Plan Questions

[Jackie H.]

We've never been with the Dining Plan and I am confused about something.

I have a conference in Orlando, but we plan to arrive a few days early and stay at a WDW resort and get a package. I can buy the park tickets for 7 days (even though I will only be in a WDW hotel for 3 nights). Can I buy the dining plan that way? Or am I limited to 3 days dining plan?

thanks for your help

 

[kaytieeldr]

Dining plan is tied to hotel nights, NOT to ticket days. So, if you're staying three nights, you have to purchase the dining plan for three nights, and each member of your party has to get it - along with the same tickets for everyone.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

kaytieeldr is correct as far as the DDP is concerned - you have to get the DDP for each person listed on the reservation. You also have to get the DDP for the exact number of nights on your reservation.

But, you can flex tickets between members in your party. Whenever I go with my friend Shirley, she gets her hopper ticket for the number of days we will be there. I have an Annual Pass so I get a 1 day/1 park ticket. The tickets are activated the day you first use them and expire 13 days later (good for a total of 14 days). Since I never activate my 1 day pass, I save it and have the value applied to the purchase of my Annual Pass.

You can also get tickets for more days that your reservation - just remember they will expire in 14 days once you first use them.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But as part of the original package purchase, each person on the reservation has to have the same ticket. In DisneyDeeva's example, when she and Shirley book and pay for their package, they would each need to order a 1 day/1 park ticket. Once they check in - either at the front desk, or at Lobby Concierge, or at Guest Services at a park - Shirley can then upgrade her pass to anything she wants, plus, as she stated, DisneyDeeva can hand her entirely unused pass to Shirley for future use.

Note that the names in this example were used only FOR example, and constitute no suggestion or recommendation to, or commentary on, the above poster's post

 

[DisneyDeeva]

Nope, we have done this for three years in a row now. Always book right up front for Shirley to have a 9 day hopper and me to have a 1 day/1 park ticket.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

I also went in February with my sister, stayed three nights on site and two nights with a CM friend. We did the DDP for the first three days. I got a 1 day/1 park ticket and my sister got a 5 day hopper. We booked it that way - didn't upgrade at check in.

 

[Jackie H.]

Thanks for the replies.

So if I stay in a WDW resort for 3 nights, then I get 3 days dining plan,
right? I don't even get 4 days worth (for check in and check out days)?

Do I have to use all the credits in those 3 days? Of if we have not used them all can I use them on day 4 or 5 or 6 or whenever?

thanks again

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, you get three nights of credits because you are staying three nights and your dining plan is tied to your room reservation. That's three table service meals, three counter service meals, and three snacks, per person. You don't have to use one of each each day, you can apportion them however you want (two CS meals one day, two TS meals another day, one CS meal another day, one TS meal another day).

All credits expire at midnight of the day you check out.



Also, from the "Disney Dining Plan - Everything you ever wanted to know" sticky:

"According to Disney’s brochure, everyone in the room must be on the same package and ticket options. "
So Guests should not expect to be able to book the Disney Dining Plan under any other conditions, despite other DISers having been able to do so.

 

[DisneyDeeva]

Thanks for the replies.

So if I stay in a WDW resort for 3 nights, then I get 3 days dining plan,
right? I don't even get 4 days worth (for check in and check out days)?

Do I have to use all the credits in those 3 days? Of if we have not used them all can I use them on day 4 or 5 or 6 or whenever?

thanks again

Correct, the number of DDP credits will match the number of night stay - not the number of days. The credits will expire at midnight on the day you check out. However, you don't have to use one table service, one counter service and one snack each day.

For example, maybe the day you check in, you want a nice sit down dinner. Then the next day, you decide to do two counter service meals while you are in the parks. On the third day, you might have a nice big sit down buffet lunch and then have a counter service for dinner. So, you still have a sit down meal that can be used the day you check out.

 

[Mom2Evie]

You get a day's worth of meals for each night you stay. So, you'd get 3 TS, 3 CS & 3 snacks. You can use all three table service in one day if you'd like, the three CS the next day, etc. They belong to you, used at your whim. If you don't use them, you lose them! I'm fairly certain they expire at midnight on the day you check out. I wouldn't save a table service meal, thinking you can use it later in the week when you're there for your conference.
If I'm wrong, I'm sure a wiser DISer will come along with the correct info shortly.

Edited to add that three of us posted the same thing within seconds of each other!