My DH is peeved!

[dizneeat]

I'm from the Uk and we might have the prices in advance but we cannot use Disney pin codes, disney discount codes or AAA discounts if booked via UK website or Disney UK telephone booking centre this means we pay a higher price without any hope of every discounting it, we also have to pay a deposit of 1/4 of the value of the stay on the day we book and settle in full for the rest of the stay (even room only) at least 45 days before arrival. We also cannot cancel without losing the full deposit paid, even 7 months out! 1/4 of the value of a stay is a huge deposit to lose if we have to cancel for any reason

On the plus side we do get the Ultimate ticket which gives us either 14 day or 21 days with park hoppers and water parks all included in the price.

You win some you lose some

So true!! I was shocked to hear that once I had booked I was not able to cancel my UK Disney booking, nor was I allowed to make any changes without having to pay a fee for that!
And to answer the dining reservation question - I was given the 407 WDW number to call for dining reservations!!
Since we go every year I did the maths and the UK prices are even higher than the US ones! Hadn't they offered free dining for the first part of our vacation I would have waited and booked with an AP discount through Disney US!

 

[thehails]

Yep have to use the same number as you. Just as well we have skype otherwise it would cost a fortune!

The things you have to endure to visit the mouse

Cant wait for our first visit, I had all our ADR planned, and now I've got to wait until October to book them instead of next month, never mind it now gives me more time to change my mind

 

[thehails]

my only complaint is the fact that I can only get a 10 day ticket in the US while someone from outside the country can get a 14 day ticket... Disney should realize there were times in the past that I would have made my trip to Disney longer but cut it short because I didn't want to have to get an annual pass for everyone.

Which begs the question... can I by a ticket from a UK travel site and have them send me the ticke here in the states?

I was wondering about that, I guess somebody could buy the ticket for you and post it over. That way you get the best of both worlds.

 

[Allison]

I'm not sure what the issue is. You actually can book for most of 2009 at this time if reserving a room is that important. You won't have a price locked in but you will have the room.

 

[hansel1]

I'm from the Uk and we might have the prices in advance but we cannot use Disney pin codes, disney discount codes or AAA discounts if booked via UK website or Disney UK telephone booking centre this means we pay a higher price without any hope of every discounting it, we also have to pay a deposit of 1/4 of the value of the stay on the day we book and settle in full for the rest of the stay (even room only) at least 45 days before arrival. We also cannot cancel without losing the full deposit paid, even 7 months out! 1/4 of the value of a stay is a huge deposit to lose if we have to cancel for any reason

On the plus side we do get the Ultimate ticket which gives us either 14 day or 21 days with park hoppers and water parks all included in the price.

You win some you lose some

Actually I think you win some and you win some! With the currency exchange, you are paying 1/2 of what we are. I'm not complaining, as that is why we used to vacation in mexico when our dollar was stronger.

 

[BamaFan121s]

IMO, it seems only fair that all options be release to ALL future guests at the same time, regardless to their geographical location. (I imagine there would be reasons why that isn't so and I'm sure someone will point them out.) I guess because I can't in my own mind justify the 'need' for anyone else to have the opportunity to recieve offers earlier.
I guess in some theoretical way, I could imagine how it would be an unfair advantage, but I'm sure the same could be said about alot of things that would swing in 'our' direction. I guess maybe until it can be proven that THAT was the single reason why there were no ADRs available or no <fill in blank> package options offered.

That being said, I can't imagine being able to plan anything that far in advance ...much less a major event like a cross global vacation! I suppose I never gave this much thought since it doesn't really effect me as most of my trips are planned less than 6 months out.

 

[ols386]

I have more important things to worry about than the fact that someone from Europe can book a trip to WDW before I can (world hunger, the war in the middle east, the U.S. economy, etc., etc.). I don't really see what's unfair about it.....but many things in life aren't fair. Does seem like it might take more time and be more cumbersome booking a trip to the U.S. from Europe.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

If it makes him feel better the canadians can't book until the US can.

 

[RMulieri]

Truthfully, not to sound mean...But if the fact that the UK can book a Disney trip before we can is such an issue, than obviously your Dh has not learned the fundamentals of not sweating the small stuff.Seriously, there are way more problems in life and this world than something so pathetically trivial as who gets to go first ( which is essentially what this whole argument is about)

 

[BamaFan121s]

Just wanted to add...
I have to agree with the majority of the posters here. I'd rather not waste my energy focusing on something like Europeans booking before me. I find it much more constructive to focus it on flaming someone for having an opinion. Geez, you'd think the OP murdered the Pope!

 

[lucysdad]

A few years ago (well, maybe more than a few), we made an on-line purchase for ultimate park hoppers from a firm in the UK and it came with passes for a free character meal! The exchange rate was in our favor, and we made out well with that option. Now, however, the exchange rate is against us, and I couldn't remember the name of the merchant anyway.
Lucy's Mom

 

[Smile4Me]

Personally, I have no problem with this at all. A WDW trip for my family of 4 from Texas is a heck of a lot cheaper than a family of 4 coming from England. Ok, so they get there rates early, but I just think that due to the extra cost they need longer to be able to save and pay it off.

I don't really see what the big deal is myself,,,but its not necessarily more expensive for them-it all depends on what the exchange rate is-and right now the dollar is weak!

 

[Maxamuus]

He is still peeved. He said that is so not fair.

Where did your husband get the crazy notion that life is fair ?

 

[GalDisney]

<<my only complaint is the fact that I can only get a 10 day ticket in the US while someone from outside the country can get a 14 day ticket....>>>
10 day ticket sounds good enough. If you need more time in the parks I am sure you can buy more tickets. 10 days for parks sounds like enough for anyone. There must be a reason why disney makes this offer, maybe its an average of time u s visitor spend in the parks on vacation. plus, dont europeans usually get more vacation time than we here in the U S? maybe that is why??

 

[thehails]

I don't really see what the big deal is myself,,,but its not necessarily more expensive for them-it all depends on what the exchange rate is-and right now the dollar is weak!

It is much more expensive to book via the UK website, we dont appear to get the same prices as you in the US, we can get a saving if we book via the US website and even more so if there is a public discount code that can be applied, but then we could lose later on if the £ should weaken against the $ before our arrival date.

As previous posters have said there are fore's and against for both countries, but at the end of the day we all end up at the happiest place in the world I hope you all have a great time during your visits

 

[dizneeat]

Personally, I have no problem with this at all. A WDW trip for my family of 4 from Texas is a heck of a lot cheaper than a family of 4 coming from England. Ok, so they get there rates early, but I just think that due to the extra cost they need longer to be able to save and pay it off.

I don't really see what the big deal is myself,,,but its not necessarily more expensive for them-it all depends on what the exchange rate is-and right now the dollar is weak!

You are right - the exchange rate is great for us Europeans at the moment, BUT prices from Disney UK are in British Pounds and I paid for my airfare in Euro - so NO exchange rates and NO savings there. Airfare from Austria to Orlando was 2500 Euro in November when I booked (about 4000$!). Since then the rate has gone UP - so booking early is a bonus. The exchange rate only kicks in when you consider what we spend in the US OR book with Disney in the US.

 

[nobodies36]

Actually I think you win some and you win some! With the currency exchange, you are paying 1/2 of what we are. I'm not complaining, as that is why we used to vacation in mexico when our dollar was stronger.

Nice idea, but no. We only get a better rate if we book through Disney US (therefore getting no advance buying). Disney UK and the UK travel agents don't price like that- the dining plan was more expensive to buy through virgin holidays than even a $2/£1 exchange rate (When it was $40 for US, we were getting charged $60). A Brit buying a UK Disney holiday in GBP is just as expensive (more for some parts if not all) as an American buying through Disney US in Dollars. When we get to the US then everything becomes half price- like food, etc. And, as someone else stated, no discounts, pins, etc.

Plus, (and this is a kicker) it is only comparable if you are a family of two adults and two kids. Most of our travel agents charge per person and not per room. So two adult in a room (same price as a family with 2 kids, right? No.) are charged under occupany!! We have to pay for the other people who are not in the room which can double the cost of our accomodation.

Sorry, but we don't actually pay half price for Disney. The only thing we get like that is when we are in the US and spend whilst there- that is where things are equivalent to half price.

 

[goofieslonglostsis]

Airfare from Austria to Orlando was 2500 Euro in November when I booked

Let me get this straight. That's only for the two of you? You're flying economy?

Darned, you sure got the short end of the stick compaired to what we're paying. OK, ok, you've got about one or two hours more flyingtime then we, but still. We've payed €390,- per person for our upcoming december flight AMS-FRA-MCO. Add a roundtrip Vienna-Amsterdam or Vienna-Frankfurt for let's say a whopping €300,- per person and it would still be way cheaper.

I mean, prices have increased since my booking also. But there are enough flights and carriers out there that still sell tickets for the same dates priced around €550,-/€600,-.

 

[KPLC]

We are originally from South Africa ( about 20 hours flying time - no direct flights available) and it is a very long and expensive trip to Disney( well worth the money though!) We have to plan our holiday so much further in advance as flights are hard to get and routes are hard to plan.Also with the exchange rata not favourable to South Africans we have to plan and save a lot longer that the folks living in the same country as WDW! One does need the extra planning time from other countries.

 

[dizneeat]

Let me get this straight. That's only for the two of you? You're flying economy?

Darned, you sure got the short end of the stick compaired to what we're paying. OK, ok, you've got about one or two hours more flyingtime then we, but still. We've payed €390,- per person for our upcoming december flight AMS-FRA-MCO. Add a roundtrip Vienna-Amsterdam or Vienna-Frankfurt for let's say a whopping €300,- per person and it would still be way cheaper.

I mean, prices have increased since my booking also. But there are enough flights and carriers out there that still sell tickets for the same dates priced around €550,-/€600,-.

Yip - 2 of us! Economy! And yes, you can fly different portions and be on route for about 24 hours - and in the end with fees for extra baggage and more airport fees you pay about the same!
I prefer to fly non stop! Check Lufthansa - they still sell the flight - just a little more expensive!
I just checked your travel dates - yeah for the time frame you are travelling it would have been easier and cheaper - try summer! And I cannot change my timeframe!