriott Suites or the Hyatt Regency--never paying more than $60.00 a night. Just be aware that you won't get the park hoppers until you check into the Disney hotel. So, what we do is check into the off-site hotel for one night the day we arrive in Anaheim. Then, early the next morning, check into the Disney hotel and get our park hoppers. (You can check in early in the morning, even if your room isn't ready--they'll hold your luggage and then deliver it to your room and send you a text once your room is ready.) That then gives us two full days at the park with the benefit of having our hotel room right there. The morning of the third day at that park, we move back to the off-site hotel and then head back to spend the last day at the park.

Congratulations on winning your trip. Hope you have a great time.

 

[Hofmanns4]

I won the same trip from my local radio station last year. The form had me specify dates and what I onsite hotel that I wanted. We requested and was given the Grand. We added 5 days at a special rate. My value on my taxes was about 1400.00 so it should be the same.

Congratulatuons!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

I've actually won 4 trips to Disneyland through local radio stations over the past several years. It's always been the standard "4 3-day Park Hoppers and 2 nights at at one of the on-site hotels". Soon, you'll get a form in the mail that you need to fill out and send back to them. The form will ask you to specify the dates you would like to go. I've always made a note on the form indicating which hotel we wanted to stay at, even though it doesn't specifically ask that question. One time, I requested the Grand Californian, and the request was granted. The other times, I've requested the Disneyland Hotel, and that's what we got. We have 3 kids, so we've always had five people, and have indicated that on the form as well. Both hotels accommodate five people in a room just fine. (We've just purchased a fifth park-hopper since the prize always includes just four.) Since the prize just includes 2 nights hotel, we buy several extra nights at one of the other hotels in the area (much less expensive). Each time, we've used Priceline and stayed in either the Anaheim Marriott Suites or the Hyatt Regency--never paying more than $60.00 a night. Just be aware that you won't get the park hoppers until you check into the Disney hotel. So, what we do is check into the off-site hotel for one night the day we arrive in Anaheim. Then, early the next morning, check into the Disney hotel and get our park hoppers. (You can check in early in the morning, even if your room isn't ready--they'll hold your luggage and then deliver it to your room and send you a text once your room is ready.) That then gives us two full days at the park with the benefit of having our hotel room right there. The morning of the third day at that park, we move back to the off-site hotel and then head back to spend the last day at the park. Congratulations on winning your trip. Hope you have a great time.

I won the same trip from my local radio station last year. The form had me specify dates and what I onsite hotel that I wanted. We requested and was given the Grand. We added 5 days at a special rate. My value on my taxes was about 1400.00 so it should be the same. Congratulatuons! Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Thank you both! This is exactly the info I was looking for. How long did it take to get the form? Did the form specify how far in advance you needed to request your dates?

Again thank you everyone!

 

[disneydreamerbelle]

We won the same trip last year. It took a couple of weeks to get paperwork, and a week to get it back. We had a two year old as our fifth. We didn't bring it up to the hotel, but no one said anything to us. We did bring our own pnp, but they had one in the closet we could have used. Have fun, it's a great prize. We also requested the grand, but did not get it.

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

We won the same trip last year. It took a couple of weeks to get paperwork, and a week to get it back. We had a two year old as our fifth. We didn't bring it up to the hotel, but no one said anything to us. We did bring our own pnp, but they had one in the closet we could have used. Have fun, it's a great prize. We also requested the grand, but did not get it.

Thank you! This waiting is killing me. I have my fingers crossed that we can go in November before DS turns 3. We would love to stay at the DLH, but I won't get my hopes too high.

 

[VictoriaAndMatt]

I just wanted to do an update in case anyone needs it in the future. It took exactly 2 weeks to get our paperwork in the mail. We are allowed to have 5 guests in the room. We can add additional guests to the package, but obviously we would need to pay for them. We were also asked if we wanted to add any additional nights at the hotel (we would be quoted a price). The tickets are 3 day 1 park tickets. We can't upgrade the tickets or accommodations. They left a spot to request which hotel we want and say they try to honor requests whenever possible. Our travel dates have to be at least 30 days out from when we send back the paperwork. Hope this helps any future searchers.

 

[TreeDharni]

Congrats! I actually won the same trip from a local radio station. I chose DLR and got it. We are going in December and I could not be more excited. I do wish they were park hopper but I'm happy either way. Do you have any updates on your trip?