When Should I Book July '04 Reservations?

[DisneyKidds]

OK, the pre-planning for our July 2004 trip continues....................with a slight change in plans.

I had anticipated using our DVC points to stay at the Disneyland Hotel for two nights. At 62 points a night it seemed like a lot, but I figured what they heck. Well...........DVC raised the required points for the DLP resorts. A night at the Disneyland Hotel now requires 84 points. I'm not spending 84 points for one night anywhere, even if passes and breakfast are included. So............I rented out the 124 points we were going to use for those two nights and that gives me $1,300 to use for a cash reservation. So, when should I call DLP to book the package for next summer. The website won't accept anything that far out. Will they do it over the phone? If I wait are they likely to have any specials? Have they traditionally offered summer specials in the past? Anyone think the much higher than originally anticipated operating loss from this FY will drive them to offer specials to get people thru the gates? What would you DLP Paris experts do?

Thanks.

 

[WDWfan uk]

Yes, they are only going as far as April 2004 right now - should be able to book around December I think.

They do offer specials - selected dates in May and June have three nights for two or four nights for three for example, but I don't think this is extended to July.

Do remember Bastille Day is on 14th July - this is a public holiday and the park will be crowded on and around this day! Certainly no specials then and definitely worth avoiding DLP around these dates!

 

[DisneyKidds]

Do remember Bastille Day is on 14th July - this is a public holiday and the park will be crowded on and around this day! Certainly no specials then and definitely worth avoiding DLP around these dates!

I know. We will be at DLP on the 17th and 18th. I imagined it might be a little more crowded than average, but we don't have much choice in dates. Kind of a trade off I suppose. It will be very nice to be in France for Bastille Day, but we have to endure more crowds because of the timing.

They do offer specials - selected dates in May and June have three nights for two or four nights for three for example, but I don't think this is extended to July.

Maybe with the extremely poor financial performance of DLP this past year they will be inclined to extend those specials. Probably not, but a guy can always hope.

When it comes to WDW vacations it is pretty easy to change your booking if a better rate comes out after you make your reservation. Is this easy to do with DLP reservations should that happen?

 

[WDWfan uk]

I know what you mean, but I don't think you can although I'm not 100% certain - I've only booked packages (which includes Eurostar/flights or ferry and passes) with one of the tour operators and once they are booked, they are confirmed and could not be changed without the normal change or cancellation penalties that apply with that operator - if you were lucky enough to get something directly with DLP, such as room only I suppose it is conceivable, but I have not heard of it happening before.

I'd love to hear if anyone has been able to do this.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Not that I'd hold my breath or count on taking advantage of any discount that might become available IF it happened to be offered after I already made a reservation, but this statement interests me..............

if you were lucky enough to get something directly with DLP

Is it difficult to book your accomodations directly with Disney? I guess I never considered you'd have to be lucky to do so. Maybe I'm just too used to the way we do things on this side of the pond, but I figured you just pick up the phone and make a reservation. Are reservations hard to get?

I plan to book directly with Disney for two nights at the Disneyland Hotel, classic package including tickets and breakfast, for the five of us. Do you think that will be difficult? Any idea what DLP's cancellation policies are?

Back on that unrealistic dream scenario of a discount being offered for our dates, if we were able to cancel an existing reservation without penalty and make a new reservation with the discount if available that's how I'd go about it. Again, that is all theoretical as it isn't likely to happen, but as I said - one could always hope..............

 

[Mark&Jackie]

Hi Disneykids

We'll be there at the same time as you and it's extremely frustrating not to be able to book the thing already. We'd booked for WDW but had to cancel so we're going to DLP as our 2nd choice!

I'm interested to know that you've thought of booking the Disneyland Hotel. We are also 5 people and I thought that the only on-site place that accommodated that number was Davy Crockett. What do you know that I don't??

Take care
Jackie

 

[Danauk]

I know what you mean about trying to book for DLP and it being expensive. We wanted to use DVC points to stay there at Easter but it was way too many points to stay for a week, so we are planning to stay for 4 nights instead and then the rest of the week in Paris itself. Well we would do that if we were able to book it yet. We were told we would be able to book for Easter in the middle of this month so hopefully we will get it booked this week.

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'm interested to know that you've thought of booking the Disneyland Hotel. We are also 5 people and I thought that the only on-site place that accommodated that number was Davy Crockett. What do you know that I don't??

One of our 5 will only be 11 months when we take the trip. As I understand it (primarily from folks on this board) children under 3 don't count toward occupancy (same as at WDW). I'll confirm that when I'm actually able to book something.

 

[kylie]

I booked last week for July. They are offering a free hotel upgrade for early booking. I.E. Pay for Cheyenne stay in Sequoia Lodge.

I'm with disneykidds I would not use my dvc points either

 

[DisneyKidds]

I booked last week for July.

Just curious as to how you booked. Phone? Internet? Any idea how that special applies to the Disneyland Hotel?

Thanks.

 

[kylie]

Booked By phone. I underdstand that the offer applies to all hotels. When my friends phoned they were pushing NewPort Bay.

 

[kamgen]

Anyone know if late June is a good time to go to Paris??? We are considering it.
Are flights high at that time of year? Seems right now things are cheap.
Thanks!

 

[DisneyKidds]

I booked last week for July...........By phone.

Well something is certainly rotten in Denmark . They won't accept a reservation from the US, say they haven't set the rates yet. They said to call back in February. Does that make sense given that they are accepting reservations for people calling from other countries? I suppose it has to do with exchange rates. Unfortunately that means I can't take advantage of the current early booking incentive. That just stinks!

Do I have any options?

 

[kylie]

I phoned the Uk number

08706 06 68 00

From the US I think this would be

44 8706 06 68 00

Reservations office opening hours:

from 8.15 am to 7.45 pm from Monday to Friday
from 9.15 am to 5.45 pm Saturdays
from 9.15 am to 4.45 pm Sundays

 

[Fromeurope]

There are familyrooms in the Newport Bay Hotel as well.
But remember in june, july ,august and september it's extremely crowded in Disneyland Paris. Everybody in Europe has their holidays then, they spread it over here. Each country has their own holidayseason. There aren't many Americans in Disneyland Paris, by the way. So no fourth of july-celebrations!

 

[Mark&Jackie]

Hi thanks for the information. From what I understood from the brochures the family rooms are for families of 4. We have 3 children and we're finding that this is "abnormal".

We actually found a mobile home park about 15 minutes drive from Disneyland and about 400 pounds cheaper than staying in the Davy Crockett so it looks like we might book that.

Unfortunately our holidays are also July and August and this is the only time we can get to France but the Disneyland part is just a very small part of a much larger trip which will see us in Lyon, La Rochelle, Paris and then on to Scotland.

Thanks and take care
Jackie

 

[Fromeurope]

Hi again,
In the ordinary rooms at DisneyLand Paris you can stay with 2 adults and 2 children. (By the way, if my language isn't correct that's because I am Dutch.) When you have an extra child you can book a familyroom f.e. at the Newport Bay Hotel.
But that isn't cheap especially not in July or August...
Staying outside the park is a good idea. But remember cheap hotels in France can be rather dirty.
Take your Quick 'N Brite with you ...
Nice that you are going to visit other parts of Europe as well.
DisneyLand Paris is nice, but quite not so impressive as Walt Disney World.
Normandie and Bretagne are wonderfull and Scotland too.
Very nice walking through the forests overthere.