How is this for a plan? (tickets&accomdation question)

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We want to go to Davy Crockett Ranch for 4 days in May. We did it last year using a package of room and park tickets but we 'wasted' 2 days of park tickets as we didn't go on arrival or departure days.

I was planning for this year to get a room only booking and then to get APs when we go on the 2nd day. Hopefully, will cut the cost a little and give us another trip (or 2) before the APs run out. We want to be very flexible and cheap as my daughter is going to have cranial surgery in the next fews weeks.

The crew will be:- me, the wife and 2 kids (4,2).

What do you think? What is the best way to get the best 'price' for this?

Many many thanks in advance.

 

[BRobson]

You could try www.expedia.co.uk for room only rates which are quite competitive. I have never dealt with Disney directly but I am sure someone wil be able to let you know if they do room only basis. Disney and doing an offer just now of all kids under 7 stay and play for free but you need to book the package with Disney.

If you are going to buy Annual passes you can ask for someone on the boards who already has a pass to sponsor you and this will get you 10% off you passes. There is a thread for sponsors

Wishing you and your daughter all the best for her impending operation

 

[Cyrano]

We had annual passports when we got room only rate for DCR. You could phone the UK booking number and explain that you are intending to buy annual passports and see if you can get a price

 

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well, I phoned the UK booking number and got nowhere slowly!!

First, they had to check if DCR did a B&B price. Yes, they could if you had a passport number so I asked if I could buy a passport remotely and the answer was no. Conclusion is:- you can't get the room wuthout a passport and you can't get a passport without going there first. Last year I found that they don't use the package tickets against your passport price. Asked about a 1 day package so I could buy the passports and then a 3day B&B package with my 'new' passport.

It confused the booking line and the lady at the other end.

Any ideas? Is there a number for DCR direct?

We want to go this year during the May half-term as it will be the first date we can travel after my daughter has her cranial surgery. We want to get a passport so that we can have another break early next year in a new year away from all the stress of my daughter's operation.

 

[Raci]

Hi!
Don't know whether you've already considered it or not but I thought I'd throw another option into the mix

In the yellow cover Disney brochure for booking direct you can book a package with up to a maximum of 2 extra nights that do not include park passes so can be used up on days travelling to/from a holiday or for a break in the middle to go to Paris etc. This starts from £42 in May for each extra night. I have no idea how this compares for you though.

 

[bavaria]

well, I phoned the UK booking number and got nowhere slowly!!

First, they had to check if DCR did a B&B price. Yes, they could if you had a passport number so I asked if I could buy a passport remotely and the answer was no. Conclusion is:- you can't get the room wuthout a passport and you can't get a passport without going there first. Last year I found that they don't use the package tickets against your passport price. Asked about a 1 day package so I could buy the passports and then a 3day B&B package with my 'new' passport.

It confused the booking line and the lady at the other end.

Any ideas? Is there a number for DCR direct?

We want to go this year during the May half-term as it will be the first date we can travel after my daughter has her cranial surgery. We want to get a passport so that we can have another break early next year in a new year away from all the stress of my daughter's operation.

You are correct - you need an AP in hand to book an AP rate. You would need to book room only at full rate, via www.expedia.co.uk or the reservation number. On your NEXT stay you can book an AP rate. Sad but true!

The only other thing to do is to book a 'back up' reservation which can be cancelled day of arrival (at a non-Disney hotel), buy your AP, call reservations and see if DCR is available at an AP rate that day for 4 days, and book. Then cancel your back up booking - that is very risky, as you can imagine.....

Best thoughts to your family and hope that you can find something which will work for you

 

[bavaria]

Hi!
Don't know whether you've already considered it or not but I thought I'd throw another option into the mix

In the yellow cover Disney brochure for booking direct you can book a package with up to a maximum of 2 extra nights that do not include park passes so can be used up on days travelling to/from a holiday or for a break in the middle to go to Paris etc. This starts from £42 in May for each extra night. I have no idea how this compares for you though.

Good thought - also when I use the site in German it offers Schnupper packages for one night stays, and I believe that I have often seen 2 night stays with one day of park ticket. If you could get 2x 2night stays that would give you 4 nights, plus 2 days of tickets.

Then again, the offers are definitely all different based on country. You may want to switch the site to French as well and see if you can pull up such an offer.