Just buy dining plan?

[mikelbeck]

If I book a Disney hotel and get park tickets from someplace OTHER than Disney, how can I add the dining plan if the other source doesn't offer it? Can I just call Disney and buy it separately?

 

[dansamy]

Nope. You must buy a package in order to buy the ddp. (Unless you're a passholder or a dvc points reservation.)

 

[mikelbeck]

Nope. You must buy a package in order to buy the ddp. (Unless you're a passholder or a dvc points reservation.)

Gah. All of my plans for saving money on this trip are just going out the window. I guess I need to suck it up and just give Disney all my money.

Thanks.

 

[dansamy]

When is your trip? If it is during free dining days, that's often the "best" discount for many families.

 

[evabraniff]

Keep in mind not all hotels on property are DDP eligible.

 

[TDC Nala]

You can't add the dining plan unless you have a package reservation through Disney. If you bought the room through a third-party broker, in most cases that is not a Disney package reservation.

You could check on what discounts Disney would give you on the room for the time you are going, then cancel the third party reservation and rebook through Disney.

Passholders have to buy packages too, although they are ticketless packages. The only guests who can get a dining plan without a package are DVC members booking through Member Services.

Only the Disney-operated resorts offer the Disney dining plan. There are a few resorts on Disney property (Swan/Dolphin, Shades of Green, Bonnet Creek) that are not operated by Disney; they aren't eligible for the dining plans.

 

[mikelbeck]

I've only booked the flight so far, no hotel or park tickets. I was looking around for the best price and found Orbitz had slightly better prices for the hotel (plus 5% cash back through eBates) but only offered park tickets without the dining plan. And one place through my job had good prices on park tickets but nothing else. But we wanted to get the dining plan too so I guess I'll just do it all through Disney. It's worth the extra couple of bucks to have everything done in place place and not have to deal with the hassles.

BTW we're going Thanksgiving week - Nov 26th to Dec 2nd and will be staying at the Pop Century.

 

[TDC Nala]

Orbitz is the type of third party broker that you can't buy a package through. Some of the airlines (Southwest and JetBlue) run package vacations that you can book, and the airline acts as your travel agent, and you can get a Disney package through them. But not with a third party broker like Orbitz. If the meal plan is make or break for you, then get your reservation through Disney directly.

 

[dansamy]

I've only booked the flight so far, no hotel or park tickets. I was looking around for the best price and found Orbitz had slightly better prices for the hotel (plus 5% cash back through eBates) but only offered park tickets without the dining plan. And one place through my job had good prices on park tickets but nothing else. But we wanted to get the dining plan too so I guess I'll just do it all through Disney. It's worth the extra couple of bucks to have everything done in place place and not have to deal with the hassles.

BTW we're going Thanksgiving week - Nov 26th to Dec 2nd and will be staying at the Pop Century.

You'd probably do better to pay for food out of pocket. Put the cost of the DDP that you want on Disney gift cards. Buy just what you want. I'll bet you come out ahead.

 

[mommyof2princesses]

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe to make a package you only have to buy a 1 day ticket for each person in the room. Isn't that right? Then, you an buy your 4 day park hoppers, or whatever amount of days, somewhere else. Usually for free dining, you would have to buy 2 day tickets. Then we would just use our non-ex tickets or buy other tickets.

 

[mikelbeck]

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but I believe to make a package you only have to buy a 1 day ticket for each person in the room. Isn't that right? Then, you an buy your 4 day park hoppers, or whatever amount of days, somewhere else. Usually for free dining, you would have to buy 2 day tickets. Then we would just use our non-ex tickets or buy other tickets.

Would I then be able to get the dining plan for my whole stay or only that 1 day?

 

[vicki_c]

Would I then be able to get the dining plan for my whole stay or only that 1 day?

A- that wont make economic sense. See below.
B- your dining plan has to be for the same number of nights of stay in the resort. It's not tied to your tickets, other than the minimum purchase to make it a package.

It rarely makes economic sense to use two separate tickets during one trip because of the way Disney front loads the price off their tickets, with the first day or two being so expensive and then prices per day dropping as you add more days. After 4 days, tickets only cost like $10 per day.

A 4 day hopper costs about $332 from Disney.
A one day hopper plus a 3 day hopper would run about $436 from Disney. You're not going to find a ticket discount that saves you $100.

 

[sharonabe]

A- that wont make economic sense. See below.
B- your dining plan has to be for the same number of nights of stay in the resort. It's not tied to your tickets, other than the minimum purchase to make it a package.

It rarely makes economic sense to use two separate tickets during one trip because of the way Disney front loads the price off their tickets, with the first day or two being so expensive and then prices per day dropping as you add more days. After 4 days, tickets only cost like $10 per day.

A 4 day hopper costs about $332 from Disney.
A one day hopper plus a 3 day hopper would run about $436 from Disney. You're not going to find a ticket discount that saves you $100.

I think what the PP was saying is to go ahead and get the flight and tickets he will use from the discounted places he's already found. Then when he makes his resort reservation WITH Disney just buy a 1-day ticket in order to get the package with DDP, but NOT use that ticket. You save it for future years when ticket prices will be higher, but you can upgarde it after it's first use and it will have full value for that time toward your upgrade.

So, yes, it is more expensive right now, but will save money later.

 

[TDC Nala]

I think what the PP was saying is to go ahead and get the flight and tickets he will use from the discounted places he's already found. Then when he makes his resort reservation WITH Disney just buy a 1-day ticket in order to get the package with DDP, but NOT use that ticket. You save it for future years when ticket prices will be higher, but you can upgarde it after it's first use and it will have full value for that time toward your upgrade.

So, yes, it is more expensive right now, but will save money later.

Unless he wants a dining plan on his next visit. He could always rent DVC points.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Look closely at what the DP costs! Unless you're always eating the most expensive things on the menus, it's not usually a great deal. And especially if you have kids that are considered Disney "adults" like my 11-year-old. There's no way he eats $55 worth of food every single day! We're going to do out of pocket and I expect it will end up being a lot less than paying for DP.

 

[vicki_c]

I think what the PP was saying is to go ahead and get the flight and tickets he will use from the discounted places he's already found. Then when he makes his resort reservation WITH Disney just buy a 1-day ticket in order to get the package with DDP, but NOT use that ticket. You save it for future years when ticket prices will be higher, but you can upgarde it after it's first use and it will have full value for that time toward your upgrade.

So, yes, it is more expensive right now, but will save money later.

I didn't see any mention of saving the ticket in this scenario but maybe I missed it. That's why I answered the way I did.

 

[mikelbeck]

I didn't see any mention of saving the ticket in this scenario but maybe I missed it. That's why I answered the way I did.

Yeah we wouldn't be saving the tickets.

I like what mom2AidanAndEli said, I'm going to do a bit of research and see what it could cost per day to pay out of pocket. I like having the dining plan because I don't have to worry about paying for anything but if it's gonna wind up costing me more I'll just have to deal with it.

Off to collect some data and make spreadsheets...

 

[vicki_c]

Yeah we wouldn't be saving the tickets.

I like what mom2AidanAndEli said, I'm going to do a bit of research and see what it could cost per day to pay out of pocket. I like having the dining plan because I don't have to worry about paying for anything but if it's gonna wind up costing me more I'll just have to deal with it.

Off to collect some data and make spreadsheets...

Just skip the DDP! I have never done the DDP and never felt I was missing anything at all!

 

[melifeld]

If you are paying OOP for your meals and you have a Target Red Card, you can buy Disney STAY PLAY DINE gift cards at a 5% discount. It is not a huge savings but the more you can pay for with the discounted gift cards, the more you save.

We are saving enough on our hotel and tickets to pay for some meals while we are there.

Also, I was able to get some Wolfgang Puck gift cards through the Costco website - two $50 gift cards for $79.99, free shipping and no sales tax. So that is a 20% savings on our meals at any of the Wolfgang Puck restaurants at Downtown Disney.

Take a look over at the Budget Board. They have some great ideas and tips on saving money at WDW.

 

[mikelbeck]

If you are paying OOP

Sorry, I'm a newbie. What does "OOP" mean?