Making reservations with AP's

[WDWCatMom]

We're making a Year of Disney.

We're arriving at WDW on December 18th. We're purchasing annual passes and returning on May 22nd.

I'm attempting to make ADR's for Cinderella's Castle, and the Luau.

I really don't want to make these reservations today because I don't have our annual passes, yet. Without our AP's, I can't buy a non-park ticket associated dining plan. I plan on investing in the dining plan, but if I'm already out $400 because I had to pre-pay the Castle breakfast and Luau, what's the use then?

I'm reluctant, in fact I can't, purchase annual passes today because we're visiting in Thanksgiving 2010 as well. If I purchased AP's early, to get the Dining plan in order to make ADR's in May, then it's worthless in November.

I forgot my question...

Is there anyway to request making these reservations without pre-payment explaining I'm getting the AP, and the dining plan, but I'd like to make these reservations now, before it's too late and without doing anything paid in full today?

[vicki_c]

No there's not, but you will get a credit eventually when you go to the meal and want to switch it from cash to the DDP.

If you really want to make sure you can eat at those locations, you're going to have to just make the reservations and pre-pay as necessary, or wait until you add the DDP whenever that would be and hope that you find availability.

[Tricia1972]

You will need to have a dining plan already associated with your reservation in order to avoid prepayment.

You can try calling CRO and see if they will add the dining plan now for you, but that'd be about all that you can do.

[TDC Nala]

You don't need to have the AP in hand to make a ticketless package room reservation for AP holders (including room and dining). You do need to have the AP when you check in (not a voucher - I think you need to have the actual AP) but if you want to be able to book prepaid reservations without paying in full, make the resort booking now as if you had an AP, get the dining plan associated with your reservation, and make plans to have the AP on you when you check in at the resort.

[WDWCatMom]

Thank you ladies!

That was my impression too. But the CM started rattling off how I could do such and such because she started off the bat, "Why don't you have a dining plan". I explained that I was buying AP's in December. I felt a little on the defensive side when she was trying to explain something that ended up just confusing me.

So I figured I'd ask here. If there was a way to go about it, Disboards would know.

I think I'm going to hold off until making our credit card guarantee ADR's when we get our AP's, and if they're booked for May, we have something to look forward to for Thanksgiving.

[TDC Nala]

I hate when they push the dining plan so hard - it isn't for everybody. Even DVC tries to push it on me. Don't be distracted by them - just tell them you want the ticketless package for annual passholders.

[WDWCatMom]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

You don't need to have the AP in hand to make a ticketless package room reservation for AP holders (including room and dining). You do need to have the AP when you check in (not a voucher - I think you need to have the actual AP) but if you want to be able to book prepaid reservations without paying in full, make the resort booking now as if you had an AP, get the dining plan associated with your reservation, and make plans to have the AP on you when you check in at the resort.

That's exactly what she said. I'm reading it again, and again. I still don't quite understand.

From my research, you can only buy a package-less dining plan if you already possess an AP.

If I purchase a dining plan associated with my reservation, then wouldn't I be purchasing a vacation package, complete with room, park hopper tickets and the dining plan?

I apologize if I'm being slow with understanding this. Until today I thought I was a fairly knowledgeable Disney addict.


So, you're saying I can tell the CM that I am purchasing an AP, and request to purchase the AP associated Dining plan but I must have my AP at the time of check in or I will be charged for the whole standard vacation package?