Add dinning plan

[kwally]

There is a large group of us going in March. My mom is doing the booking of everything. She had a travel agent friend book us a room at Pop Century and got a great deal. She didn't add tickets however. So now we are looking at tickets and get them cheapest at Undercover tourist. If we get those, can we add the dinning plan when we get there? I keep reading you have to have atleast a one day MW ticket. So since we need tickets for 6 days w/ hopper, should we just order 5 from UT and then get a 1 MW ticket? Or is it best to just do it though Disney? And if we just add one day, does that still give us meals for all the days we are there? I am so confused, when we went I did it all through Disney but I think my mom is trying to save money to help out the others going. Thanks!

 

[clanmcculloch]

No you can not add a dining plan without purchasing at least 1 day MYW tickets for every person in the room. In addition, you can not add the dining plan at arrival. I believe it has to be done 5 day (?) before arrival though I could be wrong about the number of days.

If you want to buy a dining plan then you do not want to get your tickets from UT. Yes there's a small savings through them but the savings is negated by having to buy the additional 1 day MYW tickets. You'll end up spending more than you would by just buying the tickets through Disney.

When you buy a dining plan, the number of meal and snack credits that you're purchasing is tied to the number of nights of your resort reservation, not to the number of days of your tickets.

 

[Cafeen]

There is a large group of us going in March. My mom is doing the booking of everything. She had a travel agent friend book us a room at Pop Century and got a great deal. She didn't add tickets however. So now we are looking at tickets and get them cheapest at Undercover tourist. If we get those, can we add the dinning plan when we get there?
No, Dining Plans must be added at least 72 hours before check-in (48 hours for DVC points reservations). In addition, tickets must be purchased through Disney to be able to add a dining plan.

I keep reading you have to have atleast a one day MW ticket. So since we need tickets for 6 days w/ hopper, should we just order 5 from UT and then get a 1 MW ticket?
A 1 day ticket must be purchased for EACH person on the room reservation. It can be different between rooms, but must be the same within a room. Note, this does NOT apply to either DVC points reservations or Annual Pass ticketless packages. Those two types of reservations may book dining plans without ticket purchases.

Or is it best to just do it though Disney?
It's best to do it through Disney (or a TA that's going through Disney) simply because it's the only way to get the dining plan. They are not available unless booking (again, either directly or through a TA) through Walt Disney Travel.

And if we just add one day, does that still give us meals for all the days we are there?
For this, yes. Dining Plans are relevant only to the NIGHTS you are staying at the resort. Other than minimum ticket purchase, the number of days on your tickets will have no effect on the entitlements you will receive.

I am so confused, when we went I did it all through Disney but I think my mom is trying to save money to help out the others going. Thanks!

A lot may depend on how the TA got the rate. If they got the deal through Disney itself, it will likely be possible. If they got the rate through another discount broker (e.g. Expedia or something similar) then it will not be possible.

If it's possible, you can see if the TA can convert your room reservation into a package so you can get a dining plan. Since it's done by room and not by booking, it can be done for a single room out of the group (or a few rooms, you get the idea ). The best bet, if you really want to add a dining plan, is to have your mom talk to the TA and see if it can be done. However, since it is booked through a TA, they will be the ones that have to make any and all modifications (e.g. you can't call Disney yourself to do it).

Also, keep in mind that if it is able to be converted, you will then fall under the policies of a package reservation with regards to payment due dates and change/cancellation fees.

 

[aubriee]

No you can not add a dining plan without purchasing at least 1 day MYW tickets for every person in the room. In addition, you can not add the dining plan at arrival. I believe it has to be done 5 day (?) before arrival though I could be wrong about the number of days.

If you want to buy a dining plan then you do not want to get your tickets from UT. Yes there's a small savings through them but the savings is negated by having to buy the additional 1 day MYW tickets. You'll end up spending more than you would by just buying the tickets through Disney.

When you buy a dining plan, the number of meal and snack credits that you're purchasing is tied to the number of nights of your resort reservation, not to the number of days of your tickets.

You must add the DDP at least 72 hours prior to arrival (unless you are staying on DVC points, in which case it is 48 hours).

I agree though that having to add the one day tickets negates the UT savings. I'd just buy them through Disney. The only people who don't have to buy at least one day park tickets in order to get the DDP are AP holders and DVCers staying on points. However, to get free dining even AP holders must buy at least two day tickets and DVCers staying on points can't get free dining at all.

oops! Cafeen and I were posting at the same time. lol