Adding DDP if you have an Annual Pass

[bxtx]

So I read on wdwinfo.com that you can now add the Disney Dining Plan if you have an Annual Pass.
Trying to do the math - we are staying Nov/Dec 2011 for 13 night MYW with Dining (6 or 7 day tickets) and looking to book again for June 2012 for 10 nights.

I want to do the Dining Plan both times (I have 4 growing boys, they eat their full quota!) but was wondering if I would be better off buying an AP and booking room only (which would involve changing the Thanksgiving reservation which I am not messing with unless it saves me $$$).

And we stay at the Campgrounds, not a hotel.

Any advice?
Thanks!

 

[ancestry]

You have to calculate out what is the best $$ wise for your family.

We had annual passes which expired in May (will be getting them again in December) and have had the dining plan with them. Just know that you have to book your room with the AP rate in order to get the AP dining plan. You can't book your room with a public discount and then try to add the dining plan with an AP.

Also know that AP rate with dining plan does equal a package and package rules apply. Package must be paid for 45 days in advance, $200 deposit, etc.

 

[bxtx]

Just know that you have to book your room with the AP rate in order to get the AP dining plan. You can't book your room with a public discount and then try to add the dining plan with an AP.

What is the AP rate? The Campgrounds very rarely have any discounts, I certainly didn't get any for our 2011 booking.

Hmm, will have to see if I can get an AP booking, or at least a price - not hopeful as its Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[ChrisAlli]

I booked a discounted ap rate for a few nights in July. Can I add a dining plan to this reservation. I'm thinking no, that I would have had to pay full ap rate. But then why would that matter?

 

[aubriee]

You have to calculate out what is the best $$ wise for your family.

We had annual passes which expired in May (will be getting them again in December) and have had the dining plan with them. Just know that you have to book your room with the AP rate in orfer to get the AP dining plan. You can't book your room with a public discount and then try to add the dining plan with an AP.

Also know that AP rate with dining plan does equal a package and package rules apply. Package must be paid for 45 days in advance, $200 deposit, etc.

While you can't add the AP DDP to a public or PIN code discount, without buying one day park tickets (or two day tickets in order to get free dining), you can add it to a room that you paid an AP or rack rate for. I've done this several times. I book a room at rack rate and tell them I want to make it a ticketless AP pkg with the DDP. Then when/if AP discounts come out, I just call and have them adjust the rate.

The last time I did it was this past May. I booked an AP ticketless pkg with the DDP paying rack rate for the room. When the general public codes came out, I switched to that, but had to add one day park tickets, then when the AP discounts finally came out, I called and switched to that, again dropping those one day park tickets I didn't need. Throughout all the changes my reservation number stayed the same.

 

[alicia080979]

Is there always an AP rate for the rooms that is at least equal to the general public discount? We are buying our APs in September and was trying to figure if they always offer an AP discount on rooms (or at least during the times they offer discounts to the public).

 

[disneyyes]

Does EVERYONE in your party have to have an AP in order to book the ticketless AP with a dining plan? In other words, if I do have an AP, and the other 3 people in my room do not, can I still book the AP, buy no tickets, but purchase 4 dining plans with that room?

 

[aubriee]

Does EVERYONE in your party have to have an AP in order to book the ticketless AP with a dining plan? In other words, if I do have an AP, and the other 3 people in my room do not, can I still book the AP, buy no tickets, but purchase 4 dining plans with that room?

Just one adult in the room must have an AP. I frequently go with my mom who never has an AP and my husband who sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. One adult AP holder in the room is all that is necessary to get everyone the DDP. You will have to buy their tickets somewhere else or at WDW though. When you book, just ask for a ticketless AP pkg with the DDP. Again, adding that DDP changes it from a room only to a pkg (just a ticketless one), so it will be subject to all the rules that govern a pkg (balance due by 45 days out and may be charged a fee for changes after that 45 day mark, etc).

 

[disneyyes]

Just one adult in the room must have an AP. I frequently go with my mom who never has an AP and my husband who sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. One adult AP holder in the room is all that is necessary to get everyone the DDP. You will have to buy their tickets somewhere else or at WDW though. When you book, just ask for a ticketless AP pkg with the DDP. Again, adding that DDP changes it from a room only to a pkg (just a ticketless one), so it will be subject to all the rules that govern a pkg (balance due by 45 days out and may be charged a fee for changes after that 45 day mark, etc).

Thanks for clarifying! This is what I was hoping (I have an AP, others have their tickets already).