Can't have dining plan with my AP!!!

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Hi, I was so diappointed to learn from Disney reservations that I can not add the dining plan to my room only reservation because I have my AP and need to purchase MYWT to get the dining plan :sad2:

Has anyone been able to add the dining plan to the room only reservation?

I will be traveling with my DH and three children it would have been wonderful to have that dining plan :sad2:

I felt very :furious: when I called and was told this!!! If I had known I wouldn't have purchased the AP.

Any suggestions/information would be appreciated :confused3

[kidsister]

I may have misunderstood this, but the 'regular' dining plan can be purchased with any Disney resort room rental or DVC resort rental/member.

Perhaps you are talking about the FREE DINING with a minimum 3 night room purchase? Yes, to qualify you must buy at least a one day ticket BUT you can apply that ticket price to your pass renewal price.

[FINFAN]

While we have never had an AP and I am not too familiar, I can tell you what I have read...you need to still purchase a 1 day base ticket per person in your party to ne eligible for DDP. You do not HAVE to use that ticket, it is good until you actually use it to enter a park, whenever..not necessarily on this trip.Just do not use that room key at the gates as it will activate that ticket, use your seperate AP tix. Many have booked this and are planning to use the base ticket to "upgrade to an AP or to use toward renewing their AP's in the future. We have never upgraded a ticket so I am not sure how the red tape works, but basically, you are shelling out now for base tix so that you can get the free ddp ( HOWEVER YOUR ROOM IS AT RACK RATE, NOT AP RATE) but you should be able to apply that cost toward your next AP or just use the base tix whenever.


Pam

[Aimeedyan]

I may have misunderstood this, but the 'regular' dining plan can be purchased with any Disney resort room rental or DVC resort rental/member.

Perhaps you are talking about the FREE DINING with a minimum 3 night room purchase? Yes, to qualify you must buy at least a one day ticket BUT you can apply that ticket price to your pass renewal price.

EVERYONE but DVC members must purchase at least a 1 day 1 park pass. Not just for free dining. The OP can purchase a 1 day park pass for each member of their family and that will allow them to also purchase the dining plan. They can then apply that 1 day pass to an AP next year.

http://www.allearsnet.com/pl/packages06a.htm

OP, I'm sorry you're frustrated. There are a lot of people that don't need tickets but want to take advantage of the dining plan and therefore purchase a 1 day pass for each party member. That purchase usually makes up for the value you are saving in the plan. Hope that helps!

[kaytieeldr]

Has anyone been able to add the dining plan to the room only reservation? No. Unless one is staying in a DVC property using points, the Disney Dining Plan is available ONLY in conjunction with a package.
A package is a combination of room and the same MYW ticket for each person on the reservation.
When the Guests check in, individual MYW tickets can be upgraded as desired (for an additional cost, of course) on a one-for-one basis.
The Dining Plan has to be purchased (or obtained, if during the free promo period) for the same number of nights of your stay AND for each person on the reservation.

[4greatboys]

We have AP's and we just purchased the 1 day ticket each to make it a package. They never expire so use them some time you dont have AP's.

[GoingtoWDWagain]

Thanks for your help. Sorry, but I should have gave more details, it is NOT for the free dining plan, it for our upcoming trip during the Fourth of July, I have a reservation for CBR for seven nights and then have a reservation for five nights at the BC with the AP rate. I soley wanted to add the dining plan since I learned costs $37.99 per adult and $10.99 per child, I think this is a great rate. When I spoke with reservations he mentioned I'd have to purchase a one day pass for each person in my party and would have to cancel my existing reservations and redo and have my deposits credited to my credit card which can take up to four weeks :sad2:

I'm trying to understand why this is the only way I can purchase the dining plan after spending so much on our AP's :furious:

Thanks again for any information/help you can provide!

[n2mm]

The dining plan is only available to a package (except DVC members and renters). You CAN NOT get a discount on your room. To get the dining plan you must purchase a package which includes tickets for your entire party (same length each) and you MUST pay rack rate for your room. (though there was some mention that AAA members were able to get a discount on their packages, there generally is never a discount on packages.) This is exactly why AP holders (and FL residents and cast members) can not add the dining plan to their discounted rooms. That would be great if we can, but you can not. However, if you decide not to get a discount on your room, you can pay rack and purchase a package to include a ticket for everyone and then pay to add the dining package to your package. Yes, Disney is not big on stacking discounts and perks. We are just happy now that we can add this great perk to our DVC reservation--a new DVC perk. Last September during the free dining, we gave UP our cast member discount on our room at Pop and got the free dining package instead. It would've been nice to keep our $46 a night room and get free dining, but it was worth it to us to pay the $77 a night and get the free dining. I'm sorry the OP didn't know this, but I guess some folks are missing all of the details on the dining plan. However, AP holders can now purchase the DDE discount dining card, which may confuse some folks.

[Evil Queen]

We have AP's and we just purchased the 1 day ticket each to make it a package. They never expire so use them some time you dont have AP's.

This is what we are doing. All 4 of us have Fl. PAP's. We bought the 1 day MYW ticket to get Free Dining. Since we are going for 7 days/7 nights it's worth it for us in savings. We'll use the 1 day ticket to either just come back for a day trip or use it toward passes again.

If you don't use the 1 day ticket, they never expire.

[Allison]

It really comes down to not being able to combine discounts like another poster mentioned.

You can't have an AP room discount rate and a deal on dining.

This is a package and a package consists of tickets. It is just the way Disney decided to do things.

[dgaston]

However, you are eligible for the Disney Dining Experience which offers 20% off most TS and includes alcoholic beverages. Start researching that! It costs $60 but will save you money very quickly. Over on the DVC board there's even a thread comparing DDE and DDP with many people preferring the DDE because they don't over order and feel compelled to eat more than they normally would. Since you have to pay rack rate to get the DDP, most people end up booking at moderates or values.

[bolgers love wdw]

My wife and I are AP's as well. Just as the above person mentioned, you can buy the Disney Dining Exp. and save 20% on most meals. The only places that you can't use the DDE is on fast food restaurants. Other than that, we have been very happy with it. The 20% is good off food, drinks and desserts,etc. We think it was worth the money to get the DDE. Hope this helps you :)

[Chuck S]

I agree, if you'll be at WDW several days throughout the year check into the DDE. Even with APs we are eligible for the Dining Plan with our DVC stays, but the DDE works out better for us.

There are other disadvantages to paying for the dining plan. For instance, if you should happen to become ill during your trip and can't use all the meals, you have wasted your money. While no one "plans" on getting sick on vacation, it can happen.

[Brier Rose]

So..I just want to make sure I am understanding this right.

We have AP's (there are 4 of us) that are up for renewel July 22nd.

We are taking a trip for 3 days on July 6th, and are booked at rack rate at the Poly.

I can purchase 4 one day MYWT's to be able to get the DP, and then use those tickets on our AP renewels???

[disneyjunkie]

So..I just want to make sure I am understanding this right.

We have AP's (there are 4 of us) that are up for renewel July 22nd.

We are taking a trip for 3 days on July 6th, and are booked at rack rate at the Poly.

I can purchase 4 one day MYWT's to be able to get the DP, and then use those tickets on our AP renewels???


That's correct.

I was able to use an email code to book the dining plan during our April 2005 trip. The code gave me a discount on the room.

On October 5, 2005, I received an email from Disney Parks and Resorts. You could book a value for $84.00 a night (10/23-11/23) or $64 a night (11/27-12/25) and then add the dining plan.

I kept the October email so that I'd be able to compare details if they offered something like this again. So far it hasn't happened. :guilty:

I'm paying rack rate for our room in order to get free dining this summer. I'll use the AAA discount to get dining for our Easter 2007 trip.

[DebbieB]

So..I just want to make sure I am understanding this right.

We have AP's (there are 4 of us) that are up for renewel July 22nd.

We are taking a trip for 3 days on July 6th, and are booked at rack rate at the Poly.

I can purchase 4 one day MYWT's to be able to get the DP, and then use those tickets on our AP renewels???

Yes, that's correct.

Except for DVC members, the dining plan can only be added to a rack rate (full price) room with the purchase of at least a 1 day MYW ticket.

Thanks for your help. Sorry, but I should have gave more details, it is NOT for the free dining plan, it for our upcoming trip during the Fourth of July, I have a reservation for CBR for seven nights and then have a reservation for five nights at the BC with the AP rate. I soley wanted to add the dining plan since I learned costs $37.99 per adult and $10.99 per child, I think this is a great rate. When I spoke with reservations he mentioned I'd have to purchase a one day pass for each person in my party and would have to cancel my existing reservations and redo and have my deposits credited to my credit card which can take up to four weeks. I'm trying to understand why this is the only way I can purchase the dining plan after spending so much on our AP's

This is the way Disney has price structured the dining plan. $37.99 is a great rate but they make up for the low price by requiring a package with a full price room and a MYW ticket. You may be better off with your AP room discount and paying for your meals. The bottom line is you can't have it both ways - the meal plan (which is discounted considering the cost of food) and the discounted room.

[tacomaranch]

OMG! I am more confused than not. Please help me understand this.

We are staying Sept 27-Oct 2nd. I want to have the free dining plan. I have a previous 3 day ticket to apply to my AP. What do we have to purchase to get the free dining? Do I just need one full price ticket per person or just one ticket? When we get the tickets, does that cover free dining the entire time? Do we need to purchase tickets for the entire time? If we do purchase the tickets, can we apply that to our AP?

Sorry, I have my reservations on hold until I get this and our resort sorted out.

Thanks for the help, I really need to understand this.

April :Pinkbounc

[Brier Rose]

That works out great for us since we couldn't get an AP rate anyway! :thumbsup2

We'll only save about $100 over what we normally spend on food, but hey..$100 saved is better than $100 spent! And for more food too. :thumbsup2

[Allison]

OMG! I am more confused than not. Please help me understand this.

We are staying Sept 27-Oct 2nd. I want to have the free dining plan. I have a previous 3 day ticket to apply to my AP. What do we have to purchase to get the free dining? Do I just need one full price ticket per person or just one ticket? When we get the tickets, does that cover free dining the entire time? Do we need to purchase tickets for the entire time? If we do purchase the tickets, can we apply that to our AP?

Sorry, I have my reservations on hold until I get this and our resort sorted out.

Thanks for the help, I really need to understand this.

April :Pinkbounc

Each person must have at least a 1 day ticket and everyone must have the same kind of ticket. Once you have the original ticket you can upgrade each one however you want if needed.

[tacomaranch]

Ok,

So we buy 1 regular park ticket for each person, then we get free dining the rest of the time?

We then apply our previous 3 day and our reg. 1 day and get our AP?

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

[disneyjunkie]

Ok,

We then apply our previous 3 day and our reg. 1 day and get our AP?

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

I don't think you can apply two sets of tickets toward the purchase of one AP pass. I believe you have to use the 3 day or the 1 day not both.

Maybe you can use the 3 day this year to purchase the AP, the use the 1 day next year to renew. :confused3

[tacomaranch]

Ok, finally, last question.

Once we each get the full price ticket is that all we need for free dining for our entire stay of 6 days?

Thanks again, I have to get this booked by June 4th.

April :Pinkbounc

[disneyjunkie]

Ok, finally, last question.

Once we each get the full price ticket is that all we need for free dining for our entire stay of 6 days?

Thanks again, I have to get this booked by June 4th.

April :Pinkbounc

That's it.

I'm only purchasing a one day base for my son and I in order to book the dining plan. I'm want to get PAPs since I have three trips planned for the next year. :Pinkbounc

[tacomaranch]

:lovestruc Wow! Thank you so much for all the help fellow disney friends. I just said to DH how wonderful it is that in a short time with the internet I have answers to questions that help me make our trip wonderful!

You all are just the very best :love:

So here is our trip Sept 27-Oct2, with free dining! Purchase 1 reg. park ticket for DH and myself and 1 child ticket. Go into park, play hard and upon leaving get our AP using our previous purchased 3 days pass from April.

Then use the full price 1 day next year to renew our passes.

Free dining the entire week, AP discounted and next year even less.

We are paying full price to stay at POFQ but it will be worth it. We stayed at a 1br villa at OKW on a free upgrade in April. I hope we do ok with a rg. room.

Thanks again, April :Pinkbounc

PS: now to figure out the plan!

[tacomaranch]

Wait, one more question, does only one person have to have a full price ticket for everyone in the family to get the free dining or do we all have to have a full price ticket.

It would be great to only have to buy one for the son and DH and go on our AP.

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

[Allison]

Wait, one more question, does only one person have to have a full price ticket for everyone in the family to get the free dining or do we all have to have a full price ticket.

It would be great to only have to buy one for the son and DH and go on our AP.

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

EVERYONE must have a ticket.

[disneyjunkie]

Wait, one more question, does only one person have to have a full price ticket for everyone in the family to get the free dining or do we all have to have a full price ticket.

It would be great to only have to buy one for the son and DH and go on our AP.

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

Everyone in your party has to have the same tickets in order to book the dining plan.

[kaytieeldr]

Wait, one more question, does only one person have to have a full price ticket for everyone in the family to get the free dining or do we all have to have a full price ticket.

It would be great to only have to buy one for the son and DH and go on our AP.

Thanks, April :Pinkbounc

Okay, FIRST, you have to book a package (you can't just book a room, then purchase the one-day base pass separately and expect to be eligible for the dining plan, free or not).
A package equals a room and the same park pass for each person on the reservation.
It requires a $200 deposit with the balance due in full 45 days in advance of arrival.
At the time you book the package you need to order/include the Dining Plan. EACH person on your reservation must get the plan, and you must get it for the same number of nights as your reservation.

[safetymom]

And rooms need to be available for the dining plan. Some resorts are sold out for many dates.

[Evil Queen]

So..I just want to make sure I am understanding this right.

We have AP's (there are 4 of us) that are up for renewel July 22nd.

We are taking a trip for 3 days on July 6th, and are booked at rack rate at the Poly.

I can purchase 4 one day MYWT's to be able to get the DP, and then use those tickets on our AP renewels???

That's what the CM told me when booking my room, 1 day tickets and Free Dining Plan. We have the room and Dining plan for 7 days/nights.

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Except for DVC members, the dining plan can only be added to a rack rate (full price) room with the purchase of at least a 1 day MYW ticket.

The dining plan is available with a Triple A discount on the room portion by booking a package through Triple A. Only the Free dining requires a rack rate.

[TDC Nala]

I'm trying to understand why this is the only way I can purchase the dining plan after spending so much on our AP's

Because WDW wants to use it to sell room packages at rack rate. You CAN purchase the dining plan if you want to go through rebooking, because you didn't know at the time you booked about the fact that you can buy one day base tickets.

You must, however, pay rack rate for the room (unless you book through AAA). WDW has not been offering the dining plan in conjunction with AP discounted rooms.

[KimDis]

Question: What's the difference for DVC bookings? Do they not get the options of free dining?

[disneyjunkie]

Question: What's the difference for DVC bookings? Do they not get the options of free dining?

You can't book free dining if you're using points for your stay. By staying on points, the room is already discounted.

[TDC Nala]

DVC members staying on points are not eligible for free dining. You must book a room/ticket package to qualify for this incentive. DVC members may pay for the dining plan. There's also no requirement for DVC members to purchase tickets in order to purchase the dining plan.

[Tiffany]

Hi, I was so diappointed to learn from Disney reservations that I can not add the dining plan to my room only reservation because I have my AP and need to purchase MYWT to get the dining plan :sad2:

Has anyone been able to add the dining plan to the room only reservation?

I will be traveling with my DH and three children it would have been wonderful to have that dining plan :sad2:

I felt very :furious: when I called and was told this!!! If I had known I wouldn't have purchased the AP.

Any suggestions/information would be appreciated :confused3

You can book it you just need to book the package with just a one day one park ticket. I did this for my husband and I for this coming September.

[PIRATEGIRL007]

We have AP's and we just purchased the 1 day ticket each to make it a package. They never expire so use them some time you dont have AP's.


I'm sorry now I'm confused! :confused3 Wouldn't you have to purchase a MYW ticket for at least one day WITH the NO expiration option for this? I had to purchase 2 1 day adult tickets for us to get the dining plan ($120 for 9 days dining is still a super deal), but the package details state the ticket will expire within 14 days, or is this just if you activate/use a ticket?

Thanks

[DebbieB]

I'm sorry now I'm confused! :confused3 Wouldn't you have to purchase a MYW ticket for at least one day WITH the NO expiration option for this? I had to purchase 2 1 day adult tickets for us to get the dining plan ($120 for 9 days dining is still a super deal), but the package details state the ticket will expire within 14 days, or is this just if you activate/use a ticket?
Thanks

One days are all no expiration because the clock does not start ticking until you use it.

[have2getaway]

Each person must have at least a 1 day ticket and everyone must have the same kind of ticket. Once you have the original ticket you can upgrade each one however you want if needed.

I think I understand this, but I am not sure. If only one of us in our party has an AP, can we all buy the one day ticket to get the free dining, and then upgrade only 2 of the tickets for more days--not everyone in our party (3 people) has the AP.

Thanks!

[DznyLvr2005]

My sister got APs (Hasn't started using them yet) but when you have the annual pass, you get MAJOR discounts on hotel room that make the APs pay for themselves! She just got $500 off staying at PO in August just because she has the annual pass, so why would Disney give free dining AND major hotel discounts at once! They gotta make money somehow ;)
She staying at PO riverside for 7 nights and it cost a total of like $700 or something because she has annual passes.

[lady&tramp]

Hi,

First time posting on the Codes & Rates boards! Have been getting a lot of useful info but have a couple of queries....

Right, I'm planning on going for 14 nights in sep/oct.
It will be just my bf and I and we both have AP's.
Heres what i want to do but not sure if i can..

Make 2 seperate reservations, one for 7 nights W/free dining. We have Annual Passes so i know we will need to get 2 one day base tix... Qu - i have read that these can be used when renewing APs but can they be used when upgrading APs? We would like to upgrade to include Water Parks.. can these 1 day base tix be used agasint the price of the upgrade?

Secondly, make a seperate 7 night reservation, and use (hopefully) when they come out AP rates for sep/oct.
we are looking at a week in POR and unsure about the second week, i would love to go back to ASMo but my partner wants to stay in POR for the full two weeks. Would they allow us to make 2 seperate reservations for the same hotel, one paying full rate to get dining plan and one, hopefully, if they come out, with AP rates?

I figured we wont use the dining plan efficiently for 14 nights as we plan to spend time away from disney, i.e at universal, busch, seaworld and i would like to save money with the AP rates if they come out for sep.

Sorry for jumping in on this thread but thought it was kind of relevant with whats already been said!!

Please let me know your thoughts!

[Cruelladeville]

Why do you want to make separate reservations? If your first night is Sept 30(or before) you can get the package for the whole reservation. Yes, a week at POR on an AP is around $700, but a week on the food plan includes all your food, a 1 day ticket, and a room for $1200. Since you can apply the one day ticket to your AP renewal or upgrade(-$120 for two tickets). That means your meals for the week are about $400 for both of you! Even with the DDE you won't eat that cheaply. By the way, if you have a DDE you can use that toward alcoholic drinks while you are on the food plan. I had planned to get POL beginning Sept 30 on the AP, but this was much cheaper for us, since we usually spend about $70 per day +taxes and tips for food after the DDE discount. I was just thrilled! :dance3: