Originally Posted By mickeymadclaire Hi There I am hoping someone can help me (probably Davewasbaloo) We are going to DLRP in December and have never really thought about AP before as for the Last 2 years we have only been able to go once a year However we know find that next year we will be visiting in April for our 5th Wedding Anniversary and also October for Steves bday to see what its like for Halloween,and if i really lucky in December next year as well So my questions is shall i buy an AP this December will it be worth it as we allways like to stay in either the Sequia or The Cheyene depending on money (although April we will be in the HNY) Please can you also tell me the benefits of the AP THnaks again Claire
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hiya Claire (give our love to Steve). There are three levels of pass. The Francillien - aimed at locals with lots of restricted days, and few perks (cannot be used days 2 and 3 after purchase), it's about £72 The Fantasy pass - there are some blackout days like christmas, halloween, easter, New Years etc. It is good for 10% off food and 10% off souvenirs, and some discounts on hotels, as well as 15% off Buffalo Bills and 10% off golf. It offers free parking and is not bad value at about £104 per person. But my fav recommendation for anyone going more than 5 days in a calendar year is the Dream Pass (oh man, I love this one). It offers: - 365 days a year access - 20% off souvenirs - 10% off food - 15% off BBWWS - 10% off golf - 10 - 30% off hotels (HNY in peak summer cost us £789 total for 5 nights) - free parking in any hotel except DLH (useful when staying off site) - Access to Extra magic hours when staying off site - a free apperatif (worth £3.50) at table service restaurants - free wheelchair and pushchair rental - free locker rental/left luggage service at the park - huge discounts on day passes for other people - 50% off Halloween party - free newsletter (in French) - invitations to special events (attraction previews, film premiers, free pins sometimes). I love having the Dream pass, and actually makes staying on site largely superfluous, unless you want to walk or have to "have the magic". But it is good when staying on site too. Also, there is a parrainage scheme where people can sponsor you and you get a 10% discount, and if the sponsor gets 3 people to buy, they get several months free extension on their AP. Any more queries, please let me know - btw, have you seen our trip report?
Originally Posted By u k fan Claire, assuming you go for 3 days each trip your daily admnission will work out to just over £12 with a Dream Pass. This gets you 20% off in the shops though there are the usual exclusions Stamps, batteries etc.) and LE pins are 10%. You will also get 10% off in the restaurants. And you'll also get 30% off most hotel stays and discounts on tickets to the Hallowe'en parties and extra magic hours (though you get EMH for staying on site anyway). Also you get free use of the luggage storage area at the parks entrance. There are other perks, but they're the main ones that you'll use. IMHO, it is well worth investing in if you're likely to make 3 or 4 trips in a year!!!
Originally Posted By u k fan I see Dave beat me to it! One other thing to mention, if you will be visiting when the Fantasy Pass is valid you can buy one of each. That way you get the better discounts of the Dream and the reduced cost of buying one of each!!!
Originally Posted By mickeymadclaire Thank you both had a feeling i would get the benefit of both of your knowledge UK fan i think the fanatasy will be valid when we visit as its the 9th Dec, we will be going again on 2nd April 09 and around 20th October 09.Do you think we will be ok with Fantasy pass each or shall i get 1 Dream and 1 fanatasy,im not sure which one to get Dave i have started to look through your trip reports and must say i really enjoyed your dance with the Tam tams
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hmmmm, the big question is do you think you will ever stay off site or seperate? If so one of each would work. also, be advised, if you tend to buy lots of souvenirs or want deep discounts in the off season, then the Dream is the best option (sorry I should have said there is a £40 difference between the two - so if you are likely to spend £400 in the shops, it will pay the difference for you). If you are likely to stay on site every time, not during the black out periods, booking way in advance and will spend a smaller amount in the shops, then 2 fantasy passes are fine. It's all good really. For me, I realised that when a 3 day hopper is £75 and a Fantasy is £104, it's worth it for a Fantasy if you are going more than 4 days. If you are likely to stay off site, enjoy table service, or want to buy clothes/snowglobes, the Dream is worth it. Personally after my experience at the Hotel New York, I am happier at the Marriott, so it works for us to have the Dreams. If we were staying on site all the time and eating counter service, then the Fantasy would be fine (though with black out dates during school holidays with Mikey at school age, I am not sure). Hope this helps.
Originally Posted By u k fan I would say to buy 1 of each as the hotel discounts are better with the Dream Pass. If you plan to stay on site that's a big plus. It also means on your last day if you're leaving via the train station you can stash your luggage at the park and won't have to go back to the hotel for it. You will easily save the 50 euros on the better discounts so I say go for it!!!
Originally Posted By u k fan You see I take a different opinion to Dave. If you're planning to stay onsite I would get the dream for the hotel discounts. If you're staying offsite EMH is the only real perk other than the better discounts!!!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo and don't forget the parking (at the HNY). It works for either. I suppose this demonstrates that the Dream is a good option for one member of a party, if staying off site, a dream each seems a god option.
Originally Posted By mickeymadclaire Thank you both so much As i am due to be made redundant i think a little treat in the form of an AP is due This will also be the first time that we are driving do we have to pay for parking at the hotel ?? As we have got our park tickets as part of the hotel package i dotn suppose we get any money off??? Also would either of you benefit from refering us, is there anything we can fill in ?? Sorry for all the questions but i am off sick at present so i am trying to make myself feel better by thinking about my DLRP trip Thanks again
Originally Posted By sarahwithbaloo Claire can you please drop me an email address is in my profile I have had a thought but I have lost your address.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Hi Claire, 1st of all, please let me say the baloos are here if you need anything. We wish you the very best as you embark on new adventures. As for parking, it is free in the hotel if you have a reservation there or a Dream Annual Pass. As for park tickets and money off APs, they used to give you one day off, and then I heard now they do not give reductions at all. But it is worth asking. You could maybe give reservations a call and tell them you are planning on buying APs, and asking if you can change your reservations to room only. If you do that, to buy your APs just go to the guest relations window near the Disneyland Hotel, pay for your APS, they will give you a paper ticket and receipt, then go through into the park and up to the old Cafe de Visionaires building in the hub between Discoveryland and Fantasyland to have them processed. There is a form we could give you, but it has to be from October on as both the baloos and the ukfan posse have only just renewed passes (and the sponsorship does not kick into until we have had our passes for more than a month). When are you going? If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to ask.
Originally Posted By mickeymadclaire Thanks Dave We were planning to do the AP when we visit in December, so if you will benefit from sponsoring us then please send us the form (would it be possible for you to sponsor one of us and UK fan the other) Not sure what i will be doing work wise as yet as i am travelling up to Oldham each day to train the people who are taking over my department, and i have not yet been given an end date which is a bit frustrating,and its not helping that i am off sick . But i am making good use of my rest time by organising my DLRP trip. Hope you are having a good weekend
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Oh dear, Oldham is not the nicest of places either. BTW if you are driving in December, I understand there is a sale on in the Ashford Travelodge - £9 a night if you wanted to stop over on your way there or back. I am not sure if you can mix and match sponsorship in one transaction, but I am happy to try if you are BTw, if you are driving and shop at Tescos, remember £2.50 worth of Tescos vouchers = £10 off your crossing. The most we have paid to get across is about £1 for years.
Originally Posted By u k fan Claire, sorry to hear about your work situation. Mine's about to change soon as well. I'll still be staying in the same job, but my contract is about to be restructured and I fear that some of the perks I have now will be gone. Anyway, onto happier things. If it's possible to split the sponsorship thing then I'm more than happy to do so. I think Dave's covered pretty much everything else, but if you have anymore questions you know where we are!!!
