HELP! I need money saving advice!

[thephoo]

Hi everyone

I'm in the process of organising a trip next February (and eagerly awaiting the new prices being released on the 22nd of May!) for me, my little girl, my OH and his two daughters. This will be my fifth trip to DLRP but it'll be the first time for the OH and his kids so I'm trying to give them the best experience possible but obviously, keep costs down with there being so many more of us.

I always think of myself as a bit of a pro when it comes to getting the best deal to go to DLRP but to be honest, I don't usually need to stick to a very tight budget as I usually travel with just my little girl and a friend. So now, I'm having to think up different options and having to budget and just wondered if any of you guys could give me some advice?

I really think it's nice to stay in a Disney hotel to have a character there in the morning and I love that first walk to the park in the morning I was looking at the possibility of staying for a couple of nights at a budget hotel like Ibis to cut costs but then realised the entry fee to the parks would probably wipe out any savings made wouldn't it? So then thought about on the actual day of arrival checking into the Ibis and going over to DLRP to make full use of that day's pass and check into a Disney Hotel that afternoon.

I don't know if there's much else I can do really but I would be so glad if anyone could give me any cost saving advice! We usually travel by Eurostar and will have to do one character meal, I love Inventions but think it might be a bit too pricey for five of us

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Off site
Why not buy AP's for the adults and you could get a free AP for the children under 7

That would give you discounts off all food and drink (c/-t/s-buffets) in the park and at most places in the Village

You'd also get discount on souvenirs.

Both the Dream and the Fanatsy have EMH so you could be in the park from 8.00 as if you were on site.

Nothing stopping you visiting the on site hotels to see the characters in the am.

On site -

If you took advantage of a offer ie children under 12 free you could book a room for 1 adult and the free children, upgrade to a family room (as you are 5 if I've counted correctly) and buying an AP for the other adult . Then you would just add the AP holders on at the hotel and they'd only pay room tax (a couple of €s)and get breakfast like the others.

Hope the above make some sense

 

[DLPdaft]

what ages will the children be in February 2013?

 

[thephoo]

what ages will the children be in February 2013?

Hi, the children will be 6, 9 and my 15

 

[thephoo]

Off site
Why not buy AP's for the adults and you could get a free AP for the children under 7

That would give you discounts off all food and drink (c/-t/s-buffets) in the park and at most places in the Village

You'd also get discount on souvenirs.

Both the Dream and the Fanatsy have EMH so you could be in the park from 8.00 as if you were on site.

Nothing stopping you visiting the on site hotels to see the characters in the am.

On site -

If you took advantage of a offer ie children under 12 free you could book a room for 1 adult and the free children, upgrade to a family room (as you are 5 if I've counted correctly) and buying an AP for the other adult . Then you would just add the AP holders on at the hotel and they'd only pay room tax (a couple of €s)and get breakfast like the others.

Hope the above make some sense

Both those sound great but I don't think the offsite one would work as only one of the children is under 7...?

Ok, I know I'm being really thick here and I've looked into this before but I can't get to grips with it so could you help me out?

If I booked me in and two of the kids who are under 12, and say theoretically I did this online? When would I upgrade? And as the other "child" is 15 would I need to buy her and my OH an AP?

This kind of leads me onto another issue I've found, in every case it's cheaper to book two rooms than to get a family room which is just absolutely ludicrous. I wondered if anyone had found when this wasn't the case? Or if DLRP had sorted their pricing out?

 

[DLPdaft]

no, I suspect it will still be 2 rooms which will work out cheapest for your family of 5.

The youngest 2 children will be free in an onsite hotel in February, so their park tickets would be included.

 

[thephoo]

If I purchased an AP for me and my OH (for example) and added us to the room, how much would room tax be? And do you think it would still work out better value?

 

[NPB]

Good thread, I am hoping to go in march with my dh & 2 DDs (6 &3 by then).

Can I ask is AP = annual pass?
Also is EMH = early morn entrance to hotel?
And if you stay in a Disney hotel, do you mean kids stay free & get free passes to the park or did I read that correct?

 

[DLPdaft]

If I purchased an AP for me and my OH (for example) and added us to the room, how much would room tax be? And do you think it would still work out better value?

thats not going to work for you thephoo, because you need to book 2 rooms. So you need one adult (plus free children) in each room. So you'd only want to buy one annual pass, as your 15 year old isn't free and so you buy an annual pass for one adult (as she is over 12) in any name you like (so yours or your OH). Both adults, and both the free children, will have duration of stay park tickets, so you can give one of adult set of park tickets to your 15-year old, and the other adult has the annual pass, if you see what I mean?. Then when you arrive at your hotel you can add the 15-year old to whichever of the 2 rooms you like, without park tickets needed.

You will still need to book 2 onsite rooms, because even adding names to hotel rooms at check-in, you cannot go over the room maximum occupancy.

 

[DLPdaft]

Good thread, I am hoping to go in march with my dh & 2 DDs (6 &3 by then).

Can I ask is AP = annual pass?
Also is EMH = early morn entrance to hotel?
And if you stay in a Disney hotel, do you mean kids stay free & get free passes to the park or did I read that correct?

yes, in the period January to end of March each year, kids under 12 stay and play free, so you don't pay for them in your room (although they do count towards maximum occupancy), and they each get duration of stay park tickets included.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Also is EMH = early morn entrance to hotel?

Extra magic hours - gets you into the main park and onto certain rides from 8.00 am on rather than have to wait until the official opening and ride time at 10.00

 

[NPB]

Thank you both for those replies. That will certainly help towards the savings if the kids go free into the park, really really want to go now!!! Will see prices for feb/march - I expect both months will be similarly priced.

 

[thephoo]

Thank you both for those replies. That will certainly help towards the savings if the kids go free into the park, really really want to go now!!! Will see prices for feb/march - I expect both months will be similarly priced.

March is randomly a bit cheaper than Feb usually although Easter obviously impacts on March prices sometimes.

Prices are out tomorrow so not long to wait! Eeek

 

[thephoo]

thats not going to work for you thephoo, because you need to book 2 rooms. So you need one adult (plus free children) in each room. So you'd only want to buy one annual pass, as your 15 year old isn't free and so you buy an annual pass for one adult (as she is over 12) in any name you like (so yours or your OH). Both adults, and both the free children, will have duration of stay park tickets, so you can give one of adult set of park tickets to your 15-year old, and the other adult has the annual pass, if you see what I mean?. Then when you arrive at your hotel you can add the 15-year old to whichever of the 2 rooms you like, without park tickets needed.

You will still need to book 2 onsite rooms, because even adding names to hotel rooms at check-in, you cannot go over the room maximum occupancy.

Thanks Elaine.

So tomorrow I'm aiming to price up two rooms, both with an adult and a child in. And then look at getting an Annual Pass for me I've been looking for a way to persuade the OH to buy me an AP for ages and now I have the perfect excuse, I'm very excited

So, does room tax vary? And is adding an AP holder to a room a common procedure in DLRP?

 

[DLPdaft]

room tax is no more than 2 euros per extra person added to the room per night booked.

And yes, adding another name or 2 to the room at check in is common procedure at DLP (and among folk here on the DISboards too ).

 

[thephoo]

room tax is no more than 2 euros per extra person added to the room per night booked.

And yes, adding another name or 2 to the room at check in is common procedure at DLP (and among folk here on the DISboards too ).

Wow! Thank you so much! I could kiss you

 

[Disney Princesses LW]

i had planned to save the sun vouchers agian this year and travel March 2013 family of 4 get in DLP for £9.50 per day was going to put one in my name and one in DH name (using diff address) and just play 2 x nights at off site hotel.

But if under 12s go free and March is relatively cheap My children are 12 and 6 so I could book and get a good offer without collecting sun voucher just need to work out when Easter is next year then price up tomorow

 

[DLPdaft]

but your 12-year old wouldn't be free, so you'd only be getting the 6-year old free, which is a standard year-round offer for DLP onsite anyway. And Easter dates are usually not included in the best offers for January-March (as Easter is a busy time at DLP generally).

 

[jothp]

To OP, have you considered driving? As there are 5 of you it could be quite a bit cheaper than the Eurostar and you can use tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for the eurotunnel crossing.

Next year easter friday is 29th March.

 

[Mum to Belle]

To OP, have you considered driving? As there are 5 of you it could be quite a bit cheaper than the Eurostar and you can use tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for the eurotunnel crossing.

Next year easter friday is 29th March.

If you are considering driving - would you also consider staying at DCR - may be cheaper than the hotel option?